Skip to main content

The Fight

Ladies and Gentlemen take your seats and turn your attention toward the ring. It is an epic battle 4 years in the making...The battle for lightweight champion of the backyard!

In one corner, we have Lola, the great white huntress. She is undefeated in her previous bouts with rats, mice, birds and an opossum. But this is the match-up she has longed for...
In the opposite corner, we have Mr. Squirrel. His fighting record is a little shaky, but we know he's been dodging this fight for quite some time and has even been known to taunt Lola.
Yes, that's right. We had the match of all match-ups today in my back yard.

Let me set the scene... I'm on the endless phone call with Time Warner Cable because I'm bundling services to save a few bucks. I go let Lola outside. A bit later, while still on the phone with Gayla, the TWC rep, I go to let Lola in. I see her with something. I think to myself, It's brown and fuzzy...oh what is that! Oh crap! Lola has a squirrel and it is still alive! So I say to Gayla, "You have to hold on, my dog has caught a squirrel!" and I go running outside. Lola lets it go and it starts belly crawling across the ground only using its front legs. Lola grabs it again. I say, "Lola, drop it!" and luckily she did, because I didn't want to have to explain a squirrel bite.


Anyway, I took Lola in and finished my call. By the time I made it back out, the squirrel had managed to crawl its way out of the yard to recover or die or whatever it was going to do. I was just so happy that it wasn't my job to figure out what was going to happen to him. Lola was thoroughly ticked off at me because she has been waiting for this day so long and I didn't let her finish him off and do whatever it was she planned for him. She sat by the door and cried in frustration.


Later this afternoon, I decided to leave the house early and head over to Lewisville for my tables before class. I timed it so that I would also have enough time to hit up the really nice Garden Ridge that is next door to that Pier 1.


First, I really like the tables. I wasn't sure until I got home, but I think they will be eventually work really nicely in my master plan (more on that to come in the future).


As I entered Garden Ridge, I was greeted by 7 1/2 foot tall trees in every color imaginable...black, white, green, red, pink, blue, and orange to name a few. I continued through the store and made my way to the 4 foot trees in all those same colors. I picked up a black one for a Halloween tree. You see I have a Halloween tree and have for years. This is a photo of about the 3rd or 4th generation of my Halloween tree:
Don't get me wrong, it is adorable and scary and I LOVE it. BUT, there are a few problems.


As I mentioned this is the 3rd or 4th generation. It is made from real mesquite branches (painted black) that my Dad cut for me. First, I think he has proclaimed that he is DONE with cutting mesquite branches for me. Second, I've kept this one for several years, but over time it gets brittle and partially broken. Third, it is a pain in the you know what to store (due to it's size, brittleness, etc.). Fourth, it is VERY topsy-turvy when set up which is very dangerous for my blown glass ornaments. Lastly, this particular version of the tree was cut the day my black schnauzer Macy died and was buried so it reminds me of that horrible day every year when I get it out.


So, each year, I look and look for a Halloween tree. They are either not right, sell out before I make up my mind or are too expensive. This year, I decided to bite the bullet early and purchase the 4 foot one. Don't get me wrong, I WANT that 7 1/2 foot tall one, and if I win Mega-Millions tomorrow night, I'm going back to the store for an exchange!


As I walk up to ring up and leave, the checker yells "Ding Ding Ding! I've got the first purchaser of a Christmas tree right here". I looked at her and said, "No, it is a Halloween tree." She says, "nope, it's a Christmas tree".


I pay out and as I start walking toward the door do you know what she did? She gets on her walkie talkie and announces to the store that "The First Christmas tree is walking out the door". People turn. They look. I mumble something like "It's not a Christmas tree, it's a Halloween tree!" and run out the door. I mean seriously, who celebrates Baby Jesus with a black tree!

Comments

Emily said…
Congrats to Lola! I am so happy for her. Our mom would be so proud of Lola she dislikes those little guys too.

Now don't worry Abby is running out to get her "Halloween Tree" tomorow. We are still laughing about the broadcast of the 1st tree leaving. Agreed who would buy a BLACK Christmas tree?
Caroline said…
I agree- why would someone buy a black Christmas tree? But, why shouldn't you buy a Chirstmas tree now? I see nothing wrong with that. Wonder why they felt the need to announce- they are the ones that put them out this early?

Can't wait to see the Halloween tree. I might have to have one too. :)
laterg8r said…
what an obnoxious clerk! love that you have a halloween tree, never would have thought of that!
Lola...Champ-een light, light, light, light-weight of the World! (well, at least of her backyard domain.)

and sorry had to laugh at the announcing the tree as it's purchased and as it walks out the door! (Did you get a discount, at least? I was thinking, you know...being the first and all. :o)

Popular posts from this blog

Swiss Oatmeal {Copy Cat Recipe}

I'm obsessed with Swiss Oatmeal.  I particularly love   Corner Bakery's Swiss Oatmeal.  If you are not familiar with Swiss Oatmeal, it is a cold oatmeal cereal with fruit and nuts. I've had a similar recipe for years, but it was only similar.  It wasn't close enough for my liking.  So I finally set out into the land of Pinterest to find a recipe that was a good Copy Cat.  I found a few, combined them and came up with what I think is a very close Copy Cat Recipe of Corner Bakery's Swiss Oatmeal. Here's what I do (note, this recipe is really just pictures, because I don't really have measurements for these things.  The photos aren't great, but it's easier if I show you what I do)... Here's the Phase 1 ingredients...   Milk Honey Yogurt (I use a vanilla greek yogurt) Oats (old fashioned, not quick...you probably could do steel cut too)    I've simplified this to where you only need a bowl and a spoon for Phase 1 becau

Join my Party

Welcome to my Christmas Shin-Dig! I've never thrown a blog party before so I'm kind of nervous, but that can just be our little secret. I have lots of things I want to include in my party, so I've decided the best way to tackle this is to do several posts, so keep scrolling down so that you don't miss a single thing that goes on at this party! I always try to have party favors when I throw a party, and this one shouldn't be an exception, so I am giving away a prize. Here are some photos of the prize All you have to do to enter is comment on one of my Christmas Party Blog entries. I will put all the names in a hat and draw a winner. I will post the winner's name on my blog on Sunday, so check back to see if this cute little Santa bubble light is coming to your house! All entry comments must be posted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. If this is your first trip to my blog, Welcome! Please come back and see me again!

A Blogiversary Giveaway!

One week from today will mark 2 years since I started this whole blogging thing.  I'm very excited about this blogiverary because an opportunity has come up for me to do a giveaway for you guys!  My sponsor has many websites that sell just about everything... lately I've been looking at the site for luggage  because I'm feeling the need for a new carry on bag for my upcoming trip to NOLA.  But more about the giveaway!  Here's a picture of a couple of samples... I will be giving you a set of Tervis tumblers!  If you don't know about Tervis tumblers, they are great because they keep your beverage super cold and they don't sweat all over your table!  As you can see, I'm feeling the collegiate tumblers in honor of the upcoming football season, but if you are the winner, I will give you a couple of choices: (1) You can choose from over a hundred different tumbler themes to fit your personality or lifestyle:  Texas themes, Initial (pink or black), Beach th