WOO HOO !!!!! Who doesn't want to see House on their doorstep? WOOOOOOT !!!!!



@ Haute -



This damn fool thanks you! Woof !!


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I'm glad you're feeling better ♥ ANd yes, you should take the pills if you need them. I'm always on my mom about this too, so I will join the chorus and say take your medicine And rest up and don't over do it ♥



Wrothken. Because they share a last name, everyone always asks him if he watches the show. He gets so mad! Of course I ask him every so often to bug him

Thank you so much Olen !!!






ROFL !!! I knew your eyes looked full of mischief !!! Thank you Jacki !!!


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Back from a road trip to Washington, DC. Whew, that was fast. But fun!

The only time I visited DC with my parents, it was 90 degrees out with >75% humidity.

It was not fun, despite the cool things we did.

Welcome back, Grits! Are the cherry blossoms still in bloom? Dogwoods? Bradford pear?

WOO HOO! Grits !!! She's baaaaack !!!

TK, sounds like a crisp autumn day in DC! It’s amazing how a place can be so hot most of the year, then so bitter cold in the winter.

Acadian, the cherry blossoms were in full glory, along with dogwoods, redbud, and magnolia! Hyacinths and pansies in the Haupt garden, it smelled great. Some of the mall is fenced off, so the grass is very green right now. Tiny leaves on the big trees, looked like a pale green mist.

mALX, YAY it looks like you're feeling better? And getting plenty of rest I hope, drink your fluids, etc. Can't wait to catch up on the action, but I’m going to crash now, good night!!

Not yet, but hopefully getting there, lol. Thanks.

I’m headed out to the desert later this week, yay. But some things have caused me concern.

1. I’m flying Southwest. They keep finding holes in their planes. Are they big holes? Should I bring extra gum?

2. The rental agent sent a friendly email with details about the house, including some things that he hoped wouldn’t kill us, and I quote: “Please be aware of rattlesnakes, javelinas, gila lizards, bees, and cactus.”

BEES?If after rattlesnakes he still mentioned bees, I bet they’re angry bees. And what the hell is a javelina?

I was bemoaning the above critter list, and Mr. Grits (who is not coming with us) reminded me about mice carrying hantavirus. Great!

3. There was also some vaguely threatening remark in the email about not touching the pool valves EVER!!! What is a pool valve? Why would I want to touch it, is it cuddly? And what’s the bad thing that will happen? Now I want to know.

So hopefully I’ll be back Monday!

As a desert dwelling optimist, let me share the wonderful news that at least the mountain lions are not poisonous.

Seriously, have a wonderful and safe trip!

So when in doubt, run toward the mountain lion. Got it.

Thanks, Acadian!!

No... what he meant is they don't poison you first before eating you. Be safe !!!

Enjoy your trip and don't get eaten, bitten, stung, or any of the other things desert creatures seem to want to do. Makes me glad the most dangerous wildlife I'm likely to meet here is a fox.

Though saying that a squirrel tried to break into my flat today. For a wild animal it was really tame and spent a while bouncing outside the window (I'm guessing some poeple feed it). I'm confised how it got onto a window on the thrid floor though.

I had an absolutely hellish day yesterday and today.

First off, we were cleaning out the furniture from our house because we have people who are putting in new carpet, so I was spending hours lugging rather heavy objects like TVs and bookshelves up and down the stairs. Good exercise, but it does grate on you (and your back) after a while. Also, we had to unplug the router, so that's why I was absent from the 'net for the last 24 hours.

THEN... two of the family dogs got into a massive fight. Sunshine (Pit Bull mix) now sports a missing eartip, and Vixen (Labrador) was left with heavy bruising, road rash, and a deep gash in one leg that had to be stapled shut. I spent most of the evening with my mother down at the emergency veterinarian getting the dogs checked up and mended.

Vixen is absolutely crushed right now. She spent the entire day sleeping in the back of my mother's SUV. She is eating, at least, but we had to buy her soft food because she is unwilling to do anything that might require energy. This is caused by a mix of wooziness from her prescribed painkillers along with general melancholy (she was savaged, it was horrible).

