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...!!!!!

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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.

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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...

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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...

Back from the Brink...

...though just barely.  And let me say, I haven't felt this crappy in so long, I had forgotten what torment there is in a bad cold.  Course, it's now gone into my chest so I have the rudest hacking cough, but even with the raw nose from all the blowing, and the tubercular cough, I think, perhaps, possibly, maybe, I might live after all.

Since all I've done for the past three days is wallow in misery and self-pity try to deal with this malady, I don't have a darned thing to write about that isn't about being sick.  I'm very, very sure no one wants to hear it.

Instead, I will leave you with this video about the luckiest people on the planet--which isn't me at the moment.  These are cringe-worthy in some respects because you really can't believe how truly lucky a few of these folks were.  The last scene had me puzzled for a second as I didn't think the bank robbers were lucky to get caught, but then...well...you'll see.

Hope everyone else out there is feeling good, and healthy.  Just remember: no matter what...wash your hands every time you return from the outside world...!!  Learn from my slip-up, people.  It only took one forgetful time, somewhere along the way last week, and look what happened.  Buggers.

Time Out

I have been struggling for the past two days with a possible cold.  I haven't had such a thing in years--and I mean years and years, so I'm not a happy girl that somehow I've managed to get a flaming cold.  I'm sort of germ-phobic, washing my hands manically religiously every time I return from the outside world, but somewhere along the line this past week I must have slipped up.  Dammit..!!  I woke up this morning--bleary-eyed, stuffed up, scratchy throat--and finally have to admit that, yes, indeed, I have gone viral.

In light of this affliction, plus the fact I'm too tired and cranky to sit at my desk, I'm going to take the day off...and maybe tomorrow, too.  Depends on how I feel.  The crappy thing is I don't have anything in the medicine cabinet to relieve my symptoms because I never get sick..!!  Buggers.

So, I'll be back...just maybe not for a day or two...

Flix on Friday

I only have one video this morning:  Max and Ozzy.  It's very short, and not very interesting, other than how cute Oz looks and how scared Max is of the camera.  It's also not a good video because I'm waving the camera all over the place, but you can get the drift.  In one frame you can see how white Max is around the face, which makes him look older, though I knew a guy in high school who went totally gray at 18, so there you go.

The boys are getting along fairly well, all things considered.  Later this morning I have to get my hair cut, so Alan will be in charge for an hour or so.  I'm going to revel in the peace and quiet of the head massage and hair trimming, and try not to imagine what's happening on the home front.

It's been very foggy and dreary this week in Roseburg, though that should change this weekend, I hope.  Usually, up here on the mountain, the valley and Roseburg stay in the mist, but we manage to have clear skies by lunch time.  Not this week.  There's some kind of air inversion--or whatever the meteorological term is that defines this weather system--that is keeping the fog/mist stuck over our heads.  I will be very happy to see the sky again...some day.

That's all folks.  Must get ready for my trip down the mountain.  Hope you all have a good, just hangin' Friday...

Courtesy of Bing

First Walkies...

We took both dogs to the park this afternoon...and whew..!!  There is no question that two dogs are harder than one, at least in the beginning.

Ozzy is used to walking freely, so we let him do his thing for half the walk before leashing him up.  I don't think Max has been leashed much in his past because he hates the new harness and flinched when I bent to click on his leash, though he trotted right along once we got moving.  When he really believes he belongs with us, he'll have more freedom.  Having two males substantially slows the walking pace as they both had to smell every twig, leaf and dirt clod, to say nothing of the endless peeing.  It's a guy thing, isn't it..??  Overall, things went very well for the first walk, on the first full day.

I'm thinking of using them for truffle sniffing dogs.  Honestly, the sky could have fallen and they wouldn't have noticed.  Whatever was in that patch of ground had their complete and utter attention.

You can see in this photo how close they are in size, which is really good.  I hope, if all goes well and Ozzy gets used to Max, they actually will become best pals.

Those are all the shots I managed today.  A few times I was poised to snap the photo and Max noticed and darted behind my legs to hide.  I'm just not at all sure what that behavior means, but for the time being, I'll forget pictures and give him a break.  Maybe there will come a day when he's either used to me pointing a foreign object at him, or relaxes enough not to care.  Until then, these two will have to do...

Max

Two days ago, we went to this place called Saving Grace, the local animal shelter.  I had noticed a few smaller dogs on their website, so we decided to just go look.  Famous last words.

The sad part of an animal shelter is, of course, the dogs who so desperately want a home.  It's a heartbreaking place--not just this shelter, but all of them.  So, we see several little dogs, all pathetically looking at you with hope in their eyes, and I tell Alan we have to take at least five of them home.  I was kidding...sort of.  It was almost more than I was worth to stay in the kennel area without sobbing for these lost souls.

Eventually, we see this lovely little happy-go-lucky creature who, despite his circumstances, has a smile and a fiercely wagging tail.  We make arrangements to go outside to our car so this wee dog and Ozzy can have a look at each other.  That went better than I expected, considering Ozzy has been an only child all his life.

Alan and I have The Big Talk, then we fill out all the papers for adoption.  As I wanted Ozzy's great vet, Dr Barry to check this little dog over, and we needed to get leash, bed, etc., we leave him in prison for one more day so I can make the vet appointment and we can get prepared to welcome Ozzy's new sidekick into the family the next day.

We have named him Max.  He was found by a policeman, wandering in the cold and snow about ten days ago.  The policeman took him to Saving Grace.  He's approximately 4 years old, and according to Dr Barry yesterday, is in great shape.  He weighs 13 lbs, and is black with odd little white streaks here and there, particularly around his eyes and muzzle, which make him look older.  He is a Schipperke crossed with Chihuahua, though he looks very much like a Schipperke only with a short, rough coat rather than the black bear fur of a purebred Schipperke.  And he is the sweetest little dog I think I have ever met.

For some unknown reason, he is afraid of the camera.  I tried several times last night to get a good photo of him, but the minute I raised the camera, his wagging tail dropped and he ran out of the room.  I can't imagine what that means.  What circumstances would make a dog fearful of a camera..??  I managed this one shot:

You can tell he's about the same size as Oz, though is 5 pounds heavier.  He's solid and sturdy, though would rather lay next to you on the couch, all cuddled in, than fight or scrabble.  Sadly, we bought him some toys along with his new food dishes and bedding, but he doesn't seem to know what they are, or what to do with them.

I had both dogs sleeping with me last night, one on each side.  I really didn't mind, until I wanted to move and knew I was pinned in place for the duration.   A funny thing this morning:  When I woke up, both dogs were on the same side, semi-snuggled into each other.  Ozzy woke up, realized he was nose to nose with Max, got this outraged look on his face, snarled and leaped off the bed like he'd been caught doing something illegal.  It was truly funny.  The two dogs are getting along far better than I'd hoped, though Ozzy is being very aloof at the moment.  I'm really hoping they end up great pals, since that was the point of getting another dog in the first place.

Later this afternoon, when we all go to the park for the first time, I will try to get more photos when Max isn't looking.  We'll see how that goes since he never seems to take his eyes off me, poor wee soul.  I think, after his experience (lost, found, put in jail), he doesn't quite believe his luck has changed.  But, guess what Max:  Welcome Home...!!!