Hey Ladies!
"The necessary qualities of good toilet paper"
I am a Ultra Strong kind of girl. I want toilet paper I can depend on to handle life's messes! I will not be left on a road trip trusting that the rest stop will have two ply. I bring my own to the pool!
Like any well done daily task I have a system for the usage of toilet paper. Its a three sheet, two sheet system! (Three sheet, repeat with two.) I highly recommend this system for anyone who still finds there usage in this department lacking efficiency. Live is short, buy name brand!
Love you Gals!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Things I have been meaning to share.
Military Mr. Q at a firing range in New Mexico! Don't worry he is shooting at a pumices mound.
Pumices!
Plucky little lizard!These are pictures from a shooting range in NM, we were there about a year ago. I just never got around to posting the pictures.
Now I know I have a picture of me shooting too but I do not seem to have it on this computer. So sad! I did really good that day! Mostly I just hiked around taking hundreds of pictures with Mr. Q's mother. We talked about the kind of father Mr. Q is gonna be someday. It was hot and loud but its one of my happy memoirs shared with Mr. Q.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Pimp this blog!
Alright, Ladies.
Q informs me (after our lengthy conversation on toilet paper and how certain things should not pill) that this blog layout is too boring and we need something more "foresty and mystical."
As I have found no three column blog templates online to suit this need, I shall embark on the mission of creating the layout myself. What I need from the rest of you are suggestions on things you want here and some photos--photo submissions need to be original, meaning you took them yourself. We're looking for something "Tolkien-esque" to use as a background and/or starting point for a new design.
So, what kinds of doodads do you want to see here in the future? What have we done in the past that you have liked/disliked?
Please submit any pictures you have (ones to which you own the rights so Alula doesn't get sued) that feature forests, fog, rivers, mountains, hobbits, or other fairy-tale type thingymajiggers. Design suggestions will be considered, but as this is my first major undertaking in web design, we make no promises.
Thanks,
Alula
Q informs me (after our lengthy conversation on toilet paper and how certain things should not pill) that this blog layout is too boring and we need something more "foresty and mystical."
As I have found no three column blog templates online to suit this need, I shall embark on the mission of creating the layout myself. What I need from the rest of you are suggestions on things you want here and some photos--photo submissions need to be original, meaning you took them yourself. We're looking for something "Tolkien-esque" to use as a background and/or starting point for a new design.
So, what kinds of doodads do you want to see here in the future? What have we done in the past that you have liked/disliked?
Please submit any pictures you have (ones to which you own the rights so Alula doesn't get sued) that feature forests, fog, rivers, mountains, hobbits, or other fairy-tale type thingymajiggers. Design suggestions will be considered, but as this is my first major undertaking in web design, we make no promises.
Thanks,
Alula
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Favorite memories of Clover
We initially got Lexus and Clover because Kate had passed on and we didn't want Emma to be alone. We walked into the store and I knew Clover was going to be a cuddler from the start. Lexus was jumpy and hyperactive, climbing all over me, but Clover just settled into my hand and decided that was her spot. She was so calm I was almost worried there was something wrong with her, but that was just her personality--she liked to cuddle her whole life.
She was always the calm rat. When Lexus was making suicidal leaps of faith out the cage door, Clover would hang back and give her disapproving looks from inside the cage. She discovered at a young age that she could grind her teeth on the bars of her cage and create a noise loud enough to attract attention from anywhere in the house. She would grind her teeth to get food and cuddles, and interrupted many a good movie to get out of the cage for a while. We would let her run around on the couches, an activity she loved, and I think she thought she was a human. When she was done running around, she would like to come over and sit next to me or Mr. B like there was no size difference--just a rat sitting on the couch, usually cleaning her face or hands or something. She liked to curl up under the blankets or pillows and nap, and she liked to hord Cherrios in her corner of the love seat (that corner will always be hers in my mind) and eat them like tiny little donuts.
