Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Quick Quips
Caught a cold and we are hitting the 2 week mark. It has made me a lazy bag of bones. No energy to do a thing. The house is a wreck and its all I can do to sweep the floors and keep things livable.
Peter turned 21
New kitty has gotten fat and sassy. Peter asked if he was still able to take her when he moves out......answer....... resounding YES!
New ferret has kept me very busy and very stressed. Peter brought her home from the flea market. ( I had a long talk with him about how I can not save every ferret ) Emma was pretty bad off though. We were close to losing her. She has adrenal, way under weight and was so depressed that she would not eat or drink. I was force feeding her and giving Sub Q fluids to keep her alive. She has turned around and has started eating and drinking on her own again. She lost so much in weight and has a ways to go for a good recovery, but all the signs are there that she has decided to stay.
Work has been busy. This is good. We've had some really good jobs....big jobs. Some clients are doing well in this economy.
The freezes we had wiped out some of my wonderful plants. I guess when spring rolls around here soon I will find out what still has viable roots and what will have to be replaced.
Pops is back in our lives and that makes me happy. Despite Michael being an ass his father is a good guy and has always been good to me and Peter
Did some financial planning for my future....well might be more like Peters future since its life insurance, but all the same its what is needed. Now if it pulls through.
My white trash neighbors are still around. Damn dog doesn't stop barking. House still looks like it should be torn down. Trash never stops coming out of the house. Kids are out til all hours of the night. ....... but at least its been a month since the last screaming fight in the front yard. Come to think of it...that's the last time the cops were called on em too.
Verizon is driving me nuts!. The put fios in and now the sales reps are coming in droves, at least one a week is knocking on the door. The first time I thought I would go for it so I signed up for a bundled package for $99.00 a month and a free multi room DVR for 6 mo, and free HBO and Cinemax for 1 month. Then I read the fine print...... those pesky asterisk......... to get the discount package I had to call a toll free number withing 30 days of installation or would be charged as individual services, phone, Internet, tv, AND THAT WOULD HAVE COST ME $160.00 A MONTH PLUS TAXES!!!! Also had to pay an $80.00 installation fee for the internet, then would have to call to cancel the movie stations before the first billing date to cancel or would have to pay for them. Lastly found out that if the original modem breaks with regards to the internet.....I have to BUY the next one. Oh...... and lets not forget the one year contract. I"ll stick with Brighthouse....I know with them all my service calls are free AND they have replaced my modem twice in the last 8 years....FREE. And the mess with the DVR box and the outside cable lines........ NO CHARGE Needless to say all was cancelled........ since then 3 more sales reps have been around............................ I think I will electrify the door.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Quick Quips
I see so many shallow people these days that are only concerned with outward appearances. What happens to all the "beautiful people" when they turn 50? Have they cosmetically altered themselves so much that they can no longer smile, raise an eyebrow, or sit?
Why do people have to do things out of character to tell you something without actually telling you? Someone e-mailed me a "fun survey" to fill out and send back to them and pass on....even tho they have never sent me one before. I hate these things...send me jokes...cool pics...funny stories or awesome videos, but can the surveys. So any way, whats like the first question.... significant other....and it is filled out with a name. Was this your way of telling me you have a GF now. "HAHA look at me I have someone and your alone"????
Delete
That button is so cool...wouldn't it be nice if it worked on everything?
But "us" is such past history that these tactics have no affect on me. So what. If ya got yourself a GF and ya have a deep desire to tell me, then just spit it out....... and then ask yourself why you have such an urge to tell me.
Healthcare....I got coverage from work and its....ok... I won't complain because right now work pays "in full" for benefits. But my son..... he works for a company that provides a service in healthcare and his sucks...... He has $1400.00 out of pocket deductible....and to top it off......the service he provides....it isn't covered by his insurance. Go figure that one. Is this country messed up or what?
WTF....who gives a crap about what kind of dog Obama is bringing to the White House....but did I hear him say he was thinking about a shelter dog because it would be a "mutt" like him...wait.....wait...... did he actually for once, not play of the "first African American "president theme? After all he IS half white, but it seems that so many Americans conveniently forget that side of his heritage. I don't care if your black, white, red or purple......just don't misrepresent who you are to get what you want.
