They grow up so fast

Self proclaimed "dog mom" that I am - I can't help but boast that today is Lola's birthday.  It saddens me  to know that she is aging - and I refuse to buy into the dog years vs. human years math - so today we celebrate 8 lovely years with our wonderful pooch.

Older and certainly wiser, Lola continues to teach me new things every day... such as:

Always opt for the softest spot - stop at nothing to get it - claim it as yours!

Try to eat a diverse diet

Exercise is more fun when you are being chased

And most of us peak in cuteness in our puppy pictures

Amsterdam ER - kind of like elementary school

Today I found myself at the ER much to my surprise.  My left hand started cramping the other night and this afternoon it ballooned into a puffy and mangled claw in the course of 2 hours.  Not entirely sure what to do about this, I took a picture with my camera's phone and sent it off to my husband for his speedy diagnosis.  He found this a bit odd.  Off to the hospital we went for a professional opinion.

We tried a new hospital today.  Much better and brighter than where we found ourselves last year when I was down with bronchitis (remember, I tend to get sick here... a lot).  So we were remarking today on how bright and shiny and relatively new everything looked - and then we got to making comparisons about how the whole set up resembled both of our childhood school nurse offices.  I will leave it at that.  Just let that sink in.  I was happy to be getting medical attention in a place that boasted all of the glitz and technological advances of an elementary school.

I ended up in a sling.  It is comprised of one large cotton square that has been masterfully tied behind my neck by the head nurse - with one safety pin anchored at my elbow.  Sometimes, simplicity does the job just fine.

January in a blender

January can often be a tricky month in my house.  Along with most everyone else, we adopt a detox lifestyle, force ourselves into aerobic motion, and are obsessive calorie counters (well - that last one is more my thing).  Now, for 2011 add to the mix our most recent purchase:  an industrial grade juicer!  Remember those infomercials from the 80s (and 90s and probably 00s) - where the host drops 1/2 a cabbage right down the chute?  That host is now my husband.

I kid you not.  My husband is a juicer... and let me tell you, this man was BORN to juice!  For someone that discriminates against many vegetables, it amazes me that in blended form he has no problem with spinach.  Or broccoli for that matter.  Sometimes I think an alien has invaded his body - such as when he asked me this morning if an avocado was ripe enough to throw down the chute.

Honestly, I love it!  Drinking my way through the month is turning out to be pretty easy - and extremely entertaining.  This January has become all about turning the impossible into the possible - it isn't about what we can't have (alcohol for starters!) but now more of what we CAN have (through a straw to boot!)  No vegetables are safe.  Tomorrow we'll throw in a beet - just for the hell of it.

A slice of my life - in a jingle nonetheless!