THIS IS MY BLOG! It will contain whatever *I* want to say. Remember, you are a GUEST. If you have some mental problem with my topics, words or personality, I suggest you click off my site and find something better to do on the Web.
Play nicely, or I will advertise your logged IP here for spammers to catch, along with banning it.
Gimmicks
Friday, January 30, 2004
Yesterday was an incredibly STRANGE day.
1. I worked with Gusto, since I had traded Wed. for Thurs. No biggie.
2. As I was heading for home, my Jeep's radiator went blah. Nextel'd my husband and he drove her home, while I followed in the truck. Everything is fine, the radiator will be replaced by my husband tomorrow. Luckily, I am pretty smart and didn't drive her into ruining the engine, etc.
3. That whole incident, coupled with serious bout of PMS, sent me into a MAJOR crying spell. Sobbing on my bed. Mostly over the knowledge that my girl is getting old. I don't WANT a new vehicle. I WANT MY JEEP!
4. Shortly after 8 p.m., the phone rang. My husband picked it up and handed it to me. I thought it must have been Gusto-related, but he seemed a bit confused and when he said who it was, I was like, "Huh?" I heard what he said, but it didn't make sense.
The old man next door, who owns a tractor biz, flat-out hired me. He needs someone who is computer-knowledgable and wants to work parttime.
I know him only because I have gone to council meetings. He always seemed grumpy...not mean, just not pleasant. He IS a good neighbor, there haven't been any problems. Hey, our road is even named after him!
It was those dealings with the town that brought my computer and people skills to his attention. So, he phoned me. I explained that I already work parttime, but I could fit him in on my days off. Maybe even a few evenings.
I went over today after Gusto's and helped figure out the damage done by his former office gal. She just left one day...nothing was written down, computers were password-protected. In less than 15 minutes, I completed more than he had done in 8 hours.
We chatted a bit and I realized that he is a lonely old guy. No kids of his own, but he dotes on his two stepgrandsons...but they moved away and he doesn't see them often. I understand him more now.
The whole thing is bizarre. I wasn't looking for a job...heck, I didn't even apply! But who could pass up something literally NEXT DOOR?
It's worth a try. He knows that my first loyalty is to Gusto. There is no question. He came to me and I told him the truth. Whether or not he can respect it will be the biggest factor. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/30/2004 09:11:00 PM
Friday Five-You have just won one million dollars: 1. Who do you call first? A divorce lawyer. My husband and I have already agreed to divorce each other before I collect on a lottery. Otherwise, his Xwife will sue him for their teenaged son's "share." We divorce quickly, I quietly collect the money and we "reconcile" on our dream vacation.
2. What is the first thing you buy for yourself? SANITY! After collecting the money, we'd pay off our debts: house, truck, pole barn and camper.
3. What is the first thing you buy for someone else? Maybe pay off some debt for our parents.
4. Do you give any away? If yes, to whom? Yep, Lulu. I'd sneak in A LOT of play time with Gusto, too!
5. Do you invest any? If so, how? Absolutely! I am sure Gusto and family will wisely assist us with that area. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/30/2004 06:08:00 AM
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
This morning, I went out to shovel our drive (section-break-section-break-etc., I'm not dumb.) It's about 125 feet long from the garage door to the road.
Not even 5 minutes later, I heard a vehicle stop on our quiet road and looked up.
It was a guy in a plow pickup. I waved him along, but he rolled down his window and hollered, "That's a lot of snow to do with a shovel and by yourself!"
"I'm fine, thanks!" Actually, my thoughts were, 'Either I shovel outside or stay inside and eat the rest of those chocolate-covered cherries.' Major PMS, of course.
"I could have this done in just a few minutes and I'm not expensive," he tempted.
HA! And have to give my CHOCOLATE-buying funds to him? No way, Jose!
"Thanks, but I need the exercise!"
"That's a lot of exercise!" He knew he was losing.