Lastly....... I pondered the thought of rigging up a hidden speaker at my front door so that when religious fanatics come a knockin, I can do Amityville horror impression and whisper "GEEET OOOOOOUT!!"
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Choices
Eight years of marriage was all I could take. I never should have let it last that long, but we all learn our lessons in our own time and we each have to find our own strength to say enough is enough. Pop filled me in on the latest antics of the ex. He learned pop was back in town a month ago....he showed up on his doorstep, again asking for a handout. He was told the bank was forever closed. He chose the life he was living and he was not going to support his habit...or habits any longer. Done, finis....over. I was told that the ex was up to 265 lbs, ragged looking, living in a slummy building with 2 or 33 other guys. They were all alcoholics and hooked on crack. I knew the ex had been using for sometime. Apparently he started using after meeting his GF who he has been with longer than our marriage lasted. (Pops tells me she is in the hospital partially paralyzed from a seizure brought on by crack use.) I know there is also a warrant out for his arrest for writing bad checks and failure to appear. He holds no job.....go figure.
This all led me to think about strength of character, choices and having the courage to say no. How is it, or what is it that gives a person who finds them surrounded by the evils, say no? No! No! NO! When we were married and he started drinking to much...started using pot.... what was it about me that could say no, I don't want it? If I had stayed with him, would I have eventually fallen onto the same path? For so long, I could not say no to his abuse, but why could I say no to his drugs? What made me responsible and not him? We both owned the same home. We both had the same son. We both had steady jobs. Well, not so much a steady job for him when I left...by then he was on his third job in as many years.
I guess it scares me that I could have followed him. I could have been living on the streets and I could be hooked on drugs. It scares me even more what would have happened to Peter. Maybe Peter was my strength.......after all........I let my husband beat me, but the first time I saw signs that Peter would be his next victim, I was outta there....gone...done...finis. Never looked back.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Bringing In the New Year
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas Venting
And so in the 4 years he has been gone, I have come to realize how commercial the holidays are. Duh you say....well when you are brimming over with holiday cheer and feel Christmas in your heart, you don't see that. Its not what it ever was for me and Pete. And with that, I have felt obligated to buy presents, even when I really can't afford to. I feel disapproval when all I spend is $30.00 on someone.....I just don't think my family understands......then I get to feel like crap because its just a "small" gift and not appreciated. In truth I could be under estimating my younger brother......there was a time he could only buy $10.00 gifts. I understood and it never bothered me...I always considered the thought. My sister and I had a long conversation over lack of funds and buying presents but she still bought big. Then there is my older brother, he has a lot of debt, a wife who spends like crazy and they bought alot of gifts. Maybe the truth is we all feel the same but everyone is afraid to say something.....so we all just spend and charge away. Oh yes I hear the...."just put a little away each paycheck"..... that doesn't work out so well when you are living paycheck to paycheck. So needless to say, all the "obligated" gift giving just drags me down more.
What I can say is the time spent with the out of town family was nice. Sitting around talking, watching movies and playing family games was all very nice. To me that is what Christmas is all about. I could be happy buying gifts for nieces and nephews and then just sitting around with family creating more good memories. Maybe its just more folks need to realize that its the family that is important...not the gifts.
Oh well.... maybe I'll get some bills paid off this year and the cost of living will come down, then maybe, just maybe, those "obligated gifts " won't stress me out so much. This is one year I will be glad when the holidays are gone. I can always hope 2009 will be better.
Some of the things that made me feel crappy:
1) I could only spend $30.00 per person
2) I felt pressured into spending $100.00 for a refrigerator fund for my mother because the
other siblings were all doing it. I know my mother....I will be surprised if she buys one in the
next 12 months.
