Happy Halloween!

So despite turning the clocks back an hour and despite the fact that I should be more tired, I was up until after 1am, watching, of all things, a true ghost story. About a mansion called Summerwind in Wisconsin. Of course reading about it isn't half as scary as a Discovery Channel re-enactment!

Scared out of my wits, I started thinking, "hmm, if I'm thinking about ghosts, will I inadvertantly cause one to move in with us?"

AAAggghh! It's scary just writing about thinking about it!

Buddy by a Nose

Buddy by a Nose,
originally uploaded by tostina.

I love this pic of Buddy. He's lucky he's so handsome, because Monday he not only ate a sock, he pooped it out onto the kitchen floor!

Not quite the angelic dog I thought he was, but still a very sweet, very loving, very funny friend.

Happy Birthday Daniela!!!

Bump

Yes, it's true. I am preggers and due in April.

So I am in the same boat as Katie Holmes, only I'm married... and to a sane person...

and Melania Trump, only I'm not married to a bzillionaire... and mine has good hair...

and Jennifer Garner, who'se husband, similar to mine, loves sports and strippers...

and maybe even Angelina Jolie, only Brad Pitt isn't the father, and really, I'm fine with that. I gave up that dream a long time ago.

And seeing as though we've tried on and off for about 9 of our 14 years of marriage, I didn't think it was going to happen. And I was thinking, "OK, I'll take the money and freedom and run with it", then, surprise, change of plans! Though still nervous that something could go awry, my belly is growing, as is my appetite. Bring on the pizza & donuts!

No More Bobble Head

Buddy eat frog

I got this picture and message from hubby. This used to be a bobble head frog.

Jenny provided me proof that her & Aaron are nuts, which is, of course, what I love about them.

My Hero

Jenny is my hero. She nourished my soul with Jamba Juice Sunday. On her way to Tennessee for a Storytelling Workshop, she came upon a Jamba Juice in the Charlotte airport. Once in TN, she kicked into action, buying a cooler, a lunch bag and ice packs for her trip home, and then proceeded to bring us all back a smoothie.

From now on, all of our travel plans will try to work in a layover in Charlotte!

Anniv

Today is 3 years since my Mom died. It doesn't feel so long. I can still remember the feel of her hug. The hardest part is knowing that her Grandchildren are missing out on such a wonderful influence in their life. She would be getting such a kick out of Mya (except when Mya is being bratty, which, unfortunately, happens alot these days - the terrible twos a little late)

Spray Yourself Skinny

Well, I knew it would be coming. We read way back that smells can increase your satisfaction with food, so now the Flavor Spray Diet is here. Spray angel food cake with Banana Split Spray and viola, a decadent dessert.

Now you know damn well that women (ok, me) will be carrying these sprays around in their purse and using them like breath spray. "Ooh, I think I'll have a dose of Birthday Cake Spray before my 9am meeting". I'm still not convinced, however, that it would keep me from downing half a pizza pie.

UGH

Ugh, I can't find my camera. I had it. I put it somewhere. Now I can't find it. UGH.

Thank You!

Thank you everyone for your donations! I've reached my goal and will not only be getting the t-shirt, but we will all be helping the animals!

If anyone still wants to donate, please help Sarah reach her goal too:
http://www.lollypop.org/sarahsthreads

And remember, to get an autographed photo of the doggies, send me your email to tinablog @ rochester.rr.com and make the subject line "Autographed photo".

Barktoberfest

Even though Buddy ate my elephant, I have forgiven him. He got a nice new dog bed yesterday and finds it quite comfy.

On Saturday, Buddy and I are going to join Jenny & Oscar in the Barktoberfest walk to raise money for the animals.

We'd really love to earn the "fabulous long-sleeved T-shirt" and just need another $25, so if anyone can donate - even just $5 - please do! It will be greatly appreciated.

http://www.lollypop.org/tostina

I know Jenny is offering an autographed photo of Oscar to those who donate, so I will do the same. Buddy is ready for his close up, Mr. Deville.

The Buddy Beat

My brother was sure to inform me that Buddy LOVES going for rides and LOVES double cheeseburgers, so Sunday night, I took him for a ride to BK and got him one. I got me a Bacon Double - so you can see how this can be a dangerous precedent.

How am I rewarded for this? Does he sit and stare at me lovingly? Yes, but only for a short while. Then he disappears into the other room. I wonder, but am too distracted by Desperate Housewives. When he returns, I notice fuzz sticking out of his mouth. He has nearly eaten my little stuffed elephant that inadvertantly got left on a lower shelf.

