OMG...!!!!

Well.  I am nearly speechless.  My brain is still reeling.  We've just returned home from picking the dogs up from the groomer's.  Holy Crap.

The girl at the groomer's asked me what kind of cut for Ozzy.  Usually a groomer knows how to cut a Papillon, but I thought maybe she was asking if I wanted something different.  I said he normally gets a puppy cut:  shorter, trimmed, but still in the proper configuration for his breed.  She asks if I want it as short as Max's.  I blink.  Max has very short hair.  No, says I, just a puppy cut, not all his hair cut off.  We leave.  The dogs are not happy.  I'm not happy, but hey, how bad can it be..??

It can be this bad:

She cut off his trousers--the long bits down his back legs that look exactly like he's wearing pants.  He has no feathers hanging from his ears--a defining trademark of a Pap.  His full chest of hair--which gives him a lion-like appearance--is completely gone, shaved to within half an inch from his skin.  Seriously, it is the worst cut I have ever seen.  It's totally obvious this groomer has either never seen a Pap before in her life, or she doesn't know how to trim one...or both.  Poor, poor Ozzy.  He doesn't know what's happened.  He needed some major cuddling once we got him out of the place.  Unfortunately, so did I.

Max fared a bit better as he just got a wash and toenail clipping, though I fear we have set him back to ground zero in his comfort zone.  He was very upset to be back in a cage, and isn't his usual perky, happy-go-lucky self now.  I think it brought back all his memories of being in doggie jail.

So.  What have we learned from this debacle..??  That everyone has been traumatized, the groomer will never see us again, and I will have to grovel to both dogs for probably an eternity to make this up to them.  Buggers, I hate making wrong choices.

A Bit of Freedom

The boys are off to the groomer's in an hour.  Ozzy looks like a refugee from some doggie relocation camp, and Max needs his toes and stuff trimmed.  We haven't tried this groomer before, but it's next door to the vet and affiliated with them, so we're giving them a try.  It's also just down the mountain from the house, rather than clear across town and halfway to Grants Pass, like the other one we've used since we got here in August.  

I have a hard time "experimenting" like this.  Instead of relishing the few hours of freedom without the dogs, I will spend the time worrying that I've left them at Satan's Dog House.  I know, I know.  Ridiculous.  Unfortunately, several years ago at a very well-known dog store chain, I saw this horrible woman grooming someone's dog and it was truly bad.  I regret to this day that I didn't rat her out to the store manager, plus wait for the owner to show up so I could tell her what this vile woman did to her little dog.  So, thanks to that experience, I am forevermore tainted by the memory and always worry when I leave Ozzy...and now Max.  In Scotland, Ozzy had the best groomer guys in Edinburgh and I never gave it a thought when I left him with them.  I'm just going to cross my fingers that today goes well with this new place.

Alan and I were talking about what exciting thing we could do--between 10:30 and 1:00--then realized we needed to go grocery shopping.  The fun never stops in my world.  Though, maybe, if we can get the shopping done in a timely manner, we can at least go out for lunch.  Assuming I can eat, with a nervous stomach and a big lump of worry in my throat.

I think, at long last, that I am finally on the other side of this cold.  And, what a nightmare it has been.  Definitely learned my lesson about never, ever forgetting to wash my hands after being in the outside world.  Though I am still randomly blowing my nose, and occasionally trying to rearrange my innards with bouts of coughing, I feel much, much better today.

I haven't had time this morning to do my usual surfing for cool photos or videos, so the Tuesday Coffee Break will be postponed.  Maybe later today I can post some things; a cool picture of Ozzy, all handsome and trimmed, for one.  I won't get one of Max, of course, since he runs like the Hounds of Hell are after him the minute I reach for the camera.  I don't know what's up with that.  

Alrighty then.  Off to the groomer's...

Rainbows

I know for those of you buried under snow, or shivering in cold January weather, what I'm going to say next will be totally annoying.  Sorry.

