Heading South & Meeting Ginny and Phil

Me:  I'm sorry Gracie but we're leaving for a couple of days and this time you'll have to stay at the kennel.  

Gracie:  But why?  I can take care of myself.

Me:  Gracie, you know you can't.  Who would leave you out to potty?  Who will feed you and give you fresh water?

Gracie:  Lindsey will.

Me:  Lindsey can't do it this time.  She has her hands full with Marissa being sick again and Robby is sick too.  It will be okay.  You've been to the kennel before.  You like it there...  remember?

Gracie... You know I love you.

Gracie: If you loved me you wouldn't leave me.  

Leaving Gracie at the kennel was horrible!  When she found out we were leaving she cried and cried.  I miss her so much and can't wait to get back to her tomorrow...

Friday.  Headed south!

I was so excited!  Because our plans included stopping off in Virginia and meeting up with one of my FAVORITE bloggers Ginny of Let Your Light Shine and her husband Phil.  I have learned so much from Ginny by reading her blog AND she always includes a Bible verse at the end of her post which ties in with the post for that day.  If you haven't visited her already, you really should.  

Okay, so I was a little 'star struck' and came real close to asking Ginny, author of Let Your Light Shine for her autograph...  but I contained myself.

We had lunch together...

 Her and Phil are the genuine, sweet people that 

I thought they'd be!  It was fun!

THANK YOU GINNY AND PHIL 

for taking the time to meet with us!  

Seeing the Girls and Mini Vacation

Summer is still sick.  She has a horrible cough.  We stopped by to see the girls tonight and Gary played with Rissi while I rocked my 'lil Kitten (Summer). 

 Sometimes she purrs...  when she's just about to fall off to sleep she'll make the cutest sound of contentment.  That's one of the reasons I call her my kitten.  

I rocked her to sleep in my arms

Rissi - pretending

As soon as she's put down - wide awake!

Gary is taking me on a surprise mini vacation this weekend.. well, it's not a surprise anymore because I kind of guessed.

We're renting a cabin in Mt. Airy, NC - home of Mayberry Days and Andy Griffith.  I'm pretty excited because I've always loved The Andy Griffith Show and I'm a huge fan of the 'simple life' that was portrayed in the show.  

It's about a 6 hour drive down through Virginia and into North Carolina.  It will be good to get away for a few days.  

Shhh...  don't tell Gracie.  

There's Always a Catch

I know what you're thinking...

Bobbi has taken up drinking.  

She's found a way to beat the winter doldrums.   

Actually the bottle of gin is for medicinal purpose.  I recently got wind of a 'natural cure' for arthritis pain that consists of gin and golden raisins.  Has anyone else heard of this?  

My sister recommended it saying it worked for her!  So I did some research online and by golly there are tons of people who swear by it.  

Seriously!  Look it up. 

Soak a bowl of golden raisins in gin for about a week.  Then  put the raisins in a jar and eat 9 raisins a day. In a few weeks you will start to notice a difference and before you know it...  no more arthritis pain.  

So I'm soaking my raisins now.

 And hoping that it works.  

Though I've not been to the doctor I'm pretty sure my hands are full of arthritis and I can't close my right hand anymore.  My little finger especially.  OUCHY!!

Having never tasted gin before, I dipped my finger in the gin to see what it tastes like.  Gin tastes good. 

So if you see that I'm talking a bit irrationally or misspelling words it might be that I've eaten one too many gin soaked raisins.  

Dear Diary,  

Today I got a surprise.  Mom said, 'Gracie do you want to go for a walk?'  WHAT?!  A WALK?!  I'd been watching other dogs up and down the sidewalk for thousands of days thinking... huh...  I don't get walks anymore.  My mom is too lazy says it's too cold.

But then when we came back from our walk..  

she had that look in her eyes...

and she said, 'daddy was right... it's too dirty outside to be walking..'

I wanted to run.  But my feet wouldn't move.  I was paralyzed.  I trembled in fear.  

I begged her to think about what she was doing.  She felt no remorse as she yanked me through the house and back to the bathroom. I knew my fate.  There was no getting away.

I begged...  'please mom, just let me have a minute to catch my breath and get a drink of water'. She wasn't hearing any of it.

Some words of wisdom to all of my four legged friends out there:  

Sure, walks are nice but in the middle of winter??  I'd be a bit suspicious. 

If it seems to good to be true...

Then it probably is.  There's always a catch.

I am now a very angry dog.

And since I'm not allowed to destroy mom's shoe, I'm going to rip this angry bird to shreds.  

Stir Crazy

Winter.  Ugh!

I'm sorry...  I can't adjust.  

If I may...  I'd like to quote the Eagles: 

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?

Desperado...  etc. 

*Sigh*

If it weren't for the job and the grand-angels I'd be tempted to grab my hubby and run away to a warmer, sunnier climate.  

*Another Sigh*

Speaking of grand-angels.. my newest, Summer (oh, how I love her name) has her first cold.  She's coughing a lot but no fever yet.  She got it from her sissie (Rissi) who was sick last week.  Summer's only 6 weeks old so if you remember, mention her in your prayers.  