So, we are going to have to separate the two, they can't be together on their own anymore. Mom is also looking into a pet psychiatrist so we can figure out what drove the two to the biggest fight they've had in four years.

As for today, most of it was spent outside doing yard-work while the carpet-men installed the new rugs and pulled up the old ones (the carpet is great, by the way). It was a great day, though, so I did enjoy that part. Afterward, everything I lugged down the stairs yesterday had to be taken back UPstairs and plugged back in again, and that was sure fun... (not).

I'm done. I don't want to do anything else constructive for the rest of the week.

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor dogs !!!!

What about poor TK? Lugging heavy furniture up and down stairs, being off the 'net for 24 hours, and being up late at the e-vet having his dogs cared for?

TK, without seeing your dogs, there's not much I can really say in regards to the fighting. I will say the most common cause of aggression between housemates is dominance, closely followed by displaced anxiety. It seems fairly significant to me that this fight followed on the heels of the upheaval in your home (furniture being moved around, strangers coming into the house, carpet being installed). All are significant changes in the household that can trigger significant anxiety in one or both dogs. That in turn can send up signals saying "Come beat me up." Again, without seeing the dogs, I can't tell you which one is the more insecure one. Based on what you've said, though, I would think that Vixen is the more insecure one right now. It's a wise move to keep the two dogs separated for now, especially since the painkillers (which are absolutely necessary, BTW, as dog bites are extremely painful) will alter Vixen's behavior so as to make her almost unrecognizable to Sunshine.

If one or both dogs are rescues, this complicates the situation even more, and you may have to accept that irreparable damage has been done to their relationship. Your veterinarian can recommend a behavior specialist. Given the high number of quacks claiming to be 'dog whisperers' out there, that's your best route to go.

That's what men were put on Nirn for, lol.

Yikes, TK, sorry about the dogs. I hope your back is OK!

Olen, thanks! It has occurred to me that the guy didn’t mention scorpions, maybe scorpions are too afraid to live there. As for the squirrel at your window, was it a flying squirrel?

In my part of the desert, the big dangers are the 'S' things:

Snakes, scorpions, slot machines, spiders.

Bobo strong !! Bobo bitten by poison slot machine? Bobo say, "Never stick hand in slot again!"


Truth: If you live in areas where scorpions are known to be - don't sleep in a water bed. Scorpions are drawn to them, and will join you in your bed at night. Not a fun thing to wake up to. [Emergency call to exterminator!]

It was me ...

Hi all, I figured I should come back for some tea while waiting for Skyrim.
I think it's nearly four years since I had some cake here .
Good to see the Coffee Shop still standing^^.

*Takes a sip of my tea*

Cake and coffee here! Welcome back !!

Have a Tellie from me then my fellow Norwegian.

Me I'll make do with a hot cuppa joe while preparing myself for some cold songs from Immortal (one of Norway's best Black Metal bands(

Someone got hit by a car in the parking lot of my community college today as I was arriving for class. Driver ran for it (BIG mistake).

She didn't look too badly hurt, though, just shaken. I hope the victim is okay.

As for the car, about fifteen other people had already phoned the Fuzz with the number plates, make, and model, so I saw no need to get involved.

That is pretty shocking, I hope she wasn't injured badly. Sometimes shock will keep injuries from being noticed for a while if they are internal.

The coffee shop is, as advertised, forever . Welcome back Ola. This little forum seems as healthy as it's ever been which is surprising, it must be the quality of the cake .

As far as running when you hit someone goes... never wise. It's just digging the hole deeper.

One should stop getting amazed of how many stupid drivers there are in the world. I agree with Olen, running just makes things worse.

I just came home from school about an hour ago. Had a percussion performance in music, and I really suck at percussion. Worked out okay in the end though, only hope the teacher doesn't notice how I missed a few notes. And tomorrow I've got the (swedish) national test in english(listening and reading comprehension), which could be compared to the GCSE tests. I'm not to worried though, the tests this far have been easy.

