HIDDEN BIGOTRY

Have you ever met one of those people who think they are really self aware but really aren't? I spent some time with one today. This person, we will call her G, kept telling me how she to along with all kinds of people and worked with all types of people. Then G would say the most bigoted comments. I heard: that Asian speaking person really does understanding English, he is just acting that he does not understand me so he doesn't have to do the work. How ignorant is that? Could it be that the Asian person doesn't understand what you are saying or the context in which you are saying it? Or how fast you are speaking (I am famous for this). I speak horribly fast.

I want to shake them and tell them how unaware they about their our own intolerance.

Until tomorrow...

PASSED MY SECOND EXAM!

I found out today I passed my second exam on animal rescue. It was really hard. Well it isn't really on animal rescue but on Incident Command Systems. Basically what that is is the method of setting up the command centers when there is an emergency. Remember the last emergency? Sandy or Katrina (why are they always named after women?) You see the white tents and all the people in the vests? Those are the people who are running the incident command center. I am studying how to set that up, who is in charge, and what forms get filled out. It is quite complicated.

I have one more test to go. It is quite taxing and SO much to remember. All this on top of the drill we will be running in a week and a half.

On another note: I went to see my crohn's doc today and we discussed my health. My gut is sore right in the area where crohn's acts up. I am hoping this doesn't mean a flare is coming soon. We discussed how to manage during stressful times. We got off on a tangent and I have been forbidden to eat at buffets. I am not a buffet eater to begin with but with bacteria running rampant and e-coli, salmonella, etc. buffets are out. She is worried I will end up with something I can't fight.

Until tomorrow...

ANIMAL RESCUE EXAM #2

Today I spent almost the whole day studying for the second animal rescue exam. It had an interactive study guide with sample exam questions and then the exam. Most of the questions I knew the answer to but some I had to look up. Then the final question. I had no idea the answer to the final question. I didn't even understand where they got the question from. I searched the whole study guide and could not find the subject matter anywhere. Finally, I took a wild guess. It was a four answer multiple guess question. I knew that two of the four answers where incorrect so it was a 50/50 guess. I need to get 75% correct in order to pass. I figure I have a good shot.

I have one more test. The test today was harder than the one I took last week. I sure hope the next test is not harder than this one.

Until tomorrow...

ANIMAL RESCUE TRAINING DAY 3

At today's training we went from station to station learning the different tasks at the different stations. We need to learn the different stations because in two weeks we will be setting up a rescue station and manning it. They are going to assign each of us our task for the drill so I don't know what I will be doing.

They also took our photos for our ID cards.

My back was feeling fine until I got home. Then I needed to take a muscle relaxer and lay down for a while.

I still have two tests to go tomorrow I will do the next one.

Tonight was supposed to be movie night but everyone had something else to do or was out of town or sick. So Brenda and I watched Flight.

Until tomorrow...

BACK PAIN DECREASES

I woke up this morning and my back felt much better. I was very surprised. After the pain I was in yesterday I couldn't believe I wasn't in horrible pain again today. I took it slow taking a shower and getting my shoes on, then I went off to a clients. I was only going to work for a couple of hours but I was feeling good so I worked a few more. All without medication.

Then when I got home I decided to make some dinner and the pain set in. I took a muscle relaxer and of course a few hours later I fell asleep while watching TV. Now I am writing this post and thinking of taking a pain killer and going to sleep. Last night I took one and had a hard time sleeping until about 3:00 am. I kept waking up. I hope tonight I will sleep all night.

Until tomorrow...

ANOTHER DOCTOR VISIT

I woke up this morning and the left side of my back hurt again. Only this time it hurt worse. I could barely stand, it hurt so bad. This time it wasn't just in spot like on Monday. This time it was the whole area from under the shoulder blade to the top of my hip. It is weird because it doesn't hurt along my spine like you would think. It is all in that fleshy part. Even the shower water hurt.

I went to my previously scheduled physical therapy appointment but told her NOT to touch my back until I figure out what is wrong with it. She very carefully worked on my neck.

I called my doc first thing when they opened and got an emergency appointment. I also found out the test results from the urinalysis test on Monday: negative. No kidney infection. Good news.

