Eighteen years

I am really good at mistaking one actor/actress for another. Many times the family and I have gone a couple of rounds. I always think I am right. Until Google. Now, I find out I am wrong once in a while. Well, humble pie is best eaten warm.

I didn't discuss this one with other family members, but stumbled across it on my own. The movie is Beetle Juice. The actress I thought played Juno was Bette Davis. When, in fact it was Sylvia Sidney. I think I may be a bit justified in my mistake. The above pictures were from their earlier days and when Sylvia played in Beetle Juice she was much, much older. It is the eyes, I think. That is Bette on the left and Sylvia on the right. The movie came out eighteen years ago.


Hey, I think I see why I was mistaken. The character Juno is on the left and Bette is on the right.

In King Kong I couldn't place the actor who played Jack Driscoll, but knew I had seen him in something before. Turns out he played Noah in The Village. Sharp features. Somebody left The House of D at my house over the holidays. I am trying to watch it, but can't get into it.

I am staying alcohol-free tonight. There is much drama going on in my teenage daughter's life the past day and by the time I pick her up at the dance tonight at about one in the morning, I will probably be wishing I was smashed. I won't be sorry tomorrow, though.

Gotto go! The movie The House of D just got interesting. His Mom OD'd on pills, ended up in a coma and he is going to disconnect her respirator. Later!

Saw the Kong

Saw the Kong today. It was loud. If you didn't have a headache before you went into the theater, chances are you'll have one when you get out. I knew it was going to be long.

It is basically cut up into three sections. One - building up to the boat trip, Two - the boat trip to the Island and on the Island, and Three - in Hollywood after the capture of the giant Kong.

It was a bit more touching than I anticipated. They throw some comedy into this one. It was sure nice to see this fellow again. I ain't saying I was addicted to Early Edition but I was probably pretty close to it for a couple of years, anyway.

Getting up to leave the theater my foot kicked something. I bent down to pick up my daughter's new camera that she got for Christmas. We were half way home before she realized that she didn't have it. Well, guess who has it now? She can use the keychain one that I got for $15 bucks.

Going in for the kill

Here is Casper going in for the kill. He was playing with the wrist strap from my camera and he is on my lap so this picture is sort of a close up. Never mind where those claws were going to land.

I've had cats before, but always outside cats. So, this hairball thing is new to me. Along with finding the outer casings of their claws. I had no idea that they shed their claws like that. I purchase the catfood with hairball formula and I have purchased a gel from the vet's office that I am supposed to put on their paws to be licked off. I don't do it.

The food takes care of things pretty well, as long as I don't cave and get stupid and give them people food. I am much, much better than I used to be. They get nothing from me anymore. Now, I have to learn to not feed them each and every time I go to the kitchen. I am not doing them any favors.

Speaking of people food:
I've been reading a blog about a man on a quest to figure out why he has such a hard time with his weight. He is on quite a journey. It is titled "www.thefatmanwalking.com" He has had quite a time of it, I have to say. He may pass very close to my neck of the woods on his journey. He is originally from Youngstown, Ohio, but said he may not pass through his hometown. The ups and downs of his travels make it more than just a process of losing weight. I guess that is why it is gaining in such popularity.

I can't understand my high school friend that I posted about last week. About three years ago I called her up and she talked like she wanted to get together, blah, blah blah and how we had so much catching up to do. She had said she was going out of the country for two weeks but would call me when she returned. I waited. Nothing. I am not listed so I figure maybe she has lost my number. I called her and left a message on her answering machine. Still, nothing.

Three years go by. I decided to give her another try. I found her e-mail and sent her a message. She returned my e-mail saying that she was very interested in getting together and chatting. She has been having a rough time adjusting to her new home and missing her old life, etc.. She sounded rather blue. I e-mailed her back saying that I could meet, just let me know when and where since we are only ten miles apart or so. Again, nothing. Of course, I will give her some more time, but that is it. The ball is in her court.

It is going to be a quiet New Years. My daughter is at that age where I am really needed at home. So she isn't tempted to bring her boyfriend into the house when I am not home. I have had my days (and nights) of visiting and parties and for her teenage years I need to be here to make sure no hanky panky goes on. And here is where I will be.

When I was younger I used to watch the movie "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" with quite a slew of stars in it on New Year's Eve. Once my boyfriend, sister and I were driving back to Virginia after a ten day visit in Ohio, and came home to find our electricity had been cut off accidentally. We arrived right on New Year's eve. That was pretty low. We lost the turkey in the freezer. Bummer beginning of 1987. That year didn't get much better, I have to tell you.

I am not one for resolutions. I do remember the first New Year that I started with no debt. It astounded me. I thought that couldn't happen. What a great feeling. I try to make that my New Year goal every year. (Well, you know except for big loans like my house and car). The car has been paid off for a few years now, but I'll have another one soon enough. My daughter will be starting to drive in the next two years. Yee Haw!

