What’s the cleaning instructions on your clothes labels my friends? Snorts and rolls with piggy laughter!
Tag Archives: cleaning
Cleaning Instructions – Really?
Paw Time with Houdini
Hello sweet friends. I hope that you have had a fabulous week. I’ve been doing what I enjoy most – stretching out on some comfy blankets and sleeping… you know in between the other important things in my life like eating, more sleeping, playing and of course more sleeping. Hey, a dog has to have plenty of rest to protect the home. And you know it’s hard work trying to make sure the daddy stays on top of things here at the crib while mom is off at the worky place.
And when mom is at home – especially on the weekends – she has been doing a lot of cleaning and what she calls decluttering. Sometimes I just want to tell her to sit down and take a nap. Really, she looks like that cartoon character that’s always buzzing around. This will end soon, right? Dad calls it nesting. I call it deranged.
❤
So with that being said, I leave you today with Jokes with Daddy. I hope you enjoy my friends and have a great weekend. Remember to get some rest!
Cleaning Tools
Snorts with piggy laughter. Friends, friends, friends. My humans find the weirdest, strangest out of the ordinary items in their travels. Recently at the beach, mom found the cleaning tool that everyone needs that has everything – a Belly Button Lint Brush. So raise your hands my friends – let me know who needs one for Christmas. Snorts and oinks! Now if I can just find my belly button… I’m off to search for it – wish me luck.
Dear Bacon
Dear Bacon – Sometimes I smell things. And then I see things. No, i’m not a ghost. You see it seems like the yard next to me has it going on with Stacy’s mom. She’s always grilling and hanging out near the pool. I just want to go over and play. The other day, the laughter and the smells were so wonderful. I stuck my head under the gate to see what was taking place. I wasn’t really stuck but I acted like it to get everyone’s attention. They came to the gate and invited me over. What a party! Signed Pup of the Party
Dear Pup of the Party – Hey dude, it sounds like you had the plan for the party. You got an invite – I knew you would with that cute little grin. Now go and play like a good fellow – tell Stacy’s mom I said hey.
Dear Bacon – My master likes to play in the yard and work the ground for a garden. Rolls my doggy eyes. I’ll help to a certain point – especially when he is planting the watermelon. Who doesn’t love watermelon, right? This is me helping my master out by holding his tools. And I always say safety first – wear a hat to keep the sun out of your face. Signed Garden Patch
Dear Garden Patch – Hey my friend I like the way you think. Maybe your master should give my mom some lessons on growing watermelons. I love those big balls of wonder. They are so tasty – I even like eating the rind. Licks piggy lips. Now look what you have done. My miniature pot-belly is rumbling for the hungry of a watermelon. Maybe its not too late in the stores for mom to pick me up one? I love you being a helping paw. I think the humans could use more of them. Take care my friend – happy gardening.
Dear Bacon – You *always* have that one sibling that can’t keep their tongue out of your ear. Purrs in aggravation. Dory has been ‘grooming’ my ear now for twenty minutes. Can you please make her go away? If I screech at her, she’ll run to mommy that I’m not playing nice. Girls – eeww. Signed Marlin
Dear Marlin – Girls. That’s all you had to say my friend. You can’t live with them and you definitely can’t live without them. You have nerves of steel to let your sister Dory bother you for that long. Hopefully, it will be over soon. If not, perhaps you can stretch and tell her you need a bathroom break. Just a thought!
Dear Bacon – I am not amused. Really, I’m not. The human insisted that I needed a bath. I could have done my own thank you very much. But no – the human wanted to give me one. Help me. That’s all I gotta say and I’m thinking my look says it all. Signed Cat in a Shower Cap
Dear Cat in a Shower Cap – Well, wait a minute I need to get a straight face for this, you look all nice and clean. How ironical that your mom picked out a Tweety Bird towel for you. It’s kind of fitting. And that shower cap – OMP – perfect. No sense in getting water in those cute little perky ears. Go with it my friend.
.
Dear Bacon – Some people use dowsing rods to find paranormal activity. I don’t need those. Some people even use a sixth sense to find paranormal activity. I don’t need those either. Heck, I don’t need to find anything paranormal. I just need to find food. And let me tell you, with these ears of mine I can find all of the food I want. They lead me and I follow. There’s much to appreciate in letting your ears lead you. Signed Food on the Run
Dear Food on the Run – I say let it be my friend – let it be! Lead on to the food and pig out!
