Just for DIck!

This has been saved in my pictures file for quite a while. Dick keeps asking for gratuitous tits so I thought this would do the trick. Dont you know her Mother is just so PROUD of her? Unless that IS her Mother beside her!! :O



Enjoy!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I spent today outside for the most part, painting flower boxes, and tidying up the yard. It was a hot one in the 80's.
I had Bea out for most of the afternoon, and she loved it. I have put fencing up around the deck so she can not get off the deck, and just let her run around. The floor in the livingroom is a bit slippery and she cant get good traction, so when she gets out she tends to stay in one place. She likes the deck. Sadie wanted at her so badly! No-no.

I had to spray the peach trees with BT because we have a huge infestation of tent caterpillars, and they are chomping away at the leaves. As I tried to spray, Sadie was right there, so I tried to catch her to put her away, Oh No not having any of that! she had me chasing her all around the yard for a good 1/2 hour. what a sassy little bitch!!! She needs obedience training in the worst way.

Well, I have a busy day tomorrow, so I need to go to bed, That is if I can catch Sadie and put her in her pen. Wish me luck.

Poetry in motion?

I have been agonizing the past two weeks trying to write a sonnet. The words are chosen ahead of time for us to use as the ones to rhyme, and it had to be abab cdcd efef gg preferably in Iambic Pentameter.

Do you know how long it has been since I have been in a poetry class? My sophomore year in High School 1961!!! Hell, most of you weren't even BORN yet!!

Joel over at Pax Nortona has started an auxillary blog called Bouts Rames. This is all about writting poetry and we were to write this sonnett and post it on our blogs and tell him we did so.

I have the abab done, but it is all in the wrong cadence, and I can not think of anything else to go with the theme and have it make sense. I have torn up more paper this week than I have in a long time. I finally told him I GIVE UP!!!

I wanted it to be about a cemetery, and here are the four lines that I have already, although now they are passe!

While walking through the local cemetery
I was struck by the old monuments.
I went closer and on my knees
I brushed the dirt away to read the rhyme.

Over several centuries each one still stood,
Watching over their contents,
While mold and rain and elements
took their toll through all this time.

blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah blah blah blah blah overturn
blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah burn

blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah masonry
blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah Memory

blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah enmity
blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah posterity

blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah room
blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah doom

blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah arise
blah blah balh blah blah blah blah
blah blah balh blah blah blah eyes.

Sucks huh? I so wanted to do this. Ah well, I guess Poetry is just not my forte. Sorry Joel!! I tried!!



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ALMOST FORGOT MY ART WORK PICTURE TODAY!!!AL

I think this one is really cool. Wouldnt want it to rain though!



Bill, no fair pulling these vines out!!

Funny Squirrel Story

BRENDA, WANDA, Put your coffee cups down before you read this...Brenda, Go PEE.

This was sent to me by Kenny Merrell, Whom I am trying to talk into blogging. He is a very good poet, and has some really funny stories.


Hysterical Squirrel story

We always knew there was something sinister about squirrels...

Neighborhood Hazard (or: Why the Cops Won't Patrol Brice Street
Anymore)

I never dreamed slowly cruising on my motorcycle through a residential
neighborhood could be so incredibly dangerous! Little did I suspect
... I was on Brice Street - a very nice neighborhood with perfect
lawns and slow traffic. As I passed an oncoming car, a brown furry
missile shot out from under it and tumbled to a stop immediately in
front of me. It was a squirrel, and must have been trying to run
across the road when it encountered the car. I really was not going
very fast, but there was no time to brake or avoid it - it was that
close. I hate to run over animals, and I really hate it on a
motorcycle, but a squirrel should pose no danger to me. I barely had
time to brace for the impact. Animal lovers, never fear. Squirrels, I
discovered, can take care of themselves!

Inches before impact, the squirrel flipped to his feet. He was
standing on his hind legs and facing my oncoming Valkyrie with
steadfast resolve in his little beady eyes. His mouth opened, and at
the last possible second, he screamed and leapt! I am pretty sure the
scream was squirrel for, "Bonzai!" or maybe, "Die you gravy-sucking,
heathen scum!" The leap was nothing short of spectacular ... as he
shot straight up, flew over my windshield, and impacted me squarely in
the chest.

Instantly, he set upon me. If I did not know better, I would have
sworn he brought 20 of his little buddies along for the attack.
Snarling, hissing, and tearing at my clothes, he was a frenzy of
activity. As I was dressed only in a light t-shirt, summer riding
gloves, and jeans this was a bit of a cause for concern. This furry
little tornado was doing some damage! Picture a large man on a huge
black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and leather
gloves, puttering at maybe 25 mph down a quiet residential street, and
in the fight of his life with a squirrel. And losing...

I grabbed for him with my left hand. After a few misses, I finally
managed to snag his tail. With all my strength, I flung the evil
rodent off to the left of the bike, almost running into the right curb
as I recoiled from the throw. That should have done it. The matter
should have ended right there. It really should have. The squirrel
could have sailed into one of the pristinely kept yards and gone on
about his business, and I could have headed home. No one would have
been the wiser.

But this was no ordinary squirrel. This was not even an ordinary
pissed-off squirrel. This was an EVIL MUTANT ATTACK SQUIRREL OF DEATH
! Somehow he caught my gloved finger with one of his little hands and,
with the force of the throw, swung around and with a resounding thump
and an amazing impact, he landed squarely on my back and resumed his
rather anti-social and extremely distracting activities. He also
managed to take my left glove with him! The situation was not
improved. Not improved at all. His attacks were continuing, and now I
could not reach him.

I was startled to say the least. The combination of the force of the
throw, only having one hand (the throttle hand) on the handlebars, and
my jerking back unfortunately put a healthy twist through my right
hand and into the throttle. A healthy twist on the throttle of a
Valkyrie can only have one result. Torque. This is what the Valkyrie
is made for, and she is very, very good at it. The engine roared and
the front wheel left the pavement. The squirrel screamed in anger. The

Valkyrie screamed in ecstasy. I screamed in ... well ... I just plain
screamed.

Now picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in
jeans, a slightly squirrel-torn-t-shirt, wearing only one leather
glove, and roaring at maybe 50 mph and rapidly accelerating down a
quiet residential street on one wheel and with a demonic squirrel on
his back. The man and the squirrel are both screaming bloody murder.
With the sudden acceleration I was forced to put my other hand back on
the handlebars and try to get control of the bike. This was leaving
the mutant squirrel to his own devices, but I really did not want to
crash into somebody's tree, house, or parked car. Also, I had not yet
figured out how to release the throttle .... my brain was just simply
overloaded.

I did manage to mash the back brake, but it had little effect against
the massive power of the big cruiser. About this time the squirrel
decided that I was not paying sufficient attention to this very
serious battle (maybe he is an evil mutant NAZI attack squirrel of
death), and he came around my neck and got INSIDE my full-face helmet
with me. As the faceplate closed partway, he began hissing in my face.

I am quite sure my screaming changed intensity. It had little effect
on the squirrel, however.

The RPMs on The Dragon maxed out (since I was not bothering with
shifting at the moment) so her front end started to drop. Now picture
a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a
very raggedly-torn t-shirt, wearing only one leather glove, roaring at
probably 80 mph, still on one wheel, with a large puffy squirrel's
tail sticking out of the mostly closed full-face helmet.

By now the screams are probably getting a little hoarse. Finally I got
the upper hand ... I managed to grab his tail again, pulled him out of
my helmet, and slung him to the left as hard as I could. This time it
worked ... sort-of. Spectacularly sort-of ... so to speak. Picture a
new scene. You are a cop. You and your partner have pulled off on a
quiet residential street and parked with your windows down to do some
paperwork. Suddenly a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser,
dressed in jeans, a torn t-shirt flapping in the breeze, and wearing
only one leather glove, moving at probably 80 mph on one wheel, and
screaming bloody murder roars by and with all his strength throws a
live squirrel grenade directly into your police car.

