Gunshots, Guest Blogs and Goofy Dogs

So ... I got a text early this morning from my mom: "Police standoff at (her apartment complex name). Tear gas canisters. More shots just heard."

Yeah -- that's enough to stop my heart.

Thing is, she's in a really nice complex off the beaten path. It's not a place you picture police standoffs happening. However, someone robbed a bank at gunpoint in town yesterday evening (my bank, actually, in a strange turn of events, especially since I was there a little earlier in the day) and apparently the cops identified him and went to serve a warrant. It seems he took offense. With his gun.

Thankfully, he's in a completely different building than my mom. But still -- oy vey. There's tear gas and SWAT teams... Even in a little teeny town in a rural state, bad things happen.

In other news ... DD and I are featured today at Maria Zannini's blog during her DIY Christmas series. It's not up as I write this post, but I'm sure it will be soon. We show you how to make a very simple, but pretty, pair of Christmas earrings. And, we're giving that pair of earrings away to someone who comments on the post, so go visit! She has a pile of other folks there, too, and many have giveaways (nevermind the cool recipes and craft ideas). You should check it out.

Dakota nearly stopped my heart yesterday. We were outside with a neighbor and her dog when the FedEx truck lumbered up the street. For some reason, Dakota decided she didn't want that truck on our road and ran in front of it, barking. Thankfully, the driver was paying attention, wasn't going that fast and stopped before he hit her. But, he didn't let me get to her before he started again, and she decided to chase him down the road. She finally came back to my frantic screaming authoritative recall command and was in BIG trouble.

Took about an hour for the adrenaline to recede.

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You Speak General American English!

55% General American English 20% Yankee 15% Upper Midwestern 10% Dixie 0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

The 20% Yankee must be from living here the past 13 years ... and I admit to using "y'all" despite being from California, hence the 10% Dixie. I did live in Colorado (the midwest) so something must have rubbed off on me there, too. Sheesh.

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Warmth! Sun!

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James

So... I worked like a dog yesterday (not MY dog, though, lol) and actually got HOT outside.

((dances wildly))

It was SIXTY DEGREES! The weatherfolk had indicated that a cold front was moving in and it was supposed to rain all weekend. Well, early yesterday morning, they amended their forecast. Sure enough, the sun came out around noon, and WOOT we all took the party outside.

DD cleaned out her corner of the vegetable garden. She's decided to try growing corn this year. It actually grows quite well, but we got worms in the ears last time we tried. I'd like to do potatoes, but that depends on how many wire worms I find when I till (bad, bad buggies... grr...)

I cleaned the leaves and gunk out of two gardens, and edged around both. I'm going to completely redo the one around my well pump, because I really don't like what I have planted in there. None of the tulips came back this year, either. It was a tough winter for bulbs.

We did have a short few moments of a scare last evening, tho. My SIL called to say her son (11 y.o.) was missing out in the woods behind their house. She was home with her 1 y.o and a 4 y.o who is handicapped, and couldn't go look for him -- but she had called and called and called and he didn't respond. DH suited up in his outdoor gear (the sun was going down) and we were ready to go hunting.

About 30 seconds before we left, she called. He'd come back. Phew. I'm telling you what, though. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes! DD observed all this, and I explained that this was why I always asked her to stay in sight of the house -- the rule is: if you can't see the house, you're too far. When she's alone, if she hurts herself there's no one to get help. I hope she gets it now.

So. No writing (bad, bad me... but dang! WARMTH! SUN! How could I resist??)

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You Are a Little Anal Retentive

Okay, so you're occasionally uptight, but it's not like you fill your day with little OCD rituals. You just like to exercise a little control over your life, and that's usually a good thing. As long as you limit your anal retentive ways to your own behavior, you're not annoying anyone. Deep down, most people are exactly like you.

Are You Anal Retentive?

Because, yes, I do alphabetize my CDs. And my books are in order by author. Sue me.

LOL...