The day

Still rushing, but not as much. I am not sure about this evening's plans. I did get a fair amount of sleep last night, so I am not as frazzled today.

Here is a photo I took from my sister's t.v. on Christmas day. Can you tell from which popular holiday movie it is? Think de-coder ring.

Our tree this year. No top. Couldn't find it. It must be with the lights. I bought all new lights, but I really like the silvery blue angel I put at the top and I am not replacing it. It will show up eventually. Maybe she didn't like that joke I made last year about how the angel got to be on top of the tree. Bah!

I never did get to fixing that lasagna. Maybe this evening. If I can manage to stay home. I have all the ingredients. Most of the people I was fixing for have gone home, though. My daughter and I want to go to the movies and see King Kong. I hope to get there this week.

She called me saying she could not get the pictures to download onto her PC.

Yes, she had the cable plugged into the USB port. Yes, she installed the software. Yes, yes, yes. Oh! I remember. The camera has to be in "view picture" mode. Slide the button over.

She said "The camera isn't on."

Uh. Honey. How did you expect the pictures to get to your PC without the camera being on?

She turned it on. Okay, it works, now. Gee. Sad thing is this is the most trouble-shooting I have done all week.

Dashing

My daughter shows her "Wow, that is awesome!" face.

Now, I know why they use the word dashing in the Christmas carols. We're off again this evening - dashing through the 'rain' to another dinner.

I worked today so extra time was spent sleeping instead of blogging. Lot's of pictures, but not ready to post.

Big breath, and GO!

Tree topper

Since I never found my blue angel that goes atop my tree, will this star do?

Sable says, "Uh, Mommy? I see presents under the tree with my name on them. Umm, when? When can I open them? I am being patient."

Mix it up

Yep. There you go. A little Santa, a little snowmen and the Nativity. Icicle lights and spiral trees. This house isn't as congested as some on down the road. Traffic was irritated at me so this was the best that I got out of the bunch.

I am going to have to hoof it for a better view. I don't know if I'll have time to get out, but I sure am going to try because there are some beautiful homes in my area.

I thought I was done shopping until my daughter informed me that I purchased the wrong video game for her boyfriend. Back out into the wild we go. Lines were long but people were in good spirits. I was just having fun. For some really insane reason I love to be out among the shoppers when I am relaxed and all my gifts are purchased. I sat and drank my iced mocha while people watching. The children are the greatest. (When they aren't tired and cranky). They were skipping and squealing with delight. I didn't see one angry person today. Even the cashiers were merry.

I sat on a bench and waited while my daughter did some last minute shopping. Then there is tomorrow. I plan to stay home and clean the house tomorrow. Bake a few more batches of cookies and I am baking a lasagna. Yep, I am skipping the turkey and ham. My sister will have that on Sunday. I was trying to think of something that my family could enjoy so that it wouldn't make them sick of turkey and ham. I decided Italian was the way to go.

Sign I saw in a shop today:

I love giving home-made gifts. Which child do you want?

Ins and Outs

Going shopping with my sister today in Canton. Think I can stay away from "here" ???

I'm sure to stay away from this place.

I'll be close to it though, so I'm sure to get stuck in traffic. Ugh.

One gift. That's all I need. One more person to buy for. I can't find anything in my area, so I agreed to go with my sister to the busiest, craziest, congested place within a two hundred mile radius.

Nuts, we are. I'll have a super-size order of patience for breakfast, please. With a side of humor.

Epitome of Procrastination

Never mind the fact that Christmas is now less than four days away. Never mind the fact that I only have half my cookies baked. Never mind the fact that I have no gifts wrapped. No, never mind all of that. I sit and work on my web page and the old family album. Why? Because I can and I am feeling nostalgic. Also, never mind the fact that I am in none of the photos in this collage. Kicking myself for not writing this stuff down when my Mom was alive. Siblings memories are hazy. People names we can do. Places, pets and time is evading us.

I purchased stocking stuffers today. I heard a couple of crying children but for the most part, people were still okay. There is so much of the conversing on cell phones, now. Making sure they get exactly what they are supposed to, I guess. Not idle chit chat. Mostly planning and getting the facts right. How many times (before cell phones) did you ask yourself, 'Now, what size does he/she wear?' Yep. Call somebody who knows.

I'm free!

Well, at least until Monday the 26th. And, only free from work. I still have to shop, wrap, clean, bake and entertain.

And, taxi. Must drive my daughter here, there and everywhere.

I received an e-mail from a long-lost friend. We were best friends in high school and went our separate ways after graduating. Came to discover she lives only twelve miles away. I can't wait to play catch up with her.

Don't "Scrooge the day!"

Sometimes I feel as though I am in the Twilight Zone. I have been known to be a "space cadet" to coin a phrase from the 80's. Although, usually I am pretty sane and level headed. Let's just say I don't get called a "ditz" very often.

