The Blue Book Grammar

I subscribe to the above named newsletter. Last week Jane Straus added a humorous flavor to her editorial. She posted the following: Excuses Sent by Parents to Schools

She writes and I quote:

Apparently, these are real notes written by parents. (Spellings have been left intact.)

1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.

2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.

3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.

4. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.

5. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

6. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.

7. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.

8. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

9. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.

10. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

11. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.

12. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.

13. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.

14. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.

Moving right along, till next time Cheers!

p.s. When you click on the title, The Blue Book Grammar, this link will take you directly to her website. Enjoy!

Drive by ...

Just a quick hello ... it's been a very busy time for me this past week as I attended a three day training workshop, and then had to finish getting ready for my own training sessions this weekend. Needless to say, I am a wee bit tired ... and need to conserve whatever energy I have left for the next two days. The one good thing is that I have co-trainers working along side which is a good thing.

Like I said at the beginning of this blog it's only a drive by to know to let you know I am still alive and kicking so to speak. I will be back later ... much later!

Take care and have a good weekend!

Cheers ...

Winter Months

Yesterday I was mapping out the next three months on the calendar and noted that Spring is around the corner. You would never know it since the temperature is like a yo yo from one day to the next.

I began thinking about all the yard work and I became tired and thought to myself that winter isn't too bad for catching up on things I like to do inside the house. I guess there is a trade off for me in there somewhere. Perhaps this year I will be able to keep up with the yard maintenance since my work days won't always be the same as everyone else's.

I will also make a decision as to whether to retire at the end of this year (2008) like I had planned or if I will stay another year (2009). The ball is in my court, so to speak, which gives me the power of choice.

Life is about choices isn't it? If we weren't afforded choices we would likely feel powerless. There are situations that come into our lives which seemingly do not give us the choices we want. But nonetheless we still have a choice. Perhaps not to change the circumstance but rather we can choose our responses to unwanted and untimely situations which life can throw at us at any given moment. We can chose to live in fear or great expectations of the challenges which are ahead of us.

In the end, it's still up to us how we fair in any given situation by the choices we make in our responses to whatever life tosses our way.

Right now I chose to sign off and make myself breakfast.

Till next time, Cheers!

The Weekend

This is the scene that I imagine in my mind as I open the binds. However, I am quickly yanked back into reality as I see the frost on my windows, snow on the ground and my neighbors shoveling their driveways. It's still winter. We are in for another cold snap according to the weatherman/weather woman. But then again what do they know about the weather they have been known to be wrong, right?

My week flew by without a hitch so to speak. However, this coming week I am participating in another three day training session. My dogs are glad it's in town so they don't have to go to the kennel.

Next weekend, I conduct my first full weekend training along with a couple of co-trainers. I am going to be spending sometime this weekend preparing the session material into a manageable time frames without compromising content and discussion opportunities.

The audience has a wealth of knowledge and experience from which to draw from which will likely promote some very lively discussions during each session.

Till next time, Cheers!

The Magic of Discovery ...

This picture arrived in my mail box in a newsletter which I subscribed to an number of months ago. A picture is worth a thousand words. I wonder what is going through the mind of the deer and cat as they look at each other.

Saturday Morning

Good Morning!

Isn't that a cute picture? I thought it says it all. Let's be friends. Differences don't matter or at least they shouldn't.

My three fur kids are all different breeds: Toy Poodle, Shetland Sheep Dog, and German Shepherd: Large, medium, and small. Three very distinct personalities: Teddy (Toy) he's very much a mama's boy and leader of the pack. He moved in first, then Haida (GSD) who is very laid back and tolerant of her other two mates, and last, but NOT least by any means Angel (Sheltie) who is the yappiest of the bunch. But that's just her. she's very excitable. It's like she is always plugged in to a 120 volts 24-7.

Right now Angel is laying down on the floor beside my computer desk snoring away. Haida is likely on my bed, (she usually sleeps on the love seat in the sun room which is located just off my bedroom), and Teddy probably went into his basket in the dog's room. Yes, I have a dog room for the three of them which houses their crates. This is the room that has the least amount of hair. Go figure.

Speaking of Teddy I need to sign off here pretty quick as he needs to take his "little white pill."

Today I have a number of things to do around the house including cleaning the bird cages. These chores should take me to the end of the day.

Moving on to the next task ... Cheers!

Jaime & Company

Ghost Whisperer

I love watching Ghost Whisperer and was pleased to see a new episode tonight. I also noticed that Ned is being played by an older actor. I guess a new story line around his character must be in the works.

Medium and Ghost Whisperer take a different approach to their presentation of the spirit world. It's going to be interesting how both of these shows will emerge this season with all the twists and unexpected turns.

