The looks I get as I head out the door on Monday mornings…
Is it Friday yet?
Filed under: Pets, Teaching | Tagged: Pets, teaching | 1 Comment »
Sundays are for…
Posted on April 19, 2015 by auburnchick
After a morning spent at church with a follow-up of lunch with friends, a typical Sunday afternoon in Chez Auburnchick looks like this…
And this…
Thank you, DVR!
And this…
What does your day look like?
Filed under: Pets | Tagged: Pets | 2 Comments »
A Smelly Bonding Experience
Posted on October 26, 2014 by auburnchick
The Mr. and I drove separate cars to church this morning. He was ushering, and I was not. We went to lunch with friends afterward and then arrived home…with him beating me there.
When I walked in, a terrible smell assaulted my nose.
It smelled like poop.
Very stinky poop.
I walked around the house looking for a pile but didn’t see anything.
The Mr. came out of one of the bedrooms, and I told him the house smelled bad.
He said that he’d noticed something too (how he was not using stronger words at this point was beyond me).
Together, we investigated further.
He saw it first.
A long, wide pile of diarrhea.
Light brown diarrhea.
Liquid diarrhea.
The reason I had not seen it the first time was because our floors are brown, so the poop matched the floor.
Boy am I glad I did an eye-scan and didn’t walk all over the place. I would have walked right through it…in my fluffy slippers.
Ewww.
By this time, the smell had grown even worse, and we were both gagging, about to puke.
The Mr. has always claimed that he can’t do poop and did not change many poopie diapers when the kids were babies.
I MADE him come out of his hiding place, threatening him mightily. I told him I’d do the actually wiping up if he would hold the trash bag.
As I gathered supplies, he told me that although he had smelled something when he’d walked in, he thought it was from the very gaseous day I had on Saturday.
Ahem.
Something had not sat right with my tender belly. I’m so glad it wasn’t a weekday.
Teachers with gas…that’s a post for another day.
Ahem.
Anyhoo, I started laughing because I had thought the SAME THING…surely I hadn’t smelled that badly.
Ahem.
Anyhoo, the job required gloves. There was no way I was going to let the cheapo paper towels I’d splurged on a few months ago leak through. The Mr. told me the gloves were going in the garbage with the rest of the mess.
We breathed through our mouths and got through the sordid affair.
Blech.
We spent the afternoon with the windows open and Scentsy candles putting out a Maple Brown Sugar aroma.
I think this will go down as one of the second yuckiest bonding experiences we’ve ever had…the first being the time we cleaned up Chicky after she did her messy business on the way back from an Auburn game.
That’s a story for another time, though.
No pictures of our adventure today. I figured I’d spare you.
😛
Filed under: Pets | Tagged: poop | Leave a comment »
Only As Young As the Hodgepodge
Posted on September 17, 2014 by auburnchick
Sorry I skipped the Hodgepodge last week. Life has been a wee bit busy here in the education world. I’m here this week, though, so let’s get going!
1. I’m celebrating a birthday this week so a question relating to aging feels appropriate. Douglas MacArthur is quoted as saying, ‘You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.” Would you agree? If not why not?
I agree. I think that age is largely mind over matter and has everything to do with confidence. In other words, age is a number only, if you allow it to be.
2. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily in your birthyear, just the same date/same month.
I enjoyed this question because I got to read about a lot of interesting things that happened on my birthday, March 29th. As a lover of history, I enjoyed reading that in 1867, Congress approved the Lincoln Memorial. What an amazing legacy he left!
3. Describe a time or circumstance where you wanted to ‘have your cake and eat it too.‘
Oh, I always want to have things my way…and only my way. Why not? I want a new car but don’t want to give up fun money to save for it. That’s just one of many things I could share.
4. What’s something you do that makes you feel young? Something that makes you feel old?
I teach, and this, I believes, keeps me young because I’m interacting with teenagers all day.
I teach, which makes me feel old, because I see when they don’t know about things like typewriters and hair crimpers.