But, sometimes I wonder where I come up with stuff. I am sensitive to the fact that I don't want to steal somebody else's' thunder.

There came a time when my sister showed me a poem. I read it and said "Wow. That is nice." She looked at me and said "You wrote it." I re-read it. It did sound familiar. I could recall trying to rhyme certain words in the poem, but actually writing it? I didn't really remember. Reading that poem inspired me to write more and thus began a few years of much poetry writing. Like my paintings they are very personal and very private and I don't like to share them. They are my "pain" and I am embarrassed by my pain. Uncomfortable with others seeing my pain.

So, that is what I mean by sometimes I question myself as to whether I coined the phrase or not. There is a phrase that comes to mind around Christmas that I use and I "googled" it to see if it was a common phrase out there. I couldn't find where anybody else has used it.

One time I was getting ready for a company holiday lunch. I am the type of person who likes to get little puzzles, quizzes and games together (especially trivia) to lighten up the get-togethers. One of the office managers came over to me while I was making copies of the puzzles. He never said "Merry Christmas" or anything festive. He started right in telling me about a client who was dropping us. I could see he was troubled and I sympathized by letting him rant on and on. When he was finished he walked away. I continued making my copies, but I was spent. My holiday spirit was gone. He had " scrooged my day."

Now, this is where I am wondering. Did I hear this phrase somewhere before? Say it as you would say "Seize the day."

So, in a manner of speaking he had "ruined my day" but since it was close to Christmas and it was a "Bah humbug!" feeling, I instantly thought to myself 'he scrooged my day.'

Well, I can't find any other reference to it, so it may have popped into my head on it's own. Sometimes I just don't know and I don't like saying I came up with an expression if I didn't.

It reminds me of a story I read about Sarah Ferguson. She wrote a children's book with a helicopter in it and it was claimed to be very similar to a book that had already been written. Maybe she didn't mean to copy, but the idea had remained in her head and when she wrote one - out it came. This story tells about Sarah and the book.

So, that is why when I write a poem or something similar, I want to make sure I didn't steal the idea from somebody else. It would really "scrooge my day!" And if it isn't really "my" expression, I apologize most sincerely for even thinking that it was.

************************************************************

I found out this evening via e-mail that the hospitals didn't want the toys we wrapped up for the children at the get together on the tenth of this month. They try really hard to send the kids home for the occasion (and rightfully so).

My friends found a policeman who handed the gifts out to families in need. His co-workers came up with a list of families. It just warmed my heart. I thought "How very nice. Who would know better than the city policemen as to who is really in need." I hope we can continue this event every year.

The tree is lit!

Finally. We have lights on the tree. I told my daughter she couldn't go anywhere today until the lights were on the tree.

Casper wanted to know if it was okay to play.

Supper time!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful. But, inside is so delightful.
And, since we've no place to go...
Let's eat.

A little chicken... I enjoy a boneless, skinless breast lightly fried in olive oil with Italian seasoning and placed on top of scalloped potatoes and baked .


A little garlic bread...

A little wine...

...and hidden cookies. So the kids won't find them. My CD player is supplied with plenty of holiday music to keep me in the mood.

Up went the tree

I stopped at Lowe's on the way home from work and bought all new lights. I wrestled the tree into the stand and up it went. A little bit crooked, but it will do for now.

I had some observers, but they hung back. They didn't want to jump in right away. But, they do want to inspect this foreign object in our living room. Smells good. Not sure about the taste. I don't want any needle deposits on my carpet if you know what I mean.

Jasper went for the red plastic cover of one of the tree stand screws. The red from one of the lights lit the front of his nose up like Rudolph. He will have a time living this one down. The other cats are so going to make fun of him and call him names.

Casper, on the other hand went for the green pine needles. They are sharp. I didn't pick the tree, my daughter and her beau did. I used to always get the soft, long-needle pine trees. My brother got me in that habit. Easier on the arms and bare hands when you decorate it. Less prickles.

For the past couple of years, I have been experimenting with different types of needles to see which one I like best. And, since my daughter volunteers to put the lights and other decorations on the tree, I really don't have to worry about it. I just get the sucker in the stand and make sure it is watered. They take it from there. Sweet!

Well, kids. It's up. Have at it. I'm going to bake cookies and wrap. Wrap and bake. Bake and wrap.

Bewitched movie is lame-o

I watched the movie version of Bewitched. I was afraid to and I had reason to be. It was very lame. Flat. Like flat ginger ale. No bubble, no fizz. I went into the movie knowing that I don't care for Will Ferrell or Nicole Kidman. And, what with the sidekick, Ritchie (played by Jason Schwartzman)? Were they making fun of Tom Cruise? I thought the movie made him out to be a Tom look-alike.

The story lines of Iris and Nigel went nowhere. Iris being a real witch went nowhere. The story line of Ritchie and Nina also went nowhere. Pfffttt!

