Freedom is not Free

 

 

There are no words to express the debt that we owe you all

THANK YOU

It's not enough, but its all I've got

Olly Olly Oxen Free

I've been tagged.  Bouncin' Barb over @ This and That lured me into her lair and then WAYLAID me.  She's a ninja I tell ya!  You have to watch that one.  She acts all sweet and nicey nicey then WHAM ... stealth attack when you're not looking.  I think maybe her alien neighbors have assimilated the REAL Barb and replaced her with a replica, go check her out at her Love shack and tell me what you think ... just be careful, okay?  SHHH!!!!  SHHH!!!  here she comes!

Oh HI Barb, there you are.  I was just tellin' my peeps how happy I am that you chose me to participate in your little game ;)  Shall we get started?

Do you think you're hot?
No.  No, I don't think I'm hot ... I KNOW I am.  What with it being in the mid 90's the last couple of days added to the hot flashes I've had the last 4 or 5 years, you might even say sweltering.  I'm careful not to complain too much about those though,  having hot flashes is much better than dealing with the condition they replaced.  I try to be thankful for small favors.  Not the answer you were looking for?  Well then let's just say gravity has done its damage and move on, m'kay?

Upload a picture or wall paper that you are using at the moment.

I did mention that I was HOT didn't I?

When was the last time you ate chicken?
Last Friday night I had some wings at the bar.

The song/songs you listened to recently.
There is a song that has been popping into my head all week.  I don't like disco ... never did, but someone requested this song last Friday and it won't SHUT UP and GO AWAY.  You can believe it pains me to admit that this week I could not shake "Footloose" from my mind.  PLEASE someone,  just shoot me, or suggest something that will chase it out of my head already!

What were you thinking while doing this?
I was wondering how Moppet was dealing with my going out for the evening.  Ever since her trauma she's been rather extremely clingy.  She did fine that night though, and then she partied like a yard dawg at Minx's place this week *shakes head*  It was like watching Ann Landers morph into Janis Joplin ... weird.

Do you have any nicknames? What are they?
I've had several through the years, some of which can't be repeated in mixed company.  No, now stop it ...  there might be children present!  There are a couple I'm willing to share though.  I've been called 'Bright Eyes', Pistachio, and Biker Babe at various times.


Tag eight blogger friends...

SkippyMom @ I Make Soap

Julie @ I wish I were on Higher Ground
  and @ Queen of Disaster

Brenda @ Brenda's Best Creations

Oilfield Trash @ Make Daddy a Sammich

Bryan and Brandon @ A Beer for the Shower

The Empress @ The Ranters Box

Possum @ Possum

Bushman @ The High Cost of this Low Living


I've mostly chosen from among my new buds, because I'd like to take this opportunity to get to know you a little better.  But if this is not your kind of thing and you'd rather not, I will understand.  I will not hunt you down and embarrass you ... promise.


Who's listed as number one?
SkippyMom @ I Make Soap
SkippyMom and I have several Bloggie Buds in common but somehow I had missed her blog until just recently, and believe me ... it was my loss.  That's been rectified now.  She's a very funny lady and I'm hoping now she'll tell me how I can get the purple from Mynx's pool out of Moppet's fur.  Yeah, it was some party.

Say something about number five?
Bryan and Brandon @ A Beer for the Shower

Here we have a 2fer.  Yep, 2 guys sharing 1 blog and they'll both crack you up.  Hey, they drink Beer in the Shower ... and they're willing to share how that's done.  What more can I say?

How did you get to know number three?
Brenda @ Brenda's Best Creations

Brenda's a bestie and I've known her forever.  She married one of my very best high school friends (the very one that taught me the basics of photography all those years ago).  So technically she's not a new friend, but she is a new blogger and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.  She has a scrapbooking blog and sent me the most beautiful card at Christmas.  If we have any crafties amongs us check her out.

How about number four?
Oilfield Trash @ Make Daddy a Sammich

When I came out of hiding off sabbatical a couple of weeks ago, I found many of my friends taking a hiatus of their own.  I needed more reading material.  When I want something funny to look at I go scavenging on my buddy Bruce's blogroll.  When I saw the link to OT's blog, I remembered I'd been meaning to check him out for some time.  So I did and I wasn't disappointed ... you won't be either.

Leave a message for number six?
The Empress @ The Ranters Box
You came very highly recommended by several people.  I was in a bad way for a while there and I'm sorry it took me so long to pull my head out of my ass come around.  It only took one post for me to see what I was missing.  I love seeing stupid called to the carpet.  I can tell I'm going to have fun archive diving at your place.