5. When did you last do something that was ‘a piece of cake’?
I started knitting a new pair of socks. Despite the cables, which look complicated, the pattern isn’t really that difficult.
6. Beef, wine, and cheese all improve with age. What’s something else you’d add to that list? (not necessarily food or beverage).
People, shoes, and blue jeans all get worn in and more relaxed the older they get. Funny but true.
7. If I were to have a giveaway when we hit Volume 200, what should I give away? By my calculations we’ll hit Volume 200 on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, which means whoever wins would have whatever it is in time for Christmas.
I’d love something like an Amazon gift card or a gift card for the making of a keepsake blog book (where you have blog posts bound into a book…a dream of mine).
8. My Random Thought
It’s Wednesday. I’m already looking forward to Saturday.
Why?
Because Saturdays are when I get to snuggle with my babies…
Being woken up to this girl’s face makes the stresses of the week melt away…
Filed under: Pets, This-n-That | Tagged: Wednesday Hodgepodge | 3 Comments »
A Sweater for Gambit
Posted on February 23, 2014 by auburnchick
As you know, I’m a member of a Harry Potter Knit/Crochet forum on Ravelry. It’s a fun way to craft items and compete against others for points.
One of the fun Ravelry traditions involves a spinoff of the Olympics. Ravelry’s version is called Ravellenics. The more items you knit that fit in various categories, the more medals you earn.
I challenged myself by setting a goal of knitting three projects worth a total of 750 yards to get maximum Quidditch points for the Harry Potter forum and Ravellenics medals for that section of Ravelry.
The first project was my pair of socks, which I blogged about a few days ago.
My second project was a sweater for Gambit. He was in desperate need because all he had was a Christmas sweater, which fits him perfectly, and a Disney one that isn’t really the correct size.
I found a free pattern on Ravelry, took some of Gambit’s measurements (that was real interesting, let me tell you), and got to work.
I used size 5 needles and Caron Simply Soft yarn.
We had several fitting sessions, and being the easy-going dog that he is, he acquiesced my requests…
My gauge swatch lied to me, and when I checked while working on the sweater, I noticed that I was getting more stitches per inch. I had to adjust a bit but didn’t start over.
I wound up finishing the sweater Saturday afternoon. It fits fairly well, but when I make another one, I’ll make the belly a lot longer and keep the back wider when I begin the shaping.
He seems to like it though!
I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Filed under: Knitting, Pets | Tagged: dog sweater, Knitting, Pets | 2 Comments »
As Tired as this Picture
Posted on February 7, 2014 by auburnchick
What a week.
Oh, it wasn’t bad, mind you.
It was simply a week…the first full one where we actually attended for five straight days in a row.
I’m beat…more so because I know my lesson plans, while shaping up nicely, still aren’t finished for next week, nor is my grading.
I spent a glorious two hours (yes, I did use the correct adjective) with my mentor after school methodically picking apart my student-created rubric plans, and I gained a lot of clarity. I think my students will be very happy when I present a revamped lesson plan next week.
Still, I am worn slap out and feel like Molly looks in this picture…
I think I’ll sit on the couch and knit for a while and watch the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, which I DVR’d so I could attend my students’ basketball game…
Tomorrow, I plan on sleeping in.
Don’t call me.
Or.
Else.
Filed under: Knitting, Pets, Teaching | Tagged: Knitting, Pets, teaching | 2 Comments »
Mani/Pedi for the Pooch
Posted on February 4, 2014 by auburnchick
On Saturday, I drove Pele to Petsmart to get a mani/pedi.
He was a bit apprehensive during the drive…
Those are worry lines around his eyes.
He whined most of the way too. Poor dear. I really should take him for rides more often, except that his hair gets everywhere, and his breath is stinky.
He’s a rather large dog with poor walking manners. Taking him anywhere is a huge pain in my behind.
When we got to the store, he was quite obnoxious…making me look like a pet owner who doesn’t know how to control her animal.
