From Our House to Yours.

As we all celebrate this season, please remember why we celebrate.

Thousands of babies have become kings.

Only

1 King became a baby. 

Merry Christmas to All 

Did You Notice?

Were you aware?

It's Officially Winter!

Here it came in like a lamb!

It was warm and wet and better yet, from now on there is more daylight every day!

I like it warm and wet.  I would prefer it warm and dry and sunny but I'll take warm and wet.

I hope you are ready for Christmas, we are!!

Have a great week

SNOW COVERED HODGEPODGE!

Thank you Joyce for another weeks worth of Questions.  They were not too hard this week and for that I am doubly grateful.

1. Do you believe in miracles?

If you mean the "Parting Of The Seas" type of miracles, the kind when all the natural laws of our planet are done away with - than no, I don't believe in that. The age of that kind of miracles is over, I believe. However, everytime I see a baby, or look at the stars, or watch the snow fall, or hear thunder, or watch a flower grow, or listen to doctors who tell me how my body is designed, I see and hear about miracles.  God really knew what He was and is doing.

2. What's a recent fad you admit to trying?

I will have to wait to read what other respondents say because I can't think of one. I'm not usually tempted by fads.

3. Peppermint-are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite food or beverage containing peppermint?

image from Google

Yes I do like peppermint. When my stomach is upset, I like peppermint tea.  I also like peppermint hot cocoa.  

4. Break the ice, on thin ice, as cold as ice (emotionally, not literally)...which phrase have you run into most recently? Explain.

I really don't think that I've run into any of these recently.  I've met some of the most warm wonderful people ever to walk this planet.  I've been really blessed by this.

5. Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else's home? Still friends?

Well, since I'm sometimes a klutz I'm sure that I've spilled something in someone's home. I'm still friends with people no matter how kultzy I am. They love and acept me, klutziness and all.

6.  'Tis the week before Christmas...are you feeling more like Buddy the Elf or the Grinch before his heart grew?

Buddy the Elf.  I Love Christmas!

7. Share a favorite quote relating to Christmas.

God Bless Us - "EVERYONE!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We've had snow.

Lots of snow. We got about 10 inches of it.

Our front yard is very pretty and white. The roads are a bit hard to drive on.

Both dogs prefer to dream about spring however.

And as I type this, it's snowing - again!!

Christmas Hodgepodge Here We Come!

1. Are you doing anything special to mark this season of Advent? If so please share.
No

2. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen...and of course you recall, the most famous reindeer of all...so, which reindeer name best describes you this week? 

Comet, as we drive from place to place on iced roads and we slide all over the place. Good thing Hubby is a good driver on ice. 

3. What's worse-too quiet or too loud? Which have you had more of lately?
Too loud is far worse than too quiet! I can't hear myself think and I need to hear myself think. this week, it's been too loud.

4. This question comes to you from Zoanna over at A Penchant for Pens-thanks Zo! 
When you are administratively gifted, how often do you find yourself not trusting less gifted people to do what they've committed to do?  If you are not so gifted that way, but are reliable, how do you feel when the stronger person (in that area) goes ahead and covers it before giving you a chance to come through? 
I really don't like when someone jumps in and covers what I was given to do before I get to do it.  I'm really good at getting the job done and usually before it's needed to be done so let me do my job!! Luckily, that doesn't happen very often at all.

5. What is your most dreaded task relating to the holidays? Your most looked forward to holiday task?

I love Christmas so the only thing I can think of is taking it all down when the season is over.  I love it all!

6. Facebook has released its list of the 'most talked about' topics of 2013. Pope Francis took the number one spot.  Does that surprise you? He was followed by election, royal baby, typhoon, and Harlem Shake. Your thoughts? What was your most talked about topic in 2013? (Facebook, around the kitchen table, or wherever it is you talk)

I'm glad that Pope Francis was number one. He has done some really good things even going after a member who was "too showy" and he wants to help the poor more.  Nice man from what I can see. Seems like everyone likes him and he is humble as well. Our most talked about topic in 2013 - Cancer.

