Testing...1...2

Woo Hoo! I get my car back tomorrow and I can't be more excited. It's funny how, when you go out to buy a car, you think, "Now I don't really need all those silly extras they want to add to jack up the price of the car, do I?" But then you somehow end up driving that very car off the lot when it's all said and done. Yep, that would be me.

Okay, so why is my "bells n' whistles" car gone you ask? It's part of an emissions test that VW is doing on cars that have been used by the average driver (I fooled them). They take my car, give me a loaner full of gas, then when my cars returned, it will have a full tank of gas, a new bath and a $250 check sitting in it for me!

I thought this was a great way to get some extra cash, being as I am unemployed and all. So the loaner came, and you'd think it would be a top of the line model so I'd want to run out to my nearest dealership & trade my car in for the latest & greatest bells and whistles. But ah, this is where VW missed the boat (I should probably let them know...maybe I could benefit from such news). Anyhow, it's a bottom of the line model of my car, and it has taught me that I do indeed use all those things I thought I didn't have a need for when I purchased the car. (Oh, and did I mention it reeks of cigarettes?)

So in all due honesty, this 2 week test was okay for the perks, but I can't wait to get in MY car, sit on my leather seats, dock my IPod, turn up my quality sound system, roll back my sunroof and turn my butt warmers on (I wonder if I can run the AC while they're on...I'll let you know).

He Did It!

After countless nights of filling out 10 page applications and tireless hours on the roads driving to city after city to tell them why he would love to live in their town and serve their community, Stephen has finally landed his dream of becoming a Firefighter. And you know what? I wouldn't trade one hour of the time it took. The process has sent us both into tale spins of insanity at times, forcing us to postpone flights, cancel events, call in sick to work...need I go on? But without such dedication, I wonder if the prize at the end would have been nearly as exciting? Doubtful.
So today (a bit late...he actually graduated his academy, yes another one, on June 27th) I announce to you that Stephen is an official Firefighter for the City of Downey. I don't expect things to get easier any time soon (he's a Rookie for the next 18 months...and we all know what that means), but it sure is nice to celebrate his achievement.
The pictures are from Stephen's graduation from the Downey Fire Academy (or "Tower" as they call it). In the second picture, Stephen is the middle guy. And yes, there is a car flipped over in the foreground, which they used when demonstrating their skills with the "jaws of life" tools. My all time favorite moment though, had to be when they took each of the guys academy tee shirts, laid them across a gas line and lit them on fire. Hallelujah...those stinky disgusting stained shirts are history and it's time to put on the official Firefighter uniform!!!

Sorry Charlie! Tuna Statue Filleted.

In honor of the most hilarious story of the week, I bring you my...

Tuna Casserole Recipe!!!
(a.k.a. heart-attack in a bowl)

Cooked Large Egg Noodles
A Large Can of Tuna
A Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
A Tub of Sour Cream
A Cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
(or milk or half & half...basically any dairy product...but the fatter the better)
Salt & Pepper
A TON of Cheddar Cheese
A TON of Jack CheeseHalf a Bag of the Greasiest Potatoe Chips You Can Find (Lays Rock)

Combine the noodles, tuna, mush soup, sour cream, whipping cream, salt and pepper in a giant casserole dish. Pile both cheeses (is that a word?) on top. Then smash up the potatoe chips and pile those on top of the cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for approx. 30 minutes, but if you forget about it and it ends up in the oven forever, no worries. It's fine. And the best part...it also makes great leftovers (though if you're planning to bring it to the office, I'm warning you now, it's not a pleasant smell!)

Enjoy!

Spell "Alyssa"...Um, how 'bout YOU spell it

So many have asked how my niece is doing, so I figured I'd let you all know. She's nuts, completely nuts! She's 5 now, or at least that's what she'll have you believing (3 1/2 if you go by her actual birthday). Her demands are simple...a short sugar-free vanilla soy steamer from S'bucks and Noggin in the morning, followed by a constant flow of food every half hour after that. The child can put it down! If you ask her where she got her body, she'll tell you, "I got it from my momma...I got it from my momma!" Oh, and she has mastered the art of convincing anyone, and I mean anyone, to give her whatever she wants. Anyone except me, which is hilarious because if I'm around, she's always looking out the corner of her eye towards me to make sure I'm not watching her finagle a cupcake outta some poor unsuspecting new friends hands. All in all, she's nuts!

What have I done?

I know, lots of dog posts lately. Sorry, but it's consuming my life and so we all have to deal with it together...now heal, er, I mean walk with me.

Kirk has officially made our home his and let me tell you it is a LOT of work. I know, you're all thinking, "What in the world did you get a new dog for? You already have two." Well, the deal was, when Stephen got hired on to the Fire Department, we would get a home protection dog for me. Welcome Kirk. And that verse about asking and receiving...I got what I asked for and then some. Kirk insists on circling me wherever I go and is quite possesive of me. Poor Stephen has to call before he comes home so I can hold Kirk back from mauling him. The goofball of a dog doesn't realize his own strength.

We got Kirk from Orange County German Shepherd Rescue, but he originates from a breeder who breeds top of the line "working dogs." His prior owner purchased him, but then realized they couldn't handle the training it takes to make him a really good dog. Enter me...I start training with Kirk tonight. Wish me luck!

We were APPROVED!!!

Meet Kirk, our newest dog. We don't actually have him in our backyard yet, but he should join us in the next day or two. I'm so antsy to get him home, but the agency he comes from does a thorough inspection and background on the potential owners prior to releasing the dog. I think it's a great approach, but now that we've been approved, we have to work out who's available and when to go get him (he's 2 hours away and there are 3 parties involved). Argghh...I want my dog already!!!

Hmmmmm....

.....it's late and I'm forced to stay up till the washer is done so I can throw the all important outfit that is so desperatly needed at 5:00am in the dryer....

...what better time to polish off the tiramisu?