I Really Love My Mom & Dad!!!!

WARNING: what I am about to share is sad story my mom shared with me. It's a little heart breaking too, so take a second and go grab a kleenex!

On Sunday my parents were settling down to watch The Oscars when a stray dog showed up at the backdoor. The thing was really old and just didn't look well. My parents had never seen her before and they walk their dogs enough to know their canine (and human) neighbors. So they took the old gal inside since it was cold and let her stay the night in the laundry room where she could be kept from the other dogs. She ate and drank some water. My dad even placed a notice on craigslist hoping that someone out there loved this dog enough to miss it. I guess on Monday morning though the dog had thrown up and had diarrhea and just was not doing well at all. I know my parents would have liked to keep her but they couldn't. So my dad did the tough thing and took her to the humane society where she will or has already been put to sleep. (sorry, gotta take a second and get a kleenex myself!) My parents did admit that it did seem like it was time for this dog to go. If it had been their dog, they would have been agonizing over the decision to put them to sleep. Their guess is that someone just dropped the dog off on the road somewhere instead of doing the humane thing. How disgusting.

The touching thing to me is that this dog was lucky enough to find my parents and spend at least a few hours with caring people. She didn't have to die alone in the woods. She was able to die with dignity, like every living creature deserves. And I don't think it is a coincidence that this dog found my parents. Their house is a mecca of sorts for the nieghborhood dogs. It's as if the other dogs told her to go to my parents and she'd find two very caring people willing to do what they could. So I am thankful for all the people in this world like my parents who take that extra effort to be kind to someone or something in need. I wish more people were like them.

Dare to be Different

Lunch today took us once again to the Strip Shop! Today it was myself, Diane, and Dallas. All three of us failed to bring lunch. I took that as a sign from above that we were to go to the Strip Shop, especially since Dallas missed our last trip and I had cash in my wallet. (The SS is a cash only establishment.)

The usual order is of course the Chef's Salad with either ranch (me) or Thousand Island (Diane and Dallas). But today I dared to be different!! I ordered a hot sandwich. I had the Italian sandwich and added provolone cheese. It came with red peppers. Boy was it good!!

Betty Crocker in da House!

Once again I brought treats into the office. Hey, I'm single, no kids, and like to cook/bake for people. So my co-workers are the ones who end up benefitting...or suffering. It depends how you look at it! Today's treat was caramel brownies and I would like to think they were a success. It was the first time I made the brownies so I was a little nervouse about how they came out. Poor Carol had no choice but to look at the brownies since they sit out in front of her desk. I seriously don't mean to bring treats in to tempt people! It just makes me feel good knowing people like my baking. Here are a few examples of our co-workers' reactions:

Most brownies one admitted to eating before 11am: 3
Requests for recipes: 1

Qutoes: "This is the best thing I've ever had in my life."

I also heard that someone referred to the brownies as being "wicked good."

Anyway, I'm glad everyone liked the brownies! You can also thank/blame raine_days since I got the recipe from her!!

Famous Last Words???

What do you think of me? I know, I know -do I really want to know the answer to that question? I ask because today at work Dallas described me as "outgoing." Now I have been called many things - good and bad - but I have never been called outgoing. I shared this my mom and I think she even laughed a little! I would always describe myself as shy or reserved. Or that I even seem mean or cold because I don't say much to people when I first meet them. I have to be comfortable with or get to know people before I truly open up. But even then, in a group I am usually the quiet one. Maybe I have turned over a new leaf, so to speak, here in Las Vegas? Actually, writing that last sentence made me remember something that might be connected. This is pretty lame, but about 4 years ago while at Quantico for intel school, someone told me that I was a shrinking violet waiting to bloom. Or something to that effect. I can't believe the person actually said what they did. I feel like that is something my grandmother would say - not a 30 something year old man in law enforcement!!! I even feel stupid even typing it! But maybe I have finally blossomed! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Mandy's Heritage

I used to think that Mandy was half cat, half flying squirrel because of all the amazing leaps she makes. I believe 5 feet is her personal best. And yes, I measured. She especially likes to leap from counter (kitchen or bathroom) onto your shoulders. I find it cute except for that brief moment when she lands on my shoulders and scares the crap out of me because I had no idea of what she was about to do!