Thirty years and still good

I have been making this fried rice for thirty years now. I began in 1975 when I worked as a short-order cook in a bar/restaurant when I was fifteen. I worked for a Vietnamese lady. Her name was Tu. She is somewhere in Las Vegas the last I heard. That was weird, the instant I typed "Las Vegas" the announcer for Wheel of Fortune said it right along with me.

I make rice the long way. (Minute rice will work, though). It is best if you let the rice cool overnight in the refrigerator before you fry it up. (But I couldn't wait another day for it). I then chop up pieces of ham. This ham was really good because it was the left over from Thanksgiving (it had been in the freezer). I also chop up green pepper and sometimes celery (if I have it) and I add a jar or a can of mushroom pieces. I start with olive oil in the frying pan and add the ham next. Next is the green pepper and celery and then mushrooms. The rice is added last. I generously shake garlic salt into the dish while I am frying it.

You can substitute chicken for ham. You can also use scrambled eggs. I suppose you could also add onion. We used this in the restaurant as our side dish for the seafood platter. That was the dish with all the breaded seafood we had. Fish, shrimp, scallops, clam strips. I loved it when somebody ordered this dish because I always fixed extra pieces for the cook. (ME!)

My brother and niece like this dish with soy sauce. I think that makes it too salty with the garlic salt. I had it for dinner this evening, but it makes a great breakfast food.

I can't find my tree lights. I must have four to six sets of lights. Where they are is anybody's guess. I took all the decorations out and I have been through all ten boxes of stuff. I have some strong smells coming from the boxes. I have one big box for trash. I am pitching a lot of my older stuff that has no sentimental value or is beyond recognition.

The lights remain lost. I guess I get to buy new lights, now. They will show up after the holidays I suppose.

Well, I got my wish today. They closed all schools in a fifty mile radius. Now we have another weather advisory issued. This might be one long week-end. I made up two more batches of the rolled sugar cookies we made last week. Both batches are in dough form still and chilling in the refrigerator. I found cookie cutters in the shape of a star, Christmas tree, flower and many hearts. That will add some variety. I hope this batch makes it to the holidays. I'll try to freeze some or hide them.

And my CD sets that I made are working their magic on me. I am so in the mood for baking and decorating. My new favorite Christmas carol is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation theme song. It is very lively and joyful.

Talk to the hand

So, it's like this y'see? I'm a-tellin' 'em you gots to do it this a-way. See? An' then when that's done, y'uns gots to go here, see?

Looks like she is going to talk witha her hands. See?

I want enough icy weather tomorrow to close the schools, but not icy enough to make it dangerous for nervous drivers out there. I remember driving on ice. Wow. Years ago. When the rain comes down and freezes so fast you don't have time to plan. That was before the weather channel. Mostly even before weather warnings and such. You just got in your car and took the chance. I always lived so far out in the country my drive was usually forty to fifty minutes to work. The ice was the trickiest.

I get a catalog today (well, I get quite a few of them almost every day around this season). It is from amazon.com. There is a software package that I want in there and it is on sale. I go to the web site to order it. The web site has it posted for more than the catalog ad. I look closely at the ad and read the fine print on the back. Prices good through December 12th. WTF? It's the 14th and I am just now getting the catalog. I just read the top - it reads HURRY, Sale ends December 12, 2005. Thanks for nothing Postal service!

My sister (who works at the Post office, but not in my town) was telling me that the Post office is cutting her hours yet again. Mail is not getting out on time. Credit card payments, first class stuff. She says they just aren't getting it. There is mail piling up but she is getting cut. I wanted to pay my bills through the post office so I can keep some family members in business, but if my payments aren't getting to their destination on time and crap like this - then I am switching to on-line paying. I have had pretty good luck with their service, but if I have to mail things out ten days early - you can think again.

You're freakin' me out, man!

This photo of my brother and his step-grandson freaks me out. Which is what I said about a week ago when I came out of the restroom of my local grocery store into the outside room where we wash our hands and saw a man with a beard washing his hands.

I stopped dead at the door. I can't recall exactly what was going through my mind, but it was something like "Okay, where is the camera?"

He acted like I was the one in the wrong bathroom. I was pretty sure I was in the Women's because of the flower arrangement they place on the shelf. I said "Well, I don't think it really matters." And, I proceeded to wash my hands. And, then I said "You're freakin' me out, man!" I walked out the door and looked at the sign. Yep, WOMEN.

And, the reason I mentioned "beard" is because sometimes you can't tell if a person is a woman or a man anymore, but the beard was a dead give away.

Back to the photo. The little boy wants to be just like his step grandpa. He does everything the same and follows him around like a shadow. This must be the mask firefighters wear when they go into a burning building. Of course the hose to the mouthpiece is missing. But, I think my brother is a little undone up on the top.