7. What's something you consider a necessity that others might view as a luxury?

My cell phone.  I use it for work as well as fun so getting email from work on it is a necessity. Also I take photos of dog that I am training and then print those photos for the owners.  They like the little touch.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
We are up north in Lebanon NH (2 hours north of us) talking to the Transplant doctor.  I'm still on for stem cell harvesting so we are up there seeing what is next to do.  I may not be on line but I will catch up with you all when I can.  Have a great day and hop around visiting others today OK?

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY!

Thank you once again Joyce for the wonderful questions - a few were hard and I had to really think about the answers.  

1. According to Oxford Dictionaries, the 2013 word of the year is 'selfie'. Your thoughts? When did you last take a selfie? Do you post them online somewhere?  Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind the lens?

I prefer to be behind the camera but lately I've taken many selfie's.  I wanted people to know that I'm good and strong and fighting cancer with all I have.  I wanted to document my ever changing hair and skin issues.  I posted them on FB and sent them to some folks.

2. Will you send out Christmas cards this year? If so, are they ready to go? If not, are you glad or sad about leaving that tradition behind?

Yes, we send out Christmas cards but they are not ready to go yet.  I've been busy with other things but I know that I still have time and that those who will get them will understand that I've been busy with other things.  That's why I love them!

3. Do you trust easily?

Yes but I don't "re-trust" easily as in, if I'm hurt by someone, it will harder for me to trust that person again.

4. Pine-cinnamon-peppermint-vanilla (as in sugar cookie)...of those listed, which one is your favorite December scent?

Cinnamon. There is just something about Cinnamon that makes me smile.

5. Did you do more talking or more listening yesterday? Was that by choice or necessity?

Listening, by choice. I'm naturally shy and an introvert so talking is hard, even around those I consider friends.

6. What's the last song that got stuck in your head? Sorry if it's back there now :  )

"The Battle Belong to the Lord", it has been one of the fight songs that got me through Chemo and I sing it often.

7. Which world explorer (in the whole history of the world) would you most like to have traveled with, and why? 

I'll pick Adam.  He may not have been considered an explorer but he walked with God for a bit and explored the garden of Eden.  I would have loved to have been there when he gave the animals their names.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A friend made me this "Remission" towel for us and it now hangs over the stove handle.  It was waiting for us Sunday night as our Bible small group was getting together to study.  It was on the back of a chair that I moved to get to the fireplace where I sat on the hearth with my back to a nice warm roaring fire!  I never saw the towel!! Some days I'm blond!!  The other members of the small group had a celebration for us and for our good news.  A few pies and carrot pudding and lots of ice cream, whipped cream and hot cocoa made for a wonderful evening.  Every time I look at the towel, I thank God for His answer and for our friends!

I also want to thank each of you who left such wonderful comments on my post last week.  I told you in last weeks Hodgepodge that I was in Remission and so many of you sent well wishes. It was truly overwhelming.  Many of you I don't know in person and have come to love you because of this blog.  Yet, you all gave me such support and love and understanding. I will forever be grateful for that.  It's been a wonderful, scary, hard, sickening, humbling and beautiful experience.  Who ever thought I would use some of those words to describe Cancer? 

So now it's your turn. How would you answer these questions?  Go on, answer the questions. 

By now everyone should know how to play, so come join us as we answer Joyce's questions

1. Are you settling for something?

I don't like the term "settling" sounds like I can make up my mind between 2 foods on a menu so I settle on one over the other. No I don't belive that I am settling for anything. I am very happy with the choices I have made.

2.  It wasn't that long ago almost every store in the US locked doors and turned out lights on Thanksgiving Day. This year many will be open all day Thursday, giving shoppers a jump start on 'Black Friday'. In your opinion is this a good thing or a not so good thing? Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving Day?

I will not be shopping on Thanksgiving Day. I will be celebrating all I am thankful for.  I find it sad that people sit around the table thankful for something, then run out to the store to get more.....

3. Speaking of shopping... I saw a recent article on the twelve best shopping cities in the world. In order they are-
New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai, Madrid, Milan, and Seoul.
Ever shopped in any of the cities listed? In which city would you most like to pull out the plastic or cold hard cash?

Never shopped in any of these cities. If I needed to pick a spot to spend money, I'd pick Paris because ....it's Paris!

4.  When did you last dine by candlelight?

When did the power go out last time????That would be when I last dined by candle light.