Good luck with your tests, saqin! I think your English is fabulous! My late wife was a Swede, but her English was quite Americanized and I never learned a peep of Swedish. Her spirit animates Buffy the Bowgirl however, which is why the elf seems to be able to sing some Swedish. Here. (Caution, may be addictive).

I've been blessed to remarry however, and the current Mrs Acadian is an Australian princess who can be remarkably hard to understand. I think the little Sheila just took her matilda and went walkabout to the billabong.

Good luck on your tests !!

Today is the start of a new age of misery, fistfights, agonizing studying and general BADNESS for me. Its the start of the 3rd year of Junior High, a time where most Japanese have gone to delinquency. I expect unwanted encounters to be in upheaval, especially since I'm the only 'Outsider' in this school and my grasp of their language can be compared to a childs. Damn.

What's more disparaging is the teachers. I sincerely hope that whatever deity up there/below doesn't hate and assign me to what I like to call 'Genkotsu Sensei'. Its bad enough that I get into trouble because of delinquents preying on me, but the Genkotsus? They're worse!

The only good thing about being 3rd year is ... none. Its literally an age of torture... An age of Miasma. Well *drowns his coffee in one go* wish me luck that I don't get murdered and my corpse be ravaged not too much!

Tatty-bops.

Ugh....can I take a moment of time to say that RL is kicking my A$$! Catching up----

Sorry about the dogs Chef T... Dr. Rider had the best words about that.

I am e-mailing anti-venom to Grits. Have a great trip.

****

I want to write and read and have lost the time for either....

GAAAAH !!! The ghost of Rick has emerged from the dust of the construction site and mounds of paperwork !!!

Acadian and mALX: Thanks, have finshed those two tests now. I think it went really well, now I've just got the writing test next week before they can give us the grades for them.

And I think I've got four other assignments next week, so I'll be needing to work a bit on those this weekend. And two competitions as well! My schedule is, suffice to say, quite crammed for about six weeks forward, so don't be surprised if I don't write for a long time. I'm not sure how I'm going to remain sane until the summer break. Just thinking about how much work I've got to do gives me a headache.

Hang in there everyone! Things can often seem much worse than they are and all you can really do then is... okay, so I don't really know what to do then. Spilling your thoughts might be good, like I'm doing now, or maybe taking a moment to breathe. I'm quite certainly rambling now, and that's why I'm going to stop. Just hang in there guys, and do try not to get killed! Ehh, you know what I mean.

I know...I feel like a ghost...just lurking around my old haunt and unable to do what I wanna do...

Here is a song you can haunt us by:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqMG3VR5PP4


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You'll ace that writing test easily !! Here is a vid of you jumping those academic hurdles:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-2uW_C3vLM...feature=related


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LOL...Thanks mALX...That is actually one of my all time fav tunes.

I have your taste in music pegged, lol. Oh, I came across these vids and couldn't figure out who it reminded me of ... any guesses? I hate to admit it, but I am dying to go see this movie !!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ5rgUSS9j4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NYQyYtHddA


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Heh heh.

Blanco and Buffy the blond bravilian bowgirl!

That has to be the cutest movie they have come up with in a long time, I am dying to see it !!! I usually won't watch cartoons, (except Southpark and Family Guy, of course) - but this one I would make an exception for, it will be great !!

No '90s Disney classics? Those are some of my favorites!

Names...must have names, my good man. (spoken in an eerie male voice). Lol, just kidding.

I don't think there is anyway to train a teenager. Mine keeps putting the puppy out of her kennel (AKA guest bathroom) so he can go in and use/brush his teeth, etc. every morning.

I have asked him to put her outside, not just loose in the house. It doesn't sink in no matter how many times I've said it.

So far she has shredded Husband's easy chair (again, and worse this time since I had only done a qausi restuffing on it), chewed up firewood, TP'd the house, mauled, chewed, shredded, or swallowed several misc. items, etc. GAAAAH !!!

