Things I LOVE About This Past Weekend

1. Hanging out with my whole family. Seriously. A lot of people don't enjoy hanging out with their entire family, but this past weekend was special in a lot of ways. Too many ways to mention, it would literally take all day:) LOVED IT!!

2. Three-day weekend! Woo-Hoo!! I had to work last Sunday (boooooo), so I had Friday off (yaaaaaaay). NICE!

3. Friday Night Girls Outing: mom, Em (sis), Sarah (niece) and moi...dinner at Bravo (delish) and A Christmas Carol at the Clarence Brown Theater. AMAZING!! Such a great play. What a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!

God bless us, everyone!! -Tiny Tim

4. Got to pick Buster back up from the vet. Gosh, how I missed that little stinker:) He's doing well, by the way.

5. The BEST Saturday night ever with the hubby: we couldn't decide what to do for dinner. I needed to run to the grocery store to get a few things, and Russ decided to go with me. We basically decided to get a bunch of frozen appetizer-ish items and cook them all for dinner...extremely healthy decision! This included: hot buffalo wings, honey BBQ boneless wings, potato skins, mozzarella sticks and onion rings...all with the necessary dipping sauces. And leftover pasta from Bravo, too. Bon Appetit! Then we watched Stepbrothers. LOVED IT, TOO!! Super funny. So glad Russ is my B.F.F. (besides Ali)

6. Christmas outing with the girls from work: lunch at Wasabi, which included some delicious sushi, and a fun Secret Santa gift exchange! I got a much-needed heatable neck wrap and fuzzy socks from Bath and Body Works. Can't wait to use that stuff!

7. Knowing that I only have to work Monday and Tuesday of this week, then I'm off for the rest of the year! HECK YEAH!!

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year, too!!

Tough Times Ahead

Say a prayer for the Patsels. I took Buster to the vet yesterday for his weekly check-up, and the vet informed me that we have to re-do Buster's surgery this coming Monday. He slipped and fell, and the tendon popped. Poor Bus...I can't believe we have to start all over again.

Russ and I are devastated. Our little man has to suffer even longer than we thought. Please keep B-Man in your thoughts and prayers, and please pray that this won't happen again.

Sixth Time's a Charm

Sushi Spot...try number 6...successful...delicious...boycott withdrawn!

Oops I Crapped My Pants

Not literally, but almost, after I was borderline attacked by a Rottweiler yesterday right in front of my house. It was undoubtedly one of the scariest moments of my life...

I was walking Bus McGus yesterday when all of a sudden, a huge Rottweiler came running and barking at me out of nowhere (actually from behind the neighbor's house). I was able to bend down and scoop Buster up in my arms before the Rottweiler reached me and jumped on my back. I immediately started crying and tried to walk slowly away from him. Then the owner appeared and said, 'Rogue, come'. Are you freaking kidding me!? A Rottweiler named Rogue is trying to attack me!?

Then, through tears, I asked her, 'will you please come get your dog?'. Her response (in a semi-sarcastic tone): If you'll quit moving, I will. Excuse me???? Did you really just suggest that I stop moving??? Will that make me an easier target for your EXTREMELY SCARY animal??? What planet are you from, lady!?

I can not even begin to explain the fear and anger I felt at that moment. She didn't even apologize or ask me if I was ok. If it had been my animal that just did that to someone else, I would be apologizing profusely and hoping to God that they didn't report me. Which we did...to Animal Control. Ha! Take that, mean Rottweiler lady!

Anyhow, I survived without any bites and so did Buster. I can't even imagine what might've happened if she hadn't been outside or if I hadn't had time to pick up Buster. I just thank God and my lucky stars that we both ended up uninjured.

Unfortunately, as a result, I no longer feel safe walking my dog in my own neighborhood anymore. And on top of all this, my dad and stepmom went by the house earlier today to tend to Bus, and when they pulled into the driveway, they saw the lady and her yet again unleashed Rottweiler out in the middle of their driveway! The nerve of that woman...

I thought we were ready...