3) My mother and I were asked if we wanted to go a visit some folks who are second family. I
didn't go because they were going out to eat and I couldn't afford it. My mother said no
because she didn't want to spend the whole afternoon "out" nor did she want to eat out. At 2
PM I got a call from my mother. She said they decided to eat in because she (my mom) didn't
come since they had made plans to eat out, they were disappointed in not seeing her and
would she come if they ate in. Well of course she would! Alas tho, she can't drive right now, so she had no way to get there. Their response was ....well call Stephanie and ask her to bring
you. I took her, but hated being the tag along because I was the chauffeur. I used to be close to these people but over the years they have really made me feel second class.
4) I felt like a maid..... I had to clean my mothers kitchen before I could cook Christmas
dinner. I wouldn't have let my cats eat off her counters. Don't get me wrong. I love my
mother but her cleaning skills have really gone south since her stroke. I had thoroughly
cleaned it 6 months ago and had to do it again. (Note: The floors still need a heavy scrubbing)
And yes...I had to wash the dishes after dinner too.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sir Woozle, My Little Knight
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Learn a Lesson
If only we……..people could live this way
Now you can tell me that animals don’t know they are sick or that they are dying, but I don’t believe that. I have looked in the eyes of an animal pleading to be put out of pain…..released from a disease ridden body. I have also looked into the eyes of an animal that has asked for more time. I have watched my ferrets play more gently with another ferret that is ill, disabled or old…….. and I have watched one ferret nuture another that was mourning the loss of a mate. Oh….they understand life…….maybe better than we do.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
4 Years Ago.....................
Maybe you’re still here
I feel you all around me
Your memories so clear
Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You’re still an inspiration
Can it be (? )
That you are mine
Forever love
And you are watching over me from up above
Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile to know you’re there
A breath away’s not far
To where you are
Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn’t faith believing
All power can’t be seen
As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday’
cause you are mine
Forever love
Watching me from up above
And I believe
That angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave
Fly me up
To where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you’re there
A breath away’s not far
To where you are
I know you’re there
A breath away’s not far
To where you are
Josh Groban
Monday, August 04, 2008
Angel Has Her Wings
She was of the feline persuasion.
Her name was Angel.

She was taken down quickly this weekend by cancer. As pet owners we have the ability to allow our fur kids to pass with grace and dignity. While I was given treatment options, I knew what it would do to her and she was already tired. If you pay attention your pets let you know when its enough. Their eyes speak volumes
Angels life was not very long. She blessed me with 10 years of love, kindness and affection, far shorter than the standard 18 to 20 years cat usually hangs around. Maybe her life was shortened, because she was special. Maybe there were other plans for her.................... at least I know she is happy and whole again, free of pain and discomfort.
I think her passing, has an added hurt, another one of those tenuous strings that connects me to Pete, is now broken. See, Angel was given to me by Pete, as was Sergei. Over the years, things that were his, get broken or shattered, misplaced or lost or just quit working. As each object goes its way, its like another tie breaks. We try so hard to hold on to those that are gone. Maybe I am just being nostalgic with the 4th year anniversary of his death rolling up.
So kitty has passed on........she has crossed rainbow bridge.......... to roll in the never ending meadow of catnip, chase her rattle-ee fuzzy mice, and to lay in the warmth of the sunlight swishing her tail to and fro. I am sure having conversation with Billy and Raini, relating further stories of the pesky ferrets and how they have over run the house, how sunny perches are still hard to find, and hopefully of how much they loved being in my care. Here at Rainbow Bridge they will stay..... and wait, until the humans time comes to pass when both will pass on through the pearly gates side by side.
This was sent to me by a friend....thanks Nita.............
I just wanted to let you know
that I made it home.
The journey wasn't an easy one,
but it didn't take too long.
Everything is so pretty here,
so white, so fresh and new
I wish that you could close your eyes,
that you could see it too.
Please, try not to be sad for me.
Try to understand
God is taking care of me...
I'm sheltered in His hands.
Here there is no sadness,
no sorrow, and no pain.
Here there is no crying
and I'll never hurt again.
Here it is so peaceful
when all the angels sing.
I really have to go for now...
I've just got to try my wings.
