A Simple Woman's Daybook

This neat idea was started by a woman named Peggy. You can see her page, as well as others by clicking this link: The Original Simple Woman's Daybook.

Here is my second entry in my version of: "The Simple Woman's Daybook":

FOR TODAY: Monday, October 06, 2008...

Outside My Window... a big maple tree, with leaves just starting to look a bit yellow

I am thinking... of all that I wish to accomplish today

I am thankful for... the wonderful weekend we had and for the powerful message I got from yesterday’s Mass

From the kitchen... sadly, some dishes waiting to be done are waiting for me

I am wearing... Layers… it’s chilly this morning but will warm up this afternoon…

I am creating... this and a couple of other blogs

I am going... to see my Mother tonight

I am reading... “8 Sandpiper Way” by Debbie Macomber… actually I’m almost finished

I am hoping... that politics can be kept out of my workplace… I am alone in a sea of those with opposite thoughts… and feeling a bit lonely and woeful.

I am hearing... the 10 O’Clock Chapel bells tolling

Around the house... a raccoon ambled it’s way down our driveway this morning as I was out with two of our dogs. Our “old girl” Cora took off after her…. It was good to see her move out so quickly. And it was even better that I was able to call her back to me!

One of my favorite things... The changing of seasons, Autumn is my favorite

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: A belated birthday dinner with my Mother Inlaw

Here is picture thought I am sharing...(Cora on her birthday a couple of years ago.. she’ll turn 11 at the end of this month.)

Dogs In Heaven??? Church Sign Debate

This is a "church sign" debate, being played out in a Southern town, between a Catholic church and a Presbyterian church. The signage from top to bottom shows the original , then responses and counter-responses over time. Someone at the Catholic church has a pretty good sense of humor...but I get the impression that the Presbyterians are taking this way too seriously. Enjoy!!



1-3



4-6



7-9

Joe Biden's gaff

What's wrong with this picture? Two things... FDR was NOT president when the Stock Market crashed in 1929 and there was NO television yet! We don't hear about these gaffs from the mainstream media... but if it had been John McCain, Sarah Palin or any other Republican, it would have been all over the place. Thanks Richard for the tip!!!!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

I have seen this wonderful idea on other blogs, and have finally gotten around it it! This neat idea was started by a woman named Peggy. You can see her page, as well as others by clicking this link: The Original Simple Woman's Daybook.

Here is the first of what I hope to be several entries in my "The Simple Woman's Daybook":

FOR TODAY September 29, 2008...
Outside My Window... Students walking by on their way to class,

I am thinking... Of all the things I must accomplish this week and of my Uncle’s upcoming visit

I am thankful for... the wonderful day I had yesterday with my husband and his family

From the kitchen... Sadly, the smell of my husband’s late night snack, fried Spam… shuddering as I type this

I am wearing... Black dress pants, and a black turtleneck with brightly colored autumn leaves

I am creating... Beaded Jewelry to sell… proceeds going to Catholic Charities

I am going... to send my friend Caroline a birthday card

I am reading... Debbie Macomber’s “8 Sandpiper Way”

I am hoping... for rain… it is so dry

I am hearing... the chapel's bell ringing the hour... it's 10AM

Around the house... 4 newfies snoozing peacefully

One of my favorite things... laying in bed listening to the rain, and far off thunder

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: dinner on Tuesday, a new round of Puppy Classes on Wednesday and a homecoming football game on Friday

Here is picture thought I am sharing (which is a view from my office taken two years ago in early autumn!):

Raccoon Erradication!!!

About a year and a half ago, in early April... Easter Eve to be exact, we discovered that raccoons had created a "den" in our fireplace. Horror of all horrors. Of course, Mama Raccoon was with babies. And that presented a problem. After doing much research, we decided to let nature take it's course, and to let them say. Everything they read, indicated that the raccoons would vacate sometime in mid June, and sure enough, they did. End of story. Well, not exactly!!!

Fast forward to this past Spring. Mother Nature is pretty punctual about some things, and sure enough, in early April, our "guests" had returned. Of course, we were feeling chagrined because we hadn't closed off the chimney. DUH!!! We accepted their presence with little concern because we were confident that they would leave in June. And they did... I even saw one of the babies one June morning as it crawled it's way off our roof.. crying loudly wanting Mommy. Apparently, Mama raccoons leave the nest, and don't come back... forcing the babies to come out looking for them. Babies stay with there Mother's for quite a long time, so that they can learn to hunt and survive in the wild.

Weeks passed. And then sometime in late August, we heard familiar noises coming from the fireplace, and upon investigation, we realized that they were back. Russell even saw them "breeding" which alarmed us to no end. Our dogs were very aware of their presence, and were quite determined to get inside the fireplace to see what was there. We of course had it barricaded... such a charming look for a living room. We were perplexed on what to do. We didn't' want to call in critter control, and we didn't want to let them stay either.

We remembered reading that ammonia is a good deterrent, so on Friday evening, just after dark, Russell opened everything up, and sprayed ammonia all over the inside of the fireplace. He also left a bowl of ammonia on the grate, and then closed everything up. He waited until after dark, because being nocturnal, they would always "leave" after dark, and return around dawn. I had to work late on Friday and all day yesterday, so I was completely unaware that he had done this. He told me that he had a surprise for me when I got home, and we went and looked into the fireplace. They were not there, and have not been back. We pray they are gone for good, and are now considering various options in keeping them out in the future!!!

So Dissapointed....

I am so upset and stunned. I was in the work room just now, running copies, and one of the other secretaries came in from across the hall, and looked at me, and said "I heard something very disappointing about you just now". I thought she was kidding around, and I said "You did??? What was that?". She said, I heard you had a McCain button on yesterday. I told her I did.. and asked who was talking about me. Another secretary had told her. Then she went on to say... and I thought I liked you!!! OMG. I didn't say anything at first, and then I turned and said... "well why wouldn't you?". I didn't get into a debate, or anything, I just looked at her. She finally smiled and said that she still did, but it was very awkward. Talk about being disappointed. I am the one who is disappointed! At least I kept cool and was dignified... I did act surprised. In the end she seemed to be embarassed... and rightly so! {No pun intended....}

I have my beliefs. I post about them quietly and in my own way. I have colleagues and friends who agree, and who disagree. I respect everyone's right to "their own opinion". Apparently, not everyone does. That is a sad commentary on the mindset of so many. So for those of you who know me, and are on the opposite side of the fence politically, you will always have my respect. I won't stop "liking" you just because you choose to vote differently than me. So please, allow me the same courtesy. We should all just agree to disagree.

A visit from Ike

From this graphic, it didn't look like we would suffer any of Ike's vengeance. However, this turned out not to be true, as Ike came through here as well! We didn't get any rain, but we did get hurricane force winds... ranging from 69-84 mph. Sunday started out nicely. It was warm, the sun was peeking through. It had been breezy all day on Saturday, and we knew that Sunday was supposed to be blustery as well. Blustery is a vast understatement! Because there was no rain, and it was so warm and sunny... the winds grew from blustery to terrifying.