My hubby and I recently decided that we're ready to have a baby (despite some of the labor horror stories I watch on Discovery Health's Special Delivery every morning as I workout). Now, this doesn't mean we're currently trying to conceive. We've just decided that in the next few months, we'll 'see what happens'. Well, after the last week or so, the whole 'let's just see what happens' thing may be a bad idea.

It all started last Tuesday when our son, Buster (a.k.a. Best Dog in the World or Teeta Pan, take your pick), had to undergo major knee surgery. He suffers from patella luxation, or what I like to call wobbly (sp?) knee syndrome. Like several other Chihuahuas, Bus suffers from this condition that causes the knee cap to slide all over the place and stay 'out of joint'. If left uncorrected, it will lead to permanent lameness. Well, when we found that out, Russell's first response: I do not want a lame dog. Um, no one wants a lame dog. So, $1500, 4 medications, 3 daily walks, 3 daily range-of-motion exercise routines, once-a-week Vet visits and 3 daily ice pack sessions later, Buster's knee is fixed. Now we have the next 12 weeks to look forward to, during which he must be crated or on a leash at all times. AT...ALL...TIMES... WTF!? How in the heck are we going to keep this rambunctious creature calm for the next 3 months?! Not to mention, Russ travels all the time with work, so a lot of this therapy and recovery is on me. Outstanding. If I freak out a little bit about nursing a 10 lb. Chihuahua back to health by myself, how in the beep am I going to be able to take care of a baby?! I don't know, maybe every mother goes through this. Hopefully I'm not alone, even when it comes to taking care of a dog.

Next up in the 'maybe we're not ready' tale would be our trip to Atlanta for Thanksgiving. Now don't get me wrong. I love, love, LOVE spending time with my in-laws. I really do. They are awesome people, but what my poor hubby endured last Friday (see Audrey's 'Black Friday Recap' post and the Miss C screaming fiasco) definitely made the two of us rethink this whole baby thing. Maybe the peace and quiet we experience every day in our home is something we're not quite ready to give up yet.

Then again, maybe we are ready. Who knows...I'll keep you posted! (pardon the pun)

For Which I am Thankful

Ahhh, for one of my favorite weeks of the year is finally upon us, and it is during this great time that we must focus on what is truly important and give thanks for all that we have been given in life by our Awesome God (as we should each and every week/day of the year). I decided to share my list (though not in its entirety, just the highlights) of things for which I am most thankful, each and every day. (Thanks, Audrey, for the great post idea!)

1. My Light, My Rock, My God - what an amazing God we do have. Without Him, we would have nothing. Thank you, God, thank you for everything!

2. My man - what a good man I've married. Someone that would literally go to the ends of the earth (or make a special trip all the way to where I work just to bring me a magazine w/ pages marked for new hair color ideas!) just to make me smile. Thank you, Russell, thank you for being such a wonderful husband and friend.

3. My family - all of it! Every family has its quirks, and mine is no exception. But they are an amazing group of individuals, each one a necessary ingredient in our family 'recipe'. Without each one, life would be boring and the recipe bland. Thank you, family, thank you for making life interesting.

4. My friends - O.M.G. What an awesome circle of friends I have! From the greatest Boost Pal in the world to Bent Patatar (you know who you are) and everywhere in between, I have the BEST friends any girl could ever ask for. You are all so special to me in your own unique way. Thank you, friends, thank you for being the ones I shop with, Supper Club with, tell secrets to, go on vacation with, go out dancing with, confide in, cry to, laugh with, make memories with.

5. My health - overall, I am a very healthy person, notwithstanding the occasional cruddy cold or stomach attack (a.k.a. rowdy belly). I am able to get out of bed every morning and exercise, stand on my own two legs in the shower, make myself something to eat with my own two hands, drive myself to work, and so on and so on... Basically, I am able to do so much that others only wish they could do. Things that we all take for granted every day. Maybe that'll be a New Year's resolution...be more thankful for what seems the smallest, simplest things in life.

6. My job - although it is stressful, and even annoying at times, it pays the bills and certainly keeps me on my toes. It also helps fund a lot of the other things for which I am thankful (i.e. Supper Club outings, shopping, the Cupcakery, putting food on the table and a roof over my head. You know...the necessities!).