Unknown
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Quick Quips
I took my yearly trip to Virginia to visit my dad. My sister was there the same time as me and that was great. My youngest bro showed up for the 4th of July holiday and the older bro, with family in tow showed uo on the 4th. All was great until once again older bro turned into the ass and made personal attacks on me and my son. I don't know what his issue is but I am really getting tired of it. He has been on Peter's and my back for at least 7 years now. He always claims it amazing that Peter isn't in jail like he predicted he would be 7 years ago. Granted Peter hasn't been an angel, but its not he has been some gun totten thug. I mean Peters list of trouble includes numerous traffic tickets, a few detentions in school and a 5 day in school suspension for setting off firecrackers in the cafateria, which the principal admitted was something he had also done in school. And yes Peter had some emotional issues to work through because of his wonderful father and along with that I got a mouthy kid, but he has turned out ok. He is straight edge (no drugs, no smoking, no alcohol)and is starting EMT training in September. ANyway the over all vacation was pleasant and relaxing. Wish I coulda stayed longer
I put in some new gardens in, in the back yard. I am trying to make the barren back yard my escape to a peaceful hide away. I want to make it so when your in the back yard you can't see other houses. Kind of a pretend oasis far away from humanity. Lots more plants to go, but it is a start.
I now have another ferret on permanent meds. Lielah was diagnosed with Adrenal disease and requires monthly Lupron shots. Not a cheap drug, but I made a commitment to my critters and I carry through with their care with no qualms.
I had my 2 year mark at my job. Wooohoooo.
June was a busy month. I had lots of dog walking/sitting that kept me busier than I would have liked. I am taking a break from pet sitting due to other issues that have come up.
I took on cleaning the office for extra money when the normal cleaning lady quit. It helps pay the vet bills and sometimes for my meds. Can't sneeze at that
I have been thinking of getting contacts. I hate wearing glasses. I hate they way they steam up when going from A/C to outside or outside to A/C. I hate the constant switching of glasses for driving normal use and working at my desk. Mostly I hate the way I look in glasses.
Boring....ya I know....but no real deep thoughts have had time to get into my head....things have been hectic and I just feel like I am running a rat race lately. There was only dial up while on vacation and I just didn't see it worth the hassle or effort.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Stanley Cup - Detroit VS Pittsburgh
Friday, May 23, 2008
In Retrospect.... an Anchor Around His Neck
Every now and then I look back, not out of sadness or regrets, but for future reference.
Lately I see more than just “You got another ferret?!!”as being the reason for the last break up. Yes I still talk to the ex BF on occasion…………why you ask? I can’t say I really have an answer…. Are we really friends? ….. Is it a last string that can’t be let go of? …. Do I see being invited to do anything, go somewhere? ….. Probably not… But that would be another topic to delve into in the future. What I do see is that I was probably a leash…. A chain around his neck…. A weight, an anchor. His motorcycle was the road to freedom……. A road to be with the guys. It would seem, that with me around he couldn’t do those things guys like to do when they have a bike. Weekends riding a bike with the guys….. Bar hopping….. Road trips….. Adventure on the highway……. Kinda hard to do with a chic around. What probably made is worse was that we were an hour away from each other so weekends were our only time together. I see it now…….. decision…..make GF mad- go with the guys vs see GF-she won’t be mad-but not as much fun. I guess the GF can only win out for so long before it turns into some resentment. What could ever give me this impression? Well if he isn’t telling me about the place work sent him, then it’s a story of where he went with the guys…… On their bikes………. And what band they saw …..Or what scenery there was. Whats the future plans…… Trips up north….More of the guys…. More concerts. Am I bitter about this??? No……..not really. He deserves some fun in the sun. He doted on a special needs son for 16 years and I would say he is due the playtime…..but one day he will realize that the chrome and metal of the Harley doesn’t keep him warm at night ;)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Florida Ferret Forum

I spent 40 bucks on raffle tickets….. I figured even if I only got one thing I would be happy and I knew the money was going to a good cause.
Is that like the MOST AWESOME coffee mug ever!!