Russell had to go into work, and I was at home, getting ready to do my typical Sunday errands. I could hear the wind outside, but I started hearing things hitting the roof, and cracking sounds. At one point, our neighbor from across the street walked through our yard, looking up. We have HUGE trees in our back yard, which is really a hill. I was really worried that one had come down. So I went outside and looked…. Nothing was amiss at that point. I went inside, and got my things and decided to head out. I noticed a cable truck parked across the street as I backed out our drive, so I realized that the neighbors must have been without power. Driving out of our neighborhood, I saw more power trucks, and I suddenly became aware that the conditions were a lot worse than what I had originally thought. Russell called to find out if everything was ok. His servers at work had rebooted twice, making things difficult for him. He was in “crunch time” on a major project that was due to go live first thing Monday morning, and needless to say, a little agitated.

The first item on my agenda was to get dog food… we were completely out, and the dogs had had a rather skimpy breakfast. Three stores and a trip to an ATM later, I had a bag of food in my car. My hair had gotten stuck in the car window and the car door twice, and dealing with a shopping cart in major winds was not an easy task. At this point, I was really un-nerved. My sister called, and reported that my Mother’s nursing home was without power and there were trees down everywhere. So I decided not to go there. I tried to stay on major roadways because driving around was like driving in a warzone. Trees and limbs were falling… and there were power lines dangling dangerously putting all traffic in harm’s way. What stunned me the most was the number of kids riding around on their bikes… without helmets on? I realize that many parents don’t keep tabs on where their kids are, but it was too dangerous for me to be out, and I was in an SUV, so it was outrageous that any parent would let their child ride around outside. Bicycle helmets would have been prudent, but I didn’t see any of those either.

I realized that I had about an hour until Mass started at Immaculate Conception, so I began looking for a drive through. Every place I went had lines wrapped around the building and extended out on to the street. At first, I couldn’t understand why they were all so crowded. I finally came to a McDonald’s and decided to go inside. It was very busy and took a few minutes to get my meal. At this point, I realized that people were without power, and looking for an early dinner. I chatted with Russell while I ate, and waited for him to decide what he was going to do. He still had a lot of work to do, so he decided to stay and persevere, and I would call him after Mass.

I drove to church and discovered that it was on limited power. The Priest asked that everyone sit in one section. There were 4 over head lights working, and they had candles everywhere. It was simply beautiful. The readings were read from the ambo, and then the Priest read the Gospel and gave his Homily standing amongst the congregation. And then, he gathered everyone together and asked us to come up onto the Altar for the next part of Mass. I can’t tell you how special and how moving it was. It was incredibly intimate, and despite the lack of electrical power, it was lighter in that church than any electrical power could give. We could hear sirens wailing as the sped by, and it was apparent that the winds were still raging. Yet we were safe inside, blanketed in God’s Light.

After Mass, I went to my car, and realized that the winds had calmed significantly. I began to wonder how things were at home. Traffic lights were out all over. It was just after 7pm and beginning to get dark. I called Russell to let him know I was on my way. Trees were down all over, blocking traffic at times. It was alarming and I grew more anxious. He came out to get in the car, and I told him of my concerns. We decided that it would be best for me to head home before it was completely dark. I wanted to feed and walk the dogs, and get candles and flashlights organized if needed. And so I began the trip home. Some places had power, some didn’t. The Taco Bell was swamped. The closer I got to home, the more concerned I was. Yet the message from Church stayed with me. I knew that it would all be ok. Pulling in to our neighborhood, I could see that some places had light. I pulled in our driveway which was strewn with branches, acorns and walnuts. There were some large limbs down, but everything else looked ok. I carried the food into the house and held my breath as I flipped the light switch.

By the grace of God, we had power. I hurried to get the dogs out… fed them and called Russell to report. He was relieved to hear that we were all ok. He had had a horrible time getting dinner. He went to three eateries on Brown Street, which is close to campus. They were running out of bread and other things. He ended up with “the worst burger every” from Burger King. He ended up driving home around midnight. He tried to find some restaurants that were open. The ones that were open were busy or out of food. He came on home, and we both slept like logs.
Monday morning brought daylight. Driving in to work gave evidence to how lucky we were. And phone calls later in the day proved this even more.

Along with my Mother, Russell's Mother was also without power. She needs oxygen, and was running out, so we went out at lunch and got her several bottles of oxygen and took them to her after work. It’s now two days later, and she is still without power. She ended up going to my brother in-law’s yesterday because it’s just better for her not to be alone.

I have cousins whose cars have been crunched, and some people have major damage to their homes caused by falling limbs and trees. We lost a couple of big limbs but no big trees, thank God. It's been a challenge, that's for sure. We know now what it feels like to be in a hurricane.... sort of. You can't find ice anywhere. Batteries and flashlights are hard to come by, and gas stations are running out of gas. A lot of businesses have been closed. Some people who are on wells also have no plumbing. On campus, the academic buildings have power, as do the dorms. The student neighborhood however has been without, and students are getting a little grumpy! I don't blame them one bit!!!

All in the all, entire “storm" lasted for almost 5-6 hours. Yet, it’s still affecting so many, two days later.

The Bell's are tolling....

The Chapel bells are tolling. I work at the University of Dayton, and there are a series of events to commemorate the 7th anniversary of September 11, 2001, when our country was viciously attacked by terroists. Events include

8:46 a.m.: Tolling of the Immaculate Conception Chapel bells for one minute to coincide with American Airlines Flight 11 hitting 1 World Trade Center.

9:03 a.m.: Tolling of the Immaculate Conception Chapel bells for one minute to coincide with United Airlines Flight 175 hitting 2 World Trade Center.

9:37 a.m.: Tolling of the Immaculate Conception Chapel bells for one minute to coincide with American Airlines Flight 77 hitting the Pentagon.

10:03 a.m.: Tolling of the Immaculate Conception Chapel bells for one minute to coincide with United Airlines Flight 93 crashing in Pennsylvania.

As I was walking across campus, I heard the 8:46 bell... and chills ran down my spine. I was taken back to that horrible day 7 years ago.. memories flooding my mind, and chills shooting down my spine. I feel raw... I feel sad... I think of the the amazing bravery exhibited on all the flights. I remember hearing tapes of the calls made on cell phones. I remember looking at video clips of the family members.. and not even being able to comprehend how they felt.. how they could even continue on.

The 9:37 bell tolled a few minutes ago. Again, I had more chills, and more tears. I remember that day, sitting at my desk. By now we all knew that something so horrible, so heinous was happening to our great country. I remember finding a tv, and watching it with my co-workers, feeling sick.. terrified.. so unsure of everything. I remember calling my husband, just to tell him I loved him. My Mother called... my sister too. We all just needed to connect... to touch each other with our voices.

The 10:03 bell just tolled. People are talking quietly... commenting. I remember how we were all sent home that day. Like most people, Russell & I watched the news all day.. horror and disbelief filling our hearts and minds. Finally it got to be too much, and we went to lay down. With the exception of military flights, all air travel had been cancelled. We were dozing in and out, when suddenly there was a sonic boom. I shot out of bed... terrified. Never, ever have I felt more vulnerable that I did at that moment. The sonic boom was caused by air force flights escorting Air Force One back to Washington.



