Goals 2011, Part Two!

I know I promised this actual blog entry several days ago. However, my boss has kept me fairly busy with working these past few days. Since I decided this morning I was going to take some "ME time" and drink a cup of caramel flavored latte, I decided I'd also write my blog entry.

Goal: Drink more water - I absolutely hate water. It tastes very metal-ly to me. Anything I put in the water taste like flavored metallic water. However, I know that it is important to stay hydrated since I keep getting SEVERELY dehydrated. So, I need to force myself to drink liquids. I think this means reducing soft drink consumption, too.

Goal: Eat less beef - Stephen has been on a crusade to only eat beef every other week for his health for a little over a year now. It has been a major pain because he is so blasted picky anyway and taking a category away caused issues. But, over this year, I have watched my husband look better and have increased health benefits. I think I will be joining him this year in the less beef category. If only Five Guys wasn't one of my best clients. :)

Goal: Learn to like tea - When going through college, prior to student teaching, professors told us to learn to like either coffee or tea. I cannot stand straight coffee. It has to be at least 3/4th milk and flavoring to get me to drink it (which I adore, by the way). However, I have yet to find tea that I can tolerate. At the Alice In Wonderland Tea (which I enjoyed, by the way), I drank a whole pot of raspberry tea, but I didn't enjoy it. I watch my mother in law drink tea at mid afternoon and wish I could stop and share a cup, too. I need to learn to like tea - would also be nice when feeling sore throat-esquish. I see this as a crusade.

Goal: Cut down - In general, I just need to cut back on everything. Stephen doesn't like to cut back and doesn't seem to like budgeting. I, on the other hand, have always liked a good budget. I think this is why I was able to be a home owner at age 25. I always knew how much I had to spend and paid credit cards off each month. Until I lost my job, had outrageous medical expenses, and married a man who thinks processed is a food group. I think I am going to make the new rule "You may only splurge if you have a good coupon and it is planned."

Goal: Live in Peace, Love, and Harmony with my In-Laws For Another Year - I don't see 2011 being the year we relocate. Therefore, I need to make a greater effort to get along with the FIL and MIL. I adore my MIL and I appreciate all the help and assistance she gives us every day. She makes sure I get to doctor's appt., to my jobs, and pretty much anywhere I want to go. But, this this not a happy house. We don't live in harmony with one another. So, for my part, I want to be more friendly, more helpful, and more accommodating. After all, I am a long range "house pet" in this household. Best to make the best of it!

These are the goals for this year. I have much to look forward to this year. In February, work is sending me to Orlando to repeat my job from August (WDW... here I come!!). In October, work is sending me back to Orlando to do the other half of the August trip again (Girls trip!!!). I meet with DORS rep. tomorrow (Thursday) to see what progress we can make on accommodations that might make this hearing loss easier to deal with. Have a couple of volunteer experiences lined up at MacArthur Middle (Science Fair, Spring Book Fair, Fall Book Fair). Maybe it will bring me or Stephen a new job, cheaper health insurance, or even a more healthy lifestyle. I welcome you, 2011. May it be a great year.

Mighty Boomer and the Shake-In-Bake Cat or How Boomer Caught A Mouse and Ty Helped

I know I promised more of my New Year's Goals yesterday. However, I kind of got caught up in the Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy. Sorry.

But, by doing so, I get to exercise my inner Thurber. So, I proudly present, Mighty Boomer and the Shake-In-Bake Cat.

I've never said I have a normal family. With four adults, 3 cats, and a snake, chaos is bound to occur naturally on occasion. But, this morning will live on in Wenzel family lore for years to come. It was the day that our 1 1/2 year old cat, Boomer, caught his first mouse and turned the house upside down in the process.

From what I've been told, since Stephen and I slept through it, the whole process began quite innocently. Jane spotted a small streak of blood on the floor in front of the pantry. She figured the boys (Ty and Boomer) had gotten a little rough last night and she really didn't give it a second thought and drank her coffee. That is, until she opened the pantry door. Out shot a adult mouse! Mighty Boomer and the Shake-In-Bake Cat (Ty - 15 lb tub of lard cat) gave chase around the kitchen. And the Mighty Boom caught him and refused to let him go. He was holding the mouse like he does a twist tie. He knows he isn't supposed to have it, but be darned if he is going to let you take it.