5. What do you have too much of?

Bills-cold weather -and dog hair on our carpet - guess whose?

6. The Hunger Games...are you a fan?  Did you read the book(s)?  Will you/have you seen the movie?  Will you/have you seen Catching Fire?  No spoilers please!

I did not read the books and will not be watching the movie until it comes on tv for free.

7. Share your plans for Thanksgiving Day. The who, the where, the what...especially the what! As in what's for dinner?  If you're one of my International visitors, whose homeland doesn't celebrate American Thanksgiving (the whole world doesn't ya know!), then still tell us your plans for Thursday.

Our daughter, son-in-law and grand girls are coming at 11-ish for breakfast.  We will have bacon, eggs, fruit salad, vegan potatoes, almond muffins, pumpkin bread and sausage.  Yes, bacon and sausage.  We will play with the kids and be thankful for all we have.
Later in the evening we will have our own turkey with meat stuffing, yams and veggies. Pumpkin pie and Pecan pie will be our dessert. We will also continue to be thankful for all we have.  Our daughter and her family will be visiting her husbands side of the family and our daughter is a vegan (rest of us are not, so that is why the bacon AND sausage)

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We are in REMISSON!! We are thankful for such great news and thankful for all the support we have received through this.  What a great word REMISSION is.  

Agility Saturday Part 5 - Recovery

In the end we had entered 3 games and qualified (Q'd) in 2 of them.The more Q's we get the faster we can move up to Level 2.  He had held his own, even running with Paula. He had met new people and new dogs. He had showed more confidence than I ever saw before. He had done more than I had hoped for and way more than I expected.

At one point we took both dogs out for a walk and the Judge was out there, walking her own dog. she looked at me said "What a great dog, it's so much fun watching him run and we all can see just how much fun he is having."  I started to cry. She had no idea what it took to get us all to this day.  No idea how many classes - how many times we worked in the corner of a class, on not barking. No idea just how fearful he was in the past of the Wicket, the people, the other dogs. All she saw was a confident dog having a blast in a agility sport. I cried tears of joys, tears of relief, tears of pride.  It all hit me at once and she had no idea! 

 Sunday was a day of rest.

I use to do dog therapy with Becke, and had mentored others getting started in dog therapy and told them once the therapy session was over, go home and let the dog unwind.  I followed my advice this time as well.  Becke was tired, Hubby was tired, and I was beyond tired. We went home had our supper and was asleep on the couch by 6:30.  I had the good sense to put chicken in the cock pot so we came home to dinner waiting for us!  Added Mac and Cheese and we were ready with dinner in no time.

We spent the day relaxing.  We went to church and let the dogs sleep. Had a good lunch and all took a nap.  We needed the rest. Becke is 13 years 10  1/2 months old, recovery took longer for her than I had expected. her Saturday was longer than usual, her lunch was not the same and her nap was lost watching her little brother for the afternoon. August was just worn out and hubby and I just really needed down time.

In the end I learned that goals are important. Both for our pets and for ourselves.  As we move forwarded with Cancer treatments and with agility  training we reach higher and higher, digging deeper and deeper and in the end come out winners!

Agility Saturday Pt 4 -Wildcard

By time it was time for August's 3rd run it was after 4:30 and I was fading fast.  Remember we were there at 7:15 AM.  I was tired, my body hurt and this day was getting a lot longer than I anticipated. I knew that if I stopped moving in the ring, so would August. Time for the back up plan - or should  I say, the back up handler, Paula. 

Paula and August have worked together before in our classes. Chemo simply wears me out and there were classes that I just couldn't do and Paula took him to class.  He  knows her and loves her so she was my back up.

We had a plan to make the change.  I would go into my office with August and Paula would come take him from me.  We have tried to have me hand off August to Paula and leave and August thinks I've gone to the ladies room or something  and looks for me.  We didn't want that, so if Paula takes him away from me, he seemed to think I was staying behind and he would go off with her and do whatever. So we had it all planned out.  Remember, we are working with a not-so-confident dog so we plan a lot.

Paula took him and I snuck around to watch without him seeing me.

The game was "Wildcard."

