Grocery Shopping

I am still hanging out in Houston.  BOL!

Mom loves grocery shopping now that she has a car.  She goes through the ads on Tuesdays and plans her route.  She loves Randalls which is a grocery store here.  They always have something good to get you in the door like eggs for $.29 or chicken breasts for $.99 a pound.  She buys what is on sale and then she moves on.  We also have Kroger and H-E-B.  Kroger is good, but she prefers Randalls.  She has turned into an Aldi's nut.  She likes their produce but also buys canned goods and other items there.  She doesn't like their cheese and has found that meat is usually better priced elsewhere.  Aldi's has turned into quite a popular place to shop these days because they have organic items and also they carry low-calorie items.  There are tons of YouTube videos of people showing what they have bought.  BOL! The folks discovered Sprouts about a month ago.  Sprouts is kind of like a farmers market, but they also sell frozen items as well as meat.  Mom thought it would be high priced, but they have good sales.  Today, she bought fresh pork chops and chicken breasts at $1.99 a pound.  Finally, she goes to Wal-mart to finish off her shopping.  

Aldi and Sprouts are pretty opposite in looks.  Our Aldi's is being remodeled and expanded!  They will be closed for a month to complete the remodel.  Thank goodness we will be gone for two weeks of that time.  BOL! 

Last night, we had a really pretty rainbow here.

Mom gave her potted flowers to a neighbor today.  Mom had planned on taking them with us but then decided that would be a real pain.  Basically, she figured that if the flowers had bugs on them, we would have bugs in the RV. She didn't want to toss them in the trash or ask anyone to take care of them, so she offered them to a neighbor. The neighbor offered to take care of them, but Mom told her if we move to a condo, we can't have them.  The condo doesn't allow plants on the balcony because they could blow off. The lady was happy to take them. She said she has been thinking of getting a plant.  Her husband is here for chemotherapy.  We think they brightened up their place.  

They have been full-timing in this little Airstream for a few months now.

Mom heard back from the condo in Galveston yesterday.  They do allow big dogs after all.  We still haven't booked a place to rent though.  We are seeing if the place that is for sale will allow us to rent it before buying. They are currently renting it to someone else.  If that doesn't work out, we have a few more options.

If you are wondering, Mom still loves her Instant Pot.  She uses it several times a week.  She is planning on making lasagna rolls tomorrow and reheating them on our first night of travel. She hasn't tried reheating food in it yet, but she has been told that it does a great job.  

Tomorrow is the last day for the Dog Days of Summer auction.  Dog Days of Summer Auction

I will be posting from the road.  WooHoo!

Joey,

The Greyhound Who Hopes The Weather Is Cooler On The Road

It is Almost Vacation Time!

It is almost time to hit the road again.  We will be gone for two weeks.  This vacation is a little sad though.  It is our last vacation in our motor home.  Yes, you read that correctly.  After we return from our vacation, we are going to sell our motor home.  Why?  Well, it is just too expensive to let sit.  We could justify the expense when we were still traveling, but now that we are parked, it is a big waste of money.

Where will we live?  We don't know.  BOL!  At first, we were just going to buy a cheap, used fifth wheel and park it here.  The problem with that is that we don't have a truck to move it so we would have to hire a driver every time we want to move.  We would most likely just stay here for the next five years.  The other problem is that Mom doesn't think I can do the steps to get into it.  She would like Dad to build a small porch and maybe a ramp for me.  There are rules here about that sort of thing though, so that would be an issue.  I think the folks decided to throw that plan out the window.

Another option is buying a condo in Galveston.  Dad really likes that idea because he would like to rent it out after he retires.  His plan after retirement is to buy a small motor home and he and Mom will travel the country in the summer and live in the condo in the winter.  Tourist season in Galveston is during the summer. The plan was for us to rent a condo this winter to see if we even liked living there.  We have hit a major snag in that though.  Most of the condos do not allow large dogs.  The folks looked at one and Mom wasn't thrilled with it.  We then learned that a new ruling said no large dogs in that building, but now we heard they may allow older large dogs after all. They voted on it last weekend, but we haven't heard the results.  It has been a roller coaster ride for sure.  We had a place that we might be able to lease with an option to buy, but that is the place that had the change about big dogs.   That is also the building that Mom isn't thrilled about.  We would be living on the eighth floor and if the elevator went out, guess who would be going up and down eight flights of steps?  Mom also said she doesn't know if she would feel safe at night if nature called me outside.  She would also no longer have her own washer and dryer.  The best thing about the place is the view.  I guess we will have to see what comes of all of this.

This could be my view soon.

Possible new home. Everyone has a view of the beach.

The third option is renting an apartment near here.  The folks looked at one this past weekend.  Mom loved it.  We would be on the ground level, so no steps.  It is a gated community.  They are very pet-friendly and have a fenced dog park. They allow dogs inside all the buildings.  They even have a dog spa.  I am not sure what that is, but Dad said I wouldn't like it.  Mom said I would be allowed to walk the entire property. Nothing is off limits to me.  It sounds pretty cool to me.  Mom said we would be much safer there during storms and we could probably even stay during hurricanes.

