I Walk The Line & The Backyard

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line.

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line.

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line.

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line.

My favorite song.

And my new 'get off my ass theory' for 2009.
This is what I mean by a good walk around the 'backyard'....

It is a LONG walk around our 'backyard' (17 acres). I'm not lyin'.

Check me out having SO MUCH FUN.... exercising in bitter cold and all. Really!
See- I'm LOVING it......

No, really I am...

I can handle the snow. Believe it!
Look out 2009, I am a new woman!

P.S. ...I just decided that a 'Did It' per day was way too much- because I know I'd run out of fun 'Did Its' in a hurry at that rate. So how 'bout a 'Did It' per week (give or take) or so? Much better I say. So for this week's awesome 'Did It' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'.......

#9- Take a pic of Samuel L. Jackson posing with my foot.

*Note: I was lucky enough to shoot a fundraiser 3 years in a row where Samuel was the main guest....the second year I actually brought above pic with me and asked Samuel to autograph it.... He said, "I don't know, if I sign this you might sell it on Ebay for $1,000 or something"(with a big grin)- and I was like, "Come on Samuel- Nobody is going to pay $1,000 for a picture of my damn foot".
So he signed it.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Seize the day!
It is snowing and beautiful out so D and I decided to go for a Jeep ride in the snow!
Banjo agreed. ...what fun! We are so crazy and spontaneous and fun I just can't stand it.


So we drove around for awhile then decided to drive around our 'backyard' (17 acres) like we did in the summer....only that didn't work out so well for us with the snow and all. We got stuck.


So D walked back to the house to get our truck to get the jeep out. That didn't work out for us either.
Yeah, the truck got stuck too.


So we had to call AAA...... to come tow our 2 vehicles out of our own yard. Seriously?


Yep-seriously.... here is my "are you f-ing kidding me?" self-portrait.


And a shot of D and our savior AAA guy.


D walking back to our vehicles so AAA guy can pull them to the road.


AAA guy saving the truck first.


And well, then he saved the Jeep..... I was freezing and couldn't take any more pictures....but I managed to get a little video clip of the ending. It is almost as funny as my video of Pete home alone walking on the counter...almost but not quite. Anyway, I told Chaney that if we were a TV show, we would be like Sanford & Son/Dukes of Hazzard/Beverly Hillbillies/Northern Exposure all rolled into one delightful Iowan sitcom. I am so proud.
Here ya have it...

Horny Goat Weed

Yep, it made me look too.

So what the hell is it?

Winnavegas

Went to a casino today.
Played some slots.

Ate some crab legs.

And decided that casinos are kind of creepy.
That's about it.


So here's a 'Did It' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'....
#8-Visit Hell!

Kiss My Grits

You're telling me that all I have to do is mention in a post that I can't find grits anywhere in Iowa, and grits will appear on my doorstep?

A whole CASE of them? awesome. Thanks Dad, you're the best! Did I mention that I can't find the new Canon EOS 5D Mark 111 anywhere in Iowa either?? Haha!

Another special thanks goes out to my friend Lola... Pete received the sneakers you sent him today, but I can't get him to wear them.


I'm also proud to announce that I've been doing pretty good on my resolutions recently.... we went to the grocery store today and only bought healthy things, which was a first for us. D even grilled out for us tonight in the snow :)


AND I haven't smoked in FOUR days- which is the longest I have gone without smoking in years. I am getting a little bored with chewing gum though, so I welcome any other suggestions.

Eating healthier and smoke free... can you believe it?
Change IS good I think.

Which brings me to another random 'Did It' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'....
#7- Watch the Guard change at Buckingham Palace.

Oh Give Us A Home, Where Pete Doesn't Roam

Thought I'd try something new just for fun- so I set up a video camera to see what the dogs do while I am gone. OMG. OMG. OMG.
Let's just say that Texas Pete is the star of the movie, and this is about the funniest video I have done so far I think. And it will explain why Pete will have to be crated when we leave from now on. And mom I'm sorry, but the Santa doll you made for me over 30 years ago was a victim today.....but I must confess I never knew you stuffed him with panty hose!!!

That is hilarious!!

