Well, it has begun.
Mom and I went out shopping today for a memorial ornament for Dad. The memory gardens has a holiday gathering and a tree where people can put ornaments up in memory of loved ones.
Well, it was the first time I had actually really thought about Christmas without Dad. I stood in the middle of Michael's craft store and just cried. I then found my mommy and we hugged and I cried and she stayed stiff-lipped true to her "gotta be a tough broad" approach. I have no issues with crying in public and that is one of my frustrations with our culture. We, IMHO, are too cool and compartmentalized. It hurts when it hurts and it seems like it should be ok to model emotional release for others. Just me...
Well, I cried several times before we got outta that store, and it was the first of many stores visited for the ornament.
It is funny, because Dad would always get irritable, or nearly always get irritable, at Christmas, and really most holidays. He would sometimes get mad, make a scene, whatever, but sometimes it was great fun. But it was Dad, and we loved him even during the tough moments. Now, we'll wish like hell somebody was getting irritated.
We have found several fishing ornaments and mom bought a few. Dad was a true fisherman. Lived for it. It was his favorite thing, right after mom. She found an ornament that was a man and a woman out fishing and the sign on it said " a fisherman and his biggest catch" which was his wife at his side and that huge fish on his line, both of them - and that sure was dad.
To try to give mom something to look forward to during the holidays, we are going to watch all the Harry Potter movies, one per week. She has only seen the first one, so it will be very fun for her. My friend Mandy will probably join us as well.
We have been picking up jigsaw puzzles at thrift stores, so I imagine we will start in on those too.
Ollie reminds me more and more of Tashi with each passing week. My heart still aches for my sweet meeper. Ollie and Heljye are keeping me pretty busy though, so less time to notice his absence.
Well, I need to go, just wanted to purge a little more emotion...
Happy Holidays and be safe, whatever you do!
Dad - Being his typical silly self...
We miss you dad!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Pigskin Paradise
Well, football rules here.
It is just the way it is.
I was at the local public market last weekend, and while browsing, heard the music broke up to announce the score of the OSU football game. They play in Columbus - a little geography lesson folks, that is the capital of Ohio and it is about 90 miles away... yet, our nice live music was interrupted for the score.
Now, I spent 3 years at OSU. I had season tickets my freshman year. I went to 1 game. The rest of the 3 years I learned to avoid the debacle as much as possible.
Now, when I say football rules, I mean it.
Everywhere you go here, if they sell retail merchandise, they have OSU items. Shirts, hats, coats, socks, coasters, lighters. If you can imagine it, you can buy it in red and grey with the OSU logo on it. At the gas station, at some restaurants and at pretty much everyplace with a cash register...
Everywhere.
Back when heck was a pup and I was at OSU, the campus, sans bars, closed down.
I mean it, people. Closed. I learned this early on when I went to Long's Bookstore and tried in vain to open the door and found it locked. Huh? I needed to get some things for school and it was the middle of the freakin' afternoon.
Someone resolved my confusion by explaining to me like I was a child, that it was FOOTBALL SATURDAY, dumbass.
Yes, silly me.
No one can do anything except eat and drink and watch the privileged football goons smash each other up. I mean everything closed except bars and restaurants.
So, today was THE BIG GAME. Our local Ohio equivalent of the Cal Stanford game.
Michigan vs Ohio State.
Now, when I was at OSU, this game was kinda bad news. The campus is fronted by a mile long strip of businesses - High Street, and the name is pretty appropriate, if ya get my drift... anyway - for these particular home games, out came the plywood. You'd think we were in hurricane territory. After the game, cars would be turned over or set on fire and all sorts of mayhem would ensue.
Yup.
OSU vs Michigan. Time to plan a weekend trip off campus, way off campus.
Anyway, I am now safely about 88 miles away from the scene, and happily so.
Mind you I am not a fan of football, but, well you wanna know why Ohio is soooooooo windy????
Michigan SUCKS.
Yup and we kicked their sorry asses 42 to 7. Ha.
But, I hate football and the privileged life of the football player that I witnessed at OSU.
Did I mention we won?????
You know what, we have kicked their sorry blue butts for 5 years in a row now...
It is just the way it is.
I was at the local public market last weekend, and while browsing, heard the music broke up to announce the score of the OSU football game. They play in Columbus - a little geography lesson folks, that is the capital of Ohio and it is about 90 miles away... yet, our nice live music was interrupted for the score.
Now, I spent 3 years at OSU. I had season tickets my freshman year. I went to 1 game. The rest of the 3 years I learned to avoid the debacle as much as possible.
Now, when I say football rules, I mean it.
Everywhere you go here, if they sell retail merchandise, they have OSU items. Shirts, hats, coats, socks, coasters, lighters. If you can imagine it, you can buy it in red and grey with the OSU logo on it. At the gas station, at some restaurants and at pretty much everyplace with a cash register...
Everywhere.
Back when heck was a pup and I was at OSU, the campus, sans bars, closed down.
I mean it, people. Closed. I learned this early on when I went to Long's Bookstore and tried in vain to open the door and found it locked. Huh? I needed to get some things for school and it was the middle of the freakin' afternoon.
Someone resolved my confusion by explaining to me like I was a child, that it was FOOTBALL SATURDAY, dumbass.