He piped down once the ladies in the back got a hold of him. Once they got to working on him, he looked, for just a moment, like he was actually enjoying himself…
“Take that, Mama. You’re not the only one who can get pampered.”
What the picture didn’t capture was him pulling his paw back over and over again…to the point where a second lady had to help hold him.
He’s the biggest wuss of a man dog I’ve ever seen.
His nails are rather thick, so this was a somewhat time-consuming chore but one that the sweet ladies did well.
Pele was thrilled when it was finally time to leave, and he practically pranced out of there.
I’m going to do this once a month so his quick will shrink down a bit (thus rending the techs able to cut his nails shorter). Hopefully, he’ll become accustomed to the routine.
Filed under: Pets | Tagged: Pets | 3 Comments »
Oh, the Humiliation
Posted on January 28, 2014 by auburnchick
I took Gambit to get a mani/pedi on Sunday. Before we left, I decided I’d better take off the Christmas sweater he was still wearing.
Um. Yeah.
Not cool.
He loves his sweater, though, and I haven’t been able to bear the thought of taking it off.
Fear of public embarrassment won over, though, so I removed it.
While he was getting his nails done, I shopped for another sweater.
I was thrilled to find this on the clearance rack…
It was a Large and still looked like a muscle shirt on him, so I took it off and returned it right away…before we left Petsmart.
I don’t think he minded given the not-so-cool message on the back.
Have I mentioned that I’m not very cool sometimes?
We went back to the drawing board, and I settled for the sweater you see below…
The colors are a little more “manly,” but the fit isn’t that great still.
Gambit didn’t seem to mind and sported this smile when we got home…
I think I’m going to put my knitting skills to use and whip up a customized sweater that fits him better so he won’t be too humiliated the next time I take him out in public.
😀
Filed under: Pets | Tagged: Pets | 1 Comment »
Dear Google Nexus
Posted on January 13, 2014 by auburnchick
Dear Google,
I’ve got a beef with you, and I’d like you to listen up.
Yesterday afternoon, I was innocently watching an NFL playoff game. I had been distracted, but I looked up when a commercial started.
It was YOUR commercial…for the Nexus 7…only I didn’t know this when the commercial began.
All I saw was a young man receiving a text message from his mom about his dog not doing well.
The rest of the commercial depicted the boy’s attempt to get home, with a closing shot of the dog waiting.
I’ve gotta tell you something.
You made me cry.
You see, I lost my poor Aubie last May.
I connected with that commercial because my own children, Rooster and Chicky, last got to see Aubie when they came home from college for Easter.
I took pictures of them with her that weekend. We didn’t know if she would make it before they came home for the summer. Chicky attended school seven hours away, so the drive was long.
As it happened, Aubie’s health declined rapidly after they returned to school, and we lost her unexpected…after phone calls to the kids about what was to transpire.
As the commercial ended, I was crying…and I. Could. Not. Stop.
Rooster, now living at home, looked over at me and couldn’t understand why.
It wasn’t like I chose to cry.
I know Aubie was only a dog…except that she wasn’t.
The feelings of loss for my precious fur baby still run deeply, and though I’m fine most days, your commercial dredged up those agonizing few weeks before we lost her.
Do you really think I’d want to buy a phone after having my heart pulled that way?
I teach Intensive Reading, and my classes are finishing up a unit on Author’s Purpose. Instruction has included information about how advertisers get us to buy their products, and your strategy falls right into line with what I’ve taught my kiddos.
Except that I think it was too much.
If you wanted me to feel something, then you win. You accomplished that.
If you wanted me to buy something…so sorry…but you lose.
I still love Aubie so much, but I really don’t want to be reminded of the companionship I lost when she passed away.
Next time, try evoking happy feelings. Those will work much better for you.
