Happy New Year

I know, I know, it's been forever since I posted. So here's a little something. It's New Year's Eve and I'm thinking about what resolutions I wanna pave the road to hell with. I'll let you know if I come up with any.

But anyway, Happy New Year, everyone! :)
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Wild thing, part deux

He's ba - ack!

A couple days ago the woodchuck showed up in our yard again. And he was brazen!

He toddled right over to the flower bed, ripped apart a yellow coneflower plant and gobbled it down. Funny how all the wild animals we've had, bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks, like those yellow coneflowers. But that's a discussion for another day.

Anyway, then he waddled along the back of the house, rummaging around among the flowers and plants there. Okay, no problem. I watched from the sunroom, snapping pics as fast as I could.

But THEN he started digging a burrow along the foundation, right among the sprinkler heads and electric wires.

"Da-a-a-ve!" I yelled. "He's digging a hole!"

Dave went down to the back door, right next to where Woody was digging. Even after Dave opened the door and leaned out, about 10 ft from him, Woody kept digging. It wasn't until Dave walked out and yelled at him that he scurried to safety under the deck.

So Dave got out the very expensive "Repels All," purchased last year from the farm store when the skunk took up residence under our deck. He sprinkled some in the flower bed.

A couple hours later, Woody was back, digging in the same spot. Muttering and cursing under his breath, Dave went back out, filled in the hole, and sprinkled more Repels All, a stinky mixture of dried blood, putrescent whole egg solids and garlic oil. (Who thinks up this stuff, anyway?) Then he went out to the back gate, sprinkled more, and filled in the small gap there with wire fence. That oughta do the trick, he thought.

That was two days ago. Yesterday was quiet, but this morning, guess who was back again... that's right, our hole-digging, plant-gobbling, wood-chucking friend.

We don't own a gun, and I've never shot an animal in my life.

But there's always a first time. :)
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Where the wild things are

It's a little blurry, but I'm pretty sure it's a woodchuck, also known as a groundhog. He popped his head up at the edge of our deck today. Thanks to Molly and her quick camera, here's the proof.

Ever since our last dog went to Rainbow Bridge two years ago, the wild animals have been taking over our backyard.

Now this is not the wilderness, here. It's suburban Southern New Jersey. Our backyard is fenced in, surrounded by other houses and an industrial park.
Birds are one thing. We love our birds, except for the great blue heron who tries to eat the fish from our pond. We like our chipmunks, too. Even the squirrels and the bunnies are tolerable.

But last year it was a skunk, hanging out under the deck. And now, this...

I just have one pressing question...

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

:)

I did it again

Yup.

I did it again.

I invited a bunch of people I met on the Internet to stay at my house.

And you know what?

It was simply mahhhh-velous!

The way it worked out, the visits were staggered, with all five of my "Breakaway Babes" here only two nights. And I had guests, numbering one to five, for just over two weeks.

I wish they could have stayed longer! I've been so sad all week since the last one left.

We'll definitely have to do it again next year.

Love you, Babes!

Sounds fair to me

My daughters are nothing if not creative. They thought my Mother's Day gifts were boring, even though they were what I requested when prompted. So to liven up the gifting they created a scavenger hunt for me.

They sent me downstairs to the playroom, aka the dog room, aka mildew's room, while they hid the clues. Then they handed me the first origami-heart-shaped clue and waited.

Have you ever tried to figure out a clue while two grown girls are practically jumping up and down waiting for you to solve it? It ain't easy, friends!

With a couple of small hints, and one doozy, I managed to follow the trail and find my three "boring" Mother's Day gifts, three CDs from my Amazon wish list.

So how smart are you? Here are my clues.

1. What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries? Go to where it is stored.

2. What turns everything around but does not move? Go to the newest one.

3. What is full of holes but still holds water? Go to where it is stored.

4. What room has no floor, ceiling, windows or doors? Go to where it would be stored.

5.What fastens two people but only touches one? Go to where it would be stored.

6. I have legs but walk not, a strong back but work not, two good arms but reach not, a seat but sit and tarry not. Your favorite.