When she would cuddle in your lap, she liked to have this one spot on the back of her neck rubbed. She would chatter her teeth like crazy when you hit just the right spot, something akin to a cat's purring, and her eyes would go all googly and bobble in and out of her head like she was a cartoon character. When Lexus was still with us, Clover always had a little bald spot right there on her neck. I worried that she was getting aggressively barbered, but when Lexus passed I figured out that it was something Clover enjoyed. She was probably as much to blame for letting Lexus groom that one spot so much. She would groom people's finger nails and hands for them in return. And for a rat that was usually so timid, she was a grabby little thing where treats were concerned--you had to watch your fingers giving food to her, though she never once, not even in the pain of her final ailment, bit anyone unless she mistook them for food.
Rest in peace, my little friend!
Alula
She was always the calm rat. When Lexus was making suicidal leaps of faith out the cage door, Clover would hang back and give her disapproving looks from inside the cage. She discovered at a young age that she could grind her teeth on the bars of her cage and create a noise loud enough to attract attention from anywhere in the house. She would grind her teeth to get food and cuddles, and interrupted many a good movie to get out of the cage for a while. We would let her run around on the couches, an activity she loved, and I think she thought she was a human. When she was done running around, she would like to come over and sit next to me or Mr. B like there was no size difference--just a rat sitting on the couch, usually cleaning her face or hands or something. She liked to curl up under the blankets or pillows and nap, and she liked to hord Cherrios in her corner of the love seat (that corner will always be hers in my mind) and eat them like tiny little donuts.
When she would cuddle in your lap, she liked to have this one spot on the back of her neck rubbed. She would chatter her teeth like crazy when you hit just the right spot, something akin to a cat's purring, and her eyes would go all googly and bobble in and out of her head like she was a cartoon character. When Lexus was still with us, Clover always had a little bald spot right there on her neck. I worried that she was getting aggressively barbered, but when Lexus passed I figured out that it was something Clover enjoyed. She was probably as much to blame for letting Lexus groom that one spot so much. She would groom people's finger nails and hands for them in return. And for a rat that was usually so timid, she was a grabby little thing where treats were concerned--you had to watch your fingers giving food to her, though she never once, not even in the pain of her final ailment, bit anyone unless she mistook them for food.
Rest in peace, my little friend!
Alula
whats new
first I don't know any chicken recipes that are actually good just bleh. Sorry about your rat Alula and congrats on the new car Q hopefully its good for you. Well lets see for me whats new I really want to quit my job because it is horrible but I need to stick with it for a little longer just a couple more bills to pay off then I can quit and Mr Man said he would pay my insurance and all the bills because that's still cheaper than paying for a babysitter. And bills paid or not I will have to quit come hunting season because Mr man has trips planned for California, Idaho, Nevada and a few other places this fall. Next month he will be going to Florida to go deep sea fishing with some buddies, shark meat is supposed to be really good. My mom is planning to come up for that week to be my babysitter because her daycare kid is gone for the summer and Bug will be at camp, plus it gives her an excuse to make Bugs dad act like a dad for a while. I'm still hoping I can find an online job that I can do to earn a little money but most of the ones I find look like scams. Little man is doing great decidedly a little boy loves being outside though it has rained for the last 3 days giving this child cabin fever. Yesterday was a little nice so we all went out on the ATVs with Mr mans little brother. Of course as newtons law requires it started to rain and hail on us at the top of the trail we were on. So just because I felt like it I called in sick today actually I called in my kid is sick though he is doing fine. My schedule had me off for two days work one day and off another two days well I don't like that idea so I called in. OK little man is demanding attention so I have to cut this off now.
fuzzy
fuzzy
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Sad news
Hi Ladies,
Thursday I made a hard decision at the vet by hoping the antibiotics and painkillers would at least stave off infection to a reasonable point. They didn't.
By yesterday afternoon the tumor had turned necrotic to the extent that we could see dead tissue pushing at Clover's skin, and I immediately called the vet. She was in no pain thanks to the numerous painkillers, but once an infection gets that bad there's nothing else to do. Mr. B and I took our happy, high on drugs rat to the vet's office where we had to have her put down. The doctor administered the barbiturate and handed her back to me so I could hold her until she passed (not more than 15 seconds). They let us take her little body with us when we left so she could be buried next to Lexus, which we did this evening.