Yes, silly me.
No one can do anything except eat and drink and watch the privileged football goons smash each other up. I mean everything closed except bars and restaurants.
So, today was THE BIG GAME. Our local Ohio equivalent of the Cal Stanford game.
Michigan vs Ohio State.
Now, when I was at OSU, this game was kinda bad news. The campus is fronted by a mile long strip of businesses - High Street, and the name is pretty appropriate, if ya get my drift... anyway - for these particular home games, out came the plywood. You'd think we were in hurricane territory. After the game, cars would be turned over or set on fire and all sorts of mayhem would ensue.
Yup.
OSU vs Michigan. Time to plan a weekend trip off campus, way off campus.
Anyway, I am now safely about 88 miles away from the scene, and happily so.
Mind you I am not a fan of football, but, well you wanna know why Ohio is soooooooo windy????
Michigan SUCKS.
Yup and we kicked their sorry asses 42 to 7. Ha.
But, I hate football and the privileged life of the football player that I witnessed at OSU.
Did I mention we won?????
You know what, we have kicked their sorry blue butts for 5 years in a row now...
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Auto Industry Dilemma
What happens to Jane and/or John Doe when they make a colossal mistake or take a giant risk that flops and they hit financial desperation? Folks that maybe have a college education, but probably not... Spent too much on fancy cell phones, plasma TV's, celebrity gym shoes and status symbol cars instead of being conservative and planning for future changes in the market? Have a health problem or major family crisis, loss of job, etc.
BAM!!
Low life no good for nothing scum bags trying to take advantage of "the system" is how they are branded. Unworthy. To be shunned. Eyed with suspicion. Shrouded in shame. Failure. Total personal failure. Deadbeats.
A team of highly educated, ivy league, business PROFESSIONALS making millions per year for their expertise screw up, and the consequences? Their compensation packages are barely compromised, if at all, they get to reorganize or shut down, off-load their debt and smile all the way into their next big RISK and their fat incomes and golden parachutes.
Let them make totally negligent decisions completely disregarding a known situation and well, how could they predict that we would need things like fuel efficient cars and gosh, it would be such an expensive endeavor... hmmm hello anybody got a memory cell at GM - the EV1 electric car from 1996 - a handsdown winner of an auto that would have made the gas dependent Prius a joke... ohhh gotta scrap that plan, let's build Yukon's instead and big big trucks. Hey, it doesn't matter we get government subsidies.
Yes, colossal irresponsibility and now, they want taxpayer money to bail them out of their failure to manage the business responsibly. Highly skilled professionals driving a company and national economy into the ground.
Yet, poor Chet, father of 3, files bankruptcy after losing his job where he worked 15 years at a factory straight outta high school, making good money, with good benefits in a solid blue chip company and the bastard is a low life irresponsible scum.
Yes, I am a bit pissed about the discourse of personal bankruptcy and corporate bankruptcy. It is INVERTED people. Ivy league professionals are paid handsomely for their business acumen. Yet they fuck up, making loads of income in the process, and ooops...
So, I sit, once again in a conundrum.
Chimp boy has left this country in an absolute shambles. I mean, we are in really fucking bad shape people. Even without the failure of the Big 3, things are bleak. Especially here in the rust belt.
Good luck "Rocker Bama" as my dad used to call him.
So, the Big 3 tank and 1 million more are added to the unemployment rates. 1 million MORE people who do not have enough income to meet their basic expenses, much less keep the consumer based economy functioning.
The massive size of the combined pensioners, my mom included, will likely send the PBGC into spasms and potential collapse. I know the reports are saying it won't be a problem. People lie, folks... Enron anyone????????????????
Perhaps the American economy as a whole is being downsized, er that is old skewl, excuse me "right sized" ???
Is this that juncture where we are no longer the dominant force on the globe? No longer the 20% consuming 80% of the world's resources?
It is a cliff that, on one hand, I want to take the paraglider and sail off of, and on the other hand, it is a scary proposition.
The next county over from me, Preble County, is facing big financial problems not unlike that of the rest of Ohio... this is a rural county folks. According to the 2006 Census figures, population of 42,500 in 18,000 houses, in an area with 100 people per square mile... rural people, I mean "country roads take me home" kinda rural.
Skinny farm roads. No salt for those roads this winter, not in Preble County. Ok, the bridges and curves will get some and the biggest arteries, like the state routes, but secondary roads, which are most of them. No salt.
I wonder how this will play out in the cost of emergency services for people attempting to drive on ice to jobs they are desperate not to lose because they probably and realistically won't find another.
Damn glad I live in Montgomery County and on a major state route...
apparently the cost of rock salt used to melt/prevent ice has more than doubled since last year. Add that to significant budget cuts at every level of government around here and whamo.
So, things here are sorta bleak, unless you are in the medical field, an engineer, an IT whiz or are highly skilled in computerized manufacturing. And this does not describe the majority of the 70% of the county's work age population who have an associates degree or less (54% high school or less).
However, in 2 plus years when they finally complete that 2 year technical skills program for healthcare, the area will be in such a shambles that there will not be enough people with jobs or health insurance who still live here, to provide adequate jobs in the healthcare sector to employ the career transitioners and the kids maturing into this bleak economy...
so goes the pains of an area struggling with economic earthquakes. SF has nothing on the economic quaking here in the rust belt.
