THIS Is A Hailstom!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ohnq5T1amI

Stall

Slept a whopping 9 hours yesterday. Would like to say I feel rested and fresh, but with all the fun yesterday I feel a little beat up today. Plus there's other factors that I won't go into because you really don't wanna hear about it. Trust me.

I got disappointment in the light department. One strand of the four that I bought only half worked. Changing the fuses did not help. Figured out it was a wire thing. Didn't do more than put the other three strands of lights on the tree and got sidelined with that because I didn't feel like going back up to Target to return them at that time and I didn't want to add any more decorations before I finished the lights. Got a few hours before Target opens this morning and I'm going to try to get some of this stuff that is covering my living room put in it's Christmas place.

Looking at my fake tree, I'm kind of sad that I was lazy and didn't get a real one. It will probably look better once I get all the decorations on it, but for now... it's just looking sad. One positive thing about these LED lights is that you can hook up a zillion strands one after the other. Unlike the usual two or three I am used to. The colors are also very intense.

Hardest Chore Is Done

Just got back from Target and I have finished my holiday grocery shopping. Check. Until I decide I need something else or that I forgot something. What's up with everyone being out of red and green decorator's sugar? Same thing happened last year. You would think they would learn to stock more.

I also purchased a fake tree for this year. And colored lights. I've been doing the same gold, silver, and white theme for many years now. I've decided I want something new. And to go completely LED in the light department. Check.

Listening to Christmas music. Check.

Decorating will now commence. After I rest. Worked all night and haven't been to bed yet. Sooooo sleeeeepy.

Shmells Like Christmas In Here-a

My daughter and I went-a-shopping on Thursday. Working on getting her graduation announcements made up and mailed out. We happened into Michael's (a craft store on crack, for those that might not know) and as I always do whilst shopping with my daughter, I impulse bought. Two Christmas scent-ish candles. And they officially smell like the holidays.

Yesterday I traveled to Lowe's (I think everyone knows what that is) looking for some multi-colored LED lights to intertwine with my blue and white LED lights that I had up last year. I only got two boxes of 50 lights each, so I'll see where that gets me. I also took a look see at their Christmas trees and all they had were really big ones, and really small ones. So no tree here, yet. Going to have to travel to the tree lot. I always feel sorry for all the sad lonely trees that never get taken home. I almost bought a Charlie Brown tree from Lowe's just because it was SO awful. Oh, and I also got a cool door hanger that has these huge bells on it. And lots of glitter.

Can you see I'm trying to get into the spirit?

For the first time in 20 years, I own a coat. Not a jacket, not a sweater, but a real coat. It was my Christmas present to myself this year. By the feel of things and the look at the weather forecast, it was probably just in time. The last time I owned a coat was when I was married. I got divorced in 1990. So 20 years ago. I've never really needed one until I turned 40. When I turned 40 I got cold... I'm still cold.

December

Thanksgiving came and went in a blur. We ate our usual fare from Luby's minus my children this year. Not that they are on the menu each year. They ended up eating at their Dad's at the same time my parents and brother and sister in law and niece were eating at Luby's and the day passed into the next. I'm hoping to get to see my son before the new year. My daughter and I hung out about three weeks ago.

I dug out my electric heater today. I'm not sure why I waited so long to bring it out. It warms me well.

I have a family of something large living in my attic. I say family only because of the noises, not that I've seen things running around in here. It's loud and at times I'm afraid whatever it is, or whatever they are, will come crashing down through my ceiling. They hang out right above my fire. I had the same thing last year go on when it got cold. Don't hear it any other time.

I've contemplated hauling out the Christmas decor. Still contemplating as I type this and will probably still be contemplating tomorrow. Tried listening to holiday music the other day, but I couldn't get through the first song. Just seems like I put all the Christmas crap up week before last. And today passes into tomorrow.

A Thankful Post

I thought I would take advantage of the day and list some things that I am thankful for in my life. You should too.

I am thankful, first and foremost, for my wonderful children. They never cease to amaze me with their undying energy, dedication for enjoying life, and their success. No Mom could be prouder of those two.

I am thankful and so blessed to have all of my family still with me in this life.

I am thankful for the friends I have in my life.

I am thankful for the roof over my head and the food on my plate that keeps me fat.

I am thankful for the job I have when too many have none.

I am thankful for my kitties who love me and allow me to love them back.

I am thankful for my life and where I am in it, even though it was not what I had imagined my life to be.

I am thankful for being awake when the cold front came through this morning and the temperature went from 75 to about 55 in approximately 10 minutes as I'm finishing this post.

I will be thankful for warm clothes later today and a warm fire to keep me and my fur babies cozy.

I am thankful for all the wonderful blessings in my life, big and small, and that I live in a country where I am free (for the time being, at least).

And as always... I'm thankful to you, reader, who still ventures here even when I'm terrible at updating things.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving Day.

Hard To Blog Time Of Year

When it starts to get cold, it's that time of year where even if I want to blog, it becomes difficult. I can type one handed, but it would take me four hours to type one blog post and I don't have the patience for that. The problem: Libby is cold and wants to be held constantly. She doesn't care if I'm up trying to clean or cook, or if I'm sitting and wanting to type or play a game. She's on me. At times I can deter her by utilizing my Dearborn. I've had to incorporate a foot stool in front of the fire since it has become so popular and all the kitties seem to be kind of pissy lately and not wanting to share space. This way everyone gets their own space in front of the warm fire... until the time when it gets REALLY cold and I start using the Dearborn in my bedroom as well.

