Camera Critters

This is my buddy, Spike. He is the nosiest little creature - he wants to go where you go and do what you do! He loves opera and rock and rock. He keeps tempo with the music by bobbing his head up and down. They call cockatiels the clowns of the bird world and boy, are they right!

He's 17 years old and most cockatiels live between 20-25 years. We're hoping to break the record!

Please visit Camera Critters!

Photo Hunt - Furry

Okay, I'll admit it - I'm shameless. I was going to try and be creative and take of photo of my legs or something different (well, it is winter, you know....) but I'll take any opportunity to
post a pic of my fave furry folks. Katie, the infamous Shih Tzu, and Zoey, our adorable Mini-Schnauzer. Now, are they cute, or what??? Besides, who wants to see hairy legs?

Please visit our hostess and creator
of Photo Hunt TNChick !!!

The sky was a symphony of color on the evening I took this photo!

Please visit "Looking at the Sky on Friday"
and our hostess with the mostess,
Crazy Working Mom!

How Can You Break a Contract???

Right now, I'm so angry at Dish Network, our satellite provider, I could just spit nails!
When Hubman got laid off, we starting looking to cut corners; one way was to swap cable for satellite. Worked just fine, saved quite a few dollars. (I know this may not be a big issue to a lot of you but we do watch a lot of TV, especially now that Hubman is home. My apologies to you who manage to live life w/o a TV!)

Then, (you knew that was coming...) all of a sudden, our local CBS affiliate decided to pitch a fit with Dish Network. Their contract was renewing in December and they didn't want to renew it unless Dish Network coughed up big bucks, or so they claim...

We signed a two-year contract, of course. Hubman missed all of the football playoff games, we can't watch any of the shows we really like: The Unit, Criminal Minds, NCIS and much more.
Now I'm really ticked off! I called both parties and voiced my complaints - oh howdy, did I ever!
But even though I suggested that DN violated their promise to me to provide the networks they said they would, they won't let us break the contract. They say "talks are still in the works."

Anyone have any ideas???

Wordless Wednesday

Is this what's referred to as "monkey business?"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Manic Monday - Snow

SNOW - Hawai'ian Style!!!

Living in central California for almost 40 years, I've only seen snow here on the valley floor twice, the kind that sticks! We're surrounded by mountains, including the range through which the infamous Grapevine (the part of Hwy 99 that goes to L.A.) traverses. In snowy weather it is often closed, making travel from the north to the south a real mess, especially for the truckers.
One year, the weather was horrible and caused people to become stranded up on the ridge. People couldn't get off the road and had no food, etc. So an enterprising young grocery truck driver opened up the truck and started passing out vittles. Guess what - he got fired for it!
So many people complained that his company had to reinstate him or risk more than just egg on their face. And it made a great human interest story!

I commiserate with you folks who get stuck with snow so many months of the year but it is a wonderful sight for those of us who can view from afar!

Please stop by and see more snow stuff at
Manic Monday, hosted by Morgen

Looking at the Sky on Friday....

This used to be the view from our backyard facing east - until they built a 12 foot block wall!
Oh well, it was nice as long as it lasted!

Please visit our hostess and maybe you'd like to participate!

Wordless Wednesday

Is fame worth it???

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Manic Monday - Office

Here's a photo of my home office. As you can see, it is lavishly decorated and of the upmost in quality. Now, as you know, I am a reprobate and lie a lot when it comes to my personal abode.
So here is just a little bit o what I'd LIKE my home office to look like!

Be certain to check out Manic Monday, and our host, Morgen!

Grab it and Do it...

Grab it & Do it!

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones
you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (lunar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Check out Callie's Answers!