Gerbil Update

The little guys are getting completely settled in.  CH & I decided that they just didn't have enough room in their original cage, so we spent what seemed like 5 hours about an hour in Petsmart trying to decide how to "upgrade".  Here's what we ended up with when it was all said and done:

The cage on the right is the addition, along with the "Lookout Tower" on the one on the left.  We also got them some "Critter Bath Dust"...they must practice good hygiene if they're going to live in my house!  And, we got a ball so they can have a little "freedom" and roll around the room.  CH put Eli in it, and I ended up taking him into the living room so he would have more room.  Pepper tried to nose it a couple of times, so I had to keep her away from him.  Ally was a little curious and sniffed a bit, but couldn't really be bothered.  YS put Tige in the ball yesterday and let him roll around his room. 

This is what I found Sunday morning when I checked on them:

I have to admit, they are rather cute all cuddled up together, sleeping.  Eli is the gray one in the front; Tige is the brown one.  At one point, Eli was sleeping over on top of Tige.  I think they like their new digs.

Friday Fragments

~  I have GOT to get caught up on my blog-reading!  I just can't find the time...perhaps I should put down the Words with Friends and Hanging with Friends!

~  It's suppose to be super, super cold this weekend:  only 37 on Saturday.  After the 60 degree weather we've had, it's going to feel "super" cold, anyway!

~  When I put a little piece of dried papaya in my hand yesterday, Tige climbed up, sat in my hand, and ate his.  I tried to not freak out as he climbed up to my wrist.

~  Hooray for the Giants!  I missed the second half: had to watch Downton Abbey!

~  It's been a pretty boring week, but boring is good, right?  Hope everybody has a good weekend!

Lovey Dovey Hodgepodge

1. What is something you are loving right now?

Downton Abbey.  What's not to love, right?  I missed the 2nd half of the Super Bowl to watch the newest episode.  

2. Paris, Venice, New York, and Rome are considered four of the most romantic cities in the world. Which one would you most like to visit?

I've been to NY (but not with CH), I'd like to go to those other places, but with what I've heard about Paris and their unlove with Americans, I'd cross that off my list.  Although I'd like to go sometime.  (Getting off-track...gotta get back on topic!)  I would say Venice.  But, with all that water, does it smell?  I really, really want to see inside one of those buildings that are right on the canal.

3. Are you a romantic?

In the sense of believing in "Happily ever after"...yes.  In the sense of needing to be showered with flowers and gifts...no.

4. What's your favorite love story made for the Big Screen?

An Affair to Remember.  I would LOVE to see that on the big screen.  With a big box of kleenex.

5. Everyone loves Pooh bear and friends...which character are you most like and why? Click here for help in answering this question.

Winnie the Pooh.  Although it was only 57%.

6. What's the best chocolate something you've ever eaten?

Oh, my.  I have no idea.  I don't think I've met a chocolate I didn't love.  I love Dove Chocolates, but German chocolate is De-Licious!

7. Share a favorite quote about love.

"If you love something, set it free.  If it comes back to you, it's yours.  If it doesn't, it never was."

I had a poster with this quote on it when I was in high school.  Too bad I didn't live it when I was young!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Last week, YS came in from practice, and we were in his room watching the gerbils.  We heard this loud "BANG" and just about jumped out of our skin!  I looked at him and said, "Garage door opener".  Sure enough, that's what it was.  The spring had broken.  I'm just really thankful that it happened when it did and not when someone was near the door:  that could cause some major damage!

CH called the next morning, and the garage door company had it fixed before I got home that afternoon.  CH to the rescue!  :) 

TLC

Have I mentioned how much I love my schools lately?   If you're an "oldie" to my blog, you know that I serve 2 elementary schools.  They have their own "personalities", but both of them are fairly laid back with principals who let me do my job.  I'm very fortunate that I have some excellent faculties to work with.

Having said that:  I don't think any of  my prior schools can compare to my "lunch crew" at one of my schools,  especially this year.  We have 2 new members who fit in perfectly.  Earlier in the year we started talking about places out west we want to visit.  Then it evolved into all of us renting a camper, then that turned into a tour bus.  We would just hop on, ride until there was something we wanted to see, and then we'd stop and do some sight-seeing. 

A few weeks ago we were talking, and somehow we decided to take turns bringing in lunch for everybody on Tuesdays.  Hence the term  "TLC":  Tuesday Lunch Crew.  A couple of weeks ago, one of the teachers made coconut cream pie.  Oh my, was it good!  Last week things really got started:  I brought in King Ranch Casserole and another teacher brought in "Old-Fashioned Gingerbread with English Cream".  It was out of this world!  I've looked online for the recipe but couldn't find it.  It was almost as good as the Sticky Toffee Pudding that I had when I was in London.  On top of that, another teacher's mother brought in some lasagna for us.  YUUUUUM!    (I think they didn't trust that I would remember to bring my casserole!)

Our idea now is to make a cookbook with all of our recipes, and sell the books to sponsor our trip.  Then, we will turn our trip into a book tour!  I still think a reality show would get us out there.
Poor teachers can dream, can't we?