Alrighty then, should we bail out the auto industry with requirements for substantial changes in operating procedures (and executive compensation) and keep some of those folks employed, or do we let them implode and continue on the slide into a depression?
Is it really reasonable to bail out the financial industry, participants in that industry made handsome profits engaging in business practices they had to be smart enough to know were not sustainable or responsible, yet they made a tidy sum in the process, and were bailed out on our dime, for our benefit. How is the auto industry significantly different?
How long before Americans are the "illegals" scrambling for jobs in other more prosperous countries???
BAM!!
Low life no good for nothing scum bags trying to take advantage of "the system" is how they are branded. Unworthy. To be shunned. Eyed with suspicion. Shrouded in shame. Failure. Total personal failure. Deadbeats.
A team of highly educated, ivy league, business PROFESSIONALS making millions per year for their expertise screw up, and the consequences? Their compensation packages are barely compromised, if at all, they get to reorganize or shut down, off-load their debt and smile all the way into their next big RISK and their fat incomes and golden parachutes.
Let them make totally negligent decisions completely disregarding a known situation and well, how could they predict that we would need things like fuel efficient cars and gosh, it would be such an expensive endeavor... hmmm hello anybody got a memory cell at GM - the EV1 electric car from 1996 - a handsdown winner of an auto that would have made the gas dependent Prius a joke... ohhh gotta scrap that plan, let's build Yukon's instead and big big trucks. Hey, it doesn't matter we get government subsidies.
Yes, colossal irresponsibility and now, they want taxpayer money to bail them out of their failure to manage the business responsibly. Highly skilled professionals driving a company and national economy into the ground.
Yet, poor Chet, father of 3, files bankruptcy after losing his job where he worked 15 years at a factory straight outta high school, making good money, with good benefits in a solid blue chip company and the bastard is a low life irresponsible scum.
Yes, I am a bit pissed about the discourse of personal bankruptcy and corporate bankruptcy. It is INVERTED people. Ivy league professionals are paid handsomely for their business acumen. Yet they fuck up, making loads of income in the process, and ooops...
So, I sit, once again in a conundrum.
Chimp boy has left this country in an absolute shambles. I mean, we are in really fucking bad shape people. Even without the failure of the Big 3, things are bleak. Especially here in the rust belt.
Good luck "Rocker Bama" as my dad used to call him.
So, the Big 3 tank and 1 million more are added to the unemployment rates. 1 million MORE people who do not have enough income to meet their basic expenses, much less keep the consumer based economy functioning.
The massive size of the combined pensioners, my mom included, will likely send the PBGC into spasms and potential collapse. I know the reports are saying it won't be a problem. People lie, folks... Enron anyone????????????????
Perhaps the American economy as a whole is being downsized, er that is old skewl, excuse me "right sized" ???
Is this that juncture where we are no longer the dominant force on the globe? No longer the 20% consuming 80% of the world's resources?
It is a cliff that, on one hand, I want to take the paraglider and sail off of, and on the other hand, it is a scary proposition.
The next county over from me, Preble County, is facing big financial problems not unlike that of the rest of Ohio... this is a rural county folks. According to the 2006 Census figures, population of 42,500 in 18,000 houses, in an area with 100 people per square mile... rural people, I mean "country roads take me home" kinda rural.
Skinny farm roads. No salt for those roads this winter, not in Preble County. Ok, the bridges and curves will get some and the biggest arteries, like the state routes, but secondary roads, which are most of them. No salt.
I wonder how this will play out in the cost of emergency services for people attempting to drive on ice to jobs they are desperate not to lose because they probably and realistically won't find another.
Damn glad I live in Montgomery County and on a major state route...
apparently the cost of rock salt used to melt/prevent ice has more than doubled since last year. Add that to significant budget cuts at every level of government around here and whamo.
So, things here are sorta bleak, unless you are in the medical field, an engineer, an IT whiz or are highly skilled in computerized manufacturing. And this does not describe the majority of the 70% of the county's work age population who have an associates degree or less (54% high school or less).
However, in 2 plus years when they finally complete that 2 year technical skills program for healthcare, the area will be in such a shambles that there will not be enough people with jobs or health insurance who still live here, to provide adequate jobs in the healthcare sector to employ the career transitioners and the kids maturing into this bleak economy...
so goes the pains of an area struggling with economic earthquakes. SF has nothing on the economic quaking here in the rust belt.
Alrighty then, should we bail out the auto industry with requirements for substantial changes in operating procedures (and executive compensation) and keep some of those folks employed, or do we let them implode and continue on the slide into a depression?
Is it really reasonable to bail out the financial industry, participants in that industry made handsome profits engaging in business practices they had to be smart enough to know were not sustainable or responsible, yet they made a tidy sum in the process, and were bailed out on our dime, for our benefit. How is the auto industry significantly different?
How long before Americans are the "illegals" scrambling for jobs in other more prosperous countries???
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Kia Rio Catnip Clamor!
Well, wasn't that a party...
Ok, so I go to mom's house tonight for dinner and a movie. I leave all 4 cats in the house together. Snuggie is still hissing and growling and smacking at the wee ones.