It was really hard. I haven't really stopped crying for the last 3 days, because it was everything I never wanted to do. The infection was terrible--if we had let it go even another few hours, there's no doubt in my mind it would have actually broken through her skin. Putting her down was the right thing to do, but she was so pain free when we had to do it she was acting like her old self. She wasn't acting sick at all, and it sucked. I mean, I'm happy she wasn't in pain when she died, but it really sucked having to watch her bounce around the exam counter like nothing was wrong, and then I kissed her goodbye and handed over the bouncy rat to the vet. She was so bouncy he had trouble getting a good grip on her to stick the needle in, and then she was subdued when she came back to me, and then she was gone. I sobbed hysterically and Mr. B almost vomited. (I'd like to note her that our vet is a wondeful guy. He answered all my questions, and he totally agrees with me that intracardiac euthanasia is inhumane. He injected the barbiturate into the body cavity, and anathesia wasn't needed because she was already hopped on the rodent version of morphine, but he said he would anathestize her I was more comfortable with it free of charge.)
But it still sucked. I cried all of last night and woke up cryng this morning. I went out shopping with my mom and sister to try and get on with life and my mom bought me some books from the ARC but I made her drive me home when my sister wanted to go to a retail clothing place (somehow these trips always end with me in a tiny room trying on a stack of jeans taller than I am, and I just wasn't in the mood). I walked up to my door and waited until they drove off and then got in my car (actually my dad's car bc mine was still broken) and went looking for something to eat to distract myself. I didn't want to be in the house alone (Mr. B was out with my dad)--like really alone, with no rats to be all happy and greet me when I came in. Just a big, empty cage that I hadn't taken down to the basement yet. So I went around but none of the lunch places were open. So I bought junk food at the grocery store and crashed Q's place. Q, I hope you don't mind. I just couldn't be alone in my house with that empty cage.
Wetpaw came in and found me crying on the couch surrounded by hotwings and energy drinks, watching some television show about people with too many kids and they were running around Disney world with mouse ears on, and asked me why I was there, and then decided to leave me alone I think. Then he left again.
I eventually made it to my parent's house, crashed there with Mr. B for a while. Then we went and buried Clover, and then we ate dinner, and then we came home together. The big, empty cage is still here, just like Clover left it, not knowing it was the last time. I really don't think I've ever been this upset over the loss of a pet before--this is the first one not to die of natural causes. I truly hope none of you ever have to put an animal down, because this one experience has caused more angst in my life than losing relatives or friends. I had to decide this--it wasn't death by health issue or a car accident or something else beyond my control--I decided to end that life. It was the humane thing to do, but this is truly hard to deal with. I handed her over, I watched the lethal injection, and I held her when she died. Right now, it doesn't feel like I will ever really get over it. I'm still bursting into tears at random junctures.
I don't want more rats. I think I love them too much, and they don't live very long, and the treatments for their ailments aren't very advanced or effective. You just fall in love with them and watch them suffer, and they fall in love with you and act like nothing's wrong because they're so happy all the time. What I really want is my old rats back--all of them--and I want them to live forever without disease. It's days like these that make me want to deperately believe in a heaven or any sort of afterlife where I will be able to see them again. I do believe in an afterlife, and reicarnation of a sort.
I'm sorry to punish you all with my lengthy cathartic post about a depressing subject. I'm just having trouble coping with this. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better, and I'll post some happy memories about Clover away from this post that contains all of my emotional garbage.
She had a good life, and a painless passing.
Alula
Thursday I made a hard decision at the vet by hoping the antibiotics and painkillers would at least stave off infection to a reasonable point. They didn't.