"Yeah, I know. I'm hoping about 10 lbs worth!" Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/28/2004 02:13:00 PM
Today is a Snow Day! Our school district, ONE OF THE LAST, was finally added to the LONG list last night at 10:27. Most had closed early yesterday and called off long before 8:30 p.m. We got about 6 inches of snow yesterday, but it started blowing last night and drifts over the roads are several feet deep now.
The Snow Day would be exciting, but Munchkin stayed home yesterday with a nasty cold: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, etc. Poor baby! I made cookies and she wasn't even inspired to taste one. She slept most of the day on the couch.
Needless to say, Gusto received a call from me last night about 6:30 and we rescheduled for Thursday. THANK GOODNESS! I knew she couldn't make it through today there! Gusto and co. understand, so I am VERY lucky. I wasn't even willing to wait for the Snow Day declaration.
Still, Munchkin was relieved that she isn't missing another day of the MEAP test. And, she is glad her friends get an unexpected day off, too. YIPPEE!
I am just grateful that we have another day for her to rest and concentrate on feeling better! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/28/2004 05:14:00 AM
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Yesterday morning, all was going so well. We got up at 4:30. Monday morning.
Wanted to jump in the shower, so I turned on the water, then decided to brush my teeth.
The gushing shower water suddenly slowed to a trickle. Then NOTHING.
FROZEN PIPES! UGH!!!
No biggie, really. We keep extra water supplies. Kitty dishes were well-filled. The shower wasn't a necessity (back me up on this one, Gusto!) Plus, Munchkin had school and I headed to Gusto's for the day.
Honestly, when I Nextel'd my husband with the news, he griped longer than it took for him to fix it when he came home! He is SUCH a handyman! In fact, he even knew what the problem was (open vents) before he saw it. (We had discussed it last year, and he meant to do it, but never did. OOPS!)
He didn't mind the job, what he especially hates is that our crawl opening is at one end of the house and the well pipes are at the other. It's a LONG crawl/waddle in the cold for such a big guy!
Don't worry, he was rewarded nicely with a HUGE pot of Dinty Moore stew and some grilled ham-n-cheese sandwiches for dinner.
And "CLOSE THE VENTS" is now duly scheduled on our calendar for Sept 1. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/27/2004 11:14:00 AM
Monday, January 26, 2004
Shamelessly lifted from GustoGal's blog. "This was a fun true-or-false blogging prompt posted on Monday Madness last week. I did not catch it then, but it still works for today."
1. I often wake up before my alarm clock goes off. True, except it's not MY alarm clock. My husband is a bear to get up and can sleep thru the annoying buzzing!
2. I love to drive/ride; in any kind of weather! False. TORNADO. BTDT, it ain't fun. Neither is trying to get through the aftermath of a twister. Actually, I don't mind driving in snowstorms, but I do mind the IDIOTS who are out there with me, driving like it's a dry July day.
3. I'd rather have to worry about staying warm than staying cool. False. Consumer's Energy natural gas price increases make me long for warmer weather, lighter clothes and longer days.
4. I wish I lived in another state. False. I love Michigan and the seasons.
5. Multitasking is what I do best! True. My entire life is multitasking...
6. Flying is the only way to go! False, I much prefer driving.
7. Budgeting my money is one of my downfalls. False. Budgeting isn't the problem...it's MY HUSBAND who is greedy for everything NOW.
8. I wish there was eight days in the week! True, but only if I get to spend it with Gusto. I don't need ANOTHER day of housework!
9. I get at least seven hours of sleep a night. False. I'm lucky to have 6 hours btwn the time I get into bed and the time I get out.
10. I'm a night owl. True. I am a night owl AND an early bird. Bedtime is usually about 11 p.m. and my husband's alarm starts going off at 4:15 a.m., but I can't get back to sleep if I wake up with less than an hour til the ding-a-ling.
Friday Five: At this moment, what is your favorite... 1. ...magazine? [This Friday Five question was originally about music, but since I stole this from Gusto, I will honor her tweak.] Newsweek.
2. ...food? Salsa rice with shredded cheese
3. ...TV show? News
4. ...scent? Fresh-baked cinnamon rolls.