As Jane continued her tale, she explained than she didn't want Boomer to eat the mouse, so she was trying to get it from him. He kept doing the low warning growl and coveting his mouse. Every once in awhile, he'd release and he and Ty would corner and pounce on Mouse. However, it was always the Mighty Boomer to catch the Mouse. Soon, Boomer decided that Jane was trying to get his new toy and took off with him. Jane, in close pursuit, for she really didn't want to loose a dead or hurt mouse in the house, followed in chase.

Boomer went into Jane and Bill's bedroom and went under the bed. Ty followed. Jane decided that trapping them was the best she was going to do. She turned the light on, explained the situation, and closed the door. She went and got some wet cat food to lure the Boom and Ty away from Mr. Mouse and went back to the room. Unfortunately, the bedroom lock had trigger and she locked herself out of her own bedroom!!!

Unfortunately for Jane, she seems to be the only person in the house capable of unlocking the door. She was trying to give Bill instructions on how to unlock the door, to no avail. Finally, with one more direction to push and twist the door knob, the door opened. Bill had gotten the cat into the bathroom and closed the door in an attempt to further segregate our Mighty Mouse Hunter Boomer and his toy. Jane opened the door. In the farthest corner, mouse in mouth, was Boomer. Low and deep was the growl at the thought of giving up his pray. Jane placed the food pan on the floor and Boomer dropped the mouse. He was, of course, dead from the massive trauma of being run throughout most of the first floor of the house and repeatedly pounced upon and concussed. Boomer strolled over to his food like a lion who had taken down a zebra and proudly ate his wet food, which I can only assume smelled slightly better than the mouse. Jane grabbed tongs, went back into the bathroom, and grabbed the recently concussed and not so bloodied mouse body and prompt disposed of his body in a dignified mouse removal ceremony which involved the outside trash can, a Washington Post newspaper cover, the tongs, and a ceremonial drop.

Now our Boomer, king of the house, is looking for more. Unfortunately, there are mostly likely more. At least we have Mighty Boomer to save us. And his 15 lb. sidekick, too! Heaven help us all!

GOALS 2011!

On the last day of 2010, I decided to sit down and write down my goals for the coming year. For the coming year, I am hoping that there will be some good things happening for Stephen and I. We will be celebrating our 6th Anniversary. I have two work trips planned (and hopefully my last two work trips). I am hoping to make progress with DORS. But... I need to set some new goals that I can keep working towards.

Goal #1: Lose weight - Although this was also a goal from last year, I lost 20 lbs. last year. I need to lose a little more weight to make those three clicks at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in October. I also need to do this for my own health. After Sandy's death this year, my health is becoming my number one priority. She died too soon and it was more than avoidable.

Goal #2: Enroll in ASL classes - With my hearing bottoming out faster than I can keep up, the recommendation of one of the technology gurus working with DORS was to enroll in ASL.

Goal #3: Blog more - Since I've been working for Dan and Company, I write all the time. But, I have neglected blogging. This is the kind of writing that I enjoy doing. So, my goal is to write more.

I'll post more goals tomorrow! :)

I know it has been awhile...

For the first time in months, I have discovered a few moments to sit down and write on my blog. I've finished all my work for the day and just get to sit back and enjoy the day. I did want to post two photos. The first is a photo of Snowmagedon mailbox. The second is the same mailbox this summer. Jane says the transformation is cool. I don't see it. But, it is a neat comparison.

Our Crew! Squirrel Hunting

CapTel

This week, I finally finished my evaluation for assisted technology. It was recommended that DORS purchase a CapTel phone for my use. For those of you who don't know anything about CapTel, it is a phone that provides captions for phone calls. My hearing is getting dramatically worse and that was one of a few recommendations that they made to make my life a little easier. I look forward to finding out if I qualify. If I don't, I can still qualify for a free phone through a program set up for progressive hearing loss patients.

Boooooooooomer!

Just when I had given up on seeing Boomer on his back listening to music, I came into the bedroom today to find his using my pjs as a bed and listening to music that Ty cat obviously turned on for him. These cats are so spoiled.