Where have I been? Well, we've had the blessing of getting to switch to being a Mac family, due to an unexpected Dell system failure. And lucky me, I DID backup mid-April...so all was not totally lost. And the best thing about blogging your entire life online? BACKUP!! Almost everything not backed up is sitting here on my blog....just the last batch of photos that hadn't made it into posts yet BUT were still in my phone....can we say "Oh yeah!!!" for not deleting photos in the phone automatically??
In the meantime, I thought I'd share some Beauty Spa photos of my girlz......
Miss Sage, our Golden Retriever/German Shepherd Mix Rescue
Her new summer "do"...
Queen B...er.....I mean Sweety.... purebred Pekingese
Here new summer "do"
We thought we might take the groomer some Pekingese haircut photos...what do you think? lol
In other news, my pain has lifted.....as in G.O.N.E. I feel amazing! I will have a post soon detailing exactly HOW...I can't wait to share! I feel wonderful...have been walking a 2 mile trail with hills and valleys, working out in the condo weight room......the details give me goosebumps!
Now back to manifesting all my fave bookmarks and other items off in the land of dead computers.....in other good news....when we get this one resurrected, Andy has a new computer! Lucky Guy!
It's so nice when you have older children.....no early mornings! Around noon, we WOKE the boys up and got to opening presents. lol Here are some photos:
That is not a skunk in the photo - just our skunk-colored Pekingese. lol
Andy ordered Black shoes with purple swirl and we got the right box, but these pink shoes were in the box instead. Love them, but not practical. I have a slight affinity for all things purple. lol Will return and exchange for these:
This banner can be sent back when the Sooners win more National Championships and the dates will be embroidered on. When the banner is full (from all the National Championship wins in the future (LOL), the company will redo the banner entirely!)
Moved all the dog beds into the dining room and stacked them. Sweety thought - COOL! I'll be the princess and the pea!
Sage had to interrupt the show to see just what was going on - give her approval!
We tried to get more photos of Holt but he wasn't cooperative. Imagine that. lol
Merry Christmas everyone! We sure missed being with family this year.
When I won the Trace Adkins tickets at my high school reunion and even posted the date of July 2nd, I was not personally thinking this through in my head (not uncommon. lol) That meant 2 really close trips to Dallas and I didn't know if I could do it. But, we're home and I'm recovering from 34+ hours of driving to and from in 2 weeks. (not counting all the driving while there!)
It never leaves my mind that just 18 months ago, my "driving limit" was 30 to 45 minutes. What an amazing gift - thank you God again for the SCS - spinal cord stimulator!!
The concert was great - 3rd row, center seats. The biggest news was that the front row women did NOT have to all stand up and shake their badonkadonks when he sang that song, which is very good since I do not personally HAVE a badonkadonk. lol Just skin and bones back there, folks! (Does not apply to the rest of my body, sadly. lol)
Just 3 weeks late, I finally decided where I wanted to have my "birthday dinner" and we took the family to Maggiano's near Dallas. Love that restaurant and they had never been. This first photo is my sister Kelley, my mom Debbie and myself. It's been a long time since we got a photo together and I love how this turned out.
Look how tall Holt has grown!!!! (sshh...I was sitting down.) He was 6'2 the other day, with shoes on.
My sister and her husband, Craig.
We are still playing with our new camera and trying to find the best settings. This wasn't one of them. lol
Sage was glad to see us - such a sweet dog. She fell fast asleep and would have stayed there forever if Andy didn't need to get up. lol
My BIL Jay finished his outdoor landscaping, and it is beautiful!
We're glad to be home. Next up, moving. We finally found a place that will be perfect (our current landlords want their house back). Strangely, the "new" Cheri doesn't like to move anymore. OK, all you family and friends, pick yourself back up off the floor. lol We're hoping the new place is somewhere we can stay until we finally decide what we want to do about buying another house or condo or RV. lol
Thought I'd start with a photo of my girls, showing their new "do" after their beauty/spa appointments.
And great news!! The burning pain in my back that I mentioned the other day HERE, appears to be almost gone. Yay!!! I've been asked if it might be shingles and I actually have recovered recently from my 4th bout of shingles in 2 years (and that is always on my face in one nerve pattern), and this pain is WORSE than shingles pain. Horrid. But I am thankful it only stayed around a few days this time instead of a month!