I heard screams. They weren't mine... I managed to get the big
motorcycle under control and dropped the front wheel to the ground. I
then used maximum braking and skidded to a stop in a cloud of tire
smoke at the stop sign of a busy cross street. I would have returned
to fess up (and to get my glove back). I really would have. Really.
Except for two things. First, the cops did not seem interested or the
slightest bit concerned about me at the moment. When I looked back,
the doors on both sides of the patrol car were flung wide open. The
cop from the passenger side was on his back, doing a crab walk into
somebody's front yard, quickly moving away from the car. The cop who
had been in the driver's seat was standing in the street and was
aiming a riot shotgun at his own police car.

So the cops were not interested in me. They often insist to "let the
professionals handle it" anyway. That was one thing. The other? Well,
I could clearly see shredded and flying pieces of foam and upholstery
from the back seat. But I could also swear I saw the squirrel in the
back window, shaking his little fist at me, shooting me the finger ...

That is one dangerous squirrel. And now he has a patrol car. A
somewhat shredded patrol car ... but it was all his.

I took a deep breath, turned on my turn-signal, made a gentle right
turn off of Brice Street, and sedately left the neighborhood. I
decided it was best to just buy myself a new pair of gloves. And some
Band-Aids.

Art by the POOL

Here is today's selection...Not as revealing, safer for you guys that blogwalk at work!!

My Sissy Boy!

I’m Sitting here watching the Morning slip away. I was up until 230 this morning. Chitters had snuck out of the house sometime or another, and was on the neighbors roof. Now our houses are only 10 feet apart foundation to foundation, and much less when you take in the eaves. There is a 6’ wooden fence down the property line, and the neighbors roof is a low hanging older style wide eaved house. SO from top of fence to top of roof is only about 3 feet. An easy jump UP for a cat, but not so easy to jump DOWN from. There was really nothing for him to land on coming down. He also has a very quiet meow. He is my sissy boy!

I was laying on my stomach reading about 1230 and I heard a very faint meow. I thought he had gotten out, so I looked out the window, and he is staring at me from the roof next door. He evidentally was waiting for my light to come on, so he could see me. SO Out I trudge in my UGGS and PJ’s at midnight to extricate my cat from their roof without waking them up. I am whispering from my side of the fence for him to come down. Nope.

When he does this during the day, And the neighbors are at work, I take a board and run it from roof to fence and he gets down that way. Well that makes NOISE. Since they were asleep I did not want to wake them. So I go into the garage to find a board I could put catty wampus on the corner of the fences to make a platform for him to jump to. NOT!!

I left him there and went back to bed. MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW!!! Ok, I know I am never going to get any sleep until he is either in the house or an owl carries him away.
So out I trudge again. NOT! Back inside, MEOW MEOW MEOW back outside, NOT. This went on with the meow getting louder each time. Finally at 200 I went out and he was finally ready to try it. It took him about 15 minutes half hanging off the roof and me encouraging him with whispers to get him to jump. Finally he did and the platform held but made a loud WHAP when he landed. Their bedroom light came on, so I grabbed the wood and the cat and ran back to my porch. Did not want to get shot for trespassing.

I crawled back in bed, and 5 minutes later grey tabby sissy boy is purring and loving his mommie! He actually slept with me all night long. He was so happy. MALES!!! ARRGGHHHHHH >:(

Email from Tim

I open my email this evening and of course there are 67 emails in there...spam...so Im deleting like mad, looking at the subject line, and hitting delete. All of a sudden I see HIT BY A TRUCK so intrigued I looked to see who it was from....TIM CHANDLER...my heart fell to my toes, when I opened this...

Hello there! Yep i did. i was walking down cresent beach drive last monday night, bringing flowers to Sandy, When I got struck from behind by a full size dodge pickup. My hip hit his headlight, i flew up and my head shattered his mirror. I flew like superman onto the driftwood. when i looked up, all I could see was his taillights driving away. Lucky for me, The car coming the other direction saw the whole thing, and said it was a dodge truck. I got in his vehicle and sped down the road after him. we caught him getting gas at the gas station. I confronted him with alot of "nice things to say". After that he gave me all Insurance info, licence,phone,ect... I told him all I want to do is lay down so he took me to sandy's. The next day my hip was the size of a watermelon, and i couldn't walk. I went to the med center and got x-rayed, and the whole nine yards. NOTHING BROKEN!!! WOW! i coulndt belive it. The sherriff came and took pictures, statements, ect... The driver is taking total responsibility and cooperating fully. Thank GOD for insurance. I just landed a full time job with benifits working at west sound marina. So long story short, I GONNA BE RICH!!!!!! Im doing fine, im walking with a cane, I just graduated from crutches. and taking vicoden for pain. I gotta go. call me at xxx-xxxx thats sandy's phone. leave a message if I,m not there. I love you. Sorry to give you this news, but I'm alive.. Love Tim

Now mind you this is the FIRST word I have had from him since he said he was coming over, and never showed up!!
Why! WHY! WHY! are Men so fucking stupid!! Why do they not realize that their mothers worry about them until the day she dies. Why do they ignore them? Animals are right! EAT YOUR YOUNG!!!

Cello!

Now here's an instrument DOn would like to play...



Cool isn't it!!

Tuesday mutterings....

Today I am in mourning….Moby died today. I have a beta fish floating on the bottom of his bowl, on his side. Poor Moby. He was ready to check out for the past week, but he kept coming up for air and to eat, so I thought it was just lazy fish. NOT!! Dead fish!! I have had Moby for 2 ½ years. I have no idea how long they live, but I think 3 years is a long time, so he probably was old…for a beta. Now for the ceremony…Do I bury him under a petunia, and let him decay and feed the plant? DO I flush him down the toilet, and let him decay in the septic tank? Should I take him to the beach and “Bury” him at sea? What is appropriate for a fish? No Dick, there isn’t enough for a Texas BBQ!!

I know you have read about me bitching about the House across the street. It is a HUGE house, and when I bought this house 11 years ago, I was told that the lot would NEVER perk, so I would not lose my view. PHHHHFFFTTTT!!! I not only lost the view, I lost the SUN!! I have a big shadow across my house now. This turd built a two story house, 5 feet from each side of the lot. Today, I heard a big semi coming into the street. We live on a dead end street, and there is no turn around room, so hearing heavy equipment is very unusual. I look out front and there on the back of said truck is two huge septic tanks. HE HASN”T EVEN INSTALLED THE SEPTIC SYSTEM and the house is FINISHED!!!! What if it WON’t perk? Will they tear it down? I watched as the huge honking truck fought it's way through the neighbors yard and lilac bushes to get to the back yard to off load these tanks. Dear Lord, I hope it fails. I hope it can't sell. I hope they have to take it down. SIGH!

My space bar was making a funny clicking noise when I hit it, so I turned the keyboard over…GADS! The detritus that fell out from between the keys!!! I then banged the bottom of it and out fell MORE crap. FINGERNAIL TRIMMINGS!! I do not trim my nails I bite them. HMMMMMMMM CHEMYSTERY? I then took a pin and ran it between the keys, and the CAT HAIR!!! It is a wonder I even type at all. I know I have a problem with my left little finger and the shift key There. (as I just showed you) My finger is really slow and I end up as Kat says, with WONKY typing. I never shift with my right little finger either just the Left one. I try to keep the keyboard clean of finger prints, because I hate to see dirt on a keyboard. BUT INSIDE? EEEEooowwwwwww!!!

