Had a fantastic time yesterday. I threw a surprise housewarming pot-luck party for Michell in her new condo. There were 23 people there (including Michelle and Brandon). We all met in a parking not far from her house and had a caravan to her place. Brandon knew about it, and it was his job to have the camera ready and keep his Mom away from the windows when I called to tell him we were on our way.

After we all got there and were assembled in the driveway, he went in and said he had a surprise for her and made her close her eyes as he led her outside. Oh my gosh, when she opened her eyes, I thought she was going to pass out. It was so funny. Along with family members and other friends, there were at least six or seven girls she works with.

I've got to tell you though.. it's been a very long time since I've planned a party, and we had wayyyyyyyyyyyyy too much food. I made two 21"x12" trays of lasagna, someone else brought five pounds of hot dogs and tons of hamburgers, potato salad, green salad, strawberry pretzel jello, tons of different types of appetizers, taco chili... and on and on and on. Plus... dummy here (not even thinking) bought SIXTEEN 2 liter bottles of pop. Hummmm... almost enough for a bottle for each person... duhhhhhhhhhh... and two cases of water. Well... outside of the appetizers, there was a ton of food left over. BUT... we had some beautiful weather and had a great time.

The only problem with having this party was that I (like a dummy) had to use the money I got from the pet insurance that was suppose to go to Care Credit to put it together. I didn't realize that, even with a pot-luck, it would be so expensive to have a party (of course a lot of it was my own fault since the lasagna was really expensive to make). I was lucky that I got the pop on sale for a buck a bottle (Pepsi products)... but that was still $16. Oh well... I guess I'll just add Care Credit to the list of things that fight to get paid each month. I still have two months interest free, so maybe a financial miracle will happen between now and the end of that time period. Plus, I still owe JoAnne $152, but (if I ever get any hours) we'll deduct that from my pay. Unfortunately, I only got 3 1/2 hours of work last week, and it doesn't look like there's going to be much more than that this week. Oh well.. I'm hanging on to the faith that God will get me through this... He always has, and I can't believe He will drop me on my head now.

Gidget is still being a putz. I swear sometimes she has MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). LOL In the mornings, she is just as sweet as can be... cuddly, wanting to be stroked and looking in to my eyes with the most precious eyes that make her look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth... but then... come afternoon and she's totally different pup... all wound up and looking for anything and everything and even nothing to bark at. I've had to close the front door and living room blinds so she can't see the squirrel outside or the person who is walking two doors away on the street or the neighbor outside. It shuts her up when I close them, but it sure makes it dark and gloomy in the house. At night, she's calm again and generally pretty good about just hanging out until bedtime. But, at bedtime, she plays this "in and out" game. She'll do that until I finally just let her yip in her room and ignore her. Until I got to the point to realize this was a game to her, she had me up and down from bed to let her out and in for up to an hour and a half or two hours before she'd calm down. The funny thing is, until bedtime, she'll sleep on the chair or next to my computer for hours without having to go out once.

And then...... there have been times at night that she really DID have to go potty. Sometimes I can tell she really has to go, but for some reason (at night) it takes her forever, and I can't (in good concience) make her stay in her room (cage) knowing she's got to poop. Sooooo.. that's when I do go along with her antics. Unfortunately, twice this past week, after she's pooped, she's had some stuck on the hair on her butt (I really have to get JoAnne to come out to shave her), and she HATES having her butt touched. So normally I'll put her in the laundry tub and turn the water on and (on occasion) I can get her cleaned up, but... the last two times in the laundry tub... as soon as I took the rag and tried cleaning her butt... she got that evil streak in her and tried snapping at me (the same look and attitude I got when I was going to let her sleep in my bed... which is why she doesn't sleep in my bed).

So we go from the sweet little princess to the queen of darkness and everything in between during the course of one day. Nope... she certainly is no Mike. I REALLY miss my boy... he was the epitome of cool, calm and collected, and soooooooo easy to get along with.

Ok... gonna get going. I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Take Care and God Bless.

Love, Hugs & Belly Rubs
Joanna, Angel Mike and Gidget (aka Sybil)