No return of the ants! But I did get an infestation of bees last week. I still can't figure out how. They were getting in through the bathroom window and there's nothing worse than REALLY HAVING TO GO and sitting on the toilet with a towel covering my head trying to hurry was no fun. Thankfully, a friend came to my rescue and as I sat in another room safely away from the bees, I listened to what can only be described as a cartoon soundtrack coming out of my bathroom, minus the music. 'WHACK! WHACK! BANG! CLANG!' You know that sound that we humans sometimes make when we are faced with something really disturbing and gross at the same time... we get that shiver that runs through our bodies and we make that noise that's part groan and part freaked out? That was the background music to the noises. I've never before wished to record something more then I did at that moment.

I truly can't believe that 2010 has flown by as fast as it has. It feels like I'm still getting used to putting 2010 on things at work and not only is Thanksgiving next week, but Christmas will be following soon after and then I'm going to have to get used to 2011 and before I know it, 2012 will be coming just as fast. I don't so much long to be young again, as I'd like to have time slow down like it was when we were young and seemed to have more time to enjoy stuff.

I Love Maru!

I've posted videos of this kitty before. He LOVES to get in boxes and this video proves, through scientific experiment, how much.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XID_W4neJo

Just A Couple Of Days

Took a couple of days off this week. Friday and Saturday to be exact. No plans for Friday but Saturday I'm venturing out to a friend's party. Haven't been to a party in a very long time and I've a mixture of being excited for some new fun and a tiny bit of panic because I haven't been in an environment with multiple strangers in a very long time.

This morning greeted me with crisp and very cool weather and the cleaning bug has hit me hard. I'm taking a break between mopping floors, waiting on the bathroom floor to dry now, and other miscellaneous cleaning out. I was going to go visit mom and dad this morning, but it's so rare that this bug hits, I'm taking advantage of it while it's here. My background music is my wonderfully programmed Pandora station.

I go back to work Sunday for a 12 hour shift and possibly a trainee. Yes, we are doing THAT again. She's green which means she'll be in for the next 8 weeks or so. I sure hope she works out. She has a great work history and is bi-lingual but I have not met her yet.

Ants are finally gone. Not sure if it was the crappy poison I bought or the rain. After 7 days with minimum improvement, it rained and they disappeared right after. Either way, they are gone for now.

Dad was diagnosed with three broken ribs and one cracked. As of today, the only pain comes from sneezing. He tries not to.

Off to vacuum!

Ants

I dislike ants. They don't bother me so much when they are outside, but I get angry at them when they are inside. During certain times of the year, though, they will make their way into my home and always before I've been able to dissuade them with spraying bleach around areas they are wanting to get to. The last four days have been a tough battle, though, and they are scoffing at my attempts to keep them out. I'm thinking they are coming in for water since they seem to be hanging around my kitchen sink area. Hasn't rained here in a while and things are pretty dry.

This morning I made my way to Lowe's and bought some Amdro Ant and Roach bait. It's this gel type stuff that you place around their entry areas. If it's anything like the stuff the exterminators use, it should work pretty good. My previous home was infested BAD with ants and we finally called a professional and he dabbed this stuff around the house and in two days those things were gone and to my knowledge, still have not returned. It was clear, though, and this stuff is brown. It was recommended by a friend at work and he swears by it. Crossing my fingers! I haven't been sure where they were making entry and I had to stand there and watch the little buggers meander along while fighting the urge to KILL KILL KILL!

For about 9 dollars you get quite a lot compared to the amount you need to use. I only used three very small pea sized spots. If it works and if I placed it right, this bottle will last me for years to come.

Sympathy Pain

Wednesday before last, while my father was launching his boat to go fishing, he slipped and fell. Mossy launch ramp plus Crocks don't mix well. Like any man would do, he went ahead and did his fishing. He felt fine Wednesday, Thursday he was a little sore and by Monday, he couldn't even get into bed and was sleeping in his computer chair. Even his recliner was not working for him. After my mom insisted he go see someone about his pain, he's had x-rays and been checked by the doctor. Nothing was broken. Today he goes in for a bone scan just to be on the safe side. Because there is Valium involved, I'll be the designated driver.

I started having this pain in my upper left side of my back, just under the shoulder blade. I've had this pain before and it's obviously some kind of pulled muscle. I hope. It's just never been this bad before. I took some Aleeve last night around 11pm and I was expecting to wake up this morning with minimal pain. WRONG. It's even worse this morning then it was last night. Google was not my friend when I looked. I'd kill for a back rub right now.

It's supposed to be almost 90 degrees today, which will make for a hot ride home from the hospital with my Dad. No air conditioning in my car. Have I mentioned that before? I know I mentioned my big air conditioner inside my home going out the other day. I sure was hoping we were done with these hot temps. Thankfully, though, this time of year our humidity level is low and although 90 degrees is high, without the humidity it's not as bad as it could be. Right now I'm enjoying our 57 degree morning... without moving too much because it hurts.

Tis The Season That...

...my house is open to the beautiful weather.
...the marching bands wake me up with evening practice and marching festivals.
...coffee tastes the best.
...I've already spoken the words, "I'm SO cold".
...I've already purchased my first Christmas gift.
...my cats start tearing through the house.
...my cats cling to me like their own personal warmer.
...all I want to do is cook and bake.

Last Day Of The Month

Well, we are heading into October tomorrow. This month sure has gone by fast, but so has the whole year. The heat is hopefully winding down because my main air conditioner has pretty much all but expired. I can't complain, though. It was born in 1972 and has preformed above and beyond my expectations for the last few years that I have lived here. If I am here next summer, and it looks like I probably will be, a new one will be purchased.