Our nice warm weather left today. It is a good 20 degrees cooler and the wind must be around 40 MPH off the Strait, The alders are breaking in the woods, CRAAAACK, SPLINTER! I am waiting for one to take out my fence! ARRGHHH The sun just came out, and we didn’t get any rain, so I guess I have to drag out the hose to water the roses. This has just become the driest April on record, and if it continues, we will go into a drought situation. This is the rain capital of the US!!! We are Known for WET, if it keeps up like this more and more of them dern Cal EE fornians will come up here and drive the prices even higher.

OOPS the power is blinking, better turn off the puter gotta save!!

WARNING NUDITY HERE (SORTA)

Here is another body painting...I for one think it is absolutely GREAT! I wish I could paint!




I will post another one later in the week....

I hope I am not offending anyone. Think of it as ART!

Early morning

I am actually up early for a change. I Love being up before the sun hits the top of the alders. THe birds are singing like mad in the trees, and the quail have just left the feeder on their way to whereever quails go during the day. THey only show up first thing in the morning and then on their way back to their nests at night.

There are streaks of sunshine peeking through the alders, laying paths of gold down on the vivid green of the grass. Gonna be a hot one today. THe weatherman said it's sposed to reach 85 in parts of the area!! It's only April for God's sake!! what in the world will the rest of the summer be like?

Sadie is still sleeping, and I will let her until she scratches to get out, That gives Lola and the rest of the gang time to eat peacefully. Ahe is such a loudmouth, and loves to chase the birds away. THe hummingbirds, Doves and the chicadees and juncos all ignore her, they realiae she can't reach them. But the bandtailed pigeons and the quail and Lolas are all still afraid she will get them.

What should I name the pigeon pair? They seem to come back every day, so they are part of the gang now. Gotta have names. The same with the quail pair.

I have about six more body painting pictures that I will intersperse through the week. It is not meant to be Pornographic, but art! Really!! I thought it was very innovative!! Wait until you see the rest!!!

I hear a new bird out there and I cant see it to identify it, so I will have to spend some time listening to e-nature.com to find out what it is. Great site!!!

On to morning stuff...like COFFEE!!!!!!

Awake now?

Just thought I'd throw in that one so that you wont think I am slacking...I have just been very very busy do things that needed to be done. Washing dishes, weeding garden, washing clothes, buying gas, shopping at ALbertson's scrapbooking, and going out last night.

We went to a restaurant right on the water in Anacortes which is the departing point for the ferry to the San Juan Islands. There were about 25 people there, and the food was really good. But man was it expensive!! I had grilled oysters because that was the cheapest thing on the menu and besides, I love oysters!! it was 19.95 !! yow!!

After dinner we went to see Hello DOlly! Oh it was fantastic!!! I had only seen the Barbra Streisand movie versin, and I thought it was just ok. I do NOT like Carol Channing, so I never saw it on stage either until last night. THe voices were wonderful and the staging was marvelous. The characters all were so well done, and of course we all went just to show Gaye our support. She was moved!!

We have a much better facility but they have a better repitoire of actors to draw from. THey actually had MEN in their play!!! what a concept. This is the Theater that Berl Ives helped start and supported until his death. He lived there in Anacortes in his last years, overlooking the Ferry landing. Our one claim to fame.

It is so beautiful outside right now, so I think I will cut this really short and move to the deck. I need a port out there so I can plug into my laptop and keep blogging away. Will one of you get me that for my birthday? Mothers Day?
ok then FINE!!!

An Elephant for Leslie!

This was sent to me via email, and since I know CritterChick loves Elephants, I decided to post it for her today, although I KNOW that Wanda will be terribly jealous!!



You guys can never say I don't think about you and what you would like. :-)

Harry's back too!!

I have wondered where the Hairy Woodpeckers were this year. I have seen the DOwny male (Mort) but not the Hairy (Harry) male.

I got up extra early today because Sadie had to pee....BAD....uh-uh-uh=uh-uh, scratch scratch scratch! So I got up let her out, let her back in, and we laid back down to catch a few more winks. By this time it was pushing 745, so I made a pot of coffee and started in on the computer.

I heard a PIK! PIK! PIK! and then a rattta-tatta-ttatta!! I looked out at the deck and there was Harry!He was chowing down on the big block of suet and peanuts that I have hanging on the deck. He'd grab a beak full then kump over to the uprights on the deck and hammer that puppy into the hole he drilled. I did put the poles and the cross bars up there for the bird feeders, but I never figured they'd EAT it too! It is nice to know that both Mort and Harry are back in the neighborhood.

I also have a pair of finches that are ORANGE splotched! THey are with the regular house finches, but where those are red, these are orange. There is a yellow variant house finch, and I think that is what these dudes are. I saw one last year, but this year there are at tleast two of them. COOL!!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I took Sadie in for a haircut and then I went over to Bob's to see how his Babies are doing. He bought 12 chicks about a month ago, and has yet to build the chicken coop to put them in. Guess where they live? In his house! Now this house is 16' X 24 feet and that is ALL!!! great room, bath, kitchen and a loft bedroom and that is IT! No furniture he sits on piles of whatever. And that is where he has the "girls"!! They already have feathers and are half grown, and still live in his living room! THey are flying already and are escaping their box, so I told him that one morning he is gonna wake up and open his eyes to see his GIRLS roosting on the railing of his Loft saying GET UP MOMMIE AND FEED US!

AND STINK? WHOO-WHO!!!!!

RED GREEN

I had this really fantastic post in my head as I sat down here, but then I turned on CBC and the Red Green show was on. THat man is sooooooooo twisted. ANd every sane thought in my head just went out the window. What is really sad about his show, is that it is soooo freakin' FUNNY!! Today he was recycling old 33's and using them to re-roof the house. "the best part is, you only need one nail, and when it wears out you can turn it over and use side B" And his Nephew Harold is such a DORK!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL God!! If you guys have never seen his show, let me or Leslie know, and we can tape it for you!! Im sure it has to be one of Carl's MUST WATCH! It usually isn't on at that time, but CBC is screwed up on it's scheduling because of the HOCKEY CUP PLAYOFFS!! Even my Favorite news the NATIONAL is on at a different time. (POUT)

One of the reasons I dont switch to the Satellite instead of this LAME DUMB Cable company (Millenium DIgital Media) is the fact that they do have CBUT out of Vancouver on it, so We can get some good tv once in awhile.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Last night I could not sleep...AGAIN! I purposely did not take a nap, and I stayed up until 100 so I would sleep. WOke up at 330, and could not get back to sleep. I turned on the light and started reading Marths's latest mag. I heard wind beats out the window and wondered WHat that could be this late into the dark. I was thinking Bats. so I waited a few more minutes and then flicked off the light. I looked out at the feeder and there was a big shape on it. Reached for the Binoc's that I keep at the ready, and looked out at the shape. (Binocs gather all available light and make it easier to see things in the dark.)

THere right on my feeder was a medium sized owl. It was either a very rare spotted owl or a not as rare barred owl. The Spotted Owl is endangered and only nests in old growth timber which we have none of around here. All second or third growth firs and alders. I tend to think Barred Owl. The only difference is that the spots are more dots on spotted owls, and barred owls have a yellow bill. Which I could not see in the dark.

I laid there for 45 minutes watching this beautiful bird look around and around. He kept seeing the rats run up to the feeder, but either he knew they were fast or he just wasnt that hungry. when he spotted something his neck would pop up just like a jack in the box and his face would turn towards it, then his eyes would blink and I swear they popped out some. then he would resettle down, turn towards the window and look straight into my eyes. (well, the Binocular's eyes) My neck was getting cramped but I was afraid to move for fear of scaring him away. What was really cool about this whole episode was that there was a small rabbit sitting right UNDER the feeder platform not.even.breathing.

Finally about 45 minutes later he lifted his wings, and flew off with out a single noise being made. THat rabbit exhaled so loudly..........

