Hi, my name is Becky and I'm a gameaholic...

Dishes are piling up in the sink, science experiments are growing in the corner of the shower, and the Christmas tree is still in its box in the basement - and what am I doing???? ... playing this goofy hamburger building game! I've played under my name, my sister and her sweetie's, all three of the dogs, and several friends - Marti is in the lead, Maynerd is a close second. I'm running out of names.

If you would like me to play under YOUR name, send me an email. Chances are I already have so I'll just send you your score.

Until then I'm off to look for my high school year book - there's that fuzzy haired red headed girl who sat behind me in biology who I'm sure will want to play - just can't remember her name...

I Love Painting!

Believe it or not - two- count 'em TWO commissions for Christmas presents! The first picture is Hadley who LOVES Fancy Nancy. Maybe you can see her in the wings. What you can't see are all the sparkles and shimmers and positive affirmations written in the flowers.













The second is Jack and his grandmother sharing a picnic basket (one of their favorite things to do together) and sharing the affection they have for each other.

Thoughts Really are Things!

Nothing mystical about it. The Universe works just like a computer - what ever you program in, you manifest. Simple? YES! Easy? Not really.

I have learned over the past several years that changing my thinking really does change my life. I had to learn what to think, how to think, to believe and be consistent. Weed out the thoughts I don't want (some are familiar 'friends' and pretty hard to let go), and saturate my world with reminders of what I DO want.

Now, off on what seems like a tangent: Last summer, my good and lovely friend Tracy (who has a heart of gold and is just an all around wonderful person) expressed her desire to travel to Italy and take cooking classes. Well, needing a purpose to paint, I decided to make an artful, visual affirmation for her.

The first layer of paint has positive thoughts and prayers written on with the back end of a paint brush. You are able to see some of the impressions of script if you hold it just so. The next layer is a brush of pastel paints to create a background. Then the paper doll of Tracy (or at least the best I can do). Her wings are pages from an Italian cook book. She's eating a plate of pasta done with puff paint to give it texture. Written next to her left arm is "Tracy the Culinary Fairy". I added stencils, sparkles, and tissue paper cut outs. The final layer is melted bees wax to protect it, and make it smell real earthy and yummy.

Tracy keeps it in her office at work, and low and behold, I've started getting commissions to do other positive affirmation paintings! More pics in the future.

Wiiiiiii!

No pain, no gain - grab the Ben Gay and a heating pad for I spent last evening playing on the Wii at the Morley's house! What fun! Dinner was great! Turkey enchiladas (what else on Black Friday?) and all the diet Coke I could drink.

Maynerd and Bella were also invited. They had their friends to play with, a big back yard in which to run, and a bunch of new people to get to know, but true to insecure doggy form, they spent the evening trying to sit on me. On my lap, on my feet, on my shoulder, and on my head. I guess we need to watch fewer episodes of The Dog Whisperer and more Dr. Phil.

But that Wii! What a BLAST! I'm sure I need one just like I needed the PS2, VCR to Disk burner, or the Roomba (still in the box). Thinking, thinking, hmmmmmm........

Tribute to Chili

There is a lot of sadness in the doggy community this week. Bella's friend, Chili, made her transition this past weekend. She was very young and had been quite ill. We will remember Chile as an energetic little girl who stole the hearts of everyone she encountered with her smiles, kisses, and wagging tail.

I can imagine Beau greeting her along her journey as they both happily bounce around in their new happy home free of earthly boundaries.

Bless you Troy, Moe, and Kinsey. You made a wonderful home and family for little Chile.

Super Heros to the Rescue!

Faster than speeding bullets, Super Heros came to the aid of this scruffy mutt and her doggy family! Gretchen and the Beacon children raised $$ for the vet bills, and Bob with "He Who Shall Remain Nameless" are busy building an enclosed dog run!

Bella is doing GREAT, but Maynerd has cabin fever because his mommy dearest won't let him out to bark at fierce urban predators.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Super Heros! It's a wonderful feeling to know that the dogs will be safe ,and that I can continue to afford buying them dog chow. I am truly blessed to have you in my life!

Bye-bye Beau

As some may already know, Beau was in the yard at 5:00 AM Friday morning when a coyote jumped the fence and attacked him. Maynerd and Bella heard his screams, ran out and chased the coyote away. In her bravery, Bella was also attacked.

Beau made his transition at the emergency vet clinic after it was determined his injuries were too extensive to warrant any further rescuing. He was almost 19 years old and had been a very sweet and merry Bichon. It was heart breaking to see such a gentle guy experience such a violent and frightening end.

Bella had her wounds cleaned and dressed, and was released at noon with pain pills and antibiotics. She is doing fine.

Maymay leads a charmed life, and was untouched. He misses Beau and searches the house for him and nurses Bellas wounds.

Where, oh where is my little dog now?

These are NOT real angels!

Real angels don't wear flowing white gowns and carry heavenly instruments. They wear blue jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes, and carry a lot of keys. They don't fly with feathery wings, but drive everywhere they go. Sometimes they have sports logos stuck to their SUVs and sometimes they don't.

Real angels don't always come when you want them, but always appear when you need them! Usually in the most unusual of places and at the most ungodly of hours!

Real angels don't bring you manna, they buy you breakfast, gift certificates, and doggy clothes.

Real angels don't have names like Theliel, or Vequaniel, or Muriel. They have names like Terra, Vicki, and Marta.

I know I must be in Heaven, because I see angels everywhere.

Fairies? Now THAT'S a different story!

My Suziblus!

Finally something to write about!

I'm so honored that Dr. Tracy asked me to draw the pictures representing the teachers for the office bulletin board!

It was a lot of fun!

Third graders also made flying SuziBlu dolls in their own image to hang on the 3rd grade door.

OMG!

Imagine my horror as I was a Wal-Mart looking at cheap shoes when a lady rolls her buggy behind me muttering, "I'm gonna kill that teacher, I'm going to KILL that teacher!"

I, of course, took an immediate stage left and rolled my cart away to the cheap slipper area when here she comes again: "I'm gonna kill that teacher! I'm gonna KILL her!"

This time we made eye contact, hers wide when she found me with in ear shot. I was relieved she was not someone I knew from school.

I wanted to ask her if she had raised her hand before speaking out, but then thought better of it.

Guess I'll have to go find cheap shoes at KMart.

I'm Expecting!!

It's true - I'm about to order a new Mac! The one I have now is in perfectly good shape and has never given me an ounce of trouble, but the poor guy is over 6 years old. He has gone through one keyboard and a mouse, but keeps on ticking.

The new baby will have a 24" screen and a ton of space. I'm ordering special movie and photo applications. Wireless key board and mouse. The only thing it won't do is make waffles.

I'll discuss the other options with the Apple dude this weekend and come to some decisions. The best part is, ordering through Apple I will receive my 72 cent teacher discount and free delivery.

Thanks to Terra and her eBay skills, I'm asking her to be the Godmother.

Pictures in the future.

Blog School

This is my first day at blog school. I am the student, my Mac is the teacher, and I have two tutors - Terra and Bonnie (SURPRISE TO BOTH OF YOU!)