Since Holt will be going to Texas for the summer, we thought we'd treat him to dinner. Now this is the child who hesitates to be seen in public with his parents. I mean, y'all, he IS almost an adult. Being the empty garbage gut that he is, he was suggesting steak, seafood (lobster), or anything else that might break the bank. lol Andy wanted me to pick a restaurant for my birthday dinner, but I plan to do that in Dallas this coming week. Woo Hoo!! So donning my "sweet amazing wife/mom hat", I suggested Bonefish Grill, one of Andy's favorite places that Holt had not been to. He enjoyed calamari for the first time, but I do not think he is my child - I cannot eat anything "rubbery". lol He and hubs ordered the same entree - Snapper with lump crab and lemon butter sauce. I ordered the Coconut Crusted Shrimp appetizer. So while the guys snarfed down 2 ordered of the bread, calamari, and their snapper dinners, I enjoyed my 6 pieces of shrimp and ice water. Not to worry, the minute I was done I headed out the door to do some shopping, "girl style" as we were in a super nice outdoor mall area. There ended up being a glitch in the plans - the guys were supposed to find me when they left the restaurant and accompany me birthday shopping, but Holt decided HE needed clothes and wouldn't let Andy leave him. Hmmmmph. So I shopped alone. Not feeling too special, especially after I was so gracious with the restaurant.......but I was a good girl and did not shop it up to get even. lol I did treat myself to a Ben and Jerry's scoop of ice cream, I think it was called Bonner and Buzz? Yumm. Malted milk, caramel, coffee flavor.... Again, alone. lol They finally caught up with me, heads down, but it was all good. Ice cream is soothing like that!
So today was my birthday - turned 44, a double even number!!! I prefer even over odd - I'm weird like that. I woke up in tears from pain, but thankfully the meds kicked in pretty quick. Not sure what that pain was about, as that is unusual. I got up and did my usual morning ritual while I wait for my body to loosen up and want to get going. Andy was cleaning out and packing up our older son's room as he moved out Friday. Not a word about my birthday. He asked me a little hurriedly how soon I would be ready to go swimming and I told him I was busy responding to everyone on F.acebook (a zillion birthday wishes, thank you everyone!) and he snapped, "You can do that this evening!" Hellooo.......HINT??? I wrongly assumed that since last night was all about THEM, that maybe I'd wake up to some flowers or a card or even a hug? Ya know what they say about assuming!
So 2 hours later in the pool, still no mention of my birthday and he was actually a little cranky with his mind elsewhere. I was thinking maybe he would be surprising me with something and was trying to throw me off the trail? Since subtle is not really an adjective anyone would use to describe my personality, I finally just flat out said, "So, you know it's my birthday today"? His eyes bugged out of his head. It was hilarious. And about 4 hours later, he remembered to get my card out and it was a very sweet card - have to give him kudos for that. There for a while I thought he'd be running me by a store to read some cards to save money. LMBO
After that sputtering start, we had a great afternoon in the pool. The water was so warm and that salt-water filtration is just heavenly. To make up for the sad start, he took me shopping (and just to be clear, shopping does not imply buying! I love to browse!) AND he promised to not rush me as he often does. (I rarely drive and therefore I mostly only get out on weekends due to my pain and mostly numb feet - feeling the gas and brake pedals is really important, ya know?) Surprise - he was so patient AND helpful (getting things I couldn't reach, for example, since I can't bend, lift or twist). I couldn't believe it!! We just talked and shared and laughed and joked. Had a great time actually. That alone was a great birthday present!
We did share another "NOT my birthday dinner" at Steak and Shake, another of his faves and then we ran by CVS to check one thing. Wellllll, they were having all kinds of sales, so I bet we were in there another 45 minutes? lol The "new" Cheri has no sense of time, is just SO relaxed, and simply enjoys her excursions into town with her sweet husband. Not once did he get annoyed, or rush me, or "half-listen" like guys sometimes do. lol
The main purpose of our trip (outside of seeing family) is I have 2 high school reunions - one has been dubbed a "Super Reunion" for a span of years, and then the next night is an informal band reunion. Yes, I was a band geek, playing bassoon in concert season (both band AND orchestra - Yep, I do NOT wonder why more of the "cool" guys wouldn't ask me out!) and then after one marching season in the flag corp, I took up Tenor Sax for marching season. So fun! If you weren't in band, you can't know just how close that band bond can be. Love my band buddies!!
Her passion is studying the brain and on the inside jacket cover, it states: "In this revised edition, Dr. Leaf clearly illustrates how the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience prove scripture - that you can renew your mind. You can break the cycle of toxic thinking. You can break unhealthy patterns. Learn how "The Dirty Dozen", twelve areas of toxic thinking, can be swept away. And uncover how healthy thoughts can actually start to help improve every area of your life - your relationships, your health and even your success."