I went to see the doc and he poked and prodded and decided that I have probably tweaked (technical term) my L1 and T12 vertebrae and pinched a nerve along a muscle that runs laterally. Which is why I feel no pain along my spine. But just to be safe he sent me down for X-rays just to make sure I have not fractured my spine. We all know what a delicate flower I am. There was a LONG line at x-ray so that took a long time. (This diagram is from http://ctspinedisc.blogspot.com/2012/03/transition-areas-of-spine-what-are-they.html)

Now I am on pain killers and muscle relaxers. There are no more anti -inflamatories I can take. I can't tolerate Motrin or Celebrex. So, now I am sitting here waiting for the relaxer to relax me. At bed time I will take the pain killer. Last time I took Vicodin it didn't do anything for me, so I don't hold out hope there. I do hope the muscle relaxer will help my neck too!

Until tomorrow...

DOG LICENSE

Today I renewed Happi's dog license. It is a strange form. The main question it asks s whether you want to renew the dogs license for one, two or three years. Now, if you read my blog you know I have a strange, dark sense of humor. When I read a form that asks me if I want to renew my dog's license for one, two or three years I immediately go to a funny place.

Now I have a decision to make do I pay for one year, two years or three years? How healthy is Happi? She is seven years old. It s almost like a morbid gamble. I don't want to over pay. i check off three years and years later I get a renewal in the mail. Then I would get all sad if Happi is no longer with us.

On the other hand, I don't want to under pay and have to renew each year. Seems like a waste of time. What a dilemma. And what if your dog was ill. Would you only get the license renewed for one year? Would that be a bad omen?

After all this I sent in a check for three years. I took a gamble that our lovable and faithful Happi will be around for at least three more years.

Now before I get nasty posts, this mostly all tongue in cheek. Of course I would always get my dogs license for as long as I could. I want my dogs to be around as long as I can.

Until tomorrow...

DOING SOME COOKING

I got home late tonight so I needed to make a fast dinner. I had some rice already made and I mixed that with some veggies and beans and tossed it in a bell pepper with some soy cheese. Voila! Dinner.

Then I decided to make some Zoku pops. This time I used my new Zoku tools and put some strawberry slices in the pops.

It makes a really cool and tasty Popsicle.

On a side note, I passed my first animal rescue test! Yay! Two more to go.

Until tomorrow...

RACK OF RIBS

This morning I woke up and I had a horrible pain in my lower left back. I waited a few hours to see if it would go away but it didn't. So I called the doc. My doc is on vacation and the doc that was subbing for him told me to come by at 2:45. Boy, 2:45 didn't come fast enough!

At the appointment the doc probed and pushed and decided that I have a bruised rib. How did I get a bruised rib? I have no idea. She had me go down and get a urinary test too just to be sure it was not my kidneys.

She also didn't order x-rays to see if my rib was broken because I have had enough x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc.

So I sit here in pain. I can take Tylenol if I want but that is about it.

Now, if someone could tell me how I bruised my rib, you win the prize! Can the water coming out of a hot tub jet bruise a rib? If so, that could be the winner! Other than that, I can't figure it out. On Sunday I went food shopping then spent the whole day studying and taking a test for the animal rescue course, took a hot tub, then watched TV. Nothing physical.

Until tomorrow...

SORE HIPS

Last night my hips got really sore from all that standing around at the drill yesterday. I have come to realize that standing is way more difficult for me than walking. Walking hurts after a while but I get significantly more sore from standing for long periods of time. Like when we went to Disney, I had a hard time standing on the lines waiting for the rides. I think it is the pressure of bones on bones when standing around.

This morning I didn't feel much better than yesterday. After running some errands and taking my first online test for my animal rescue class, I went in the hot tub. I felt much better after soaking for a while. I brought a magazine with me so I would stay in for a while and really soak my aching bones. I have to say I am feeling much better.

I am sure tomorrow, I will feel much better than today!

The test for the animal rescue course was much more difficult than anticipated. It also took much more time than I thought it would. I have two more tests so I better get cracking!

Until tomorrow...

TOO MUCH SUN AT THE DRILL

Today was the yearly drill for the neighborhood emergency responders. We all get dressed up in our vests and hard hats and show up at a designated spot and run disaster drills. We set up an incident command tent and go put out a fire and practice triage. After this week it really felt like we were doing something to get ready for an emergency.

