Who Knew?

I have been doing a lot of research about why my sweet Molly barks at passing dogs and is very aggressive toward them and recently has barked at men passing by on many occasions. Over and over I have found experts that say that dogs kept in isolation from people and other dogs, react in aggression out of fear and anxiety over the "new" and, to their way of looking at things ,threatening situations. All agree that more socialization is the answer. I goofed in other words by not taking Molly out and about. In line with that I am trying to take her out everyday in the car to as many places as I can and for walks. I want to contact Sue Doyle at Petco about maybe getting her some one-on-0ne training time there. Petco certainly has lots of dogs to come into contact with, but I think to just take her cold turkey around all that canine company would be waaaay to stressful right now for both of us. Molly is so sweet. loving and a fun and loyal companion to me that I want others to see this wonderful side of her. I think that had I taken her out from the get -go a lot, she would never have been so nuts around other folks. I hope that I will be able to correct that within a few months. The book you are sending will help too I am sure. I hate that I was so unfair to Molly out of ignorance. We never took dogs out and about as I was growing up, but with 5 kids and all their friends coming and going, I guess the socialization was built-in.

Sure glad that you had such a nice time in OKC and I am sure that the dream house was a source of inspiration. Do you think any of that construction fever rubbed off on Kevin????

We are supposed to have several days of lovely warm weather and I hope to be outside for as much of it as possible. I hope you all also have a warm snap in your future. I appreciate you taking precious time to research the coins for me. You are the best! Paul called within minutes of your call and it was exactly as you said, he did not realize that I called until he got to school and then called me on the way home with apologies for the delay in returning my call. He sounded better and said that he was feeling better. Hooray for that. I like my kiddos well and happy.

Phew!

What a hurricane of a week and weekend. As you know we got back early afternoon Saturday. Faye seems to have survived her exile in fine spirits though both man and beast sorta collapsed the rest of the day Saturday. I don't know why traveling is so tiring even when it's a short jaunt. Of course, you never sleep very well at someone else's home so I think everyone was ready for some rest.

Kevin's cousin Todd and Shannon (whom we stayed with) have a lovely home in the suburbs of OKC. He's a VP of a commercial construction company so he gets to buy materials and labor at cost and the house shows it! Lots of nice custom features to make any woman drool a bit like laundry chutes and lots of gathering places in the house. They were most gracious hosts. I need to send a note tomorrow thanking them for their hospitality.

That's great information on the coins and I'll dive back into my research on those tomorrow. I don't know what those numbers mean either but I bet I can figure it out.

How's your cold? Finally over it? Did you decide to go to the doctor today?

Coin Info

First of all I am so glad that you got Ms. Faye settled in luxurious surroundings for your TD trip. I know that you and Kevin will have a good time. I guess the TV is such a part of American homes that it helps give the dogs a feeling of familiarity.

1923 Mercury Dime, MS68 with full bands, under that is 0 80 and under that is 3720.
1922 Glaudens Gold $20 piece, MS63 and under that is 5228 and 1.15 (which I think is the weight)
1922-D, Liberty Silver Dollar, MS 64, under that is 0 80, under that 1996
1903 Morgan Silver Dollar, MS63, under that is 0 80, under that is 2997
1911 Dime,MS 60. under that is 0 80, under that is 3384

This is what is written on the labels that are with the coins. The D might stand for Denver minting, I know the MS numbers are grades, and I have no idea what the 0 80 and final numbers stand for. I have not been able to find any paperwork on these coins, which as you know with pop, is very unusual. I wonder if it might have been lost in the '91 flood. You never know. I hope this helps some and I can send a picture if you think it would be helpful.

Strings, Sealing Wax and other Fancy Stuff

I was sorry to miss your call yesterday. We were out in the yard doing the third, and hopefully final!, leaf and pine needle pickup. It was a gorgeous day and is beautiful again today but we're going to have to enjoy it and store up. It appears we're getting our first major cold front through Tuesday night and temperature are going to drop from the 70s to the 40s.

I'm working on your coin list and want to make sure I'm correct in my list. There's five coins total?

