Nice and Cute

Today is a new morning. A new start. A sunny freshness.

Yesterday was not. It was a dark day. I tried to open the dull views.

I took several naps. I have one side that gets tired. Literally.

I look fine. I try so hard to pretend that I am.

I made it through the day.

Today I'm a bit better. I feel it hiding, waiting, looking for it's moment

To start again. To make my day less than purrfect.

I thought that maybe it was time to go back to the quacks .. and I don't mean ducks. I've been to so many of them. They look at me like I'm making all this up. You would think that if you've been in a coma ... they would believe you but no ... they do not.

I told myself the last time ... I went to my car and cried ... I left my neurologists office, that this was it. I was on my own. I need to fall on the floor in the middle of a crowd and wait ... for that one Dr. who just studied up on what I have ... whatever that is ... and when I get to the er ... that Dr. ... who is cute ... it's my dream ... will be the one who sees me and is nice to me ... cause I've already gone through all the Dr's that aren't nice ... I think they were practicing on the day I was there.

Anyway, that nice Dr will be there and know right away what's wrong with me. The cure will not include five days of steroids at the infusion clinic, no it will not, it will include a pill of some kind. The wonder pill that I've been waiting for since I woke up ... and they ... the mean Dr's and the sometimes rude nurses ... will give it to me with a smile and the headache that I woke up to and have been friendly with ... these almost four years ... will go away and never ... ever ... come back to me. I will have the use of my right side ... I will be young again ... it's my dream.

Today I would like to take that pill but I need to go find that crowd to pass out in. With my luck, everyone will step on me or over me and I'll pick myself up and go on with my day. And since that is my scenario, I'll just keep on trying.

I will though, from time to time, dream of that Dr ... Nice and Cute ... and his wonder pill. He's out there isn't he ?

How Cute are these Two ?

Sipura and Larisa,

two adorable baby black panthers,

made their big debut at Berlin's sprawling Tierpark Zoo.

Roses

Photo Shop Roses

The original photo

This is one of the roses in my back yard. I live surrounded by woods so my roses grow kind of wild. I decided to play around with my photo shop. This is what it looks like in black and white with a crinkle border.

Back Yard Throw Aways

I was in the back yard and decided to bring in some of the roses. They were about to go bad. Some of them already had. I put them together in a vase. They look semi ok on my kitchen table. They sure do smell nice.

My Beach Vacation

Haystack Rock and The Needles

Honest Scrap Award

Just got this award from Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails .

Thank you for thinking of me!

Here are the rules:

First, you have to tell your readers 10 things about you they may not already know, but are true.
Second, you have to tag 10 people with the award.
Third, you have to let the people you've given the award to, know that they've received this award from you.

Finally, make sure you link back to the person who awarded you.

Ten Things About Myself

1 ~ I went to Catholic school most of my life. Yes, I'm one of those wild girls.

2 ~ I had a pet duck named Sally. Sally was a boy.

3 ~ I thought everyone had short French Grandma's. (Mom was adopted and I'm tall)

4 ~ I grew up camping. I still like to go once a year. Tent.

5 ~ I'm a paying member of DAR. (Dodge of Kansas were in the Revolutionary War)

6 ~ I'm a not paying member of Delta Delta Delta. (They don't kick you out if you don't pay)

7 ~ My first dog was named ... Cinders George Popeye Carpenter ... yes, I helped name him.

8 ~ I'm very shy...still am. That's what the wine at the party is for ... right ?

9 ~ My middle name is Ann. My sister got to name me ... after Annette Funicello. I bet you don't have that story do you ?

10 ~ I worked at Yellowstone National Park one Summer.


Ok, now for picking 10 bloggy buddies who might like this award.
This is where the trouble comes in ... ten, big number. I'll do five.
I would love to know more about these five. If they have time to let me and others know about them ... that's great. If not, than ... maybe a hint or two ...

