HoundBlog

Good morning everyone! It’s still raining! Not a lot, but still is 100% more than we’ve had for months! Also, the temperatures are in the 60’s which is refreshing after several days back up in the 80’s — way hotter than October usually is!

Working from home today as I have a board meeting tonight. I’lll also work from home tomorrow morning so I can go in late and stay late to begin the move to the new building.

It worked out well that I chose today, since the pg rescue Crested is having her puppies today. So far, we have one boy and one girl. The boy is a puff and a pretty golden palomino color while the girl is hairless and quite dark — almost coal black. Cameo is being a good mommy and the babies are doing fine. I think she has 2 or 3 more to go. Of course pictures will come.

Speaking of pictures! I almost forgot to post the ones from the fashion show!!

 This is Star and Elizabeth in their Halloween dress. Notice Star’s stem hat? It was a real hit with the audience!

This is Whinney, Star and Tara with their handlers showing off thier New Years Eve party dress. Don’t they look like they’re going to have fun? This was such a fun thing and I know Janet put a TON of time and trouble into it! I just wish I could have gotten more and better pictures! However, my camera was taking forever to recharge the flash for some reason. It was VERY frustrating!

Well, I suppose I should get back to work.

Love to all,

Margaret

We continue to get some rain. It’s not hard nor is it steady, but it’s 100% more rain than we’ve had in months, so I’m not complaining.

I pray we never have to endure fires like they are in San Diego county, California. I cannot fathom having to leave behind my animals to sure death by fire in order to save my own unworthy hide, but people are doing just that. It’s horrendous. And I wonder, in light of other disasters that have occurred in the past 4 years, just how long it’s going to take our Federal Government to step in and help the 3 million people who live in that county and who have lost all.  It will be interesting from a political standpoint to see how GW responds to a Republican Governor’s request for help compared to his response to a Democratic Governor’s request 3 years ago. Natural disasters such as hurricanes and fire have no politics, but you watch the politics unfold around this one — and ironically, New Orleans is threatened with flooding once again — not from a hurricane, but from rain…..Mother Nature sure has her quirks, doesn’t she??

Move day is in 3 days…. we are in countdown mode here with last minute packing being frantically done and OMG’s being said for things that were forgotten but shouldn’t have been. We go over the ever-growing task list ad infinitum to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything and to make sure we have the moving of the servers orchestrated and choreographed like some kind of ballet.

Guess I should put my shoulder back to the grindstone…

Love to all,

Margaret

On another blog, I wrote about people with their hands out. Well, this post is about someone who is extending a helping hand to another.

Drew has extended a hand to a couple who are battling cancer in their lives. Becky Machinski and her husband Mike have both had battles with Cancer. Becky has been Cancer free for some time but Mike is still battling. The Machinskis have three beautiful little girls who have had to pack up their lives to go where their mother and father could get treatment. They do not complain and are very sweet. The family has, in essence spent all of their savings and income on getting both Mike and Becky well. They cannot get insurance and so the rising cost of Mike’s treatments compounded over the years has been astronomical. The Machinski’s keep an online journal, with updates on Mike’s condition. He has had over 120 radiation treatments since 2004. Suffice it to say the family could use a little financial help.Ben’s trying to get them some help in the form of a calendar he’s created that the proceeds of the sales of which will be donated to the Machinskis at Drew’s Reunion in November. Please help Drew out by purchasing a calendar. They’re beautiful, reasonably priced and will help someone who needs it.
Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning everyone! Woke up this morning to a nice gentle rain. Of course that meant I didn’t WANT to get up, but rather lie there and listen to the gentle patter on the roof and possibly drift back into slumber. However, duty called in the form of Payne needing to go out, so I forced myself to get up and begin my day.

The weekend was uneventful. I got my usual chores done in mindless fashion, watched some t.v., read a book and wrote a tutorial — which if you’re into PSP, is HERE. Ken was in Lumberton, NC for a dog show where Tigger was Reserve Winners Dog both days, so it was a less than stellar weekend for them, but he did enjoy the quiet, although not the ants. Evidently the ants were pretty bad up there and now we will have to bomb the camper as they made themselves at home. 😥

This is our week to move, so we will be finishing up packing (I am pretty much done except for stuff I use every day) and will be in our new digs come Friday morning.  I’m still nervous about the transfer of the servers — Wes keeps saying it will be smooth and that we will only be down for a few hours at most, but I have serious doubts about that. While I certainly HOPE it is what happens, I also know how the best laid plans often go.  You may call me a pessimist, but I think I’m more of a realist.

Well, I suppose I should get back to work and make this day a productive one.

Love to all,

Margaret

Here we are again — another Friday!! Yeah!! And, it’s RAINING!!! Double YEAH!!

Ken is on his way to Wilmington. It’s raining, so I hope he has a safe trip. He’s supposed to call me when he gets there to let me know he made it OK.

I had the priviledge of attending a premiere showing of fall fashions by the estimable Phillips Whippet Modeling company yesterday! What a delightful presentation it was! From Fall and Winter wear, to costumes, it was a comprehensive collection all designed by Ms. Phillips and modelled by those lovely, svelte models of hers, Whinney, Star and Tara. There was a record-breaking crowd of 40 in attendance. The show followed a luncheon that was comprised of such delicacies as corned beef and cabbage, vegetable casserole, red velvet cake, homemade brownies and homemade apple pie.  Photos will be posted soon.

Nothing much else going on today. Normal stuff on track for tomorrow. Ho-hum.