Sincerely,
Someone Who Upgrades Her Phone Regularly and Knows the Game When It Comes to Advertising
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLrfSLm9lPU
Filed under: Pets, This-n-That | Tagged: advertising | 3 Comments »
Ho-Ho-Hodgepodge
Posted on December 11, 2013 by auburnchick
As evidenced by a few of the questions, Christmas is drawing nearer. Am I ready? Not really, but everything will come together in the end, as it always does. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll play along by linking up with Joyce. Thanks, Joyce, for the fun questions!
1. Are you doing anything special to mark this season of Advent? If so please share.
I think I’m becoming a bit of a Scrooge the older I get and just can’t seem to find myself over-excited. I think that over the last four years, work has drained me, leaving me with little energy or time to do the things I used to to mark the holiday season. So, that’s my long-winded way of answering in the negative regarding this question.
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?
I’d love to say Vixen, but I can’t say that my outfits have had that WOW factor. 😀
Instead, I’ll go with Prancer, because prancing around my classroom, getting kids to stay on task, seems to be the name of the game ever since we got back from Thanksgiving break. Learning? What is that, the kids wonder. Their minds have jumped ahead to Christmas vacation!
3. What’s worse-too quiet or too loud? Which have you had more of lately?
Too loud is definitely worse and what I’ve had more of lately thanks to kids being unfocused and a bit too chatty (see question #2).
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 am the type of person who takes care of business when I say I will. Thus, I have little tolerance for those who do not. I tend to follow up…quickly…to ensure that things are getting done in a timely manner. It does irk me if someone who has tasked me with something goes ahead and does it. Don’t ask me to cover if you don’t really think I can!
5. What is your most dreaded task relating to the holidays? Your most looked forward to holiday task?
My most dreaded task is putting away decorations, which I won’t have to worry about this year because I have not decorated. Shocker, I know, but true all the same.
My most anticipated task is wrapping presents because it’s when I learn what the Mr. has purchased for people (bad, I know, but I trust his judgment enough to turn over shopping to him).
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)
The Harlem Shake made the most talked-about list of topics? Wow. The others listed do not surprise me. Mankind is a nosy species, that’s for sure! My most talked-about topics would be a toss-up between teaching and my children.
7. What’s something you consider a necessity that others might view as a luxury?
Getting my nails done every pay check is a mental necessity that others often view as extravagant. I care not what others think. Going to the nail salon provides downtime that I need. I work a lot of hours, both at school and from home, and I don’t really treat myself to things. I don’t like to shop, except for books for my classroom, and I don’t do many other things for myself. Having my nails look pretty makes me feel good. I feel no guilt or embarrassment.
8. My Random Thought
For a few years now, we’ve had a problem. Pele, our now-oldest dog (Aubie was the oldest before she passed away in May) has insisted on sleeping on the couch. It started when he was a puppy and we allowed him there.
I know…bad, bad, bad.
When Molly came into our home, she followed suit, and I’ll admit that it was fun to watch the dogs chase each other around the house and over the couches.
Yes, I am a redneck, and Martha Steward would be having a heart attack.
At some point, we got tired of getting up from the couch with an entire skin of fur on our backsides, so we banned the pups from the furniture.
It was a long, difficult adjustment, but Molly finally learned her lesson.
Pele did not.
He’s not the brightest bulb, let me tell you.
I resorted to putting dining room chairs on the couches to deter him.
Did I mention that Martha Stewart would be having a heart attack?
Last week, I had an idea…very random but so typical of me.
I pulled pink packing wrap from a box I’d had for years, covered my couches with them, and waited to see what would happen.
Guess what?
The dogs did not disturb the wrap!
Not the first day, nor the second, third, or fourth.
It’s been about a week, and the wrap continues to do its job.
In fact, Molly is scared of it when I move it to sit down.
SCORE!
The wrap is so much less of a pain than picking up two chairs, turning them over, and laying them down, only to pick them up later when anyone wants to sit.
Did I mention that I have moments when I surprise myself with my brilliance?
😀
Filed under: Pets, This-n-That | Tagged: dogs, martha stewart, Pets, Wednesday Hodgepodge | 8 Comments »
AuburnChick's Adventures 