1 ~ Tatiana at My Secret Gardern
2 ~ Susan at Stony River Farms
3 ~ Andrea at Not Rocket Science
4 ~ Noll at Nolls Nip
5 ~Laura at Amongst The Oaks

I Wear My Sunglasses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXw4qqQqTrY

I heard this while waiting for my teenage son
to get out of his Driver's Ed class.
It was sunny and
YES
I had my
Sunglasses on.
What kind do you wear ?

And, I know I need to learn how to post an actual video
I'm working on it ...

The Exception

I just watched the movie,

He's Just Not That Into You

I liked it.

A chick flick for sure but it was better than I thought it would be.
I have to admit I did buy the book.

It was mentioned on Oprah and well let's face it, if Oprah likes you, who am I not to follow.

My Hubby ... better known as ... Mr Boat Man ... just left on a jet plane. Don't know when he'll be back late Friday night again.

Thought it would be a great night for a $4.99 movie on the tellie flat screen.

I came away with this ~ Don't we all want to be someones exception ...

Here are a few quotes ~

I just need you to stop being nice to me unless your gonna marry me.

He's totally gonna call.

I had this guy leave me a voicemail at work, so I called him at home, and then he emailed me to my BlackBerry, and so I texted to his cell, and now you just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies. It's exhausting.

He MySpaced me. Ouch! Oh. Oh girl I don't know about that... My trampy little sister says MySpace is the new booty call.

Beach Weekend

I'm going away

On an Anniversary Weekend

to Cannon Beach, Oregon

I'll be walking the sand

Even if it Rains

International Box Day

Al on the box

Younger Days

'Memories, Like the corners of my mind

Misty water-colored memories

Of the way we were'

Do you wonder what happened to your younger days ?

I do .. a lot ... lately.

I was in coma.

Just those words ... who says that ...

I do.

I guess I'm in a special club. Only I haven't met anyone who's in it. I think we walk around pretending it didn't happen. Those of us who were lucky enough .. to recover enough .. to be able to walk and talk enough .. to act normal enough.

I can't explain what my life is like. The recovery is a blur and at the same time, the longest part of my life. I remember it the most. I do better with the present. The past is a sort of memory for me. I remember some things and some I need help with.

Someone asked me what it was like. I told them it was like nothing. Nothing at all. I didn't think. I just was. I didn't feel. I just did. I was a child learning everything. With time, I remembered more and could function almost like a real person. Only I wasn't ... real. I just was.

It's been a while now and I still have memory problems. Not big things ... I know how to walk and talk and drive and think. I just don't think like I used to. I was educated. I knew lots of things. I felt things. Now, I don't feel like I used to. I don't remember like I used to.

It's like I've learned to pretend. Pretend to be me. Me ... can I look that up? I'm learning who that is by myself.

I used to be young.

I remember some of that. Where did those years go ? When did I get old?

Would it have been better not to remember at all ? I sometimes think it would have ... been better. It's been hard ... learning to be me ... the parts of me ... that I remember. And, even those memories are off a bit.

I'm almost the same only I'm not. I never will be.

I am always in search of peace. I think I lost it when I lost myself.

It's silly ... to be searching for things that are lost ... isn't it ?

I look in the mirror and I see an old lady ... I think I wear my wrinkles well even if some of them I can't recall...

Subway

I get the NY times online ... none of this paper stuff.

I never did get it in paper form ... well, maybe I bought it a few times but ... back to what I was saying ...

Here is a ... what I thought was interesting ... photo essay ish type video

... about the movie,

"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3"

As a person who does not take the subway on a regular basis, but who has taken it when visiting various cities of the world, I thought this was interesting indeed.

See, you now know more about me ...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/05/03/movies/20090503-kennedy-audioss/index.html?8mu&emc=mub1#

Cats Sleep Anywhere

Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair. Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge. Open draw, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do. Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks. Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.

By ~ Eleanor Farjeon (1881 - 1965)

Trees and leaves and Sunshine

Trees and leaves and Sunshine ... taken through the car sun roof ... also known as a Moon Roof ... I asked my husband ... I said, "what'... who calls it that ... I call it a sun roof or a sky light in the roof of my car."

