Vacation Friday!

[JudyJB]

Technically because I retired from my primary job 8 years ago, I was supposed to be on vacation all this time, but today is special because I turned in grades yesterday and have 24 days before the next semester begins and 31 days before the first papers are due and I have to start the interminable process of grading them! I still have to do some stuff to get my new class ready, but it will be a lot easier than this past semester because I have learned my lesson about accepting three classes containing 70 students!! This semester it will be somewhat less than 50, maybe around 45, so much easier. Plus I am dropping one assignment and simplifying another. I'd quit, but it keeps my brain alive, and I need to pay for the $1,600 brakes I just had installed and I still need to replace three tires. What a terrible way to spend money!

I am in Anastasia SP and while it is very wet from last night's rain, it is warm and decent enough for a walk later today. I got a good 9 hours of sleep last night, by the way! And am in the process of cleaning out my refrigerator and making some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

[MandysMom]

That's a pretty short break Judy! But we do what we gotta do.
Raining here. Went to Curves. Counting days until second cataract surgery. Will be working on tree and maybe wrapping packages later.
Stay safe everyone.
Velda

[Bethers]

Judy, you deserve some down time. More than you have coming, but this will be very welcome, I'm sure.

Ty and I had a great desert walk this morning. I've been sitting outside much of the day, too. It just so gorgeous here. And I'm in one of my favored spots where I can see the fountain from Fountain Hills. Tomorrow I move to a different site and I'll miss that. I'm hoping I'll have some of the same birds hanging out. I have several but really love the American Kestrel and a woodpecker that are around more than not.

[BirdbyBird]

My plans have bounced around these past two weeks. I cancelled my miracle two week reservation that I found at Silver Springs SP that was to start on Monday. I just didn't feel all that good and it was too cold to think about packing up and heading south so fast. I also got notice that I do get to start work at the scoring center on January 20th but they have also scheduled a meeting for supervisory team leaders and scoring directors for January 3rd. I have blown off the supervisor meeting the past two years but after getting to work the one project last spring as a scoring director I am feeling more motivation to show up.

Being here in time for the meeting on the third gave me a good reason to enter both Lark and Rally in their first Rally Obedience trials that weekend. Who know, I think Audrey has remembered as many of the moves as Lark has. Lark is also going to go ahead and tackle the Beginning Novice Obedience class. Audrey isn't quite ready for that one yet.

Anyway I am heading down to the scoring center this Monday to do the 2-3 hours of on line training that they have instituted this year and am hoping to head south on Tuesday but will only be able to stay for a little over a week. Looking forward to being comfortable enough with outside temperatures for at least a few days in order to get the dogs walked on a regular basis.

Josef is now settled in with his new family in Philadelphia. He is loving being the only dog with four of his very own humans to keep track of. Josef is their third English Cocker. When we were at Cindy's last weekend MAx introduced his wife by explaining that when she immigrated to the US she had had to leave her Cocker behind so when he asked what sort of engagement ring she wanted she said that she just wanted an "Engagement Dog" Turned out that it was easier for Max get her dog shipped to the states than is would have been to try and locate an English Cocker here and Lydia would have felt guilty not retrieving her dog from the Ukraine when given the change. Anyone who prizes their dog over diamonds has their priorities in the right place. Because he isn't sharing his space with other dogs, something he didn't always do as well as he should have, Josef isn't even crated at night and is getting to sleep on beds...... I am hoping that he doesn't text Lark or Audrey directly or they might realize what they are missing. But Audrey is now enjoying being allowed to sleep on the bed along with Lark. She had been crated so that she and Josef could keep each other company at night. I know the song said "Three Dog Night" but I am sometimes a pretty light sleeper and would never have been able to sleep, given that combination. LOL

[Acadianmom]

I would sure like to get 9 hours of sleep. Last night I went to sleep about 1:00 and woke up at 3:30. Went back to sleep some time after 6:00 and finally got up at 8:00. It probably doesn't help that I usually have 3 cat nights. I had taken the memory foam pad off my mattress but I wake up feeling like I have taken a beating. I think I will put it back on.

I am pissed at the local animal control. They finally showed up and checked the dog for a chip but wouldn't pick her up or put her picture on their web site. I posted her picture on one of the lost and found pet sites. She doesn't have a chip but the guy thinks she was spayed. I'm afraid to take her out of the kennel on a leash. If she takes out after a cat she might pull me down.