Here are some end of the month photos for your viewing pleasure:

THE MOUNDS

ODDBALL ORANGE LANTANA

RED FLOWER THINGS BY THE WELL HOUSE

WHAT USED TO BE MY DRIVEWAY

LOOKING DOWN INTO THE HOLE BY THE DRIVEWAY
THE SMALL WIRE DOWN THERE IS MY REPAIRED LINE
NOT SURE WHAT THAT STEERING WHEEL THING IS

LOOKING AT MY FRONT DOOR FROM THE DRIVEWAY

COOL HOLE IN MY OLD OAK TREE

IVY THAT HAS GROWN INTO MY BEDROOM WINDOW

SOME LANTANA LOOKING ONTO MY FRONT PORCH

TEENY LANTANA FLOWERS LOOKING LARGE

VERY SMALL BUG ON SOME IVY

UNKNOWN TYPE PURPLE FLOWERS THAT GROW
WITHOUT EVER BEING WATERED

It's Too Big!

Got home this morning and turned on my computer and realized quickly that my monitor had gone out. Sigh... withdrawals... sobs...

So as soon as Best Buy opened, I was in the store and in a matter of mere seconds I was out the door with a shiny, new, WAY too expensive, monitor. Told the guy checking receipts at the door that this was the most money I've spent in such a short amount of time. But boy is it purdy! I'm going to have to get my neck muscles used to swinging back and forth as I sit here. I bought the biggest one they had.

Now I'm off to see how my Wizard101 looks on it. Then a movie. I'm SO excited!

Skewed Vision

20 years ago, had someone told me that I would one day live alone with four cats and have intense rage and hatred towards most people (internally, not externally), I wouldn't have believed them. The words hate and rage were not part of my life back then. 20 years ago, I started my law enforcement career.

It has become increasingly obvious over the last several years that my desire to interact with other human beings is all but gone. Where once I could find something good in the worst person, now even the good people are seen as inherently bad.

As the days, weeks, months and years fly by, this social "problem" I'm having is only getting worse. To the point that I am starting to question myself. If I was sad about being alone and being friends with only the people I work with, I think the solution would be easier found. But I'm not at all sad. I have told you here, more than once, that I LIKE my solitary life. A LOT. The less I have to interact with people, the happier I feel.

For a while, and on very rare occasions even now, I blamed this closed off version of myself on the bad break up I experienced in... 2003? HA, I can't even remember the year any more. The rational part of myself realizes that too many years have passed for this to be a real cause of my horrible outlook on life. And it's got absolutely nothing to do with my aversion to going to the grocery store, driving anywhere, going outside to get my mail, taking my trash to the curb.

I've never been a big fan of self help books. Like the psychologist I once went to, I feel silly paying somebody to tell me things I already know and it's frustrating when they (books or psychologists) can't give me an answer to any of the questions I actually had.

A friend recently lent me a book after a conversation we had about my unsociable behavior. Not only did this book clearly define my life now, but it answered a question I had long ago accepted as unanswerable. That question was: Why did he leave me? It was an answer that even the man who left couldn't give me.

This friend of mine, tying to help my people hating skills, inadvertently answered the BIG unanswerable question and with it, gave me some tools to help curb this anger towards people in general. The book is called, 'Emotional Survival For Law Enforcement / A Guide For Officers And Their Families', by Kevin M. Gilmartin, Ph.D. This book was written with police officers and their families in mind, but worked well, obviously, for this dispatcher... who was once PART of an officer's family and who deals with a lot of the psychology of working in law enforcement on a nightly basis as well.

I am not, by any means, miraculously healed. But my mind now understands that "it" was not my fault and that in itself has released a burden that I have been carrying around for many years. The culprit was ignorance on both of our parts... not so much about the end of the relationship, but why we got together in the first place and why it ended the way it did. I'm still working on the hating people part. That's going to take some work.

The Internet Is My Crack

So I got up yesterday evening before work and alas, my internet connection was gone. Next to my driveway are several large phone boxes. I have DSL. For the last two weeks I have had large machinery and Spanish speaking folk digging in and around my driveway by those boxes. Luckily, they asked if the gravel roadway they had planted their back-hoe on was my driveway and they were told, yes this is the only way I can get my car out, so they were kind enough not to pile the dirt they had planned on piling there, there. The more days they have been here, the smaller the area I have had to get out. Right now, I'm having to drive around their gigantic hole and not hit the huge dirt mounds now sitting in my yard opposite the hole. My driveway sits between the hole and the mounds.

This morning I was excited to see the AT&T guy out working early. Around 11:30, after having severe withdrawal symptoms by not being able to immediately get online when I got home from work, I finally went out to ask how long the phone lines were going to be down. He made a weird face and told me they weren't supposed to BE down. I replied, "great".

Obviously I'm up and working now or I wouldn't be blogging. And that's only because that sweet AT&T man went out of his way and got all sweaty and dirty and fixed the cut line that those stupid contractors cut. In my experience with cable lines and such, any time contractors are digging they end up cutting a line. Every. Freaking. Time.

When he was done with the repair, he came to the door to make sure I was up and running and sure enough I was. I ended up standing out on the front porch and talking with him for about 45 minutes. SUPER sweet guy, about my age, VERY handsome... and very gay, which is probably why I stayed out there and talked to him for so long. I felt safe. Not like that creepy dude that came up the one time where I gripped my garden tool in a defensive manner because he made me feel so uncomfortable. In my list of attributes of the perfect man, I've now added gay. In my 42 years of living, the nicest guys I've ever had the pleasure of meeting have been gay. It's just a shame that I'll never get to date one.

He admired my Lantana that is in full bloom right now and he thinks it's an antique type because he's never seen anything like them in any of the nurseries he's gone to. I told him it's been here forever because I can remember as a small child pulling off the little flowers and collecting them. I told him I wasn't sure how well a stem cutting from a Lantana would propagate but he was welcome to take a cutting if he wanted to. He declined because he had a long drive home and it was so hot outside.

