Almost Wordless Wednesday

My father took this picture while on vacation in Maine last year.

Yes or No?

Since I have no job and can't even get an interview to save my life, I have a lot of free time.  A LOT of free time.  Which is not always good!  To alleviate some of the boredom and to keep me from thinking too much, I'm often on the internet. 

After my daily job search and sometimes in between, I like to check out blogs.  Some of them I follow and some I don't for whatever reason.  Part of it is because I like to be entertained and partly it's because I've been looking for ideas. 

I've been looking for something to make my blog a little more original and stand out.  So this is what I've come up with - Blog of the Week.  It'll be a weekly post (obviously) of different blogs that I've found usually from linking from one blog to another.  There are blogs that review other blogs, good and bad, but I haven't found any that specifically showcase a "Blog of the Week" stating what they like about the blog.  Or maybe there are and I just haven't come across them yet!

I will only present blogs that I enjoy, I won't rip someone else's apart.  They won't all be pet related either.  And if you want to recommend some, that would be even better!  This won't increase their traffic by much, if at all, since I only have 15 followers and one friend who reads from time to time but you might find an interesting blog you weren't aware of before!

What do you think?  Would this be of interest to anyone?  If so, I already have a few blogs in mind.  And if not, well that's ok too!

Loyalty

My foot seems to be a little better today.  It's still swollen but it doesn't hurt quite as much to walk on as it did yesterday.  A good night's sleep and being off it probably helped immensely.  I didn't see any bruising yesterday but there is a purple one on the top of my foot today.

In more exciting news, my pups have earned their first Pup Scouts Merit Badge - this one for Loyalty!  My chi's are most definitely loyal babes. 

I'm not sure how Martine makes these but she did an excellent job, don't you think?  We're excited to see what other merit badges she'll be creating for us.

Good Thing I Bought Those Crutches Last Year!

I had been sitting on my foot for awhile when I heard the clothes dryer stop.  Yes, I know I shouldn't sit on my foot but I do it all the time.  Well, I stood up and my foot felt numb.  Didn't think twice about it and tried to walk.  Took about two steps and twisted my foot in some weird way that only I could do as I fell to the floor and now it hurts to walk.  I know it's not broken as I can move all of my toes.  There is a little bit of swelling but no bruises at least. 

I wish I could have it checked by a doctor just to reassure me everything is ok but I have no health insurance and no $ to pay for a dr visit. 

Now I have to figure out how to put the sheets on my bed without walking too much.  I'm supposed to go to my parents house this evening.  Maybe if I complain loudly and long enough, they'll feel bad for me and insist on paying my medical bills!  LOL  Not likely and I wouldn't really want to saddle them with that!

Sorry, just had to vent!

Wordless Wednesday

Pup Scouts of America

Martine over @ I need a Sugar fix has put together the Pup Scouts of America and Shiver and Chico are official members!  I wanted to show off their membership card which will be proudly displayed on our sidebar as well.  Didn't Martine do an excellent job of designing it? 

The writing is kind of small at the bottom so I'll reprint the oath.

Pup Scout Oath:
On the honor of my paw I will do my best

to do my duty to my fur and non-fur community

& to obey the Pup Scout Law

to help other pups and their people at all times,

to keep myself in tip top pup condition,

furry aware & ready at a moments notice.

The best part of all is Martine clarified that it's not just open to dogs and your pet doesn't have to live in America!  Anyone can join!  So, Protege, even BatCat can join in the fun!

Martine is working on merit badges which I'm excited about.  Don't know what my little chi's will have to do to earn them but I have no doubt my babies will want every single one!

And The Award Goes To...

Me!

The lovely Cocorue from Love Being A Chihuahua has been kind enough to give me an award!  How cool is that!?  I realize my blog is nowhere near as interesting or pretty as any of the others I like to stalk on a daily basis so I'm always honored and amazed that anyone would think I might be deserving enough to give me one.  I truly do appreciate all of them!

The only rule to that comes along with this pretty little award is to share it with five friends.  So without further ado, I present...

Martine

Honey

Tiffany

Angie

Angela

Thanks Coco!

Wordless Wednesday

Sugar, Sugar

Are you familiar with Martine over at I need a Sugar fix?  I'm sure most of you are, there are only one or two followers that don't have dog-related blogs.

