Did you know....

Shirley Jones is David Cassidy's step mother?

I didn't till today

Random thought.

Just call me Al Borlin

Because you know that he was the only one that ever did anything. Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor just blew things up. Heidi just brought them tools in short shorts and hiking boots. Bob Vila is a big geek. Al Borlin is kinda cool, right? Right?

Anyways,

Today I did a LOT of stuff around the house!

I bought hardware for the hinges to the chain link fence gate. I took all of the old hardware off, and put the new hardware on - I hung the gate all by myself. It even opens! :-)

In the ongoing efforts to Piper-proof the house, I tackled the basement music room door next. It never shut tightly, if you pushed on it, it would open. Here's where I have to admit I don't know ANY door lingo. So, bear with me.... I marked where lock-thingy that comes out of the door knob and goes into the door jam lines up with the door jam. I then opened the door to see that the little metal plate with the hole into the door jam was at least 1/2-3/4" above that mark. So I took the little plate off the door jam and had to hollow out more of a hole. We apparently don't have a chisel (Christmas idea right there folks!!) so I had to use this funky-looking crow bar thing meant for removing screws (which my mom calls a goat's foot or something, which it does somewhat resemble) and a camping multi-tool which had a small axe and knife. I finally make the hole bigger - only to find out it STILL doesn't shut. After playing around with the door some more, I find out that because of the width of the door vs. the width of the door jam, the little lock-thingy isn't even making it into the hole. Now I have to move the hole over a 1/4" or so and hollow it out some more. At least by this point I have gotten it down to a science: place the little axe onto the wood and whack it with the crowbar. Place the crowbar into the groove the axe made and whack that with the back of the axe and pry it out. Use the little knife to get out the little chunks. (don't ask me why I didn't get a hammer to hit things with - I don't know, this was just more fun I guess) So finally....SUCCESS! The door now shuts and stays shut!!

Next, more in the Piper-proofing saga. I had originally bought a baby gate for the top of the basement stairs (since we have no door). I had gotten one of the small wood and plastic ones. It was too short. If we put it on the ground, she could jump over it. If we put it up high enough that she couldn't jump it, she went under it. Lose-lose situation. So I bought a new gate (much more expensive, but hopefully it does the trick) This gate is metal and 3 feet tall. It stays permanently pressure-mounted to the wall and has a gate to walk through in the middle. No more risking life and limb to climb over, or the hassle of taking it down. (honestly, we haven't done either of those in a while since the gate was pointless) Anyways, I had to install little cups on the sides of the doorway, which was a hassle - one side went in very easy, but the other side must be made from a solid wood and I had to drill the holes. I stripped one screw and had to use pliers to get it back out, but I found a new one to replace it with. Then you have to put the gate into place and turn the pressure-mounted ends so that they are all even and the gate lines up. I somewhat ignored the directions in that I let the door be able to open in both directions at the top of a set of stairs - only so that sometime tomorrow I am going to rig it so I can have the door open over the stairs and hook into a hook and eye sort of contraption to stay open when we want it to. Otherwise, if it is opened into the kitchen, it will automatically shut behind you. If it is opened over the stairs it will not latch shut, but will close.

So that is my handiwork for today. Now off to figure out what's for dinner.

Oh yeah, and PS:

The whole reason we have to work extra hard to Piper-proof the house is because she decided to try and eat the boy's trumpet mutes. I had to buy him a replacement, but I think he lucked out in the deal - one mute that works as both straight and cup. (supposedly harmon as well, but I have yet to figure out how)

where has the summer gone?

Is it really August 1st? When did this happen? Where's the sun? Where's the endless days spent by the pool?

My first ER trip in a VERY long time...

Apparently in my family there is a tradition of injuring yourself when you get a new dog. I don't remember what happened with Katy, but Stephen got 7 stitches in his big toe when we got Kylee. Now with Piper, it was my turn.

I was playing with her by the pond yesterday when she pulled on the leash to chase a frog trying to drag me with her. As I put my hand out to steady myself, I sliced it on a rock, and had to get two stitches.

I stood up with blood just pouring down my arm. I washed it off in the pond so I could see how bad it was. The cut was only about 1 1/2 inches long, but was deep. It was on the palm, just below the first and second fingers, therefore, whenever I moved those fingers, it opened back up again.

I chained up Piper to her run, and went inside. Not being able to get ahold of my husband, I called Rock, who confirmed that I really should go to the ER to get some stitches. I had to drive myself (with my left hand wrapped in paper towels sticking out the window - this kept it elevated as well as the blood OUTSIDE of the car).

Two hours, two stitches and a tetanus shot later I was home. I had enough time to shower (keeping my left hand out of the water-showering with one hand is difficult) and change to head off to Greg & Angela's party. Seeing as how my hand was wrapped up in bandages I had to tell this story at least 20 times last night.

I still had fun at the party. Good people, good drinks, good fun!

I have to get the stitches removed in a week and a half or so, so the next few days should be very interesting (obviously clarinet playing is out of the picture for a while)

song mash up

this is pretty good - makes me laugh!

smells like childhood

While cooking an onion bagel and brewing some coffee this morning, I definitely had a flashback to childhood, more specifically, waking up in my grandparents house on a Saturday morning. Unfortunately for me, it is NOT Saturday, and I must eat my breakfast, walk the dog, and go to work.

yumminess

Tonight's dinner:

Chicken Cordon Blue (don't be too impressed - it was frozen)
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole (I need to remember to buy two containers of french fried onions, one for me and one for the top of the casserole)

I even got the boy to try a bite! He said he liked the sauce - little does he know it's cream of mushroom soup! haha :-P

Updated Shutterfly photos!