So here is 1 hour of footage edited down to about 2 minutes...

Ummmmmmmm- does anyone know Cesar's home phone number please?
Oh for Pete's sake!


OK-time for my happy place now-la la la.... so here is a 'Did It' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'.
#6-Roam with Buffalo

Shrivel Me This

Remember when I was feeling all 'country-fied' a few months ago and decided to shellac some gourds? If you don't then click HERE. Anyway, I was so proud for doing something creative and artsy and fun with God's little gifts from the earth and all.
Well here is what they look like now-

WTF? They are shriveled and moldy now!

WHY didn't someone tell me I had to dry them or somehow get the innards out or whatever else I was supposed to do first?
OMG!
Seriously.

I need to go back to my happy place now, so here's one of my favorite 'Did Its' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'
#5- Jump out of a plane!

Do Fake Does Eat Oats?

I've been pretty jealous lately of some of my blog buddies ( BB, Claire, Joanna ) having such cute farm type animals, when all I have is a deer made from logs named 'Woody'......sigh, poor me.

When my mom suggested the name Woody, I burst out laughing and she looked at me funny... her mind doesn't dwell in the gutter like mine does.
Woody pretty much just hangs out near the front porch and stares at the road.
Pretty boring. Until today when I went out to bring him his coffee, I saw this.

2 little Woodys at his feet! SO tiny and cute!

Now, I'm not sure who the mother is but I have a pretty good idea....this little lady has been hanging around since we moved in.

I'm pretty sure she is the culprit.
And there you have it, another fine story brought to you by a nicotine filled slumber-thanks patch.


Moving on to today's 'Did It' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'....
#4-Take a whale watching trip.

Hay Or Nay?

Today I am working on a 'Do It' and I've finally got some pictures ready to submit to the 2010 Loess Hills Calendar. For some reason I love this picture but can't decide between color or black and white. I need some input, and if you don't like either version let me know that too.



Well, that's all I've got for today. Nothing exciting to report.


And here is today's 'Did It' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'.
#3- Go horseback riding in Costa Rica.

Oh For Pete's Sake

Today it has been 6 months since Pete found us... I don't want to bore you with all of the details so I will try to make it short:

• We were in Texas temporarily.
• The neighbors found a big goofy dog in the road.
• They put him in their yard but didn't feed or water him.
• We call that 'Whiskey Tango', which is code for white trash.
• We asked if we could help find him a home.
• They said yes.
• We took him.
  
• We called him Texas Pete.
• Texas Pete was very bad and ate furniture and blinds and peed on the bed.
• Darrin took Pete to the Humane Society.
• I cried all day.
• We went back to get him but it had closed for the day, so we broke him out.
• Is that wrong?
  
  
• Too late now.
  
• He is very content.
  
  
• Pete also gets added to my '2 tears in a Bucket List' as a 'Did It'.
  
• #2 - Save a Life.
  
  
• Ahhh dogs. Aren't they great? They love you unconditionally.
  
  
  
  
  "My goal in life is to be the person my dog thinks I am"

And for those of you wondering, last night's dreams weren't nearly as weird... I remember a shark biting a friend, a big house, an 8 foot grizzly that turned into an ape that was coloring a book, and my Grandpa Bob.

2 Tears In A 'Bucket List'

First things first I bought a pack of cigs yesterday and smoked the whole damn thing. As the fabulous Lady Chablis would say, "2 tears in a bucket, mother f*ck it". Rough translation, "Shit happens, but we carry on."

NOTE ******* If you don't have time to read this entire boring post, just scroll to the bottom for my 2 tears in a Bucket List definition.

So I slapped on a patch and went to bed. Now, I'm not sure if it was the guilt or the patch, but I had some weird dreams. Normally the patch gives me groovy, Yellow Submarine type dreams but not last night.

