Never a Dull Moment

http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/Lucy%27s_psychiatry_booth

There is truly never a dull moment in my house. Or in my life, really. I have 2 Border Collie dogs (Luke and Cole) both under the age of 5 so still technically “puppies”; 2 cats (Gordon and Simba) – one semi-psychotic-borderline-bipolar and one in that “toddler” stage who gets into E V E R Y T H I N G including tons of mischief; I watch children in my home during the week ('nuff said); and though I'm not too accident-prone I do have my share of “incidents”.

In the course of just a few weeks, this was part of my life:

~Dropped a can off coffee while scooping, proceeding to spill coffee grounds (at least 1/3 of the can)

~Was pooped on by an infant (yes, all over my clothing)

~Argued with a 4 year old about an episode of “Dora” in which THEY were wrong but 4 year old kids think that anything on television is CORRECT

~Stepped on my psycho cat in the middle of the night on my way to the bathroom resulting in an ankle lashing (sheesh, it was dark and HE is dark colored)

~Almost fell out of the Jeep after opening the door when I THOUGHT my husband had parked...indeed, he had not parked yet

~Found my personal feminine items (which I had just purchased) torn apart and strewn about the kitchen floor (thank you, Cole)

~Did the “hokey pokey” for a Klondike crunch bar

Including MANY diaper changes daily, fast-paced walks with my dogs which usually result in tripping or something of the embarrassing affect, garbage bags breaking, dogs stepping in pile of swept-up dirt and vacuum bag exploding.

I love my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything because we HAVE TO LAUGH people! So laugh. Live, laugh and have a jolly old time!!

Grocery Shopping

 photo from google images

I just want to say that my grocery shopping experiences are normally either hilarious or miserable. I find most people in public to be unhappy, miserable, rude jerks. That's putting it nicely.  Sometimes I like to take my time shopping, walking leisurely up and down isles.  Most of the time I find myself hurrying through the store to get away from the chaos (especially when there are screaming children involved).

One day while in Hannaford, I smiled at nearly everyone who made eye contact with me....only one person smiled back and that is because I knew her. SMILE people, it won't kill ya! Or here's another option...don't look at me. Like, look at me and look away, don't actually make eye contact and stare because I WILL smile at you and I will feel ticked off if you are staring at me and don't smile back!

Today's grocery store experience consisted of walking behind people only to have them stop because they aren't sure where they want to go next...which would be fine if they weren't walking in the middle of the isle; an old lady at the deli counter peering into my cart to see what I had in there; and a man who was pushing a cart - who saw me struggling with my heavy basket - cuts in front of me to make it to the checkout counter first then blatantly does not leave room for me to start putting my stuff down and MY BASKET WAS HEAVY. This shopping trip was slightly humorous, slightly maddening.

And I won't even get into Walmart shopping trips which, by the way, I have been avoiding like the plague ever since Christmas time!

So people, when you go grocery shopping, please remember to do the following:

1. Walk down the isle to the right, leaving plenty of room for a passerby
   
   
2. Do NOT stop in the middle of the isle to talk to someone you know but if you do, please MOVE when someone is trying to get by
   
   
3. Watch for struggling people and don't cut in front of them, be courteous
   
   
4. Smile at other people, lest your face turn permanently miserable
   
   
5. Mind your own business, my cart contents are none of yours

Thank you and have a nice day!

Sick Room

 image from cartoonstock.com

This lovely winter brought on a stomach virus for lucky me. This “bug” lasted 3 days and I can tell you it was about hell on earth for me. Three weeks later, I caught it again! Blast that bug! Well if you've ever had the bug (and I'm sure nearly everyone on the planet has), you'll understand what I'm saying about the annoyances in the bathroom. First of all, you don't want to leave the bathroom because you know within minutes you'll be back in there. A cold, hard floor is no place to lie and wait for your next bout of (excuse me) trots of puke! As I went through this nasty virus again, my mind started reeling with ideas of the perfect “sick room”. Oh, it would be bathroom but it would be only for the sickness (diarrhea or vomiting). So allow me to explain.

