New Appliance

I dropped my toaster on the floor a few months ago. I picked it up, pounded the front part back onto the casing and didn't use it until last week. Well, there was this pretty bluish flare I saw through the cracks and I figured I'd better not use the toaster again. So, I bought a toaster oven. I've never had one before. I don't know why mom never had one. Anyway, now I have to find recipes for it. It can cook for up to 60 minutes so I'm sure I can bake things in it. And apparently there are accessories - different pans to use for it and stuff.

The toaster oven websites say that because the toaster oven is smaller, it heats faster and cooking time should be shorter. That's good for me. I won't be running up the electric bill with the real oven. But I can't fix big pizzas in the T.O. I will just have to cut them up in pieces and cook them a little bit at a time. LOL

I used it tonight on a turkey sandwich and it worked well. I can't wait to try other things.

Mastercard prepaid credit card - the greendot card

I got one of these today so I can do christmas shopping online. I'm beginning to think it was a mistake and I haven't even used it yet. Here's how I described the online activation experience to my mom(address changed to protect me):

It was ridiculous. First, they said the social security number wasn't required, but they wouldn't let you continue to the next step until you put one in. Then they wouldn't accept that rt 1 box 555 was my residence address. I had to put in 555 red dirt road. Idiots. Then it took so long to get through that that the website kicked me out and I had to do the whole thing over again. And the weasels didn't even have the decency to have an email address to contact them with customer service complaints. I have to either call them or write them a letter. After Christmas is over, I may not use this stupid card anymore.

Pet Hair Removal

I highly recommend the following. I bought it from DrsFosterSmith.com, but you can get it at other places cheaper - for instance: petguys.com.






Petmate's Pet Hair Magnet is the best way to remove all pet hair. Specially designed rubber blade even removes embedded hair your vacuum can't get! Works great on carpets, drapes, couches, chairs and car seats. Shipping weight: 1/2 lb.

Official Results

Now that we've had frost here I feel it's time to evaluate the performance of the Borax Flea Control method. This past winter, I sprinkled Borax laundry detergent powder onto my carpets to try to control the flea population that had inhabited this house for many years. At some point in the following months I sprinkled another 'dose' of Borax into the carpet and furniture.

The result: I saw only 5 fleas the entire summer and Fritz did not lose his hair like he normally does.

Conclusion: Borax works so much better at getting rid of fleas than any flea spray I've ever used. And it doesn't smell as bad and it's not a poison.

Stay tuned for the next exciting adventure of dog ownership - Removing dog hair from furniture.

Horrible Romance Novels

What's with these romance writers using vulger language in their books? I picked up a book of Christmas themed romance short stories the other day. I could only read one all the way through. Two of the others I skimmed and then I just had to put the book down because I just couldn't stand all the nasty language the writers were using. If people want reality they read the newspapers or watch cable where they don't bleep out nearly enough of the bad language. People who read romance novels want fiction. They want a break from the nastiness in the world. And this book didn't do that.

Brrrr.............

It's cold today. Down in the 40s after being near 80 on Monday. I hate winter and it isn't even here yet.

I got the final season dvd of the A-Team yesterday in the mail. I'm so excited to have all the episodes on dvd now.

I moved my tv into the living room today (well, dad moved it, but I unhooked it from everything and hooked it back up). Time to start closing off the family room and start turning up the heat.

I ordered a book from amazon called "Six Strokes Under". It's a murder mystery with the hero being an LPGA golfer. I hope I like the book because I have the 5th book in the series on a Christmas Wish list.

I've been working out this week, but I think I'm taking today off. And tomorrow I'll be at the store after work so I won't have time to work out. But I'm trying to stay on my diet so at least I won't gain any more weight. Right now the only thing I'm craving are pringles chips and they make fat free ones.

Phoebe's Coat

I ordered a coat for Phoebe from walmart.com. It came today. She wouldn't let me put it on her. But Steffi stood still and let me put it on her. She didn't like it much. But she just wore it and stood there until I took it off her.

It's supposed to turn really cold this weekend. I will have to close off the family room and start living in the living room soon. I can't afford to heat the whole house with electric.

I've started thinking about Christmas shopping. That's because Mom is doing her Christmas shopping. I've got some ideas for them and my sister and brother-in-law, but the kids are a question mark. I don't know what they are into now.

Mom and I have it figured that we would do Thanksgiving dinner at my house and Christmas dinner at her house since the kids will be up for Christmas.

Busy Weekend

This weekend has been pretty busy so far. I used my new vacuum yesterday. I had to wash the filters afterward. Apparently my old vacuum had lost its sucking power at some point. I did a bunch of laundry - my clothes, the dogs' bedding, the couch slipcover. I made soup for this week, worked out yesterday and today, and put some plastic sheeting over some windows in preparation for cold weather. I still have tomorrow off so I will be doing some other things tomorrow. Oh, and all three dogs got baths today. That was a chore and a half. Fritz and Phoebe don't like baths at all so I got soaked.

I was excited to get the Paula Deen Christmas edition magazine at walmart the other day. It has a lot of good recipes in it. Too bad I'm on the diet and exercise thing.

I've been watching season 5 of Andromeda while I've been working out. The episodes are shorter than Alias episodes so I have to walk faster to get to my target before the episodes end. And the real bad thing about the Andromeda dvds is that they automatically go from one episode to the next. Which means, if I'm not done on the treadmill, I get stuck watching the first few minutes of the next episode. I'm thinking of velcro-ing my tv remote to the treadmill panel so it won't fall off and so I will have it handy when this happens with the dvds.

off again

Not on the treadmill tonight. Last night there must have been a big storm because there's half a tree laying in my yard. I slept through it all, which makes me wonder what else I could sleep through.

I ordered Phoebe a coat to wear. It should be here sometime next week. I don't know if she'll wear it, she likes to go naked, but I'm going to try her with it.

I bought a new vacuum cleaner this week. Mom's old one has just about had it. I haven't tried the new one yet. I'll have an extra day off this weekend thanks to Columbus Day so hopefully I can get some house work done then.

I got the season 5 box set dvds of Andromeda in the mail this week. I started watching them the other night while I was on the treadmill. It's been so long since I've seen these episodes that I shouldn't get bored with them.

On again off again

Well, I'm back on the treadmill for at least today. Last week I lasted about three straight days before I started watching recorded golf. Wasted my time on that since it was a Tiger fest tournament. Good thing I didn't watch it on the weekend. I really do need to make more of an effort on the treadmill. Season 5 of Andromeda is on its way to my house, so I will have something to watch while I'm walking.

The dogs are the same as always, playing and sleeping and eating. Phoebe had the hiccups the other night.

X-Men 3 comes out on dvd tomorrow so I will have to buy that. And Chris Young, the newest winner of Nashville Star has a cd coming out tomorrow.

It's been really cold around here lately, even colder now that I'm skinny. But right now it's pretty warm. I'm not looking forward to winter.