However, now I think Mandy is half cat, 3/8ths flying squirrel, and 1/8th dog. Yes, dog. Over the last few days Mandy and I have had a few good games of fetch. She fetches better than one of my parents dogs....who is a retriever!! Our games of fetch usually only happen though when I am in bed and Mandy brings me this one catnip toy of hers. She drops it near me and I throw it and try to aim it so that it goes out the bedroom door. Mandy scurries after it, picks it up, hops back up on the bed, drops it in front of me, and repeat. I love it!!!

What's In A Name? - Part II: Nicknames

The other at work I was introduced to someone new (new-to-me that is, not new to the office) and my first name seemed a little difficult for him to pronounce. He said it a few times but it wasn't quite right and I didn't want to send this guy down the road of perpetually saying my name wrong for so long that I don't have the heart to correct him years later. I don't really want to be known only by my last name (something about being too much like "one of the guys") but I suggested he call me by my that anyway. Even that proved difficult for him! So he asked if I had any nicknames, which brings me to this post!

I do have one nickname - Layna. My bro was the first to call me this since he had trouble saying my full name when I was born. I even went by Layna in preschool and kindergarten. But when I started 1st grade, it was a different school and I was always known by my full name. Only my relatives and close friends of the family (people who were friends of the family from before I was born) call me Layna. Only a few of my close friends call me this and even then it's not on a regular basis. It's not that I don't like the name, it's just that it has become something I reserve for those most special to me. It also seems to "cutesy" for the workplace.

Other Nicknames I have / had:

• Sweetfang - My dad calls me this (even at 30). It's a combination of two characters from the Soupy Sales Show.
• Doll - my mom calls me this sometimes too
• Lane
• Lanie
• Ursula- I was @ the Pike Place Market in Seattle where one of the vendors had names hand-carved out of wood. He had nothing close to my name, but had Ursula!
• Yolanda - even though I hate being called this when people think it is my name, one friend has been able call me this in jest
• Pick-Up Artist

NOTE: I saw the above-mentioned name-killer a few days later and he was able to pronounce my first name, so all is well!!

Lost Kitty....sort of

So last night I lost Mandy for a period of time. I was watching TV heard a really loud THUMP. At first I thought maybe the Water Bandit was back to finish the job, but then I realized I hadn't seen Mandy in awhile. The noise sounded like when mandy tries to break down the door to the bathroom when I am in there and choose to lock her out. So, I start checking all the rooms. Not by the hall closet. Not in the office. Not in the bathroom. Not in the spare bedroom. I cannot find her anywhere! Not under my bed. I check the guest room again. Then I decide to look in my closet. And who should I find? Yup. Little Girl was in there just chilling on the floor. The funny thing is I had put a bag in the closet an hour or so earlier and just opened the closet door and tossed it in. I didn't turn on the light and thought to myself that maybe I should check to see if Mandy was able to slip in unnoticed! Dumb story, but thought I'd share it nonetheless!

Oh How I Love Thee.....

Is it wrong to love an inanimate object? I hope not, because I think I am in love with my new KitchenAid mixer. Really. I am! It looks just like the one in the picture above. It's the 5qt. Artisan series...whatever that means. I bought it because A) the price was what I was willing to pay and B) it was black, onyx to be exact. I'm sure it wouldn't surprise many that I have always had my eye on the blue mixers, but blue just wouldn't go with my kitchen.

My mixer has inspired me to bake. I made cookies on Sunday (mere hours after purchasing my mixer) and brought the goodies into work on Monday. And most recently I made something tonight. So if you are reading this before work on Thursday - you have another treat coming your way courtesy of me and my handy, dandy, ever-faithful KitchenAid mixer!! Also, be prepared for something on Fat Tuesday (February 24th) because me and the mixer plan to strike again!!