Last weekend, we were driving to the beach house. It always takes forever to get there. Even though it should take just over an hour it sometimes takes two. Being that it was the Memorial Day weekend, it took two. I mean bumper to bumper .. non stop ... or stop ... the whole way. No accidents in sight. Just cars.

Finally, my husband says he's 'Hungry'. He wants 'Mc E D's' ... so we pull off the freeway and the crowd follows us. At the light, we can see that the drive up goes all around the Mc golden arches. We find a spot by a tree. Cause by this time, well, Mc E D's sounds ok with me.

Only it was a hot day and the two big dogs were with us. I told him to go in and I'd wait with the girls. Which I did. Only I started to notice the tree outside the car. It was swaying in the slight breeze. The sun was out and I thought ... a photo would be a good idea.

So, this is my spur of the moment ... tree with leaves in the sun on a Saturday ... photo.

Enjoy ... almost like you were in the car with me eating a Mc E D's ... I'd share a fry with you but the girls ate most of them ... I know I shouldn't give it to them but it's those brown eyes again. We got to the beach house. There weren't any french fries left.

Furry Dogs

Just got done being on the back porch with the girl's. Maddy Jean and Bella. My Golden and Labrador Retriever.

I came out with my furminator and a plastic bag ... I was on a mission from dog. Thought I was going to say something else didn't you.

I had looked up grooming in my area. A mobile one came up. They come to your house and they do .. everything ... to your dog .. for you. Only it cost $$$$$ ... how much ?

Since my two hairy one's are going in for their very expensive shots this week ... which have only expired by a few days ... I thought I ought to wait for the bubble bath for dogs van and do a bit of dehairing myself.

First, the furminator is a marvelous device. I got the yellow one. I think it comes in blue too but I got the middle sized one due to price. They saw me coming but I did not ... I say again ... did not buy the most pricey one. Being the good shopper that I am.

I started with the Golden which after a moment ... realized that I was not going to play with her ... at least not the kind of play she had expected. I got one side done ... and by done I mean I went over it once ... at least I think I did cause with a Golden Retriever all you see is puffs of light hair floating around ... like a hairy cloud. I grabbed what I could see and then some. The furminator is so good that I can't keep up with it.

I tried to role her over to get the other side and well, she got up and went down the steps in a blonde cloud. That's when I called her sister. "Bella, come here" Bella has always been a good girl. Comes when she's called or at least when I call her and I'm looking right at her. She tried to do the "who me" look but she put her head down and came to me on the deck. ( She always puts her head down when she doesn't want to do something but she always does it anyway.)

I combed her a long time. She was two colors. Light and dark brown. Now, she is mostly dark brown. I still have more to do on her but at least I got the other side done. She doesn't run away as fast as her sister. Something to be said about having a dog with bad hips.

Maddy Jean, being the goofy pup that she is and maybe due to being blond, came on the deck like she'd forgotten what had happened. I got to get the other side combed for a while. She finally tried to nip me ... not a real one ... just one that said ... "I'm done now".

Which we all were. I got a full bag of hair, the birds got some nesting material, the rest of the hair is biodegradable I'm assuming, and I got some exercise ... the bending and twisting part ... and I can mark that off my 'to do' list.

So, when I take them into the vet this week for their slightly over due shots ... really it's just a day or two ... ok, it might be a week but who doesn't do that ... they won't look like the vet needs to call animal rescue on me.

The nails though ... that's another story ...

Just call me Scarlett

I'm tired ..
I woke up around three am to my dog whining. I tried to ignore her but she kept it up.
Finally got up and let her outside. Had to wait for her to come back in.
At 3:30 I went back to bed. I think I slept til six.
Had a few things to do. Like take my cat, Jasmine, to the vet for her shots.
Got home and realized that they made her paperwork for rabies out wrong.
Had to go back and pick up the correct paperwork.