And yes!!, I won that cage...... not a Feret Nations, but Prevue's version....a few changes to make it safer will be needed, but when I get my ferret room back I don't have to go and buy my second cage now. As you can see, I made a haul…..spent $40.00 but got back at least $175.00 in goods. There was another 3 or 4 bags of food I also won, but I gave those to Patti, who is a volunteer with DookNook Ferret Shelter and Rescue in Jacksonville….run by a good friend, Jackie. I figured Jackie could use the food more than me and thought why not spread some of the wealth. One of the prizes was 2 meletonin implants, which I could have used for Lielah, and another was the syringe and needles used to insert the meletonin….lol, I won the syringe but not the meletonin….. I asked Patti if Jackie could use them but she said Jackie was too afraid to do it herself……it is a BIG needle and requires local anesthesia. Maybe my vet will give a discount or I can find another shelter that could use them. I tried to find the person who won the meletonin, but they had already left it seemed. In all it was a great time only saddened by the news of Renee Downs and the loss of Gandalf. Renee was on her way to the forum when the accident happened. I was so hoping to meet her and the news brought tears to my eyes and reminded us all once again that life is precious. It was strange not getting up Saturday morning to the chores of cleaning 7 litterboxes, cleaning and disinfecting the cages, doing the ferret laundry and administering meds…..even stranger was not waking up to give morning kisses to the fuzzbutts. I was gone a little over 24 hours and missed my babies like you wouldn’t believe. When I got home…..I found my kids missed me as much as I missed them. My kids were all over me when I sat on the floor in their play areas. I was showered with kisses, groomed and Liberty did he war dance for me…… coming up and placing a paw on my knew and off dancing again…… just like she did when we first met. And of course I bought some toys for them!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Quick Quuips
I feel like I am in a rut and I can't get out. Day in and day out its always the same thing. Its kind of gotten me depressed and I wish something would happen to make life in general terms...worth the hassle. *sigh*
The electricity went out last weekend and its amazing how quiet it gets. Things can be quiet, but once the electronics are no longer whirring, lights aren't humming, and there is no whish from the AC unit......quiet takes on a whole different meaning. It also occurred to me that I hear more children's voices and chatter outside when the electric is out. Its a shame that it takes an outage to get kids outside nowadays.
Why is it when people do something that is good, and a kind act, there are always those that have to criticize, belittle and degrade the act or the person who performed the act? As an example, the large ferret rescue that I got Liberty from..........the gal that headed it up gave completely of herself and went into personal debt to rescue and disperse over 700 ferrets. Yes she got a lot in donations, but not enough. Now people are simply tearing her apart because they felt she did it wrong, they don't like her accounting of the funds and how they were dispersed, she didn't do this and she didn't do that.......... I don't get it at all............... if you have questions or suggestions then why not approach the person? Why do people attack someones character and integrity? God bless the people that commit random acts of kindness and tackle huge projects to better the lives of human and animals.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Quick Quips
Peter is not moving out. He decided it was more important to get a car that runs, versus the dead one that was sitting on the side yard. He sold the old, bought a new (to him) and now has a running car. Now he has something to get him around when it rains. Poor bike will start to feel neglected.
Was invited to a progressive dinner at Lowery Park Zoo this past weekend. It was pretty cool. Being Valentines that week, the lectures were on the animals, amore and sexual abilities and prowess. Very fascinating talks........dinner was pretty good too. Apps in Africa, salad with the Manatees, dinner in the Love hall and dessert in Australia. Got to check out some cool critters that were being carried around by caretakers. I had a lot of fun................
Work is still ok......... I get treated quite well
I took Angel to a Holistic vet...... traditional Western meds just were not helping her get better. Maybe natural meds will. So far she has not deteriorated...... skin is about the same, but her snotty nose seems to be clearing up. She also seems to me up and moving around a bit more. Her next appointment is not until the beginning of April so we shall see how she is by then with the meds she is on now.
My, my........... Feb has been a rainy month and with that thought, I can't believe that Feb is already soon to be over.
Been busy busy with little projects...... set to sewing hammies for Jackie’s shelter...she had taken in 11 rescues (ferrets) from one location and a few more from another home.