I put out a fire, walked to a make believe car accident and reported back and got a dummy out from under a 1,000 pound beam using cribbing. I didn't do triage this time since I just did it a few weeks ago.

I put on sunscreen but since it was a really sunny day, I got a little sunburn. I have found that when I get a sunburn I get very tired. I came home from the drill and took a nap. I was out for almost two hours. I don't know what makes me so tired. Sometimes I feel very sick if I get too much sun. I have to be so careful.

I am getting tired again.

Until tomorrow...

WHAT A DAY, WHAT A WEEK

I don't know how you feel but I am exhausted this week. I worked at home on Monday so I saw the whole bombing unfold on CNN. Then it was one thing after another with explosions, murders, carjackings. Then I worked (or tried to work) at home today. But who could get any work done today?! I was stuck to the TV. Last night I could not go to sleep because the police were in a shoot out with the accused bombers and one was arrested. Then I wake up this morning and one of them is dead. How did that happen?!

All this destruction and tension and devastation is tiring. Every time I turned on the TV to relax there was some sort of emergency breakthrough. Every time something happened there were hours of reporting and recapping the reports and recapping the recaps. But it was hard to turn it off, what if I missed something important?

My heart goes out to all those injured, killed and their family and friends. This has been such a devastating week in America. From Massachusetts to Texas. Lets hope for a calmer and safer week next week.

Until tomorrow...

STILL ALIVE; NO THANKS TO THAT DRIVER

Today I went to a client meeting. It was a nice day. I had the top down on my car. Yes, I had long sleeves and a hat on. I decided to stop at a Subway to get a veggie sandwich. I parked in the parking lot and walked to the crosswalk. That is where it all happened.

I stopped at the crosswalk and looked both ways. It was one of those pedestrian crosswalks that has the black and white stripes (or zebra crossing as they say in England). That means that the car has to stop. It also had the yellow sign with the little man walking.

I started walking and got 1/4 of the way and a car went through the crosswalk going the other way. I continued walking and when I got to the 1/2 way mark, a car went through the crosswalk kind of fast. I was right in the middle of the street when the car went through the crosswalk. The car practically ran over my toes! As she went flying by the woman looked out her side window and looked shocked that I was standing there. I guess she didn't see me! I guess if she had bothered to slow down... I gave her a look, like, WTF.

I continued across the street (nothing was going to stop me from my Subway sandwich) and got safely to the other side of the street. There were two older gentleman in a cafe and they looked at me and made the hand sign of one inch with their fingers and kind of laughed. I knew what they were saying, She missed me by an inch. It is true. If I had taken one more step, she would have flattened me like a pancake. I don't know if she was distracted or what, but she should not have been driving like that. She almost cost me my life.

But I am here still. All in one piece. And I got Subway!

Until tomorrow...

SOME UPDATES

Today my neck felt better. It still hurt but it was much less. I think the heating circular thing I am using is really working. I also did my Enbrel shot which probably helped. I don't have another PT appointment until next week so by then my neck will calm down.

The news has been so much these past 3 days. One thing after another. Hard to concentrate on other things. My thoughts are with all the people involved in these tragedies.

Happi got her rabbies shot. She was so good. Running right into the back room of the vet's office to get her shot.

I got a phone call with a new work opportunity. Yay!

It is strawberry season and I got a big basket of strawberries. I got to use my new strawberry huller! It takes the hull (or top) off the strawberry easily. I love it! No more cutting the hulls off with a knife. Just clip and twist. I cut up strawberries for a snack and made a smoothie. Delicious and good for me!

Until tomorrow...

SORE, SORE NECK

Okay, did I say my neck was sore yesterday? Oh, that was nothing compared to today. I woke up today and my neck was horribly sore and stiff. My morning shower helped a little bit. All day I was in terrible pain.

I think my first therapy session was a little too much. I have to remember that I don't heal very quickly. I tried to concentrate on work today but it was hard. Every way I held my neck I was in pain. When I got home I put this great circular heating pad on my neck for about 45 minutes. That really helped. It took the edge off. I was able to sit and do some work without being in constant pain.