5. ...quote? "Life is like a box of chocolates..." Can you tell I'm PMSing?!!? Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/26/2004 09:59:00 PM
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Sometimes it is incredibly hard to LIKE, let alone LOVE, my stepson.
He is constantly lying. Even worse, he often convinces himself of his lies. Forget the fact that multiple people can dispel his statements, that won't work on him! In fact, that makes him believe everyone is ganging up on him.
At the age of 13, he is a "star athlete." Last spring, he whined when I made him walk to the little store 3 blocks away and it made his "feet hurt." His mother took him to a "sports medicine" chiropractor and a podiatrist. It was a major thing for a week, when the results came back and NOTHING was wrong, except he needed to wear "special" shoe inserts, which the podiatrist tried to sell for several hundred dollars. They were nixed. The next week, he was FINE and wanting to join track! He dropped out of football after just 3 weeks because his "knee hurt" during practice. Mind you, he was FINE when he played in a game, but he wanted to skip practices. That led to another round of specialists and out-of-the-air diagnoses by his mother and chiropractor friends, until a REAL sports medicine doctor said, "Nothing wrong. He to needs exercise!"
At the age of 13, he is a "master electrician." This kid claims he has wired hospitals, govt. buildings, banks and grocery stores, while his stepdad watched. Not only would this be dangerous, but it is HIGHLY illegal in our state and I hate hearing this kind of talk while walking through WalMart. Somebody could actually BELIEVE him in those few minutes and cause a load of grief for his stepdad, when, at the most, my stepson merely rode along while his stepdad did a few minor job-related tasks. The lies could cost his stepdad his electrician's license!
It is scary!
The "voices in his head" are pretty much freaking me out today! My husband talked with him last night and once again, I am the ogre.
How dare I expect him to help with clearing the table and putting away the dishes...he does that at his mother's every night!
He is mad at me because he KNOWS (but nobody told him) I am responsible for him not spending the night at his girlfriend's house this weekend. Oh, she is his FRIEND! And he is "a friend of her younger brother!" Munchkin filled me in on a few details, THANK GOD! When I told my husband, it got really ugly. He was in denial about being 13 and his son's hormones, until he chatted with a few younger coworkers. Then, he called his clueless Xwife and spoke with her. He swears NOTHING was mentioned about the info I gave him (like the makeout sessions at her house and copping a feel under the girl's shirt!)
Supposedly, I have been speaking with his teachers. I haven't. Who told him this? NOBODY, he just KNOWS! (Unbeknownst to him, two nights ago, I did call his school's automated homework hotline, which is listed on their Web site and found out that he lied about a huge project due. It was a recording, not a live voice.)
What my husband was able to gleen last night is he doesn't want to come down here because of what he has been saying about me to his teachers. I am sure they think I am an ogre, since he admitted to making up stories about me to them. This is news to me!
OF COURSE, he didn't "lie," he just doesn't tell the truth, like if he doesn't get an assignment done, I supposedly wouldn't let him work on it. HUH? We see him every other weekend, NOT school nights, so how could I have a say on him not doing Tuesday night's math sheet?
OF COURSE, my stepson will never say, "I was wrong." NEVER!!! Instead, he uses, "Well, I thought..." because DUH...he knows it all! Likewise, a simple apology comes every blue moon. These are common traits of his mother AND father. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/24/2004 10:50:00 AM
Friday, January 23, 2004
David and Goliath. My husband's Excursion is a diesel. The temps here have been bitterly cold. Last night, the wind chill put us at -15.
We have a new pole barn that can easily fit 4 vehicles. I am not big on parking in it, so he parked our conversion van in front of one door. Every night, I nag him about plugging in his truck and/or putting it in the huge garage. Sometimes, he does.
Most mornings, I am nice and go out to start the Excursion by 5 a.m., so it can be toasty warm when he sits down...seat warmers, dual climate control, you know.
This morning, I let him do it. It was Friday, one day a week won't kill him!