REMEMBER friends. Dear Bacon can’t happen without YOU. Please continue to send me your pictures and questions via email.
Television Guides
We had a full weekend here at the Hotel Thompson. It was busy from Friday night up until late last night. There was the Albert vs Tank competition that we conducted – which the results were eye opening. Then we had to go shopping Saturday for a certain little guy’s birthday. What? You didn’t hear? Come closer – sshh – Houdini’s birthday is on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 – he will be the big ONE. So mom/dad gave him a surprise birthday party yesterday up at Nana’s. They did it yesterday because sometimes it’s hard for mom to get away from the worky place. It was a hoot! I will be blogging about it this Wednesday.
Then yesterday after the party, it was cleaning day here at the Hotel Thompson. Shakes head – I hate cleaning day. We all do our share of dragging stuff to the laundry room, changing sheets, helping with dusting and taking trash out. Slave drives my humans. Then we all snuggled up for some television. One of our favorite classics was showing – The Wizard of Oz. We love that film! Back in 2013, I even broke down the movie according to my piggy thinking. You can read all about that here. Please read it if you haven’t and let me know what you think.
Last night though, mom/dad saw this in the television guide – you know that tells you what is coming on television. This is how we knew it was showing last night. 
Snorts with piggy laughter! I gotta meet the writer of the television guide. This is awesome. Kind of what happens but not exactly right? Snorts!!
Renovation – Phase IV
Welcome back my friends to Phase IV – furniture delivery. Now, today I can’t show you any pictures of the house at this point. I know that stinks but I can talk to you about the furniture 🙂
The furniture crew called me and advised they would be out at the house between 2:30-5:30PM. This was fine with me because I had things to get completed before they came out.
Big Daddy
My kitchen had been gutted – bye bye kitchen table. We really didn’t need one. The one we had was huge and seemed to be a ‘catch all’ for everything and anything that came through the room. We decided to do without a table. It’s just the two of us anyway and we normally camp out in front of the television in the living room talking and watching the news in the evening. So, my dream kitchen needed one thing that I had ordered off line. The down side was that one thing had to be put together. I’m not good a jigsaw puzzles. If the box had 50 pieces in it, there would probably be 40 pieces leftover if I put it together on my own. So, I bartered with my neighbor, Big Daddy, next door. I would give him two items of furniture that his wife wanted if he helped me put together my item I ordered. His wife volunteered him so quickly it wasn’t even funny – LOL. And I have to admit that after two hours, we had done it together! It looked beautiful and better yet it fit so perfectly in the kitchen – like it was made there. You will have to come back tomorrow to find out what it was 🙂 winks
Also, my mom had been keeping two book shelves for me at her house that she had said she would give to me over the years. Me and Jim went and got them… of course in the rain. This weather was killing us! They fortunately fit in the back of our SUV when the door was kept open. We were able to get them into the living room and put them where they needed to go before the furniture arrived.
Also in the meantime of waiting for the furniture, we cleaned. Isn’t that how it is? You clean before to de-clutter. You clean during due to dust. Then you have to clean after. By this time I’ll be honest with you, I was.so.over.cleaning!
Then the furniture arrived. Three guys brought the pieces inside of the Hotel Thompson. One of the guys let it be known that *I* had expensive taste. That’s ALL my husband had to hear – HA! Once everything was in place, me and the hub stood back and looked at everything. It was in that moment we both let out a breath of air and knew we had made the right decision in doing this remodel.
That’s also when I nudged him and told him we weren’t finished. We then had to decorate. Rolls eyes – one of my least favorite things trust me. Tomorrow, come back for the Renovation Reveal Party where you will see everything in its glorious. I hope you have enjoyed our trip into letting go and beginning a new life.
Goodbye Loyal Furniture
Today at the Hotel Thompson, we say goodbye to the rest of our furniture. Last Thursday, Salvation Army came out and picked up some pieces. Today, Goodwill will be picking up some pieces. What is final, the junk man will be coming by this afternoon and picking it up. It has been a long week getting this far. To think, by tonight the kitchen and front room will be empty.
Kitchen table, chairs, china cabinet and entertainment center – you were all good in your efforts these past 16 years while you have lived here. You have seen good times and bad. We have served many of meals, laughed and cried at the table. And furniture – sofa and couch – you have especially been great these past 11 years. You’ve taken a lot of torture from us anipals. We will all miss you dearly because we have been told we can’t be on the new furniture – rolls piggy eyes. That hurts. But mom/dad said not to worry, they will work something out with us.