After all this time... and I realize that as time continues, 7 years really isn't that long... I do know one thing. This country, our country, the United States of America is safer today than it was then. And that is because of the amazing leadership of our President, George W. Bush. He is ridiculed, and slurred on a daily basis. He is hated and reviled, and for what reason? I can't figure it out. Yes, our country has problems, it always will. Yet I feel strongly we were and are far better off under the leadership of George W. Bush. He is a good man, a caring man. I am certain, that as time continues to "go by", his Presidency will be held in higher regard than it is now. I can't imagine what it would have been like if Al Gore had been at the helm. I shudder to think....

God Bless The USA

Dear Mr. O'Bama...

O'Bama is scared!!!!!

The numbers are changing drastically, and the race is now being declared as "a dead heat" by the media. Personally, I think that McCain/Palin are out in front, but I can't back that up. Senator O'Bama seems to be in a panic, and is getting nasty... or perhaps I should say "nastier".

My friend Pauline sent me this link from Tammy Bruce's website. It illustrates this perfectly:

Tammy Bruce Blog: O'Bama Panics...

It seems to me, that the media, and television talk show comedians just don't know what to do. Last week they were hateful and cruel. I've heard that NBC has demoted a couple of it's lead Campaign anchors because of their over zealous viciousness. Of course, this didn't happen until polls came out showing that the public believed that the media was been too harsh. "Too Harsh" is an understatement.

Normally, I am a fan of David Letterman, but his monologues have been really hitting a nerve with me. Last night he seemed to be back-peddling again, yet he still managed to get his barbs in. And then there is Oprah! She refused to have Sarah Palin on her show until after the election. She claims that she doesn't want to get involved in Politics!!! I about fell out of my seat!!! For crying out loud! Who does she think she is kidding.... she has been campaigning for O'Bama from the beginning. And she has been very involved in raising funds for his campaign! How can she say she doesn't want to get involved!!!! I found this blog about Oprah shunning Palin. Check it out!

In response to Oprah's "shunning of Palin", I heard on the news last night that republican women in Florida are boycotting Oprah. Not a bad idea! Click here: to check out the scoop on the Oprah boycott

And now I need to get back to work. I could probably post stuff all day long and there would still be more!

Have a good day everyone... and remember to Count your blessings AND to give Thanks!

From other parts of the cyber globe....

Top Stories

Meet Todd Palin

This is Todd Palin, Governor Sarah Palin's husband.

St. Dwynwen's Keep

I have started a new and separate blog to showcase my jewelry. It is called Saint Dwynwen's Keep, in honor of my patron Saint, Saint Dwynwen. Click here to visit!

Who Knew??? The Media is sexist!

I am thoroughly disgusted by the media's attack on Sarah Palin. I understand that they are afraid, very afraid. I understand that the majority of the media are Liberal, and O'Bama supporters. I regret their inability to set aside their own views and agendas and report just the facts. I abhor the fact that they feel they "KNOW" what the American people think, feel and want. I believe that the Media thinks that most people in America are stupid, and need to be told what and how to think.

I've felt this way for a long time. Yet, in this weeks attack on Governor Sarah Palin, they have outdone themselves. And yes, I am angry. However, I am a bit hopeful... hopeful because they've gone overboard- their overzealous "rabid-ness" is showing! Perhaps they are afraid that they "are looking bad" because after Governor Palin's fantastic speech last night, they are back peddling some. They have shown their true colors! Yes!!! For being "Liberals" they seem to be incredibly sexist. Their actions have set women back 50 years!

Bottom line: I understand and agree that "We", the American public are not always going to agree. I respect that. I respect each person's right to his/her own opinion. And I believe that each voter can make up their own mind with out the "MEDIA" cramming slanted facts down our throats.

I found this clip on Yahoo News. Diane Sawyer is interviewing Cindy McCain, about her views on the media. Enjoy!

Cindy McCain on the Media

Newt Rocks! See him on the Tavis Smiley Show

I saw Newt Gingrich on the Tavis Smiley show on Monday evening... he was awesome, and really did a great job of cutting Tavis Smiley off!!! Here is a link which includes a transcript of the entire interview, plus links for audio and video.

Newt's Interview with Tavis Smiley

Two More Pieces

I have made two more necklaces... and I'm pretty excited by them! The first is "The Holy Trinity". I call it it this simply because the cross reflects The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.... in other words, the Holy Trinity! The beads are pearls, white and gold "topaz" glass beads, pewter flowers and round beads, and amber colored glass beads.

The second necklace is called "Mary's Garden". The charm is the Blessed Mother in solid pewter. The beads are fresh water pearls, blue/clear glass beads, blue lampwork beads with pink flowers, silver flower beads and italian millefleur beads. This is by far my favorite so far....

This year, to date!!! ;)

Happy Summertime!!! It has been ages since I've posted, and life, in it's typical fashion, has been wonderful and challenging at the same time. I haven't been coming to 360 or Multiply very much... time simply hasn't allowed for much of that sort of thing. I have been hanging aroundon facebook a bit, so if any of my friends here and there, would like to connect, send me a message and we can do so!

It's been both a joyous and challenging year. As you all know, I became Catholic at Easter, and that continues to give me great joy. Since then, I've:

• helped to move my Mother to a new facility
• turned 50
• got my AARP card (much to Russell's great pleasure)
• went on vacation to Rhode Island
• almost lost my Mother due to complications from a gall bladder surgery
• attended my first born nephew's high school graduation (how can that be? it was just yesterday that he was religiously wearing his superman costume from Halloween 24/7)
• had migraines and numbneses and after a whole bunch of tests, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. The medications have made a world of difference
• undergone a full sleep study and have been diagnosed with sleep apnia
• almost lost my Mother again, this time to a septic infection caused by a kidney stone...
• rushed Russell to the ER with a kidney stone of his own
• helped staff a funnel cake booth at the church festival and another festival for Russell's scout trip
• had 6 weeks off, as usual and got nothing done
• lost my PC after a vicious thunderstorm, and now have a laptop that I'm happy with
• have started making beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings

In writing this, I am aware that it's been a rocky year. Yet it doesn't seem all that bad. There has been alot of joy and laughter mixed in with the worry and the heartache. Most of all, I am taking advantage of the fact that I was blessed to receive a clear warning sign that if I don't take measures to take better care of myself, that I won't be around. Too many dear ones have not been as blessed. God is with me... every moment of every day... so how can I complain?

Here are a couple of pictures of some of the jewelry I've made. Nothing amazing, but pretty and fun.

Military Dogs in Iraq and Afghanistan

I think it's safe to say that most people are aware that the United States of America has Military stationed in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I wonder though how many people are aware that the USA also has canine soldiers working hard and risking their lives every single day in both of these countries. Clearly, our country's involvement in both of these wars has created much conflict here at home. And I'm not going to debate those issues here. My point and focus are on these dogs. On average the daily temperature in Iraq is approxiately 110-120 degrees. This is hot enough to melt the asphalt that these dogs walk on. It makes the sand hot as well. Sand blows around in any breeze that comes along, and gets into the dogs eyes. Several months ago, another member of our local dog club, Gem City Dog Obedience Club, approached the club's president and asked her to go to the Board and ask if they would consider donating one cooling vest, doggles (goggles for the eyes) and booties. These sets are very expensive... costing approximately $200-$300 per set. The Board's response was too donate two complete sets, and to launch a major fundraising effort. To date, the club has raised over $2000.00 and efforts continue. Also, a locatl 4H club has embraced this cause, and in less than 9 days, raised enough money to sponsor several sets. Last night, the club had it's annual ice cream social. The canine unit was on hand and we were able to watch demonstrations of what these dogs are able to do. It was amazing. These dogs are all treated very well. They are loved and very happy. And in all truth, not only do they work very hard, their presence there does wonder for the morale of our troops. The kids from the 4H group were there as well and they presented one of the dogs who will be deployed to Iraq very soon with his set. Our local ABC/Fox News affiliate was present and gave us nice coverage.