I don't know why it's taken so long, but here are some updated photos on my shutterfly account. I even added photos from Amy's wedding & bachelorette party....it's been a while!! There are also photos from Mia's baby shower and my trips to DC. There are some photos of work around the house and some of Piper. (there are only a few there now, I will be adding more in the next few days, I'm sure!)

Piper seems to be getting used to our place, and us as well. She is definitely learning sit & stay (sort of). She comes when we call her in the house, but not so much outside. She escaped my grasp yesterday, and she thought we were playing as I chased her through the neighbor's yard, and even on the edge of the street - talk about a heart attack!!

She had an accident or two the first night, but has been fine since then. She has no problem being penned in the basement at night, and doesn't whine. We haven't heard her bark yet either!

She is very curious, and likes to check everything out. You have to have a firm grasp on her leash, or she'll take you for a ride! I stopped her from going into the pond after a frog yesterday.

spooky sounds

As we were walking Piper tonight, we heard a scary scary sound.

We do believe we have a pack of coyotes somewhere in Leominster. (or werewolves??)

we're the proud parents....

....of a furball!

Her name is Piper. She's almost 1 year old and is a shepherd, lab and a lil' rottie mix.

More photos soon :)

hilarious...

Win a Date with Jon Gosselin

Shared via AddThis

Mary had a little lamb

I had no idea that Sterling, MA is the home of Mary and her lamb! Did you?

Visiting Virginia

This is a picture of me and the newest member of the family, Leah. She's my cousin's daughter, born on May 30th. Isn't she adorable?

I got to hold the baby

Me and baby Leah!

I love IMDB

While watching "Impact" the tv miniseries, I was going crazy trying to figure out where I knew the actor James Cromwell from. Now I know - "Babe".

HA

another year done!

Year number 4 is done. I am looking forward to year number 5, it certainly can't be worse. (I hope) Year number 4 was certainly an interesting one.

I have to go back on Monday to wrap up some loose ends, but I am DONE! WOohoO! Until I start up the summer job anyways!

head banging cellos??

I love my car dealership part 2

AND I had enough reward points to get the oil change for FREE!

WOOT!

I love my car dealership

As I am waiting for my 40,000 mile oil change & service, I got a coupon for a complimentary breakfast. I'm thinking this would be bagels & muffins or something. I was wrong! There were a bunch of choices - I chose the made-to-order veggie omelet that came with toast, hashbrowns, and bacon.

YUM!!

Birthday present for the boy

The new chiminea I bought for the boy's birthday. I put it together all by myself! (let's hope it doesn't explode the first time we use it!)


This would be the old chiminea that came with our house. You can see our obvious need for a new one. You can't tell from this picture, but there's a rusted-out hole in the bottom.



The side-by-side comparison tells the whole story.




So pretty.

This was definitely a task! I bought it this morning while the boy was at work. I had to fit it into the car (big boxes+Corolla=brain teaser type puzzle). I had gone grocery shopping, and decided to put the groceries in the back seat, thinking that I would put the chiminea in the trunk. The chiminea had other plans. I had to remove all the groceries from the back and place them in the trunk in the Lowes parking lot. After trying unsuccessfully to fit the box behind the driver's seat, I lugged the box around the other side of the car (did I mention that the chiminea is CAST IRON?). I had to collapse the front passenger seat forward and slide it all the way up to be able to maneuver the box into the back. I finally get the box into the back, and slide the seat back and upright so that it won't move around as much.

Then I bring it home. Thinking that it will rain at ANY moment (the skies were VERY ominous!) I decided to assemble it in the garage. When I took the giant top part out of the box, it landed on my ankle-skinned and sore, thank you very much! I grabbed the necessary tools - phillips screwdriver and a robo-grip and set out to work. The directions stated it was a 20 minute job - woohoo!

I follow the directions, and the very first thing it says - recommended that 2 people assemble. Aw crap. While holding part F & G together, put the screw through both parts, and attach the leg, then place a washer and a lock-tight washer and a nut on the end. Sounds simple, until you realize you have to do this while balancing it all on top of your lap - did I mention it was CAST IRON?? Four legs later, I've got that part done. After flipping the blasted thing over and over, bending my arms in strange positions to get to the screws, I finish. 20 minutes my @(#*&$!!!!!!

Now the boy is 10 minutes away, and I want it in place (which is the BACK of the house). Brilliantly, I realize I have to move it, again...CAST IRON! I get out the wheelbarrow and somehow manage to place it inside and hold it (since it doesn't really fit in) down the hill and around the house.

SUCCESS! I think he liked it - we haven't used it yet.

We went out to Christina's restaurant in Leominster, which was a pretty nice Italian restaurant. We had bread & oil, salads, pasta, and split a canolli for dessert. I had vegetable risotto, and the boy had garlic & olive oil penne with meatballs on the side.

Now we're heading off to bed, with the boy waiting for his birthday gift from Mother Nature - he's hoping for a thunderstorm.