I get home about 10 and lo and behold, all 4 cats come out of the bedroom at the same time to greet me. What a nice surprise.
So, we hung out for a bit. I made a cuppa hot tea (it was 34 outside...) and started playing with the cats.
Jaz was actually acting interested in playing, Snuggie was playful which he really hasn't been since 10/18 when Ollie showed up. The little Rough Riders were in full form.
Snuggie was not exactly playing "with" them, but kinda "alongside" them. A real big step for him.
So, I was sitting in the floor in the middle of mayhem with all 4 cats running helter skelter and it hit me. Square in the head. I knew if I gave it time and did not force it, the wee one's name would present itself.
Just like a lightbulb, or a 2 x 4.
Heljye.
Yup. (Heljye --in American culture this is NOT an insult, but an endearment... Really!)
It ends in the "e" sound I always tack onto cats - I call Jaz "Jazzy."
Heljye is a very warm, yet fun and spirited person and so is the little guy. I don't know for sure what the name means, but for me, it is a reminder of Heljye who I so enjoyed working with and getting to know.
So, I said, hey "we need to have a shindig to welcome the Rough Riders to the TumbleFur Gang and the BathTub Boy and to celebrate everyone having a name!" and I broke out the catnip.
It was wild before the catnip came out, got even wilder, except for Heljye isn't really clear on the concept yet. He is real young...
Now, Snuggie is lodged firmly in his box on the desk, napping contently. He hasn't gotten in this box since, you guessed it, 10/17.
Ollie and Heljye are still making a ruckus. Heljye is running through the house carrying a plastic straw and Jaz is lounging on the top of a cat tree.
I am happy, happy, happy.
The grumbling is by no means over, but this is a big step in the family dynamic.
Ollie likes to jump off things onto Jaz's back. Jaz tolerates this fairly well. I hope he has more sense than to try it with Snuggie.
It is nice to have 4 cats with names.
It looks like Helje in Norse means productive, happy, success, or possibly God. Not sure.
Well, I am going to attemtp to get the Rough Riders settled down for bed, it is past midnight and we are all pumpkins now!
Ok, so I go to mom's house tonight for dinner and a movie. I leave all 4 cats in the house together. Snuggie is still hissing and growling and smacking at the wee ones.
I get home about 10 and lo and behold, all 4 cats come out of the bedroom at the same time to greet me. What a nice surprise.
So, we hung out for a bit. I made a cuppa hot tea (it was 34 outside...) and started playing with the cats.
Jaz was actually acting interested in playing, Snuggie was playful which he really hasn't been since 10/18 when Ollie showed up. The little Rough Riders were in full form.
Snuggie was not exactly playing "with" them, but kinda "alongside" them. A real big step for him.
So, I was sitting in the floor in the middle of mayhem with all 4 cats running helter skelter and it hit me. Square in the head. I knew if I gave it time and did not force it, the wee one's name would present itself.
Just like a lightbulb, or a 2 x 4.
Heljye.
Yup. (Heljye --in American culture this is NOT an insult, but an endearment... Really!)
It ends in the "e" sound I always tack onto cats - I call Jaz "Jazzy."
Heljye is a very warm, yet fun and spirited person and so is the little guy. I don't know for sure what the name means, but for me, it is a reminder of Heljye who I so enjoyed working with and getting to know.
So, I said, hey "we need to have a shindig to welcome the Rough Riders to the TumbleFur Gang and the BathTub Boy and to celebrate everyone having a name!" and I broke out the catnip.
It was wild before the catnip came out, got even wilder, except for Heljye isn't really clear on the concept yet. He is real young...
Now, Snuggie is lodged firmly in his box on the desk, napping contently. He hasn't gotten in this box since, you guessed it, 10/17.
Ollie and Heljye are still making a ruckus. Heljye is running through the house carrying a plastic straw and Jaz is lounging on the top of a cat tree.
I am happy, happy, happy.
The grumbling is by no means over, but this is a big step in the family dynamic.
Ollie likes to jump off things onto Jaz's back. Jaz tolerates this fairly well. I hope he has more sense than to try it with Snuggie.
It is nice to have 4 cats with names.
It looks like Helje in Norse means productive, happy, success, or possibly God. Not sure.
Well, I am going to attemtp to get the Rough Riders settled down for bed, it is past midnight and we are all pumpkins now!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Let It Snow...Let It Snow
Yup, this one is for REAL, like I am sitting at my desk looking out the window and there are BIG PUFFY flakes falling.
It isn't going to stick, at least not right now because it is far too warm for that at a balmy 36 degrees.
I know you poor saps in CA are suffering through one of those intolerable blue sky days with mid 70's temperatures... I am sorry.
Here, I can sip hot chocolate or tea, and gaze out the window at the winter almost wonderland... there, you are probably sitting at an outdoor cafe, 3 feet from the street with all those polluting automobiles spewing toxins on your ciabatta sandwich and your cappuccino. Sorry.
You are jealous, it is ok, I understand.
Ever tried to type with a kitten licking your fingers? It ain't easy. Ollie. I love little Ollie, but he is something else. Obssessed with food, much like Jaz and Tashi and boy can little Ollie Olfactory smell anything and everything.