My “sick room” would be a decent sized room and would include a toilet and a sink (next to each other) a recliner and a bed low to the ground (but not too low!). There would be carpeting but around the toilet would be a thick rubber mat (in case of, um, splatters). A water cooler would stand in the corner. The walls would be a warm, soft color – not too dark but not really light (who wants white walls!!).

The toilet would be a nice gold color (because lets face it, white is disgusting when you have pukes and trots) and would have auto flush - you would just have to say the word “done” so the toilet wouldn't flush too soon in case you aren't done puking (or pooping). The toilet would also have handles so you could grip while doing your deed.

The sink would be large enough to stick your head in, in case you needed to cool off, and would have automatic water turn-on and off so you don't have to touch anything (the same with the soap dispenser).

The bed and recliner would be for your comfort while you wait for your next round of trots or puke.

Soft music would play, like elevator music, to soothe you.

This is my image of a “sick room”. No more lying on a cold, hard floor. No more touching disgusting toilets. No more cold, bathroom feeling. And you could be quarantined from everyone else until you were healthy again.

TMI? Or genius!

Friday's Favorite Fives

 

 

It's been awhile since I have done my five faves. I got into a “rut” so to speak, and wasn't doing much writing at all. I'm back into it so here goes. These are my faves from this week!!

Doctor's Appointment

Though the appointment itself wasn't my “fave” because of the socially-challenged doctor (see previous blog post), I was glad to have the appointment because I was referred to a Pulmonary specialist so I'm on the road to finding out what is wrong with me (er, physically – lol)

Piano Lessons

I have three students now! I'm not a “professional” but I took five years of lessons when I was younger and it feels good to be able to teach these girls who are about the age I was when I started. I look forward to lessons each week to teach new things and hear how my students have progressed.

Jane Eyre

I love this book!! I read it a couple of years ago, and saw the black and white movie, but I wanted to re-read this classic. I am more than halfway through and most nights have trouble putting it down but my eyes fail to stay open any longer so I must put it down. I find it sad how Jane was treated because she was an orphan and was “plain”. She trudged through life, however, and didn't have a terrible attitude about it. Good for her!

Christmas Decorations

We put up some lights, decorations and our tree this week. I love Christmas lights; so cozy! We decorated the tree with my stepdaughter and had some laughs, especially when I tried to have a nice picture taken of me and my two Border Collies in front of the tree. Heh, this is all I got.

The Weekend!

Definitely a fave for me this week. The week seemed long and had some rough patches, but the weekend is finally here and tonight my husband and I are going to light a fire in the wood stove and watch a movie and then I am going to look forward to sleeping in tomorrow!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

 

 

To link up and join in on this way to share our blessings, head over to Susanne's site!

 

 

 

 

A Mouse is About

A mouse is about, I can hear him scurry

The cats don't take notice, I wish they would hurry

The mouse runs about, scurrying to and fro

The cats don't take notice, too bad they don't know

Useless cats, asleep they are

I think I'll toss them out afar

      http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/christmas.shtml

What will I do with this mouse of mine

Perhaps I'll keep him, that would be fine

I'll make him a home in the Christmas tree

He'll love it there, I'm sure, you'll see

 

Running across branches, looking at lights

He'll be in comfort, a sure delight

A mouse is about and I'll let him stay

Surely it is the only way

                http://www.google.com/imgres

No Sense of Humor

My visit to a doctor this week was....not quite pleasant. The doctor (whose name I will not mention) was a complete....um, donkey (if ya know what I mean). His “bedside manner”, so to speak, was less than desirable. He never cracked a smile and glared at me more often than not. He didn't seem to be taking my symptoms seriously and often gave - or suppressed (I am sure) - an eye roll.

 http://www.google.com/imgres

First I sat there while he went over my medical history. I found it amusing (and a bit annoying) that certain things were missing from my history (certain medical testing) but he seemed to rush through that portion......so much for that.

