It's here!

My new furniture arrived late Saturday afternoon. It looks great. Now I need some art, better lighting, throw pillows and an accent rug.

When being an internet-aholic pays off

From time to time I get phone calls from a marketing research firm. I never qualify and the calls usually end in less than 2 minutes. Tonight, it went on for nearly 20. Why? It was all about the INTERNET! Finally, all the hours I spend online pay off.

Next Friday night I will be participating in a research group for the internet. Because what else are internet addicts going to be doing on a Friday night? It's a hundred bucks. That makes me happy. More yarn for me! Or shoes! Or maybe groceries or gas!

Get funky

Do you have have one of those days? I feel like I've been having one of those weeks but I can't put my finger on the cause.

It does cheer me up to check out my blog stats. I see ya'll. It might be on purpose or it might be on accident, but thanks for stopping by.

There are several hits from people googling for "possum shit". Who knew that would be such a popular phrase! And there are quite a few Austin folks. If I don't already know you, please leave a comment and say hi. I need more friends!

Bed electronic juju

You know how it seems everything goes wrong at once? Today has not been my day when it comes to electronic devices. At work, my computer kept freezing up when I would try to print. I had to completely re-draw two different things. Then, tonight at Target, the little debit card machine acted up and I had to re-enter my PIN a couple of times. And now, my cable/DVR box is on the fritz. This is not good! The first episode of the second season of The Closer starts in an hour. I must see this show!

If you hear wailing and gnashing ......oh, never mind. The cable box just decided to come on again.

Yay

They're getting along now

Lulu & the baby
Originally uploaded by Liz K Austin.

Only Lulu has kennel cough so I have to keep her separated from the other two dog.

I'm glad they're getting along, but I've decided not to keep the pup. The woman I got her from would be glad to take her back and find her another home, but Kristin also has a friend who is interested. The pup is sweet, but I'm not ready to have another responsibility.

It's hard to ask for help

The past few days have been emotionally trying. Getting the puppy, determining that that was not such a hot idea, and Lulu disappearing for nearly an hour just about did me in. My mom happened to call on Thursday night and through the blubber of tears I said "I need Dad's help".

I'm not one to ask for help. It's not that I think I can do everything, at least not consciously, but it just never occurs to me that I don't have to do it all myself. This is something that's being covered in therapy. Apparently, I have very high, unrealistic expectations for myself and when I don't live up to them anxiety and depression set in. It was a good session.

Anyway, back to my story.

So mom and dad came over this morning and dad busted his ass fixing my fence so that Lulu can not escape anymore. It was not particularly hard work, but it was hot and humid. While he and I did that, mom busied herself sweeping up grass clippings and trimming bushes.

My parents rock.

Ch..ch...changes!

I'm at it again. Making changes to the blog layout. I think I like this one.

While I'm doing this, I'm also watching Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet. Considering that this week has been rather emotional when it comes to animals, should I really be watching this? It's going to make me cry, no doubt about it.

There should be a rule

Hiding
Originally uploaded by Liz K Austin.

I should not be allowed to make major decisions by myself. Why? Because sometimes...well sometimes I make the wrong choice.

Yesterday I got the puppy. Today I'm having big regrets. Lulu is miserable. That makes me feel horrible. The puppy doesn't seem all that happy either.

Possum sighting

Lulu is going nuts. There's a possum baby on the fence again. *sigh*

Somebody on Craigslist wants a baby possum. Why?! If they come catch this possum, they can have it!

She needs a name!

She came with the name Susie, but I don't think it suits her.

New family member

There is a new member of the K family tonight. She's known as Suzie, but that is going to change. She's a 10 month old black and tan dachshund who is very tiny. Most likely under weight and I doubt her nails have ever been trimmed. Her face is so sweet. You will see soon!

Thank you!

A big thank you to my friend,KathyK, for helping me with my blog problem.

Broken!

I don't know what I did, but I can not get the side bar back up to the top of the page. If you know how, please tell me! My blog is ugly and that is not acceptable.

What is wrong with this thing?!

Why is my blog so ugly?! I want it to be cute. I want 3 columns. *stompyfoot*

How I feel in the mornings

Snooze
Originally uploaded by Liz K Austin.

If you love dachshunds

You must read Miss Doxie's new post. She's hilarious and has cute illustrations too.

Confessions of a former neat freak

I used to be a neat person. Do not confuse this with a clean person. Things were neat and tidy and put away, but there was still dust. Now there is both dust and clutter. I don't know how this happened. I'll never have to go on Clean Sweep , but the clutter does bother me. Apparently not enough to do anything about it or be too embarrassed to put it on the 'net for all to read.

Paint has finally been purchased for my office/craft room/guest room and hopefully I can over come the lazy life enough to paint this week. Once that's done, the computer desk moves from the living and the desk shown above can move out of my bedroom. Then I will organize the room like a soccer mom on speed.

Sock in progress

Sock in progress
Originally uploaded by Liz K Austin.

It's slow going on size 1 needles.

Lulu's hair cut

I'm not going out there
Originally uploaded by Liz K Austin.

Lulu went to the groomer's today. She was getting pretty shaggy and fluffy, so I told them to shave her. Perhaps I should have actually looked at the blade chart when they said what level of shave they'd give her. So she looks a bit funny now, but she's just as soft. Her coloring is more brown and less red with the short hair and I love that she has the streak of dark down the middle. Isn't it slimming?

The possum saga continues

Just when I hoped it might be over, the young possum showed up tonight. Even though I really should have known better, I let the dogs out to go after it. You see, this afternoon, Gus decided he really wanted to go after a squirrel on the fence. Gus gets air. You saw the picture. You know. Today he was able to jump so high that he was on the fence. Perching like a chicken. More of his body was in the neighbor's yard than mine. And not the neighbor I know. No, the neighbor behind me. And of course I wasn't dressed. Why do the dogs always get up to no good when I'm not dressed?

So I'm yelling like a drunken banshee and finally Gus decides that he will not make me go hoarse and gray and jumps down into my yard.

Anyway, I digress...back to this evening's adventure.

Gus pulls the young possum down from the fence. He and Lulu struggle with it until I get out there and tell them to leave it. Don't think that worked. I had to grab Gus by the scruff of his neck and drag him into the house and then shut the door. Then I go back to get Lulu.

When I get in the house, there is a stench. On lord was there a stench. This smell was not new to me. I smelled it the time Lulu brought the dead possum into the house. It was the smell of possum shit. I look down. Smudges of it on my bare feet. On my hand. Which means it's on one of the dogs.

I have cleaned everything up, included wiping off Gus's mouth and washing my hands in super hot detergent water and my hand still smells nasty.

The kind of nasty that is so bad you have to sniff it again, just to make sure your brain isn't making this up.

And the dogs are not sleeping in my bed tonight.