I may chat about my books, what I'm writing or reading, or just general thoughts. You may read posts about my cats or just my crazy life in general. Comments are welcome, if anyone wants to interact with me. Maybe we can share war stories, whether it's writing related or just about life in general.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving


It’s time for us all to remember to have an attitude of gratitude.  We have so many blessings in our lives, despite all the horrible things going on in the world today.  The news stations seem to have an endless supply of all the crazy and stupid things that people do.  I could go on and on about this subject because there are so many things that I have opinions about, as I imagine all of you do.  Sometimes we need to vent those feelings and using a blog to do so is a good way to do it.  There will always be people on both sides of any issue that comes to light because that’s just human nature.  We aren’t all alike.

But it’s Thanksgiving, one of the most important holidays of the year.  I want to look past all the allegations of sexual misconduct coming out in the news daily and all the ungrateful athletes and other people who dishonor the flag.  I really think this country pays these people more than they’re worth anyway and if they don’t like things here, or respect this country, they should go home.  If I was an owner of these sports teams they’d be fired in a heartbeat.  Where is the gratitude for all the blessings that all these people have?  Why did they want to come to the USA in the first place?  They have nothing to complain about because there are many people that are far worse off than they are.  I guess I’ll never understand their way of thinking.

We should all be grateful for the simple things that a lot of these people take for granted.  We have food on the table and a roof over our heads and warm clothing to protect us from the cold.  We have jobs and are willing to work for the small necessities of life.  There are so many in this country that are less fortunate than that. 



 This includes our pets too and not just the people in our lives.
As we sit down with friends and family let us all be thankful for the fellowship and the food we can share.  Nothing is for certain and next year can always be different than today.  None of us make it out of this world alive.  Let’s try to be nice to our fellow man while we’re here and can make a small difference in someone’s life. 

We were always taught growing up that things could always be worse and today I realize they can be.  I grew up on a cotton farm with my siblings and we did live in poverty at the time, although we all had each other and parents who loved us and we made the best of the situation we were in.  I don’t think any of us would go back to that time today, but we know we can make it if we have to and growing up like that makes you grateful for your blessings and more tolerant of things that life can dish out.

A pumpkin full of kittens


Go forth everyone and cherish this time with your family and friends.  Put your differences aside and be grateful for all your blessings.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.

As a side note, my father would have been 93 on the 22nd.  But he passed away at age 55.  None of us knows how long we have in this life, so we should make every minute count.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Quirks, Irks and Mishaps




As usual there’s always way too much going on in daily life around my place, hence I’m a bit tardy with this post.

When I was eating breakfast about a week ago, I heard a loud thud on the large windows we have in the family room.  We have three windows across the house facing the desert and many a bird has met their demise by hitting them while flying at full speed.

The first thing that entered my mind was the fact I was going to have to find a shovel to bury another bird, thinking it was probably a quail, or pigeon, or perhaps a dove.  I was not up to this task because of the mishap I had while we were preparing for the tile job in our master bedroom and closet.  But I hate to throw dead birds into the trash bin because I think they do deserve a proper burial.  I guess maybe this is a quirk of mine.


 Wow!  Isn't this something?

I got a surprise when I looked out to see a bird of prey knocked out on my patio.  This never happens.  They are too adept at flying and usually chase other birds they’re hunting into the windows.  I grabbed the camera and stood there taking pictures and willing him to wake up and fly away. 

I’m happy to say he did eventually come to his senses enough to fly into the desert where he probably sat a spell until he was revived enough to carry on with his daily routine.

The mishap I mentioned earlier is to my right hand, which is still bandaged three weeks later.  I guess this is going to mean another trip to the doctor.  My mistake here was not going to the doctor to start with and treating myself at home like I usually do.  I’m sure this will just be another battle scar of life to the old bod.



 Isn't this beautiful tile?  It looks like wood.

As mentioned earlier, we put tile in the bedroom and closet so we had old carpet and pad to tear out before the tile layer got here to start the job on the first of November.  Just getting this stuff out and the rooms down to concrete was such a big chore that it wore us out.  Of course all the furniture had to be moved first before any removal could be done as far as carpet and pad were concerned. 

The first day was spent draining the water bed and getting that out of there first, and then came the frame pieces and finally chairs and dresser and chest of drawers, etc.  Then we had to remove everything from the lower half of the closet.  We took four days off work to get all this done, which we needed and then some.  We had furniture, bedding and clothing in every room in the house.  Of course, my cats loved all this excitement.


 Raven snuggled into the bedding we had piled on the couch.

The next day we had to rip the carpet out and then the pad.  The first thing I did was step on the tack strip barefoot.  Duh!  How stupid was that?  I was hauling loads out of the closet and working in the construction zone barefoot.  It was all rush; rush because we only had a couple of days to prepare everything for the tile guy.

