I hope this day is as wonderful as you are!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
Nothing To Do
Well Summer is officially over. I am very glad that the Labor Day Weekend is here. This has been a really rough week and I may just sleep until Tuesday.
I have really not done anything at all this summer, and nothing water related. No pool parties, no weekends on the lake, no trips to the beach. I have had a few friends invite me to their pools, but something always came up at the last minute. I have a brand new bikini (that I can finally fit into and look decent in) that still has the tags on it.
W has been working on all his "free" weekends. We have settled into a really great friendship. We can talk about anything and I appreciate the opportunity to bounce things off of him and get his unabashed, honest opinon. He told me not too long ago that he could tell me anything and he didn't mind being brutally honest with me, something he could not do with other women. We both have some "issues" between us (having been cheated on by the one person that we swore our eternal devotion to, being the first and most prevelent) that make having any other sort of relationship nearly impossible.
LG is still on the school project, though he did offer to come pick me up and take me along for a seminar he was attending in Atlanta. But he was coming through on a Thursday and because of our staffing situation, I really couldn't take off. LG would be the perfect match, but there is that whole living 4 hours away thing that makes dating really difficult.
After the disasterous date with The Tech Guy, I am really kinda glad I am not seeing anyone more than I do. So exhausting.
Now for the main male in my life: Zipper. After a week of wheezing and lethargy, an expensive x-ray or two has determined that he has COPD. Just like my dad. He was also severely dehydrated. They put in an i.v. and set him up in an oxygen cage. At last report, he was doing much better and was starting to perk up. So after an expensive few days at the vet, I will bring him home this evening. COPD is very common in elderly cats. The doc said that his airway is very scarred, so he has had it for some time. He also said that cats tend to "fake it" very well, until they can't fake it any more. That is most likely how he was so suddenly and dramatically symptomatic. He said that if we can get him over this hump, that he could live just a few more months or very well could live a few more years. He told me that his is still very much a viable animal, and that he would not let me go beyond what is best for Zipper. Thank goodness! After all I have been through this year, I don't think I could stand losing Zipper too.
Yesterday was Scooter's birthday. It is hard to believe that he is 12. He is such a little comedian and I love how his mind works. Mother is always sharing something funny that he has said.
Speaking of Mother, her birthday is this weekend. The Chief swept her off to some secret surprise trip along the Gulf Coast this week. They had a great time.
Apparently I was not invited to the Jolie/Pitt nuptuals this past weekend, but I understand that neither was her father. I am a little sad that Brad is now off the market. Isn't that always the way? Once you become single, all the interesting, good looking guys get married.
Well, anyway I look forward to a long, quiet, weekend, but I am NOT going to turn down an invite to someone's pool....hint, hint.
I have really not done anything at all this summer, and nothing water related. No pool parties, no weekends on the lake, no trips to the beach. I have had a few friends invite me to their pools, but something always came up at the last minute. I have a brand new bikini (that I can finally fit into and look decent in) that still has the tags on it.
W has been working on all his "free" weekends. We have settled into a really great friendship. We can talk about anything and I appreciate the opportunity to bounce things off of him and get his unabashed, honest opinon. He told me not too long ago that he could tell me anything and he didn't mind being brutally honest with me, something he could not do with other women. We both have some "issues" between us (having been cheated on by the one person that we swore our eternal devotion to, being the first and most prevelent) that make having any other sort of relationship nearly impossible.
LG is still on the school project, though he did offer to come pick me up and take me along for a seminar he was attending in Atlanta. But he was coming through on a Thursday and because of our staffing situation, I really couldn't take off. LG would be the perfect match, but there is that whole living 4 hours away thing that makes dating really difficult.
After the disasterous date with The Tech Guy, I am really kinda glad I am not seeing anyone more than I do. So exhausting.
