Boogieman Under the Bed

The girls were hopping all over me and my bed this morning when it was time to wake up. Actually, it was when they decided it was time to wake up. Back and forth they sparred with each other, over the top of me. "B" did something to greatly agitate preschooler "H", though I didn't see exactly what, then "B" hit the floor and disappeared under my bed while laughing histarically. "H" lept from my bed, and made a mad dash to her bedroom. Armed with a noisy electric toothbrush, "H" reappeared in my doorway like the Terminator. With a warrior's cry, she dove under my bed after "B" with weapon in hand. I heard them both hollering and bumping under my bed for a few moments, and I wondered just where "H" was trying to put that toothbrush. With a cry of momentay defeat, "H" retreated, scrambling back onto my bed. ""B" got my toothbrush! Go get it now!" she demanded as she gave me a might shove. Before I knew what hit me, I was airborne and grabbing for the headboard, the sheets, anything to keep my butt from landing on the hardwood floor. The hairbrush on my dresser proved to be a useful tool as I chased "H" out of the room (several times) and went to work on disarming "B". I attacked, jabbing the brush under the bed again and again. Shoes, slippers I'd forgotten I owned, and a bouncy ball that I didn't remember were hurled back out at me. All the while, the evil "B" laughed her defiant laugh. The action finally ended when Miss Boogieman under my bed ran out of ammunition and decided to surrender. 

Out My Back Door

I've got a pile of sticks outside my door. Some are as thick as my arm, and one is twice my height. Since the flood waters receded, Shadow has been bringing sticks up to the house every time I call him to come in. He has this idea that he should be able to bring them into my house and shred them into the carpet.  I am not always successful, but I sure try to confiscate them when they are on their way into the house. Usually I catch him. But I've picked splinters out of my bare feet when he sneaked small ones past me. I've got quite the collection now, and keep meaning to ask mom if she needs them for kindling for her fireplace. Heck, some of them can be used as logs. Maybe I should start my own business, selling firewood. 

"Remove the beak."

That's what the recipe said to do. Right after "Remove the head." Remove the head, and then remove the beak? If you remove the head, have you not already removed the beak? Does an octopus even have a beak? I double checked the recipe title to see if we were both talking about cooking baby octupus. Yep, that was the right recipe. I studied the little octapus in my hand and reread the recipe. I determined the head had been removed before I bought it in the deli. I did find what looked like a tiny bird claw and decided that was probably the beak. Well, I finally got a pile of those little suckers cleaned, and fried them in a hot pan. I wondered how I would I know when it was done. As it cooked, the normally slimy-looking legs became bit curled and stiff. Have you ever fogged your house and then come home to a few huge dead spiders on your floor with their legs curled under? I have, and that is what my dinner was now resembling. And when they were piled onto a plate of fried rice, they made the rice look a little like maggots. Summing up my bravery, I took a very tentative taste. The things were delicious! I'll admit I did have to close my eyes to finish, but what a wonderful meal! 

Let It Snow

We're snowed in. Even if I could get the vehicles out of the driveway, the roads are no better than our driveway. Dad walked the 2 blocks to my house to take my golden retriever for a walk around the neighborhood with his lab. The dogs enjoyed romping around, playing in the snow. Down the street, a young guy was pulling his 18 month old son on a plastic sled. The little boy was obviously enjoying the ride. Dad got a bright idea and told him that we could give him a real treat by hooking the sled up to one of our dogs. The guy thought for a moment and said, "well, I've got my own dog, thanks for the idea.... "

LOL...

Dad continued his walk with the dogs around the neighborhood. A few minutes later, he spotted the kid on the sled again. The sled was now being pulled by their big dog about a block away. The toddler was having fun being pulled at a leisurely 2-3mph. Their dog took one look at our dogs, and decided to be neighborly and run over to say hello. I guess flying down the road was a bit much for the kid, and he hollered a bit as he hung on for dear life. I think he might have been tied to the sled to have not fallen off. His dad couldn't keep up with him as he ran a few feet, then a few yards, then a few miles, behind the dog/kid/sled. Good thing the baby's mama wasn't watching...his dad would have been in so much trouble.