I need to speak to the therapist and let her know I am a delicate flower (as my father says) and she needs to be more gentle with me. The therapy doesn't hurt when she does it, I think I just don't rejuvenate afterward. Where most people hurt for a short time after therapy, I don't rejuvenate and end up hurting for a long time afterward. My pain sensors are so out of whack.

I am sure I will feel much better tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

SORE NECK AND SAD DAY

Today I went to see the physical therapist. She was nice although a bit disorganized. She did a pretty thorough assessment. Turn this way, turn that way, how far can you bend? Then she put pressure on the sore spots. I felt better while I was there but hours later I was in real pain. Then I got nauseous. I guess it was too much on the first day. She did say my neck was in a bad way and asked why I waited so long to do something about it. I have exercises to do until the next appointment.

Right before my appointment there was an emergency breakthrough. The Boston Marathon was bombed. So many people were hurt or died. So sad. Because the cameras were already at the marathon, it was weird to see film coverage from the minute the bomb exploded. As my brother reminded me, I was at the Boston marathon 26 years ago to watch my brother run the race. It will never be the same.

Until tomorrow...

COOKING DINNER

I decided to cook a different thing for dinner today. Something that would last a few days so I would not have to cook again this week.

First I made a cauliflower casserole. I think if I made it again I would use little or no nutmeg. I feel there was too much nutmeg in the batch I made. I just love cauliflower and it seems to be in season.



Then I made a Quinoa Tofu Stir Fry. It is pretty tasty. Better than I thought it would be. It has quinoa, carrots, celery, zucchini, black olives, parsley, cashews, tofu, and a bunch of spices. Doesn't sound like it would taste that great but it does. It was easy to cook too. Now I will have dinner for at least two days!

Until tomorrow...

ANIMAL RESCUE TRAINING DAY 2

Today was the second day of Animal Rescue Training. We learned about animal behavior.

First we learned about dogs. It was a mini training of our first year with little Lucky! How to tell if a dog was scared or shy. How to tell if a dog is aggressive. Then we learned what to do if we encounter a dog who is scared or shy or aggressive.

Second we learned about cats. If you know me you know I am not thrilled with cats. I don't really get cats, I am slightly allergic and no matter how much I put out the vibe I don't like them, they always climb all over me! We learned all about cat behavior.

Then we learned a quick lesson in exotic animals. How to catch rats (as if I would want to) domestic type, guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes, birds, raccoons, etc. the guy teaching the course was like an uncomfortable professor with a quirky sense of humor that I am not sure was intentional!

I really need to get on the ball with taking the tests. I only have three weeks.

After the training I decided the pond water was too murky so I took 1/2 of the water out and refilled it with fresh water. Usually in the winter nature does this for me with days and days of continuous rain. We usually have to drain the pond so it doesn't overflow. I was so excited this year that I bought the extra pump to pump out water in he rainy months. We used to bucket out buckets of water. That mostly created backaches! Now I just drop the pump in and plug it in. The lack of rain this year means I only needed to use it once. I will see tomorrow if it did much to the murkiness of the water.

Until tomorrow...

WRITE AN ARTICLE

I have been asked to write an article for a newsletter! A local safety organization hear about my experience with the car driving into the garage across them street and they asked me to write a short article for their newsletter. Isn't that exciting?! I was asked a week ago but no one told me the deadline until today when they said the deadline was today. Oops! So they gave me the weekend to write it.

I feel a little over committed these days. My work is booming (I am not complaining about THAT), I have my pet disaster training course, neighborhood watch co-organizer, mom to two needy dogs, emergency disaster responder, movie night host, friend and partner. Too much?

I think I am going to bed early again tonight. I think this medicine is making me tired.

Until tomorrow...

CAN'T SEEM TO KEEP MY EYES OPEN

Not sure what is up today. Maybe it is the Doxycycline or maybe not but I am feeling very tired and fatigued today. I feel like if I slowed down for a minute I would just fall asleep. I am not sure why. I am supposed to finish invoicing clients tonight but I just can't do it. I am not even sure I will be able to stay awake to watch a show at 10 pm!

I wanted to take a long walk with the dog today. I have been taking really long walks since the weather has been nice. I just could not get it together to do it. I took both dogs for a short walk and then came home and cooked dinner.

I guess I better get some sleep tonight. I have to take my car in for service in the morning. My front light is out and it makes a weird sound when it idles.

