Merry Christmas!!

I love Christmas...little people, twinkling lights, festive music, gingerbread cookies, real bacon, and toys galore! And...there is a TREE IN THE HOUSE!!! Can you believe it??!! Do you know how easy that makes my life? (At least until I get caught - tee hee!)

I heard the little people talking about Santa, reindeer, sleighs on the roof...I have no idea what any of that means, but I will be sure to stay alert tonight and be a good guard dog and if anyone even thinks about coming in this house...well, I'll be sure to bark, bite, scratch, growl and scare them off. Good dog!!

Merry Christmas all.

Ohhh the weather outside is frighful...*people notes*

We are weathering the storm, so to speak, and getting our 'to-do' lists done so we can get out of town in a couple of weeks and get to the warmer weather in Florida. And you know when you have a long 'to-do' list it is human nature to constantly pass over the least desireable 'to-do' items, and instead 'to-doing' the more interesting things like: bake cookies, re-stock the wine rack, read last Sunday's New York Times, organize photos of grandkids, watch old movies stored on DVR, etc... Well, the list had dwindled down to the last few remaining items which really need to be done before we leave town, leaving us with things like: clean out rain gutters (honestly, with all this rain you would think they would flush themselves out!), license tag for cargo trailer, motorcycle licenses* for scooters...ummm...yea, that was about it. This was the big one we had been putting off since, hmmm, well... September?! We set our goal on getting our Tennessee "M-Class Drivers License" - both the written test and the road test completed before Christmas.

(*I know some of you are wondering why on earth we need a motorcycle endorsement on our drivers license since we are going to be driving SCOOTERS, which are, let's face it, about one step above the hot-wheels our kids had at the age of 4 and about on an even par with the 18 gear mountain bike I used to have but gave up because all the gear shifting was way too complicated, and it is only because our scooters are 150cc, which legally requires a motorcycle endorsement and we are rule followers, after all.)

Drive to the DMV to pick up Motorcycle Handbook Study Guide. Read the study guide. Easy enough. Ooops...says that you also need to study chapter 6 of the regular motor vehicle handbook to learn about Tennessee alcohol,drug & DUI laws. Back to the DMV to pick up the motor vehicle handbook study guide. Read chapter 6. (OK - I have 2 issues here. First, it is NOT that easy to just drive to the DMV, or anywhere here really because we live about 40 minutes away from anything and the roads are windy, curvy, scary mountain roads and they are wet, icy and hazardous to travel so why weren't we informed that we needed BOTH books to begin with? Second, what is all the fuss about alcohol and DUI's...we can't even BUY alcohol in Sevier county!! Seriously.) OK. Study chapter 6. Good to go. Only problem is that the written test has to be taken (and passed) prior to scheduling the driving portion. Really? Take written test Monday, then take driving test Tuesday as that is the only day this month that rain is not forecast. Oh, no - the DMV is closed on Monday this week because they are moving to a new location. And Thursday. And Friday. And Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week because of the holiday. Really? OK. Take written test Tuesday, schedule driving test for Wednesday in spite of the 90% chance of flooding rain that is forecast.

After about the eleventh phone call to the DMV for clarification of scheduling, documents needed, etc., Paul called with one last question. "Since Tennessee does not have a learner's permit available for motorcycles, how do I get my scooter to the DMV for the driving portion of the exam? Do I have to trailer it (down the freakin' mountain) or can I ride it down for the driving test?" Response, "Well sir, ya'all can drive it if ya'all want to an' ah won' say nuthin', but if thar happens to be uh officer standin' behind me when ya'all pull up, well he's likely gonna write ya'all a ticket but it's up to ya'all to decide." We spent the next couple of hours unloading the crap we had stored in the trailer, hitching the trailer, and loading the scooter. In the rain.

Tuesday: We drive down the mountian to the DMV for the written exam, arriving at 11:30ish. The first sign we notice upon entering: "Wait times between 11am and 2pm may be longer." Really? When we make it to the front of the line fifteen minutes later, we explain that we need to take the motorcycle written exam. Yes, we have a valid Tennessee Driver's License. What? Why do we need to fill out the 3-part form titled: Application for Tennessee Driver's License. We just told you that we already have one. Just do it. And take a number...C-147 and C-148. And sit down and wait. Ten minutes later the sweet, automated voice on the speaker says "Now serving number A033 at counter 5". And, about every 10 or 15 minutes that sweet voice would call another random number. Sometimes it was an A number, sometimes a B number...never a C number because those were reserved for written test taking and there was no action happening in that department. Sometimes a person would make their way to the counter, sometimes not. It didn't matter because it was always at least 10 minutes between numbers. Sometimes it would call the same number three times in a row - over a 30 minute period. With no other numbers inbetween. Sometimes it would go backward and call numbers that had already been called an hour ago. Just because.