1922 $20 gold piece (St. Gaudens Double Eagle?) in MS63 condition
1923 Mercury Dime
1911 Barber Dime
1922 Silver Peace Dollar
1903 Morgan Silver Dollar

With just some preliminary research, it appears condition, where they were minted and if they were circulated, non circulated, proof or deep proofs makes a huge difference in value. As an example the Barber dime ranges in value from $2 to $175. Any distinguishing marks you can see, if they're in holders showing their condition rating (like MS63) or other documentation you might have will go a long way to seeing what you've got in your possession there. Just finding pictures as close as possible isn't going to let us pin this down very well. Worse case, lay them out on a dark material and use your digital camera to take pictures of the front and back?

We did finally find a place for Faye to board. She will be staying in the luxurious suites of Deogi Pointe and we'll be heading to OKC late this week. Kevin stopped by to take a look at it and, sheesh, things have sure gotten fancy in the ol' dog kenneling world but it's about the same price as our vet charges and they get a lot more room to run as well as some personal attention. I have to admit I'm a bit surprised at how common providing television and videos for the dogs is. I mean, really....wubba? I suppose Faye wouldn't mind catching up on a season of Lassie.

Whee!!!

As I mentioned on the phone I am besotted with my GPS unit. I find myself trying to think of places to go that I do not know the way to just to have an excuse to use it. Since gasoline prices continue to climb, this may, or may not be such a good thing! I do love it and do feel a rebirth of freedom to move about. I love you both so much for the wonderful gift and more importantly for the loving spirit behind the gift.

I am torn today between wanting to get into the sewing room as it has been quite a while since I have had time to quilt and going to the garden center for stones to start the walkway in the long bed. Still not sure which one will win. I know Molly gal would vote for the garden work as she likes nothing better than for me to spend the day outside working. She sticks to my location and the sewing room is BOREDOM to her.

I have nothing of interest going on to report on. I do love the Bare Minerals and think it feels wonderful on. Must get my hair cut soon as I am getting shaggier and shaggier. It is always something that needs repair or grooming. Heavy sigh!!!

I am about to talk myself into fixing a small home meal for Thanksgiving and avoid the hassle of going out somewhere. Maybe a small ham and trimmings. I would lean toward a sandwich left to my own devices.

Inspiring!

Someone sent me the link to this video and thought I'd share it. It lifted my spirits to see such a plain looking, plain working man. Watch the judges faces and the eye rolling when he announces he's going to do opera---and then what happens.

Paul Potts

I have the best

You are the sweetest daughter in the world. I am just thrilled that you are sending me the kit. It is just the most generous and thoughtful thing to do. I recently threw out all my old makeup and only kept a couple of eyeshadows, lipsticks, and a bottle of foundation. I have been thinking that it is time to update my look, so your timing is perfect.

As I was reading your blogg entry, I was thinking that I would log on and order me a kit, and then I got to the part that said one was already on its way! Hooray! I cannot wait to watch the DVD and try it. Thanks for being so very thoughtful and for being the best daughter I know.

I got the other bathroom painted yesterday. I think it looks so good. Now all I have left is the office and my bedroom (which will be a chore because of the huge, heavy furniture). I do not plan on tackling either one of those until way after the first of the year. The next time you are here for a visit, I want you to go with me to look at floor tiles for the bathroom. I must get the carpet out and tiles in. I really want a second opinion on such a major decision, so if you do not mind lending me your expertise, I would greatly appreciate a second brain. Color is easy, but there are so many kinds and prices of tile, that I only come home bewildered.

We had howling wind all night and they are continuing into day, but not as strong as last evening. The result is a yard covered in leaves and visibly thinning trees and shrubs and a decided nip in the air. Can it be that fall has finally arrived?

I am headed out in a bit to do some birthday gift shopping and then plan to spend some time cleaning. I have neglected that the last couple of days as I was occupied with paint work. I want to buy a new shower curtain and maybe a window curtain, if I can find one that I like while I am out.