His truck was DEAD. Frozen Goliath. He had been too lazy to open the garage door and park in there, then he never plugged it into the outlet! For some reason, he was FURIOUS with the gas station, Weather.com, etc.!
I went out and turned the key on my 8-year-old Jeep. VROOM! YAY! My girl never seizes to amaze me.
Goliath needed to be thawed, so at 6:15 a.m., I was out warming up my girl, "David."
Fifteen minutes later, "David" was slowly pushing Goliath into the pole barn. The effort was a bit tedious because of the winches on the front of the truck, which could have destroyed my bumper. With maneuvering the tight fit through the garage door and keeping the large piece of cardboard btwn the bumpers, "slow" was the key element. I was behind the wheel, so patience was not lost.
Then, it was off to work I go, while my husband had some running to do to make sure Goliath thawed properly. Thankfully, I keep insurance coverage on the conversion van, so he had a nice vehicle for his errands.
David and Goliath 2004 version. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/23/2004 10:55:00 PM
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
This...ER...That: Today needs a bit of excitement! WHICH IS WORSE? 1. Hospital food or airplane food? Airplane food. I'm not big on a tiny bag of nuts and a Dixie cup of soda. Most hospitals I have visited have pretty good food!
2. Liver or sardines? Sardines are NASTY, liver is yummy!
3. "Joe Millionaire" or "Fear Factor"? Joe Millionaire found the bitchiest and ickiest of women.
4. Guinea pigs or eels? Guinea pigs. I hate seeing big rats in pet stores.
5. Maury Povich or Montel Williams? Montel Williams. At least, IMHO, Maury Povich retains a bit of credibility being married to Connie Chung and being a doting daddy. But if both got booted from TV, I wouldn't mind.
WHICH IS BEST?
6. Fruit pie or cream pie? Gimme the fruit! Bakers Square makes so many of my favorites like strawberry rhubarb, triple berry and strawberry! OOPS! Can't forget the French apple! See what I mean? 7. Butterflies or ladybugs? Ladybugs are better. Butterflies come from caterpillars. EEK!
8. Renee Zellweger or Nicole Kidman? Nicole is classy in many ways, and has way more to deal with than Renee. Renee comes very close, tho.
9. Hot chocolate or cappuccino? French vanilla cappucino is a fave treat from the local Speedway. Munchkin and I almost always indulge when we go to my mother's. Then, on our way back, we stop at Tim Horton's and get an iced cap.
10. Flannel PJs or silk PJs? I prefer silk with a fleece robe. Very cozy! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/20/2004 07:42:00 PM
Even more disgusting is the prime suspect may be HIS WIFE!
It is so sad that Mr. Hawking seems to be protecting the person responsible, but it isn't surprising, either. I sincerely hope his children are able to help him get out of the abusive situation.
My heart goes out to him and his kids and his exwife. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/19/2004 08:25:00 PM
Sunday, January 18, 2004
So far this year, I have read 2 books in a series of 4 by Anne Rice: "The Mayfair Witches" (965 pages) and "Lasher" (577 pages.)
I am about 1/3 of the way through the third book, "Taltos." Then, I hope to find, "Blood Canticle," which combines The Vampire Chronicles (Lestat from "Interview with the Vampire") with The Mayfair Chronicles.
They aren't heavy reading, but Anne Rice's writings are full of minute details, so sometimes, I find it necessary to study a section several times and always in quiet.
My mother and I have been recommending reads to each other since last fall and I hooked her on the "Left Behind" series. Plus, Lulu suggested Janet Evanovich's books to me last summer. Novels are once again my passion. I am even putting them on my Half.com wish list!
From Anne Rice's witches to Left Behind's armageddon to the lovable, yet dysfunctional, Stephanie Plum, books are back, baby! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/18/2004 11:21:00 AM
Saturday, January 17, 2004
This morning, I had to run some errands in our mini-snowstorm. The conditions were quite slick, so I nixed a few places.
My husband needed propane for the barn heater, so I stopped at the family-owned hardware along the way to fill the tank.