I am adding a link, that will hopefully allow anyone interested to watch their report.

http://fox.daytonsnewssource.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/wrgt_vid_517.shtml

Here is a link, where you can read more about this project:

http://www.gcdoc.com/forms/2008/Cooling_Vest/SupportMilitaryWorkingDogs-Brochure.pdf

How to find the "best" gas prices around

We just got gas for $3.98 a gallon. The fact that we're "excited" about this disgusts me! However, after yesterday's all time high (in the Dayton area of $4.09 a gallon), $3.98 doesn't seem so bad. There is a website where you can go to check on local gas prices in most areas. Here is a link: http://www.gasbuddy.com You can find your area, which probably has it's own page/site. You can sign up and help post prices of gas in your area. There are points to be earned, but truthfully I have no idea of what benefits these "points" bring. I just do it to pitch in and help to share information. For example... we are driving to Cincinnati for brunch tomorrow. I just found that gas in Springboro is currently running $3.85 a gallon. So we'll wait to fill up then. We only got a few gallons today... in hopes that prices would go lower. I hope anyone reading this will benefit from this information. And if you have any comments, please don't hesitate to share. I know my friends in Europe and Canada will likely find this amusing. Sadly, you have faced higher gas prices for a long time! Have a safe and wonderful weekend everyone!!!

Spring cleaning, and update from Annie

This is a rambling blog of sorts, because it has been quite a while since I've posted any sort of "real" update! First of all, allow me to say that we are all fine. Russell and the dogs are peachy and I am well. As always, our lives are hectic, and I will share some highlights and thoughts with you, in bullet points, for which I hope you will forgive me... I'm being lazy, but there is much to tell. Since I have last posted, I turned 50, we moved my Mother to another Nursing Home, there are raccoons living in our fireplace, again, and suicidal bunnies in our yard. So where should I begin? I guess the beginning is always a good place so, fasten your seat belts, because here we go!

When I last posted, I had recently just become Catholic. That continues to be the highlight of my year... and will probably be the highlight of this decade. Being Catholic, and being able to receive communion, fills me with such joy. The experience has been so much more profound than I ever anticipated. And I had anticipated that it would be amazing!

We moved my Mother to another Nursing home the week after Easter. It was a scary thing to do, but miraculously (thanks be to God!) she adapted well, and really loved the new facility. And the amazing thing is that she is only in a semi-private room, but is much happier with the quality of care that she is receiving. This is such a blessing. She also has been showing signs of wanting to do things.. to get up and let us push her outside so she can enjoy a sunny day. She's not wanted to do something like this in over two years... so we are rejoicing about this.

So for a couple of weeks in April, things were relatively quiet and we just muddled along. And then the 12th day of April came, and I turned 50. Getting my AARP card was not the happiest thing in the world, but it is a reality. We threw a small dinner party for family and friends. Initially it was going to be a "wake" with me sitting in a big bed..... making fun of the fact that women in my family tend to "go to bed" at a young age, because they don't feel really good, but are not really sick. I refuse to do this... I'm making that emphatically clear. But, because of prom season, and weddings, we couldn't find a good location for this, so we just reserved a room at a local restaurant and invited family and friends. It was a fun night and a really upbeat way to celebrate such a dubious milestone! My cousin Virginia, who happens to be one of my closest friends, is 16 days younger than I am. She lives in Seattle, so we see each other usually only once a year over Christmas. However, she came home for her birthday and we were able to have an awesome visit. So there are good things about turning 50! And in all truth, it's not so bad.
I took a week off to attend the Newfoundland National. It was great fun and good to see friends that I never see enough of. And to be surrounded by a mere 400-500 Newfies is a wonderful thing. Of course, the shopping is good as well, and I got my annual souvenir! After all, sometimes (not always) it is about the stuff!

We've had a few more bumps in the road with my Mother, but things are seeming to straighten themselves out.

I think the thing that amazes me most is that each day, is filled with so much. It's often time to find quiet and think. It's so easy to get caught up with whatever is happening.... and to lose sight of the larger picture. And I am learning... to slow down and breathe... and I am also learning that prayers are answered... and for that I am so incredibly thankful to God.. for all of his blessings.
I've eluded to raccoons in our chimney. Well this is the 2nd year that we are hosting a Mother Raccoon and her babies. Of course after this happened last year, we planned on closing off the chimney. But in our typical fashion, we never got around to it, and so here we go again. They'll be gone sometime in mid June, and hopefully we'll be smart and take measures to prevent this from happening next spring.

And finally, to the suicidal bunny. There is a rabbit that sits at the far end of our lawn, and suns herself. She sits there every day and watches as we come out with our 4 dogs... and when they get close, she runs like the wind to the other side of the road. So she is well aware that the dogs are there. So why did she build a nest there... and have her babies??? Kira (and it would be Kira) discovered the nest the other day. She got one of the babies in her mouth and then dropped it. The other baby took off. Kira was so excited. Russell had her out at the time, and after getting her back into the house, went to look for them. They were nowhere to be found.. and hopefully they are hiding and will stay hidden in the future. Kira is still eager to check that part of our yard.. but we keep her away from it. Thankfully, the others didn't realize what was happening and are not aware of the suicidal bunnies.

And last, but not least, Russell and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary yesterday. That is amazing to me. It doesn't seem like it's been 14 years since we were married!And that is it, for now at least. I hope that all of you are well, and as things calm over the summer, I'll try and post more! Hugs and Blessings to you all!

A Clever Rendition of The Lord's Prayer

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Rather cleverly done. I got this and thought to pass it along...
This is in two parts, the prayer in regular type and God’s response in indented and boldface italics type.
*********
Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

Yes?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.

But -- you called ME!

Called you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.

There -- you did it again!

Did what!?

Called ME.
You said,
'Our Father who art in Heaven'
Well, here I am.
What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
kind of like fulfilling a duty.

Well, all right.
Go on.

Okay, Hallowed be thy name .

Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?

By what?

By 'Hallowed be thy name'?

It means, it means... good grief,
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer...
By the way, what does it mean?

It means honored, holy, and wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense.
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.

Thanks.

Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?

What are you doing about it?

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got
control, of everything down here like you have up
there. We’re kind of in a mess down here you know.

Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church.

That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money --
all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?

Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest of those
People at church!

Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying
for my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example...

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others.

So could I;

I haven't thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.

Good.
Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of You.

Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.

You need to cut out the bread.
You're overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember,
you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now...
Keep praying. (pause... )
Well, go on.

I'm scared to.

Scared? Of what?

I know what you'll say.

Try ME.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us..

What about Ann?

See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!

But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer?

I didn't -- mean it.

Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn't it?

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.

No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are --
Well, I can change that.

You can? How?

Forgive Ann.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.

Oh, you know, you're right.
You always are...
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You... (Sigh).
All right all right…
I forgive her.

There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?

Hmmmm... Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know.

Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on.

Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.

What do you mean by that?

You know what I mean.

Yeah. I know.

Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.

For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.

Do you know what would bring me glory?
What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now.
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you.
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy?

YOU just did!

Belated Easter Greetings

Hello to all my friends. All is well with me, and I hope and pray that all is well with you. I have been away from here for far too long, and an update is long past due!!!!

My time in the past few weeks has been divided between my journey of faith and issues with my Mother. As many of you know, I have been in the process of becoming Catholic. I am thrilled to say that I received the Sacraments of Confirmation and was accepted in to full communion by the Roman Catholic Church during Easter Vigil! I cannot begin to describe what this was like. The joy in my heart is purely indescribable. Never before in my life have I embraced the experiences and traditions of Holy Week as I did this year.

On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, I made my first "Confession". This is something that I thought I would dread... and while I was nervous, and anxious, it was a powerful experience, and I couldn't believe that when it was over, that I didn't really want to leave! The next day was Palm Sunday. Russell was camping with his troop, and they go to Mass on Saturday afternoons. So I went with my Mother Inlaw. The Passion was read, and it was incredibly moving.

On Tuesday, we drove down to the Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati to attend the Chrism Mass, where Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk blessed the sacred oils. The Mass of Chrism is celebrated once a year. It is always celebrated at the cathedral and is one of the most solemn and significant liturgies of our church. During the Mass, the bishop blesses the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the oil of chrism. The first is used for for adult catechumens and infants, the second for anointing the sick, and the sacred oil of chrism for baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars. All three are basically an olive oil; chrism spices the air with the scent of a perfume, traditionally balsam. The music was sung by the Athenaeum Chorale and was spectacular! This was definitely worth driving through torrential downpours through rush hour traffic. I am hoping to be able to go again next year.

The next day was spent dealing with our flooded basement. We got about 4 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. It was a mess, but suffered from no major damage. Our backs ached, but it was kind of a good experience. From listening to the news, it was clear that we got off easy. We only had water in our basement, and not sewage. Russell and I worked well together... there was no bickering... and we actually managed to laugh and joke around a bit.

Russell and I attended the Mass of The Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. I attended the service on Good Friday and then we attended a prayer service on Saturday Morning, followed by a rehearsal. And then, the big moment came.... Easter Vigil!

It began at 9 pm. I was very grateful to have dear friends and family there to celebrate this moment with me. It was long, but truly amazing. A night that I will never forget. And at the end, I was officially Catholic! Words can't describe what it was to receive Communion for the first time!! And the scent of the oil stayed with me all through the night. I'd wake up and smell it, and would smile and fade back to sleep!

A Week In A Nutshell

Hi everyone.. I've been so immersed in other things that I have neglected my blog and my friends horribly. Please accept my apologies.

What an amazing week it has been. It started out last Sunday with attending what is called a "Rite of Election". During Mass on Sunday, those of us in my RCIA class were introduced to the congregation and asked to sign a book. The book was then brought by our priest to the official "Rite of Election" on Sunday evening, at a very large church here in Dayton. I, along with my fellow candidates attending this service along with our sponsers. We were called up by parish, and our sponsers were asked questions about our preparedness. We were asked some basic questions and then we all prayed. It was an incredible event. This was one of 4 such services within the Cincinnati Archdiocese. There were 2 in Cincinnat and two in Dayton. Between the 4 services, over 1000 people are in the process of becoming Catholic. That number amazed me!!!

During the week, I took part in what was called "A Busy Person's Lenten Retreat". It was... awesome. It began with an opening prayer service on Monday afternoon. I was assigned to a spirtual advisor, with whom I met for 30 minutes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There was a lunchone on Wednesday and a closing ceremony on Friday. My Spirtual Advisor was Sister Mary Louise, and we had some amazing discussions. I got some good feedback and she gave me some wonderful tools about how to pray, and how to connect. I know that the will help me greatly.

Tuesday brought snow and then ice. Way too much ice for my liking. The University cancelled morning classes and we did not have to report until noon. Of course, Russell wanted to go in early. That was fine, because I had reading I wanted to do. In addtion to all my reading for RCIA, I have also begun reading the Harry Potter series... and I'm enthralled with them.

Thursday, of course was Valentines Day. The morning started out on a wonderful note. Russell and I had lunch with a friend, and then on the way home discussed what we were going to do for the evening. After calling a 1/2 dozen restaurants, we decided to wait to have our Valentines dinner until Sunday or Monday, when they wouldn't be so busy.

I had lunch with Karen, my sponser on Saturday and then visited with my Mother. I took her a dog book for her valentines gift. She has been asking for one. I don't think it was the one she wanted, so I may be taking it back. Saturday night saw us attending the Annual Banquet at our local dog training club. We teach their ever week, but have not been as involved. So it was very very good to catch up with alot of old friends!!!

And that, in a nutshell was my week. Hugs to all my friends. Have a grand day and hopefullly, I'll be able to stay in touch more this coming week. And in closing.. good luck wishes to Dale Ernhardt Jr at today's Daytona 500!!! Goooooooo Junebug!!!!

Lent

As many of you know, I am currently undergoing one of the most incredible journeys of my life... I am currently going through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). In other words, I am becoming a Roman Catholic. I have regularly been attending Mass with my husband for the last two years. This past Wednesday, was my very first experience in receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. It was a very powerful experience, one that I embraced deep in my heart. It was also the first time I've fasted on Ash Wednesday. Fasting is never fun, or easy... but I noticed that it wasn't as difficult as when I need to fast for other reasons! I believe that my reason for fasting helped me endure and embrace the experience, and to stay positive!


As I was walking to the Chapel for the Ash Wednesday Mass, I noticed a hawk, sitting at the very top of the cross on the very top of the chapel. Intrigued, I got a really good look and was easily able to ascertain that the hawk was a red tailed hawk. This distracted me for a few seconds, and then I hurried inside. The chapel was full.. it was standing room only. So I found a spot at the back of the chapel and waited for Russell. He arrived a few minutes later, and I whispered to him about the hawk. After Mass, we looked and sure enough, it was still there. In sharing this with friends, I learned that Native American lore says that the presence of Red Tailed Hawks are good luck. They ward off evil spirits and protect from dangerous weather! Of course, the nation was currently being ravaged by horrible storms, blizzards and floods. We were spared for the most part here in Dayton. So I wonder if there's not something to this folklore. Either way, it added to my wonderful Ash Wednesday experience.


In addition to not eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Friday's of Lent, I've decided to give up sweets (candy and desserts). Visiting my Mother is always filled with eating candy. She has tons and tons of it, and it's in little bowls all around her room. Knowing this, I got into the "right mindset" as I prepared for our weekly visit. I was able to ignore her candy with ease. I felt no desire for it. I prayed a prayer of thanks, and asked for continued strength in my resolve. Will power has never been my strong suit. I also manged to ignore all the valentine's candy displays at the grocery.... it's all over, and I typically fall prey to at least one of this displays. However, I stayed focused on what I was looking for and checked out without any feeling any temptation. Thank you, God!