Now for the main male in my life: Zipper. After a week of wheezing and lethargy, an expensive x-ray or two has determined that he has COPD. Just like my dad. He was also severely dehydrated. They put in an i.v. and set him up in an oxygen cage. At last report, he was doing much better and was starting to perk up. So after an expensive few days at the vet, I will bring him home this evening. COPD is very common in elderly cats. The doc said that his airway is very scarred, so he has had it for some time. He also said that cats tend to "fake it" very well, until they can't fake it any more. That is most likely how he was so suddenly and dramatically symptomatic. He said that if we can get him over this hump, that he could live just a few more months or very well could live a few more years. He told me that his is still very much a viable animal, and that he would not let me go beyond what is best for Zipper. Thank goodness! After all I have been through this year, I don't think I could stand losing Zipper too.
Yesterday was Scooter's birthday. It is hard to believe that he is 12. He is such a little comedian and I love how his mind works. Mother is always sharing something funny that he has said.
Speaking of Mother, her birthday is this weekend. The Chief swept her off to some secret surprise trip along the Gulf Coast this week. They had a great time.
Apparently I was not invited to the Jolie/Pitt nuptuals this past weekend, but I understand that neither was her father. I am a little sad that Brad is now off the market. Isn't that always the way? Once you become single, all the interesting, good looking guys get married.
Well, anyway I look forward to a long, quiet, weekend, but I am NOT going to turn down an invite to someone's pool....hint, hint.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Happy 50th Birthday Boss!
Today is my boss's 50th birthday. This will be my third milestone birthday with her.
We decorated her desk and all dressed in black in her honor.
Happy Birthday Boss!
Friday, August 22, 2014
Like Herding Cats...
When his little wheeze recently turned into something more serious, I had to wrestle him into the cat carrier and haul him off to the vet. Despite all best efforts, it is quite difficult to put ones hands on him. I realize that he is 17, but he has been in pretty good health and is stronger than an ox. It took two vet tech's and a laundry basket full of towels to hold him down. The vet says that his best guess is a respiratory infection.
We are treating it as such and I was sent home with antibotic drops and kitty prednisone to give him. I have been reminded on a daily basis why I named him "zipper." The marks on my arms look like a Union 76 road map of the US.
Anyone who has ever owned cats know that there are only two things that cat owners dread: bathing a cat and giving him meds. I have done both this week.
Depsite only being up the road a few miles, Zipper always craps in the carrier. Nervous response I guess. He was covered in crap when we got home. I had no choice. I couldn't have "shitty kitty" running around my house! The yowling alone sent JB, my tuxedo, (above right) diving for the safety of the cluttered garage.
Giving him his meds involves catching him in a large towel, insuring that all appendages are contained within, all with one hand, while trying to pry his mouth open and squirt the meds in with the other. Zipper is surprisingly strong in his advanced age. I have taken to employing a method my grandmother used with her little dog Toy...smearing it on his lips for him to lick off.
W says he is amazed by my tenacity. amused by the display, but unwilling to help me. "It's a cat" he keeps saying, "just a cat. Why can't you let nature take it's course?" W is obviously a dog person. Zipper always climbs up in his lap when he is at the house and lets him scratch his head. Even the first time W came to the house, which is neaerly unheard of, he hopped right up on the couch between us. Zipper Approved.
I am dreading the day that I come in to discover him gone on to The Great Catbox in The Sky. He is a totally indoor cat, which extends their life considerably. I am hopeful that he will be with me many more years, as my neighbor's cat growing up, a toothless calico named Mimzy, lived to be 24.
I am told that cats do not go to Heaven bececause they have no souls, but I hope that the Lord allows them just because we do.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Shake It Off
Okay, I am not a Taylor Swift fan. Not even back when Kit-Kat was little and obsessed with all things Taylor Swift. This is a little too bubble-gum pop for me.
But I like this song, and the message it conveys. Shake It Off. I could have used this six months ago.
Maybe someone can use it today.
But I like this song, and the message it conveys. Shake It Off. I could have used this six months ago.
Maybe someone can use it today.