The cashiers are quite chatty, so as the guy in front of me was receiving his change for 2 bags of sand being loaded into his vehicle by the guy on outdoor duty, the gal told him, "Be careful out there. Those roads are slippery!"
Ah, his male ego kicked in, of course. "I don't care, I have a 4-wheel drive!"
As the cashier looked at me, she rolled her eyes. I snickered and said, "That may save you when you need to get out of the ditch you slid into, but it won't help when an oncoming car hydroplanes into your lane when you are speeding!"
He gave me a dirty look as he sauntered out the door. The cashier started laughing as we watched him get into an F-150 pickup parked right outside the doors, in the NO PARKING ZONE at the lot's entrance.
Not exactly a smart place to park and those 2 bags of sand in the back sure won't help much. But hey, he has 4-wheel drive, right? Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/17/2004 02:04:00 PM
Friday, January 16, 2004
Friday Five + 1...our version. Do you believe in:
1. Handwriting analysis? Nope. Munchkin loves to eval handwriting and my writing techniques are so diverse, that I could get different "readings" from the same "expert."
2. Astrology charts/horoscopes? Nope.
3. Palm reading? Nope.
4. Tarot cards? Nope.
5. Fortune cookies? OF COURSE! teehee
+1. Psychics? There are a few that I could believe in, but not every kook out there, not even the ones who appear on TV (like Sylvia Brown and John Edward.) Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/16/2004 04:30:00 PM
Onesome- I hear and I forget. What’s the one thing you’ve had explained to you over and over, but it still goes in one ear and out the other? How to play Free Cell and most video/PC war games, which my husband loves. Go figure!
Twosome- I see and I remember. Is there anything you’ve learned how to do just by watching someone else do it first? Well, I helped put up our 30x40 pole barn this fall, so a quick demo on something new was daily.
Threesome- I do and I understand. Is there anything you excel at that you taught yourself to do? Since I was 11, I have been able to solve a Rubik's Cube in less than three minutes. Actually, it's usually under a minute, but Munchkin has a new one that is pretty darn stiff, compared to the one I still have from my 11th bday.
It's the same with the Missing Link and the Triangle thingee. They aren't even challenging to me, but it sure does impress my husband, my kids and their friends. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/15/2004 07:37:00 AM
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Since 6 a.m., we have received just over 9 inches of snow at my house. I actually took a ruler out and measured it in various areas of my yard. The least amount on the stick was 9 inches, the most was 12. (We did have an inch or two still left from the last storm, so I took that into consideration.)
In other words, most men probably estimate today's snowfall at 2 feet. teehee Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/14/2004 05:44:00 PM
It seems like every week, there is an SUV debate on the Fark message boards.
1. Gas guzzling. When people are screaming about high gas prices and the gas-guzzling SUVs, it just makes me laugh. We own 2 SUVs: a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo and a diesel Excursion. My 7-year-old Jeep averages 17.5 mpg. My husband's (a speed demon in any vehicle) Excursion is closer to 14 mpg., but his truck gets about 18.5 mpg when *I* drive it consistently.
Want to hear about gas-guzzling? We also own a conversion van. WHOA! That thing, no matter how nicely it is driven at 55 mph, has NEVER gotten over 16 mpg., even when the engine was rebuilt. Now, it is down to about 10 mpg. We also own a Subaru that gets 25 mpg, but every little repair (parts only, no labor) seems to start at $100. Plus, our family couldn't fit into it for more than 3 minutes! We also own a 45 mpg Honda motorcycle that my husband drives in the summer to/from work. There, that should redeem us!
2. "Can't see around them." Valid point, but do NOT forget to throw in pickup trucks, vans and minivans. Our Excursion is just an F-350 pickup truck, but completely enclosed by Ford.