The weather in southern Oregon today is absolutely amazing.  It's warm and sunny, and though the clouds are building over the mountains with rain expected later, you would never in your wildest dreams imagine it was January.  I was just outside with the dogs...in a thin tee shirt and jeans.  Alan and I were laughing about trying this in Edinburgh.  Now, you could do it, but only after hypothermia set in and you were too frozen to know the difference.

We've had torrential rains all weekend, and walking the dogs yesterday along the river was pretty exciting as the Umpqua was flooded and raging.  I took my camera, but with two dogs, an umbrella, a cup of coffee and strong winds...photos just weren't gonna happen.  Once the rains stopped, sometime last night, this warm tropical breeze kicked in, the temps rose, and wow, I think I can smell Hawaii in the air.  Which isn't a joke.  The warm weather system is coming from Hawaii..!!  A far cry from the systems which used to come from Norway and slam into Scotland's east coast, that's for sure.

Here are some pictures I took a few minutes ago.  You can see the next storm coming over the Coast Range, but behind me it's blue skies and sunshine...hence the rainbow, obviously.  It looks like a beam of color coming right out of a hole in the clouds, doesn't it..??

For most of the year we can't see the Umpqua River from the house because of the trees along its banks.  In the winter, it's a whole different scenario, with the river clearly visible.

I love this closer shot, particularly the way it seems like you're viewing the layered ridges as they climb into the mountains through colored air.

It's way too nice to stay indoors, so we're heading off with the dogs to the park.  Hopefully, with this unexpectedly glorious weather, the adventure won't be the usual Swamp Walk.  

Hey.  I can dream, can't I..??

Stormy Sunday

We are experiencing a monumental rain storm today...well, actually it started last night and hasn't let up since.  Buckets of rain and lots of flooding in rivers and streams all up and down the Pacific NW.  I really don't mind, especially on a Sunday which should be a lazy, do-nothing day anyway, though I will no doubt change my mind when it comes to the dog walk later.  If it's raining as hard then, as now, I don't think we will be leaving the mountain today.  The dogs can just use the very servicable back garden instead.

I think I'll go bake something, though don't know what yet.  Cake, cupcakes, cookies...??  Or maybe I'll make a big pot of soup.  I need some inspiration but so far--on this dreary, stormy day--inspiration seems to still be in bed, sound asleep.  Don't I wish...

My humor might not be appreciated by some, but I can't imagine anyone not laughing at this video.  The mother is trying to make the babe crawl, or move, or something...but then...

I swear, I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face.  Maybe I just have a very warped sense of humor...??  Nah.  It's just downright funny...though next time, Mum..??  You might want to lighten up on that baby powder.  (Courtesy of Videobash)

Here's a good one, too.  What in the world could it mean..??  Saw off part of the chair you're sitting in..??  There's no red slash across the symbol--meaning don't do this--so I guess in Switzerland, it's okay..??  I'm truly clueless on this one.

Okay, best get into the kitchen and decide what damage I can do.  After I stop laughing at that baby video...

Rambles

The refrigerator was exchanged yesterday, and the new one looks as good as a new one should.  So that whole deliver/install fiasco is over.  I've used the new dishwasher--what a dream machine it is..!!--rearranged the shelving in the fridge, and the reshuffling in the freezer.  All is good.

The boys are doing very well together, though unfortunately Ozzy is teaching Max two of his most annoying habits: barking like a loon before we go on a walk, and running off with wild abandon on the off-chance that a bird in the bush is really a squirrel.  Yesterday at the park, Oz took off like a Greyhound with Max right on his heels.  I gave chase before they both ended up in the blasted river, slipped in the swamp/bog that is the grass these days, and ended up falling with a great splat into the mud.  I was covered, from shoes to jeans to nearly the top of my coat.  It goes without saying that I was most definitely NOT a happy girl.  Max is usually the most obedient little creature...until Ozzy leads him astray.  Funny how good habits aren't picked up, but the bad ones are.

