Friday night, wine with the girls. Then I went home and slept because I had a killer cold. Saturday I woke up and went up to BARK to volunteer. I had a good time, but the number of dogs was overwhelming. Most everyone else wanted to take one home; I had had my fill of dogs.

I went home and took a nap, and when I woke up there was a message from a friend of mine. She was wondering, since it was supposed to be nice on Sunday (it was 60 here), if I wanted to go out to the barn and ride her horse. That is akin to asking me if I’d like some wine.

We went out and trail rode for about an hour and a half. I’m not as sore as I thought I would be. It was fabulous and confirmed the fact that I really do need to start riding again.

On the way home, my car overheated. The temperature gauge was in the red. Good times. I put 2.5 gallons of water in it and made it home. I thought the body shop (who replaced the radiator) would give me difficultes about checking it out, but they were surprisingly agreeable.

This weekend I’m headed up to NJ. Bud is home from Iraq on R&R. (Did y’all know he was in Iraq? Not sure I’ve mentioned it.) I’ll head up with Randy, TRgirl and Monkey on Friday and head back on Monday. I am excited to see my brother, but I hate NJ with the fire of a thousand suns.

Since TRgirl usually watches the boys while I’m away, I have to have a friend come and take care of them. Orion has to have meds twice a day and I feel bad asking people to check on them. Normally if I’m going away for an extended period I drive them out to my Uncle’s. (Bob and Steph: We have seven cats, what are two more? The boys: There are also dogs there!) (Jasper spends most of his time in Steph’s closet. Orion sits on the bench by the dining room window and yells at me for 10 minutes when I come to pick them up.) However, Bob and Steph live 2.5 hours away, so it makes no sense to drive them out there for a weekend trip.

Oh, and did I tell you I had the best time last weekend? It was in the 60s here and we hung out in Flanders’s backyard Saturday night sitting around the fire pit, having some wine, shooting the breeze. That was so much more fun than any bar would be. Well, except for when Hobbes* drank my wine.

*Hobbes is Apple’s dog and a complete alcoholic.

Today is Drink Wine Day.

From yesterday:

Watergirl: I may know animal bites but you know happy hours. (Happy hour question.)

Apple: (Answers question.)

Watergirl: Thanks! It's good that we both have our specialized areas of knowledge.

Apple: Yes. It's more efficient.

Over gChat

Bud: It's not women, it's gender rolls.
WG: Roles. Although I am amused by the idea of non-family friendly breadstuffs.

Via e-mail
TRgirl: We were talking about replacing the water heater, but now we're talking about redoing the kitchen because [Monkey] keeps eating the counters.
WG: Why is he eating the counters?
TRgirl: Because we don't feed him.

As it turns out, there was extra money collected during registration for Dodgeball. (It has to do with single sign-ups vs. team sign-ups.) As our team is made up of mostly 21-25 year-old boys, it was decided that the extra money would be spent on a keg and wings. (There were e-mails flying back and forth wherein they discussed the research they were doing on the cost of kegs.)

Yesterday, we got an e-mail update:

To: Dodgeball Team
Subject: Dodgeball Drinkfest.

Our monies went to pay for the keg and jim beam-for shots. We ask that if u want snacks to please bring some. I will be bringing wings-and I might be willing to share;)

Dodgeball Teammate

So, now there is beer, Jim Beam, and no food. Apparently I am going to a frat party.