Until tomorrow...

NECK AND STAPH

I went to the doctor's today. First we talked about my lovely rash. It looks better today but it didn't look as good yesterday. It has moved onto my back which is nice. It itches on my back but not on my front, if that makes sense. The new diagnosis is Staphylococcal Folliculitis. This occurs when hair follicles become infected with Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria. Suffice it to say, the topical medicine didn't work and now I am on oral antibiotics. My fav...

Then we spoke about my neck. He says my neck issues are probably degenerative. Common issue in people. Could be degenerative or not. I start physical therapy on Tuesday. I am to try this and see if it works. If it doesn't in a few weeks, I go back and they run more tests. Let's hope this works!

Until tomorrow...

TOOTH FIXED AND DOC APPOINTMENT

My tooth is fixed. I have a sparkling, shiny, new gold crown. Any more metal teeth and I will have a gold grill! It didn't hurt at all which was nice.

Then the dentist drilled out an old filling and filled it with a white filling. It feels funny and I may have to go back. It feels like some of the filling or concrete is sticking out. It bothers my tongue. I learned a few years ago that things that bother your tongue feel huge but are usually so small and miniscule. I am going to call him tomorrow and see if he can smooth it out later this week.

I am happy it was essentially painless. I was so relaxed I just about fell asleep. He said I was dozing off and had to nudge me to wake me up.

I called my primary doc today and made an appointment. This staph infection is not going away. It looks better one day and then it looks worse another. It is also showing up on my back. The creepy crawlies!

This pain in my neck is concerning. I know I haven't written about it in months but it is really bothering me. Yesterday some good music came on in the car and started to bop my head and the pain was unbearable. I think there is something wrong, more wrong than soft tissue damage. This has been going on for too long. I have been having this pain for months, since October or November. If it were stress, well, at what point does the stress go away and the pain stop? I am on enough anti-inflammatories to stop any swelling. The hot tub didn't work, a bath didn't work, the massage didn't work. I even lightened my bag to see if that would help, no luck. It isn't my shoulder, it is my neck. So off to the doctor I go.

At least my deductible for the year has been met already. I will give you an update tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

TWO ICONIC IMAGES PASSED ON

This morning was weird. I woke up to hear that Margaret Thatcher "The Iron Lady" had died. I didn't know she had Alzheimers. She had been the Prime Minister practically my whole life. At least the part of my life when I knew there was such a thing as a Prime Minister in Britain. She was also the Prime Minister when I was in school in London. I studied at the University of London studying British politics and theatre.

Then later in the day I got an alert that Annette Funicello passed away. First a Prime Minister and then a Mousketeer. Annette died from complications due to multiple sclerosis, a disease she battled for over 25 years. Annette was also the star of many Beach Blanket films some with Frankie Avalon. Who can forget Annette dancing on the beach in her bikini? Okay, who over the age of 45 can forget those images?
What a day.

Until tomorrow...

DOING A TASK YOU DON'T WANT TO DO

I have this task I have to do each month. Well, if I did it each day, it would be easier to do at the end of each month. I have to keep track of my time so I can invoice my clients. On a bad month I don't keep track and have to recreate the month at a later date. On a good month I keep track pretty well and don't have much to do at the end of the month.

I have tried many different ways to keep track of my time. I have tried a paper format with 15 minute increments that I write in what I have done and for how long. I have paid for a computer program (that also works on my phone) that allows me to start a timer for each task and keeps track in the program. Or I can physically put in the time I spent on each task. Of course I kept forgetting to turn off the timer and hours later I would get a notice that the timer has been running for 20 hours did I forget to turn it off?? None of these seem to work for me because I forget to write down my time or I get lazy and think I will do it the next day.

Usually I am really disciplined but this one thing is such a block for me. I think part of it is that once I get behind, it is SO hard to get caught up that I just bag it until the end of the month. Then it takes me a whole day to recreate it all.

I also cheat myself when I don't keep track of my time each day. There is no way I can remember all the tasks I do, the phone calls I take and make and the stuff I work on. So a portion of my time goes unaccounted for and I don't get paid for it.