Pink baby

As if there wasn't enough pink for little girls, I have to go and tint her pink. My one sister finally got to see Rylee (who is six weeks old, now). This sister's only child is a male and is now twenty-eight. But, she did have my girl a few times, so she has had some baby time since then.

Well, I am cleaning up the kitchen tonight and I setup the coffee pot for tomorrow morning. I set my alarm for 6 a.m. and hit the snooze sometimes. My coffee pot is set to brew coffee at six.

I proceed to my computer to catch up on e-mail and read and post blogs. I smell coffee. Mmmm, it smells good. What did I do? I pushed the button to ON instead of AUTO. Darn! I can't drink coffee this late. I turn the pot off and laugh at myself. When it cools I will dump it down the sink. I am not one to re-heat cooked coffee in the micro wave. Forget that! So I proceed to my computer and eat a piece of chocolate candy. Homemade from a friend. How much caffeine is in that? Did I stop at one? Of course not! I am a red blooded American female! Two pieces, how much caffeine is that? I quit. It made me too thirsty.

I made room for the tree in the living room this evening. I had to move furniture around. Seems we added something since last year. I had to clean, too. We have the tree. It is out on the back porch. I hope nobody takes it. One year somebody took my Mom's tree off of her porch. I have to dig out the tree stand too.

To get in the mood, I have my holiday CD's playing. I am cutting and pasting them so that I have a CD with just the songs I like off of all of them. I have about fifteen Christmas CD's. Some I don't like half the songs on them. I can't stand it when a singer takes the carol and begins adding trills and la la's where there are not supposed to be any. I cannot stand Mariah Carey! She ruins every song I have ever heard her sing. (In my humble opinion.) I happen to be in the minority though, because of her record sales. More power to her and to the people that like her music.

My favorites are the Peanuts gang music from the television special. I could listen to that CD all day long. I usually like Dean Martin, but he ruins Rudolph for me. Calling him Rudy and trying to jazz it up or something. Maybe those drinks he held in his hands were real. And there is a techno version of Jingle bells that I just hate on one of my CD's. It is horrendous.

I was shopping the other day and the store was playing music. The group singing was horrid. I looked at a few people standing around me and I said "I don't think these people ever sang together before" motioning to the crap coming from the speakers. They laughed. It was that bad!

I do like the choirs and a cappella. And the older crooners like Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Elvis and Tony Bennett. I will keep a couple of Nat's, but some I don't like. I really get into Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. And I DO like Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer by the Irish Rovers. I'm not a complete prude. I just don't like a singer trying to get every note in the octave into one syllable. And, I can't stand Santa Baby. Let's just make all grown women sound like little baby girls wanting men to always buy them something. I can't stand that method of thinking. Bah humbug! Whoops. My slip is showing.

Toodles.

Fun in the snow.

Some deer were having a romp in the snow. Just get off the roads! I was a passenger this time so I was able to get better pictures. That is a big snow flake (not a comet or the moon) above the deer. And, those aren't stars - more snow flakes.

My battery was dead (but, of course) and this was the only decent shot I got. Bah!

I did get quite a few of my darling Rylee, though. I will post them on my web page (follow the link on the right column titled 'See More of my Photos') when I get the chance. Just too darn tired right now. Need sleep.

Red glow

Warm colors. A beautiful glow ends a beautiful evening. Friends, laughter, warmth. Another candle burning to lighten our hearts and our homes.

Everyone was very generous with the gifts we brought for the children in the hospitals. Most of the hospitals try to send the children home before the holiday itself, but for the ones who have to stay there when the big day arrives, we hope we can bring a little joy to their hearts with the toys we wrapped this evening.

Santa comes but once a year. Sickness, illness and disease know no boundaries. They arrive every day. Have mercy.

One Messy Kitchen.

After the cookies are done we have a mess in the kitchen sink. My daughter disappeared back to her Xanga and comments. The dog hung around but wasn't much help. Sheesh.

When I first bought my house back in 2002 I got down on my knees and kissed the dishwasher. No lie. My daughter thought I had gone mad. Well, it was a moment to express my feelings and I took it.



Yeah. Like we need a magnet momento to tell us if she's fed or not. How about one that reads "Always hungry" or "Always fed". That would be more appropriate. Since she is a pound rescue we have come up with the conclusion that she must have starved when she was a stray. I have seen her open KFC boxes out of the bottom of a trash bin and not mess anything else up. She is a pro. She should be in the movies.





I played around with the picture I took of the candle.

Makin' cookies, and wrappin' gifts

Baked cookies today with my daughter. We needed sprinkles. She was sick from school again today. My schools were closed. I think only two in the three county area opened today. One was hers. More work to make up. It figures that she is suspended for three days and then she gets sick and can't make it to school.

I braved the crowds today and did a little shopping. I knocked out a few more gifts off of my list and for myself and my family I purchased a game. My daughter and I played it tonight. We had a good time.