The object is to successfully complete the course, including enough "wildcards" to qualify.  The wildcards are optional obstacles that you have to choose to take.  When the course is set out one obstacle will have an "A" while another will have a  "B". The wildcards are 2 obstacles placed parallel to each other.  For our level we needed to complete 2 "A" obstacles and 1 "B" obstacle.

Paula and I talked about our options, what obstacle to take and what to use as a back up in case he didn't want to do our plan.

Paula is a competitor in agility and has several agility dogs with titles.  I knew she could direct him to the correct obstacle to make his "wildcard".  She did.

Even though he was getting tired, she was able to redirect him, get him to shake off the stress of the day and the very long day and still make it fun for him.

In the end, he came in 2nd place for his level and again we got a ribbon (although we left as soon as he came off the ring, we were all so tired and I really needed to lay down - badly -so we never knew he got another ribbon until the next day)

Agility Saturday Part 3 -Standard

It was after 1:00 pm before we were ready to run again in another game called "Standard."

While waiting our turn, we (And by "we" I mean August) visited without barking, walked around outside, watched the other dogs run, and even took a nap on my lap!  He was polite, calm, even looked bored at one point.  No stress at all.

In this game, the object is to run a full course of numbered obstacles in order, going over the obstacles in the correct direction as well.  The handler gets to walk the course without the dog so that we can see where the obstacles are, what direction they go and to plan how to get the dog from 1 to 2 to 3 and so on in the shortest possible way at the fastest speed/shortest time that the handler and dog can do it in. Sounds easy right, not so much as I've learned. 

We had 13 obstacles. We made no errors (mistakes like knocking down a bar, going over time, or running the wrong direction - yes that happens.). We had fun. We didn't have barking, or freezing, but we did have a slow time as he would turn around and look at the onlookers watching him. We also had the final jump that he first ran past, then tried to jump over it going the wrong way!! I was able to slow him down, get him to come back to me and go over the jump in the correct direction.! Then I exhaled.

In the end, he did qualify and came in 4th place.  I was stunned as they handed me a ribbon!  Yes a real ribbon that says 4th place on it.  He did it!

My cheerleaders included Hubby and big sister Becke this time (Hubby had a meeting for church in the earlier run).   It was pure fun.

We all love the Hodgepodge

I am temporarily interrupting the Agility blog this week to answer the Hodgepodge questions.  These questions have been around for 151 weeks so they have become tradition and it's bad luck to break a tradition. Want to join in? That's fine!

1. What lesson has failure taught you?

I don't like failure at all. I don't like to feel that I let anyone down, me or others and if I fail at something or fail someone, then I let them down. I hate that!  I do, however, forgive others for letting me down or for in some way failing to meet a deadline or complete a project.  So I've learned that I'm not perfect but I'm OK if no one else is either.

2. What decision are you glad you made?To marry Hubby! He asked me 3 times before I said YES and I'm sure glad he did.  This has been such a wonderful life.

3. I've been a little bit surprised to see fully lit and decorated Christmas trees popping up for the past several weeks in friend's Instagram feeds. So tell the truth-is your tree up and decorated, and if so when did that happen? If not, when will you be decking the halls?No, nothing is up yet. In fact the fall decorations are all still up. I like the colors of fall even if I don't like the weather.  Our Christmas decorations will go up soon after Thanksgiving but the tree will a be a few weeks before Christmas.  

Soon - very Soon

4. Solitaire-Poker-Rummy-Hearts-Go Fish-Old Maid...which game of cards would you most like to join? 

Old Maid is my call. Maybe Solitaire if I'm feeling blue.

5. This question comes to you courtesy of a Facebook friend, who once upon a time had a blog...When you're feeling stressed do you snack a lot or are you more the 'can't eat' type? Stress goes well with all sort of snacks don't you think?  Stress and chocolate. Stress and ice cream.  Hey! I've even had Stress and crackers. 

6.  Have you ever reviewed a product or service on line? Was your review favorable or less than favorable? 

I did review a product one time, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. I once belonged to a garden club and I got something. Clearly, it was not favorable because I'm still not using it or even remember what it was.....Oh, by the way I'm not a member of the garden club anymore either!