Dad was totally against the apartment at first but financially it makes more sense than the fifth wheel.  He is still really hoping that Galveston works out.  It would be fun to live there.  The beaches are all dog-friendly.  There is a lot more to do there than here.  It would be fun to watch people from my balcony.  We will just have to wait and see what happens when we get back from our vacation. Mom had hoped to have something lined up before we left, but people in Galveston take "island time" very seriously and getting answers is slow going. Mom heard back from a rental agent today that she contacted last Friday. Yep, island time moves at a much slower pace.

Don't forget to check out this auction: Dogs Days of Summer   This is the group that Jack, Scout and I came from and that helped me so much with my leg.  The track in Mobile, AL is closing and they are hoping to bring in some of those dogs.  They really need money in order to do that. There are several items that still don't have bids yet.

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Might Become A Beach Hound

Do You Like Greyhound Items? Check Out This Auction!

The greyhound group that my folks adopted me, Jack and Scout from is currently holding an online auction.  They are a small group with HUGE hearts. I am forever grateful for the help that they gave me when I needed my leg repaired soon after I was adopted.  The auction raises money so that they can help other greyhounds find their forever homes.

This is me the day I came home from the hospital.  Look how young I look!

Here I am at the greyhound reunion showing off my cast.  Several people signed it.

Mom is really excited about this auction.  She has already placed her bid on several items.  I know that there are a few that she really hopes that she wins.

Here is the link: Greyhound Companions Of Missouri Auction

Good luck!

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Hopes Every Greyhound Finds Their Forever Home

The Vet Made My Eyes Get Big!

Two weeks ago, I had to go to the vet.  I couldn't believe what she did to me.  I would like to get graphic, but Mom doesn't want us to get kicked off of Blogger.  Let's just say that just stuck her fingers where I didn't think they should go.  It turned out that I had Anal Sac Disease.  Yep, that is the official name of it.  I guess you can figure out from that where she put her fingers.  The doctor put me on antibiotics for two weeks.

Here I am asking Mom why she took me to that doctor.

Waiting to tell Dad what the vet did to me.  Guys need to stick together, right?

The best thing that came from the vet visit was that the vet said that it was okay for me to chew on bully sticks and other chews.  Mom wouldn't let me have them after I cut my tongue two years ago.

I am a happy boy!

This morning, Mom said that I had to go back for a re-check.

Mom decided to brush me.

I lost a lot of hair.  I used to not shed a lot, but we think it is because it is so hot here.  We hope that is the cause.

Mom and I visited the vet and Ms. Vet stuck her fingers where they don't belong again.  I was a good boy though and didn't say a word. Ms. Vet said that some greyhounds scream when touched, but not me.  My eyes just get big.  I am all better.  No more medicine.  I will miss the medicine.  Mom puts it in peanut butter.

I have to go back at the end of next month for a blood test because I have to have a dental.  Mom is really dreading it.  I am not looking forward to it either, but I keep telling her it will be fine.  This vet really knows greyhounds and they are giving me the best vet they have for dentals.  It will take about two hours because I have some bad teeth.

We are going on vacation in a few weeks, so I will actually have something to blog about.

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Is Resting After A Busy Morning

Rainy Days

We had a very rainy week.  It rained every day except for yesterday.  Rainy days mean we can keep our shades open, which is nice.

The dark clouds are in Houston.  The rain went around us.

Just another windy day here.

Mom fixed the Campbell's Marsala Chicken.  It was okay, but she will not buy it again.

It really didn't taste like Chicken Marsala to us.

She tried the Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and it was a hit!  You add frozen broccoli to it and bake it.  The folks both really liked it.

We loved this one!

Yesterday was quite the adventure with the Instant Pot. Mom had a 6.6 pound pork butt roast to cook.  She had it in the refrigerator for two days and it still wasn't completely thawed.  She decided to put in the Instant Pot with 2 cups of chicken broth for 50 minutes. She then let it sit for another 40 minutes because she forgot about it.  She tried to get it out of the Instant Pot to cut it up and that was an issue.  It was hot and heavy.  She had it almost out and it fell back in.  Grease went all over the counter, the cabinets, the freshly mopped floor and Mom.  It was a mess.  She finally got it out and she cut it up.  It wasn't completely cooked which didn't surprised her.  She planned on using the slow cooker to finish it. She added Campbell's Southern BBQ to the Instant Pot.  The slow cooker function on our Instant Pot just doesn't work right.  After five hours, she decided to use the pressure cooker again.  I think she set it for 20 or 30 minutes.  She did a natural release which means she let the pressure come down on its' own.  She took it out and shredded it.  She then took out the sauce and put it in her fat separator.  She was happy she finally bought one because it made that process so much easier.  She then put the pork and the sauce back in the Instant Pot and set it on warm until dinner time.  It turned out great!!!

Love it!

We sure do talk about food a lot.  BOL!

Mom and I talking about how many calories are in food.

 It is another hot and humid day here.  They said there is an African dust cloud that will affect our breathing and allergies today. Where the heck are we that an African dust cloud reaches us?  Mom has had a heck of a time with her allergies here.

It is a bad hair day here.  You have been warned.  BOL!

Have a nice weekend!!!

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Is Holding Down The Couch Today