You roll the die and it gives you a category (kind of like Trivial Pursuit). You pick a card off the top of the pile and under the selected category will be three clues. They have something in common. Such as razor, ice skates and fans. They all have blades.

Simple, easy to figure out and easy to carry. I'll take it to the party tomorrow night if anybody is in the mood to play games. We are wrapping gifts for children in area hospitals while we watch Frosty or Rudolph or something.

I also purchased a candle that I just fell in love with. It was called Poinsettia, but the smell was outstanding. I don't think the flower itself has much of a scent, but this candle was just heavenly.

Somebody likes to help with my photo taking. Such as giving me a more interesting and entertaining background.

Well, I have gifts to wrap for the party tomorrow night. I am making my usual cheese ball and cheese tray. This time I remembered to get the hot and sweet mustard for the trail bologna.

ET TU UPS!

UPS version of 3 day select.
Package arrived at 5:10 p.m.
Blimey!

Go Away!

It is kind of funny. A neighbor on my block has a sign on a post out in front of his house with the words 'GO AWAY'. A couple of days ago I saw him putting a big red bow on it. I guess that says:
"GO AWAY and I mean it!!!"

I see a lot of white flood lights this season. Take a white house or a white door. Decorate it with green garland and a red bow and shine a bright (think runway lights here) flood light onto it and everybody is going to need sunglasses to drive around at night. One house has fifteen flood lights shining on it. All bright white. I am not kidding. I am going to get a picture of it.

My cards this year.

Here is the card I am sending out this year.

I have my cards done, except for two. They are ones that I write notes with. People I don't see near enough.

I received an e-mail from a third ? cousin. We had the same great grandfather. I am not sure how he got my e-mail. Maybe his next message will clear that up.

I "DO NOT" have my tree up yet. Hell, I don't even have the tree, yet. We get a live one. I almost caved this year and bought a pre-lit white one. Who am I kidding? WHITE? With three black pets! Yaw! Think again Peruby!

Years.

Five years, now. We can't say anymore "It happened a year ago" or "She passed a couple of years back." Now, it starts to be a marker. Five years, half a decade. Her Mother left her to be raised by the grandparents in 1922 when she was two. When her Mother met a man, she had to call her Mother by her name instead of Mom. No one was to know that her Mother had a child.

Her father tried to kiss her in a car when she was fifteen. He had no idea she was his daughter. She told him there in the car. He pounded his fists on the steering wheel of the car yelling her Mother's name. Over and over.

Her husband (my Dad) claims to have married her because he thought she would inherit the family farm. She graduated high school at sixteen. Yes, the proverbial one-room schoolhouse. All grades taught by one teacher. She graduated at sixteen in 1936. She was supposed to go to college but didn't. Her Mother had died in 1930 giving childbirth. My Mom was ten years old.

She had eight children. Her husband drank - heavily. He ran around on her. He hit her. She never drove a car. She worked for six months outside of the home sometime during the 1950's, but with four children at home, discovered it was just too difficult. She stopped going to the dentist because her husband (my Dad) accused her of having an affair with the dentist. She suffered toothache after toothache. I can remember her giving me cloves out of the home canned pickles to kill the pain on a tooth and she would cut aspirin in half so we could hold it on our tooth when it ached. To this day I can dissolve an aspirin in my mouth without water. (But of course, I don't!) She knew all the home made remedies since she couldn't go to the dentist.

She would read four books at a time. She would put one down and just pick up the other one. Her first baby was the second baby she had ever held in her life. She loved crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and solitaire.

She smoked "roll your own" bugler cigarettes. She used a cigarette roller liked the one pictured here. She used bugler tobacco. When we were kids we all took our turns trying to roll cigarettes. We didn't do very well. I never tried smoking one of these. Puh-leeez! You got tobacco on your tongue and everything. Disgusting!

She was my Mom. She was my hero. And, there is so much more.

A troubled fourteen-year-old.

Here she is at three years old.

Yeah. So today I come home for lunch and I get a telephone call from the Assistant principal at the high school. My daughter hit a boy. Surprised? Nah, me neither. Name calling escalated to shoving match escalated to her hitting him in the face. A teacher stopped them before he could hit her back.

Last year a classmate of hers (another girl) was suspended for three days for hitting him, too. I know that doesn't make it right, but it made me feel better knowing that he has some kind of repeating behavior. That he has been in trouble before.

She is suspended for three days. Sigh. Assistant principal was very nice. I hugged her when I saw her and told her I was on her side. Blah, blah.

Tears. More hugs. She is sorry. No arguments between she and I. She knows she made the wrong choice. She knows she will have consequences.

Bummin' tonight.

I'm a little bit bummed tonight. I am feeling the "Mommy is a meanie" syndrome. Let me backtrack a couple of years. My daughter has wanted a dog for as long as I can remember. I am not one to spend a couple of hundred dollars on a puppy when there are so many dogs in the shelter that need a good home. Granted, they aren't cute, they aren't little pups, but they need love too. So, we picked a mutt. And, a lovable mutt she is. However, she was pretty big and she got bigger.