The fun part for the first 2-1/2 hours was watching how many people came in, waited in line only to be told that they didn't have the correct documentation for whatever they needed. Need to change your address... don't have a birth certificate, current license, bank statement, rental agreement, and phone bill in original envelope it was mailed in? Sorry. Need to surrender your Louisiana license for a Tennessee license... don't have a passport, signed lease, current vehicle registration, social securty card, and current payroll stub? Sorry. Need to replace a lost ID... don't have a current ID or license and birth certificate, payroll stub, passport and cable bill in proper envelope? Sorry. We were fortunate because we called first and determined that it would be best to bring our current license, passport, birth certificate, water bill**, electric bill, phone bill, direct TV bill, Christmas cards, high school yearbook, IRA statement...actually we just loaded the whole fire safe into the back of the car.

(**OK, don't even get me started on the water bill. When we bought this cabin we were assured that ESCUD, East Sevier County Utility District, was a solid public utility department. And after all, English Mountain has its very own 'bottled spring water' so the supply is good, right? We were told that our water bill would be $53.62 per month. No matter if we used a gallon or five million gallons of water - the bill was $53.62 per month. Really? Whatever. For the few weeks we actually lived here off and on the first year the 'random' and 'sporadic' water outages were no big deal. An hour here or there...a few hours here or there. We chalked it up to construction, or...really, we had no clue but the neighbors all seemed to just go with the flow (haha - get it?! I crack me up!). Then we were notified sometime last year that actual working meters were being installed and our monthly bill would reflect the amount of water used. This was great news for us since we were seldom there and it seemed silly to pay for water when we weren't even using any. Several months ago, our first 'new' water bill arrived... $53.62 PLUS $38.40 for actual water used. What? Really? So we still have to pay the $53.62 PLUS what we use? What kind of deal is that? OK, that wouldn't have been all that bad, but the 'random' and 'sporadic' water outages have become more and more 'frequent' and 'annoying' and 'predictable' and 'lengthy'. As in, if there are a lot of dirty dishes, there will not be any water. If it is time to take a bath, there will not be any water. If it is time to do laundry, there will not be any water. We have actually resorted to collecting rain water and boiling it... ok - enough of the water issue - back to the DMV!)

Still Tuesday: The clock ticked, the numbers were called and finally a breakthrough! That sweet, automated voice on the speaker said "Now serving number C-143 at counter 4". Hooray! We were only four test-takers away from finally getting to take our written tests. Finally Paul's number was called and he went up to the counter, exchanged documents...then was told to take a seat and wait. Are you kidding me? That is exactly like the 'switch & bait' routine used at doctor's offices - you get ushered out of the waiting room into an exam room and...wait some more. Then my number was called and I went up to the counter, exchanged documents... then was told to take a seat and wait. REALLY?! This is the point at which I noticed another printed sign tacked on the wall 'Failed exams cannot be re-taken for 7 days'. So if I don't pass the written test today, I cannot retake it until next Tuesday which is the only day next week that this office is open, then I cannot schedule the driving portion until after that if there are any time slots left open and that leaves me the option of about 30 minutes on the last day we are in Tennessee before leaving the state. Suddenly the urgency of the situation settled heavy on my shoulders. Perhaps I should have actually studied the motorcycle book instead of poking fun at the silly illustrations and idiotic sample questions...