And then I tried to get on FaceBook and it was down.

So thank you AT&T guy. I wish I would have gotten your name. You went out of your way to provide me my internet crack, and I had a very nice visit from a complete stranger which is SO rare for me. You made this old lady's day.

World Travelers

My daughter boarded a plane yesterday, headed to Germany. For Octoberfest. I'm beyond ecstatic that she's getting to do this. I always kind of sensed that she would be a world traveler some day when she was younger, and I'm grateful that she did not inherit my homebody skills.

My son will soon be going to Washington to visit his best friend and his wife. It's strange to say that because I think back to the years when his best friend would come over and they would jam on their guitars and be typical teenagers and these children, as well as my own, have grown up so fast. As wonderful as it was to be blessed by these children of mine when they were growing up, knowing that they are out in the world doing things that make them happy, being happy, brings a sense of peace to me now.

I believe what most parents want for their children is for them to have happiness in their lives. Sure, heartache and pain is part of life and my children have had their share. As much as we, as parents, wish we could keep them from that, it's inevitable. Our hearts break right along with their's. I've shed tears with them, and for them. But the best part is sharing life's joys with them. Getting to hear about their adventures and the places they have gotten to go and the places that they want to go. That, in itself, is probably the best part of being a parent. The end result of all the worry over fevers, grades, boyfriends, girlfriends. Don't get me wrong. I think I'll always worry. But that's a big part of being a parent, too. Because I know mine still worry about me, too.

Seven And A Half Minutes Of Hell No!

If I Won The Lottery...

I posted another video of a lady that was doing this in California a while back and I was going to link to it for you, but alas... I can't find crap on here.

One Day On Earth

One Day on Earth Participant Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Link:http://vimeo.com/11214910

Simply Fascinating

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i-zYdOPG2k

Little Boys Never Grow Up

Most of my working career as been spent working with men. Before working with police men, I worked in a machine shop. There was two maybe three females in the entire company. Aside from a very small amount of time being a cashier at various grocery stores, a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant and less than a month being a waitress, the rest of my time has been working in a predominately male work enviornment.

As the mother of boy and a girl, there are vast differences between the two. Girls grow up to be women. Boys grow up to be bigger boys.

My work life has influenced who I am. I still can't fart in front of anyone except my kids, but I don't seem to have a problem sharing in bathroom humor with the best of them. The other night one of my officers, who farts freely around me and makes me laugh because of it, started talking poop. Me, being a frequent pooper myself, jumped in. I laughed until I cried.

You women out there who have young sons be prepared. They never grow out of farting and the bathroom humor does nothing but get worse over time. It's NOT a phase. It's a way of life.

I miss my son.

The Perfect Ending

My night last night was supposed to be a breeze. After three days in a row of 12 hour shifts I was looking forward to my Friday night being only 8 hours long. Mother Nature had other plans.

Texas had a tropical storm system plow through the southern part of it the last day or so. If you know anything of hurricanes and how they rotate, you might know that the heaviest rainfall occurs on the North and East ends of these things with the rainfall spreading hundreds of miles in both directions. It lined up perfectly with my area and we got about 8 to 10 inches of rain during the night.

About an hour before I was to walk out the door for my wonderful two days off, all hell broke loose. It had been completely dead at work prior to that. The calm, before the storm, if you will. The call that started it all was an outside electrical box shorting out and filling an apartment with smoke. Then, as people woke up to start their day, I started getting calls about water inside homes. The rain came down harder and harder and people had to start being rescued, and cars started to get stranded. Not long after the next shift arrived, all roads leading out and in to our little city had to be blocked off. I was not going to be able to leave.

Once I got dispatch safely handed over I jumped in the truck of our K9 sergeant type person and got a close up view of some of the city, which at that point pretty much resembled a lake.

Two hours after the end of my shift, I was finally able to get out of that city and start to make my way home. An hour after I started to head North, I finally walked in my door.

In 20 years, that's the first flooding I ever had to deal with as a dispatcher. It's not the first for the city because I remember one year our officers were getting people out of houses with boats that were volunteered by citizens. I was just lucky enough not to be working at the time.

The best call of the night was when a panicked citizen calls and tells me I need to do something about her house flooding. Her words, "You need to get people out here to do something about all this flooding." My words, "Ma'am, we can't make it stop raining."

Hell Week...

...is what I'm designated this week as. And it's still not over. After three 12 hour shifts in a row, I'm-a tired. The extra money will go in the "buying me a new house fund" even though I don't really have one of those yet.

I'm so tired I can't even think of what I was going to blog about this morning.

It's raining. Still kind of hot, though. Lots more rain to come they say. I hope it rains on my days off. I like rain on my days off. Yeah... that wasn't what I was going to blog about.

We Want YOU!

The one comment I get the most when somebody discovers I'm a dispatcher is, "You must have the most interesting job ever!". To which I usually scoff, and on occasion point and laugh. Yes, my job is different than your job, but your job is different than mine. After being asked the question, "What's it like to be a twin?", the twin retorted, "What's it like NOT to be one?" In other words, I've worked at my job for so long, I can't imagine what it's like not to.

For instance... people outside of my line of work tend to stop and stare when they see a cop going about his job. Unless they are doing something wrong, or have a warrant, or are carrying a pound of marijuana in the trunk... then most try to avoid eye contact as much as possible. I stare at cops when I see one that I've worked with for years without his uniform on. Oh, wait. That didn't sound right. When they are dressed in "plain clothes". To me? THAT'S weird and well worth staring at.