7. What was the best conversation you had yesterday? 

I always enjoy my conversations with Becke. She is at my side so much that I have to choice but to talk to her.  She is a good listener and keeps most of her opinions to herself.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Monday the temps were in the low 60's and if felt like in the mid 60's. Tuesday it was 40!! Worst of it was that it felt like 30!  It hurt to breathe outside and the difference was just hard to take.  What is up with our NH weather???

My heart goes out to the midwest states that had such terrible tornado's and so much damage.  My prayers are with you all. 

Agility Satuday Part 2 -Jackpot

Agility trials are designed to test both the handler and the dog. For CPE, each trail has been created as a game and each game has a name and rules.  Our first game was called "Jackpot."

Jackpot tests the course planning strategies of the handler and the dogs ability to work at a distance.

Jackpot is run as a two part course. A tape on the floor signifies where the two parts are.

The first part consists of the handler and dog working the course, attempting to accumulate at least the minimum number of points for their level in the stated amount of time. Each obstacle has been assigned a certain numbers of points. Some are 1 point while others are 3 points or even 5 points. The judge tells you the point value of the different obstacles.  In our case we needed 12 points, higher levels requires more points. The end of the accumulation time is signified by a whistle.  After you hear the whistle, the handler and dog then proceed to work through a series of  obstacles on the other side of the tape on the floor (called the gamble) within a time set by the judge. The handler must stay on one side of the tape on the floor while the dog works on the other side. The obstacles must be executed in the correct order without faults and cross the finish line to earn those points.

Since on Saturday they were running the game from tallest dog to shortest dog, and from highest level to lowest level, and the games started at 8 am, it took a very long time to get to August as he was jumping 8 inches, AND it turned out that there were over 400 dogs there! So it was 10:20 or so before we got into the ring.

Remember, we were there for measuring at 7:15AM! So we walked around, met up with other class- mates, walked outside, and finally put August in my office to sleep (yes, I work at this facility as the class coordinator and obedience instructor).  I watched the Pros do their thing, was surprised that I understood when either they or their dog made an error, and I asked a lot of questions.

A lot of questions.

The people get to walk the course without the dog to see where the obstacles are, which ones they want to do and which ones they will not do. They plan how to get the dog from one obstacle to the other, which directions the jumps go (yes, there is a correct direction on these things) and what end of the tunnels is the "enter here" side.

Finally, it was about our time so I took August out of my office, walked him again. and got him ready to run like the wind.

I had lots of people helping me, encouraging me and making sure I was where I needed to be when it was our turn. Having my cheering section with me was HUGE. Not only was August doing this for the first time, so was I, and as someone battling Cancer, my energy runs out fast so this was HUGE. Some were there for the day, another girl friend came in just to sit in the chair and watch and encourage me and August on our very first run.  Having her there, knowing she drove all the way from her house to this place just for us made me feel so loved.  Hubby couldn't be there for the first fun of the day, as he had a church business meeting that he needed to be at. As we came off the floor, some were laughing, some were clapping and some were crying, all were cheering. It felt so good!!

We began, we ran and we ended in under a minute.  We needed 12 points in the beginning, we got 29 points. We needed all 4 of the ending obstacle's, we got 2.  We ran out of time. We had a blast but we didn't qualify.  We did do something else however.

August gets uncomfortable and then barks and shuts down. He barks at new students that come to class, he barks at students that come to class late. He barks and freezes if he see something that is new and scary to him.  So here he is, in a large room with a woman in the middle of the room talking into a microphone, there are people sitting around the room that he doesn't know, there is a whistle going off, onlookers - lots of onlookers and dogs walking around - lots of dogs.  I was sure he would shut down and or bark like mad.  My goal for him was to have fun and we sure did.  He didn't bark, he didn't shut down and he stayed with me.  Here is our very first video of us. He sure did have fun, even if we didn't qualify.

Note to self: Why oh why did I wear white?? Note to self: NEVER again wear white!!! After 6 months of chemo and steroids, I've gained way too much weight and really need to do something about that. That aside, didn't August do great?

Agility Sautrday Part 1- Getting Started

Saturday, November 9th, August and I had entered our very first Agility Trial. It has taken us a year and a half to get to this point.  It's been a long road. August is our Powder Puff Chinese Crested and he is 11 inches tall and 10 pounds.  He's a small dog that is not very confident. When he faces things that he is unsure of, he can bark, back up, hide and shut down.