After I called the vet to let them know what they did or shall I say did not do.
Went to the grocery store for a few items
Came home and went out back with the girls ... Bella and Maddy Jean.
Was tired and tried to take a nap
I'm still tired
One of those kind where you're tired when you wake up
I'm sure it will go away it's just that I don't like feeling this way
Like I'm going to pass out or I'm just exhausted from life and it's troubles
Maybe I'm coming down with something

And, tomorrow is another day ... just call me Scarlett ..

Slaying The Dragons

I'm taking a break from working in the back yard. I was slaying the dragon better known as the black berry sticker bushes. The big one by the back fence was coming over from my neighbors' yard. I have three azaleas that grow against that portion of fence. My neighbor has let the back of his yard go natural which means black berry bushes are his version of a hedge. I don't mind ... really ... I don't.



I decided to go with my whacking tool and see what I could do. I whacked away and got a big chunk. While getting it to go over the other side of the fence, I have lots of woods on the other sides of my fence ... it's a weird fence line ... I got it good on my hand. Being the child that I am, I decided that meant I needed a cool drink and a big break from working on the disaster, better known as my wild back yard.

Yes, I know all too well that I have two teenagers. Where are they ? Helping their father clean his boat. Why am I not on the boat ? Didn't feel like it. Have I changed my mind ? No, I haven't. I wanted to stay home with my girls' and work on the weeds a bit. And, yes, I'm a bit out of my mind. Aren't I ?


Who would pick weeding and slaying the dragons instead of waxing the boat ? OK, I wouldn't be waxing it. I'd be the one with a drink in hand enjoying the cool breeze while they slaved away. If I'd actually gone with them, it would have been hot as ... and no breeze in sight. So, I think I made the best decision. After all, I have a cool drink and a breeze. I bet I could find some wax around this house somewhere.

I am now going to look up what nettles look like. Yes, I found those too. Don't think I touched them while I whacked away but I am a bit itchy ...

I called my H ... also known as Mr. Boat Man, to let him know that his hot tub parts had arrived. They were on the front porch when I went to get the mail. Which I normally only do in the car, since we have a long driveway and I'm old and all. Today I decided to walk my weedy lane, pulling this one and the other along the way.

My daughter, who's home from her first year at college, Cornell .. had to say that cause damn it was hard to get in to and well, it's costing us so much mu la, anyway, she answers and says that Dad isn't a Happy Boat Man. I ask, "why not", trying not to giggle ... the boat it seems "won't start". Imagine that one for a moment or two. That would not make Mr. Boat Man happy at all. He had the engine fixed last year. I know he did, I was the one handing him tools. The engine is a step inside, down a ladder, type of duel engine. Not being an engine gal, I think it looks like it should start but I can't even start the lawn mower, so what do I know. She goes on to tell me that, "we probably won't be as long as we thought".


I went out to the back porch with the girls' ... the girls' are my dogs, Bella and Maddy Jean. I told them that we were having a better day than Mr. Boat Man and his teenagers. They just panted at me ... being the silly puppies that they are.


I was sitting with my Newcastle Brown Ale while enjoying the warmth of the yellow stuff. It has gotten lost on the way to Vegas or Texas and I get to enjoy it for a while. I'm sure the rain will find it's way back to me but for now, I just need the hot tub fixed and I'm in Sin City or Long Horn Heaven.

Oh, one last thing before I go back out back, I saw a Flutterby. The first one of the Season. I'm sure you all know what a Flutterby is ... right. Yellow and black and it flew by me and teased me just a bit. I was so thrilled and thrilled I don't normally do ... being an old lady. My Mom taught me well.



Right after that, when I was telling the girls what I saw, a ... get ready for this one ... Dragon Fly buzzed by me. A blue one too. I like blue just look at my list. I tell ya it's been a Dragon of a Day and I'm going to go back out back and finish my Newcastle Brown Ale.


I think my day wins ... don't you ?

The Lemonade Award

The Lemonade Award

I have been given a Lemonade Award. Michelle @Welcome to My World has given this to me. Thank You Very Much. I LOVE Awards.

I even love Lemonade with sugar please.

