Dry Erase Markers

Dry erase markers aren't just for white boards in this house.  They work well for leaving notes and messages on the Formica countertops.  I like to use them for writing the contents and date on reusable containers of leftovers in the fridge.

If you're into home canning, you can label your jars with dry erase markers.  I used to write on the lids, but it's easier to read the fronts of the jars when they're sitting on the shelf.  (You really don't want a swallow of beet water when you're thirsty for grape juice.)

Life hack: if the dry erase marker doesn't wash off the countertops, Formula 409 will not help, but SOS pads will.

Dry erase marker does not easily come off of your life-size Jeremy Renner cardboard cutout.  And when I find out who's responsible, you'll find out what else I can do with a dry erase marker.

Time to Change Things Up

We recently binge-watched the entire series of Poldark, after we finished all of Downton Abbey (again) including the movie. Don't judge. It's icy cold outside. This is the season for binging on television. Anyway,  Hunneypunkin was channel surfing and there wasn't much on. So he looked at me and said, "Do you want to start something?"

Knowing full well he was asking what series I'd like to binge-watch next, I slammed my phone across the (carpeted) floor, threw the blanket off myself, got all up in his face and yelled, "You wanna fight? Do YOU want to start something? Do we need to take this outside? Come at me, bro!"

He didn't even blink. He just stared at me till I was through, and said, "I knew as soon as I heard my own words come out of my mouth that that would be your reaction."

Now, you have to understand that a key factor to effective sarcasm is don't let them see it coming.

He saw it coming.

I've become predictable.

There are only two choices now: die of shame, or up my game. I'm going to have to Jeremy Renner up.

Everyone Wants To Be Alpha

Old Dog was getting old, so Pixie got a new dog who could learn the family rules and boundaries from Old Dog.  Old Dog immediately established herself as the alpha, and the new dog let herself be the beta.  Angel Doll also got a new dog, who was also willing to submit to Old Dog's alpha status.  Neither new dog, however, was willing to play second beta.

The new dogs established a fight club that even I was afraid of, until finally Angel Doll's new dog packed up and left home, which was heartbreaking for all of us but better than someone getting dead or maimed in a dog fight.

Subsequent research taught us that a male and a female are less likely to fight for dominance than two males or two females, and we didn't want the remaining new dog to be all alone when Old Dog went to the happy hunting grounds, so we picked out a male dog from the animal shelter.

Lefty and The Precious, getting acquainted and approving of Shelter Dog, said, "I thought you said this was a boy."

Shelter Dog was no Jeremy Renner.  He was a girl.

Fortunately, Shelter Dog learned fast that Old Dog was the boss, and wasn't in a hurry to challenge Pixie's pet for dominance either.  But then...

Old Dog went to dog heaven.  Pixie's Pet became alpha.  The Precious was followed home by a stray ("Can we keep it?"), and would you believe, it's another girl.  And while the new girl acknowledges that Pixie's Pet is number one, she's not sure that Shelter Dog outranks her.  Here we go again.