New TV

On Saturday we will get our new TV! My hubby went out and bought a 46" HDTV and sound system and I am so psyched!!!

So, this coming Saturday will be hectic at my house. The TV will be delivered and the installation guys will begin the process. We will have to take down our entertainment center with its eclectic collection of "homey" stuff, old CDs, really old LPs, graduation pictures, old chili trophies...yuck! I hate the thought of taking all this down and figuring out where to put it.

We will make do with the old TV stand until we get the aquarium situated. It will have to be drained and moved so that will be another day and time. We really enjoy watching the fish swim around so we don't want to get rid of it or move it to another room. We will just figure out how to live in harmony with the big TV and the big fish tank in the same room, same area!

Cannot wait to watch my reality TV on a big HDTV!!!

Rejuvenation

This week has been such a blessing! Having a week off to relax and spend time with the family, shop, blog, watch TV, visit friends and reconnect is wonderful! I read somewhere that a teacher has to make over half a million decisions a day. I believe that is true! With all that to think about we have to be tired! TGIF!

Juan had off all this week, except today, and David and Joy have been off since Wednesday so we have been able to spend some time just hanging out. Now, I must admit, togetherness can be too together at times, if you know what I mean...ha! But, I enjoy having the family all in the living room or at the dinner table at one time.

Confession...I did not clean my house or finish the laundry. I did not bathe the dog or clean out my closet. I did not get down the Christmas decorations or start my Christmas shopping. "So, what did you do?" you might ask. Nothing! Nothing that I did not want to do! I sat in my chair with my laptop and surfed. I laid on the love seat with my blanket and my dog. I drank my Guinness. I ate whatever I wanted. I stayed up late. I watched trash TV. Glorious times, I'm telling you!!!

But, Sunday night will come quickly and I will have to prepare myself for reality (not reality TV!). The next three weeks will be full of trying to get "it" all crammed in before Christmas Break. We will be super stressed at school just trying to get the kids to learn instead of wish for Santa. We will have class parties, school parties, lunches, lots of parents, testing...you know...all the usual stuff that comes between the Thanksgiving Break and the Christmas Break. And, on top of all that I have to keep the teachers from doing the same thing as the kids...wishing the three weeks would just hurry by! It is so hard to do, though. But, three weeks is a long time and we have to get so much done even though no one really wants to. This is hard to explain to anyone who is not in education. These are three tough weeks coming up!

I am going to leave now and go get ready for my nice relaxing sushi lunch! YUM-O!! I love sushi and I rarely get to eat it because very few of my friends will eat it. So, Joy and I are going to lunch with Debbie, my cousin's wife, and we going to relish in our California, Mexican and Birthday rolls, our Lemon martinis and good company!

Wishing you all a great weekend and a wonderful upcoming Christmas season!

Cornbread Dressing!

One of my favorite things to make is cornbread dressing. I love Thanksgiving because I get to make this and then enjoy a plate of dressing and gravy and cranberry sauce...I can really do without the turkey.

Making the dressing is a family tradition...well, maybe not...but it is MY tradition. I always beg Joy and David to help me make it so they will know how when they finally leave home (whenever that may be!), but they aren't interested. Joy usually stands in the kitchen, watches and hands me items as I ask for them. She could probably make it if she had to. I asked David to help me so he could tell his future wife (ha!) how to make it. All he said was, "I'll send her to you and you can teach her."

Anyway, I just finished putting the butter slices on top of the two pans of dressing. Yes, I made two pans. One to take to the family gathering and one for home. We eat lots of dressing! But, we only eat my dressing. Exactly the reason I always volunteer to make it! I will roast a turkey breast on Friday and we will have left overs all weekend long. Cold turkey and dressing sandwiches are the best!

Today I am thankful for being able to create something that we all enjoy and makes my family smile!

Enjoy your own cooking and gathering for tomorrow. I believe that we all have so much to be thankful for that tomorrow should be a day of blessing for everyone. Enjoy your family, relax and take a deep breath...for Christmas is around the corner!

Gas Prices

WOO HOO for gas prices and discounts! I went to Tom Thumb today and used my Reward Points when I got gas. The original price was $1.71 a gallon. My discount was 70 cents off per gallon--making my final cost $1.01!!! OMG! I filled my gas tank for $13.00!!

I remember just two months ago paying nearly $50 to fill my gas tank. I paid it because I had to have the gas, but My Goodness! So, today I have to say that I am thankful for lower gas prices!

Oh, yeah, the family is going to the Tut exhibit in Dallas tomorrow! I am soooo excited!!! Guess what I will blog about tomorrow....TUT!!!

Cowboys won!!! Yeah for that, too! WOW! Today is a great day!

Deebo

Deebo Dog is my son's pit bull. I love this dog! Deebo is more like Scooby Doo than a killer dog. He has lived with us for over a year and half--3/4 of his life. He shares the house with ZsaZsa, my chihuahua. Therefore, Deebo thinks he is just like her...small and dainty. He is not either of these things. Deebo weighs at least 85-90 pounds.

Deebo gets so excited when I come home in the evenings. He almost knocks me over running up to greet me. He will stand on his back legs, putting his front paws in the air for he to grab and "dance" with him. He jumps on the back of the sofa (just like ZsaZsa), puts his left paw in the air for a High Five. He will sit on the floor at my feet and extend his paw for me to shake with him. Yes, Deebo is very animated!

Want to see him run in a circle? Mention the word "cookie" or "squirrel" and he gets in a frenzy! Throw his toy bone or rope across the room and he will run to grab it and bring it to you to play. I love to watch him play!

I know there is a lot of bad press about pit bulls. I believe that there are bad dogs in the world. I believe that pit bulls are dangerous dogs. But, I do NOT believe that all pit bulls are dangerous. That is why I get so upset at all the stories that go around about how pit bulls attack innocent people. I can't help but wonder two things: how was the dog raised and how was the dog treated?

I love my Deebo Dog and he loves his Grandma!

By the way, this is the beginning of the Thanksgiving Break! WooHoo!!!

LONG Week....

OMG! I am glad this week is almost over! I don't remember having a week like this in a long time. Stress has consumed me and I truly think I smiled for the first time today.

First, let me apologize for not posting the past two days. I have not been near a computer in the evenings since Monday and really didn't feel like anything I would have said would have been the least bit thankful orientated!

Now... back to being thankful! I am thankful today for good friends who always make me smile. I have friends that I see everyday at work, friends that I only contact through the internet, friends who I see several times a week, and friends that I rarely see but are always in my heart. You know who you are...you know you make a difference in my life. I am thankful for YOU!

Knowing that there are friends you can confide in, friends who will support you no matter what, and friends who "have your back" is what makes life great. I am blessed to have friends like that in my life. Never doubt that I love ya!

Pedi Mani

Nothing is more relaxing than a pedicure and manicure after a long day! I must say, I am very thankful for being able to sit in a massage chair and let someone pamper me for a while.

Once upon a time I was appalled at the thought of someone touching my feet. I always felt like I had really ugly feet and never wanted someone to actually touch them. Then, one day, I decided that if I ever planned on showing my feet to the public I had to do something to make them presentable. My first pedicure was like a revelation! I soon discovered that I no longer cared what the lady thought about my ugly toes, my callouses, or my hairy legs. I loved being pampered! I would rather have a pedicure than go shopping...you know that must be a big deal!

Manicures just come with the process. I used to have nails put on but it became too much of an upkeep issue. I don't have the time to sit and wait for all of that. But, I will make time for a pedicure!!!

Anyway, TMI I'm sure! But, when I stop to think what I am thankful for today--a fresh pedicure is at the top of my list!!! Happy Monday!