Then, he asked me questions. I tried to be humorous because his stoic manner was causing me to be quite uncomfortable.

Doc: “History of mental illness?”

Me: [giggles] “Heh, well that's to be determined”

No response. Just a glare.

Me: [ahem] “No, not that I know of”

Doc: “Do you smoke?”

Me: “Nope”

Doc: “Drugs?”

Me: “Nope” (um and if I did do drugs would I be admitting that to someone???)

Doc: “Alcohol?”

Me: “Heh, I love me some wine!”

No response. Just a glare.

Me: [ahem] “Um, sure, a little”

Well so much for making light of being there with Mr. Frowns-a-Lot. The appointment ended soon after, me being referred to a specialist (heh, Pulmonary, not mental). I seemed to be an annoyance to the doctor so I fled that place as soon as I could!!

Honestly I wasn't trying to give the doc a hard time but he was so serious and since he walked into the room it seemed I was a bother to him. He was annoyed when I asked questions about my symptoms and rushed  me through the visit. Maybe because I was his last appointment? Who knows.

Cats n Dogs

I am an animal lover. I love cats, dogs, horses, and more! I always wanted to live in the country and have several animals, but I am settling for a house in town with a fenced in yard and a basement where I can keep the cat litter.

I started out with one cat. His name was Samson. I had Sam for 9 years and he was 11 years old when he passed away. I miss him terribly; he cannot be replaced.

 Samson

Gordon came after Samson; we found Gordon up in the country as a stray that someone must have dropped off at my grandparents' house which was on an old farm. He was thin and friendly and we took him home and fed him and loved him. Little did we know he was bi-polar (my diagnosis). He can be very loving and he can be very mean. I don't think he intentionally is mean, he is just kind of a kitty psycho! But...we love him anyway. My step-children name him Gordon after the NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon [eyes rolling] and I left that one alone seeing how my step-daughter originally wanted to name him FLUFFY!!! We love Gordon; he is half mancoon and definitely has a distinct personality!

 Gordon

Later on, we got Luke, our Border Collie. He was 6 weeks old when we brought him home to surprise my step-children 2 days before Christmas. We fell in love, and spoiled him....rotten! I love my boy but he is definitely a “momma's boy”, lol. Luke is almost 4 years old. He is a seizure dog but doesn't get them too often and they don't last long when one hits. I love this dog so much; his silly antics, his intelligence, his personality.

 Luke

When Luke was 3, we took in Cole, a 1-1/2 year old (at that time) Border Collie who was in desperate need of a loving home, as his entire life up til then had been spent in a crate; eating and sleeping. We heard he was abused as well (as if the 16-20 hours per day he was crated wasn't abuse enough!) but he is the most loveable dog I know! He listens very well and is so eager to please. He is a “daddy's boy” for sure. He looks to my hubsand for everything, unlike Luke who does his own thing when he wants to.

 Cole

So those are my “babies” in a nutshell.

Oh. Wait! I'm sorry, I am not finished. There's more. Yes, yes, more.

My husband and I recently were taking a walk on the trail along the canal and I spotted an orange, male cat – very friendly! He was purring and ran right up to me; even let me pick him up! We walked the trail and when we got back to the parking lot and he was still there. In fact, he ran right up to me. I knocked on the door of MOVAC (ambluence center) which was next to parking lot, and the guy said this cat was dropped off 3-4 days ago and has been hanging around. Well. You can imagine what I did. I scooped him up and took him home! He warmed up immediately, gives no attention to the dogs, and loves to play. Him and Gordon get along well; I remind Gordon that HE was once a stray when we brought him home and he needs to be nice. We didn't intend on keeping him, but....well, that's how it goes.

 Simba

Losing Samson was a huge blow to me. I loved that cat. I still do. No cat can ever, ever take Sam's place. But this orange male needed a home and I have all the love to give. We named him Simba.

I love my life; I love my pets and my family. I love my daycare and my home. I am blessed.