The list could go on and on; there is just so much to be thankful for. I hope each and every one of you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and that you are easily reminded of all the blessings and surrounded by all the loved ones you are most thankful for this holiday season.

Thanks be to God. Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh My...

Well, I just had the BEST weekend EVER!! I did a whole lot of nothin' with my hubby, and it was wonderful. Well, I guess that's a lie. Not the 'wonderful' part...the 'whole lot of nothin' part. We have been apart for the last 3 weeks (out of town for work), and we just wanted to soak each other up this weekend. On Saturday, we went out for lunch (Qdoba Mexican Grill...yum), a little Starbucks, and a quick jaunt to the K-Roger (Kroger) to get the necessary items for Russell's delicious chili. Oh, the perfect Saturday.

Now, I purposely left out the best part of our mid-day outing, because I want to focus on this part for the rest of my blog, and you'll understand why:

To the left, you will see pictured what is quite possibly the best cupcake ever made. It is the Peanut Butter Cup cupcake, made by what could eventually be my best friend or my worst enemy: The Cupcakery.

I talked Russ into a lovely cupcake treat after our Mexican feast. He said he wasn't going to get anything...ummmmmm, yeah right. Not this kid. Not when he saw the deliciousness laid out before him. He chose the Double Chocolate, as you see pictured below.

O...M...G! Both were fantabulous! I can't wait until my next Cupcakery outing, BUT...this will be a true test of my self discipline (a.k.a. why they may end up as my worst enemy). Please see below:

First off, well, there is no first off...you know by simply looking at these pics that they're LOADED with fat and sugar.

Problem #2, two cupcakes cost $6.01 (including Tennessee's ridiculous 9.25% sales tax)!! Six dollars?!

Neither my hips nor my bank account can afford a habit like this, so a 'special treat' the Cupcakery will have to remain :( The real kicker: they have weekly specials. Freakin' awesome. I must refrain from visiting their website. I must beat my sweet tooth!!

But, just in case you're wondering, this week's specials would be the Grasshopper and the Island Dream. My mouth is watering now!

The Grasshopper: vanilla mint buttercream icing on dark chocolate cake.

The Island Dream: coconut buttercream icing on golden yellow cake.

Do you need to wipe your mouth yet?

What the BEEP???

Ok, so I hadn't planned on blogging again so soon, but I might as well go ahead and share my Sushi Spot fiasco.

So, this place put their signage up about 2-3 months ago. I've made a couple trips to get some sushi, just to find that they're not open for business yet (I know, I should've called to check first). Well, on Monday, I decided I wanted to try them out...finally. I did call them to make sure they had finally opened. They had. Outstanding. Sushi here I come.

Well, after work on Monday, I had to run a few errands, so I never got around to Sushi Spot. 'Oh...there's always tomorrow', I told myself. False. There was no tomorrow (which would actually have been yesterday). I get to Sushi Spot last night, I get out of my car, fidgeting with my umbrella since it is pouring the rain (I hate rain, by the by), and I get to their front door only to find a lovely sign bragging 'Closed for Training. Will re-open tomorrow for lunch'. Those bastards!! How dare they train their staff now!? I want my sushi! Why would they not have trained their staff all the other times (4) I'd gone there prior to their precious grand opening?!

Totally lame. I may never go back.

My First Post (awwww...wipe the tear away)

Alright folks...I'm new to this whole blog thing. Basically, I guess I'll just get on here every now and again to share funnies, saddies, rants and raves. Who knows if you'll even be interested in what I have to say. If you're reading this right now, you probably have some sort of interest, so thanks!

Today has been okay so far. Russ is out of town, so that's a bummer, but tonight I'm going to try this new sushi place that just opened near my house. Hopefully it'll be delish. It is called Sushi Spot, and it looks pretty cute inside: fun paint on the walls, cute lighting fixtures, trendy tables and chairs, etc. Could be a winner. But then again, they could be masking mediocre sushi with enticing ambiance. Fingers crossed...