Paul was summoned to computer terminal #2. Let the testing begin. Several minutes later I was summoned to terminal #3. I settle in, begin my exam. First question: In the above diagram, the vehicle colored red is a a) truck b) car c) bus d) boat. OK, maybe the studying wasn't all that necessary. After about 4 more questions I was beginning to wonder if I was taking the correct test since every question was referring to carrying passengers, busses, etc. I lean over to Paul and whisper 'Is your test asking motorcycle questions?' to which he replies in a hushed an nervous voice 'Yea, and they are really hard.'. So I get up and return to the lady at counter #3 and explain that I don't think I have the correct test. After a bit of confusion and questions between a couple of the DMV employees one of the ladies says 'Oh yes ma'am when ah intered yur test for tha motorcyacle taest it jus' bumped it out an I guess it went on down to tha naxt wun which is ahright if ya wanned to drive a taxi. haha'. Not really that funny to me, but I take pride in the fact that I had gotten every answer correct to that point! Then she says 'Well ya'all jus go on back an sit down there at the computer an ah'l reboot the thang so jus sit for a few more minutes.'. Allrighty. Finally, the correct test pops onto the screen and the fun really begins. 30 questions, must get 24 correct to pass. After the first fifteen questions correct I am feeling good about this...then a question about the motorcycle clutch/shift control combination...wait? What? I have a SCOOTER - there is no clutch. Crap - INCORRECT blinks on the screen. Next question: Tailgater following - what do you do? a) use obscene gestures b) honk your horn c) slow down d) move to the far right of your lane OK - I rest my case. I also picked D...INCORRECT. Seriously - the correct answer is C? Only if you have a death wish. Next question...INCORRECT. Are you kidding me? Three in a row? I started sweating after that. Out of the corner of my eye I see Paul approach the counter...I hear the DMV lady say 'Ahright Mr. Baieer, ya'all passed yer exam an that'll be thraee dollers.'. Paul passed and I just missed another one...are you kidding me?? Sweat is running down the back of my neck, I have lost count, the questions just keep coming at me, this test is lasting forever...INCORRECT! Crap - that is five! I can't miss another one. When will these questions stop coming... finally, TEST OVER. Thank the Lord! 'Ahright Maiss Baieer, ya'all passed yer exam an that'll be thraee dollers.'. Hooray! Then she fills out some more forms, fills in some blanks, and gives us each back the goldenrod copy of the Tennessee Driver's License Application with explicit instructions to bring that back with us when we take the driving portion of the test. Yes ma'am. Thank you ma'am.

Wednesday: We drive down the mountain (in the rain) back to the DMV for the driving portion of the motorcycle license exam. We actually got lucky and were able to find two open slots back-to-back at 11 and 11:30. All the way there we check and re-check our list - helmets? check; goggles? check; registration? check; insurance? check; rain gear? check; goldenrod copies from yesterday? check; gloves? check; passports? check; test confirmation printout? check; current licenses? check...on and on. Arrive early enough to unload the scooter from the trailer and start it up just to make sure the battery isn't dead! Check! We go inside the DMV and wait in line for a while. When we get to the front of the line we tell the DMV employee that we need to take the driving portion of the motorcycle test. She hands us each a clipboard with a blank Tennessee Driver's License Application form - but we just filled that out yesterday - here is the goldenrod copy we were told to bring back - what? We still need to fill out the exact same form again? Really? Why? Paul is telling me to be quiet and just do it. But why? Oh, and we also get two more numbers, D027 and D028 and we are told to sit and wait until our number is called. But we have a scheduled appointment...sit down and wait. But...

I was overjoyed when that sweet, automated voice came over the speaker and called D027 to counter 5! I was so excited, in fact, that I went with Paul with my number (D028) which would be called next anyhow, and we were kind of a 'two-for-one' package deal what with only one scooter, one credit card...you know! The DMV lady took Paul's information, asked several questions, filled out his form, told him that the examiner would be right with him, then she stood up, put her coat on and said that she was going to lunch but if I wanted to have a seat and wait until my number was called someone else would take care of me. Really? Eventually, someone else did and we both ended up walking outside with the examiner ready for the big driving test.

The DMV examiner did a check of all the basic operating systems (horn, lights, blinkers...yea, that's about all there is on a scooter) then she says to Paul 'Ya'all go on out of here, turn raight, turn raight agin, raight, raight and come on back here, jus' go 'round the block an' if ya don't lay 'er down or make me call 911 then ya'all pass'. Are you joking? So he goes around the block. Done. Then the skies open up and the torrential rains begin and it is my turn. Same deal - around the block without killing myself or anyone else. Easier said than done in the blinding rain! At the first stop sign I can't see out of my goggles between the fog and rain, and a city dump truck races past on the street centering on the biggest pot-hole possible, drenching me and my little blue scooter in filthy, muddy rainwater. Turn onto the 6 lane highway from hell realizing that I have never actually driven on wet roads before...please...just let me get through the next 120 yards...turn again...the parking lot is in sight...and there is Paul and the DMV lady chatting up a storm, not even looking at me?!? I guess I passed!