Leave a lovey- dovey message for number two?
Julie @ I wish I were on Higher Ground
  and @ Queen of Disaster

Hey there girlfriend.  We're not exactly 'new' friends either, but I thought you might think this was fun and it gives me a chance to pimp your new blog.  You always seem to have encouraging things to say and amusing stories to tell.  I'm going to enjoy watching your blogs grow as you find your feet.  I'm so glad I found you (or you found me, however it happened).

Do number seven and number eight have similarities?
Possum @ Possum
Bushman @ The High Cost of this Low Living

Other than they both have a great sense of humor and fun, and I suspect they are both human, probably not much.  I just met Possum though, so I can't be sure.

Okay, that wasn't so bad.  I may have even enjoyed it a little ;) It's always fun to share some blog love.

And oh yeah, to all those who's blogs I just pimped?  Tag ... you're it! ;)

Blue Monday

Blue Darner - Thematic Photographic 147 See more 'Got the Blues' @ Written Ink

Blue is such an expressive color, and we attach many meanings to it.   Feeling a little blue myself tonight and don't have many words.  But blue is not a hopeless color, sometimes it's downright serene.  Here's some blues from all over the spectrum.

  Mystic Blue

Melancholy Blue

Blue Fancy

Sailor Blue

Blue Moon

Sister Crow

 

I call you Sister without knowing why
'tho you are a creature of the sky
with beak and feathers black as night
it's just that it somehow feels right
to honor the connection I feel to you ... Sister Crow
Guardian of both the Sacred Law and of Magick

Some see you as the bearer of bad news
some know it's time to pay their dues
some say you are clever
some say you are wise
some say when you show up
that someone dies
throughout time
you have been many things to many people

Messenger of the Ancient Ones
you warn of changes yet to come
and teach us if we talk the talk
we'd better be able to walk the walk
and when we are true to our ethics
you will unravel the mysteries of time

One wing in the light and one in the dark
you know the secrets in our hearts
the part of ourselves we'd like to hide
the part known as our shadow side
Give me the courage to embrace my shadow
and seek my inner wisdom

Rapture Much? ... You're doing it wrong

 

They're still here :(

As I'm quite sure you've already heard, unless you're living under one mighty big rock, today was supposed to be the big day.  At 6:00 this evening, the world as we know it would supposedly be thrown into chaos as the Rapture occurred ... according to religious whack job Harold Camp, to be followed in 6 months by the Apocalypse and the End of the World in October.

What gets me is not that some old man has gone completely off his rocker.  That's just a fact of life that happens sometimes.  What grinds my gizzard is that there are so very many willing to blindly follow him on his journey to la la land.  Even when he tells them that he's based this prediction on just a couple or three Bible verses.  Really?  Seriously?  Even if you choose to use the Bible as your authority on this question, it's quite a simple matter to shoot down this guys delusions as complete BS.  Starting with (but not exclusive to) 'No man knows the day or the hour, not even the angels, only God himself'.  Easy, no math or contortions required.  Seriously, don't these people ever read their own Book?

Even worse than the lemmings following this Pied Piper is the media.  OMG can you believe the attention they've showered on this moron?  They've given him the perfect platform to spread this idiocy.  If they devoted the same amount of time to say, the homeless, can you imagine the progress that might be made in eradicating the problem since the masses would no longer be able to turn a blind eye to it?

Personally, I could wish that he was right about this Rapture thing.  That he, and all those that believe his rantings had been be swept up and taken out of this world in the blink of a eye today.  Let God have the crazies, we've been dealing with them long enough.  That would finally shut them up at least.  Might have even opened up the job market a bit so I could find a job.

But of course, it didn't happen.  Let's get real ... if you were all powerful, would you turn heaven into hell by condemning yourself to spend eternity with people that refuse to use the brains you gave them to begin with?

Read a Good Book Lately?

I don't read as much as I used to.  No, that's not quite right.  It would be more accurate to say I don't read "fiction" as much as I used to.  There are good reasons for that, one being that I discovered the internet and I get my reading fix there, in short snippets.  Short snippets were good for a long time, because I was working 10-12 hours a day 6-7 days a week for quite a few years before I was laid off.  When I would pick up a book and start reading, I wouldn't put it down again ... until it was done.  Even when it meant I didn't get any sleep.  That's hard on a body when one has gotten to the point they are considered "older".  So it was in my own best interests when I quit reading fiction.

That's not to say that I don't occasionally indulge when it's there and I don't have anything pressing to do for a couple of days.  Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Suspense, History, it really doesn't matter much as long as the story is good.  I can totally immerse myself in a good story ... savor it, breathe it, live it ... and escape the chaos that is my own life, at least until I finish the book.