By yesterday afternoon the tumor had turned necrotic to the extent that we could see dead tissue pushing at Clover's skin, and I immediately called the vet. She was in no pain thanks to the numerous painkillers, but once an infection gets that bad there's nothing else to do. Mr. B and I took our happy, high on drugs rat to the vet's office where we had to have her put down. The doctor administered the barbiturate and handed her back to me so I could hold her until she passed (not more than 15 seconds). They let us take her little body with us when we left so she could be buried next to Lexus, which we did this evening.
It was really hard. I haven't really stopped crying for the last 3 days, because it was everything I never wanted to do. The infection was terrible--if we had let it go even another few hours, there's no doubt in my mind it would have actually broken through her skin. Putting her down was the right thing to do, but she was so pain free when we had to do it she was acting like her old self. She wasn't acting sick at all, and it sucked. I mean, I'm happy she wasn't in pain when she died, but it really sucked having to watch her bounce around the exam counter like nothing was wrong, and then I kissed her goodbye and handed over the bouncy rat to the vet. She was so bouncy he had trouble getting a good grip on her to stick the needle in, and then she was subdued when she came back to me, and then she was gone. I sobbed hysterically and Mr. B almost vomited. (I'd like to note her that our vet is a wondeful guy. He answered all my questions, and he totally agrees with me that intracardiac euthanasia is inhumane. He injected the barbiturate into the body cavity, and anathesia wasn't needed because she was already hopped on the rodent version of morphine, but he said he would anathestize her I was more comfortable with it free of charge.)
But it still sucked. I cried all of last night and woke up cryng this morning. I went out shopping with my mom and sister to try and get on with life and my mom bought me some books from the ARC but I made her drive me home when my sister wanted to go to a retail clothing place (somehow these trips always end with me in a tiny room trying on a stack of jeans taller than I am, and I just wasn't in the mood). I walked up to my door and waited until they drove off and then got in my car (actually my dad's car bc mine was still broken) and went looking for something to eat to distract myself. I didn't want to be in the house alone (Mr. B was out with my dad)--like really alone, with no rats to be all happy and greet me when I came in. Just a big, empty cage that I hadn't taken down to the basement yet. So I went around but none of the lunch places were open. So I bought junk food at the grocery store and crashed Q's place. Q, I hope you don't mind. I just couldn't be alone in my house with that empty cage.
Wetpaw came in and found me crying on the couch surrounded by hotwings and energy drinks, watching some television show about people with too many kids and they were running around Disney world with mouse ears on, and asked me why I was there, and then decided to leave me alone I think. Then he left again.
I eventually made it to my parent's house, crashed there with Mr. B for a while. Then we went and buried Clover, and then we ate dinner, and then we came home together. The big, empty cage is still here, just like Clover left it, not knowing it was the last time. I really don't think I've ever been this upset over the loss of a pet before--this is the first one not to die of natural causes. I truly hope none of you ever have to put an animal down, because this one experience has caused more angst in my life than losing relatives or friends. I had to decide this--it wasn't death by health issue or a car accident or something else beyond my control--I decided to end that life. It was the humane thing to do, but this is truly hard to deal with. I handed her over, I watched the lethal injection, and I held her when she died. Right now, it doesn't feel like I will ever really get over it. I'm still bursting into tears at random junctures.
I don't want more rats. I think I love them too much, and they don't live very long, and the treatments for their ailments aren't very advanced or effective. You just fall in love with them and watch them suffer, and they fall in love with you and act like nothing's wrong because they're so happy all the time. What I really want is my old rats back--all of them--and I want them to live forever without disease. It's days like these that make me want to deperately believe in a heaven or any sort of afterlife where I will be able to see them again. I do believe in an afterlife, and reicarnation of a sort.
I'm sorry to punish you all with my lengthy cathartic post about a depressing subject. I'm just having trouble coping with this. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better, and I'll post some happy memories about Clover away from this post that contains all of my emotional garbage.
She had a good life, and a painless passing.
Alula
Friday, May 22, 2009
Frontiers of Fortune
Ladies,
As you may know, I have been praying very hard for "real" jobs for all of us. Congratulations Alula on your "real" job.