For those of you that may not do what I do, you might be curious as to how one trains for such a career. For police, the State of Texas has a requirement that you go to some form of police academy. After graduation, these young men and women have only just begun their training. The real training will come from the streets. Dispatchers don't have an academy. We are considered civilian employees. They have a lot more specialty schools now compared to when I started, but most dispatchers learn by watching and listening to other dispatchers. Even today I feel like I learn something new almost every day I'm at work.

Then there is the S.W.A.T. team. These guys have some grueling training, especially around here in the middle of summer, what with all their ninja turtle hats, gas masks and heavy ballistic body armor they are required to adorn. I've never attended a S.W.A.T. training day, but I found a short training video that might give you an idea of what goes on during one.

All Fixed

New battery in da car-a. Now for an oil change today and I should be all set to start a new and long work week.

We've had a few days of off and on storms. Two people sent me messages day before yesterday about seeing a 'double rainbow all the way', or almost all the way. I saw no such doubleness here. Just a single, but it was still pretty. The urge to cry uncontrollably and yell out 'WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?' as I stood on my front porch, was almost too much for me to resist.

Aww... He Thinks He's A People

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvG4KLbc_yg

Things, They Are-a Changing

Seems as if work is going to be unusually uncomfortable for a while.  I've become much more limited in what I can say in regards to work related matters, personal or otherwise, but change is in the air.  Overtime is imminent.  People's egos will be bruised.  But in the end, we will come together again as families often do.

My car battery has been PMSing the last few days. Doesn't want to hold enough of a charge to get my car started when it sits for at least 8 hours. I've been hooking it up to a battery charger I have. It's only been taking about 5 minutes. I think it takes longer to hook everything up. It's like I'm driving an electric car but without all the electric car benefits. I've eliminated alternator issues because I got home the other morning from work and turned off the car and started it back up with not even a lag. Batteries are cheaper than alternators.

Traffic in the mornings has doubled since school has started. Makes for crappy rides home from work. I was thinking this morning on the drive home that I would be the meanest defensive driving teacher EVER. Now I wonder how one becomes involved in something like that. Something to Google later on, I think.

Happy September!

Heh

Can I Get A Big Fat Ahhhhhhh?

It's been consistently over a hundred degrees for so many days now I can't keep track. At 11pm at night it's been 95 degrees. This morning greeted me with a wonderful 71 degrees and I quickly opened all my windows to let in some fresh air and to hopefully air out this house that has been closed up for the last two months straight. It's nothing short of wonderful after so many hot days.

This cool front that came through is a reminder that the seasons will soon be changing again and I'm not so sure I'm ready for the cold, cold, cold, and that's almost hard for me to say after being so hot, hot, hot. I am, though, looking forward to the cheaper electric bills that cooler weather always brings.

Wow... I've been home for about an hour now and I've yet to break a sweat. It's almost like Fall is already here!

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Link: http://vimeo.com/14190306

Not So Ho Lee Crap

Well I was not blown away by the house as I expected. It was just okay. I didn't get the "I'm home" feeling at all. Not sure if that was because I was nervous about this huge step I was taking or maybe my mind was distracted by pink when I first entered the home through the converted garage doors. What I did get was a lot of "this will need to be replaced", "this could be patched", "hey look, they have old house cracks just like I do". The best way I know how to put it into words is this: For a house that had been "completely remodeled", I would never hire whoever did it. It's not that it was a bad remodel, it just didn't look like it was professionally done. The pictures did their job, though. They got me there.

The central heat and air appear to be under 5 years old. The water heater looked very new as well. The converted garage in the picture appeared to have laminate flooring but in reality was painted concrete, which can be cool, unless someone decides to paint it the ugliest color pink I have ever seen. In addition, they matched the back covered patio area, that is also concrete, the same ugly pink. There are no air conditioning vents in the converted garage either so utilizing that room for anything other than a very large laundry room, which is where the washer and dryer hookups are located, would be difficult.

The kitchen floor laminate was not done well at all. I'm not against fake wood floors, but I would want the entire floor to look good. There were areas where it was much more worn than it should have been and it kind of looked as if each piece was slightly bowed. Could have been the lighting, though. The cabinetry was decent looking but I found it hard to look anywhere except that area on the floor that was messed up. I can't for the life of me remember what the counters looked like.

In the 2nd bathroom it looks as if they ran out of one kind of tile and got the closest thing to match. It doesn't. But I was impressed that it was almost the size of the bathroom I have now. (My bathroom is MUCH larger than what they put in most modest homes these days) The master bath was SMALL. But all the tile that was there was in very good condition in both bathrooms.

The carpet was laid poorly. There were places in the middle of the living area that were bunched up pretty good. It was very new looking, though.

The master bedroom is about the size of what I have now. I'm okay with that. I don't do much in my bedroom except dress and sleep anyway and I like the size of my room now. The second bedroom is a little smaller and then the 3rd bedroom was really small. Good for an office, though. The only closet I can remember is the hall closet. But that's because I opened it and instantly felt guilty like I was looking through someone's stuff. The owner still lives there.

The house has been on the market for 286 days. The listing price at this time has gone down from the original listing price by 10,000 dollars. If I HAD to have a place to live as soon as possible, I MIGHT offer 20,000 less than the asking price now, and that's after about a 10 minute walk through and just glancing at stuff quickly. If I had walked in and been blown away I probably would have looked a little more closely at things, but I wasn't, so I didn't.

I guess the strangest thing I saw, aside from the pink cement, was the two chain locks on the master bedroom door. You know... those things you put on your front and/or back doors with the chain clasp that you have to get in the hole just right or you're standing there for 5 minutes wondering why the chain isn't longer or the hole bigger so the darn thing would work? Not one, but two of them. And every door inside that house had keys sticking out of knobs.