"Shake It Off" ~Taylor Swift
To be released on upcoming album, 1989 = Big Machine Records 2014
Monday, August 18, 2014
No Good Deed....
The old saying goes "no good deed goes unpunished" and this week I guess that applies to my dad.
My dad has done a lot for me over the past few months, as has all of my family, and I am very grateful, He has been very generous.
I guess that has gotten ol' Forked Foot (aka....the devil)'s attention, and he is now doing his best to discourage my dad's generosity.
Saturday he got the call that his four wheeler was stolen from the local Big Name four wheeler repair shop. for some reason, it was stored outside with many others, all linked together on a cable, bolted to the ground. Thankfully, they are well insured and that situation will be recified quickly, but I bet Big Name's night watchman is out of a job today.
Saturdary evening, while watching one of a slew of newly aquired movies (that $5 movie bin at Wallyworld, gets me every time) I had a hankering for some microwaved popcorn. I put the bag in the microwave, hit the 2 minute button and ZAP!! the lights went out. I went out to the garage, climbed over the assorted junk to the breaker box.
After many failed attempts to reset the breaker, I finally gave up and posted my frustration on FB.
There was lots of advice from friends as to what to check and what to do, when I got the message from Daddy that he would come see what the problem was.
It was 10pm. After removing all the plugs, switches and the flourescent light over my sink, and checking all the connections, the switch would still not reset. It was nearly midnite when we decided that maybe we should look for other solutions on Sunday, when the local big box hardware store was open.
When Daddy came back the next day, I was deep in my Sunday project.
Our next course of investigation was the breaker switch itself. I had lived in that house 13 years and we had never had to change out a breaker switch so Daddy felt that might be the problem. A bad switch. He unwired the suspected switch and sent me off to the big box hardware store. He looks down at my project, and says to me "Do you want me to finish that while you are gone, or do you want me to cut your grass?"
I kinda hate cutting the grass, so that was the option that I chose.
I set off for the store and Daddy went around the back to get the lawnmower.
I was amazed when I returned, a mere twenty minutes later to find both the front and back yard completely mowed. Daddy was obviously bookin' it! He was putting up the mower when I pulled in.
He took my new breaker switches (which I could have found all on my own had they been marked the same way...add to list "shop for electrical components with only minor help of a man") and swapped the bad one out. Plugging a lamp into the outlet confirmed we had repaired the problem.
As Daddy was putting the outlets back in the wall, he called back to me. "I can't find my phone"
"Do you want me to call it?" I replied, dialing the number. It rang three times and went to voice mail.
"Maybe it's in my chair, back at the house" he said, tightening wire nuts before pushing the outlet back in the wall. I call my stepmother. She answered and I asked her if Daddy's phone was in his chair. No, was the reply. I walked outside why explaining my odd request.
And there, sitting under the bushes by the fence, I saw what looked like his leather phone case.
"Oh..." I said with a gasp, " I think I found it" and trotted across the yard.
Yes, I found the case, and the remains to the phone, obviously a victim of the lawn mower, strewn all about. "Oh shit" I said, my stepmother still on the other end of the phone, "the lawn mower got it"
"Well, I take it that you found it" she chuckled, "Yes ma'am I did" I replied. We bid each other farewell and I gingerly carried what I could find of it back into the house. I deposited it on the counter next to Daddy.
"Oh no!" exclaimed. "I think the lawn mower got it" I said, frowning. "Yeah, I think you are right. Oh well, I have an old flip phone I can use til I can go phone shopping" I felt really bad. Daddy was just trying to help me out and for that, he wound up loosing his phone.
No good deed...
My dad has done a lot for me over the past few months, as has all of my family, and I am very grateful, He has been very generous.
I guess that has gotten ol' Forked Foot (aka....the devil)'s attention, and he is now doing his best to discourage my dad's generosity.
Saturday he got the call that his four wheeler was stolen from the local Big Name four wheeler repair shop. for some reason, it was stored outside with many others, all linked together on a cable, bolted to the ground. Thankfully, they are well insured and that situation will be recified quickly, but I bet Big Name's night watchman is out of a job today.