Oh no, last night's feature began with me living in a tiny apartment in NY with my mother! Sorry mom, I love you-but not really an ideal situation for someone my age. LOL. Anyway, my dog Olive was there but she was half bald and her skin was red, then she turned into a cat. Next I was roaming the streets of NY in Daisy Dukes and flip-flops in December! Then I stepped into an elevator on the 11th floor, the doors closed and the elevator fell to the bottom like a 6 Flags ride, but not a fun ride. Somehow I escaped the elevator and went outside to watch a news story of a woman stuck in a glass box, and they were going to assassinate her if she couldn't get out in 5 minutes. She got out in time, everyone cheered, and I took a picture of her with my camera phone but it was blurry. Finally, I was at the mall eating a turkey sandwich when Tyra Banks walked up to the table and sang, 'Baby Got Back' to ME! I had a straw stuck in my teeth so I wouldn't smile. Then a line of friends from High School walked up one by one to give me a hug.

WHAT THE F*CK?

How I wish I could photograph scenes from my dreams. Could someone please invent a brain camera for me?

You're asking how I remember the dream details so vividly, aren't you? Easy, because I woke up at 4:41 then couldn't go back to sleep. I know the exact time because it was so close to my lucky 444 sequence..you know, my numbers thing. I laid there and my mind just raced with crazy ideas.
I thought about how I would take the dogs for a long walk today for some exercise. I would continue to get my EBAY store together and actually try to sell some of my photographs like I have always talked about, and work on the note cards and other crafty photo ideas I keep thinking about to sell. I would get my photos together to submit to The Loess Hills Calendar. I would make a Bucket List......on and on and on. But then I convinced myself that this was not a sign to get motivated, to forget those crazy ideas, and try to go back to sleep because only triple numbers inspire me...4:41 ideas don't count. Phew, I'd hate to have to work on goals today. So I rolled over to go back to sleep and glanced at the clock- 5:55. Crap, time to get motivated.

So I got up at 5:56 and did a little 'Bucket List' research and read this, "One of the best ways to achieve your own goals is to create public accountability and support by sharing them with a wide audience. To that end, we encourage you to join Your100Things by Caroline Miller and begin creating your life list and encouraging others through Goal Kudos and Cheers!"

I'm not saying I am going to post a list of unrealistic dreams like riding an elephant in Africa or anything, (although I would LOVE to do that)because I know what I want to do and what I need to do and what I should do and what I can to do would equal way too many buckets. And 100 things? Come on.

*****SO-instead of a 'Bucket List' I am going to create a '2 tears in a Bucket List'. That way if I don't achieve everything on the list, I know my life will go on, and that in itself is a pretty good thing. I'm going to include things I have already done on the list too, so I don't get discouraged and beat myself up when I cheat or fail at something new on the list.
My list will have 2 sections: 'Do It' and 'Did It'........and every few weeks on my blog I'll include something I've already done while I work on new goals from my 'Do It' section.

WOW. Long Post. Time to go work on my EBAY room.

But first, here's a 'Did It' from my '2 tears in a Bucket List'.

#1-Swim with wild Dolphins in Hawaii.



As soon as the dogs get out of bed I will take them for a walk.

Sasquatch Sighting In Iowa

Well I stayed true to one promise yesterday, I made my first ever New Year's Day dish all by myself! I followed a RECIPE and used measuring cups and spoons(thanks MIL!), and used the stove AND the oven at the same time! I was so proud I had to take pictures of the process because trust me- an event such as this is kind of like spotting the infamous Bigfoot. PRETTY RARE.

Question, why does the water turn green when you boil the peas? I don't get it.


Look at me mixing spices and using fancy bay leaves!


Now here's where I got a little confused, the recipe called for minced garlic. Me not sure how to mince- hmmm- scratching head and grunting.


So I used the blender, is that wrong? It felt right.


I even chopped up jalapenos to add a little kick to my cornbread. Look out Paula Deen, there's a new cook in town.


And here they are fresh out of the oven, so perty.


Check out the finished product!

And when I was finally finished in the kitchen, my comedic husband said, "Tell the kitchen goodbye and that you'll visit again next year." Very Funny.
I must confess that I added some sour cream on top, but I didn't want photographic evidence of any extra fat added to the meal, yesterday being the first day of my eating healthier and all.
And speaking of cheating, I had 3 cigarettes too. Boo. But way better than a pack.
Maybe I can make it through today without cheating. Fingers crossed.