Never Google "Wood Stripper"

Well, I finally started. While Mr. Legs was passed out in a Nyquil-induced coma, I ripped up the carpet in the dining room. Swiper Decided to vomit all over it this morning and the shampooer just wasn't cutting it.

There was (is) quite a bit of raggedy linoleum around the perimeter of the room, but the wood is smooth, tight grained, and a warm red color. Here's what corner #1 looked like right after I pried the wooden tack strips up:


I used a damp rag and the iron to loosen up the linoleum goo, then scraped it off with a spackle knife. Here's what I have now:


There's quite a bit of water damage all over the floor, but there aren't any huge gaps or loose boards. It's still a nice solid floor, which is what I hoped would be. Cleaning will take awhile, but it's nice to feel connected to this house, instead of furious at it. Finally, a NICE surprise.

Big Shopping

Waking up on shopping day is like waking up the day of a marathon; filled with fear, self-doubt, and a strong urge to chicken out.
It's not pretty on a good day, herding four kids through Sam's club, then Walmart, then HEB. Today it took me an hour to find an alternate route because some jackass decided they would close EVERY SINGLE ON RAMP to the 10 west.

The first stop must always be the bathroom. Try manuvering a cart full of children through one of those stupid little mazes that are so popular now without running into the blue-hairs that enjoy lurking around every corner and you'll understand what I mean. Potty everyone, make sure all toilets are flushed, all hands are washed, then inch your way back out the latrinarynth. Now you're ready to go.
Bypass the candy aisle. Pick up the baby. Dodge young couples who somehow manage to block the entire aisle while picking out a 40lb jar of cheezy poofs. Compare price per ounce of diced potatos vs. diced potatos w/ chile pepper. Watch out for the 3 foot asian granny who can't see over her cart but refuses to go less than 80 miles an hour. Grab a bag of craisins. Pull a kid out of the path of a fork lift. complain loudly that bread prices have gone up a dollar.

But at the end of the day, when the kids are recuperating in front of a movie, and the toilet paper has been stacked into a perfect geometrical pyramid under the bathroom sink, I am filled with joy and satisfaction, like a squirrel who knows exactly where her nuts are.

I shopped REALLY WELL today. I finally left behind the expensive packages of individually canned vegetables($6) and went for the economy sized restaraunt vats($2). I bought 15 dozen eggs instead of planning to buy another four dozen next week. My box of powdered milk is chilling in the fridge, ready at a moment's notice. Truly, my cupboards overfloweth.

Thanks for teaching me, Mom.

It is so frikkin' cold.

It's cold. I lit some cinammon incense, but it's not 'warming to the soul' like it said on the package. Looks like it should be nice and warm today, around 70, then drop to the 30s at night. I think I'll start some slowcooker soup.

Mr. Legs went out and plotted my garden for me; 8' x 8' is a little small, so if everything dies it's not going to be a huge deal. This is what it looks like from the walkway:


From the porch:


We still have to dig it up, add the dividers and fill it full of dirt; We're going to try "Gardening by the Square Foot".
I already picked a few seeds from http://www.cooksgarden.com/, some colored carrots, some tiny little tomatos and some extra-strength dil; the rest I'll buy at Calloway's. I'm pretty excited about the prospect of fresh veggies this summer. Somebody brought a fruit & veggie tray to the Christmas party and my kids set up camp around it, eating everythimg on it in about twours. Nobody understood why they were eating the veggies when there were dishes of fudge & cookies and candies all around. heh heh heh. /superior, smug self righteousness.

An auspicious end to the NOO year

I finally found a home for that little white dog; After about a week of waiting for his owners to contact the pound, I put an add up on Craigslist for him. I listed everything that was wrong with him and said that instead of a 'rehoming fee', I would prefer to meet with the new owner at the vets, and make sure that he (the dog) got his first round of shots.
I was totally inundated with people offering to buy the dog, or take the dog to the vet next week, or people who were going to give the dog to their granny and SHE would take it to the vet. Oy.
So when a rescue group contacted me and offered to take him I jumped on it. I usually hate rescue-people because they're snotty and uptight and controlling. This lady, however, was very nice. She picked him up on Saturday, no fuss. I checked out the group's websight first, and it looks like he's in good hands.

So that was good, but I think Bender misses him, so we took him to the dog park today. What a cool place! Pure, doggie chaos. I'll take the camera next week and get pictures. There were probably about forty dogs there, of all sizes, running around and sniffing and pooping and just being dogs and everybody had a good time. The baby got her cookie stolen twice, which she was okay with, because she got to pull some ears.
Somebody brought their Irish Wolfhound, and that was just incredible. He looked like something out of the Henson Workshop. Mr. Legs went and talked to his owner and he's been giving me meaningful looks ever since.

Bender didn't choose to mingle much; he prefered to wander around and sniff the other dogs, which was fine with me. There was a bunch of Labs and Retrievers, and a German Shepherd/St. Bernard mix. Bender doesn't seem so big now. He did find a little Boston Trrier that followed him around, jumping up and down, trying to sniff his tail.

All in all, a good day. Bender is currently stretched out on the carpet snoozing, and I'm doing the dishes with my newly repaired, non-leaking faucet. Hurray, me.

The dog I found

Nooly finished

Ha ha, I have a gate now.



See my gate.
See my gate close.
Close, gate, close.

At last, the dog and the kids can run free.



We've been taking him for a 1-2 mile walk every morning and night, and I've seen his behavior change pretty drastically for the better. He's calmer inside, less mouthy withy the kids. Now with this yard for playing in I think he should get all the exercise he needs.

The New One

After the untimely death of my sweet poodle Tango a few weeks ago, we decided to get another dog. In this neighborhood, it's really important to have an early warning system. We went to the pound, looking for a 20-30 pound heeler or heeler mix. We came home with Bender.


Fifty five pounds and still growing, the sign on his kennel said Red Heeler-German Shepherd mix. Before they put our paperwork in, they sat us down with a pet counselor and warned us about him. He'd been in the shelter since May, and had been adopted out a few times. He'd been returned the day before for tearing the siding off the people's house, breaking apart a window sill and eating the fence.
"He's a little destructive." The counselor said.
We wanted a high-energy dog, though, one with an intimidating bark but a sweet personality, and Bender was perfect. Since he's come to live with us I've kept him within five feet of me at all times using his leash as an umbilical cord. It was a little rough at first; like living with a pony attatched to your hip. Also, he doesn't get any food unless it's from somebody's hand. I hope this will help him triangulate his place in the pack (Rock bottom, right above the roaches).



The first two days were rough; anything within reach was a chew toy, whether it was a stuffed animal, a shoe, or the carpet. I think alot of it was just nervousness. I bought him some "extra-durable" doggie tennis balls to keep him busy. Yeah, the first one lasted seven seconds, the second one just under three. He's got a serious bite on him.



We ended up getting him a Kong Ball, bigger than my fist and hard enough to withstand a nuclear explosion, and a giant 'knuckle' bone that looks like they took it off the Rancor. It's his favorite thing to chew on, apart from anything the baby's holding. This seems to have taken
care of his chewing needs.



He's a good dog, very imposing when he's not grinning like a dork. The Aunt said his eyes look evil. He doesn't bark much, he prefers to stare unnervingly at people who walk by.