3. "They are killers for people in small cars." Yep. I remember when small cars, like Escorts and Omnis, first came out and people were AFRAID of them for that very reason! "If you ride in one of those little cars, you'll get killed!" The pendulum has swung back. (FYI, I was a passenger in a Chevy Sprint that was hit by a large 80s Dodge Ram pickup. The impact was about 50 mph. I was wearing my seatbelt, but it didn't hold -- a few years later there was a recall on this -- and I went through the windshield. I don't blame the little car and I didn't sue Chevy. I blame the drunk bastard behind the wheel of the other vehicle! Oh, and I successfully sued his butt, too!)
4. "SUV owners are lousy drivers." Gee whiz, then what's all the fuss about teen drivers and cell phones? "Inconsiderate moron" knows no boundaries: age, race, sex, etc. I see motorcycles, sedans and minivans zinging thru traffic, just as much as SUV owners. Let's try a little defensive driving people and EVERYONE should show respect for the laws and common courtesy.
5. They are bad for the environment. True, but ALL vehicles are bad for the environment: they are made of plastic, use oil, etc. Air pollution can be found in a simple aerosol can, too.
Let's face it, everybody thinks they are a great driver. And there were LOTS of idiot drivers before SUVs and there will be plenty of idiot drivers after SUVs! Just watch "The Jetsons." Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/13/2004 10:10:00 AM
Monday, January 12, 2004
What would you do? Inspired by Michael Jackson and Rev. James Wysocki, the Catholic priest/pedophile who finally got Marine City on CNN!
1. A long-ago best friend, who you lost contact with over the years, is accused of a high-profile (non-sexual) crime. Are you inclined to extend your support/friendship during the turbulent time? I am a strong believer in the "people change" philosophy; they can change from bad to good AND good to bad. I wouldn't seek the person out, but if he/she contacted me, I wouldn't turn away.
2. A long-ago bitch/bully who tormented you for years (during school or on a job) is accused of a high-profile violent crime (non-sexual) and an exclusive is requested of you by your choice of interviewer (Oprah, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, etc.) Do you cooperate? Very tempting, but the thought of a few skeletons in my closet getting out is enough to zip my lips!
3. An acquaintance who unapologetically abandoned his/her spouse and 2 kids is working "under-the-table" to avoid paying child support. Do you anonymously report him/her to the proper agency? Yep. Leaving a spouse/SO penniless is one thing, abandoning kid(s) is another. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/12/2004 08:33:00 PM
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Munchkin is coming down with a nasty cold: drippy nose, cough and cranky! Needless to say, our trip to the Detroit Auto Show was cancelled. Actually, my husband didn't want to go once he heard the People Mover still isn't working and we would have to take shuttles there from Greektown.
Gusto, I got the socks today! Lavendar (top pair) and the dusty blue (just above the fuschia pair.) Did I do good? You are right, the green ARE hideous!
Traipsing our way to Elder Beerman in Howell this afternoon was such a GREAT idea! While we were there for the socks, my husband found the London Fog winter trench coat he has been wanting for years! It was marked 50% off, but the store was having an additional 10% off sale, so the $300 coat cost just $143.
He really needed it, too. The London Fog coat he has now was bought by his Xwife and she gets ruffled everytime she sees him wear it. Once, she even said, "I hate seeing you wear things from me!" I just laughed and compared it to the scuzzy piece of comfort clothing everyone has...it's not in the best of condition, but it's hard to break the habit. She shut up then.
Across the street, Super Walmart also had my cream, dingleball fleece sweater marked down to $9, so I bought a twin for next year, plus a nice pink fleece zipper jacket for $7. I love fleece! Good buys spent with the last of my Christmas money.
All-in-all, it was a pretty good day! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/10/2004 06:59:00 PM
Friday, January 09, 2004
Friday Five isn't up yet, so here are five in honor of Mrs. Lulu, who is leaving her current job today and GustoGal, who has expanded her horizons, too!
1. Best job? Got it now: personal assistant to a (future Pulitzer Prize-winning) journalist.
2. Best place/area to work? I used to love working retail with lots of coworkers and customers, but nowadays, I prefer the calm of Gusto's home. Drive over to a warm home with a clean bathroom and full kitchen. There is no ICK factor. Heck, I walk in the door and take my shoes off for the day! Today during (our delivered) lunch, we watched last night's episode of ER. Life is grand!