I think I first became aware of Martine's blog in June or July of last year.  (It seems strange to say last year when last year was just a few days ago!)  I hosted a dog swap for fun and although Martine didn't participate, she started to follow my blog around that time.  That's actually when I got the majority of my followers, no one even really knew my blog existed before then!  I'm soooooooo glad I had that dog swap, that's how I "met" the majority of my wonderful doggy bloggy friends!  (I plan to host another one later this year.)

Martine did something very kind and generous for me and I really don't know how else to thank her for it.  Honestly, saying thank you just doesn't feel like it's enough.  I don't want to say what she did for personal reasons but if I ever get to the point where I start to lose faith in humanity, I will look back on this memory fondly and it will be restored forever.   I didn't want this kindness to go unnoticed so I'm doing the only other thing I can think of.

So...if you haven't visited Martine's blog yet or just maybe haven't been there in awhile, PLEASE stop by!  She's got two adorable little puppies, Captain and Candy, that she posts losts of fun pictures of all the time.  Today and yesterday she posted videos of Captain dancing to Michael Jackson's "Can't Get Enough" and personally, I just can't get enough of her little pups.  (Don't tell my little chi's that though, they'd both be highly jealous!  BOL)

Happy New Year, Ya'll!!!

I would just like to say thank you to all of the bloggy friends I've made this year.  You've made my life so much brighter!

Last year's resolution was to take better care of myself.  I started out pretty well but then abandoned it half way through.  It's too easy to fall back into bad habits!

This year I'm gonna somehow get a job.  That's my resolution.  And once I have that job, I'm gonna pay forward a few favors that people have been kind enough to bestow upon me.

I'd also like to open up a savings account again (I closed the one I had when I lost my job) so I feel a little more financially secure.  I'd also like to pay off a few bills. 

What are your resolutions?

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Intricate Ice Sculpture

Unsettling Dreams

I go through phases with dreams. I won't remember any at all for a very long time and then suddenly I'll start remembering them again. And the ones I do remember are usually really odd. Like a recent one I just had where I went camping and some guy from Dunkin Doughnuts stopped by to deliver pancakes to us every morning.  'Cuz yeah, I'm pretty sure that's a service they offer!

Two nights ago I dreamt that I'd been gone all day and when I came home, I found some guy in my kitchen.  It wasn't someone I recognized from real life but I guess I knew him in my dream as I didn't seem surprised to see him.  Anyways, he had my little Chico on a cookie sheet and was getting ready to put him in the oven.  Chico was just standing there on the cookie sheet with his little tag just a waggin'!  I told the guy no, I didn't want my little dog cooked and he said, "Relax, I do this all the time!"  I woke up after that and made sure my little dog was still alive.

Last night I dreamed I had some woman and her two kids over.  Again, not sure who the woman was as I didn't recognize her from real life but I seemed to be friends with her in the dream.  So we're sitting there talking at my kitchen table when I realized that I hadn't seen Chico in awhile.  I went to go check on him and discovered that he had broken his leg.  I was really upset and trying to clean up the blood that was coming out of his leg.  I told the woman one of her son's had hurt my dog but she didn't seem to be overly concerned about it.  I was upset by her attitude and told her I needed to take my dog to the vet and that she needed to pay for it since her son did this.  She didn't want to leave though, she wanted me to sit so we could talk some more.

I don't know where Shiver was in these dreams.  I really hope these dreams aren't a forewarning of something to come.  They were really bothersome.

Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday

Source: CDAN

My Babies

Shiver with Chico in the background

Shiver and Chico

I was hoping for more close up pictures but this is what I got so I can't complain.  I apologize for the carpet looking so gross.  I don't know if it's just the way the light hits it or something but it doesn't look that dirty in person.  Shiver got a treat too but he put it down so he could try to get Chico's.  He always does that.  You can see where he chewed up the corner of the baseboard when he was a puppy.

Shiver

Shiver here!  I haven't gotten to do a post on my own yet so Mama finally said I could do one today since Chico got to do one awhile back.  If you'll remember, I look kinda like the doggie on the right, only redder and probably a little taller. 

Goodness, Mama has sure the cleaning bug something fierce!!!  In the last 2 days she has vacuumed (twice), shampooed the carpet in the living room, mopped, done laundry, cleaned the baseboards, washed dishes and dusted.  She better be done  because I'm not liking all the noise that vacuum and carpet cleaner make and all the moving of furniture makes me nervous.  First Mama moved everything into the kitchen, then she moved it all into the living room and then she moved the kitchen stuff back into the kitchen again.  Plus when she's busy cleaning, that's that much less time to pay attention to me!  I heard her talking about cleaning the bathrooms but I'm gonna see if I can distract her for a little while and try to get her to play with one of my chew toys with me.