My daughter is fourteen. I just let her get her ears pierced this year. I do not have mine pierced. Call it my "I want to be different than everybody else" pattern in life, I don't know. I am not afraid of needles or pain. I do not wear jewelry. I am not an accessory person.

My daughter has been 'nagging' me to get an industrial piercing. You can look it up if you want, but take my word for it. It ain't pretty. My older sister said that perhaps she wants something else and by asking for this "horrible" procedure I will settle for a lesser evil. That seems to be the case. Her friend (the one who just had the new puppies) got her cartilage pierced on Sunday. So, if I won't let her have the Industrial, how about the cartilage? It didn't help any that I let my niece get her cartilage and her bellybutton pierced when she was with me (but at sixteen, not fourteen).

I said "No."

"Why?" she asks.

" Cripes. It took me fourteen years before I would let you get just your ears pierced normally, give me time to adjust," says I.

Round and round we go. She is trying to wear me down, I know.

Anyway, now her "friend" has three beautiful little puppies. She is feeling very - what is the word I want? "Lacking?" Underprivileged? You get the picture.

I am the type of person that won't get a pet unless I can "do right" by it. When I was growing up we took in every stray in town. We didn't have the money for us to go to the doctor, let alone take any pets to the veterinarian. How responsible is that? I want to do the right thing when it comes to taking the responsibility of a pet.

My daughter's friend has had about four dogs, ten cats, five bunnies, two hamsters, three guinea pigs and numerous hermit crabs. They are down to just two adult dogs (and now, the three newborn pups) at this time. The others are lost, given away or ran away. I have a sister like that. When she is feeling needy or when she sees a cute animal, she gets one.

Basically, I won't run out and get a puppy just because it is so damn cute. Heaven knows, I would love to have a puppy and a kitten - and I would love to give my daughter the joy of having one of her very own. But, I can't do it. It isn't right.

Anyway.... I asked my daughter if she wanted to go over and see the puppies. "No" she said. She won't even look at the pictures or the movie I have of them. I began wondering why. She loves animals. Everybody loves a little puppy. Is it because she is jealous of her friend? I began to feel bad. (Going back about ten years) Here I have a little girl. Will she ever hold a puppy or a kitten? Will she ever see puppies or kittens being born? No and no.

Jump to fourteen. She has still never held a puppy (that I know of) or a kitten. Our pets were taken in when others tired of them or didn't care for them properly. I am feeling a little bit angry. Why does my daughter have to miss out when I try to do the right thing? How come I have to deny my little girl the pleasure of having a puppy of her very own? I can't run out and get another dog. I can't afford it. Should I have ignored the neglected dogs in the shelter and paid for a puppy? I am feeling so awful about it.

My Mother was raised on a farm. Go way back to West Virginia in the 1920's. Theirs was a harsh life. She witnessed her grandfather batter puppies against the shed wall to kill them instead of raise them. How awful! But, she was able to keep one for her very own.

I just feel that I have failed my daughter this pleasure. Even I had a puppy for a little while when I was a girl. And I held quite a few.

Told you I was in a bummed-out mood. I'm not going to cave and let her get her ear cartilage pierced or anything like that. But, darn it! A puppy is one of the sweetest, cutest most precious things you can hold next to a newborn baby. I just wish I could have done better.

Sigh. Big breath. This mood will be over with in a couple of days.

Edit: 11:26 p.m. - I have to add this to my post. I was catching up on my reading after I posted this evening and I came across three others who also posted about animals. I just can't believe this. For what it is worth, they made me feel better about my choices I posted about above. Thank-you guys! The other bloggers are:

http://thoughtsofaramblingmiki.blogspot.com/
http://mtpeaceofmind.blogspot.com/
http://beautifulsurprise.blogspot.com/

A Whelping We Will Go

I had no idea when I got up this morning that I would be helping deliver puppies. My friend called while I was in the shower. My daughter handed me the phone and told me it was serious. I could not make out who was on the line.... I did hear the word 'labor'. Who was in labor? Finally it dawned on me, it was my daughter's friend and her dog was in labor.

My friend wanted to know if I could stop by on my lunch break and check on her dog. She was nesting and would probably have the puppies in the next two to eight hours. "Sure, I can do that." I went there at noon and checked on the dog. She was fine.

At one my friend called and said "She's having them." I went over. Two were already born, and my friend went to pick up her youngest from school so she could see this miracle of birth. The third came while she was gone. I got pictures and then a little bit of a movie. The Mommy dog was pretty nervous and kept circling around and around, so the movie isn't that great. The other two baby pups were crying the entire time during the movie, though. And, I could hear myself breathing. I was not breathing through my nose because I was afraid the smell would make me ill, so you can hear me breathing.