Now you would think that making more money would be an incentive for me! Yeah. It is but not enough for me to want to do this task. Each month I swear I am going to do better and keep track of my time each day. I start out some months so good. I keep track of the first week or so and then something happens and I fall off the wagon. You would think that spending a whole day doing billing would deter me from not keeping track. But no.

If anyone has any ideas on how to do something you don't want to do, please let me know. I would love to hear your ideas.

Until tomorrow...

ZOKU SATURDAY

Decided to make some fresh (okay frozen) fruit Zoku pops. I took some frozen fruit and put it in the blender with some water. Once it was thin enough I poured it in the Zoku.

I had mixed berries and sliced peaches. I made some pops with just mixed berries and some half and half and some with just peaches.

When I do it over again I might put some agave nectar in the with the fruit. The pops need to be just a little sweeter. The peach pops seem fine but the berry pops are a bit tart for my taste. It was a good attempt and they are tasty. Still nothing beats those fudgesicles!

Until tomorrow...

DREAMIN'

Last night my little dog Lucky was laying on the pillow next me sound asleep. I was on the couch working on my computer and watching TV when I noticed some movement. It was a little movement at first but then it was larger. Her nose was moving, twitching actually. Like she was sniffing something. Then her tail began moving. Wagging. Like she was getting a treat. It was moving so fast. I was mesmerized. What was she dreaming about? What wonderful thing was happening to her?

After a few moments I thought this would make a great video! I reached for my phone to record this hysterical moment. I turned on the phone and got it to the video feature. She was still wagging her tail and twitching her nose. Then I made the fatal error. I hit Record and the phone let out a loud BEEP. Lucky woke up and looked at me. The twitching and wagging ceased.

After changing the settings on my phone so the feature would not beep anymore, I waited all night to see if she would slip back into that dream but to no avail. The dream had come and gone. My opportunity to make her famous for her tail wagging dream slipped out of my fingers.

At least Lucky got a good nap in doggy nap land.

Until tomorrow...

BOOK HOARDER OR NOT

I went to a book sale where I bought books for $2 each. The books were new and pretty recent. I got some good books but out of the four that I wanted I only found one.

I bought Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Fly Away Home, Night Road, Mermaid in Brooklyn , The Florabama Ladies Auxiliary & Sewing Circle. I wanted to also find The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Uninvited Guests. No luck!

I really have been waiting to read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. It sounds like a good read. I also heard Mermaid in Brooklyn was good.

I am also really into Kris Radish books and wanted to find Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA. Her books are such a fun and fast read.

I know the last thing I need is to buy more books. I go through phases where I read all the time and then I only read a little bit. Like right now I have so much to do I don't read very much. I don't have time. But when I do I will have books ready to read. Some day I will have time to read all the books I own. Maybe I am a book hoarder! I keep buying and buying. Although this time I controlled myself. I only bought 5 books. Last time I bought 1/2 a grocery bag full of books.

I have bought a few books on my iPad and I sometimes like it. I don't always like having my books on my iPad. It is dangerous to carry an iPad out in public these days so I don't really like to carry it outside. People have their iPads stolen off the bus or train all the time. Or have their bags stolen. In that case I would rather carry a book because no one wants to steal a book.

Now I am happy I have more books even if it means I am a book hoarder!

Until tomorrow...

LIKE PASTA

Today was exceptionally long so I decided to take a long soak in the hot tub. It felt great. Just like some pasta in a pot of boiling water. Now my muscles are so relaxed I just want to curl up and watch TV. I just need to figure out a way to listen to music without bothering the whole neighborhood!

Until tomorrow...

HAPPY PB&J DAY

It is that time of year again: time to wish your favorite couple happy birthday. It is Happy Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. A day to salute all those many days we all ate PB&J for breakfast, lunch and an occasional dinner! As a small child we asked for it and as we got older it was the old standby when there was nothing else left in the house to eat. Our old friend PB&J is always faithful.

Of course there is also its cousin The Fluffernutter. I can only eat a Fluffernutter on Wonderbread with creamy peanut butter. I am getting hungry just thinking about this.

Celebrate PB&J Day in your own way. Maybe that means making a sandwich, maybe not because if you eat another PB&J you will actually puke.

Until tomorrow...