Book Crossing Dot Com

\n');
}
if ( plugin ) {
document.write('');
} else if (!(navigator.appName && navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape")>=0 && navigator.appVersion.indexOf("2.")>=0)){
document.write('');
}
//-->



I have joined Book Crossing dot com. It is a really cool way to recycle your favorite books. Miss Fairy Abs sent me a book and I knew she was a member, so when I was done I released it into the wild here. So now when this book is registered again, it will show that it has traveled a long way from Cambridge, UK to Mukilteo, Wa.

What this does, is sign you up FREE and you register a book, then you release it into the wild, (meaning leave it someplace where it will be found and re read) for 17.00 you can buy labels to put inside the book, and a note for the cover, so people know what to do with it. Some of these books end up in the lost and found. tsk tsk

Chemystery is a member too, so I used one of her labels until I make my own. It is a really good way to get rid of those books that you all read and leave on the book shelf. I have TONS of books. Dont need to keep any more.

go check this out!! book crossing dot com

DONT FORGET

Dont forget if the scroll bar stops before you have read the everything, hit the little maximize minimize box next to the X in the very tip top right corner!

Ragdoll Cats

When I first heard about this cat I was intrigued, but the cost was prohibitive, and they were very rare and hard to find. two years ago, my Boss lost her beloved Maine Coon, and decided she wanted one of these RAGDOLLS. Since she traveled a lot and knew I liked cats, I got to babysit the kitten. Andy was adorable!! He did not meow, he chirped like a bird, and purred like a motorcycle! He was such a character that I hated to give him back when she came home. Here is the history I have found on this breed.

The beginning of the Ragdoll breed is just as controversial and shrouded in myths as the breed itself. The recorded history is somewhat confusing and full of contradictions, some parts of it even proven to be impossible. There are some elements that we know for certain, though; the Ragdoll was founded in Riverside, California in the 60's by a woman named Ann Baker, and the foundation cat of the breed was an ordinary non-pedigree cat called Josephine.
Ann Baker was a breeder of Persian cats, mostly blacks, before she started working on Ragdolls. Josephine was a white, long-haired cat who belonged to Baker´s neighbor Mrs. Pennels. Like many cats in the area, Josephine was half feral and she often produced kittens. At one time Josephine was hit by a car and Ann Baker´s neighbors, who worked at the local university, rescued her and she was nursed back to health. During this time Josephine had to stay indoors and she became somewhat tamer. When she had her next litter, the kittens were born in the house where Ann Baker first noticed them.

Josephine´s previous kittens had been half wild like Josephine herself, but after the road accident they were quite the opposite. They were very relaxed and social, in fact Mrs. Pennels regarded them as a real nuisance! It is not quite clear what exactly was so different in those kittens and how they came to be that way. One theory goes that the road accident changed Josephine´s genes, which is quite impossible. Ann Baker also claimed at one point that Josephine was "fixed" at the university after the accident and she had new genes inserted in her; this would have been impossible in the 60's, even if someone would have had a good reason to do so. Another theory suggests that Josephine had a mutation in her reproductive cells, which is possible in theory, but highly unlikely since there must be more than one gene responsible for the kittens´ temperament. In any case Ann saw something so special about the kittens that she eventually decided to use them for creating a new breed.

The first Josephine´s kitten Ann acquired was Buckwheat, a black female that looked somewhat like a Burmese. Ann was later given another daughter of Josephine, a bicolor she called Raggedy Ann Fugianna. The father of Fugianna was mitted Daddy Warbucks, a son of Josephine´s, owned by Mrs. Pennels. All these cats were Josephine´s offspring, but they probably all had different sires. Ann was very impressed by the looks of Daddy Warbucks, who had the appearance of a Birman with a nose blaze and a white tip on the tail. It was this cat that Ann called the "father of the true Ragdoll look", and she borrowed him often for her Ragdoll breeding programme. These three cats are the foundation stock of Ragdolls, for Ann never had a chance to get any more Josephine´s kittens. When Josephine had her next litter, the owner´s husband had Josephine and her kittens destroyed.

Ann promoted the breed with ads and fliers and soon Ragdolls started to have the attention of the media.
Ann had very strict breeding policies, which other breeders had to follow in order to get the kittens registered as "real" Ragdolls. In time Ann also started to make very strange, if not downright amusing claims. For example she said that Ragdolls had human or raccoon genes, they were immune to pain and fear and they were the last link between humans and space aliens! The relationships between Ann and other Ragdoll breeders got tense and many gave up and quit. Finally a group of breeders got tired of the arrangement and decided to split from IRCA and start to work on getting Ragdolls accepted by the major cat fancy associations. The most instrumental figures on this were Laura and Danny Deyton, who luckily had obtained their Ragdolls before Ann´s breeding policies were implemented, and were technically free to follow their own breeding program.

The Ragdoll Society, which was later changed to the Ragdoll Fancier´s Club and then to the present Ragdoll Fanciers´ Club International (RFCI), was established in 1971 to promote the breed in the biggest cat associations so that Ragdolls could be shown more widely. In 1967 Ragdolls were first recognized in the USA and in 1981 Ragdolls were first exported to overseas. Due to its curious name and the strange myths associated with them, Ragdolls were often represented in the mainstream media and more and more people got interested in the breed. The fame has had its drawbacks though; many cat associations refused to accept the breed for a long time because it was considered imhumane to breed a cat that didn´t feel fear or couldn´t protect itself! Fortunately these misunderstandings have mostly been corrected by now and the Ragdoll has became perhaps the largerst-growing cat breed in the history of the cat fancy!

Today the Ragdoll is still a relatively rare breed, but the number of Ragdolls and breeders is growing very rapidly. Ann Baker died in 1997, feeling bitter and betrayed for the rest of her life. The Ragdoll trademark and IRCA remained active after her death, and there are still both IRCA and non-IRCA Ragdolls on the market. IRCA is still not associated with any of the major cat associations, and because the IRCA breeders are not allowed to register in any other associations, the number of breeders is very small and continues to drop. RFCI is also still functional. Right now Ragdolls are accepted by most cat associations and some breeders are working on to introduce new colors and patterns to the breed. And with the increasing interest in the breed, the future of the Ragdoll cat looks bright indeed!

Baker’s breeding program consisted of a handful of breeders contracted under her. She was paid a royalty fee for every kitten sold.

As time went on, Ann Baker’s statements and claims about the breed became strange, supernatural - and - very hard to believe. She publicized statements outlining how Ragdoll cats have human genes in them, that they are immune to pain & that they represent a link between us and space aliens.



Ragdolls are known for their docile and laid-back nature. They will avoid scratching people and get along well with animals and children. They are an intelligent breed of cat and can be easily trained, especially when rewarded, to fetch, beg, roll, walk on a leash and to use a scratching post. Some owners are able to carry them on their backs and rub their tummies. The Ragdoll shows little enthusiasm for hunting. There non-fighting instinct means that they shouldn’t be let out of the house alone.

Ragdolls are people cats. Affectionate and loving in nature they love to be around their owners. Don’t be too surprised if they greet you at the front door or follow you around the house. They love to play and get involved in household activities. There need to be with people means that you shouldn’t leave them for long periods of time. If you plan on being away from home you should consider getting two cats.

The Ragdoll is a gentle, affectionate, docile breed of cat and will make for a very loving companion!

I want one!!

This is going to be my next major purchase....



RAGDOLL KITTENS


I just love these cats. I babysat for one and I did not want to give him back!!!

Joel over at Pax Nortona asked us to pass on a meme...

pick up the closest book
turn to page 23
find the fifth sentence and then post that in your blog so since I am a good girl and always follow instructions, here it is:

my closest book is POLITE SOCIETY AT HOME AND ABROAD by Mrs. Annie R. White published by Monarch Book Company 1891

"A Father should never utter an immoral thought or a profane word in the home circle."