THIS is the book I have been looking for, as I have watched how my pain worsens/skyrockets as stress increases in my life from other sources. When I get control of my mind and stop worrying/dwelling/crying.....my pain improves. But I wanted a book to help me step by step, as frankly living with never-ending pain is nothing something easily ignored, let alone anything else to add to it. So far, I highly recommend the book! Here is a video I watched online with her in an interview:
Anyhoo, I'll have an official review of this someday soon. No paid request, just my personal interest!
After we get back from Dallas, hubs and I will have a new life -no kids!! Wonder what that will be like? (Just until August, but still, looking forward to it!)
No, you did not misread that title. Yes, I took my pet's medication.
I had to post this photo of Sweety at age 6 months. A face only a mother could love? lol She is now 7 years old.
First, some important info: I am REALLY bad about getting MY medication out and then forgetting to take it. Hubs has been on me to take the pills the minute I have them in my hand - no more getting them out early, setting them near my computer. Doesn't work, I will forget. One of the meds I take MUST be taken on a regular schedule or I get messed up.
That said.........Today we noticed our Pekingese Sweety having an arthritis flare-up. She went to a beauty appointment the other day, and almost always comes home a little worse for wear. It takes a few days to get back to her old self. She has degenerative disc issues in her back, and on the days we see her walking weird, she takes Previcox, which is to my understanding, doggie Advil/Nsaids.
So, when I saw Sweety limping, I asked hubs to give her the pill. He was busy. I waited 15 minutes or so, asked him again, and could just TELL, you know how it is.......he'll mean well but forget, right? So I got up and got the pill out of the wrapping and needed hubs to bring her to me. (I cannot bend, lift nor twist and getting the pill in a tiny Pekingese isn't on my list of "should do").
Somehow, I got distracted and walked to my bathroom to get my water. As I walked back in the kitchen, I popped that pill, the DOGGIE ADVIL, down my throat. I freaked! Andy read the box and it said something to the tune of, "Beware, not for human consumption." Great, just great. But was he shocked? I can't say that he was. Isn't that sad? ROFL.
As I start chugging water to go force it back up through vomiting, I beg him to call Poison Control, just in case. Right? Just trying to be smart. Well, I had NO luck on the vomiting plan (and bending over the toilet is also NOT on my list of "should do".) Andy comes in with Poison Control on the phone and tells me they do not recommend I vomit this up. Well, GOOD, 'cause it wasn't working! After asking the weight of the dog (18 lbs) and me (never should ask a lady her weight!) and my age(Andy telling them if I lived, I would be 44 tomorrow, lol), it was determined that if I do NOT live until tomorrow, it won't be because I took Doggie Advil. Things might have been different if Sweety and I were close to the same weight.
Thank goodness!!! And a few hours later, when Poison Control called to check on me, the funny girl asked me if I had started barking yet. Ha Ha Ha! And poor Sweety (the dog), I did not need to take any of her "30 pills for $40" medicine!
Sigh. I did not notice any side effects and also didn't notice an improvement in my pain. lol
It just never ends with me, it truly doesn't. So now, I'm pretty sure the next time I ask hubs to give Sweety her pill, I bet her hops right to that. What do you think?
If you haven't been to Upside Down Dogs.com, you must visit. That site will bring a smile to your face all day long. Over on the right hand side, you can search by breed, or you can just scroll to see the most recent postings.
I submitted this photo of Sweety in December, I think, and then forgot about it when I never saw it. It was posted mid-January, so it's been a while since I checked it. Isn't this a funny photo? You can vote for what you think of the photo - she currently has 26 votes with an 8.08 out of 10. lol There is no contest, just something fun.
We have some family who loves Boxers, so here is the link to the Upside Down Boxers! Click Here.
Take a photo of your dog upside down and submit it!(It is surprisingly harder than you would think! lol)
As all our extended family can attest, girls have not been well-received by our Pekingese, Sweety. Quite a stressful time, as many past visitors could share. Between barking like a mad dog to almost acting hostile, Sweety has just NOT been happy to have any girls over (outside of just a few female relatives that she sees regularly).
So, as I mentioned before, it has been literally a shock to see how Sweety is taking to Megan. Today was the most interesting yet - as Megan entered, Sweety did not even bark once! Just was happy to see her. Ryan is frankly speechless, but thrilled.
I've always believed dogs can really sense what a person is like, and perhaps those other girls were just not "right" for the boys, who knows? Sweety thinks it should be her opinion that matters. lol
Here are some photos to show you just how enthralled Sweety is with dear Megan. You'd have to see it to believe it.
Megan was here for over an hour and Sweety stayed like this pretty much the entire time. Wherever Megan went, Sweety went. Incredible!
I'm 58, mom to 2 adult boys, 35 and 31, and married for 37 years now. Time flies! For more info, see my About Me Button at the top of the page. Thanks for visiting!