See, though Buddy is one of the most obedient dogs I've ever witnessed, he has a weakness for stuffed animals. An addiction, one might say. He wants to grab hold and carry them around in his mouth and NOT LET GO, EVER.

So in trying to get the elephant back, with distraction techniques a failure, I pried his jaws open and released the elephant... but it was too late. The trunk had been chewed off and it was covered in a slimy layer of dog saliva.

Goodbye Leetle Elefant, you were a good friend.

The Buddy Beat

waiting for cake,
originally uploaded by ljc@flickr.

Buddy had a great time yesterday meeting and celebrating Oscar's birthday. The pupcake didn't stand a chance.

He's been very good except at night. At night he decides to pace, shake, lick, make toys squeak, ask to go out, and generally keep me awake all night. I asked my brother about this and he says Buddy is a guard dog at heart and wants to make sure we are safe, which involves many perimeter checks. As for the licking, he tells me to tell Buddy, "NO LICKY" and he will stop.

Tonight I will try the discipline route, probably along with some earplugs, because as hard as I try, I can't fall asleep to "slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp, squeeeek, squeeeek, squeeeek... "

Tina and Buddy

Tina and Buddy,
originally uploaded by ljc@flickr.

Here's another pic of me and Buddy that Jenny took. I think he is very happy to be here. Even though we told him, "Rochester is not like Las Vegas, there are not nearly as many hookers or strippers here."

He seemed ok with that.

Buddy

My brother's dog Buddy arrived from Las Vegas yesterday. We are going to give him love and attention while my brother gets his life back on track.

Buddy is a very tall (as in, "hey, what's this on the counter" tall), intimidating looking Doberman, but is really a big, sweet baby. He carries around his toy and wants to sit on your lap. I am going to enjoy having Buddy around, despite the fact that at 3am, he nuzzled my face and needed to go pee. He's still on west coast time. =)

Devastating

I came home and watched the news. The disaster down south from Hurricane Katrina is so devastating. I can't figure out if the disasters are getting worse and more frequent or if it just seems so because we have massive news coverage, but either way, it's just heartbreaking.

At first I thought many who stayed were stubborn or stupid, but when I heard on NPR that many people did not have cars with which to leave, or money for gas or hotel, it began to make more sense. I remember a time in my life when I did not have enough money to buy a sandwich, much less fill up a $40 tank of gas. So I can relate to being broke and having little or no choices.

Now, with a good job and a comfortable life, I can, at the very least, make a donation. Along with a donation to the Red Cross to help the people, I donated to the Humane Society to help the animals.

For Peetza Sake

When I was in 6th grade, at the mall with some friends, I remember seeing a t-shirt that said,

Sex is like pizza, when it's good, it's good, and when it's bad, it's still good.

I had no idea about sex at the time, but I knew I really loved pizza. And now, after 14 years of marriage, if asked to choose between sex or pizza... let's just say, pms week would be no contest. Extra cheese please.

The pizza we had in NYC was delicious. One of these days I want to do my own Pizza Tour of NYC and identify my favorite. I guess I'd have to be there quite a while, then have pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I could do it. Don't challenge me. Or if the Dairy Council wants to sponsor me, all my Pizza evaluations will include something like "though the crust was perfect crispness, the amount of Mozzarella Cheese® was slightly deficient".

A wonderful weekend in NYC is coming to a close. We had a great time!

NY, NY

We are going to NYC tomorrow. I'm very excited. I love NYC. I love people watching. I love the culture. I love the food. I love the shopping. I love the fashion.

We will be seeing Spamalot again (so the guys can laugh as hard as we did) and going to a Yankees game. Jenny wants to buy a baseball glove, more for protection than to catch a souvenier ball. She doesn't want a Fever Pitch incident. My brother is excited too. He collects Yankee hats and is hoping I get him one (in the peanut-head size of only 6 7/8) and get it signed by Derek Jeeter. As if that might happen. But I'll try. We also may catch some Fringe Fest happenings.

I did my usual obsessive-compulsive nightly travel research and though at one point I had four hotels reserved, I finally narrowed it to the Dylan. It looks nice (and hip) and I got a great rate - I just hope the bed is comfy and the toiletries are good.

(Note as a result of hours on the internet: it seems you almost always find the cheapest rate direclty on the hotel's website!)

So, I am ready to guzzle down a Banana Berry Jamba, eat some Pommes Frites and enjoy the city!