I found this book in some of my Father's books as I was going through them to clear out my garage. I kept it, because it is so interesting to read. It is all about Home Matters and how young ladies and young Gentlemen should act when in each others company or visiting each other at home.

LOLOL I just turned to the section A FEW WORDS TO THE CHILDREN>

Many Children form habits which are not nice, such as spitting on the floor, scratching the head, stretching themselves out upon a chair, yawning etc. All such habits are exceedingly low-bred, and are avoided by the child who aims to acquire good manners.

LOLOLOLOLOL Yeah right! I can just see telling my SOn to get his feet off the couch, and then off the coffee table, and then off the wall, etc. He was 6'5 at age 16 and never fit anywhere. he lolled all over the place. SO did DOnna. eh, so did I for that matter. Ill-bred, that must be us.

I will have to read the rest of this book. It goes into when to use calling cards, how many to use, when to call on a friend, how to fold the corner over on the card, where to leave it etc. Cool.

I have been trying to get an essay out for almost a week now, but it just sits there in my head and wont come out. I even have the pictures to go with it. Maybe tomorrow.

Bpb turned over the soil in my garden this weekend, BLESS HIS HEART, and I went and got some starter petunias to plant. I am hoping to get them into the ground tomorrow. My big dilema though is how to keep Sadie bin Laden out of the garden. She seems to think that if Bob can dig, so can she. Bob does not come into the house with mudpies on his feet though...she does. I have to plug up the hole where the rabbits are coming under the fence. I noticed last night one of them had stopped at the petunias flat and was nibbling. ARRRGHHHH... not on MY TOONIES!!!!

Bea LOVES toonie blossoms. I will pick two or three and give them to her and she thinks they are Bunny Bon-Bons. that's ok for Bea but not for the wild ones!!! I will have to have Colin fron The Heartland to come over with his shotgun. He is getting really good at picking them off as they try to destroy his garden. (JUST KIDDING, LESLIE)

I am going to make this a short night as last night was so long with the showing and helping Kat clean up after and so forth. So I will see you tomorrow!!

She's BAAAAAAAACK!

Lola not Sal was back at the feeder this morning. She is not as skittery as SAl is. You know those scardey cat Males!!! I woke up with Loki doing a tap dance with his back feet right on my head! He was looking out the window and chattering, so I dumped him off and peeked over the window sill and Lola was there, along with TWO huge band-tailed pigeons! I am hoping that they will become regulars. I started out with only one Dove, now I have a flock of about 30 that feed regularly at my feeders.

I have not seen the Black-headed Grosbeaks yet this year, seems like they are rather late! last year they were everywhere, but so far nothing this year! And the woodpeckers are scarce too. WOnder what is so different about this year compared to last year? Or maybe it was last year that was unique.

One of the things I do not like about the bird books that I have is that they do not go into where these birds migrate from, and when. I would like to know where they go, and what their journey is like. What prompts them to migrate? what causes them to return? That is being studied I know, but I would really like to understand them a little better.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We went to see the play "See How They Run" last night. It is a British Farce and funny!!!! I was not involved in any part of this play, and it felt really weird just being a member of the audience. I am anxious to get started on next season. We should start rehearsals for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS in July. I am just Producing this one, and Producing "TEN LITTLE INDIANS" in March, and asst Directing "A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM".
I May get a Director job season after next! (THE SLIMY BITCH) >:-(

I came home and Donna was on the computer, and I was really tired so I did not get to post yesterday. I took my homework and headed for bed. I am trying to write a sonnett. Joel over at Pax Nortona has started another blog for poets, and he gives an assignment every two weeks. THis one is a bitch...a sonnett using the words he has given and rhyming ababcdcdefefgg preferably in Iambec Pentameter! PHHHFFFFFTTTTTTT!!!!!! yeah right!! here are his words for us to use

a monuments contents
b rhyme time
c overturn burn
d masonry memory
e enmity posterity
f room doom
g arise eyes

SO it should be monuments, rhyme
contents , time

overturn, masonry
burn, memory etc...

I have abab and Now I am stuck....I have until May to finish this, but some of his readers knock them right out the same day. Not me. I can write, I cant rhyme!!

Off to blogwalk....ya'll better be home.

wahhhhhh!!!!

Something is broken and I don't know whaat!!! I go to blogs to read like I always do and everybody was still on either wednesday or thursday, nothing new. Huh? so then I went to my snd only the same 5 from early yesterday have commented. Huh? so I guess this is really a test to see if it posts and updates ok.

Phyllis called me this morning and said blogger was fixed. (didnt even know it was broken) I went to her yesterday and she had Monday on, then I went back and Wednesday was there then later I went back and it was back to Monday. I hate it when things break.

She said she edited it and republished, but when I got on here it was still on Monday, even After I refreshed. HMMM?/ I went to her blogger and republished and Voila!! it worked. anyone else out there having a problem?

Lola!!! whoops SAL!!!

I woke up this morning to the putt-putt-putt=putt of the rooster quail herding his tiny flock into the yard. I peeked over the top of the window sill and lay there watching them come across the yard, through the newly tilled garden, and over to the feeder. They spent about 10 minutes scratching through the seed hulls looking for cracked corn etc.

While I was watching, Lola came down out of the pussy willow bush where I must have scared her when I peeked over. She jumped on to the feeder then on to the big sunflower platform. Now I have mentioned before that the platform is really a huge piece of tempered glass sitting on top of two bird baths, and can get very slick. Lola jumps over, hits the glass and slides right off into the crap under the feeder. SHakes her self off, clibs up the feeder post, and jumps over to the glass, slides off and does it all over again. I was laughing at her antics, when she stopped, sat with her back too me, her tail curled over her head, munching on a sunflower seed. She bent over to get another one and that is when I saw it was ....SAL!!!! He had the biggest set of Kahunas for his size that I have ever seen. Now last year, I only saw SAL once or twice, Lola was there most of the time. BUt this guy was so honking big he couldnt even sit down!!! looks like two hazelnuts hanging there. (oh should I call him Hazel?) he sat there and ate until the quail moved on out.

During this time two Doves were on the feeder, the female was there first, quietly eating her seeds, and the male flew over and sat right beside her. He puffed up his chest and let go with his who-AH-hoo-hoo-hoo! and proceeded to try to jump on her bones, she turns around pecks him right in the face and says "How many times have I told you NOT WHILE IM EATING!!!" he moves away hoo-AH-hoo-hoo-hoo, and starts all over again. She whacks him with her wing and screams at him "NOT AT THE DINNER TABLE!" and moves away. He siddles over hoo-AH-hoo-hoo-hoo, and she turns and screams again, "NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY PLATE YOU ASSHOLE!!!" and turns and flys away! He sits there for a few minutes, hoo-Ah-hoo-hooing then shrugs his shoulders and commences to eat his fill of sunflower seeds. Males are all alike...SEX, Give Me SEX, oh well then, give me FOOD!

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!

I almost peed my pants reading this...Raised by Caffinches

Wednesday Wednesday!

Like the majority of the blogsphere, I too am brain-dead lately. I haven't put much of substance to the keyboard, and I still am not sure that I can. I keep getting caught up in the "WHAT DO OTHERS WANT TO READ ABOUT" instead of the original premise of this blog, Documenting my life after I retire! HOW BORING!!! EHHHHHH Who cares! But then I think, Well a year or so ago, you were writting, and there wasn't anyone reading it. now you have over 5000 hits! so SOMEONE must read it. I am not sure that I care who reads this. IF you stop by, WELCOME!!! IF you don't...so be it. This was not meant to keep anyone away, more, it was meant to talk myself back into blogging what I feel like blogging about. THat may be very mundane. It might be interesting to others.

One of the best things I have found about blogging, is meeting people from all over the world, and getting to know them, and their way of life. It is very interesting to me, and may be nothing more to them than their very mundane lives! What is boring to one is interesting to another.