He also shares Tashi's love of water. I have to be careful when running water in the kitchen sink. He jupms up and hooks his claws into my leg, right about where the bottom of my jeans pocket is. Yes, it hurts and yes he is trying to climb up me to get to the running water in the sink. I am not sure how long squirting water at him will keep him in line...
Little Scrapper still does not have a name. He has mellowed considerable over the last 10 days. I think he realizes he is not going to be put back in a cage for most of every day, and can relax. He is still a playful little guy, but not the wild child that arrived here. He likes to be close to me. He is somewhat like Snuggie. When he wants to rest, he is mama's boy, when he is awake he struggles like mad to get out of my hands... He is laying in my lap right now, ready for the afternoon nap.
Well the snow is now turning to rain, although it will probably turn back to snow again as the temperatures continue to drop...
So made a trip to THE local Trader Joe's (yes there is just one in the entire metro area...) for a bag of nan. I couldn't find any and asked one of the guys in those lovely printed shirts, he directed me to the frozen foods... grrrrrr. I asked the lady giving samples if she knew where I could get some fresh nan. Aside from buying it by the piece at an Indian place, nope. Nice. Well, she was giving samples of Cranberry Chevre. I swooned. It was wonderful. Never been a big fan of goat cheese as a stand alone, but this stuff was yummy as all get out.
Snuggie has made umpteen trips outside, only to return, sometimes cold, sometimes wet and cold. Poor baby is now lodged on the back of the couch, Jaz on the back of the loveseat and the babies are on the chaise in the office with me. Grooming incessantly before taking their long afternoon nap.
Well, back to school work.
Well, maybe after getting some mini-marshmallows and a cuppa hot chocolate...
It isn't going to stick, at least not right now because it is far too warm for that at a balmy 36 degrees.
I know you poor saps in CA are suffering through one of those intolerable blue sky days with mid 70's temperatures... I am sorry.
Here, I can sip hot chocolate or tea, and gaze out the window at the winter almost wonderland... there, you are probably sitting at an outdoor cafe, 3 feet from the street with all those polluting automobiles spewing toxins on your ciabatta sandwich and your cappuccino. Sorry.
You are jealous, it is ok, I understand.
Ever tried to type with a kitten licking your fingers? It ain't easy. Ollie. I love little Ollie, but he is something else. Obssessed with food, much like Jaz and Tashi and boy can little Ollie Olfactory smell anything and everything.
He also shares Tashi's love of water. I have to be careful when running water in the kitchen sink. He jupms up and hooks his claws into my leg, right about where the bottom of my jeans pocket is. Yes, it hurts and yes he is trying to climb up me to get to the running water in the sink. I am not sure how long squirting water at him will keep him in line...
Little Scrapper still does not have a name. He has mellowed considerable over the last 10 days. I think he realizes he is not going to be put back in a cage for most of every day, and can relax. He is still a playful little guy, but not the wild child that arrived here. He likes to be close to me. He is somewhat like Snuggie. When he wants to rest, he is mama's boy, when he is awake he struggles like mad to get out of my hands... He is laying in my lap right now, ready for the afternoon nap.
Well the snow is now turning to rain, although it will probably turn back to snow again as the temperatures continue to drop...
So made a trip to THE local Trader Joe's (yes there is just one in the entire metro area...) for a bag of nan. I couldn't find any and asked one of the guys in those lovely printed shirts, he directed me to the frozen foods... grrrrrr. I asked the lady giving samples if she knew where I could get some fresh nan. Aside from buying it by the piece at an Indian place, nope. Nice. Well, she was giving samples of Cranberry Chevre. I swooned. It was wonderful. Never been a big fan of goat cheese as a stand alone, but this stuff was yummy as all get out.
Snuggie has made umpteen trips outside, only to return, sometimes cold, sometimes wet and cold. Poor baby is now lodged on the back of the couch, Jaz on the back of the loveseat and the babies are on the chaise in the office with me. Grooming incessantly before taking their long afternoon nap.
Well, back to school work.
Well, maybe after getting some mini-marshmallows and a cuppa hot chocolate...
Friday, November 14, 2008
I found a place to hang...
Ok, just a quickie...
I came down to the local community college... Sinclair... and went to their library to browse around.
I am happily surveying faces around me, and seeing a very international crowd. Most of the faces are under 30, but that is ok by me, it is nice to see the diversity all around me.
I may come down here weekly, as long as I am not working full-time.
This college has been managed very well over the years. They have very nice facilities, even if they have a Starbucks smack dad in the middle of the library.
This is one of the places on my short-list of places I would like to work.
OK, catch you later, got a mid-term to finish!
BTW - the Rough Riders (aka Ollie and the little guy with no name yet) are almost integrated with the Bathtub Boys. Jaz rarely hisses and will on occassion cuff Ollie for trying to eat out of the same bowl. Now Tashi had that option, in fact Jaz would move his head so Tashi could eat. The little guy is kind of afraid of Jaz, the size difference is really a big one, as he is much smaller than Ollie.
Snuggie has stopped growling directly at them, but still hisses. He won't sleep in the bed with us, but he has started coming into the office when they are in there... so slow progress is being made.
I still don't have a picture of little guy... sorry!
I came down to the local community college... Sinclair... and went to their library to browse around.