This starts Phase II of the renovation here at the Hotel Thompson. The painting. Colors have been picked out. Rollers are ready. Not a lot of painting but some contrast painting is lined up. So that’s where we are my friends. Phase II. Phase II only has a couple of days and then the end is near – Phase III. I can make it… right?
Happy New Years! – Article from my Mom :)
Happy New Years my friends! Can you believe that it is already 2015 – Where did 2014 go? Today, I’m going to do something a little different here on my blog. I want to share with you something that my mother wrote recently on handicaps. It may be a little long, but I hope you take the time to read it. I think this will be perfect to start this new year with awareness and kindness and paying it forward. Enjoy and let me know what you think 🙂
Let’s play a game. Close your eyes, tight now no looking. Now, I want you to try to do things around your house. Go to the kitchen and get a drink; try going to the bathroom; turning the television on; or making a phone call. Can you do it? Can you remember the layout of your home? Can you remember what your phone looks like and where the numbers are? What about the remote control?
These are all problems that my husband encounters everyday. You see in 2004, he was in a minor car accident and almost died. That’s right I said minor accident. He was only going 30 miles per hour when a car accident happened and his airbags deployed. The force of the airbags against his chest caused massive blood clots in his lungs. He was in intensive care for nearly 12 weeks coming close to death several times. In fact at one point, the doctors asked mommy if she believed in miracles because it was time to start praying for one. 😦
Within two years of his accident and many, MANY surgeries that we lost count, he lost his vision. This is not a story to say, “Oh dear, you poor thing”. This is a story to enlighten people, restaurants and businesses. Handicaps are not just visibly seen by wheelchairs, walkers or canes. Some handicaps you would never know unless you knew the person. This is my husband Jim. He does everything we do just with a little help.
When we go out together, we are always holding hands. This is something that we have always done for the 26 years we have been together. But now, it’s also to help guide Jim. He doesn’t use a cane and it’s not because of vanity. Jim and others with vision impairments want to be ‘normal’ as much as they can be and I can deal with that. Wouldn’t you? He does everything you and I do but just with a little help.
When we go out to eat, we hold hands walking to the table. If you are close enough to hear us, you might hear me say, “Walk straight, your chair is to the left.” And you will see Jim walk straight to his chair just like he ‘saw it’. You may hear me discussing the menu just like regular people do on, “What do you want to eat?” You might even hear me tell him when the food comes to the table, “Chicken on the bottom, green beans to the left and corn to your right.” But other than that, Jim can eat all by himself just like a big boy. 🙂 So, you might not ‘see’ that he has a visual impairment. And after dinner when we walk to the car, you will see Jim open my car door for me and then walk to his side and get in. Does that ‘look’ like a handicap to you?
But here is where we need to step up in businesses and restaurants. We are all for a little romantic dinner in a restaurant where the mood is set and the lights are low. But s
ome restaurants tend to push the envelope a little more these days. But for someone with a visual handicap that might ‘see’ perhaps a little light to guide them, a little mood set with lights low makes them completely blind. The little bit of tunnel vision Jim might have in one eye is now completely blocked by low light setting and where he might be able to look ‘naturally’ before now he can’t. You add the low lighting with a white table cloth and white dishes, he is going to stumble around on his plate. His drink might get bumped. He may drop his napkin. Waiters/Waitresses – please note this is not something that he is doing ‘on purpose’. Please don’t say something to him negatively. Please don’t “talk down” to him like a child. And by all means watch what you say not to insult. People with vision impairments don’t do these things on purpose. They don’t want the extra attention. They want to feel normal in every aspect that they can. When we ask for a table with a little more light, don’t make a big deal by the request. I mean we could eat at home and we often do but don’t we all want to go out from time to time?
And bathrooms in public – sigh. More businesses and restaurants really need to come up family bathrooms. We have come across these in our travels and they are fabulous! Why do you ask? Well, hopefully in your own home you know the layout of your bathroom. But in a strange place, can you imagine closing your eyes and feeling your way around in a bathroom when you have to potty? There have been a lot of times that I will walk Jim to the door, open it and try to peak in to tell him where everything is – beware men – I’m not trying to look at what you are doing 🙂 Really, I’m not.
If you see someone that is acting ‘off’ and it doesn’t ‘show’ that they have a handicap, they may just have a visual handicap that you don’t see. Instead of walking by or acting like you might catch it, why don’t you stop and chat. Don’t worry, they won’t bite. Believe me, just because they are visually impaired, they do have a sense of humor still.