Back inside, more paperwork, more money, take pictures for new "M-Class" license. DMV lady says 'Now it'll take just a few more minutes so if ya'all wanna have a seat an fill out this customer service survey while ya'all are waitin' for yer new license, well, we sure would appreciate it'. Really? Paul filled his out with all 'excellent' marks because he feared he wouldn't have his new license handed over if he didn't. I left mine blank!

Ohhh the weather outside is frightful, na na na na na na na na

It is cold. It is raining. It is snowing. It is icing. It is sleeting. It is windy. It is freezing. It has been like this for 4 weeks now.

My people used to take me to the park, take me hiking, take me on long walks in the woods, take me to the dog park, take me on scooter rides...not anymore. At least not for the last 4 weeks. My five mile a day walks have been discontinued and replaced with a fitness center membership...oh wait...that is only for PEOPLE - not dogs. I get several extra hours in my kennel. Yay.

Every day my people put on soft Christmas music, put me in my kennel with a milk-bone and get in the car and leave me for hours. They come back all energized from a long work-out and I get a five minute walk in the rain. I don't even like Christmas music. And yes, the weather outside is frightful! Florida is still two weeks away. Damn.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Autumn '08 in the Smoky Mountains *People Notes*

The hiking is fantastic in Smoky Mountain National Park any time of the year, but our favorite time to hit the trails is definitely in the fall when the weather is spectacular and the colors are vibrant. A couple of trails that we hiked recently did not disappoint as evidenced by these pictures (which don't even begin to do justice to the magnificence of the Smokies!).

Trillium Falls Trail - hiking behind a waterfall was cool - a bit creepy, but very cool!

Lower Mount Camerer Trail

Happy Trails!

Autumn '08 in the Smoky Mountains

I hear that the hiking is great in Smoky Mountain National Park - especially in the fall. I wouldn't know because of this:

Clearly I know when I am not wanted!

However, my people do take me for long walks in our neighborhood which is just outside of Smoky Mountain National Park and I think it is quite nice.

Except when it rains...I hate when it rains. Bad for my hair.

Damn!

Fall Break *People Notes*

Yes, it was a wonderful week...the grandkids, papa, mema, the cabin in the woods, nature, activities, lemonade on the porch, bonding time, swinging in the hammock, roasting marshmallows, walks in the woods, sweet memories.....ahhhhh! A storybook adventure.

After night one. Which brings us to the next blog entry:

"GOING GREEN"

It had been a long day beginning with making pancakes, playing outdoors, collecting leaves, swinging, baking cookies, climbing hills, sitting around the campfire, and all that mushy grandparenty stuff one's mind conjures with the much anticipated 'time-spent-with-the-grandkids-don't-screw-it-up-let's-make-nice-memories' week at the cabin with a 5 and 9 year old. Granted, we are a bit out of practice, but having semi-successfully raised 4 boys between us and giving advice to numerous other 'drop-ins' (and drop-outs) through the years with no major battlescars or other obvious trauma we figured we had this one in the bag for sure. The day had been successful at every level including a relatively healthy diet (ok, not so much the pancakes, but we did serve them with turkey bacon which has much less fat than the typical Tennessee pork salt variety), no injuries requiring first aid or the assistance of 'nurse papa', and a bubble bath complete with the tub jets to spray off the majority of the caked on grit, grime and any residual ticks or other bugs. A quick albeit somewhat tearful call home to mommy and daddy to tell them goodnight and the day was coming to a close which was good at this point because although the 5 and 9 year old kids could have probably continued on their energizer batteries for another several hours, well, we old'er' people were tired as all get out not being used to getting up and moving much before mid-morning and missing our mid-day naps and all...well, we were just plain tuckered - exhausted actually - couldn't get those kids up the ladder and tucked into bed fast enough. Thinking ahead and being the proactive grandparents that we are, we had filled the loft with toys, books, favorite stuffed animals and pillows from home to ward off any potential homesickness, as well as a flashlight at the top of the ladder and a couple of activated glowsticks to illuminate the loft just enough in the event of a midnight trip down the ladder for the bathroom or any other late night roaming around which necessitated a safe exit from the bed. Kiss, kiss, hug, hug, goodnight all....holy crap we were sooooo tired that we barely made it down the ladder and stumbled into our bed...smiling softly we were proud of surviving day one and we were especially looking forward to falling off into a wonderful, well-deserved, restful sleep...boys were quiet...crickets chirping...dog barking in the distance...burrowing deeper and deeper into the down pillow with the warm quilt wrapped around my tired bones...a soft whisper from the loft "Ryan, are you asleep?" and with no answer the night is upon us...the pitter-patter of little feet shuffling...probably looking for a favorite toy to slip under his pillow..."Ryan, wake up."

