I miss this face

CRAZY FACE

Super Suspicious

Slightly annoyed

I'll see you tomorrow, little poodle.

The Beauty of the Beach

Two sunsets at the beach... one beach side:

And one sound side... (mmmm)...

Hope your sunsets are pretty, too...

STOP!

Ok, these are awesome. I took these pictures of Stop signs. The first one is down here in Nags Head. The second one is in my neighborhood of Silverwood.

A-MAZING.

Graffiti artists have really gotten creative.

Where in the world was Caitie San Diego?

This has certainly been an entertaining couple of weeks. From puppies to long drives home to being so relaxed and on vacation that I forgot what day it is. In fact, I know it's New Years Eve, but I still don't know what day of the week it actually is.

I've been MIA for awhile. I didn't want to open my laptop because it reminded me of schoolwork!

The snow on Dec. 19 was amazing. It not only took Northern VA by storm (har har), but school was canceled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I was sort of sad that I didn't get to say goodbye to my students and enjoy our generally "relaxed" days before the vacation, but it was also nice to get a full two and a half weeks off! (Phebe liked it, too).

Here's a vid of her attempting to navigate the paths I carved in the snow that was taller than she was: (I let her off the leash because she couldn't get anywhere--including toward me which was her goal)




I decided to come down to Mom's house on Wednesday. We had a lovely Christmas. I hung around a couple more days, enjoying being at home and reminiscing in the neighborhoods around my high school.

On Dec. 29, I left to come down to Nags Head for New Years with a bunch of friends from high school and (now) some new friends, too. We're having a really nice time in the biggest house I've ever been in. It has 4 levels, 1000 bedrooms (exaggerating), an indoor pool in the backyard... and... and elevator. Yep! I'm staying in a house that has an elevator!

More to come...

That's one Crazy show...

I.... love.... "Hoarders"!! Some of these houses are just CRAZY filthy.

"... Bob and his family (4 young children) have slept outside for nearly 2 months because the home is infested with bedbugs and Bob's hoarding has made it impossible to exterminate..."

One time they found TWO, yes TWO dead cats buried for more than 10 years under rubble in someone's home--- and they were flattened like pancakes! Gross! Horrible! Yet I can't take my eyes away!



I think I'll go clean my kitchen....

Snow Update

First of all, OH my gosh! I have never seen this much snow in my life. And honestly, I fear for the safety of my dog when I take her out in it!

Highlights of the day:

Here is the house at about 11:00am

Here is my car at about 11:00am

Here's my car at about 4:00pm! It's become ONE with the tree!

Amber and I decided to walk to Safeway to get some things to make a chicken pot pie.. it was quite an endeavor.

This is Amber on the road in front of our house. Look how deep the snow is!

Shoveling the front porch--the snow was up to the top step and our steps are BIG!

ICICLES!

The perfectly formed snowflakes in my dog's fur.

Blizzard!!

9:08 AM EST SAT DEC 19 2009
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING......WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO6 AM EST SUNDAY...

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS...HEAVY SNOW WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 22 INCHES THROUGH TONIGHT.


Yep. That's right. We are having massive snow today. Massive! I love it, but tiny puppy is struggling a bit!

Here is a video of her from the first snow fall on December 5th-



And here is one from this morning: (please excuse how much I talk to my dog)



She got very cold Very quickly in the foot of snow! And they are calling for at least 2 feet of snow before this storm is over! I guess I'll have to get out there with a shovel and make some paths for her!


More snow updates as the day goes on! (Since, let's be honest, I'm not really going anywhere!)

My new Buddy the Elf

My love of Buddy the Elf will never go away.



But Buddy has a new competitor.


(I'm pretty sure this face means "Wow! I love when you make me wear my green sweater and this new awesome elf hat!!")




I mean, Buddy is Buddy...





But this little bit of Christmas magic is at my house...




But Phebe will win if she sings me this song...

I like to whisper, too.

The Squirrels of Narnia

Sooo in our house we had some roommates hearing some noises in the attic. I assumed it was some sort of bum or vagrant.

I assumed wrong.

We couldn't seem to figure out how to get up into the attic to look. None of our rooms had an access route through the ceiling. Then I remembered that I had a small door in my closet. I moved some things away from it and when it was opened-- it revealed a staircase! To the attic... to Narnia... to time travel?

Two of my roommates were brave enough to go up there and see what was making at that noise.

Yes, it was....

The Squirrels of Narnia

While studying Ancient China...

The Year Of The Rooster

1981

People born in the Year of the Rooster are deep thinkers, capable, and talented. They like to be busy and are devoted beyond their capabilities and are deeply disappointed if they fail. People born in the Rooster Year are often a bit eccentric, and often have rather difficult relationship with others. They always think they are right and usually are! They frequently are loners and though they give the outward impression of being adventurous, they are timid. Rooster people's emotions like their fortunes, swing very high to very low. They can be selfish and too outspoken, but are always interesting and can be extremely brave. They are most compatible with Ox, Snake, and Dragon.

Coming of Age

Phebe humped my arm tonight.


I am officially scarred for life.

English boys, not Joe Cocker.

What would you think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me.
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,
And I'll try not to sing out of key.

Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm,I get ... with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.

Do you need anybody?
I need somebody to love.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love.

What do I do when my love is away.
(Does it worry you to be alone)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you're on your own)
No, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, get .... with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, gonna to try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody?
I need somebody to love.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love.

Would you believe in a love at first sight?
Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time.
What do you see when you turn out the light?
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine.
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm I get ... with a little help from my friends,
Oh, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody?
I just need someone to love.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
Ooh, I get ... with a little help from my friends
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends, with a little help from my friends