Michelle from SOuth Africa, (Which I have learned is not abreviated as S.A. but as Z.A., who knew?) said in someones comments, (I think it was Wanda's) that she will keep her opinions about our politics to herself because she doesnt think that we would be interested in what the rest of the world thinks about us. I am very interested! I know she wants to keep it light, fine, but I think I would like to know. (EMAIL ME MICHELLE) She also posts about the penguins on the beach there, and the fact that it is getting colder there now, as it is getting warmer here. INTERESTING!

Anji from France posts about a little of everything, but she mentioned that DOM (her daughter I assume) is in Russia right now on a trip, and is very excited about it. She also writes about her everyday life. INTERESTING!

Colin in Scotland talks about clearing his land with his new chainsaw, and digging up an old pond. He also wrote about re-modeling his farmhouse, and all the visitors he has had since then. Colin writes about the wildlife in his gardens and that is what first brought me to his site. He cooks, he blogs, he repairs his Land Rover (oops he has it repaired, and it belongs to Carole!) I enjoy his writting very much. INTERESTING!

Robert in Japan writes about a little of everything, but his best work is when he writies about his grandchildren Kaya and the Twins, and when he writes about the Japanese customs and the way of life over there. His fight with the onion-stealing Monkeys, is priceless!! I never thought about the Monkeys over there being close enough to people to affect their lives! I see them in pictures in magazines, but always assumed they were way off in the wild somewhere. RObert spices up his blog with politics and links which I dont care about, but hey! someone does, And he does!! I Visit Robert nightly! INTERESTING!

We have Abs in the UK, and she is scared right now, changing jobs, moving, being in debt. INTERESTING!

Of course there is all of the Canadians whom I adore!! Leslie, Kat, BrainLint, Radmilla, Kim, (Oh GOD WHO DID I FORGET?) All of these people with their writtings have enriched my life, as I hope I have enriched theirs. All of them writting about their mundane lives, and all of them INTERESTING!

I love reading about our differences, and our commonalities! This weekend was a good example. We Had Easter. We in the United States had no National Holiday, as we are not to celebrate religious holidays...except for Christmas (?) Everybody else seems to have a really long week-end. Holidays for some on Friday and on Monday which gives them 4 days off for Easter! COOL!!! We get NADA!! But then we get others that they don't. Independence Day for one. MLK, Presidents Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, the others I think are celebrated everywhere. maybe not.

I enjoy reading about the traditions, the way of life, the mundane things they think are unimportant! INTERESTING!

So...after all that , you get my mundane life!!!

I woke up this morning to Lola screaming at something over the fence. She was not happy and let the whole world know. SHe then commenced to crawl down the wisteria trunk and up the feeder tray to get to the sunflower seeds. I purposefully kept Sadie in her pen until Lola had a chance to eat. Sadie would chase her away in a heart beat. Last night just as I brought Sadie in, I looked out the office window and saw a small covey of quail coming through the fence put-put-putting all the way over to the feeder site, to scratch in the detritus underneath it. They were all paired up Male and Female, and the males were keeping the females right beside them. I love watching them!

This morning as I was typing this I heard a heavy wingbeat and looked up and there on the deck railing was a bandtailed pigeon! THey stop by every once in awhile but are pretty rare. THe hummingbirds are draining my feeders daily, so I put up two more. that makes about 8 I have to fill daily!

My life is Mundane, to me, but it may not be to others. People who are housebound, or live in the city may find this very INTERESTING!

up and at 'em!!

4 more years!!!

I got this from the g-spot!!

Cat Heaven!!

A cat died and went to heaven. God met him at the Golden Gate and said,
You've been a good cat all these years. Anything you want is yours for the
asking." The cat thought a minute and then said, "All my life I lived on a
farm and slept on hard wooden floors. I would like a real fluffy pillow to
sleep on." God said, "Say no more." Instantly, the cat had a huge fluffy
pillow.



A few days later, six mice were killed in an accident and they all went to
heaven together. God met the mice at the Golden Gate with the same offer.
Well, we've had to run all of our lives from cats, dogs and even people with
brooms. If we could just have some little roller skates, we would never have
to run again." God answered, "It is done,." All the mice had beautiful
little roller skates.



About a week later, God decided to check on the cat. He found him sound
asleep on his fluffy pillow. God gently awakened the cat and asked, "Is
everything OK? How are you doing? Are you happy?"



The cat replied, "Oh, it is so WONDERFUL! I have never been so happy in my life. My pillow is so fluffy and those little Meal-On-Wheels you've been sending over are so delicious!"

Monday, Monday...

According to my calendar we have no more Birthdays until May the 8th...If I missed somebody, better let me know!!
another one on May 17!

Next holiday is Memorial Day which is really May 30th but we will observe it on MONDAY May 31st!

I was over at Fran's just a few minutes ago and she has some really pretty pictures of the Skagit Valley and the Tulips. It is well worth bookmarking her, as she often posts pictures about the NW.

Is anyone else feeling really BLAH today? too much sugar yesterday? I think I will go take some insulin and chill awhile!!

WAAAAHHHHHH!H!!!!!!!

I guess this explains where my basket went huh?



SNIFF!!!! :-(

HAPPY EASTER!!!

democracy--republic...which is it?

I have spent the day today reading about government, and following links to other blogs and sites that can tell me what the difference is between a Democracy and a Republic. According to WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY:

A democracy is a government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives; rule by the ruled.

A republic is a state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives elected directly or indirectly by them and responsible to them.


In reading further and still trying to understand what the difference was I ran across this acrticle by Gordon Bishop, who is upset with the Democrats calling The United States a Democracy.
“Historically, democracy leads to anarchy, which is “mob rule,” according to the Greek philosopher Plato (read Plato’s “The Republic”).

But America was not founded as a democracy. It was created as a constitutional Republic.
The word “democracy” was never used by the founders in writing the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, or the Bill of Rights.

The cornerstone of our nation’s founding as “free and Independent States” is specifically written in the Declaration of Independence for the “Representatives of the United States of America.”

There’s nothing in the Declaration of Independence about “democracy.”

The Constitution is even more emphatic about the kind of government the United States of America must be to remain free and independent.

Here it is: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government.” – Article IV. Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.

When we salute our American flag, we do not say “democracy,” we say:
“I pledge the allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible , with liberty and justice for all.”

Democrats (liberals) like to blur the distinction between a Republic and a democracy. They want voters to think “Democrat-democracy” – not “Republic-Republican,You see, an official Republic gives a Republican constitutional credibility.”

This got me to thinking Ok, we are a Republic, so why are we fighting to have Iraq become a Democracy?

If, as I seem to think it is, a Republic is a grouping of sovereign States, and works very well here, why could Iraq not become a Republic also?

I googled Iraq and what do you think I discovered? Iraq IS a republic. Has been for some time. Unfortunately, it was a Republic ruled by a dictator so the ruled did not really have a choice. They had a vote, but not a choice; They had to vote for Saddam.

One of the problems I see in Iraq is that there are three major factions all wanting control, and not wanting the others to have a voice.Most of the population are Muslim Arabs, divided religiously into the Sunnis of central Iraq and Shiites of the south. The Kurds, who inhabit the north (see Kurdistan), are the principal minority. Arabic is the official language in most of the country; Kurdish is official in northern sections; If each of these factions were allowed to have their own State as part of the whole Republic of Iraq, They could elect the leaders that they wanted within their own States and then send representatives on to the Central Government in Baghdad. Baghdad would remain the Capitol of the Republic, but not be a part of any state. Similar to our own Washington D.C. In Theory this would work. I think the powers that be on both sides here, need to give the people that are over there, time to work this out. The United States should not be the one to try and mediate this change. Our job was to get in get Saddam and get the hell out of Dodge!! At least it should have been. I am hoping that come July 31, that we really do turn over Iraq to it’s people. The United Nations, should then be the Auditors of the governing process. Let the appointed representatives meet and then form a Real Republic where in the People will vote for those they want to govern them, and then the UN needs to get out also.