I'm feeling a tad better today, though last night I was convinced a lung transplant was in my future.  I swear, if I had coughed any harder, my internal organs would have become external.  Somehow though, I had a good night's sleep for a change, and today I think it just might be possible that I'm on the mend.  Maybe.  I'm hesitant on this because I thought a few days ago that I was better, then had a relapse.

Here's a heads-up to anyone in my email Contacts list, and a very sincere apology:

Yesterday morning I was writing a comment on a Yahoo article--something I rarely do.  No big deal, just me giving a very brief opinion on what I was reading.  Later in the day, Alan says, "I had a really hard time deleting that comment you made."  I look at him blankly.  (What comment..??  I'm thinking in my head).

Turns out, when I made the comment, for some unknown and inexcusable reason, Yahoo decided to send the article/comment to everyone in my Contacts list.  NO, no, a hundred times no...!!!!!  I have never signed up for any such thing to happen, nor are my contacts EVER be used by anyone but me. 

I was outraged.  






I immediately thought my only recourse would be to send an apology email to everyone, explaining this debacle, then realized I would be spamming my own spam.  Oh, the humanity.  Trust me folks, I will never comment on a Yahoo article again.  I should sue the bastards for their invasion of my privacy.

So.  Mea culpa, and I'm really sorry if you got some stupid email--supposedly from me--regarding a Yahoo article.  It was accidental on my part...criminal on Yahoo's.

On a lighter note:  Two good signs for a Saturday smile.  This first one is a very clever bumper sticker/car window sign.

This one is just plain embarrassing.  A bit hard to sell the product with this example, I should think...

Via Miss Cellania

The weather is amazingly warm today--60*, if you can believe that for a mid-January day.  We're going to switch around our routine for the dog walkies and leave in a few minutes, rather than after lunch as we usually do.  I'm trying to get a bigger block of time in the afternoons that doesn't include dogs, walks, or mud.

Which reminds me:  I need to put a change of clothes in the car...just in case.

Flix on Friday

I'm feeling a bit better today, though it's early yet.  I seem to dwindle as the day goes on, especially once we get home from the afternoon walkies with the dogs.  Still.  At the moment, I'm doing...okay.

Found some good videos this morning I thought I would share.  One is sweet and goose-bumpy, and two are just downright funny.

This first one is of a little girl, Elizabeth Hughes, singing the National Anthem...and then her mike dies.  There's one moron in the crowd who laughs (and isn't there always a moron in the crowd...??), but then, maybe you'll see what I mean about the goosebumps.  (The videographer wasn't too good, particularly in the beginning as he waves the camera all over, but once Elizabeth starts singing, it's okay).

Via Miss Cellania

Next up, we have Senior Olympic Synchronized Swimming.  Honestly, this was really clever and funny.  I don't have a clue who these people are, or where the video was taken, but it will definitely make you smile...

Via Presurfer

And last but not least, and really funny, is this compilation video of bloopers from a television fishing show, starring a guy named Bill Dance. This is hilarious...and makes you wonder how in the world the poor man got his own show in the first place.  His sidekicks aren't much better.

Via flixxy

So, there you go.  Something sweet, and something funny, to kick off the weekend.  I'm waiting for the Sears delivery guys to bring the new fridge--which is to be sometime before lunch--then I can play around with the shelf configurations, take the dogs for their afternoon walkies, and because I'm sick of being sick, I think a nice long rest on the couch is in order to hasten my recovery.  (Okay, okay.  That, and I want an excuse to lay around reading my book...)

Happy Friday, everyone...

Wuss

I thought I was beginning to feel almost normal again, that the cold was slowly dying--rather than myself.  Unfortunately, today I seem to have suffered some kind of relapse.  I had a most miserable night's sleep and today feel like burnt toast.  I'm going to fall back and regroup...as in, lay on the couch, be a wuss and feel sorry for myself.  Course, there's still the dogs to walk this afternoon, but then it's couch potato time.  Hopefully, I will get on the other side of this malady soon.

