Christmas Ghosts – A Photo Journey

Well folks, here we are again at the close of another year. Another Christmas to celebrate, to remember, to forget, you choose. This post was inspired because I recently downloaded a bunch of photos from my phone and discovered that I have some really nice holiday photos. Because I’m a giver, I’ve decided to share my little walk down memory lane with you. Here are some photos from recent Christmases past. Enjoy!

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What Is Up With My Dog?

As you all know, I have an old yellow lab and he is awesome! I love him. He makes me laugh and smile and cry and shake my head in wonderment. He can also make me mad, but I’m taking the high road on that one.

I don’t know about you guys, but my dog does some really weird stuff. It confuses me. Like where he chooses to lay, for instance. Sometimes I just can’t figure it out. Usually he chooses the absolute worst place to lay. It’s usually right underfoot and in a dangerous spot. Why right there? Can’t you see I’m working right there?

And what’s up with the whole bathroom thing? I go into the bathroom and sit down on the throne and bam – there he is – right in my business. Really? Do you have to stick your nose there? Sheesh. I do not need to be watched while I’m in the restroom. It’s weird. It freaks me out. I have to lock the bathroom door to keep my dog out. Who else does this?

The dreaming is downright scary sometimes. I’ve often thought he was having a seizure or something with all the shaking and leg flailing and whatnot. The silent jowl quivering as if he’s growling at something big and scary. He does that all the time. Almost every night. What gives? All that whimpering and whining is annoying in the middle of the night. But, I love him and I’m worried about him so I sneak out of bed, squat down next to his oversized doggie pillow and rub his tummy until he stops. What is wrong with me? I’m a big ole softie.

They say dogs dream much like humans dream. If that’s the case, my dog has a nightmare every single night. Better him than me I guess. Weird.

The final confusing characteristic is his constant begging to play, but then when you throw his stick he won’t let go of it when he brings it back. Seriously? I’m not playing tug-of-war. I’ll throw it over and over if you’ll just let go of it. I’m not sure if he thinks he’ll never see it again and if relinquishes the stick to me or what? It’s so weird. I find myself negotiating with him about dropping the stick. I say things like, “You look like you want to play, but you’re not letting me play, too.” Or, “Do you want to play or not? Cuz if you want to play, you’re going to have to drop the stick.” “I’d really love to throw that stick, but I can’t if you don’t drop it.” Etc. etc.

Reasoning with a dog is just plain strange. And yet, that’s what I do. I can’t figure this whole thing out. Sometimes I’ll even throw a different stick (or ball), just to get him to drop the first one, but, nope; he’ll just chase after the second one with the first one still in his mouth. What a goofball.

Does your dog do anything bizarre? Do you often shake your head or roll you eyes at your dog? I mean, dogs are the bomb and all, but sometimes I truly wonder what goes on in their little dog brains.

Word of the Day: Cabestro

Fun fact about me: I never appreciated our pets until I had a puppy of my own. (Sorry Barney Boy. I was a bad human.)

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, March 2016. Photos courtesy Google Images.

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The Perpetual Wheel of Home Improvement Projects

Being a home owner is not all it’s cracked up to be. Oh sure, you get the tax credits and you actually have something to show for your payments, unlike rent or lease payments, but, you also get the headaches that come along with home ownership.

My husband and I have been putting some money into our home lately, getting it all dolled up and fixing some little things that have been bugging us since we moved in. We bought our house about 2 years ago and it was sort of a fixer-upper, although it was certainly cozy enough to live comfortably in. And please don’t get me wrong, I am ever so grateful that I have a warm safe place to lay my head each night. And I have a Deed with my name on it. That’s worth something.

Photo courtesy Google Images

But, owning a home is a little like owning a boat; if you have a boat, you’re fixing a boat. I’m a former boat owner, so I know. Anyone who’s ever owned a boat can attest to that statement.

So, we started doing some improvements to our house and each and every time we finished a project, we became painfully aware of something else that needs improving upon.

It goes sort of like this: When we purchased the house it had REALLY dated and ugly pink “fixtures” in the bathroom. That’s right, we had a pink jetted tub (how awesome is that?) and a pink commode with — a white seat and lid. I didn’t even know anyone on this planet manufactured pink toilets, but there it was in the bathroom of our new home. For 2 years we’ve lived with this horrendous monstrosity of a bathroom.

Photo courtesy Google Images

Well folks, no more. That’s right, we invested in a shiny new toilet — almond colored — and had the bathtub and previously white sink painted to match. Holy smokes, what an improvement! No more pink bathroom. How we marveled at the difference. For exactly fifteen minutes. That’s how long it took us to notice how stained and ugly the faucets were. We’d never paid much attention to the faucets before because we were too distracted by the pinkness of the “fixtures” surrounding the faucets. Now we need new faucets.

Then, we wanted to patch a small spot on the bathroom ceiling that hadn’t been properly fixed at some point in the past. It’s always sort of bugged us and we’ve always talked about getting that eye sore fixed. We had after all just improved the bathroom tremendously, might as well do it all the way. And so the time had finally come, we’d had enough of looking at that ugly spot and decided to fix it.

Photo courtesy Google Images

We plastered and taped and mudded it all up, waited for it to dry, then slathered a thick coat of paint on it. Awesome! It looks fabulous!

We enjoyed the amazing ceiling for exactly two days. That’s when we noticed how ugly and mucked up the light fixture is. Now, whenever we’re in the bathroom, all we see is the ugly and dirty light fixture. How could we not have noticed that before?

We should probably replace the light fixture now that the ceiling is so awesome, but I’m afraid that once we replace the light fixture, we’ll discover how grossly horrible the floor is. Or the cabinets. Or the countertop. So my friends, the light stays. Enough is enough.

I wish I could say the final product looks like this now:

Photo courtesy Google Images.

but alas, it does not. Let’s just say, it’s a hundred times better than it was, ugly light and all.

And on and on it goes. The perpetual wheel of improving then noticing something else that needs improving. It’s a vicious and never-ending cycle. I suggest you never start in the first place. Save yourself the headache.

What’s your perpetual wheel of home improvement projects? Please share. I’d love to commiserate. Have you ever seen a pink toilet or bathed in a pink jetted tub?

Word of the Day: Cathexis

Fun fact about me: I’m much better at paining walls than I am at painting pictures.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, March 2015. Photos courtesy Google Images.

 

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