I realize that this is not a popular idea, it means relinquishing control, and leaving. That is not something we are used to doing, We are used to occupying and controlling those we defeat. This is something new, But then so is the way we live now. War and it’s destruction is seen real time, and Mothers and Fathers are not accustomed to seeing their children wounded and dying. It is a different kind of a war, fought for a different kind of victory.

Victory should be the United States turning over the Country of Iraq to it’s appointed representatives, either get out then and have the UN oversee the electing of the People’s choice for representatives, or stay and with the advice of the UN over see the process along with the Iraqi people.

It is after all Their Country, This one is ours, and we need to make sure we have ours totally under control before the November Elections.

I have rambled, and I hope I have said some things that make sense. I really am concerned about us and them.

Just because it's SPRING, Spring.SPRIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!!!!

I took ny meds and sat down to blogwalk...I went to Blogeois' house, and she was lamenting on the fact that it was really hard to work from home on aday like today, as she looked our her home office window and saw the bubbling fountains, and heard the chirping birds, and listened to the breeze blow...yeah, my Deck beaconed!!! I knew i had to shower and bathe Sadie today So I got her all done, and me all done and settled down on the deck in the sunshine to read.

THe Sky was soooo blue, and the sun was soooo warm. The guy two huses over was cutting brush, with an axe, and the birds were Chirrping and the bees were buzzing, and the warm warm sun was so inviting. I put my chair back in the 1/2 recline position just so my face was in the shadow of the eaves and laid back to enjoy the day.

Sadie was asleep in the sun, Lint was asleep in the sun, and I was heading that way. You know that state you get in when you are in a Dr's office and don't really want to talk with anyone, so you put your head back against the wall and close your eyes, just as they call your name? Yeah, that one, where you are half conscious but not really. You can hear your heart start to slow down, you can feel your blood pressure relaxing, you can feel the stress leaving your body...I laid there listening to the bees, and the birds, and the breezes blow, and the traffic on Hiway 20, and 525, and just let my mind go where it wanted to. I was thanking the Lord that I was fortunate enough to be able to sit there on MY deck with no bra on under my shirt, and relax.

When all of a sudden......THE SOUND OF FREEDOM!!!!! Yep, the first one goes over really low and really fast and blasts the field so that they can chase off the deer and coyotes. (they make a real mess in the intakes of an EA-6B Navy Jet.

Woke me right up!!! THey play a very important role in our military so I just learn to live with it. I have told you before how annoying they are, but I knew that when I bought the house. They sight on my house, bounce off the roof and then over the trees to the field. Here is a picture of them....





Close huh? I'm Navy, Im used to it!! But it sure broke up a good daydream!!

I want this in my Easter Basket!!!

Wouldn't that be just SWELL?

I got this card today from my sister...She is sooooooo funny!!!

stolen from Grouchy Old Cripple

I was just over at Denny's and he had this posted, so I stole it from him...teehee



I think I need to make one for Loki!!

Bea Bunny

I was just over at Leslies house and she mentioned that some of you have not seen Bea...so I will post a few of her pictures here.



Bea gets along great with all of the cats, But I will not leave her running loose when I am not here, TOo easy for the cats to decide LUNCH!!! Sadie is too rough with her right now, she thinks she is a squeek-toy, she pounces on her and she squeeks!! So Sadie only gets to talk through the cage. THey will lay nose to nose for HOURS just doing the animal thing. If I am in my office and ask Sadie "Where is Bea?" She will run into the Living ROom and go straight to her cage and wag her tail. Bea's favorite snack is Banana chips...the dried ones...SHe will rip the cage apart to get to them. SHe also goes wacko over Fennel. Fresh please, and Carrots, preferably with the tops still on. If She has to she will eat an apple, but it has to be cut first. Loves TImothy Hay!!! She is pottie trained and will only go in the corner where her litter box used to be. I took it out because she would throw it all over her cage at 200 AM and wake up the whole house!!



Loki and her are good pals too. THey will chase each other around the room. Bea is a Jersey Wooley and has fur 6 inches long and needs to be sheared twice a year. When Bunnies are content they will nudge you and ask to be held close, and they will give a grinding nose called a tooth-purr. I have gotten that once. Bea and I cuddle in the bedroom when the sun is shining in the window.

PEEPS

You all, I am sure have heard the essay about how Peeps that age-old Easter candy can NOT be destroyed. THey have been burned, run over by a forklift, thrown off a roof, torn apart, left in the sun stomped on, slept on peed on and every other thing you can think of. Science has not been able to destroy them.

Now it appears that they have discovered that they get their strength from being conjoined in 4's or 5's. Go here and read about peep Surgery.

David Bloom

I read my archives from 1 year ago, and it was the day that David Bloom died. That really affected me then, and it is fitting that I re-post it now...

Woke up rather late today, Time change ya know...it was actually 6:30 but the clocks said 7:30. Ok gotta get used to it. Turned on the news as usual, to see how far we have gotten into Baghdad.

One of the things about this war that has gripped me so much is the reporting that was done, on the move, by imbedded reporters. One of those reporters grabbed at my heart and held me in his grip during the whole run into Baghdad. That reporter was David Bloom. I was afraid to go to sleep for fear I would miss something, and that Possibly, David would be put in harms way. It was like ice water hitting me in the face when CNN's Wolf Blitzer reported this morning that David Bloom, had indeed died. It was not officially battle related, It was a pulmonary embolism. A blood clot from sitting so long, in that cramped truck, I assume. The same type of thing happens to long distance air travelers. I say it was not officially battle related, but it surely was. He would not have been there had we not been at war. He was only 39! that is only 4 years older than my oldest child. I cried. I never knew the man, but I cried. I feel for his family, his wife and 3 daughters, His Mother!! It just isn't fair that young people die, to gain a type of life for other people that they themselves have been priviledged to live. David lived a charmed life, it was reported. I only hope that when everything is over, and awards are handed out, that he will be remembered and given one of those awards. He brought a new prospective to War Journalism that this world has never before seen. He sat in our livingrooms REAL time, and brought to us, sitting safely and warmly and securely, the Dirt, the grim, the heat, the fear, that War really is. I will miss him terribly...

# posted by Mary Lou : 11:43 AM | Comment (0)

It is hard to believe that it has only been a year, and for some I suppose it seems like yesterday. There is so much left to do, that one wonders if it will ever get done. Maybe this is a task that is doomed to fail. If in fact it does, will we be far behind? We CAN NOT fail at this. We must continue at all costs. If we pull out without a significant change in the democratization of Iraq, then we have basically lost. Losing is not an option, we can not. If we need to send more troops in, then so be it. We knew going in that this was not going to be an easy task, War is hard, War is Nasty, but then so is living under a dictator, who has no respect for human life! I really feel that the majority of Iraqis are not the ones causing the problems. I just feel it is going to really get bad again, the closer we get to catching those that are stirring the pot. Who knows, maybe it is because we are getting closer and closer to WMD? ya spose?....

another quiz

I found this quiz over in France at Anji's site. I am bummed that they dont tell you the correct answers, but I fared better than I thought I would.


You are a MASTER of the English language!


While your English is not exactly perfect,
you are still more grammatically correct than
just about every American. Still, there is
always room for improvement...


How grammatically sound are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


How about you?

a funny for the day

There is so much serious stuff going on out there in bloggerland...people depressed, people wanting to stop blogging, people crying, people saving people, and I am gonna post this......sorry!

Walking through San Francisco's Chinatown, a tourist from the
Midwest was fascinated with all the Chinese restaurants, shops,
signs, and banners. He turned a corner and saw a building with the
sign, Moshe Plotnik's Chinese laundry.
"Moshe Plotnik?" he wondered. "How does that fit in Chinatown?"