Hope to be starting some landscaping projects soon....make the house have some curb appeal before weather gets hot............. summer project, hopefully my bedroom, but no new carpet until the ferrets have their room back.....so making my bedroom nice will prolly have to wait until Peter moves out. *sigh*
Monday, January 07, 2008
Howling of a Cold, Windy Night
Saturday, December 29, 2007
A Day of Hockey
We got there and found that 2 tickets were for the lower level and 2 were for the AFS Club (formerly the XO Club) Since there were only three of us we asked if we could trade in the 2 lower levels for 1 Club ticket. They happily accommodated us. So off to the AFS Club we went. Complimentary beer, wine and soda and all the food we could eat. OK I am in heaven! My motto, "If its free its for me". Everywhere I looked....... hot dogs, meatballs, quesadillas, pretzels, popcorn, waffles, french toast, sausage, roasted potatoes, cakes and cookies, all for the taking. And beer, soda and wine sweet wine.................
The game itself was good until the third period. Then the Lightning just threw it away like the do so often.....that's ok...the wine was making me feel quite alright with losing......The first of 2 college games started and hour afterward. We hung out in the AFS Club for that game and sucked up more booze. Notre Dame was playing UMass. A very good game with UMass winning. The second game was RPI vs Colorado. We decided to move down to the lower level and watch the game from 3 rows back. What a great game that was. RPI was up 2 to nothing by the end of the second. Colorado came back to tie the game late in the third and then win the game with 7 seconds to go. AWESOME BABY!
The whole day was great. It meant so much to me that George and Fred remembered me and asked me to go. I hadn't seen or spoken to either in quite some time and often felt I had neglected them over the past year or so. Being with them was great and all the reasons they are two of my dearest friends smacked me over the head and reminded me not to neglect them like that again. I had great conversation, laughed joked and had time just fly by. Watching the college games brought back a lot of memories of Peters high school days of hockey. The sound of blades gliding and sliding across ice was a well missed sound. The camaraderie and chatter among the team mates was enjoyable to hear and even the once hated smell of hockey gear was a welcomed odor. I remembered how I loved to watch him play......the ease with which he moved over the ice, the grace, yes grace, he had........ the ringing of the slap shots he took that at the right distance could dent the goalies cage.........Peter had speed and power on the ice and the team could be losing but watching him move and play was what truly made me happy. Today brought all that back and made me realize how much I miss the game and watching my son play.
Two more games tomorrow and more happy memories. Thanks guys for bringing me along. :)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Baggage
Having more free time on my hands now I thought a lot about the baggage we bring into a relationship.
When I entered my last relationship, I knew what I was taking into it. BC was the first person I dated since Pete died. He knew it as well. I never compared the relationships and I never compared the people involved.
When I started to notice the relationship falling apart, I wondered if maybe I hadn't gotten over Pete, had I sabotaged the relationship with memories of him? When BC turned and walked away, I wondered this even more. What I realized, was I miss Pete, that will never change. He helped raise my son, he lived with me, he was my best friend. I always referred to Pete and Peter as my heart and soul, because each held half my heart and half my soul. And while my heart and soul still grieve his loss, it has not been wishing he were here to carry on where we left off. I do know, and have known that I must continue without him. I accepted this long ago.
What I can look back and see is that when the relationship with BC started going south, I longed for someone to be in my life who wanted to share my every moment. How could I not think back and think of Pete....but..... I also thought about Mel.... that first love..... you know the first person you ever fall in love with....... it dawned on me that when relationships start to fail we always look back at the ones that seemed the most perfect. So it would seem that sometimes our fond and heart felt memories can also be baggage. I don't necessarily see this as bad.... past relationships teach us lessons...... how to trust....... how to cooperate and compromise .......how to love.
When BC left, I did not immediately wish that Pete was back. (This truly told me I had moved on with life in the living world.) What I wished, was that if only BC could have gotten past his baggage and allowed me to be something important in his life. He was fun, he made me laugh, he brought me back from the depths of darkness that I had gotten lost in.
In the words of one so dear to me....... "And so it goes...................."