I now need to ~

Give this award to bloggers I feel show a positive attitude and/or gratitude.

1) Put the award logo on your blog.

2)Nominate at least 10 bloggers that show great gratitude and/or attitude. ( That seems a bit big for a small blog like mine...so, I'm going to do five but if I tag you and you are HUGE in the blog world and have lots of time ... go ahead and do ten )

3) Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post.

4) Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are the bloggers I am giving this Lemonade Award to:

LeAnn ~ Always has a humorous tone to everything that happens

Shaggy, Scooby and Scout ~ They just took in a few feral kittens

Farm Tails ~ I enjoy her love of animals

Life on the Creek ~ She helps feral cats. My Lilly Ann was very feral.

Suzanne ~ I love her stories

It took me a while to look through the blogs that I follow. I wanted to give five awards to blogs that make me happy. I like all of the blogs that I follow but these five fit into the 'Positive Attitude and Gratitude' category. If not for what they say but for what they do.

Life's a Beach Sometimes

I walked the beach

The tide was way out

I was able to take a few photos

Sand dollars galore

Every shape

Broken and not

Lined up under the sand

Laying on top of each other

Scallops and sea weed

Oysters and mussels

It's way too much fun

And The Winners Are ...

And The Winners Are

I wrote everyone's name down on a list. First to last.

I had a total of 17 contestants.

I went into http://www.random.org/

I put the number 1 cause that's what we start with and 17 as my last number.

I pressed the button and ... this is where I ask for a 'Drum Roll Please"...

The first number that came up was number ... 15

The second number that came up was number ... 12

Number 15 on the list is WNC Mountain Living

Number 12 on the list is Stuey

And, as a last moment thought, I decided to be nice and do 'it' again

Yes, I am sending a third 'Pay It Forward' gift...

Another Drum Roll ... and the number randomly picked is ....

Lucky Number 9

Number 9, my last moment add on is .... Hit 40

I went shopping and got some pretty cool items.

I'd like them so they must be Purrfect.

Now, I need to get your address.

I want to Thank Everyone for Playing 'Pay It Forward'.

It was lots of fun meeting new bloggers and wondering who was going to win.

I was surprised that there weren't any smaller numbers.

Remember, it's now your turn to do a 'Pay It Forward'

I think you can do two people or one ... not sure about the rules ... when I won it was

for two ... you can check back if you wish ... the person I won from had a link back to the person she won from.

So, get those addys to me and I'll get working on putting your items in a box.

I probably won't send them out til Monday.

I shall now be known as ~ Sloopy FrickenTush

The following is excerpted from a children's book,

Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot Professor Poopypants,

by Dave Pilkey,

in which the evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names...

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your New first name:

a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i = dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloopy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = dorfus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dinky
z = zippy

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:

a = dippin
b = feather
c = batty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n = rhino
o = potty
p = hamster
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = snickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:

a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g = pants
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = head
l = tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin
o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = doodle
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = hiney
z = juice

Today is a Silly Siamese Friday.

My new name is ~ Sloopy FrickenTush

(I got this info. in an email from a Silly Cat Friend who likes to laugh )

So tell me your new name ...

Hot

It's been Sunny All Week
Rare for my part of the World
I'm used to rain, clouds, more rain


A bit of sunshine through the trees makes my day


We've had Summers where you
yell at everyone to come quick
to stand in the sun
it might just be
our whole Summer


We've gone away for a week on vacation and come back
to hear that we indeed did miss our Summer
Yes, it's happened.


I have green moss on my porch steps, deck, fence .. I think the cat is turning too.


I'm not complaining ... even though it may sound like it.
We just aren't prepared for this.
This yellow stuff all day long
For a whole week
In June
Maybe August


It's 90 outside
90
I'll say it again 90
I know that's not bad for Vegas, Texas or Georgia
but, for June in my cloudy, wet, green world

It is HOT
This heat wave will probably only last a few more days
I'll complain later about how we didn't have much of a Summer
And, you are all now required
to remind me
about this
Hot
week in June

(No, I do not have air conditioning. I have lots of fans that I had to go in the attic to get...that's another story all together)

Shovels & Slug Bait

Yesterday, I went to our local hardware store.