3. What is your education? High school diploma, plus various management courses.
4. Is your career what you wanted growing up? Nope, but then, I never knew such a fun career existed!
5. Do you socialize with coworkers? Yep, but with Gusto, it's different. We IM and e-mail when we aren't together. Most of the time at my previous jobs, I became friendly with many coworkers...like LULU! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/09/2004 05:12:00 AM
Thursday, January 08, 2004
It seems safe to say that Shnotz the kitty is here to stay! Our closest lead to finding him a new home was a woman who said she would take him if we had him fixed and declawed first. Mind you, that was AFTER we had him on Amoxicillin for his sinus infection and paid for his shots. And she is quite wealthy to boot!
Shnotz is still fitting in. Princess, the 3 lb. queen biatch, isn't done with her hazing ritual. At least her comfort zone has decreased from 20 feet to 1 foot in the last 6 weeks!
Shnotz's first pal was Einstein, the kitty who adopted us last fall. Classic case of the misfits making friends. teehee
(Whiney-Einey, as we call him now, comes in about 6 a.m. and leaves about 7 p.m. I think he must have someone else to visit, but each morning, I call, "Here, kitty kitty kitty!" and he runs from our shed or the neighbors back deck. I hate letting him out, but he will meow LOUDLY for hours until I open the door. It's comical...for the first 3 hours!)
Shnotz is loved by Tux-the-mama's-boy. Dalton, aka Miss Chubba-lubba-kiss, is becoming more tolerant, but she is Princess' favorite buddy and won't step on toes. Dakota, our precious grey bundle of fuzz, has his moments. But then, he has his moments with ALL the kitties.
Healthwise, our vet has confirmed Shnotz will probably never fully get rid of his sinus infection. We have put him on several doses of amoxicillin, which has helped considerably, but not erradicated the condition. He eats and drinks well, so his health report is still good.
He's so sweet and has learned to "talk" to me, just like the rest of them. He's not afraid of people. He's happy and well-adjusted.
He'll be fixed shortly. And stay. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/08/2004 09:48:00 PM
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
From Lulu on Celebrating the holidays about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
1. Does the city/town you live in celebrate MLK Jr. day? If so, how? Nope. My teeny town rarely has ANY types of celebrations, unless it involves the Catholic church and booze. The kids have the day off from school, but it is a teacher in-service/end-of-marking period thing.
2. What do you hope to accomplish by the time you are 39 years old (This was King's age when he died)? If you are over 39, are you today, where you thought you'd be? By the time I am 39, my kids will be in college. I hope I will have accomplished raising them to be exemplary citizens.
3. Do you have a favorite MLK Jr. quote? If so, what is it? "If man hasn't discovered something to die for, he isn't fit to live."
--from a speech in 1963 Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/07/2004 09:53:00 PM
Just playfully surfing last night and I think I found someone who is also looking for my half-brother. The information I have is next to nil, but it fits with the few facts in the post.
A bit of research and I had a phone number for him. It was intoxicating, yet frightening. Should I? Maybe not. Then again, this man is deserved an apology and answers. The debate wandered into my mind all day, especially on my drive home.
To those who don't know, investigative work and cold calls are part of my job. I am quite good, without being obtrusive.
A bit ago, I worked up the nerve and dialed the number. It was disconnected. UGH! That did NOT fit into my plan!
I feel closer though. I sent a friendly e-mail to the message board poster that did not reveal my ulterior motives, but simply to find out more info because this person MIGHT belong on our family tree. Completely credible, since the mother's name was listed, but not his father.
I also sent an e-mail to the alumni director at the school named, requesting assistance and offering compensation.
Just when my heart had gotten thru the holidays...
The phone rang at 11:34 this morning. I had risen from bed at 8, read my online papers and curled up on the couch with some Chex Mix and pink lemonade and continued reading the novel I began several days ago, "The Witching Hour."