Lindsey sent me a picture tonight.  I don't know why, but these phone pictures just won't rotate right for me...

*One more sigh*

Is anyone else going stir crazy?

Taking Advantage of Seniors

Gary's uncle Victor will be eighty years old in March.  He's never been married, has no children, and lives alone in Florida.  

He's set in his ways. 

 Every evening at 6 PM he turns on the Sci-Fi channel.  At 8 PM he has ice cream.   He has emphysema and takes his medications and inhaler at the same time every day.  He goes to the OTB every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  He eats at Arby's every single Monday.   Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday he eats at the Golden Coral.  Sunday he eats dinner at home.  He always carries $5,000 cash on him and gets angry if someone tells him he shouldn't.  

Gary was in Florida last week with him.  One of the reasons he went down was that Victor was sick and needed help in going to the doctor and getting some tests run.  Another reason is, Victor buys a new Buick (pays cash) every five years and he gives Gary his old one.  

Gary's father always looked after Vic, so after he (Gary's dad) died suddenly in '06 Gary stepped in.  It's a sad world, but many people will take advantage of an older, naive, person and think nothing of it. 

A few weeks ago one of the workers at the Golden Coral came to his house (Vic had given each Golden Coral employee money in a card for Christmas, and had put his return address on the envelope...  that's how this guy found him) and asked Vic to loan him $250 to pay a fine.  Vic felt sorry for him and loaned him the money.  While Gary was there, the guy came by to repay the money he owed him.  Instead of writing the check out for $250 he wrote it out for $350 and asked Vic to give him another hundred dollars.    ???   

 Can someone say SCAM ALERT ?? 

 Luckily, Gary was there and said "No way!!" 

 He explained to Vic later that this guy was taking advantage of his goodheartedness.   

As for the check to repay what the guy had already borrowed - it was first 'insufficient funds' then a 'stop payment'.  

Uncle Vic and Gary

Yesterday we went to see Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close.  What a great movie!!  It's about a young boy who lost his dad in the 911 tragedy, and how he deals with it.  

Don't forget tissues...

On the way home we passed a house with about half a dozen police cars out front, carrying guns and looking like something was coming down.  It was. 

 It seems a young man entered an elderly lady's home

 (80 years old), assaulted her (breaking her hip), and robbed her.  From what I understand, it was 

about getting money for drugs.  

People who mistreat the elderly are pathetic.

On a happier note....  

And speaking of the elderly...

Has anyone seen the new Betty White show called 'Off Their Rocker'?  

It's a hoot!  

Hope you've had a great weekend!  

Something That Would Provoke

Last Monday Gary left for Florida to help his uncle who lives alone and was ill.  He took Uncle Vic to the doctor and got the proper medication for him and now he's doing much better.  

Gary was missed.  But while he was away, Lindsey came down with the girls just about every night to keep Gracie and me company.  We were so glad!  

We had some quality time with the Cupcake and the Kitten (my pet name for the new one).

Dear Diary,

There are seven words that come out of the Cupcakes mouth that make me cringe...  well, eight actually...

'grammy, can i take gracie for a walk?'

I used to run to the door and wait to have my harness and leash attached...  excited that the Cupcake was going to bring some sunshine into this poor dogs life by taking her (me)for a walk (my favorite thing in the whole world).  But then, it hit me.  A walk with the Cupcake consists of me being leashed alright... 

 and then walked down the hall!  

No new smells there.  And try doing your business on that walk and see if you don't get the 'Gracie you're a bad dog!' lecture...

And this time the Cupcake discovered a new way of torturing me.  'grammy, i tied gracie up' she said.  What?  Is she serious?!  Does she think I couldn't get lose if I really wanted to?..  geesh.

The nag mom would wonder why I would digress from my everyday perfect pup ways...

And do things I wouldn't normally do...

But she should've put this paper away.  Christmas is over.

And anyway, I needed something to rip apart...  something besides my Angry Bird, which I'm allowed to have.  Something that would provoke her.  Someone needed to pay for my misery.

And now I just have to wonder. 

 Is it worth it to have a cookie thrown my way now and again?  

TO TELL THE TRUTH

What is your name please?

Contestant #1:  My name is Gracie Phillip.

Contestant #2:  My name is Gracie Phillip.

Contestant #1:  Do you sleep in Gracie's bed at night, or in between your mom and dad in the big bed?  

Answer:   Ummm ...  it's not mom and dad's bed.  It's mine.  They sleep with me.

Contestant #2:  Is it true you own your mom?

Answer:  Oh, no.  She owns me.  I am her perfect pet and will always be here to do whatever she wishes.  She is my owner.  And I never poop on the floor.  Or pee.  Just sayin'

Contestant #1:  What is your occupation?

Answer:  I watch the house and I don't get paid a dime, by the way.  My loyalty goes unappreciated.  It's the pits.

Contestant #2:  What would you say is your best feature?  