Groggy and in a dream-like state, I mumble "Matthew, go to sleep."

Whispers.

Whispers.

Pitter-patters.

"Ryan, I really need you to wake up."

"Matthew, don't you dare wake up your brother. Go to sleep."

Snoring...oh wait, that is Paul.

Then there is whimpering..."But, but, but...I can't get it off...and, and, and..."

I lazily roll over and push Paul out of bed. "Go check on him." And I snuggle back into my dream-like state. Soooo tired. Soooo comfortable. Sooooo warm...beginning to have sweet dreams suddenly I hear Paul say in a well-controlled voice "Matthew - DON'T MOVE - HOLD STILL - STAY RIGHT THERE!"

Well, this can't be good.

So I roll out of bed, stumble over to the ladder and start climbing, only to run into Paul who is perched half in the loft and half on the ladder and I rub my eyes...yes, there is a curious green glow coming from the loft...climb another step up...and for a moment in time we all were frozen in our tracks in a vibrant, neon, luminescent, chartreuse, day-glo, surreal green world.

I know that in the next nanosecond my brain processed at a speed faster than my laptop computer - 'Holy crap, why is everything green, not just green, but radioactive green, there are splatters of green on the ceiling, green hand prints on the floor, the ladder, the bookcase, why is Matthew standing in the middle of the room glowing, what has caused his hands to look like little kryptonite mittens, holy crap, his face is glowing, no - this can't be projectile vomiting (well, maybe the turkey bacon?!), he has green speckles (freckles?) covering his entire body, giant green welts on his spiderman pajamas that look like the green goblin is winning the war, should we call the 'haz-mat' guys or should we just gown up ourselves, all the little action figures look like they exploded on a bio-luminescent battleground, glow worms gone wild...holy crap, the glow-sticks, what went wrong, did they explode up here, what was on that stupid warning label, are these chemicals bad, did I bother to read the warning label, am I still going to get 'grandparent-of-the-year', probably not now, does this stuff burn, rule number one is to stay calm, this looks like fireflies gone very, very bad....'

In the softest, sweetest voice I can muster I ask "Matthew, honey, are you ok? What happened?" And I proceed up the ladder and put my arm around him (slightly wondering if I am going to get burned, scarred and disfigured for life if I actually touch him) and he proceeds to tell me his story:

"Um, um, um...well, I wanted to make the, um, um, I wanted the glo-stick to glow more and um, um, so, um, I shook it hard like this, um, like you did it, and um it didn't get any brighter so, and, um then I held it really tight like this, like you did and um, I um bent it really hard like I saw you do it, um, um, and then um shaked it some more, then I shaked it harder, and then um, um then it started to um get on my hands...' and we can finish this sentence from here: and my pajamas and my bunny and the ceiling and the pillow and the floor and the toys and the ladder and the rug and the quilt and my brother and the walls and the books and the dog... So we (calmly, very calmly) get towels and washcloths to begin cleaning the radioactive room, but you know, as soon as you turn on the lights the glowing green world disappears and all appears normal, lights off - glowing green: lights on - normal world: lights off - glowing green: lights on - normal world. And you know what else? That crap doesn't wipe off, doesn't clean off, doesn't come off, doesn't glow any less with any given amount of effort. It simply has to wear off with time. Armed with a stack of clean towels and a clean pair of pajamas to put on Matthew I sit on the edge of the futon...bam...tipped the thing on its end, flipped Ryan out of bed onto the floor (who had been sleeping soundly through this entire green indiglo affair) and then started giggling to the point where I couldn't even breathe anymore. Oh well...maybe if I swore them to secrecy and bribed them with cookies and go-carts, maybe they wouldn't tell their parents about the horrible, terrible, middle-of-the-night, g(l)owing green adventure at mema and papa's cabin.

After the best possible clean-up efforts we all settled back to the wonderful, tired, ready to fall asleep any second dream-like state that we had been in mere hours earlier...ahhhh...boys are quiet...crickets chirping...burrowing deeper into the down pillow...