Round Up The Usual Suspects

Earlier today I saw that Turner Classic Movies would be showing Casablanca as part of their 31 days of Oscar - where all the movies on TMC are Oscar winners. I made a mental note to come back this afternoon and watch it. I totally forgot as I got caught up in the Doctor Who season finale on BBC America. But that's okay. I've seen Casablanca several times. It's a great film. However, I think I enjoy it for a slightly different reason. There is a scene in the movie that always makes me cry. And it has nothing to do with the tragic love of Rick and Ilsa. It is the scene in Rick's club where the German solidiers begin singing "Die Wacht Am Rhein" - a song about World War I. Many of the patrons at Rick are disgusted, as they have fled the Nazis. So Victor Lazlo goes to the band and begins a stirring and emotional version of "Marseillaise", the French national anthem. Soon the Germans are drowned out and eventually stop singing. It the love of a country that has inspired this act. A love for a country occupied by another nation. I could easily see this as a group of Americans joining together to sing the "Star Spangled Banner" when put in a similar situation. It's a short scene, but full of emotion and it is one of the reasons why I think Casablanca is a good movie. Here is a link to that scene. Hopefully it works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA&feature=PlayList&p=E0927E396BA081BF&playnext=1&index=2

I'm Just A Soul Whose Intentions Are Good....

Over the last week I have spent A LOT of time on itunes buying music. I bought a few golden oldies here and there and now I can't stop!! I have bought 31 songs since February 1st. That is more than a song a day for the month of February and it's only the 6th!!!!

I used to always to listen to the oldies station in the car with my mom. So I am pretty well versed in songs from the 50s, 60s, and to a lesser extent the 70s. Most of these songs I don't have on CD, so I went hunting on itunes for them. Who knew Gary Lewis and The Playboys were on itunes? I think I heard a song last weekend that I wanted and it Spiral Starecased from there! (note: Spiral Starecase is a group from the 60s. I suggest looking them up.)

I bought songs by the Zombies, Animals, the Byrds, the Turtles, Lou Christie, John Lennon, Three Dog Night, Bobby Darin, Del Shannon, the Contours, the Chiffons, and the Drifters to name a few. Then I bought some more recent songs: 50 Cent and two from the movie "Slumdog Millionaire." Then I got on a 90s kick: Timmy T, Tommy Page, Bryan Adams, Blind Melon. There were a few others, but those are my true guilty pleasures that I seriously won't admit to owning or knowing all the words. However, put me near a jukebox and you might, just maybe, catch me shelling out my hard earned cash on these guilty pleasures!

Mandy

Mandy posing in front of the computer. If you look carefully you'll see my blog on the computer.


I didn't really have anything else to blog about so I thought I'd share some more about my kitty. Hopefully that doesn't mean I'm turning into the old cat lady!


As I'm sure you have figured out, Mandy is a little on the spoiled side. She has 4 water dishes after all. And of course she has plenty of kitty toys. Catnip ones, ones with feathers, ones that make noise, stationery ones, soft ones, hard ones, etc. etc. However, I have recently discovered that she likes stuffed animals. After raine_days' recent visit, Mandy was granted unescorted access into the guest room. On the bed I had a little black lab stuffed animal. One day I'm in the office and who shouldI see trotting down the hallway with the stuffed animal in her mouth? So I hid the toy. Recently I put out a couple other little stuffed animals that proudly wear DEA shirts. well, this morning, Mandy comes out of the guest room with one in her mouth! The funny part is that the stuffed animal is hald her size! And it was sitting on the third shelf of a bookcase!!

Mandy looking guilty for some reason.......


I also have introduced Mandy recently to turkey. Yes, I bought turkey. It's healthier than ham sandwiches for lunch. Anyway, she practically assaulted me the first time I opened the packaging on the lunch meat. So now when I make my sandwich for my lunch, I have to give Mandy a "commission" on the turkey. Just a little piece to get her out of the way. I know this is how annoying habits and behaviors start, but how can I deprieve my little girl like that????