And when she's not doing that, she's busy looking for jobs.  Geez, when do I get a little face time? 

Mama was gonna ask for a digital camera for Christmas but changed her mind.  She felt bad asking for presents when she can't afford to buy nice stuff for anyone this year.  She did buy gifts but not as many and not as nice as what she usually buys.  She rrreeeaaalllyyy wants to post some pix of me and Chico for everyone to see to show we really do exist and not just in her imagination (BOL) so...she has someone coming over who does own a digital camera and they're gonna take pictures of us!  Not sure when but it should be some time this week.

Mama is apprehensive about how I'll act.  Chico is very outgoing whereas I'm very shy.  She thinks I might not cooperate.  Hmm...I just might not since she hasn't been paying much attention to me!

Wordless Wednesday

Advice Needed Please

Ok, I've been unemployed for two months now and NO ONE is calling me for interviews, no matter how many jobs I've applied for.  So far I've had exactly one interview and as well as that went, I didn't get the job. 

My career field is in banking/mortgage/loans so I've tried to stick with applying for those kinds of jobs when I see them advertised.  However, I've also been applying to a lot of administrative assistant types of jobs.  With absolutely no luck what.so.ever.

Two friends say that it's just the recession.  I disagree.  There are plenty of jobs out there but they either don't pay well, I'm not qualified or I'm just not interested.  Or I am interested so I apply and I don't get an interview.  Seriously!

I've been asking people for advice.  One friend mostly gives me really bad unsolicited advice like apply for any and every job you see whether you're qualified or not and whether or not it's really something you're interested in and don't worry about the pay.  Well, why bother wasting my and the interviewers time if you aren't qualified?  Yes many positions offer on the job training but I'm not gonna apply to be a doctor if I haven't gone to school and gotten a license.  According to my friend, I should still apply anyways.  And as for pay, I know how much my bills come to at the end of the month and I can't accept a job that will pay me any less.  I don't want to work 2 part time jobs because I'm having a hard enough time finding even just ONE job so I don't know how quickly I could find another one.

So!  I'm asking for your best job hunting advice.  Also, if you've ever been fired, how did you handle it with your next employer?  In the one interview I had, the lady barely even asked about my last job.  She was much more interested in a different job I held with another company and focused her questions mainly on that.  She didn't ask why I left my last job so I didn't volunteer the information.

Christmas At Arlington Cemetary

This is the final part of my email.  Hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have!

You may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.

Twelve Days of Christmas

This is another part of the email that went along with the pictures of the Christmas trees in my last post.  Don't know how true this is but I found it interesting and wanted to share it.


There is one Christmas carol that has always baffled me.  What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.  It has two levels of meaning:  the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.  Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John .

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit -- Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit -- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Christmas Trees From Around The World‏

This is from part of an email I got yesterday.  I found it interesting and thought others might too!

The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. is decorated with 3000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren.  Encircling evergreens in the 'Pathway of Peace' represent the 50 U.S. states.

The world's largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy's Umbria region.  Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the 'tree' is a modern marvel for an ancient city.

A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo's night time neon display is projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.

Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague's Old Town Square and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market, is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic .

Venice's Murano Island renowned throughout the world for its quality glasswork is home to the tallest glass tree in the world.  Sculpted by master glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern

reflection of the holiday season.

Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on Jan. 7.  For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in anticipation of Father Frost's arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden.  He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall) can be found in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal.  Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special enchantment of the city during the holiday season.

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree:  Even in its humblest attire, aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany 's Karwendel mountains, a Christmas tree is a wondrous sight.

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette!  In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic.  With its monumental baroque dome plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it's no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

In addition to the Vatican 's heavenly evergreen, St. Peter's Square in Rome hosts a larger-than-life nativity scene in front of the obelisk.

The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol is dressed for a party.  Madrid's two-week celebration makes millionaires along with merrymakers.  On Dec. 22nd, a lucky citizen will win El Gordo (the fat one), the world's biggest lottery.

A token of gratitude for Britain's aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London 's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer Frankfurt's city hall since 1405 and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).

I've looked at all of the trees and just can't make up my mind which is my favorite. They're all so beautiful!   What are some of your favorites of the ones pictured here?