For it being a buyer's market right now, that house is probably priced about 30,000 more than it should be, which I know is the thing to do, but through my limited research there is usually not THAT big of a difference between the asking and what's it worth. From what I've seen so far, it ranges about 10,000 dollars.

I guess in a very small way I'm disappointed, but in the last couple of weeks I've learned more about buying a house than I did before these last couple of weeks. Plus I can now use in conversation the words, "my real estate agent said...". Also, she's going to get me in touch with some lenders and I can go forward there and at least get a price range on what someone will lend me... if I don't get laughed out of the room, that is.

So all in all, it wasn't a bad house. It's old and I didn't expect it to be new. I wouldn't even mind buying a house that I had to fix up, but I would expect the price to reflect the repairs needed... pink cement aside. And that's BEFORE I hire the inspector to check the wiring and the plumbing and the roof.

What I need to do next is talk to some lenders and then find some other houses to look at which will give me an idea of what's out there in my price range. I've taken the first step... and it kind of makes me feel like a grown up.

Ho Lee Crap 3

The appointment has been made. I should be walking inside the house around 9:30am Wednesday morning. That's about 13 hours away from right now.

Hair-a???

As I celebrated my accumulation of gray hair in yesterday's post, never did I suspect that I would be posting a picture like this so soon. I was thinking maybe in another 20 years at best, 10 years at the earliest.

 My kids will be SO proud.

Hair-a

I've discovered this summer why little old ladies put their hair up in a bun. It gets the hair up off the neck and is much cooler, for one. Gets the hair out of the friggin way. Doesn't pull like a pony tail and there isn't an annoying braid swinging over the shoulder and getting into everything... coffee... food... toothpaste... soap.

They are impossible to sleep in, though. Unless you like sleeping on tennis balls, that is. I don't know why I just don't cut this mess off.

Now that the gray areas are more solid, my graying pattern is thus: The top and sides are about 85 percent gray. The very front around my face is solid gray. When my hair is bunned up, the underneath part has only a few strands of gray mixed in to very dark brown. I guess the back half of my head hasn't been as stressed out as the front half.

The House

The house was completely remodeled in 2005. They took the two car garage and turned it into what they are calling a second living area. The property detail sheet says there is a storage shed on the property, but none of the pictures listed show this. I'm hoping there is because I'd like a place to store my nasty lawn equipment, if nothing else.

The converted garage would make a wonderful game room, yet I have no pool table or any other type of game table that would go so well in there. The kitchen is huge compared to what I have now. Three bedrooms... one of which will turn into an office, the other I would like to have a real guest room for future grandchildren to come and stay with me. There is a built in wine rack so I guess I will have to start drinking wine. Fenced in backyard... perfect place for a new puppy. Covered back patio. Lots of trees. The house backs up to a school yard.

Here are the listed photos:

Filling Up Spaces

I remember when they brought the Lottery to Texas. I remember sitting back and daydreaming what it would be like to win the Lottery. Oh, the things I would have bought! I'm finding myself daydreaming about my own house that way now.

For many, many years while my children and I lived with my mother and father, I lived out of one room. When they moved out and my boyfriend moved in, there were four people still living together. My two kids and me and him. Everyone had their own stuff. Then everyone moved away and in my smaller 2bdr 1bth home I found it difficult to fill all my rooms with stuff. My second bedroom here, where part of the ceiling looks like it could fall in with not a lot of effort, has become the junk room, along with the garage. All the crap I need to get rid of or throw away has made it to these spaces. I keep wondering what in the heck I'm going to do with a house that has three bedrooms, two living areas and two bathrooms... and no garage to store all my crap that I'm too lazy to throw away.

My RE agent and I have narrowed down our times and I'm now awaiting word on an actual appointment time to see this one house. And I guess that's the kicker... one house. I've looked a lot online at houses and out of the thousand or so houses I have looked at, this is the only one that made me seriously think about moving forward and moving on. Which, I am fully aware, sets me up for some major disappointment. I'm okay with that, though, because if anything, it will be a huge learning experience for me, regardless of the outcome.

In the meantime, though, I'm enjoying the daydreaming.

Just Another Sunny Day On The Beach

Or not...

Link

Ho Lee Crap 2

The real estate person has made initial contact via email. Next step will be making an appointment to see the house.

I'm also planning on having a sit down with my parents and asking them a million and a half questions.

Fears

In my head there are pros and cons for not only moving, but for WHERE I'm thinking about moving. There are very few cons, none of which I can even think of now, and the pro side is full.

Making a life changing decision brings to front a whole new set of emotions. Top of the list is always uncertainty, "Am I making the right decision?". I've also come to realize a deep underlying fear of making future plans. Last time I looked towards the future, life turned around and shat on me.

But then there is the excitement. The butterflies of something new. The wanting of calling a place my own coming to fruition. It's terrifying and wondrous all at the same time. Surreal-ish.

Surprisingly, I'm not afraid of disappointment. I'm not sure if this is because I'm expecting it, or that I've grown old and wise and have become comfortable with life's little kicks in the ass.

I drove by the house I'm wanting to look at. Took a peek at the neighborhood and saw three older ladies out in their yards doing yard work. This went into the pro side.

Ever Wonder What It Must Be Like To Work In A Music Store?

Ho Lee Crap

I think I might be talking to a real estate agent soon. I'm feeling a mixture of excitement, fear and maybe what I had for lunch earlier. I'm terrified and ready to get on with things all at the same time.

I will keep you posted with any news that comes my way.

Augustus

Didn't I JUST put up the July banner??

August is here and it's only supposed to get up to 106 here today. Probably tomorrow as well... and the day after that, and the day after that.