The other day I won a copy of "The Awakening" by Nicole MacDonald over at A Damsel in a Dirty Dress.  I've been following her blog for some time, as well as other new author sites because I harbor secret 'writing' dreams myself and I enjoy reading about 'the process'.   I almost never comment on these blogs because I really don't have anything to add to the conversation, but I find them very helpful in contributing to my store of knowledge.   The other day she had a riddle contest, and I was the first to comment with the right answer.  So yesterday I opened an email, and there it was.  I opened it to take a peek and check it out.  It's a good thing I didn't have anything scheduled because I was lost for the remainder of the day ... sucked right in to another world, much like the characters in her book.  Yep, it was a good day.

I'm really not very good at book reports, so instead of telling you about the 'story' and risk making it sound boring (when it was anything but) let me just tell you that I really LIKED this book!  It made me laugh, and it made me cry ... as all good stories do.  Her characters came alive for me and felt very real, my empathy was aroused.  And I can't wait until the other books are finished,  I want to know what happens next.

Do yourself a favor and go check out her site @  Damsel in a Dirty Dress.  There are reviews, sample chapters, advice on how to publish your own e-book,  and of course a link to purchase a copy for yourself if you are so inclined. 

Thanks Nicole, yesterday was the most enjoyable day I've had in a while.

Hovercraft performing Aerial Maneuvers

Thematic Photographic 146 - Aerial

Okay, so my title might be just a wee bit misleading ... but for all that I still think its fairly accurate ;)

After being away so long I was anxious to join in on one of my favorite blogger activities.  I'd  been waiting for Carmi to announce this weeks theme, but when I saw it was "Aerial" my heart fell.  I haven't been on a plane for more years than I can count, and I didn't take up photography until after I'd moved down from the mountains into the flat lands. 

When I decided 'flight' might work I was still stumped, because I've already shown y'all most of my 'flying' shots.  I'd forgotten this one that was in a batch of photos taken a few years ago when I was in Maryland that have never gotten processed because I went to work soon after and was doing quite a bit of overtime.  I'm glad I took a peek in that folder as it includes quite a few pictures that I'd forgotten about altogether.  I was there for a few weeks and had gone to Washington DC, and we were close to Amish country.  My camera was fairly new and I was very into documenting the whole trip.

I got very lucky with this shot.  It was handheld and taken through a window and a screen.  It had been raining, but just before sunset the rain ended and the sun broke through the clouds lending a surreal light.  The hummers were buzzing around a feeder in the backyard.  The feeder was red and reflected back on the bird accounting for the rosy glow you see on the bird's breast.

If you'd like to see more interpretations of "Aerial", or have some of your own to share, hop on over to Written Ink and join in the fun.

 

Cat MacGyver

Found this awhile back and thought I'd share it with y'all.

Moppet says hi, and thanks for the well wishes.  She's feeling a little better but they have her on the good drugs and she's oh so sleepy ;)

Returning with a BANG

My return yesterday apparently came as such a surprise to Blogger that it's poor little head exploded!  Yep, my fault ... I broke Blogger.  Can you believe it?  I mean who'd have thunk that really?  To top it all off, I guess Blogger was so exited about it that it SWALLOWED MY POST!

just  *POOF*  gone

no evidence I was even here ...

except for the fact that I have witnesses!

That's right, I had COMMENTS on the now invisible post that was titled "Well look what the cat dragged in".  Cyber hugs to Mask and Bruce,  my two favoritest bloggers in the whole cyber world who were Johnny on the spot with the welcome backs and commenting within minutes of my first blog post in months.  Followed closely by Julie, Barb and Crickets ... wow, I just can't tell y'all how good it made me feel that I wasn't forgotten while I was on my Pout of Ages and I thank you all for your support.

By normal standards it's NOW I should be pouting I suppose considering what the universe is throwing at me, but I rarely conform to normal standards.  Just when I started getting my shit back together, was beginning to make plans and believe again the universe once again dumped a load of crap over my head that smells as if it must have been sitting in a porta potty out in the hot sun for a few days.

I had a new job, just a gas station/convenient store but it was a paycheck.  I'm not unfamiliar with this type of work but it had been awhile.  Things were going along swimmingly, or so I thought.  I've been working overtime, getting bonus's, getting along well with everyone ... hell, I hadn't even had a case of 'stupid pisses me off' yet and I work with the general public. 