CAR VERSUS GARAGE

Just when you think you have run out of things to post about, a car runs into your neighbor's garage! Today at approximately 11 am, a car came around the corner at the end of our street a little too fast. He missed hitting a tree, swerved and rammed into our neighbor's garage with a tremendous bang. Our neighbor was out running an errand. I was sitting on a chair by the front window so I jumped up immediately. I saw the car crashed into the garage. At first I thought it was my neighbor who had lost control of her car. (oh, I forgot to mention it was raining.) I yelled that our neighbor crashed her car. I jumped up and ran outside. On my way down the stairs I remembered that our neighbor got a new car and it was a SUV not a sedan. The car in the garage was a black car like a BMW. When I got the bottom of my stairs he had backed out and was driving away right past me. I saw a dark/black haired man driving a black car with racing stripes. I thought the stripes were red. I saw the license plate and started to say it out loud like they trained us to do. I kept repeating it while I ran inside. Over and over I said it out loud. I got inside and wrote it down. I then called 911 and it was chaotic. Dogs barking, people running, dogs getting outside. The dispatcher was great. I was out of my mind, out of breath, and trying to get the dogs to stop barking. I kept apologizing and he kept saying this was normal just take a breath and answer the questions. We then used our neighborhood watch list to contact the neighbor on her cell.

A few minutes later the police came and they asked me the same questions. Would you be able to pick him out of a line up? (possibly but probably not) What was he wearing? (don't know he was sitting down in a car) What color were the pin stripes? (I said red) What kind of car was it? (BMW? I don't know cars.) What time did it happen? (what time is it now?)

Then after the homeowner came home and the police left, a bunch of us went outside to talk about it. A funny thing, witnesses are the worst. Pin stripes: I said red, Brenda said gold or silver and our neighbor said white. Type of car: I said BMW, our neighbor said Mustang and the license plate came back Honda. The one thing we agreed on was that the car was black! We do may crappy witnesses.

But I feel good that I followed the training and focused on the license plate. I am 99% sure I got it right. I also followed the rule to not yell HELP. They say to not yell help but to yell a task or a thing to do: Like House on fire, call 911. I yelled car ran into Xs house, got the license plate and called 911. All sorts of neighbors heard me. Good or bad, I guess!

Oh, the neighbor called a garage company and they came and did a temporary fix. Tomorrow they install a new garage door.

That was my exciting day.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter everyone! I spent my day watching a movie (Argo), catching up on some recorded TV shows, going to see an open house and cooking. It was raining so I was unable to do any work outside. Yesterday I was outside until it rained. I cleaned up, installed a new sensor light and rearranged the furniture. I want to be able to sit outside in a chair in the sun. Currently we only have plastic chairs but want to buy some new furniture that is more comfortable.

When I woke up I decided to try my new waffle maker. I thought the waffle maker was great but the waffle mix I used left something to be desired. I won't use that mix again. The waffles were dry. But they were cooked and crispy! Yay!

I love eggplant Parmesan but I rarely order it because most places don't make it the way I like. I like my eggplant cut real thin. I like it cooked well but not soggy. I don't like it when there are seeds in it. I know there are seeds in all eggplants but some eggplants have less seeds. I found this recipe online and thought I would try it. It was great! I can't wait to have an eggplant parm sandwich tomorrow. I will add this into my rotation. Yum!

Then I made a cauliflower casserole. This is a way I can get Brenda to eat cauliflower. She loves this and eats seconds.

This was a day to eat well! I am just rolling around, I am so full. I have to get back to working out tomorrow.

Today I had to put Lucky's collar on. She has these special collars with pheromones on them. The pheromones are supposed to calm her down and make her less aggressive. We took her last pheromone collar off about 1.5 months ago and didn't put another one on. We thought we would test her and see if the collars are doing any good. After 1.5 months we determined that the collar does calm down her attitude and make her less aggressive. So the collar went back on today. She was SO unhappy. First she ran around and tried to rub it off like she does when we put the flea medication on. Then for a long time we couldn't find her. We thought maybe she had gotten into our bedroom and was on the bed. I went down to look for her and here is where she was: She was up on a box, on a towel we have out to dry off the dogs when they come in from the rain, in the entry outside our bedroom. She was all curled up pouting. When I came up to her she didn't even growl, she just looked so pitiful! She stayed there for about 3 hours. Then I guess she got over it and forgave me and came upstairs.

Until tomorrow...