It is 965 pages and quite intricate. Some passages require a second read, so I am quite committed.
When the phone rang, I was the only person awake. The voice and name took a minute to recollect...
It was a member of the dog rescue asking me if I wanted to adopt (buy) another dog. He had the "perfect little boy" for us. He even joked that we could pick him up today!
I politely ended the conversation in less than a minute. No, we are NOT ready for a dog. Our hearts are still healing over Sim and Juno. We will contact them if/when we are interested.
Last holiday break, Sim was with me 24/7. I even blogged about him celebrating New Year's Eve with us. He was such a huge part of my life!
Since I hung up, my thoughts have frequently wandered back to The Sim Days. I miss having a dog. All I have to do is make a call and I could have a dog in an hour. It is so tantalizing...
But I know my heart isn't ready for another such commitment. Not yet. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/04/2004 04:22:00 PM
Saturday, January 03, 2004
I bought another fondue pot today!
That was almost as exciting as visiting Gusto, catching up on the gossip and helping take all 1000 ornaments off their extravagant Christmas tree.
I really needed to get out of the house. The only things I did all week was drive to get a kid or clean/straighten. I needed to get out for me and be a friend, not mom or wife, for a while. Hanging out with Gusto was the cure!
I bounced happily through my door tonight about 11:15 and the kitchen, which I had washed down earlier, was TRASHED. Food left in pans on the stove, dishes on the table, crumbs everywhere, sandy footprints on the floor.
My joy turned to rage.
Of course, I was seen as being a mean bitch for making my husband and kids get up from their game screens (TV and computer) to clean the freakin' mess from 2 meals.
My husband tried to downplay the whole thing to me. "It's not that big of a deal. It's just a few things that need to be done."
I agreed with him. "Yep, so it's not a 'big deal' that they get done NOW! I am not going to have to clean this for you in the morning. It's 11:15 and I was gone for 13 hours today and did physical work and you PLAYED all day! Dammit, I don't pull this crap on YOU!"
It was a well-deserved revolt by the resident maid! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/03/2004 11:53:00 PM
Friday, January 02, 2004
No kidding, right now it is 56 degrees in my little town in Michigan! Another storm rolled through a few hours ago and it is now warmer than this afternoon's high of 55 degrees.
I actually took a walk about 4:30 p.m. wearing jeans, short sleeves and an unzipped, light sweater. There was only a slight breeze, which didn't carry a chill. The sun peeked out of the clouds several times, but even covered, the day was quite bright.
FRIDAY FIVE! The first of 2004.
What one thing are you most looking forward to . . . 1. ...today? The high temp here today (metro Detroit) is 55 degrees!!! It is bright out, but pretty mushy, since we had a thunderstorm (or two?) move thru last night.
2. ...over the next week? Gusto coming home and us getting on schedule.
3. ...this year? Our month-of-July-vacation to the Grand Canyon, Colorado, Vegas, etc.
4. ...over the next five years? Moving north. Right, Gusto?
5. ...for the rest of your life? Being a mom and wife. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
1/02/2004 02:28:00 PM
Thursday, January 01, 2004
Our New Year's Eve party was a blast! Paul, Pat and their kids came over about 7:30 and didn't leave until nearly 2 a.m. Their son is just a few months older than our kids, so my stepson was quite satisfied with our company. Their two daughters kept Munchkin busy!
We ate and ate and ate. There were chips, dips, a huge veggie tray, a cracker tray, shrimp, crab, Jeno's pizza rolls, bean dip, homemade Chex mix, bagels pieces for a cheese and bacon fondue, a chocolate fondue, bite-size smoky links, an 8lb. Honeybaked ham and a huge bowl of (unspiked) punch. Pat made some cheesy potatos and bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. YUM!
Midnight rolled around and we toasted each other with sparkling raspberry juice in REAL crystal goblets. The kids were so careful, and none were broken.
The evening was quite enjoyable for everyone. In fact, the kids and my husband are still sleeping.