If they are trying to go to the restroom, why don’t you volunteer to guide them. Trust me, they won’t hesitate for your help. If they drop their flatware on the floor, why don’t you replace it and touch their shoulder and say, “No problem sir”. If you have someone that asks for a more lit table, don’t belittle them or act like it’s a big deal – accommodate
And don’t think Jim is being a snob if he doesn’t shake your hand when you offer 
yours. Just a heads up – most people with a visual impairment can’t see your hand. 🙂 Sometimes it helps if you touch their shoulder and say, “Good to meet you”. And of course, if I’m there I will be glad to tell Jim your arm is extended. Don’t worry. You can shake hands. You won’t catch his blindness.
Most handicapped people don’t want a free pass. They want to feel like they fit in and can still do what they once could. Jim is the same. He knows our house like the back of his hand. He takes care of the kids and the house. He can clean like you wouldn’t believe! He makes the beds. He does all of the laundry. He does the dishes. He can cook for himself. Astonishing huh? It just takes a few tweaks on my part to make his life like it once was. The microwave is marked, the washing machine is marked, the dryer is marked – all with little tabs that he can ‘feel’ to turn on and off.
I’m not writing this story for sympathy. I’m not writing this story for money. I’m writing this story for knowledge on visual impairments. The next time you see someone with a visual problem – where you see it with someone using a cane or being guided by someone, don’t fear them or treat them differently. Be kind and helpful. And hey – why not even help their caregiver out for a while. Do you know that must people with visual impairments still like to do things for their loved ones. This has been one of the biggest downfalls to Jim’s vision. There are times that he would love to go get me a card or some flowers but how can he when he can’t drive himself to do such a wonderful gesture? Perhaps if you know someone with a visual problem, offer to take them out for such a trip 🙂
In the new year let’s start practicing a little Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you want them to do to you”. Happy New Years!
Humans are Weird
That’s right. I said it out loud. Humans are weird. Mine have *got* to be at the top of the list. Rolls piggy eyes. I think this sign, “Beware All Ye Who Enter” should be on our front door. It was a strange Sunday yesterday. Mom and dad got up and piddled around the Hotel Thompson. Then mom sat on her sofa and looked at dad across from her sitting on his sofa playing what of course – Angry Birds. That’s when it started. I wanted to know what was going on so I jumped on the sofa with mom. It kind of went like this:
MOM: “Whatcha doing?”
DAD: “Nothing much.”
Oh poor daddy of mine – when will you ever learn NOT to say those words to mom – snorts
MOM: “Good, we need to clean the bathroom today”.
DAD: “I’m busy.”
MOM: “No you’re not. You just said you were doing nothing.”
Mom wins every battle this way – snorts. Daddy mumbled something about when he found this “WE” fellow he was going to beat him up bad. But he was a good man, he got up and followed mom dow
n the hall. You’re probably saying, “What’s the big deal? It’s just cleaning the bathroom”. That’s where you would be wrong – snorts. Mom was wanting to CLEAN the entire bathroom – as in walls, tub, sink, floor, cabinets, changing shower curtain – the entire works. And of course with mom’s arthritis, she can’t get in and grove like she once did. That’s where daddy comes in – she needed his quote “Brute strength”.
They went in and shut the door. They wouldn’t let any of us anipals inside with them. We heard a lot of giggles. A lot of laughter. Something about WE was going to have to die from daddy. 
Things got thrown in the hallway. The laundry basket, trash, clothes – what *WERE* they doing in there? They were in the bathroom for over an hour!
Then the door opened – WOW – you could hear the angels singing it was that sparkly. I was in piggy awe. And then mom did the thing she said she “deserved” after all of that – she took the smelliest bubble bath I’ve ever seen.
Do your parents do weird things like this?
Blast from the Past
Mom is at it again cleaning out boxes in the garage. She hasn’t done it in a while because of her back pain…. which by the way we found out wasn’t exactly back pain. The pain was in her right hip, hurt to touch, she couldn’t lay on that side and was just horrid. She went to the doctor and learned that it was Trochanteric bursitis. Joy huh? So she’s treating that and mom says thank you very much for everyone that prayed and was thinking about her.
But anyway, back to the blast from the past. Anyone remember “You Sunk My Battleship!” There’s a gazillion pieces and looks fun for me to drag all over the house but mommy says no touchy…. and that means the purr things here too at the Hotel Thompson! Snorts.
Anyone want to play? I call blue side!
Piglove 