Friday Fragments

Time for Friday Fragments!  YAY!

~ My kids were so funny yesterday.  I asked a couple of Kindergarteners if they knew what day it was.  One of them said, "Thursday", and I proceeded to give them hints.  One of them said, "It's the 'beaber' day!"  I asked him if he meant "groundhog", and he said yes.  (You know where this is going, right?)   There was some mention of Justin Bieber after that, and one of them said "You call the groundhog Justin Bieber!"  Move over, Punxsutawney Phil!

~  Another one of my students told me she had eaten all of her "Waviloli" (ravioli).  I looked at her teacher, who responded with "job security"!

~  My "Birthday Bandit" struck again!  To recap:  Next month I will be having a BIG birthday.  Last month, I received (in the mail) a birthday card with a $15 Starbucks gift card.  The card wasn't signed, and my address was in the return address.  A couple of days ago, I got another card announcing my upcoming birthday, but this time there was a $20 Pizza Hut gift card!  The writing was a little different, but I still think I "may" know who it is.  Can't wait to see what the "finale" is! 

~ I changed my e-mail back to what it was before last weekend.  It was too much trouble having to check another e-mail!  That was short-lived, huh?

~ This one is for CH:  Yesterday I wore my Burberry Weekend perfume.  CH said that it smelled good, and asked if it was my "Weekend at Bernie's" perfume.  Huh.

~  Last day of bus duty until April!  Can I get a "woot-woot"?

I Must be Out of My Mind

Remember when I mentioned that MS had brought home the fraternity's hamster over Christmas break? Weeeell, you're not going to believe what's in our house now:

Yes, I can hear you:   "Giiiiiirl!  Have you lost your mind?"  I think the warm winter has definitely gotten to me.  I got a phone call on Sunday from CH & YS, who were at Petsmart.  I'm pretty sure they were originally going to get a hamster, but changed their minds and wanted a couple of gerbils instead.  You know, those little mouse-looking animals with TAILS.  Not the cute little hamsters with no tails.  I said no...I really, really did.  CH gives a really good argument.  He should've been on a debate team.  At one point, the sales guy said to think of them as miniature kangaroos.  Riiiiight.

I told CH to make sure they were both male, and he said that Petsmart only sells males.  We were trying to think of 2 male names that go together, and we came up with Tige & Eli.  CH has a couple of friends (Tige & Eli) who rode with him to Alaska a few years ago.  Tige & Eli live a couple of states away, but they will come in every now and then for a long weekend to do some motorcycle riding in the area.  I have to say, those names seem to be perfect for the gerbils.  I don't know how the human Tige & Eli will feel about having rodents named after them, though!

I got a really good look at them Monday afternoon when no one else was home.  That's when I realized they have red eyes.  I could've handled beady black eyes, but beady red eyes?  I'm just not too sure about that.  I'm just thankful that they didn't come home with an albino gerbil.  That would've truly freaked me out!

CH & YS have plans to get more tubes for them, and to expand their living quarters.  Pepper (my Jack Russell mix) is likely to have a heart attack any day now.  Ally (my Schnauzer) has no clue they're here and couldn't care less.  Pepper reached up and nosed the latch while Eli was at the latch trying to push it open from the inside.  Pepper actually unlatched the cage, but I was right there to latch it back.  It was a conspiracy, I tell ya. 

Yep, never a dull moment at our house.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It's that most wonderful time of the year...tax season! Do you complete your own returns or farm that job out to the professionals?

CH takes care of that by taking to somebody else to do it for us.  Less stressful that way.

2. This next question comes from Kansas Bob...he posed it in his response to something I asked in an earlier Wednesday post and I asked him if I could add it to the Hodgepodge some day. Today's the day....

Which do you think has changed you more-love or pain?

Pain.  No pain, no gain, right?  When I look back at the pains in my life, I definitely think that those events helped me grow into the person I am.  

3. Tangerine Tango has been named color of the year for 2012. Your thoughts? Would I find this color anywhere in your house? How about in your closet? If not, will you be adding this color to your life in some way in 2012? If you're not sure what tangerine tango looks like click here.

You definitely won't be seeing me wear that color...I'm a winter, and that's NOT a winter color!  We have some orange in our house (we do live in "Big Orange Country"!), but not tangerine tango.

4. Are you a collector? What do you collect and does it get admired, used, and/or dusted regularly?

I don't really collect anything, but I have started buying a Christmas Ornament when we go on vacations.  

5. February is National Heart Month...besides a green salad what is one tasty heart healthy dish you like to prepare?

Grilled chicken with pasta, mushrooms, and broccoli.

6. When was the last time you had car trouble?

Earlier in the year.  I guess this counts as "car trouble":  I heard an awful squealing while I was driving, but it would stop when I stopped.  It turned out my car was telling me that I needed new brakes.

7. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Is that a good trend?

Less.  And it's not a good thing.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Last year we have snow every time we turned around.  This year:  nada, zilch, NONE. What is up with this:

 I really, really hope our "Spring Break" isn't spent shoveling snow.