Whimpers..."Mema...my fingers are still lighted up..."

"I know honey. It will be gone in the morning. I love you. Go to sleep."

Snoring...oh wait...that is Paul.

Fall Break

Woohoo! The little people (Ryan & Matthew) came to the cabin for their fall break!! I love sharing my cabin with little people...or any people, really, since we are kind of in the middle of nowhere and visitors aren't commonplace. We did some fun stuff that week. We hiked around the hills and played in the dirt - it was great to have little people who like dirt as much as I do. We got to stay up late and tell scary stories. We gathered firewood and learned about building fires and then, of course, we lit marshmallows on fire like little torches. Cool. We spent almost all of our time outside playing and painting and running and getting messy.





One day all the people went to the Nascar go-cart track in town, but no dogs allowed so I stayed home and napped. That was ok because I was pretty worn out and tired by then.



We had so much fun - I hope we get more visitors to our cabin.

Happy (NOT MY) Birthday *People Notes*

Happy 6th birthday, Matthew!!! 'Jump Zone' was awesome! Now move over all you little kids because the big people want to play!















Jeannie, David and Paul take the plunge! (**reference blog posting dated 09/01/08 at http://www.katyanderik.blogspot.com/ )

As previously noted from the alpine slide adventure a couple of months ago, the biggest plunge of all was taken by Paul. In fact, Paul took two plunges. That afternoon, the eighteen 5 and 6 year olds and the three of us 'older folks' (David, Jeannie and Paul) thought it would be fun to try Jump Zone's inflatable slides. For you flatlanders that don't know what an inflatable slide is, it derives from everyone's favorite playground structure: the metal slide. Instead of metal and wood, though, the slide is made of plastic and filled with air.

Jump Zone sliding is not meant to be difficult. Unlike playground sliding, there is no hot metal, no ladder to climb, no hard surfaces, no rock-throwing, no mud puddles, and no hard landings at the bottom. I don't even think there is an age limit. The only thing you control is where you place your bottom, legs, feet, arms and hands on the slide. To operate; sit, slide, stand up. Somehow, Paul missed these instructions.

For our first run, Paul and Jeannie started together for a friendly race down the fire engine side-by-side slide. As we began our descent, I thought to myself, "Hey, Paul's never driven a car faster than 27 miles an hour, so I'll just take it easy and wait for him at the bottom." Wrong. Before I finished that thought, a Paul-shaped blur was 2 feet* ahead of me (*the slide is approximately 9 feet in length!), disappearing into the air. I didn't see him again until halfway down the fire-engine slide, when I passed him trying to get back on his rear end. I thought to myself, "Paul must have stopped to take a potty break." Wrong. When we met up at the bottom, I could see from the missing skin (knees, hands, elbow) and melted polyester t-shirt (seriously) that Paul had taken a fall. If you were paying attention above, you know that this should not be possible.














He took the challenge to race David for a second run. Not wanting to lose any more skin, Paul noted his intent to "take it easy this time," which he did. Three feet into the race, David was comfortably in the lead, and I thought to myself, "Well, good, he's really taking it easy, so he won't fall this time." Wrong. David got to the bottom and we waited. And waited. And waited. And finally, he finished the last 2 feet - going 0 miles per hour - and made it to the bottom. He had done the impossible. He had fallen on the inflatable Jump Zone fire-engine slide. Twice.





























Lucky we had plenty of bandages and ointment left from his alpine slide adventure.

Happy (NOT MY) Birthday

We have celebrated so many birthdays in recent months that I have lost count. Except mine. No, we did NOT celebrate Odie's birthday because some people forgot. But I'm not bitter. Really.

Matthew was turning 6 and this party sounded like a lot of fun...we loaded into the car, drove down to Alabama the night before and spent a whole day baking & decorating a giant birthday cake that looked like Batman's Bat Cave, stuffing goodie bags, wrapping presents, buying ice cream (I LOVE ice cream) and making the final birthday party plans. It was going to be at a place called "Jump Zone" with dozens of little people and giant, inflatable things that you can jump on, crawl on, climb on, slide down, etc... I was soooo excited.

Then they all loaded into the cars and left me at the house. Are you kidding??

So I snuck out of my kennel, turned on the TV, watched movies and played games all afternoon. I don't care if I am still grounded from the video games. Sighhh...

They didn't even bring me any ice cream. Damn.