I needed to get a new shovel.

The night before, I'd broken our old one in half.

Yes, In half.

It was an old wooded one but still ...

It was a shock

This time I got an aluminum one

I was walking around the store

with my shovel, my wallet, keys and glasses

When a fellow starts talking to me about my tool

I was in the 'get rid of pests in your garden' row

Looking for the slug bait ... the good for pets ... kind

When this fellow started up a conversation

I, had my hands full, and tried to be nice

Normally I'm not a nice person ... ok, I am ...

When I'm waiting in line

Who is behind me but the fellow and his wife

While I'm paying they start laughing with the cashier

About me and my shovel and my slug bait

I told them the story of breaking the shovel

They kept laughing while I told them I needed a new one

And needed slug bait too

Was it something I said ...

Was it what I was wearing ...

Or, am I just that entertaining ?

I'm figuring it was a slow day ...

Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward

I won Pay It Forward when Kate from Chronicles of A Country Girl randomly pulled my number.

http://chroniclesofacountrygirl.blogspot.com/

Here's what she said on her blog ~

"I think it’s time for a fun Pay It Forward post in which two winners will receive a sweet little prize that will come in the mail. All that’s required is that you have to be willing to Pay It Forward.

Here’s how to play: I’m going to take the commenters from this post and run a random integer to select two of them. Those two winners have to be willing to Pay It Forward by doing the same on their site. "

Well, I just got my 'Pay It Forward' gift in the mail.

And, we all know how exciting it is to get a package on your doorstep. I was refilling the bird feeders ... oh, I meant the TV for the Cats ... and there it was. A box and it had my name on it.

I got the camera cause that's what you do when you have a blog. I opened the cute box and inside there was : A cute green beaded coin purse, a pack of notecards, a sack of Tub Teas that says it soothes the muscles and a bar of Sage Provence soap. Green ... was the color in most of the items. Here's a photo ...

So, now it's my turn to Pay It Forward. If you want to possibly get some cool gifts from a far away place ... if where I'm from is considered a far away place ... please put a yes or a I'm in or a send it to me or a Purrfect Idea or what ever you would like ... in the comments section of this post.

I will select two names and contact you when I have chosen. So, tell your blog friends ... cause I don't get too many comments ... or not ... your chances will be better if you don't ... ha ha ...

Just remember, you have to be willing to do the same if you are selected ...

OK, Good Luck ... oh and you need to have a blog .. Had to say it just in case ...

I forgot to mention ~ this will end on Friday, June 5th at midnight Pacific Standard time. I will count the 'Yes, I'm in ' comments on Saturday morning ... which will be Sunday for some of you ... and I will randomly pick two lucky winners. I'll let you know on Saturday.

If you have a cat, I might add a toy for them. A bone for your dog. Bubble Bath for you or seeds, as one special blogger mentioned. I will look at your blog to see what you might need or want or what I might think you might like.

So, comment away ... It's Christmas In June !!!!

Coffee & Cupcakes

I had the chocolate named Royal with Cheese

My daugher had the lavender flavored cupcake

My daughter took me out for a treat.

(Her pretty toenails are showing)

She said she knew a cute place to get coffee.

Indeed she did.

It's in Seattle hidden away by a park and lots of houses.

I, not being from Seattle, knew nothing of this place.

Just about the cutest coffee shop ever.

Tables and chairs outside.

It happened to be a sun shiny day too.

I would recommend it to anyone.

Couldn't tell you how to get there though.

My Seattle savey daughter drove me.

She went to High School near by and knows the area.

Now I know where the gas money went.

While I was at home petting the cats

My daughter was drinking coffee and eating cupcakes.

And I thought she was studying.

Silly me !!!

http://www.cupcakeroyale.com/

And they have a blog site

http://legalizefrostitution.blogspot.com/