I am happily surveying faces around me, and seeing a very international crowd. Most of the faces are under 30, but that is ok by me, it is nice to see the diversity all around me.
I may come down here weekly, as long as I am not working full-time.
This college has been managed very well over the years. They have very nice facilities, even if they have a Starbucks smack dad in the middle of the library.
This is one of the places on my short-list of places I would like to work.
OK, catch you later, got a mid-term to finish!
BTW - the Rough Riders (aka Ollie and the little guy with no name yet) are almost integrated with the Bathtub Boys. Jaz rarely hisses and will on occassion cuff Ollie for trying to eat out of the same bowl. Now Tashi had that option, in fact Jaz would move his head so Tashi could eat. The little guy is kind of afraid of Jaz, the size difference is really a big one, as he is much smaller than Ollie.
Snuggie has stopped growling directly at them, but still hisses. He won't sleep in the bed with us, but he has started coming into the office when they are in there... so slow progress is being made.
I still don't have a picture of little guy... sorry!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
A choice 4 letter word...
S
N
O
W
yup.
this afternoon as I was driving my mom up to St. Mary's to pick up her clothes dryer from my sister's house. My sister was not using them anymore, so mom bought them off her. Just as we turned off 127 onto 219 I noticed the little white specks slapping my windshield.
It was too warm for it to lay on the car, road or anything as it was a whopping 37 degrees, but it was falling and it did it off and on all afternoon.
Brrrrrrrrr.
I like "driving to the snow and driving home from it" but, hey, this is Ohio and here I am and I can see mom nearly everyday and that is all more than worth it.
OK, gotta head over to her house again, her neighbor boy (17) earned his Eagle Scout award and they are having a party for him. He is as cute as the day is long, and I could not figure out why carloads of girls were not cruising the neighborhood scoping him out. Now I know, he cannot be popular if he is an Eagle Scout. Well, he is a damn fine young man and he is probably better off without being in the sights of a dozen young girls!
N
O
W
yup.
this afternoon as I was driving my mom up to St. Mary's to pick up her clothes dryer from my sister's house. My sister was not using them anymore, so mom bought them off her. Just as we turned off 127 onto 219 I noticed the little white specks slapping my windshield.
It was too warm for it to lay on the car, road or anything as it was a whopping 37 degrees, but it was falling and it did it off and on all afternoon.
Brrrrrrrrr.
I like "driving to the snow and driving home from it" but, hey, this is Ohio and here I am and I can see mom nearly everyday and that is all more than worth it.
OK, gotta head over to her house again, her neighbor boy (17) earned his Eagle Scout award and they are having a party for him. He is as cute as the day is long, and I could not figure out why carloads of girls were not cruising the neighborhood scoping him out. Now I know, he cannot be popular if he is an Eagle Scout. Well, he is a damn fine young man and he is probably better off without being in the sights of a dozen young girls!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Trees finally planted - whew
Well, finally finished planting both trees.
Glad it was only 2. The soil here is clay and it can be tough to dig.
The trees are a Canadian Red Cherry or Chokecherry tree. It will have green leaves in the spring with white cluster blooms that are 3 to 6 inches long. By the end of June the leaves will be dark red and then turn more of a purple until they fall off in Nov or Dec. The berries are edible and a favorite of birds. The tree is abou 12 ft now and is planted on the north side of the house outside the dining room to block the view of the side of my neighbors house.
The other tree is the working tree - in several years it should be big enough to give the house some shade in the late summer afternoons. Due to the driveway, walkway and septic and leech lines, I really cannot safely plant a tree in a spot that will provide shade relief from the intense mid-day summer sun... too bad.
The working tree is an Autumn Blaze Maple. It will give some fantastic bright to dark red leaves next fall and may grow as much as 3 feet a year. It is planted to the west and south of the house. Far enough to not damage the septic and leech lines and far enough to not crack the concrete slab in the backyard.
I still have to clean the rest of mom's gutters out and one of mine leaks... and there is still a long list of to do's, but I am about to turn my attention to schoolwork and finding a job...
Wee Ollie and the little scrapper (he is a pisser... has pee'd on at least 3 different things in as many days... he is young, I hope it is age and acclimating to the new environ. He has a strong odor as well. Snuggie is gonna hate him. Ollie is perhaps the purrfect kitten.
The scrapper? Hellish little devil. He has sooooooooo much energy that sometimes when he is sitting still he shakes. He breathes fast and hard even when trying to go to sleep, turbo charged little guy.
Pictures will come soon.
Glad it was only 2. The soil here is clay and it can be tough to dig.
The trees are a Canadian Red Cherry or Chokecherry tree. It will have green leaves in the spring with white cluster blooms that are 3 to 6 inches long. By the end of June the leaves will be dark red and then turn more of a purple until they fall off in Nov or Dec. The berries are edible and a favorite of birds. The tree is abou 12 ft now and is planted on the north side of the house outside the dining room to block the view of the side of my neighbors house.
The other tree is the working tree - in several years it should be big enough to give the house some shade in the late summer afternoons. Due to the driveway, walkway and septic and leech lines, I really cannot safely plant a tree in a spot that will provide shade relief from the intense mid-day summer sun... too bad.