Saturdary evening, while watching one of a slew of newly aquired movies (that $5 movie bin at Wallyworld, gets me every time) I had a hankering for some microwaved popcorn. I put the bag in the microwave, hit the 2 minute button and ZAP!! the lights went out. I went out to the garage, climbed over the assorted junk to the breaker box.
After many failed attempts to reset the breaker, I finally gave up and posted my frustration on FB.
There was lots of advice from friends as to what to check and what to do, when I got the message from Daddy that he would come see what the problem was.
It was 10pm. After removing all the plugs, switches and the flourescent light over my sink, and checking all the connections, the switch would still not reset. It was nearly midnite when we decided that maybe we should look for other solutions on Sunday, when the local big box hardware store was open.
When Daddy came back the next day, I was deep in my Sunday project.
I had been needing some shoe racks to store my mountain of shoes, that are currently in several totes in my closet room. Just someting to get them out of the floor. and arranged nicely so that I can see them and not have to spend my mornings digging through the assortment of totes.
I was at this point, when he arrived. Let me just say, there is a tiny, frustrating screw that matches each one of these pegs. Well, actually, there are two.
In my zeal, I had already ignored the directions, so I was dealing with this project at it's full 5 feet, rather than dealing with two more managable 2.5 foot secections. I am not one for really following directions, and sometimes that is my downfall. But I digress.
Our next course of investigation was the breaker switch itself. I had lived in that house 13 years and we had never had to change out a breaker switch so Daddy felt that might be the problem. A bad switch. He unwired the suspected switch and sent me off to the big box hardware store. He looks down at my project, and says to me "Do you want me to finish that while you are gone, or do you want me to cut your grass?"
I kinda hate cutting the grass, so that was the option that I chose.
I set off for the store and Daddy went around the back to get the lawnmower.
I was amazed when I returned, a mere twenty minutes later to find both the front and back yard completely mowed. Daddy was obviously bookin' it! He was putting up the mower when I pulled in.
He took my new breaker switches (which I could have found all on my own had they been marked the same way...add to list "shop for electrical components with only minor help of a man") and swapped the bad one out. Plugging a lamp into the outlet confirmed we had repaired the problem.
As Daddy was putting the outlets back in the wall, he called back to me. "I can't find my phone"
"Do you want me to call it?" I replied, dialing the number. It rang three times and went to voice mail.
"Maybe it's in my chair, back at the house" he said, tightening wire nuts before pushing the outlet back in the wall. I call my stepmother. She answered and I asked her if Daddy's phone was in his chair. No, was the reply. I walked outside why explaining my odd request.
And there, sitting under the bushes by the fence, I saw what looked like his leather phone case.
"Oh..." I said with a gasp, " I think I found it" and trotted across the yard.
Yes, I found the case, and the remains to the phone, obviously a victim of the lawn mower, strewn all about. "Oh shit" I said, my stepmother still on the other end of the phone, "the lawn mower got it"
"Well, I take it that you found it" she chuckled, "Yes ma'am I did" I replied. We bid each other farewell and I gingerly carried what I could find of it back into the house. I deposited it on the counter next to Daddy.
"Oh no!" exclaimed. "I think the lawn mower got it" I said, frowning. "Yeah, I think you are right. Oh well, I have an old flip phone I can use til I can go phone shopping" I felt really bad. Daddy was just trying to help me out and for that, he wound up loosing his phone.
No good deed...
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Last Great Hollywood Starlett
I would be remiss if I did not mention the recent death of actress Lauren Bacall yesterday at 89.
Ms. Bacall was among the last starlets from the Golden Age of Hollywood. A true icon in every sense of the word.
Most of all, she was a lady, and a lady always nows when to leave the room.
Ms. Bacall was among the last starlets from the Golden Age of Hollywood. A true icon in every sense of the word.
Most of all, she was a lady, and a lady always nows when to leave the room.
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