Hopefully the writer's strike will be over soon. I think the writer's should get whatever benefits reaped by the people making monies on the DVD's from the very shows these writers create. Makes sense to me. I wish all you writers the best in your negotiations.

Till Next Time ... Cheers!

p.s. Click on Ghost Whisperer title to take you to a promo of the show.

Teddy's Update

Hi There,

It's me Teddy. I had my buddy Sylvester, the cat, pose for me as I am camera shy since I don't have too many teeth left. I am feeling much better and am able to eat a wee bit more every day. My mommy doesn't know that I know she's been sneaking that little white pill into my food. It does make me feel better and I have stopped spitting it out.

Haida and Angel keep trying to chase me when I go out to pee. Haida just stands over me and Angel barks at me. Angel, she sure can be yappy, but I do love that fat little dumpling! Haida is doing what she does best guarding me from I don't know what.

My mommy has three days off. I like when she is home cause she always lets us outside as many times as we want and she never says anything to me when I have a little accident on the floor. She's the best!

Well, I better sign off for now as I still need to get lots of sleep so I can get better real soon.

Nite Nite!

Teddy

Little Teddy is home Resting ....

It's me, Teddy. My mom picked me up from the Vet this afternoon, boy was I glad to see her.

The Vet talked to her for a long time telling my mommy how to take care of me. My mouth is really sore and I am tired too. But at least I don't have all that pain from my rotten teeth.

She gave me some soft food for supper. Later she brought me the little white pill. I didn't even fight her. I just opened my mouth a wee bit and she placed the pill draped in butter on my tongue and it slid down my throat. I guess that pill makes me feel better. I have some new meds to take; I over heard the vet tell my mommmy not to start until a week or two. It's suppose to taste okay, so the vet said, but I will be the judge of that ...

I can't have any treats or chew anything hard because of my sore gums. The vet took out most of my teeth and said that I had a pretty bad infection so I have to take more white pills until they are all gone.

I heard my mommy talking on the phone to someone and tell them about me and that she didn't have to pay as much as she thought for my surgery. It makes me feel a little better that she still has enough money to buy treats when I can eat them again.

Bye, Bye, and thanks for listening.

Teddy

p.s.

Haida and Angel were all over me when I came home. They were smelling my mouth and me and wouldn't leave me alone. Now they are use to me again and have finally left me alone.

Nite Nite!!!

The Dreaded Vet's Office

"Teddy, it's time to go to the vet's office for your surgery", called Haida. "I am not going", screeched Teddy, "and you can't make me."
"Don't make me come to get you," said Haida.
"It's no use Teddy you are out numbered," exclaimed Angel, "but then again you can't go by me, run Teddy run, here comes mommy".

I can just image the communication between my fur kids this morning. Yesterday, when I gave Teddy his pill, no problem and also this morning, no problem, he didn't fight me any more, maybe he is feeling better. But I hope I can manage to get him into the truck with out him going under the bed. I will definitely have to play my cards right.

Till next time, Cheers and more Cheers!

Tuesday Morning

Don't even think about giving me another pill!

You guessed it, Teddy has made himself scarce this morning. He refuses to get up to go outside because he knows I am waiting for him.

In a couple of minutes when he is off guard I will pick him up, take him into the kitchen and place him on the table, open his mouth and hopefully be able to get the pill down his throat with one swift move on my part. It's for his own good.

Tell next time. Keep Running.

Allison DuBois for Phoenician Magazine

Allison Du Bois for Phoenician Magazine
Originally uploaded by Wizwow

This is a picture of the "real" Allison DuBois who inspired the show Medium. Click on the above title (Allison DuBois for Phoenician Magazine) it will take you directly to the Medium website for a review of tonight's episode and an explanation of how the show came into existence. Enjoy!

Monday Evening

This is the beginning of a new week and the second week of the New Year. Our weather here for the past few days has been rather mild. I can live with those temperatures quite easily as the added bonus is no driveway to shovel out. I better not speak too soon.

I am having quite a time with Teddy taking his pills. As soon as he sees me taking out the butter from the fridge he heads for the hills, actually he crawls under my bed. I tried putting it into his food and he eats around it and/or spits it out as soon as he tastes it. I failed miserably with him tonight as he out smarted me. The pill eventually melted in his food. I am not sure how effective this pill is now. tomorrow I will use another plan of action. As soon as he comes in from outside I will be ready for him. I will be quick as I open his mouth and down the hatch, I hope. I will keep you posted.