Agility can help build confidence in dogs and for him, it's been wonderful.
If you've ever watched Animal Planet then you've seen the obstacle course that dogs run and jump over, on, run through, or weave around.  It's a fun sport and I was looking forward to giving it a try but August just couldn't do it....Until November 9th.

There are many different agility organizations out there. We joined CPE (Canine Performance Events).  Why? Well frankly it was because the other students in my agility class were in CPE and I wanted the company.  They understood the rules. They understood the way they worked and their dogs would be in the same trial as me so I had a built in support system. I'm no fool!

Since we are "newbies" we start at Level 1 but many of the people at the trial were at much higher levels (5's and C's are the highest levels in CPE) so we have a very long way to go.

But before we get to run in the trial, August had to be measured - hence the photo above.

It's call the "Wicket" and the dog has to straddle the bottom bar while the top bar is lowered onto the dogs back to measure the dog from the shoulders.  The bar is pushed down on the shoulders just to make sure that the dog is getting measured and not all the hair that the dog has.  August has a lot of hair so he had to stand under this thing, while a strainge person pushed the top metal bar down on his shoulders to make sure he is short enough to jump 8 inches.

August hates the wicket!  I would take it out during class and he would walk around it but wanted nothing to do with walking under it!! As soon as I would lift that bar, he would run away!  So it took weeks and weeks of work getting him use to that device. Over time, he did get use to it as long as it was lightly placed on his shoulders.

On Saturday, they had the wicket on a table, so now August not only has to stand under it but he has to stand on a table under it while a strange woman measures him.  Measuring dogs was at 7:15am. The thought occurred to me that there would be nothing like ending the day before it begins because if he will not allow himself to measured, he cannot run in the trial. This may be one short day.

I knew we could use food for this so I had boiled chicken with me.  I got the food out and set him on the table. I told the judge that he was not very sure about this thing.  She was so kind and said "We'll go slow."  We started out with him facing her but he wasn't going to have any of that and turned around and put his butt in her face. I got him to straddle that bottom bar (praying "Don't have gas, don't have gas.) She then lowered the bar and pushed on his shoulders. My eyes grew as he began to lay down under the pressure and that is when I pulled out the chicken and held it over his face and he stood up to get the chicken.  She got his measurements, told me he was good to jump at 8 inches and let us go.

I finally exhaled. One challenge down and since he's over 2 years old he will not have to be measured again (CPE rules state that dogs need to be measured before their first trial run and if under 2 years old, need to be measured again once they are 2 years old).

He would not actually run in this first trial until 10:20am. We had a long time to do nothing.
More tomorrow because we didn't do just NOTHING, we did SOMETHING.

" HOLY CANOLI IT'S COLD!!! " HODGEPODGE!

Thank you Joyce for this weeks questions. I hope you all join in on the fun.

1. Describe a typical Sunday from your childhood.
I grew up in the 50's-60's so our typical Sunday was Catholic Mass in the morning followed by either lunch at our Memes house where would meet up with the cousins for lunch and then play with each other, or a drive in the country and stopping at some cafe for lunch.  The rest of the day was spent home playing with my dolls, playing outside or resting. Sunday really was a day of rest as stores were not open so there was no place to go.

2. How comfortable are you with uncertainty? Explain.

Not very. I know that I don't know the future and I know who DOES knows the future and so I know that I'm good, but I'm also flesh and blood and this body would like to know the future.  I struggle with this a lot.  I'm getting better at trusting Him who holds my future in His hands.

3. What have you accomplished recently that might be described as crafty, as in 'arts and crafts' crafty?  If crafty doesn't work for you, how about handy? Or both?

I make cards to send to people who I want to let know that I'm thinking of them, praying for them, or in some other way, let them know that they are not alone.

4. Have you ever worked in a 'food place'? What did you take away from the experience?
I worked in a small restaurant that had mostly hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza. What I took away from that is I never want to be in a place where I'm dependent on the money from such a place and that those people work very hard. I was so glad when they fired me for not being very good.