Did you know that the window unit that cools my house was put in around 1970. That's what year it was born, at least. I'm only two years older than my air conditioner. I can only say, as any old person would... they sure don't make things like they used to.

Kitties got a brand new fancy bed that I impulsively bought the other day. It's SO soft and squishy inside. Only the girls have tried it out so far and they like it just fine.

And here are some old photos that were left on the camera when the battery died:

I'm sure Spazz was keeping my feet warm up there.

Evolution

I was eating a bowl of cereal last night and I got wondering... what is the history of cereal and milk? So while I partook I turned to my friend Google and asked it what it thought. Then my thoughts turned in a different direction and I realized that had I thought this same question 20 years ago... it would have taken a lot of time and dedication to find the answer.

I can remember as a small child I was brain washed taught that when I died and went to heaven, all of life's mysteries and questions would be answered. I couldn't wait to die so I would FINALLY know all the answers to all the questions I had ever wondered!

Then they invented Google.

And now they have this:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2jzB-M5yTo

What's UUUP?

I woke up this morning for the first time in a long time feeling better than I have in several months.  There are reasons for this that I will not be going into here, but suffice it to say that things in the crazy household may be settling down to it's old boring and undramatic craziness.

Here's a quick update for the last few months:

It rained like heck the first part of July.  Now it's hot as heck with no rain in site. 

My daughter got a puppy, Rosie:

who is no longer a puppy!

And my son got a puppy, Lucy:

but she's still a puppy.

I got no puppies. All I have is my same old kitties. But I'm happy with my same old kitties and I think they are, too.

My parents have gotten into Geo-caching. With each of their last few trips my Dad has printed off locations close to where they would be staying. My mom is loving the freedom of her new and improved hip. I've been loving seeing her so happy and in no pain.

The city I work for is having a city wide disaster training day coming up the first of August. I've been knocking around the idea of going and helping out(yeah, I know, Ms. Unsociable is thinking about doing something with OTHER PEOPLE!)but the timing is going to be iffy for me for several reasons. I promise to let you know how it goes. Just a week or so to wait!

Somewhere in the mess that is my desk I have a camera battery that has needed charging for the last 6 months. I think I'll find that today and start taking pictures again. I feel random pictures are in order for future blog posts.

Spoiled

Cricket has become incredibly spoiled this past year. Not that every one of the others aren't, it's just that she's my sweetie.

I noticed this past Winter that when I would rinse out a dish, or for whatever reason had an occasion where I'd run the hot water,  that Cricket would patiently wait to the side (safely away from any and ALL running water) until I was done and she would immediately go in the sink and start lapping up the warm water. So she started to get a cup of warm water every morning. And she would drink it.

Now that it is hot and miserable, she'll take a large glass of ice water please and thank you, but only if it's filtered water. Cheating and using cold tap water doesn't work.

Double Rainbow All The Way

For those that have already seen this, the title alone will give away this video. If you have not, then you must, of course. Let me preface these videos with the following: I want to live where he does and smoke eat, er... I want to live where he does.



Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

And what's a viral video without a song?



Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX0D4oZwCsA

Coming Home - Part Two

By overwhelming demand:



Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSTKoKjJ5XA

Coming Home

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=hkGzqpGx1KU

Reason #43 - Why I Dislike Most People

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qvXbIenivk

~sniff ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDD7Ohs5tAk

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

I Could Sit And Watch This All Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_I9ld-oDTs

Have A Great Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZsGqOguxtI

Your Domain Name Is About To Expire

So I re-upped my blog name yesterday because it was going to expire tomorrow.  A friend told me I should go ahead and renew, if only because of the name. 

I haven't written here in... well... I didn't look before I started but I know it's been months.  I had pretty much quit this site already, inside my head.  But here I am again.

I don't write any more because what comes out is a bunch of petty, negative thoughts.  I never wanted to turn my blog into a whiny, crybaby blog because personally, I can't stand sites like that.  Sure, everybody has a bad day, week, or month and a little negativity is okay.  It happens.  Our blogs are ways to express ourselves and not writing the negative when the negative is prevalent would be silly.  But when every one of  your blog posts start out with the words or contain multiple uses of the words, "I hate...", then I recommend taking a step back from your life and asking yourself what gives.  I'm still asking myself that. 

I still write on occasion.  Bits and pieces of black, negativity that I have never published.  I thought about another blog.  Had the name for it, too.  A place where I could write the negativity away where I wouldn't have to worry about co-workers or my family and friends reading it and associating it with me.  But a life lesson taught me something a very, very long time ago... that if you don't want someone to know something, number one, you don't tell anyone else and number two, you NEVER write it down.  Then I thought about piecing together the bits and pieces of the ramblings of a raved lunatic in one blog post and figured I'd scare away the last one or two that still stopped by here.

I dunno.  The answer to the question is nothing.  Nothing has happened that has led me here.  I am not unhappy.  I like my life how it is.  It's grander than that.  It's the world.  Because it's Spring here in tornado valley, I turn the news on more frequently to watch the weather and inadvertently get subjected to what's happening in the world.  If you are normal and frequently watch the news, than you already must know how crazy things are getting!  And THIS is the reason I don't watch it.  It affects me. 

If... When I write again I can't promise cheerful and happy.  I will try to push the publish button, I promise. 

Happy Non-Invisible Mother's Day

Invisible Sunday

Invisible Sunday

Invisible Sunday

¡Déjeme Sólo!

Every. Single. Time I walk out my door to do any kind of yard work I'm being accosted by those of Spanish decent. Doesn't matter what time of day. I'm thinking of mowing my lawn in the dark. If I had a head lamp on my ancient riding lawn mower, I prolly would. Maybe I'll zip tie a flashlight to the front.