By the time we got to the carpet pad we were worn out, but had to get down on our hands and knees with putty knives to scrape up the remnants.  I really don’t know what kind of glue they use for carpet pads, but I think it’s meant to stay there a lifetime.  We made the mistake of leaving all the pictures and sculptures on the walls.  I got up to get the hammer to pull out a tack in the cement floor and fell against the wall because I was so tired.  This knocked an Indian metal sculpture off the wall and it gashed me good and deep across my right hand in two places.  I’m lucky it missed my head. 

Of course I ran for the bathroom sink leaving a trail of blood behind me.  It did cross my mind to go to the emergency room.  My hand looked like a fillet of meat.  I thought I may need stitches.  But it was late in the day and the emergency room would have cost a fortune, not to mention hours of time we didn’t have, so we finally got the bleeding stopped enough to use a band aide to patch it together.

So I kept doctoring this hand twice a day and bandaging it up.  After about a week I decided I should probably see the doctor for it.  Of course, this was impossible too because you can never get an appointment when you need one, so I spent an entire day sitting in the waiting room to see the doctor on call for the day.  They gave me a tetanus shot and also an antibiotic shot along with a prescription for antibiotics.  They said I had done a good job with it so far.  I can say that shot in the rear end made me forget my hand for a while because it hurt so bad I could hardly walk for about three hours. 

I headed to the pharmacy and then to Walmart to get a new heating pad.  Mine is about twenty years old and I’m not sure it even works anymore.  I got home just before dark.  I couldn’t believe it took all day to deal with this.

I’m back to work, but doing easy demos while my hand is healing.  It’s still a bit swollen and red and itches like mad.  I think I’m allergic to the ointment they gave me, the bad aides I’m using, or something, so I’ll have to make an appointment on my next day off and see if I can get in again to have them look at my hand.  I’m ready for this to be well, so I can move on to other things.  I have to keep it dry so I have to put on a glove and rubber band around my wrist so I can take a shower.  It’s getting old.




 This is my hand these days.  I wasn't thinking about the camera when this first happened.

I’ll end this long post with the irk portion.  Three of my neighbors have Xmas lights up already!  Good grief!  This is even earlier than last year!  Doesn’t anyone celebrate Thanksgiving anymore?  I know the house down the block at least remembers Thanksgiving is after Halloween and before Xmas because they have a whole new load of large “blow up” lawn ornaments for Thanksgiving.  As annoying as this looks, at least it’s not Xmas lights yet.  It irks me a great deal to see Xmas decorations go up before Thanksgiving.



 This is one of the prettiest sunrises I've seen since living here.  The whole sky was like this.  It was amazing.  It was about 50 degrees but I stepped out on my patio in my pj's and got this shot.
 
We should all be so thankful for all the blessings we have every day.  But the holidays have become so commercialized.  Decorations are showing up in the stores earlier every year.  I just really hate this, but I know it won’t change.  We had Halloween costumes in Costco in August and then Xmas trees up in September.  Ugh!  What is this world coming to?

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Dog and Cat Diaries




Some of you have probably seen this before, but it’s still funny every time I read it.  Hopefully, this will bring a smile to your day.



The Dog's Diary




From internet search for dogs

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!



The Cat's Diary






 Photo from Tumblr

Day 983 of My Captivity


My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.


The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am.


There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.


Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.


I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously a moron. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now…

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Do people have no shame? Working retail brings out the worst in people




I’ve probably said this before, but life behind a retail counter, demo cart, or any other place of business does not give the people on the other side full reign to abuse you.  Yet I’ve found this to be true over my working career and it doesn’t seem to change no matter where you are in the service industry.  People need someone to yell at, throw things at, and argue with.  Why is human nature like this?  I guess it always has been and always will be.




Sometimes wouldn’t you love to place them in your job and trade places just for a day and see if it would change their attitude?  They could not survive for five minutes in the situations that are commonplace for us service workers. 



 Yes, sometimes this is very hard to do
 
I don’t know why the rudeness of people still surprises me.  I’ve worked several jobs over my working career whether it be selling food, jewelry, clothing, or other products.  The customers on the “other side of the counter” are pretty much all the same.  They’re ready to make you feel you are “far below their level.”





I think the best thing that could happen is for everyone to spend a day, or two, in another’s shoes before they’re given free control to belittle and criticize.  I certainly always think about the person waiting on me in places that I go and I have respect and patience because I know they put up with a lot and they’re doing the best they can under the circumstances.  Wouldn’t the world be so much better if we all went in the store with that in mind?  After all, when you’re rude how is that going to help anyone?




I hope everyone reading this will think about it as the holiday season approaches and everyone is busy at their jobs trying to take care of everyone the best they can.





 
Happy Birthday, Thea


Also a happy 60th birthday to my youngest sister who has reached this milestone in her life.