The Mommy kept trying to get the third one out and while she moved it would bounce around on it's head. I couldn't take it anymore, I finally reached over and pulled him a wee tiny bit out. He would just roll around while she moved and it was too sad to watch. She kept sitting on him almost. I tried very hard not to interfere, but finally I had to do something. I just couldn't continue filming him getting conked on the head.

Mommy and the three babies are doing fine. The pic above is of the two older (drier) ones. The rest of the pics really aren't fit to post. The two in the picture are less than two hours old. Mommy did a wonderful job. Well done, Mommy Zoe, (pronounced Zoey) well done!

Tis the Season

Sitting in a restaurant my daughter asked me "Mom! What are you doing?" I hadn't noticed that I was holding my hot cup of coffee on my right ear.

"Oh" I said and put the coffee back on the table. "I guess I have an ear ache."

Tis the season for cold symptoms.

Above is a picture of a pretty wreath from 'Tis the Season' in Berlin. I didn't plan the annual get together there this year. A couple of reasons. Number one: I am doing what ever I can to stay away from my immediate co-workers personal life, since she can't seem to separate the two and number two: It is way too expensive. I like the place, I like to look, but what's the point?

Sleepy Jasper

Jasper ain't the only one sleepy this evening. I am tired. Have done quite a bit of cleaning out closets and stuff the past couple of days. Really raised the dust. Trash day will be a good haul this week. Found my daughter's old Gamecube and Sega gaming stations. She and her friends had fun with them. Old games and memories. Showing off their skills. A lot of laughter. I like that.

I need to get some new and updated board games. They want UNO attack by Mattel. That is a good place to start. We always enjoy sitting around the d.r. table playing cards of one sort or another. And board games. We were really in to the word and picture board games for a while. Making sweet memories.

Gobbled out

My cell phone rang while I was browsing the sheets section of the Elder Beerman store. I was wondering if I could splurge for the 600-thread count. It was my brother. He was at my house. I wasn't home. He wanted to know if I wanted to join them for dinner. 'Sure' I said. I was hungry. "Where?" he asked. I said "Anywhere that doesn't have turkey!" Mmm hmm. Feel the same way?

So, I said Red Lobster. I was craving their Aztec chicken. The waitress asked if we wanted dessert. "Are you kidding? I have two pumpkin pies at home." Well, actually one and a half. And, the cool whip is disappearing quickly. I passed on dessert. I couldn't even finish my chicken.

This was the brother who is the EMT/fireman. He was full of stories of the past week. Car wrecks, heart attacks. Never a dull moment. He was telling me how difficult it was to get this guy out of the mangled car when he was already in so much pain. Moving them causes more pain. I asked him, "If you come to an accident and it is somebody you don't like, do you hurt them more?" I was joking, of course. He laughed and named somebody from another department that told this story one time. They use water to clean the wounds. There are blue lids for regular water and orange lids for water with sodium in it. (Not real sure what this is for). She laughed and told him to use the sodium water to make it hurt more. Of course this was all in jest, they really don't do this. Ouch!

I guess there are others who are thinking along the same lines that I am this season. In my local newspaper there is a section where people can call in anonymously and give their two cents worth for thirty seconds. It is titled "Thirty seconds." One caller's input I read today was complaining about an ex sister-in-law who goes to stand in line for the free toys etc.. when she and her family have more than enough money to purchase toys for their kids. The person calling in had confronted her about it and the lady said "They are just giving them away, so I am going to go and get them." Yep, greed is abundant.

Sable eyes

Somebody needs to go to the Vet's office for an allergy shot. I came home last night and found welts on her back where she had been digging. It usually happens this time of year when we turn the furnace one. She has very dry skin.

I tried to put a soothing ointment on them, but she thought I was punishing her and rolled over onto her back. She is so sweet. She loves attention.

As I have said before, I don't like to shop. I was up at five this morning to use the restroom and thought about all those crazy shoppers out there. I have heard them referred to as "door busters". I rarely shop on "Black Friday". I will probably venture out to buy dog and cat food.

I am fixing the turkey/ham meal today with all the trimmings for my crew. I told Sable there are going to be some wonderful smells coming from the kitchen today. Sometimes she will stand between the kitchen and dining room and peek around at me. As if testing the waters. 'Is she going to give me a treat, or is she going to point over my head?' Pointing over her head is her signal to go away. I will point to the other room. That way I don't have to say anything. Just point. She goes.

The cats are another story. Our usually shy Jasper has become very needy and friendly the past couple of months. People who know the cat say "Wow, what has got into him?" Who knows? I spent about ten minutes combing his fur this morning. All our cats are short hair. He never lets me do that. I notice that he also has dry skin. I'll ask the Vet what I can do for that today if I get in for Sable's shot. Jasper also likes to get into the shower or bathtub when we are done and sits on the wet surface. What is up with that? Is he hot? He hates baths, I know that. He is a curious one, though.