I have been concerned about you back and hope that it is not bothering you anymore, but I suspect that it is, as those injuries heal slowly. I know what you mean about DST. It is not my favorite either, but you know, they did not give me a vote on this. Fancy that!

I didn't even know it was lost and I found it!

I recently decided I was totally fed up with my makeup routine and everything I was using in it. Considering how expensive even Almay, Neutrogena and similiar brands are getting, it seemed silly to continue using them when I didn't even like how they looked. You and I had talked a while back about how everyone was raving about the mineral makeups and we'd both tried the Loreal drugstore mineral makeup and didn't care for it. However, I have several friends that use mineral makeups and just love it. So off I went casting about...

After reading a lot of reviews and discussions on the web, I broke down and picked up a Bare Escentuals bareMinerals starter kit from Sephora.com I was a little apprehensive as buying makeup sight unseen is a new experience and I hadn't had a good tryout with the Loreal stuff. However, the kit wasn't too expensive given what's in it compared to buying Clinique and the like from a department store. It seems to be about the same price as department store makeups.

I love it! I watched the DVD that came with it to learn how to apply it. Nothing fancy or difficult but it's _different_ than the usual cream foundations and it took a day or two of playing with it to get the feel of how you have to buff it on rather than how we're used to working with face powders and dusting it on. (I suspect that was my mistake with the Loreal stuff). It feels so wonderful on the skin and very light. It looks very natural outside too which is the bane of regular cream makeups I think. Matter of fact, it's so light feeling that the first few days, my inner self kept thinking "AGGGGH! I'm out in public without makeup!" No lines, smooth, it lasts all day long and you use a tiny amount of it. I jumped on and ordered the Beyond Essentials kit and the eyeshadow kit which has some other fun toys in it and have loved those as well.

I don't know if Bare Escentuals is the best. There's a lot of companies out there that also get good reviews like Pur but I've sure enjoyed it. I love it enough that I've ordered one of the starter kits for you. You may not feel like swapping makeups or even using this stuff but I figured you'd have fun trying it and nothing like some new makeup to start the fall off with and at the very least, you'll enjoy some parts of it with your regular makeup. I adore their Mineral Veil powder and the Warmth face color. I use it as a blush as well as an all over dusting of color. I hope I ordered the right color set for you. I got the same one I got myself since I think we're about the same series of shades. If not and you think you want the next darker ones, you can send me the ones you get and I'll send you a container of that.

Only thing is you have to watch the DVD! Doesn't take very long. You can watch the opening chapter and then there's a chapter called "The first time user". The First Time one is nice because it uses a lady between us in age so she has a lot of the same concerns we do regarding dryness, lines, etc. My original kit only took a few days to arrive so you should have it fairly soon. I hope you'll tell me honestly how you like or dislike it but again, thought it'd be fun to experiment together.

Outside of that not much news. I hate DST. Silly farmers! Coming home in the dark every day is a bummer. I can't even wander around the yard. Well, I can but I can't see very much!

Amazed

Well, color me surprised that I would have thought of any technology angle that had not been throughly explored by you guys, the computer gurus! I use the Images pretty often when I am seeking plants too. You might try it for that also. I think that you and Kevin will be thrilled with the beadboard ceiling.

I loved the Blue Dot, but Carl Sagan thinks of it as a permanent home. I consider it our temporary home until we go on to a more permanent and far better place because "the Bible tells me so" just like the song says. Of course the grandeur and variety of this world leaves me awestruck at God's handiwork.

If you have not tried Wired Science on PBS on Wednesday nights, I would recommend a look-see. The show is made up of snippets of the wonders of science and technology and the future looks ever more amazing. It is very entertaining and not one of the shows that makes you want to say "Well, I feel dumber" after watching it, rather you think "I feel smarter".

The pale blue dot

Great idea on google images. It never occurs to me to use that to look things up and here goes my mom teaching an old technology dog new tricks! I'll spend some time looking around on it mostly to find pictures to convince Kev. I think I've pretty well decided the beadboard is the way to go. He always gets that deer caught in a headlights look when I mention projects like this.

Someone sent me a link to a video. Humbling and insiring