7. Take one out and scratch my head, I am now black but once was red. Where you'd use one.

8. With pointed fangs it sits in wait, with piercing force it doles out fate, over bloodless victims proclaiming its might, eternally joining in a single bite. Where you'd typically find it.

Well, how did you do? If you solved them all without help and without hints, hats off to you. If not, comment or email me and I'll give you the answers.

Oh, and my card from the girls was Maxine, you know, the old lady? She says, LET'S SEE...HOURS of screaming labor, about a MILLION poopy diapers, THOUSANDS of loads of laundry, YEARS and YEARS of sleepless nights... and you get a Mother's Day card. Sounds fair to me.

A Mother's Day card, a scavenger hunt, and three CDs. Sounds fair to me, too. :)

A virtual world

It's been so long since I've posted anything that I wasn't sure I remembered how to log in here. But lucky readers, all one or two of you, here I am again, still living in a virtual world. My Vampire Wars playing has slowed down since I completed all the missions, but my newest craze is Happy Aquarium.

What is it about virtual fish that is so soothing? I just love watching them swim around in their little fake fishy world. Of course these fish are even better than real ones. They smile when you feed them, look oh-so-woebegone when they're hungry, and never die. Well, I guess they die if you don't feed them for a week or so, but you never have to watch their little fishy carcasses go swirling down the... er, I mean, you never have to play taps for their burial at sea.

And you can breed them to make the cutest little babies ever. And believe me, breeding is an event. You get sleazy music, a rosy cloud with hearts pouring out, and a distinct *pop* as an egg suddenly appears and drifts to the bottom of the tank.

My tanks all have themes, with appropriate fish names. Blue Hotel, top, and Rose-Colored Glasses are kind of self-explanatory. I also have the Gallery, with Michaelangelo & Mona Lisa, Scream & Munch, and Mary & Cassat.

Then there's Candyland, with Sweet Tartlet & Rolo, Almond Joy & Pixie Stix, Pez & Mike N. Ike, Reese & Snickers, and Mounds & Hershey. Of course there has to be a Circus, with Ringmaster & Flying Fifi, Bareback Rider and Freakshow, Emmett & Kelly, Tightrope Walker & Fire Eater, and Strongman & Bearded Lady.

Finally, there's Tara, with Scarlett & Rhett, Melanie & Ashley, Mammy & Big Sam, and my personal favorites, Frank Lee M'Dear and Dona Giva Damn.

Of course the neighbors are shocked when Mammy breeds with Rhett, but hey, I say breed and let breed.

Some people may think I'm wasting my time feeding and breeding virtual fishies, but the creators of this game certainly got the name right. Happy Aquarium makes me happy. :)

Bitten

My friends have probably noticed the plethora of Vampire Wars posts on my Facebook page. The smart ones have no doubt blocked the VW feed so they don't have to deal with the flood. My online friends, of course, are right there with me, attacking right and left, doing missions for blood and experience points, accepting hundreds of new friends just to have a bigger clan.

What is it about Vampire Wars (and Treasure Madness, and Facebook itself) that's so addicting? Or is it just me?

Okay, I admit, I'm an addictive personality type. I get into things, like fan fiction, like Yahoo groups, and go all out. It got me thinking. What is it that makes an addictive personality? And in other circumstances would I be mainlining heroin instead of biting fictional opponents?

I found a listing of addictive personality traits on drugrehabtreatment.com and read them with interest...

Antisocial personality: Yes, it's true, I'd rather be home on my computer than out partying.

Low distress tolerance: Yup, that's me, getting all anxious over every little thing. Even had to quit playing Lexulous (a Facebook game similar to Scrabble) cuz I couldn't take the pressure.

Difficulty delaying gratification: Not so much. Never been one of my problems.

Compulsive behavior: Well, duh! I wouldn't be addicted if I weren't compelled to play these stupid games, lol!

Substituting vices: Damn, I wish I could substitute game playing for overeating. Unfortunately, I've discovered one can eat in between kills.

Insecurity: Funny thing about that. Most of the time I'm very comfortable with myself. But there are certain situations and certain people that can bring out those hidden insecurities.

Depression/anxiety: Big maybe there. It's never severe, but I tend to be right on the edge.

Well, addictive personality? Absolutely. So what should I do about it?

Gotta think on that one a while.

:)