Yesterday, being Friday, meant "no meat". Russell and I met for lunch at the Faculty/Staff dining room on campus. The Chef was serving the loveliest pork roast. I looked at it with longing.. pork is my favorite. I mentioned this to the manager, and he groaned. He wanted it to. He told me laughingly that they had really messed up the menu, and didn't think about this being Lent. Of course, it's a little more astonishing, because this is a Catholic University. He was pretty chagrined and I giggled and said, well.. just don't take it off the menu because it didn't sell. He assured me they wouldn't.


So I chose the fried shrimp, and a cheddar garlic biscuit. And then I went to the salad bar and scooped up a large dish of napa cabbage salad... and then walked around and generously sprinkled sunflower seeds and crumbled bacon on top! I didn't even realize what I had done until Russell pointed at it in mock horror. It took a minute for my brain to click and I too gasped in horror.. more real than his. So, after we sat down, i proceeded to scrape off all the bacon. Our table was right next to another, where two priests, both of whom I am good friends with, and who know that I'm going through RCIA, were sitting. Fr. Teddy immediately noticed, and started laughing, asking me if I had put bacon on my salad. I groaned and grinned at him. Fr. Joe laughed and and Fr. Teddy said that they could give me a dispensation. I looked up from my scraping, and said "really?". I was so mortified and sad that I had messed up. Russell grinned at them and said "that's a rookie for you!!!". They both laughed and told me not to worry about it. Finally, I thought I had it all and took a bite. NOPE. I told Russell there was bacon mixed in... so I went and got a lid, and brought it home to eat this weekend. Another Priest, named Fr. Bert came over to say hello. I told him what I had done, and he was very sweet and told me that not to worry, that it was an honest mistake. He then went back to his table and came back once more and said, don't worry... one of the Brothers forgot and got a cheeseburger on Ash Wednesday! That definitely made me feel better!!!


These are my first "Lenten" experiences... and I may share more as time passes. If you are taking part in Lent, I'd love to hear about yours.

2007 Perseid Meteor Showers Underway

From SpaceWeather.Com:

The Perseid meteor shower has begun. Although the display will not peak until August 12th and 13th, sky watchers are already counting as many as a dozen meteors per hour (including some nice fireballs) during the darkest hours before dawn. Rates could increase 5- to 10-fold when the shower reaches maximum on Sunday night and Monday morning.

Advice:

Get away from city lights. While many Perseids will be bright enough to see from light-polluted urban areas, the shower's full grandeur is reserved for places with dark and starry skies. This is a good weekend to go camping.

Some more Excellent info:
SkyandTelescope.com

Doctor's Report

Here is the scoop:

I have a bad case of cellulosis, and have to keep my leg elevated as much as possible for 3 days. I got a shot of super strong antibiotics, and am on major antibiotics for 10 days. I have to go back for a recheck in 3 days. She says that more than likely I got this from a bug bite or plant at the lake. Hmmmm!!!! ....

So I went and saw my Mommy, and then to Kroger's to get my perscription filled and to get comfort food. My Leg is propped, and I'm nicely medicated. I'll go back on Friday at 3 for a follow up.

Thank you so so so much for all your kind thoughts, prayers and concern. They all mean alot!!!

Hugs to everyone!

UPDATE Posted Friday, August 10 at 7:35pm

I went back for a recheck today, and I'm doing much better! She says it will take time, and I'm still to keep my leg elevated at all times, or as much as possible. I have to go back in a week for another re-check, but my Dr. was pleased.

Thank you for all your messages, continued prayers and good thoughts. You guys are the greatest!

I want my Mommy!

Just a quick post... I've pretty been in bed for the last two days... I have the flu and my body feels like a train wreck. I will check in here when I can.... Hugs (non-contagious) to all.

There's no place like home!

Well I'm home! And very glad to be. We had a nice time, but I missed Russell, Kira, Ben and Yelda. Russell couldn't take off from work, so I went with my Mother inlaw. Russell and I have our own place, which is next to my Mother Inlaws. Her place is next to her brothers, so there's usually always family around!

Our place is a two bedroom "park model" mobile home. It's got a regular bathroom and kitchen, and a small living area. Because we now have 4 dogs, three who need to be crated when we're not home, we've not been going to the lake at all, and have missed it. We're thinking of converting one of the bedrooms into a "dog room, and removing the bed, and putting in crates and another window a/c, so the dogs would be cool when we're out on the lake fishing.
So, since Russell couldn't go, I took Cora, who loves it. And she's our "very bested girl" and behaves well... the only thing you have to watch for is that if she finds a dead fish, she likes to roll in it and that is stinky!

Since we hadn't been there for a long time, I discovered a few "problems". Our TV was "toast"... it wouldn't stay on. Russell said that he remembered it misbehaving when he was up there with his scout troop. So off to Walmart I went to buy a new one. We don't watch tv alot, but at night, or when we want to come in from the heat, it's nice to have. Happily, I got one with a DVD player, because we don't have cable, and reception is terrible. The only channel I was able to get was the PBS station, which was fine, since we watch alot of PBS. Russell will be able to get more channels. And I luckily bought a couple of DVD's and watched those at night. Our cordless phone's battery was also dead, but we had another phone in the closet, so I got that to work. I was also able to get online via dial up.. which was a blessing. I read everyone's messages and comments, but didn't post or upload pictures because it would have taken too long.
Russell's Uncle and his wife and great grandson were there, and we went fishing on their pontoon. I caught 3 large catfish with my brand new "red firebird" fishing rod!!! Everyone was dubious that I'd be able to bring in anything on it, but I surprised them and landed two very large catfish and third, which was not as large. We only kept what we were going to eat... and released the smaller ones, and the ones that we couldn't use.

Russell's cousin came up with his daughter and grand daughter to visit on Wednesday. We spent most of the afternoon on the lake, ridnig around... we pulled into a marina, and everyone got hawaiian ice. I got "lime" flavored!!! YUM!

It was hot hot hot.. and thank goodness for the air-conditioning. Cora was out in the mornings with us, and in the evening. I made her stay insdie during the hottest part of the day. She wanted to come out for visits, and I let her... and she was really good about telling me when she wanted to go back in. Even though she's a Newf, she's never been a big swimmer. I would have liked to take her out on the pontoon, but the one we use wasn't out... it's part of the estate from Pete, and we don't know what's going to happen to it. I didn't want to take her on the other one.. it's new and I didn't want her to shed on it. So, maybe next time! I did have a spray bottle filled with water, and we misted her alot, and that really helped. And, for a treat, I made her her very own snow cones! I have a snow cone maker up there, and I melted beef bouillon cubes, and froze them.. and then put them in the snow cone maker, and Cora had her very own snow cone!!! She loved it, and I decided to bring it home and make some for Kira, Ben and Yelda. They love to chew ice, so they will love this!!!

So, in a nutshell, that is "my time at the lake". And I loved it, but it's very good to get home. Russell did a great job taking care of the others. He rigged up fans to keep them comfortable in their crates. Apparently, they were restless since both Cora and I were gone, and he even tried to let Yelda sleep in our room. Kira didn't want to, and stayed in her crate. She didn't like the fact that Yelda wasn't out there with her, and fussed!!! Russell was up and down trying to help them settle, and was a very good sport!!!