Tonight, Medium is on NBC. finally. It's only been months since they had the show on. But since the writer's strike is still in full swing, it's a good time to have it scheduled as every other show is a re-run. I have read Allison Dubois's books that she has out: "Don't Kiss Them Goodbye and We Are Their Heaven," Ms Dubois has a new book out but I just can't recall the title.

Till Next Time, Cheers

Sunday Evening ..

It's Sunday evening and the weekend is just about over. This week is a four day week as I have Friday off meaning I will have a three day weekend. I got my yearly calendar at work and the first thing I did was stroke off all my EDO's (earned day off, which is every third Friday for me), for 2008. I have to figure out my vacation time from last year and take it before the end of March 2008.

I started Teddy on his pills; he hates taking them. I try to fool him by putting it in cheese whiz and/or butter. He caught on pretty quick as he liked it off and spit out the pill several times. I then had to open his mouth and try to get it down his throat. This he really hates as he growled at me. I told him it was for his own good and costing me a bunch of money. He continued to growl. Hopefully he will feel better next week at this time.

Till next time, Cheers.

Saturday Morning ...

Well I must admit that I do not have the energy of the skier in the picture but I am back into the swing of things at work and my home routine.

However, this job affords me somewhat of a varied schedule. I will be working on some weekends and then off during the week and some evening work and off during the day. We are what our job refers to as field employees. I will definitely have to get use to this schedule, by making some minor adjustments. I am sure it will confuse the fur kids, but none the less it will work.

Teddy has his dental surgery appointment on Wednesday, I better not forget to start giving him his antibiotics on Sunday.

I am going to have breakfast now and then out and about to run some errands.

Till next time, Cheers!

Back at Work: New Position

I moved into my new office which actually is across the hall from my old one. I am no longer a case worker but a trainer. I really enjoyed my previous job and now will move on into the next phase before retirement. I have much to catch up on and prep work for the many presentations which I will be conducting over the next year. A learning curve in some ways and in others not really.

Over the years I was a guest presenter for many child welfare presentations. I always enjoyed presenting material which I was most familiar with. I never thought that I would be a full time trainer.

I will talk about my experiences from time to time over the next few months. I must run for now as I have some reading to do before morning.

Till next time, Cheers!

Angel's Birthday: Happy Birthday Angel

It's me Angel ... I am three year old today. I am the youngest of the group and the fattest. My New year's resolution is to loose some weight ... I am going to lay off the treats and going on a diet. Well, it's not exactly my idea, it's my mommy's plan. But she's right, I can hard get up the stairs and sometimes I miss the footstool as I plop down on the ground with my treat in my mouth.

But it's still my birthday and I am going to enjoy it nonetheless. Remember I told you I wanted a new bed. Well my mommy gave my old bed an "extreme makeover" and it looks and feels pretty good too.

I remember when I came to live with mommy, I was almost thirteen months old. My previous owners said I was hard to train and that I had accidents in the house and that's why they placed an ad in the Leader Post to find someone else to look after me.

Then one day, my new mommy showed up. I was really excited when I saw her, but then again I am excited whenever anyone shows up, it's in my blood you know. Well, my new mommy paid lots of money for me and we drove to my new home. I was a little scared at first, especially meeting Haida, the big big German Shepherd. She chased me a lot, I would just fold like an accordion. she told me that I was the last one to join the pack and had to listen to her.

Then I met Teddy, the toy poodle. He looks little but he reminds me that he is the leader of the pack as he was first. I like chasing Teddy all over the house. I use to be able to follow him under the bed. But as I mentioned earlier, I don't fit under the bed like I did when I first came. The three of us have me come friends, but they tell me that I am the yappy one of the group. But then again, Haida can let out some pretty boisterous barks when she wants to.

All in all, I am happy to live here and love everybody. My mommy let's me sleep wherever I want, but I usually end up sleeping in my bed or in the sun room on the floor as my bed sometimes gets a little warm.

Today is my mommy's last day of her vacation and tomorrow she will be going back to work and we will have the run of the house again, not that we don't have the run of it now, I mean really have the run of the house.

I am hoping that this year is going to be a fun filled year as mommy is planning to retire at the end of of it, not sure what that really means but I think it will be like she is on a very long vacation. It also means that we can go in and out of the house whenever we feel like it. When I first arrived I had a few accidents in the house. Haida told me that I shouldn't do it in the house and that I should wait until mommy let me outside. I tried really hard, but I learned and now I stand at the door every chance I get, even if I don't have to pee. I love playing in the snow and sticking my head in the snow banks and running away from Haida.

Well I have to go now, as mommy is in the kitchen making my low-fat doggie birthday surprise.

Happy Birthday to me
I am now three
And today it's all about me
And What a Birthday it will be!

Wow, I am a poet and didn't even know it!

Happy Trails,
Angel