I can’t walk China anymore – she is bad on leash and the pulling hurts me. So, I was in the side yard with them picking up her poo (diarrhea, no less). Benny was with us. When I went to open the storm door, it wouldn’t open! It felt locked, though I didn’t even know it *could* lock. I had been in and out of it a couple times while China was out there, so it was a surprise.

After pounding to see if I could loosen it, I tried all the house doors. Of course we keep everything locked. I put the dogs in the back yard and walked a few blocks to our friends house. They have a key. But, no one was home. I walked back, having sharp intestinal cramps from the stress. I tried the storm door one more time, then started trying neighbors. Next door, no one answered. The cop’s house on our street – no one was home. One house had their inner door open so I tried that. The wife answered and kindly let me use their phone to call Danny. While I was telling him what happened, she was listening and offered to get her husband – she said he did handyman work. I was so grateful! I’m 5 months pg and have eaten nor drank nothing today and was crampy and freaking out.

The both came over after I got the dogs back into the backyard (I had let them in the side again so they could get out of the rain on the porch. China was mad and wanted inside. She wanted nothing to do with me herding her back out in the rain, but I got her there. It took only 30 seconds for the neighbor to jimmy the door open with a screw driver. What a relief! There turned out to be a little metal bar you can slide back and forth to lock. I guess it locked itself…

I am ready to curl up in fetal position at this point. Ugh.

China currently has a UTI. She has had one before, poor girl. It is a struggle to get her to take her pills. I had to use cottage cheese when I gave them to her. Last night it was Danny’s turn and Benny ended up eating her pills! Ugh! They aren’t cheap – $60 for 15 of them. He managed to get her to take most of a dose eventually. Looks like it is back to cottage cheese tonight.

My birthday is just 8 days away! If you want to send me a birthday card (or presents! ) you can send it here: 43300-116 Southern Walk Plaza #234, Broadlands, VA 20148-4463. I don’t know if we’ll end up doing  party or anything this year. I was thinking of doing a cookout, but I’m not sure. My birthday is on a Tuesday and I have a work even the weekend following it, so we’d either have to do it this weekend coming up, or the end of the month. I’m not sure.

I am currently working from home 24-7. The are doing construction at work and it will involve my office door moving walls. I am a little bummed that I will lose the natural light I used to get through my door, but oh well. Im just glad I’ll still have an office to go to! I am going to be rather lonely and stir-crazy after all this time at home.

How are you guys doing? I just figured ut how to get my LiveJournal friend list in my feed reader so I can catch up. However, I still won’t see our entries if it is protected. I just haven’t have time to read a million websites a day!

No photos of the tags on yet – I have to wait for them to dry. I put a couple layers of varnish on the back side where my colored pencil is (I colored them backwards).

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Shrinky Dink Dog Tags

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We made it to California yesterday morning after a 5+ hour flight. We had brunch with Mel then relaxed until it was time for Danny and I to drive to Pacific Palisades for a dinner party with family. I was exhausted from not sleeping the night before the trip, but had a great time with everyone. I got to wear my super high heel sandals that make me 5’11″! I slept well, but woke up at 7 am est time at first. I made it to 6:45 am pst before getting up.

I’m all wrapped up in a blanket with some green tea Mel made for me. We need to start our showers and get ready for today’s adventures!

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Laura & Stephanie

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On Saturday, we hosted Laura’s birthday party at our house – our birthday gift to her. Laura chose money as her theme, and it turned out really fun!

We had a playlist of money songs for the start of the party, lots of green/gold/silver decorations featuring $’s, jewels and play money and a craft room with paint-your-own piggy banks and coin purses. I “blinged” out the photobooth I’d left up from my last two parties. I was planning to break it down anyway, so I figured I’d go all out and make it bright, shiny gold.

The only downer during the party was when China gave a guest a scratch on his nose. It wasn’t her intention to hurt him, and he was very understanding. I felt horrible about it, though. Rest assured I will make sure noone is inches from her face at future parties. Something to keep in mind around any dog – teeth and claws are sharp, regardless of good intentions.

Everyone had fun playing or watching others play Rock Band. I warmed up the mic, and it didn’t take long for vocals to be the most popular instrument. We had the game on “no fail” mode. No one has fun if you fail out of a song… Playing Rock Band at a party is about having fun and including beginners. It was too bad that people didn’t hear more of the great playlist we’d worked hard on. Maybe next party we can figure out a way to have the music in the craft room even after Rock Band is turned on.

The party went quite late, and as I didn’t have to fill in on the mic, I spent the last half hour closing up pots of paint, taking down streamers and consolidating the leftover food. I was (understandably) the first one up in the morning (I don’t drink) so I spent my time cleaning. I got the kitchen cleaned, Laura’s party gear and leftovers packed for her, the photobooth broken down and stored, the craft table put away and the floor swept/mopped.

When Danny, Ivan and Laura made it out of bed, we cooked brunch and caught the first few episodes of Better Off Ted.

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Beginning of Maggie

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I have lots of shading laid down to go under her creamy white fur. The fur will be built up in many steps.

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Stop by and say hi! You can buy the tickets online to save some money. Use the coupon code VIP at checkout.

I’ve had a cold for a week now, but I am starting to feel better. It doesn’t help that the weather keeps changing wildly. Since I am working all weekend, I’ll be taking Monday off to rest.