The working tree is an Autumn Blaze Maple. It will give some fantastic bright to dark red leaves next fall and may grow as much as 3 feet a year. It is planted to the west and south of the house. Far enough to not damage the septic and leech lines and far enough to not crack the concrete slab in the backyard.
I still have to clean the rest of mom's gutters out and one of mine leaks... and there is still a long list of to do's, but I am about to turn my attention to schoolwork and finding a job...
Wee Ollie and the little scrapper (he is a pisser... has pee'd on at least 3 different things in as many days... he is young, I hope it is age and acclimating to the new environ. He has a strong odor as well. Snuggie is gonna hate him. Ollie is perhaps the purrfect kitten.
The scrapper? Hellish little devil. He has sooooooooo much energy that sometimes when he is sitting still he shakes. He breathes fast and hard even when trying to go to sleep, turbo charged little guy.
Pictures will come soon.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Slippery Slope...
here is a hint...
I just joined....
http://www.crazycatladies.org
ok, so here is the deal...
Little Ollie was spending his days somewhat alone, while Jaz and Snuggie, being big boys, came and went. I, of course have had to deal with things at mom's house, try to get something done around here, schoolwork, you know, life.
To be fair, Jaz would hang out inside while he was ill - he is back in action, btw - but then spends some time inside even when well. Well, he took to little Ollie pretty good and sweet little Ollie will run and jump square on his back. Jaz is 15.7 lbs Ollie, maybe 2, maybe...
Jaz, being the love daddy he is, just shrugs him off, sometimes will give him a 45 second wrestling session (guess who wins) and occasionally cuffs him lightly.
Snuggie is still royally pissed. Snuggie is also now on antibiotics. Yup, he had a blistery bump on his lower gum and under the BEST of circumstances trying to hold his mouth open long enough to inspect is just asking for trouble, so I did my best to figure out what it was and couldn't. Was worried he had a bad tooth because the area was black -now he has always had a bit of black pigment there but I don't recall it being near that large, then again, I don't spend a lot of time with my face in his little mouth...
so, the vet is happy to see me as I may be funding her retirement plan, well turns out it was some sort of cyst or a stick poke or something that blistered and then it broke before I got him to the vet, well it was mildly infected, so antibiotics for 5 days for him.
Well, back to my wee Ollie. (he doesn't seem so wee anymore...) Bored bored bored and as much as I'd love to spend all my days playing with him, I just cannot. And, yes, he is as soft as he looks.
So, on Tuesday a scrappy little fella roughly 2/3 Ollie's size came to live at Kia Rio. Yup, the wheels are coming off the bus.
For those of you counting, it is 4.
I have it on reasonably good authority (google searches) that 5 is the number that makes you the crazy cat lady (unless you have a farm) so, I am just on that slippery slope...
Little guy is hell on wheels. OMG. He spent 3 weeks confined at the humane society and he came out wound up like an eight day clock!
I hope he mellows out a bit. Poor Ollie got a bit more than we bargained for.
I don't have pics yet, or a name...
Those two are running helter skelter all over the office. Ollie stands on the desk and jumps down on him.
Snuggie has sussed out that something else is afoot, but is not clear on it yet.
Snuggie may pack his shrimp treats and split if I don't do this carefully. It was all for him, too. Little Tashi, sweet love, was his playmate and I wanted to make sure Snuggie had someone to have fun with. Well, he'll adjust. Hopefully before the retail orgy season is over. I know he will like Ollie. If little scrapper doesn't mellow some, they may not exactly hit it off...
I'll post his pics soon. He is a short hair, dark, and is very uniquely marked.
Ollie has jumped in my lap (apparently I am home base) twice just while I was writing this. Scrappy little guy is a meower too.
Better go wrestle Snuggie and give him his antibiotic.
I just joined....
http://www.crazycatladies.org
ok, so here is the deal...
Little Ollie was spending his days somewhat alone, while Jaz and Snuggie, being big boys, came and went. I, of course have had to deal with things at mom's house, try to get something done around here, schoolwork, you know, life.
To be fair, Jaz would hang out inside while he was ill - he is back in action, btw - but then spends some time inside even when well. Well, he took to little Ollie pretty good and sweet little Ollie will run and jump square on his back. Jaz is 15.7 lbs Ollie, maybe 2, maybe...
Jaz, being the love daddy he is, just shrugs him off, sometimes will give him a 45 second wrestling session (guess who wins) and occasionally cuffs him lightly.
Snuggie is still royally pissed. Snuggie is also now on antibiotics. Yup, he had a blistery bump on his lower gum and under the BEST of circumstances trying to hold his mouth open long enough to inspect is just asking for trouble, so I did my best to figure out what it was and couldn't. Was worried he had a bad tooth because the area was black -now he has always had a bit of black pigment there but I don't recall it being near that large, then again, I don't spend a lot of time with my face in his little mouth...
so, the vet is happy to see me as I may be funding her retirement plan, well turns out it was some sort of cyst or a stick poke or something that blistered and then it broke before I got him to the vet, well it was mildly infected, so antibiotics for 5 days for him.
Well, back to my wee Ollie. (he doesn't seem so wee anymore...) Bored bored bored and as much as I'd love to spend all my days playing with him, I just cannot. And, yes, he is as soft as he looks.