I was needing a break anyway because I'm having to pick up trash that's been caught in my tall weeds or just generally thrown in my yard and I'm having to pick up large branches that have fallen over the last few windy weeks. My body is screaming because we have rain floating all around us and that makes getting out in the yard hard enough with out having to be constantly looking over my shoulder for another "Lawn Care Employee" wanting to offer his services. No ayuda a necesitó, gracias. No dinero. That would translate to: I ain't got no money and I don't need help. Thanks. Should I wear a sandwich board that says that? Maybe get a cool safety vest with that inscribed on the back? In Spanish?

So now I'm sitting here procrastinating going out to mow by blogging. Think I'll go play some Wizard101 now. Again.

Invisible Sunday

Neurosis. Go Get You Some.

Main Entry: neu·ro·sis
Pronunciation: \nu̇-ˈrō-səs, nyu̇-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural neu·ro·ses \-ˌsēz\
Etymology: New Latin
Date: circa 1784

: a mental and emotional disorder that affects only part of the personality, is accompanied by a less distorted perception of reality than in a psychosis, does not result in disturbance of the use of language, and is accompanied by various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances as visceral symptoms, anxieties, or phobias.

***

My twelve hour shift last night can be broken down into two parts. The first part, in which I was sure I was dying and the second part, where I knew I wasn't dying.

It is not easier to call a paramedic when you know them personally and they are only walking distance away. It is not easier when you know the paramedic that is attaching electrodes to your body.

I'm fine. Blood pressure is great, normal heart rhythm, blood sugar fantastic. I think the combination of old lady hormones, severe female cramps and the added bonus of bad rain pain caused some anxiety that spiraled out of control.

It DOES make it easier afterwards to know the paramedic when he can make you laugh and not feel so bad about calling.

Yeah I Did

So you may or may not have noticed that my banner is from last year... with the year changed, of course.  I'm lazy and all but I have SOME standards.  I tried to make a new one but my creativity was all, blah blah bleh and non-existent. 

I planted flowers in my pots and seeds in my porch bed.  Three days ago the air was so dry that I was zapping my cats from across the room and my hair was sticking to everything.  Today it is so humid I can barely breathe. 

Working twelve hours tonight.  Must go to bed soon.

Easter

As a child, Easter was kind of a big deal.  As a child, any holiday that involved candy was a big deal.

The night before was always fun.  I remember the smell of vinegar rising in the steam of the boiling water as we mixed colors for our boiled eggs.  I remember our small kitchen and the magic of lifting out the eggs from the colored mixture with a spoon. 

I remember Easter morning, waking up to an Easter basket always sitting by my bed.  I remember my Dad hiding the eggs and my Mom inside trying to keep me and my two older brothers from looking outside and watching my Dad.  I remember all of us laughing at some of the places my Dad would hide the eggs.

After the hunt was the enjoyment of boiled eggs until we were sick of boiled eggs and how my oldest brother didn't like boiled eggs, but would always eat at least one. 

When my children were young, the night before Easter still involved the smell of vinegar rising in the steam.  They would help me and my mother color the eggs.  Easter morning my children awoke to Easter baskets by their beds.  My Dad still hid the eggs, but it was my Mother and I who would stay inside to keep my two children from looking out the window and watching my Dad, their Grandfather.  There was still much laughter at my Dad's hiding places.

Some where, there is a video of my then 90 year old grandmother looking for Easter eggs with her great grand children. 

When I was young we all understood what Easter was about.  Like we did about Christmas.  There are those who would frown on the lack of Jesus in our family on holidays like Easter and Christmas, but I wouldn't trade the memories I have for anything.  They include family.  Family and lots of love and lots of laughter.  And it was always that way.

Invisible Sunday

Invisible Sunday

OMG Cat Cannot Unsee

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31XdlsC4D4

Ugh

It was a long week back at work. Stayed pretty busy. It wasn't until about 4am this morning that I realized it was my Friday. It made those last three hours much more tolerable.

My yard is screaming at me to mow. I might try and do that today before the rain comes in. The air is heavy with the feeling of thunderstorms. Before I mow, though, I'm going to have to go around the yard and look for tiny bunnies. The clovers are in big giant mounds and they love to hide in there. I don't think I could live with myself if I knew I mowed over a baby bunny. Almost did it last year which is why I know to look first this year. Plus I've seen a total of three bunnies running around at night time when I'm going to work so I know there are probably some somewhere.

Because What You Need Is Yet Another Tune You Cannot Get Out Of Your Head

I'm not sure if I'm more creeped out by the lip synching or the fake hair or the crazy dance moves. Maybe the combination of all three.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYU7oG2V7uc

Back To Work

I'm sitting here wasting time until I leave for my first day back at work after being off for half a month.

We've got cold and snow in the forecast again. Booo!

I had Chick-fil-A for dinner. Haven't had Chick-fil-A in a very long time. The food was yummy but it brought to mind a pondering question. When your heart has been broken and you are past all the crap that comes with it, is it possible to ever get to a point where you quit thinking about them completely? I don't mean when you purposely sit down and think about your ex-boyfriends, but when things... things like Chick-fil-A, bring them to mind without you wanting them to be there. Does that ever stop? Will I forever be haunted by his memory every time I pass one?

The best part about Chick-fil-A? According to their store location finder, Oregon has none. And I'm secretly very happy about this since this is where he is living, last I heard.

I'm Sorry

I try to be tasteful in what I post here and you wouldn't believe what kind of restraint I have used in the past. But I can't help but LOL every, single, time I watch this. If you are offended by breasts that are not fully exposed then you should not watch this. And depending on what your gender and/or sexual orientation is, will determine how you just interpreted that previous sentence. Plus there are kittens.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9upTLWRZTfw