Answer:  My eyes.  And my nose and mouth.  And my fluffy, white body.  Oh.  And I don't bark.  I don't whine.  I don't interrupt my folks while they're eating dinner by begging for food.    

WILL THE REAL GRACIE PHILLIP PLEASE STAND UP?

That be me.  The real Gracie Phillip.  

Dear Diary,

I smell a rat.  Gracie.

Lucky Me!

I took the hubby's car to the Fruit Bowl today. 

 LUCKY ME>  I Found a parking place right next to the front door!  

Awkward that I am, while fumbling for my huge trash can purse I accidently hit the emergency button on the car remote.

BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!!!!  

How do I turn this darn thing off?!?  I'm not the type who likes to be noticed...  good or bad.  But by now, the entire store front  is my entourage of curious faces - watching me. 

 LUCKY ME>  I found the button. 

Silence.

With head hung low, I apologize to my audience 

while on my way inside. 

"Oh, was that you?" they say.  

They know darn well it was me...

LUCKY ME>  They had everything I needed.  Well... the grapes weren't too swift so I passed on them.  But other than that... it was all good.

  Upon returning to my car I find the lights on.  I guess I must've pushed a wrong button while trying to stop that stupid LOUD horn!  

LUCKY FOR ME>  I wasn't long inside.  The car should be fine.

While fumbling with my trash can purse  I dropped one of my bags.

 LUCKY ME>  There was only one item in the bag....

Ummm..  Maybe I wasn't so lucky after all...  But maybe.  Just maybe.. they didn't break.

They did.

Upon pulling in my driveway I find our advertising guy waiting with our newspaper ad to be proofed.   Not good timing.  I didn't want to get into it with him.  He needn't know that  I had a bag in the back that was seeping slimy, gross egg ...    

I grabbed the proof from his hand.  Took a quick glance.  "Yep. Umm hmmm...  looks great."  

Thinking to myself:  Thumbs up... now please be on your way Newspaper guy.  Go.  Go away.... quickly. 

 I have to get these eggs inside.

"You know your lights are on?"  he says.

"Oh crap."  

(that's as strong a curse word as you're going to get from me..  but I said it with emphasis!)

  I can't figure out how to turn the lights off.  

Newspaper guy reaches in, touches a button and voila! 

Thinking to myself:  Now, go away!  

He gets the hint and heads for his car and I  then grab my bags and take them inside to see what I can salvage.

LUCKY ME!  I have five eggs that were not cracked.  

Can someone say ....  KLUTZ?

FLUKE

I know, I know...  today's 61 degree temperature here in Western Maryland was just a fluke...  And the week ahead is a forecast for more of the same...  a fluke as well. 

Is it just me, or are the winters much milder than they were back in the day...

I'm second from right.  Others are all brothers and sister except the tall guy in the back who was a neighbor.

The above picture shows us kids - off to school ...  AND LOOK AT THAT SNOW!  (ignore the date on the side... I think it just took a while for mom to get her film developed...  remember when FILM had to be DEVELOPED? lol)  

Can you imagine kids going to school with a snowfall like that nowadays?  The very mention of an inch of snow - and school is either delayed or canceled for the day).  Very seldom did we get a day off from school.  I can remember wearing a ski mask and walking backwards so the wind and snow wouldn't sting my eyes as we went about a quarter of a mile up the road to catch the school bus.  The bus was usually late on these blustery, snowy days, and my fingers would be red and numb beneath my gloves.  The buses would have snow chains on the tires so they could make it through the drifted snowy roads.

The above picture was on February 20, 1972.   With that huge drift, I imagine that was a day off for us, since the road was closed for a while.  Oh great!  So if that was February 20... then that must mean we aren't out of the woods yet?  

Y-e-a bobbi... remember, winter has just begun.

Above picture shows the tree in our back yard and our dog Smoky.  I guess my parents wouldn't let me have a dog inside.

*insert sad face here*  

He was a tough ol' guy and lived to be over 20 years old.  I used to climb that tree and sit there for hours dreaming of the day I'd be a famous movie star signing autographs.  Seriously.  LOL!  

Okay.  Back to reality.

Today's walk.... ahhh

The movie star thing didn't work out.  And my carefree childhood existence melted into adulthood with responsibility, worries, and lots of bills to pay.

**Sigh**

Today's walk was pleasant and nice.  Gracie was ecstatic.  

But Frosty looked a tad bit worried.

bad news. good news.

Dear Diary,

The kiddo's haven't been here in a couple of days and the attention is all mine.  Tonight it was skunky-skunky who has the skunky and yesterday it was chase the squirrelly friend.  It's all about me!  

Then, bad news and good news.  The bad news - I lost my hiding place under the Christmas Village.

The good news - I got my window back.   Gracie.

Pillow Pup

Gracie, you're the sweetest Cockapoo in the whole world...  

You're my little pillow-pup.

Yea, well if I'm all that to you why won't you take me to the Dairy Queen?

Gracie, you know it's too cold to be eating ice cream.  Wait right here and I'll go get you a doggie treat...

I have a better idea.  Wait right here and I'LL go get YOU a doggie treat.