So, on Tuesday a scrappy little fella roughly 2/3 Ollie's size came to live at Kia Rio. Yup, the wheels are coming off the bus.
For those of you counting, it is 4.
I have it on reasonably good authority (google searches) that 5 is the number that makes you the crazy cat lady (unless you have a farm) so, I am just on that slippery slope...
Little guy is hell on wheels. OMG. He spent 3 weeks confined at the humane society and he came out wound up like an eight day clock!
I hope he mellows out a bit. Poor Ollie got a bit more than we bargained for.
I don't have pics yet, or a name...
Those two are running helter skelter all over the office. Ollie stands on the desk and jumps down on him.
Snuggie has sussed out that something else is afoot, but is not clear on it yet.
Snuggie may pack his shrimp treats and split if I don't do this carefully. It was all for him, too. Little Tashi, sweet love, was his playmate and I wanted to make sure Snuggie had someone to have fun with. Well, he'll adjust. Hopefully before the retail orgy season is over. I know he will like Ollie. If little scrapper doesn't mellow some, they may not exactly hit it off...
I'll post his pics soon. He is a short hair, dark, and is very uniquely marked.
Ollie has jumped in my lap (apparently I am home base) twice just while I was writing this. Scrappy little guy is a meower too.
Better go wrestle Snuggie and give him his antibiotic.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The last time a young charasmatic father of 2 was elected
somebody...
(hint)
AIC ..
get your mirrors out folks, and read it backwards...
didn't want him in office and put an end to it.
I pray (and I don't do that often or lightly) for his young family that he does not become another successful hit for them.
(hint)
AIC ..
get your mirrors out folks, and read it backwards...
didn't want him in office and put an end to it.
I pray (and I don't do that often or lightly) for his young family that he does not become another successful hit for them.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Gas $1.95 per gallon (ok 9/10ths)
Well, despite colder than normal predictions for winter temps, a change in the Presidency and all the political unrest in the world (prior excuse used for fleecing drivers) the price of gas is steadily dropping in the face of the economic crisis and the Conspicuous Consumption Consumer Holiday in order to spur people to spend money on the retail and travel sector.
I still cannot fathom how millions and millions of people do not GET that the oil companies have been taking us to the cleaner and posting record breaking profits quarter after quarter, despite all the excuses to raise gas and here, when gas should be going higher, it has been cut in half.
I guess even when hit in the head with a 2 x 4 they cannot see the simple truth in their face.
Grrrrrrrr.
Jaz is up to 95% - I still have to get him started with the dry food, but he does fine with the canned stuff.
Little Ollie still has a puss oozing eye and is now sneezing out baby bits of blood. I called my vet like friend, Maria (bless her heart) to get her opinion on how much of Jaz's antibiotic to give him and if the terramyacin, or whatever it is (Tashi's old eye Rx) was reasonable safe for such a small guy.
So, hopefully he is on the mend as well. He still eats, drinks, poops, pee's and plays, but the eye has just been getting worse...
He scared me to death last night about 3 am. He got on my chest to lay down and within a few minutes he became excessively hot. It took me 20 minutes of messing with him and a cool wash cloth on his face to rouse him. I could not hear him breathing as I have been able to do since he got congested and I could not feel much in the way of his body moving with his breaths.
Well, he finally opened one peeper and tried to open the other one a little. He got up and ate a little and drank a little. He went back to sleep and I sat up wondering if he normally sleeps that deep everynight or if he was just spiking a temp. He doesn't normally get on my chest until about 6 am before we get out of bed...
Snuggie played with me a little tonight. Ollie jumped next to him and Snuggie did not notice him and ended up doing a 180 and hissing and growling like mad.
Someday they'll be buds... no wine before its time!
I still cannot fathom how millions and millions of people do not GET that the oil companies have been taking us to the cleaner and posting record breaking profits quarter after quarter, despite all the excuses to raise gas and here, when gas should be going higher, it has been cut in half.
I guess even when hit in the head with a 2 x 4 they cannot see the simple truth in their face.
Grrrrrrrr.
Jaz is up to 95% - I still have to get him started with the dry food, but he does fine with the canned stuff.
Little Ollie still has a puss oozing eye and is now sneezing out baby bits of blood. I called my vet like friend, Maria (bless her heart) to get her opinion on how much of Jaz's antibiotic to give him and if the terramyacin, or whatever it is (Tashi's old eye Rx) was reasonable safe for such a small guy.
So, hopefully he is on the mend as well. He still eats, drinks, poops, pee's and plays, but the eye has just been getting worse...
He scared me to death last night about 3 am. He got on my chest to lay down and within a few minutes he became excessively hot. It took me 20 minutes of messing with him and a cool wash cloth on his face to rouse him. I could not hear him breathing as I have been able to do since he got congested and I could not feel much in the way of his body moving with his breaths.
Well, he finally opened one peeper and tried to open the other one a little. He got up and ate a little and drank a little. He went back to sleep and I sat up wondering if he normally sleeps that deep everynight or if he was just spiking a temp. He doesn't normally get on my chest until about 6 am before we get out of bed...
Snuggie played with me a little tonight. Ollie jumped next to him and Snuggie did not notice him and ended up doing a 180 and hissing and growling like mad.
Someday they'll be buds... no wine before its time!
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