Here are some more photos:


Create Your Own

Checking in...

I'm still posting on my other blog.. I didn't want to abandon this one... but life continues to be "crazy busy!". So, if you find me here, and want to catch up, visit me at:

http://360.yahoo.com/cora_newf

Things are insanely busy in my whacky world...

...and I'm having a hard time keeping up with two blogs. So, for the time being, I'm posting a link to my other blog... and when time permits, I'll try and get back here and catch things up!!! Here is a link to: my other blog

Office Benjamin Kramer Fife's Safety Report

Neighborhood Safety Report

compiled by Deputy Benjamin Kramer Fife

The following information is compiled from the Department of Public Safety Incident Reports. This report is provided as a public service from the Neighborhood Department of Public Safety.

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Report #: 060730a
Date of incident: 7/30/06
07:45 Hours

While on my regular morning patrol, I observed suspicious activity coming from an adjacent property. Upon further investigation, I observed a very large object in the driveway. It was very loud. It proceeded to move out of the driveway and along the roadway in front of my territory. The subject was very large and having never seen anything similar to it before I was immediately suspicious. Upon further investigation I have put together a description of the subject: large trailer pulled by big red pick-up truck; on the trailer was a large and very old red farm tractor. The subject appeared dangerous and unruly. I sent the signal for back-up. The subject continued down the road and out of my jurisdiction. I continued to send urgent alarm signals out to neighboring precincts. Subject remains at large and is considered highly suspicious and potentially dangerous. Case status: OPEN!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Report #: 060802a
Date of incident: 8/02/06
07:28 Hours

As I left the station for my morning patrol, I immediately noticed suspicious activity coming from the trees. Upon noticing this, I investigated further. My initial impression was that the sky was falling. However, evidence soon showed that nuts are falling out of the trees, and landing in my territory. Individuals should use caution when walking in certain areas. Case Status: CLOSED!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Report #: 060730b
Date of incident: 8/02/06
07:33 Hours

Continuing on my morning patrol, I noticed a stray canine waking down the street. This suspect was in violation of Statute 995.221, section B2 which states “all canines in public areas must be on a leash at all times”. I immediately sent out an alarm signal and notified the suspect that he was in violation of local ordinances. The suspect approached and I immediately notified him that he should not trespass onto land that is under my jurisdiction. At this point, my presence was required elsewhere, and I was “urged” to go indoors. Subject remains at large and is considered highly suspicious and potentially dangerous. Case status: OPEN!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Disclaimer: While these incidents actually occurred their accounts have been reported to hopefully provide readers with a good laugh. Ben is one of our Newfoundlands. His personality is best described as a cross between Deputy Barney Fife from "The Andy Griffith Show" and Kramer from "Seinfeld".

Playing In Traffic...

This day is a perfect is a perfect example of the phrase “take one step forward and two steps back”. To begin with, I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I stayed up late trying to finish a book that “I just couldn’t put down”. I think I finally finished it around 3:30 and of course the alarm went off to feed the dogs around 6:30! And while I thank God every morning for the snooze alarm, using it is only delaying my reality. So after walking and feeding all dogs, and seeing Russell off to work, I slipped back into bed for another hour’s sleep. By doing this, however, I put myself behind schedule.

I had an appointment to meet an appraiser at my Mother’s condo at 11:30. This took about 45 minutes and then I was off to my Mother’s Doctor’s office to pick up a prescription. Of course this isn’t an easy drive because the office is located right across from the Mall and traffic is always horrendous. Plus the parking lot is far away from the office, and while I parked as close as I could, it was still a bit of a hike. Normally I wouldn’t mind, but with the mercury approaching 100 degrees, I was not amused. There was a bit of a wait while they reviewed my Mom’s chart but I was soon on my way.

The mall area is far away from everything else. And traffic being at its worse- I ended up using my “plan B” route. This probably was not that bad of a deal because it got me out of major traffic- for a while anyway! I finally arrived at the pharmacy only to be told that I had to wait a couple of days to fill the prescription due to insurance issues. So I headed back out into the heat and went to the grocery store across the street to pick up some things for my Mom.

And finally, I was on my way to my Mom’s. I was staying late because she was supposed to have her first session with her new physical therapist. However, he never showed. I waited about 45 minutes and finally headed for home. The car was hotter than Hades. When I got home our house was cool and I was greeted by four happy dogs. Russell was working on my Mother’s bills, and that’s how we spent the rest of the evening.

Dog Days of Summer Warrant Pet Safety

The “Dog Days of Summer” have truly arrived! I heard on the radio just now that temperatures here could very well be over 100 tomorrow! The announcer reminded listeners to be sure and watch out for their pets during the extreme heat. And because of this, it’s necessary for all pet owners to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their pets. And so I decided to post a Blog about this! It’s important that all pets be provided with plenty of shade and water. And whenever possible, bring them inside to keep them out of the extreme heat.

Do not leave any pet unattended in a car on hot days. Even if a car is parked in the shade, temperatures in a parked car can reach 120 degrees in no time at all. Leaving your pet in these conditions is extremely dangerous, even it’s for a short amount of time. The can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage and even death. Putting your pets at risk is simply not worth it. It’s a much better idea to leave them safely at home, preferably inside where it’s cool. If you come across a parked car with an animal inside, notify either the local animal control or police immediately. You may very well save a life by doing so! Symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke include:

• Heavy panting
• Glazed eyes
• Rapid pulse
• Unsteadiness
• Vomiting
• Deep red or purple tongue

If your pet does become overheated, it is essential that its body temperature be lowered quickly and immediate first aid is necessary. The first thing you need to do is to find a shady area for your pet. Apply cool water to your pet’s body, which will lower its body temperature. You should also apply either cold towels or ice packs to your pet’s head, neck and chest. Encourage your pet to drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. And finally, take your pet to a veterinarian ASAP.

It’s possible for pets to bet sunburned and your pet may need sunscreen on its nose and ear tips (ears are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer). This is especially true for pets with light-colored noses and light colored fur.

If you like to walk your dogs, do so either in the very early morning or later in the evening. Pavements become quite hot during the heat of the day and can burn your pet’s paws. It’s also important to note that people with short-nosed dogs and those with thick coats need to take extra precaution.

Photo Info: We fostered this boy a few years ago. When he came into rescue he weighed only 68 pounds and had lost 3/4 of his hair. He's happy and healthy now and has a wonderful home. His new "Mom" took this picture of last year as he relaxed in his pool on a particularly hot day! His name is Troy!

Ice Cube Passion

When it comes to ice, I'm like a hamster. I've discovered lately that I hoard it. We don't have an ice maker and we don't usually buy store ice. Instead, we make ice the "old fashioned" way. We have 4 ice trays. I'm not the most coordinated person, but when it comes to filling ice trays I'm quite proficient. As soon as the ice in the trays is completely frozen, I open the trays and dump them into the ice bin. I then quickly refill them and pop them back into the freezer.

It's a pretty good feeling when the ice trays are completely frozen and the ice bin is full. Unfortunately, during these dog days of summer, that's a rare event. As of right now, the ice bin is full to overflowing and the trays are freshley filled.