5. Cold turkey, talk turkey, what a turkey...in recent days, which turkey phrase or idiom best applies to you and why? Click on the word turkey if you need to read more about the meaning behind each phrase. 
I'll go with "What a turkey!" I took our small dog to our very first agility trial and I just got the videos and boy do I run like a turkey. A really fat turkey!  Why oh why did I wear White? With 6 months of steroids I've gained a lot of weight and boy does it show on that video.  I really need black pants. So what a turkey!

6. If you could have any one guest join your Thanksgiving dinner table, who would it be?
I would love to have friends that have moved away.  We talk and email often and boy do those emails get long as we go back and forth. Having them at the dinner table, we would be talking all day and having a blast.

7. What is one thing you must accomplish today? 
I have videos to download and then figure out how to add them to my blog for next week.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Baby it's cold up here!! When I wake up it's only in the 20's and 30's and it's not getting much warmer as the day goes on.  I'm so grateful that we have a nice warm house with the furnace running and the pellet stove going as well.  No snow yet, but it feels like it will be here soon.

FINAL CHEMO SESSION FOR NOW, HODGEPODGE!

1. My sister is celebrating a birthday today. Happy Birthday little sis! What's one way you're like your siblings?  If you don't have siblings how are you like your lifelong best friend or cousin?

I'm not anything like my only sister who is older. We don't look alike, talk alike, act alike, learn alike - nothing. I told my grammar school teachers that I was adopted when they would compare us. They bought it since we sure don't look alike!

2.  What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of yourself at age eighteen?

Getting married to my best friend. We were married 3 weeks after graduating high school, we were both 18 years old. It was a beautiful day, starting our lives together, walking the path we have been on for more than 41 years now.

3. Sculptor-actor-painter-dancer...if you could excel in one of these arts, which would you choose and why?

Dancer, I love to be active and it would be a great way to eat all the things I love, don't you think?

4. What's a scent that takes you back in time, and where does it take you?

The smell of real Christmas trees. It reminds me of the times we had a real tree and the whole house would smell wonderful.  Now we have a fake tree, not the same at all.

5. November is for Peanut Butter Lovers (National Peanut Butter Lovers Month).  Are you a lover or a hater?  What's your favorite dish/recipe that calls for peanut butter? 

Lover but it needs to be Jiff, because choosy mothers choose Jiff!  Love peanut butter cookies.

6. What do people thank you personally for most often?

I send cards to people who are in need of some TLC. They will come up to me in church and thank me for them. I not only send them, I make them.

7. What event this year are you most thankful for?

Our 41st anniversary.  Can you believe we have seen 41 years together?  We used to walk the mall when we were newlyweds and look at old couples walking the mall as well, still holding hands. We use to talk about wanting to become those old couples.  We did. We ARE THOSE OLD COUPLES NOW.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

As the title states, I'm resting and recovering from Chemo for a bit. On the 15th of this month I will have another Bone Marrow Biopsy test to see where I am. I'm praying to be in remission.

So now it's your turn. How would you answer these questions?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN HODGEPODGE!

Happy Halloween Eve to you all and thank you Joyce for this week questions!  Join the fun!

1. What's something you're dealing with that might be described as tricky?

Multiple Myeloma - the blood cancer that I have. It is THE most tricky thing that I have ever dealt with!

2.  What's your treat of choice?

Depends on why I need the treat. Chocolate anything is good for just about anything but pie is good for a long day, cobbler is good for fun and my all time just for the love of it is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!!

3. Did you/will you carve a jack-o-lantern this month? Which real (living or dead) or fictional 'Jack' would you most like to meet in person? Why?

I've not carved a jack-o-lantern in a very long time. As for the Jack I want to meet, I can't think of any Jack that I want to meet in person.

4.  In your opinion, what's the grossest sounding word in the English language?

     Anytime I hear about a child or animal being mistreated, those words are gross sounding to me. How could anyone do such things to others. Especially to such young, Innocents and animals.

5. When did your heart last skip a beat?

My heart skips a beat a lot. When Hubby calls my name, when our grand children call me Grannie and when my oldest grand daughter told me "Grannie, you are the BEST GRANNIE EVER!!!

6. Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Picket, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon, or Ray Parker Jr.'s Ghostbusters...your favorite 'scary' tune?

I really like Thriller.

7.   It was a dark and stormy night when______________________________.

The lights went off because of the storm and we spent the whole night huddling up to the fire and talking.  It turned out to be a wonderful night.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We Are Boston STRONG!

