Advance Notice!

With all the preparations for Christmas and sugar plums dancing in our heads, it's so easy to forget that December 26th isn't just Boxing Day! It's the beginning of RUN AMOK week!

~ sigh ~

My favorite week of the year.

Just a reminder: As soon as Santa gets back to the North Pole and sits down with a glass of eggnog, Mrs. Claus SHREDS the "naughty & nice" lists.

SHREDS!

Oh JOY!

The new list doesn't start until January 1st!

December 25 is the day you bask in whatever it is you bask in. For me, it's usually coffee with chicory and a big chunk of something wonderful... other than the giant squid although I like to get a big chunk of that, too.

That leaves December 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 to RUN AMOK! Is that the most fabulous thing ever!

Quick! Mark your calendars in RED! A free zone!

Now some of you Scroogie types are going to say that RUN AMOK week isn't printed on any calendar you ever bought. Pish and posh! Calendar makers are male. Need I say more? You have a computer and a printer. Make your own. So when the Scrooge in your life says "show me where this week is on the calendar," you can show him yours.

I used to keep RUN AMOK week a secret from the giant squid until I actually did something that made his eyebrows arch into the stratosphere. Then I would calmly remind him that it's the time of year when I'm entitled to get a free pass at anything I want to do. Needless to say, being a Neanderthal, he has his own opinions about that. But... when it's RUN AMOK week I ignore his ramblings and do what I want to do anyway. (Just a helpful hint: It's best to keep running shoes on when one is running amok. Having a very large dog with big teeth also helps; two dogs are better.)

Now I remind the giant squid that RUN AMOK week is coming so when I actually do something that raises his blood pressure - and not in a good way - I tell him that it should not have been a surprise because I did warn him in advance.

His arm still tenses and I'm sure his palms itch because he tends to rub his hands together and... that's when I'm happy I remembered to have my running shoes on.

I like to plan a few happy events for RUN AMOK week. This year I'm thinking...

I'll send an artificial tree to our friend David. It's small and will fit on his office desk or credenza. Such a lovely and unique tree, too. I know the WHOLE staff will enjoy it. It has a naked lady at the top that spins around... the nipples light up... one at a time... on, off, on, off. He's currently in England. I know he's going to be so surprised when he gets back. Maybe I better include extra batteries.

"You better not be sending any surprise gifts, imp," the giant Neanderthal warned me.

"Not me," Sar the innocent replied. I can wait until RUN AMOK week to do that. I will, however, let some other folks send things for me. That doesn't count, right?

We have a LOT of stockings hanging on the mantle. There's one for each of us, the pets have their own and a few for others - David has one, Patrick has one, so does Bull and there's two with no names for unexpected guests. I have finished and mailed Christmas cards and the presents are wrapped. Cake's in the oven and a couple of lumps of coal... are hidden in case I need to add that to someone's stocking - just to weigh it down, of course. Dozens and dozens of "spank me sweetly" cards are done and stuffed into the squid's stocking in a velvet box. Do you think that's too many? He's getting o-l-d. He may not have the strength for all that...

My friend Alli sent FOUR buckets of "death by chocolate" body paint. One bucket has raspberries mixed in with the chocolate. I'm saving these for RUN AMOK week. I better make sure the giant squid gets plenty of rest on Christmas day so he can do giant squid things with that chocolate paint.

New subject: Pups

The new pups are really a sweet bunch. The Labs are on the goofy side, trying to sway me with kisses when I tell them "NO!" The Briard actually rolls his eyes when I give him my look of disappointment. I have a feeling he's plotting his next move. The Schnauzer yawns a lot - that is not a good sign. The Bouvie thinks he's a Rott. He leans against my hip and throws his head back to look up at me. He's also a flirt and is very interested in my female Rott, Panda. She is currently ignoring him but her mate, Tank, is not at all amused.

One of the Labs got in the house when I left the back door slightly ajar. He spied DomTom, the 20-lb. cat, and went after him with teeth bared. Poor misguided 100-lb. pup. DomTom beat the beejeebees out of him. Lab scooted out of the house with the cat chasing him and spent the morning hiding in his kennel. Have I ever mentioned that DomTom rules our house?

"Why is that sorry excuse for a cat chasing that dog?" asked the tall fellow in uniform as he gazed out the kitchen window.

DomTom and Cowboy do not care for each other. The cat does not recognize the giant squid as the alpha male in our home and the giant squid does not understand how I can love a creature he generally refers to as "a waste of fur." Tsk.

Meanwhile, all the pups "heel" fairly well now though they need a lot more practice. All "sit" most of the time. Only the Labs "stay" but all "come" when called. Good progress for just a little over a week. I plan to write updates on each of them eventually. Look for those updates in "Dog Tales" on the right side of the blog.

Also on the right side are "Recipes." Formatting the recipes is a little time consuming; I'm trying to add a few each week. You "peach cobbler" and "cream cheese waffle" lovers will get yours, too. I'm wading through dozens of variations so I choose the best ones.

"You're posting peach cobbler instructions?" Mr. Peach wanted to know.

"Uh huh."

"You know... you should test each one of them before doing that," he smiled. He rubbed his tummy at the same time.

See Sar. See Sar roll her eyes.

SWAT!

Hear Sar laugh.

See Sar run.

See giant squid give chase.

See giant squid grab Sar and close bedroom door.

~Sar~