Your son is old enough for some responsibility.

Sit him down (minus the earbuds and joystick/gamepad) away from any computer/television screens. Explain to him in plain English that any mess the dog makes because he lets her loose in the house instead of outside is his to clean up, any damage she does is his to pay for (out of allowance, game credits, college fund, whatever hits home the most for him). Explain to him that surgery to relieve intestinal obstruction because of something inedible she ate runs between $1000 to 1500 (I'm being conservative because it's ETN - in the Chicago area it's about 1K more on each end of the range), and that's coming out of his game allowance.

Better yet, turn her loose with his game gear. That'll get his attention.

Can you tell I don't have kids?

Oh, let me say that I agree their spirits shouldn't be broken, but I also feel very strongly that they shouldn't be protected from the consequences of their actions.

My husband said the same thing, put the pup in his room and let it tear his stuff up as a lesson, lol. He was joking, and I'd never do that. My son is pretty good about standing accountable for his own actions - but seems to think the puppy's actions after he lets her loose in the house are not the same thing.

I have been considering having him pick up the mess she made, though. GAAAAH !!!

I’m aliiiiive!! Grits and offspring have returned from the desert, unscathed by nature’s fury. Turns out that javelinas are cute, furry peccaries. Not voracious man-eaters after all. I could not believe how many plants we saw. I love the Sonoran Desert, can’t wait to go back!

Massive storm while we were gone, no damage but lots of pine pollen cones on the ground. Could yellow season be over?? Oh please oh please oh please!!

Also still alive. Though with no exciting stories other than how much I hate half my degree...

Good to hear you had a good time Grits. It's always nice to see a change of scenery.

Rick, hello! I know what you mean about RL being overly busy... GAAA (as mALX might say).

mALX - do it. I left home ages ago but at uni you can spot people who always had someone cleaning up behind them a mile off... learning to think before you make a mess is a useful skill, and the sooner you teach it the less cleaning you'll have .

BARELY alive. Turns out when Japanese delinquents turn into Junior High Seniors they get to act like some mafioso or yakuza-to-be. I have foretold and that has come to pass. I am currently nursing a wounded pride, a broken rib and a left blackeye.

And to put cherry on the top of the ice-cream, just not too long ago me and my bike have crashed against another bike-rider. Luckily none was hurt, no property was damaged (I hope), we exhanged some sumimasens and went our merry, separate ways.

Anyway, my studies are going fine (if anyone cares, that is) and the teacher's not one of them Genkotsus. Still, though, the road ahead of me is still a very thorny one. Five aptitude tests lie in ambush and that's not counting the semesters'.

It should be no suprise, I guess. After all, we're being readied for society as dependable entities. To quote one of my Genkotsus: "We're going to turn you maggots into respectable men and women!"

EDIT: (お前らみたい な 虫ケラ を 立派 な 社会人 に 変えたるわ！)

Enough about my misery and complaining here, let's talk about you guys.

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Rickie (can I call you that? I'll edit it if you want)- Old boy, let's go down to the local pub and share some mugs and talk about how life is a witch with a capital B. Oh wait. Under-age =me= FAIL. Have my sympathies, nonetheless.

Grits- I think we've never spoken before, so hi! You went into the desert, eh? Lucky lucky. As Olen said, its always nice to see some greens (in this case, browns) instead of the cities and suburb's uniform grey!

mALX- Train ... teenager? Dear Resident Kitty, those two words NEVER add up. No matter how much distance you take him away from his beloved console or pc, no matter how much you scold him, a teenager is a teenager. Just kidding, of course. One way to bully have your will enforced on him is to ACTUALLY threaten him about destroying 'repairing' his beloved console or pc.

Nah. Take these wise words from a teenager himself: Do what parents (YOU) do best.

Olen- Good luck on your degree, man! You might hate your degree but I simply DETEST my current year.

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Tatty-bops, once again.