It has gotten back up into the 70's again until about Tuesday and then it's suppose to get down close to freezing for 2 nights.

Martha

[Redetotry]

I would sure like to get 9 hours of sleep. Last night I went to sleep about 1:00 and woke up at 3:30. Went back to sleep some time after 6:00 and finally got up at 8:00. It probably doesn't help that I usually have 3 cat nights. I had taken the memory foam pad off my mattress but I wake up feeling like I have taken a beating. I think I will put it back on.
Martha

Martha I used to have trouble sleeping and several years ago finally bought a 3" wool mattress topper and it really made a huge difference in my back issues. Since I have so many sensitivities I bought an organic one and if you have allergies it would also help with that. Commercial mattresses and memory foam have a lot of chemicals especially fire retardant. This one is on sale right now. https://lifekind.com/products/naturally ... 2568643669

[BarbaraRose]

Got home in time to head over for the Christmas Golf Cart parade. I wasn't in it but wanted to see all the carts as they met at the clubhouse before the parade. Lots of very creative carts!

Afterward they had a Fireman's chili dinner. Met up with some friends for that. Great chili and wine. Just got home from that.

I took lots of pics but now I can't find the cord to attach my camera to my laptop to transfer the photos. I hate it when I lose things that I know are right here! I have looked under, over, in and thru everything and can't find it. I just used it a couple days ago! Grrrr!!! I was asked to post them also on our FB page...I don't know where else to look! I hate when that happens!

I think I hear fireworks outside. Not sure what that would be for. Didn't hear about anything going on in this area for tonight.

I heard something at work about another Great Clips opening inside a Walmart, possibly the one just a few miles down the road from here. That would be great (except I would spend half of my paycheck shopping during my lunch hour! )! We''ll see...

My back feels a little better tonight. Want to get to bed early tonight and get a good nights sleep. Have an 8 hour day tomorrow again. Love the extra hours and tips but it is starting to wear on me a little, physically.

Just thought of one more place to look for that cord, so will check that out...

[Bethers]

I just came in from Ty's last outside potty and decided it was time for hot chocolate. Yum. Ty's already sleeping. I'll enjoy my drink and then take a book to bed.

Barbie, I searched and searched for a specific cord the other night. Gave up, and there it was the next morning. I don't know how they do that. I got my good camera out yesterday. Haven't used it in months and months. Lots of old pics on it. I'll need to get my computer out in order to get the pics off and sorted. Hopefully the computer will remember how to do it...

[snowball]

I am at my sister's for a week... it was the batteries at least they put them in and it started and is still starting!! so will go with that it was the batteries... not cheap but what does one expect it's diesel!!! because my sister has been in rehab or a hospital for the last 9 months she is no longer gainfully employed so not expecting help with the repairs... I've had the truck for just over 4 years and not replaced them till now...so guess I will be ok with it... I wished that I had listened to my inner thoughts though kept having issues with it starting sometimes rough starting then it was good to go so am thinking it's been a problem for awhile... my sister is still not getting out of chairs well so is staying on the bed... tell her she needs to keep trying I am afraid that she will end up residing in the bedroom with the commode which is adjusted to a height she can get up from...
hate not having a table to put the computer on even though it is a lap top hate having it on my lap... and the table is cluttered to where I can't use it almost brought my tv tray to use wish I had now but wasn't sure if it was too tall for the height of the couch.. just can't get comfy
so perhaps I need to get off the computer and crochet can do that and watch tv...
incentive to find the table and chair with mom in rehab my nephew hasn't don't much cleaning
went out last night to start the genny and it declined to start... but since it was dark and couldn't see a lot what I did see sorta indicates that the screw that I had them loosen so I could change out the oil loosened enough to loose oil so it didn't start... and didn't have time this morning to deal with it.. hopefully will get home early enough that I can fix it when I get home... then the other day another person tried to hook up my direct tv.. and that was again a no go... will have to call and have them come out and hook it up from the company... haven't decided what to do though... stay with Direct or go with Dish... had some guys a year ago plus tell me the new dish was really hard for a lay person to hook up ... one reason for thinking about Dish is less per month at least for a year... the other is that the thing you can get so it automatically finds the satellite is cheaper... but on the other hand I am so used to using the channels off the coast to my advantage that I am not sure if I can not do it and if I quite direct no getting them back...
wish I knew what to do
sheila