This about sums it up.  Back tomorrow...

 Via Buzz

Part Deux

Okay, I have to rein in my skepticism...or maybe just let go of my usual cynical attitude for a moment.  Whatever.  Let's just say, it's a good thing I didn't take the bet on how the dishwasher installation would go because I would have lost.

It went great...!!  Woo hoo...!!  The two guys--father/son--did a most excellent job and the washer is in, and looks perfect.  See for yourself:

That lovely blue dot is the machine doing its initial run-through.  If I had sound to accompany this photo it wouldn't make any difference as this is a near silent machine.  The decibels are incredibly low and in fact, when they told me it was running, I didn't believe it.  Totally cool.

It fits flush with the cabinets. too.  The old, non-working dishwasher jutted out about 3-4 inches and just collected debris off the counter, which was very annoying, particularly as the blasted machine wasn't even functional.

Now I need to go cook something, and/or make a really big mess in the kitchen, so I can load the dishwasher...!!  OMG.  I have a dishwasher...!!!!!

************************************************

Hmmm.  I would just like to interject an observation here.  I used to get this excited about a new pair of heels at the Nordstrom's semi-annual shoe sale, or a new dress/suit/jacket.  Now I'm excited about cookware and appliances.  Buggers.  When did I become a grown-up...??

Customer Service

A week ago, on Sunday, we went to Sears for the last day of their big After Christmas Sale.  They had some really good deals on appliances, which we needed.  So, we found a beautiful new refrigerator and a dishwasher for nearly 50% off.  We scheduled delivery and installation for Tuesday.

The delivery guy shows up in the afternoon, with fridge and dishwasher.  He first unloads the fridge, takes out the old, in with the new...and there's a big honking scratch down one of the doors.  Well, Jesus, Mary, Joseph and all the donkeys.  The unit is a gorgeous black so there's no way to overlook this glaring defect, even if I wanted to...which I don't.  Call is made to headquarters.  New unit ordered, though the installation guy says it just needs to have the one door replaced, not the whole appliance.  Headquarters disagrees.  I really don't care what they do, I just want a fridge that doesn't look like it was beat with a stick before it has even been used.  The new one will be coming on Friday, though I'm hoping to just swap doors rather than unload the whole thing and start over.  We'll see how that goes.

And so.  The new, though damaged, shiny new refrigerator.  I wanted this new style with the double doors above and the freezer drawers below; so much more room, compared to the other fridge.  There's a little alarm that beeps if you don't close the door tight, and the water dispenser isn't a big gaping hole, but just a slight indent into the door, which leaves more room inside the fridge.  The icemaker is in the freezer, rather than the door too, again allowing for more room.  We looked at every single fridge at Sears, and this one made the most sense.

Here's a shot inside.  I had all this stuff in the old fridge and you could hardly find anything it was so crowded.  Now look..!!  Room to spare.  After the new one comes (whole unit or just door), I will rearrange the shelf configuration, but for now, I'm leaving as is until Friday.

I really like the freezer drawers, though again, I will repack them Friday.  I had to shove everything in as quickly as possible before things defrosted yesterday.  The drawers are deep, wide and perfect, plus there's a little wire shelf that holds butter and small stuff.  So cool.

And then.  Next on the agenda was installing the new dishwasher.  I have been waiting ten years for this--we didn't have room for one in Scotland.  Again, after looking at each and every dishwasher at Sears, we find one that not only matches the fridge, but has a stainless steel interior, is energy efficient, blah blah.  I'm anticipating the thrill.

The installation guy says he doesn't do dishwashers.

Um.  Sorry..??  What..??  We paid for delivery and installation, and for both appliances to be hauled off.

Nope.  He doesn't do dishwashers, though he will bring it upstairs.

Isn't it lovely..??  Such an attractive feature, and isn't that color just perfect..??  I particularly love how it goes with the dog beds.  AAAArrrrggggghhh.