To conserve ice, I've got 2 pitchers of ice water in the fridge, as well as a jug of Russell's sugar free "bug juice" and a couple of 2-Litre bottles of Diet Pepsi. Having our beverages cold means that we use less ice. I take one final step in ensuring our healthy ice supply- we use thermal glasses and mugs.

Bottom line: I AM A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DORK! LOL!

My Book Nook

One of the many things involved in clearing out my Mother's house is finding something "to do" with her voluminous collection of paperback books. My Mother's taste in fiction isn't something you'd expect your Mother to enjoy. My Mother enjoys novels about vampires and romance... the steamier the better.

It’s difficult for my Mother to part with her books. However, the reality is that she has been somewhat compulsive in building her library. There are many duplicates, and many unread. There are several that she’s really not even interested in reading. So, we’ve decided to sell them.

A family friend started selling them online. However her husband had back surgery yesterday and she will not be able to continue. I went to her house on Tuesday and she “showed me the ropes” in regards to selling online! On Wednesday, I went to the bank and opened a special checking account to deal with this. I then spent the entire evening setting up my seller’s account and listing a couple of dozen books.

And ‘lo and behold, one sold this morning! I felt victorious! I dutifully printed out a packing slip, and hurried off to buy shipping materials. I then went to the post office and waved cheerfully goodbye to my first successful sale!

Like my Mother, I am a “shopper”. So who would have thunk? The buyer has become a seller. And that is a pretty fantastic feeling!

Here's a link to my store at Amazon: AnniesBookNook

We've been infiltrated!

I'm feeling sort of crappy so I was trying to sleep in. I heard the phone ringing, and proceeded to crawl out of bed to find the damned phone. This time, it wasn't too hard because the phone was on the charger. Of course, I was too late and had to wait for any voicemail message to come through. The call had been from my friend Susan... our caller ID showed that she was calling from her cell phone, and she was more than likely on her way to work.

So I called her back and we were chatting away when complete pandemonium broke out. All 4 dogs went absolutely insane. They were barking wildly, so much so that I knew something or someone was in our yard. They sounded much too alarmed and anxious for it to be squirrel, rabbit or bird. So I told Susan that I better go and see. She said to call her back.

I walk through the kitchen towards the living room and stopped to get some of my on ammunition: dog biscuits. I was yelling for the dogs to be quiet, which in itself was an exercise in utility. It was at this point that it also occurred to me that I wasn't in a "presentable" state to greet someone at the door.

So I peer around the corner, and tried to see if someone was on the porch. There didn't appear to be anyone there, so I slipped into the dining room and quickly got a better look. Nope... nobody on the side porch! The dogs were still carrying on, but the aroma of the dog biscuits clutched in my hand must have wafted towards them, because their barking was rather half-hearted at this point.

As I was making them get off the couch, I glanced out the picture window, and saw our interloper. It was a great big green monster parked smack dab in our front yard. And bless their hearts, my 4 beloved sentries’ were doing the best to send out the alarm and to protect our fort!!! I love these dogs so much. At this point, biscuits were handed out, and everyone was safely tucked into their crate so that I could go back to bed.

But then I realized I need to call Susan back, but I had to wait a bit. So I checked email and decided to post this latest happening in my whacky world. Of course, by now you realize that the great big green yard monster is actually my beloved Ford Explorer. It was parked behind Russell's van, and when he left for work this morning, he pulled it over into the yard so that he could get out. I could have driven his van, but I really like my explorer.... he's such a big sweetie. He'd hate that I said so.... but it's the truth!

I have been excused...

I was summonsed for Jury Duty, and was supposed to report tomorrow. As instructed, I just called and learned that all trials have been cancelled for tomorrow. This releases me from my obligation.

In some ways I'm relieved. I have way too much on my plate as it is. Yet I've always wanted to have the experience of serving on a jury. I believe that it's my civic duty and that is something that I feel very strongly about.
Ah well, perhaps another time....

$3.09 a gallon????? Yikes!!!!

I was astounded this morning when I saw that gas had gone up over night to $3.09 a gallon! I think that is the highest I can ever remember it being in this part of the country. Geeeez....

For those of you reading this, I'm curious to know how much gas is right now in your town... so if you would, add a comment to this blog and tell me how much gas is in your area. I hope that anyone reading this blog will participate.

Also here is a link to a cool site for anyone living in the USA or Canada.... it will help you find the cheapest gas prices in your area, and you can sign up and participate and earn points to cheaper gas: Gasbuddy.Com

And of course, we need gas. While we were out on our expedition yesterday, we stopped for gas. We decided to gamble and only get a little bit, thinking that prices would go down today.... HA! The laugh's on us... and we've got alot of egg on our faces.

Weekend's end.....

We managed to sleep in today! WOW!!! Yet, we didn't sleep in too late to miss going to Mass. We decided to attend mass at Emmanuel Roman Catholic Church, which is located in Downtown Dayton. Before today, I have never been there, and had always heard about how beautiful it is. I wasn't disappointed. It is a gorgeous church! It's very tradtional and not at all modern. I personally find many modern churches to be rather harsh and cold.

Emmanuel was built in the mid 1800's and survived Dayton's great flood of 1913. The stained glass windows are breathtaking. To be honest, I was so distracted by all the amazing windows and other beautiful things that I had a hard time concentrating. LOL!

After church, we went to breakfast at a neat little eatery, also located Downtown. We had hoped to pick up some spices from a man that has a stall in a street market, but the entire market is closed on Sundays. So, we moved on to plan b! We were soon on the interstate heading south out of town. Our destination: Turtle Creek Flea Market.

It was a great day to go to a flea market. The heatwave of the past 2 weeks finally broke Friday night, and temperatures were only in the mid 70's. Plus, there was no humidity to speak of. It was so nice not to have a "schedule" to adhere to. We were able to meander around the flea market at a leisurely pace. We purchased 3 bags of our brand of dog food for an amazing price, which was the entire reason for going to the flea market to begin with!

We had been at the flea market for a couple of hours when my cell phone rang. Reality had intruded on our day. The call was from my sister. She was checking to see if I was going to be visiting our Mother today. I assured her I was, and she asked me to pick up some things that my Mother needed. I told Russell that our next stop needed to be Wal-Mart!

Somehow, I thought that we would be able to avoid a trip to Wal-Mart this weekend... but I dont' think that is even possible. I don't think a weekend's gone by in the last 10 years where I haven't made at least one trip to Wal-Mart! Once we arrived at our local Wal-Mart, we decided to grab a sandwich at the "Subway" located inside the store. We felt so sorry for the girl working there. She was all by herself, and some customers had made huge messes at their table and at the beverage station. I will never understand why people behave this way. They simply have no respect!

After eating our late lunches, we picked up the things my Mother needed. Russell got paged about a problem with one of the systems at work, and he thought he might have to go in. Happily, the problem was resolved without him having to go in. I helped him walk and feed the dogs when we got home, then left to visit my Mom.

She was tired and not very talkative. I stayed for about 2 hours and headed home. It's been a quiet but nice evening. The air is cool outside... the crickets are filling the night air with their song.... I feel tired, but in a good way. I'm ready to take on the week... and will be "back in the saddle" tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, good night, and sleep tight!!!