Got the dog into the vets for her shots and all finally, started with the car repairs (got the bodywork done from when the nephew crashed it) and lining up tires and the electrical stuff that needs to be fixed in order of priority, starting with the windshield wipers that stay on all the time (while the cars running) until I take the fuse out (which means if it starts raining I have to pull over and practically stand on my head in said rain, just to put the fuse in so I have wipers) and power windows that don't go down and A/C that only blows out through the defroster for some reason.  Later I would get the the non-working convertible top.  Baby steps.

I had Sunday and Monday off this week and was supposed to go in at 2 on Tuesday.  About 11:30 my manager calls to tell me that I'm a good worker and all, but they're going to have to let me go because  I'm just not fast enough on the cash register.  Oh really?  This is almost two months down the road and the first I've heard about it?  And the first thing I hear about it is you're FIRED?  Now granted, I am a little slower than those that have been there for some time,  they know what most the merchandise costs while I have to look at the price tags (we don't have scanners).  But it's not THAT big a difference really.

I was blindsided by this for real.  Never EVEN saw it coming.  I thought I'd found a real nice place to work for a gas station.  The more the shock wore off the more insulted I became.  I mean c'mon, how sorry do you have to be to be told you're not good enough to work at a gas station?  Not ... you did this wrong, your drawer was short, you're rude to people ... but just. not. good. enough?  GRRRR  ... yeah, so I needed a break.

I went to visit my friends The Crazy Cat Fairy and My Find It.  I've mentioned them before, when I first heard from them when they came back across country and had been out of touch for a while.  Well recently they moved back within visiting distance and I was going to see them as soon as I got the car in order again.  They're about an hour and a half away, it didn't look like rain and I thought I'd just take my chances with the tires (yeah, yeah I know, but it seemed reasonable at the time).  Yes, of course one of the tires blew on the trip home.  Funny thing about it was it was the only tire that I wasn't worried about, the only one with any real tread on it.  Go figure.

One of their cats took exception to Moppet walking by her ( I mean the NERVE, really)  Moppet lost that argument and it cost her an eye.  The surgery went well.  She's very groggy yet even today but I'm told that's just the anesthesia and she'll perk up more over the weekend.  Tucker and Cricketts had asked about an eye patch ... it's possible.  Pirates are way cool and I think she would ROCK a rhinestone studded patch, but the Crazy Cat Fairy made the point that a little hat with a veil might be more her style.  She IS very prim and proper (except when she's not and oh yes, I have the blackmail pictures to prove it).  Although to be quite honest, once her hair grows back I don't think anyone will even notice.  The way her hair flips over her eyes you really can't see them most of the time.

I love our vet.  The office called this morning to see how she was doing.  The doctor called this afternoon just to be sure everything was still okay.  She's going to be on pain killers for a while and anti-biotics for longer still, but she's going to be just fine. 

And me?  Well I've decided that if said 'gas station' has no appreciation for 'being a good worker and all'  that THEY are not good enough for ME.  It's their loss.  There are LOTS of gas stations.  I'll find something better ... and that one shouldn't be too hard to beat.  My appetite will be returning any day now ... a person's got to eat.   

Well look at what the Cat dragged in!

My head is going round in circles right now, much like my belly.  My beloved Moppet is under the knife as I write this.  She lost an argument with a cat and it's costing her an eye.  I found a job and was actually kind of enjoying it, but lost it already.  Still reeling after that one.  Shocked?  Hell yeah!  How do you get fired from a gas station for not being good (fast) enough?  How sad is that?  I KNOW!!!

Yes, I know that isn't the way to look at it, but I'm insulted.  No, I don't believe that is the real reason.  I may not be as quick as those that have been there for a while, I have to look at the price tags because I don't know what everything costs yet, but I'm not THAT slow.  If I were, don't you think they would have said SOMETHING about it before saying "You're a good worker and all but we have to let you go"?  But I don't have a clue as to what other reason they may have had.  So here I sit, jobless once again.  And I had just started to get my shit together, was finally starting to believe and make plans.

The Vet just called.  Moppet made it through the surgery just fine.  She's not awake yet though, so I can't go pick her up yet.  They shaved her face for the surgery and wanted permission to shave her feet too while she's still under because they're pretty matted up.  I was like yes PLEASE.  Moppet is paranoid about anyone (even me) touching her face and feet (hence the mattes)  She won't hold still enough for me to cut them out myself.

Oh, and I didn't have to move after all.  I'm still with Sis and Mommo.  Chicken Little decided to stay at her Aunt's after graduation (where she's been staying all along when she was home from school, even when we were still at the other house and her bedroom at home was empty).