GO RED SOX ! ! !

HUBBY COPIED MY QUESTIONS FOR ME HODGEPODGE

Thank you Joyce for easy questions this week, I need easy these days. 

1. When it comes to good manners, what two top your list of most important?

Please and Thank You.  Simple, straight forward, and always useful.

2. Let's open a proverbial can of worms...Common Core.  Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)?  If so, care to share your thoughts? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest issues schools (in your home country) face today?

Yes I know what it is and I don't like it. They teach to the test, ask 2nd graders to challenge their parents decision about what to have and what to do. They teach math in a way that no one can understand and no one child learns the same as others so this Common Core doesn't allow for that at all.

3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why.
None, I dress for my life, my job, my pocket book - not someone else'. 

4. How are you affected by the changing seasons?

My asthma is worst in the fall and especially in the winter. I can breath just fine in the summer heat and even those "muggy" days, but in the cold, my lungs just freeze and stop working. It's bloody painful!!

5. Scariest book you've ever read?

I don't read scary books, I don't like to be scared.

6. What time of day are you most hungry? What's your go-to snack?

3pm. I just get home from work and I'm getting ready to feed the dogs so I'm hungry too. My go-to-snack is fruit.

7. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others?

At the moment I am very needy.  I have a lot that I start, but don't finish so it ends up on Hubby's plate to finish. He really did copy the questions for me this week, last week as well if I remember correctly.  I find it hard to deal with it in others so I really hate that I am one of those people right now.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Hubby took care of getting the double windows down so we will be warmer now that the heat is on. It's suppose to be really cold at night the next few days so I'm glad about that!  The leaves need to be raked or blown away but we just can't get to it right now. I'm trying my first agility trial with August on November 7th and have a back up handler in case my body just can't do it.  I started Yoga this week per the advice of my Oncologist to build up strength and flexibility as this is something that I will need in the future. Talk about Random!!! Just like my brain!!

So now it' your turn. How would you answer the questions?

Another Day....Another Hodgepodge.

1. What was your biggest worry five years ago?  Is it still a worry? 
My biggest worry was "When is Hubby going to Retire?"  He is a hard working man and I really wanted him to retire.  Is it still a worry - NO, thankfully he retired and is home working for me now.....

2. Yesterday (October 15th) was National Grouch Day...what makes you grouchy? What cheers you up when you're feeling grouchy?
Lack of sleep makes me grouchy.  Sometimes August will get me up at Zero Dark- Thirty to go out and then once I get to back to bed, Becke gets me up for the same reason so I finally get back to sleep but then it's time to get up. So lack of sleep makes me grouchy.  So getting in a nap or sleeping very well cheers me up.

3.  In one word, how does it feel to be photographed?
Uncomfortable. 

4. Besides your parents, who would you say had the greatest influence on you in choosing your life path?  Explain. 
Hubby.  He has always encouraged me to do what I like/love.  He is my greatest influence.

Hubby with August when August was a baby.  For some reason, the big guy walks the smallest dog while I walk Becke.  

5. The crisp days of autumn are here ...what's something you like to eat, but only if it's crisp?
Warm apple crisp with lots of brown sugar topping. And ice  cream of course.

Image from Google

6. What's the most useless object you own?
A pocket calendar.  My life is in my cell phone, not in a pocket calendar. In fact, I placed the pocket calendar near the computer and it will most likely not be opened even once just like the 2013 calendar has not been opened at all. 

7.  Share a favorite fall memory. 
I remember when I was younger, my family would pile in the car and "go for a Sunday drive" up north. The main attractions was the changing colors but we would always stop to see the "Old Man Of The Mountain" and "Indian Head". Both of these are natural rock formations that were reinforced with steel to hold their shapes. Alas, Old Man of the Mountain has collapsed and is no more, but Indian Head still lives on.  

Old Man of the Mountain

Indian Head Mountain

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
We are getting ready for the colder months so our days are full of stuff.  Unfortunately, it's stuff we were not planning on doing but had no choice,  like fixing the furnace (power vent died), and replacing kitchen window (it really needed to be replaced). Hopefully, we will get to the other stuff that we knew we had to do.  Fall is cold here in the morning.