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning! Today is supposed to have a 60% chance of rain. Boy! We sure do need it!

I’m going to Janet’s church today to watch a fashion show. Tara and Star will be the models and they are going to model their various costumes for the ladies Sunday School class. I’m the official photographer 🙂 It’s sure to be a hoot and I can’t wait! I will be sure to post the photos into one of my albums so you all can see the fun.

Ken leaves Friday for Wilmington. He’s taking Tigger to a dog show. I know he needs the rest, though and hope 2 days is enough. He looks so tired these days.

Was called in the middle of the night last night over a problem with the system. Jeez! I thought I was pretty much through with that — guess not. Anyway, I troubleshot the problem for over two hours and it just resolved itself. Something is hogging memory on my server like mad whenever this happens and I can’t figure out what’s going on with it. When it does that, the web ap times out and my call center can’t create calls. That’s having a negative impact on our service to our customers.

Gotta figure out what’s the deal — I don’t like missing out on sleep! 😡

So, now you know what my day is going to be like! Hope yours is smooth sailing!

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning everyone! I certainly hope your day is going better than mine which started out with a phone call from the call center reporting a time-out error on the web interface — NOT a good way to begin my day at all!

It has gone about the same since I walked in the door — more challenges than normal for a Wednesday — might as well be Monday all over again.  Well, the good thing is the morning has gone by pretty quickly. 😛

The building is looking very empty these days as they are in the process of moving files and other non-essential items to the new building. Our official move date is the 25th and that’s when people and computers will be going over. I have yet to tour the site, but am supposed to this week sometime. No biggie to me if I don’t get a preview. All I really need is a desk, bookcase and computer anyway and I already have all those at home, so would be perfectly happy with no space allocated to me 😆

They cut the phone lines to our building yesterday — the construction crew next door did, so we were without phones most of the afternoon yesterday. We still had internet and email, so were not totally cut off from the world. All of that seems to be back up and running properly now.

Charlotte leaves this morning for 2 weeks in Florida with her new boyfriend. I know she will have a good time, but that leaves me with no breakfast partner for the next two weekends.

I’m going to Knoxville 11/3 & 4 for a show. I will swing by Ma’s on Saturday after I show and get checked into my hotel. I’m hoping I get those last 2 points on Butterfly. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Well, guess I should get back to work.

Love to all,

Margaret

Ken and I have been trying out Atkins (sort of) diet again. He’s losing a few pounds, but not like when we tried it last time. I’ve lost a few pounds, too. Best of all, his sugar is down to normal for the first time in nearly 2 years and he’s a much nicer person for it! It’s a challenge keeping the carbs away. We both love pasta and bread too much. And it’s challenging to find palatable things to eat out that don’t include pasta or bread.

I’ve been feeding the birds homemade foods which include a lot of organic vegetables and fruits. Thankfully I can use some of the veggies on our own menues, so it makes it not quite so expensive a prospect to feed the birds in a healthy manner. They sure look great on this diet — feathers are shiny and brightly colored and they are very active and talkative. They still get seeds and nuts — they wouldn’t be healthy without those, too, but the oatmeal, broccoli, kale, endive, carrots, cauliflower and yams help give them a balanced diet.

I had a new visitor to the birdfeeder Sunday. I thought at first that it was a catbird, but he doesn’t have the head markings of a catbird so think he’s just a mockingbird. Possibly just a young one as he didn’t seem as large as the one that came to the suet feeder last winter.

And then this morning came this guy and I have no idea what he is despite looking on the internet for similar pictures. With his dark cap and short bill I want to say he’s some sort of sparrow or finch.

The Cardinals finally have completed their molt and are looking more like Cardinals 🙂 For awhile there, they looked VERY scruffy. Heat and dryness probably contributed to thier less-than-spiffy looks.

Guess I need to get back to work.

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning! I have a couple of pictures for you that I’ve promised you.

First — Butterfly’s win photo from a couple of weeks ago where she was Best Bred by Exhibitor in Show..isn’t she gorgeous! I’m just sorry that I don’t look nicer for her!

And then, the lovely picture that the owner of my company gave me that looks so wonderful in my livingroom and the photo does not do it justice!

I had a very productive weekend. The camper is all ready for Ken to take it to NC next weekend –he and Tigger are going to a show — I got the dog room closet cleaned out and a mountain of laundry done — along with the normal vacuuming, mopping and kennel cleaning that is an everyday chore. Now I need a few days to rest, but no rest for the weary.

Got to run! I”m late for work

Love to all,

Margaret

I HATE laundry! 😡

This HAS to be the most boring job there is and it’s the one I look forward to the least of any I have to do. I feel like I’m chained to those dratted machines!

OK scientists and inventors — it’s time to put your thinking caps on and address these two time wasters. Just look how much energy, water and time you would save by inventing a closet (no, we don’t want another machine –then I would STILL be trekking the clothes from one place to another -it’s much more efficient to store them in the same place they can be cleaned in) that you can hang your dirty clothes up in and it cleans them electrostatically (or something). Or invent a fabric that never has to be cleaned. I know you’ve invented fabric that is treated to not harbor germs. Well, create one that stays perpetually fresh, neatly pressed and fits whatever body shape is in it (well, while I’m challenging the scientific world, I might as well ask for the moon, right??)

Once my laundry is done, I can go out and play. Right now, though, it’s ball-and-chained to the washer and dryer 😥

Damn!!! There goes the buzzer again! Back to work…..

Love to all,

Margaret