He walked into the shop and saw a fairly standard looking Chinese
laundry. He could see the proprietors were clearly aware of the
uniqueness of the name as there were baseball hats, T-shirts and
coffee mugs sporting the logo, "Moshe Plotnik's Chinese laundry."
There was also a fair selection of Chinatown souvenirs, indicating
that the name alone had brought many tourists into the shop. The
tourist selected a coffee cup as a conversation piece to take back
to his office.

Behind the counter was a smiling old Chinese gentleman who thanked
him for the purchase.

The tourist asked, "Can you tell me how this place got a name like
"Moshe Plotnik's Chinese laundry?"

The old man answered, "Oh, everybody asks me that. It's the name of
the owner."

Looking around, the tourist asked, "Is he here now?"
"He is right here," replied the old man. "He is me."

"Really? You're Chinese. How did you ever get a name like Moshe
Plotnik?"

"It is simple," said the old man. "Many, many years ago when I came
to this country, I was standing in line at the documentation
center. The man in front of me was a Jewish gentleman from Poland.
The lady at the counter looked at him and said, "What is your name?"

He said, "Moshe Plotnik." Then she looked at me and said,
"What is your name?"
I said, "Sam Ting."


I just could not help myself!!! we needed a lighthearted moment.

STILL waiting for errant Son. I purposely did not clwean house, nor vaccuum, or fix dinner. everytime I do he doesnt show. THis is a test....

____________________________________________________________________________________

Ok I found this over on GROUCHY OLD CRIPPLE (denny) and couldnt resist

Sam Clam and Ollie Oyster lived in the ocean. When they died, Ollie
went to heaven. But sinful Sam went to hell. Ollie missed his friend.
He asked St. Peter for a weekend pass to visit Sam. "OK," Peter said,
"but to be safe, you have to take your wings, robe and harp. Do not
forget to bring them back." Ollie agreed, and away he went. He spent
the weekend partying in a nightclub that Sam had opened. On Sunday
night, he returned to the pearly gates. Peter was there. "I see you
have your wings and robe, but where's the harp?" he asked. Mortified,
Sam sang, "I left my harp in Sam Clam's disco!"

pictures from the weekend

This weekend was so darn pretty. I got out a little at a time and took pictures with my new camera. I LOVE IT!!

I still dont have all of your pictures either...Michelle, Anji, Abs, Colin, RObert, Dave, Wanda, heather...



Olympic Mountains from the beach



Sunset across the pond



Pear blossoms on the tree next door



Tulips in front of the house



Just got a call from Errant Son!!! He is coming home tomorrow!!! No I am not holding my breath!! much...

My wall of Fame

Tonite I put as many pictures as I have gotten up on the map and started putting the strings up. I guess I did them too tightly because some of them popped off, so now I am rubber cementing them I think. I am doing a test. All of your faces will go all around the border of the map, with your name on your card, so I will know (remember) who lives where. It also is a conversation piece for friends who see it.



As you can see I am not finished, nor do I have photos of the overseas folks yet. (MICHELLE, COLIN, ABS, ANJI, Robert, et al) This has been fun. Kinda like a quilt of faces.



_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Today started out just beautifully! The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky and no breeze was blowing, so I headed outside to work in the yard,. I came back in after about 15 minutes because I started wheezing and sneezing and my eye were running. DAMN I love SPring, but it sure does not like me any more!! In a few weeks the tree pollen will be done and I should have a short respite before the weeds and grasses start in with a vengance. I came bacck in and went to the store, got backa nd laid down for a short nap, woke up freezing!!! the Clouds had rolled in and the wind had started blowing like mad. BRRRR I got up shut the windows shut the doors, and started dinner....(OWWWWWW my daughter is killing me......HELP HELP HELP OW!!!!!!!!! She is poundung on my back and hurting me. She says it shouldnt hurt. Well she oughta be on this end of it. ) The weather report says more beautiful days tomorrow. We shall see. I really need to get out and get some yard work done, but if it keeps trying to kill me I may have to just cut it all down and concrete it in!!! I hate allergies! ACHOO!!!!

sunset.

Bob and I drove off island for dinner tonite, and on the way home, the sun was just starting to set. The sky was crystal clear, and you could see all the land around the sound, From Vancouver Island in Canada, to the olympic mtns on the penninsula, to all of the San Juan Islands, to Mt Baker and the cascades. It was gorgeous. As we were driving over Deception Pass Bridge, I asked Bob to stop so I could roll the window down and get a picture, THis is right in the middle of a two lane bridge with bumper to bumper traffic. He looked at me as if I had holes in my head and screamed NO! we would get lynched and thrown off of this bridge!! So because of his very selfish attitude, you folks will not be able to see one of the most spectacular spring sunsets we have ever had. It was orange, and mauve, and Purple and outlined the Straight of Juan de Fuca, the Sound, and Rosario Straight along with all of the land. So all of you need to send him hate mail!!! of course he never checks his mail, so.....

One of these days I will have to post all about Bob!!! That is a story all by itself.

I HAVE A PROJECT AND NEED YOUR HELP!!

I finally have my wall map on my office wall, and I am ready to start pinning you all up there. Since there are so many in Great Britain and in the SOuthern USA, I cant fit all the pins and tags where they need to go, so I am putting headshots of each of you around the perimeter of the map with brightly colored yarn strings to the pin where you live and to your picture. It's gonna be cool! So I need head shots of all of you if possible. ( I stole shamelessly some of yours :-) )

I also need your snail mail addresses. I cant send you little surprises If I dont have them. I send nice surprises too!
you do not have to put them where every body can see them, you can email them to me...

dreamer@galaxynet.com and I will keep them private.

THanks!!!

( by the way, I had a good prime rib for dinner, but not as good as mine. I make a KILLER one!!!)

stuff and Such...

Joy of Joy's, "The Sound Of Freedom" is back folks! Yep, the Outlying Field otherwise known as OLF has been refurbished, and now the jets are bouncing again. Started just the other day, It has been a quiet winter. There was a big hole in the carrier box, where the jets bounce, so they had to close the field down and re surface the runway. They fly at night mostly, to get the new pilots ready to do night time carrier landings. In the Winter, it is really not so bad, because they start as soon as it gets dark which is around 430 and they practice for about 6 hours. Since it is cold we have our windows closed and the noise is not all that bad, HOWEVER...Summer nights dont get started until dark which is around 1030 and they bounce for 3-4 hours, and the windows are open, sooooooooo........since this field is just a field out in the middle of nowhere, and just over the trees from my house, I get the noise. They line up on my street, take a visual on my porch light, bounce off my roof and touch down on the runway...I get to know the pilots by their names written on the sides of the cockpits. REALLY!!!

Sadie is really buffaloed by these jets though. The first BIG BIRD went over and she ran right to mommie!! THen she decided that it needed to be caught, so when she hears it coming she starts at one side of the yard and runs to the other side jumping and barking. Good way to excersise your dog!!

gotta run...be back later...

Reflections

I have just spent the last 1/2 hour reading a posting that I found at Anji's place. It is a link that she was sent, and it is a pictorial journey of a woman on a motorcycle going through Chernobyl. You hear of the distruction, the loss of life, the wasteland, but until you really see it, it just does not hit home. We have nuclear Power plants here in the state of Washington that are lying unused because of the threat of a nuclear accident like that. We had what we called WOOPS!! It stood for something like Washington state utilities power supply or something like that, Millions were spent in getting these plants built, and now they are giant nesting sites for Barn Swallows. as far as I know there was only one that ever was powered up, and that is on the Columbia river across from Rainier, Oregon. Satsop may have, but I think it is down now.

I was going to put some smart alecky April Fools thingie up here, but after reading this, I couldn't. It got to me. A whole town just VACATED!!! go to this pictorial, and tell me your thoughts.