Several phone calls later, conflicting stories, passing the buck, and many minutes wasted listening to dreadful phone music, we find out that indeed the Sears delivery/installation guy can't do the dishwasher.  We need a...wait for it...professional.  Well, excuse me, but who just installed the fridge..??  A truck driver..??

To spare everyone (and myself) by rehashing events too numerous and irritating to detail, I'll just cut to the bottom line:  We ended up driving back to Sears to get things straightened out.  After all that was done, and we were assured of a phone call that evening to schedule the installation of dishwasher as soon as possible, we come back home.  And wait...and wait.  No phone call.

But, lo and behold, at 8:00am this morning, a guy called from some local electrical company, and said he would be here around 10:00 to do the work.  I can't imagine he will take away the old one--as we were assured by Sears would be done--but, if not, maybe I can just roll it down the mountain into the scrub brush.  Okay, not really.  I'll be amazed to just get the new one in, considering it's nearly 11:00 now and no one's shown up yet.  We'll worry about the old appliance later.

So.  Customer Service.  Dead, dying, disappearing..??  I'm not sure what I think about this whole deal.  The salesman was clearly aware of our wishes to have both units delivered, installed, and taken away.  He never once mentioned we needed a different installation guy besides the fridge man.  The fridge man says we only need a replacement door; Sears says we need a new unit altogether.  We have to get a "professional" to install the washer, a factoid that seems pretty crucial in the purchase of this machine.  I'm depressingly baffled.

Any bets on a smooth installation of the dishwasher..??  Another post will be forthcoming later in the day...

Slow Coffee Break Tuesday...

Very misty cold day on the mountain this morning.  We had ice and freezing rain overnight, but it's already melted, leaving behind the chill and damp.  

I'm still in the might live phase of this bloody cold, though really feel better today than in the previous four, which is a relief.  Or, will be once I can stop with the cold meds, constant hacking, and nose blowing.  What a pain.

The two doggies are doing very, very well together.  Each day we go to the park, they seem to bond a bit more.  Max is the sweetest wee thing.  All he wants is a good cuddle and some attention.  He has started playing a bit with some toys, so either he's remembering toys after all, or just learning that they are toys.  Ozzy isn't so bent out of shape as he was initially--though I have to say, he really wasn't so bad from the get-go when you think he's been the Golden Child for the past seven years until out of the blue, there's another dog in his world.

************************************************

 
There's not much to post today for Coffee Break Tuesday.  It might be me...with my brain fogged by cold tablets to the point I can't see the humor in things, or it might just be one of those days.

One of my favorite actors--and okay, okay, my favorite heart throb--is Johnny Depp.  Here is a very funny trailer for the fourth Pirates movie coming out this Summer. Pirates of the Caribbean 4.  I just love Captain Jack Sparrow...


Here's a cute video about a penguin who needs to get to the other side...regardless of who, or what, is in his way.

Dramatic overreaction brought to you by Funny Jokes

The editor and/or publisher of this book really didn't give the title much thought, nor apparently the graphics regarding whatever is being stirred in the bowl.  What a strange book FAIL--though it's pretty funny...

Via Neatorama

And last but not least...just in case nothing above made you smile...this photo surely will.  Too hilarious...

Courtesy of Amo

Alrighty then, break time over.  Were you even able to finish a cup of coffee..??  I'll try harder next week...

****************************************************

We have to walk the dogs early today as there is a delivery guy coming from Sears some time between 1:00 and 3:00 this afternoon...our usual time for going to the park.  Do you think delivery people even work in the mornings..??  Have you ever had a delivery person show up at the beginning of the time frame..??  In my experience: No, and no.  So, we will sit here all afternoon, and the guy will get here right at 3:00...or, if we tested that theory and took the dogs anyway, arriving back at the house at 3:00, there would be a note on the door that we missed him.  Murphy's Law.

We're leaving shortly, so we can hang around all afternoon, and I need to get on with things here.  I will take photos of the delivery...and no, I'm not telling.  Stay tuned...