Also I would like to congratulate Mr. Munchkin on his being hired into a Graphic Designer position at the largest vinyl printing company in the country. He will be making $14/hr + benefits. Now I can get off his back about getting a "real" job. I am so proud of him.
Finally... I would like to congratulate myself on getting hired on at the same company as my husband. I'll be making $12.50/hr + benefits. I am so excited at the idea of having some stability in our life finally. I am so fortunate for all the things that are happening in my life at the moment. I hope that Mr. Munchkin and I take that fortune along with us to Las Vegas, because we leave Sunday for our honeymoon.
Q, I know that you will soon have a job as well. One that will not make you miserable, and that will help give you and Mr. Q the stability you both need when he is back from the military.
I send my love to you all, and I'll see you in a week or so.
~Munchkin
As you may know, I have been praying very hard for "real" jobs for all of us. Congratulations Alula on your "real" job.
Also I would like to congratulate Mr. Munchkin on his being hired into a Graphic Designer position at the largest vinyl printing company in the country. He will be making $14/hr + benefits. Now I can get off his back about getting a "real" job. I am so proud of him.
Finally... I would like to congratulate myself on getting hired on at the same company as my husband. I'll be making $12.50/hr + benefits. I am so excited at the idea of having some stability in our life finally. I am so fortunate for all the things that are happening in my life at the moment. I hope that Mr. Munchkin and I take that fortune along with us to Las Vegas, because we leave Sunday for our honeymoon.
Q, I know that you will soon have a job as well. One that will not make you miserable, and that will help give you and Mr. Q the stability you both need when he is back from the military.
I send my love to you all, and I'll see you in a week or so.
~Munchkin
Clover, Mushrooms, and New Start Date
My freakish gardening abilities strike again. I've grown corn, raspberries, peas, pumkins, and several other crops in planters in my barren courtyards. Add to the list these little mushrooms, about an inch tall, currently sprouting in the shade provided by the sunflowers and pinto beans. I didn't plant them, and I have no clue where they came from, but I'm happy to have them--probably won't eat them because I have no clue if they're edible or not.I initially called the vet because Clover was doing so well. Yesterday she turned feverish, lethargic, and acted like the tumor was hurting; I called the vet again to establish that I now needed an appointment instead of a phone consult. I spent most of the day crying because I thought I was going to take her in and the vet would say we should just put her down. We walked out of the office with antibiotics, painkillers, and muscle relaxers. I was ready to put her down; as I said before, we've known for a while that this day was coming. The vet and I are on the same page about what's happening. It's likely that the tumor has become infected somehow, which means a surgery, except that neither of us wants to torture the rat because she's so old--by old age or disease, the end is near. She shouldn't have to go through more than she needs to.
At this point, we're just trying to make her comfortable for a while. If she hasn't passed on "naturally" by the time the painkillers run out, we will have to put her down. As happens with all ailing rats in my house, there has been much cuddling and comforting.
I went in and filled out the stacks of paperwork required for my new job yesterday. It was literally a stack as thick as a spiral notebook, and now I start the background check. I'm starting this coming Tuesday.
Alula
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Decisions that Suck
Most of you know that two weeks after Lexus died last January, we found a small tumor growing on Clover. Judging from most rats we've known, we didn't think much of the tumor because there was a high chance she would die of other causes before the tumor was ever big enough to be a concern. Because of the way Lexus went (seemingly natural causes/old age), we didn't think Clover had more than a couple of months in her anyways. Two years is pretty good for a rat, and these two were litter mates.
Well, now Clover is two and a half years old. The tumor is slow growing, which is a blessing, because it's still pretty small--maybe the size of a large marble. She isn't in any pain. People talk about rats walking around with tumors bigger than the rat itself where the tumor doesn't cause any pain. The rat eventually dies of starvation because the tumorous mass saps all the caloric intake and costs a lot of energy to haul around.
When Lexus had a tumor, we had it removed because she was still young. The issue here is that Clover is at least 75 in rat years, and I don't want her to be in pain. At this point she has less than a 5% chance of making it another 6 months. Her life is coming to an end. I don't want her final days to be spent in a great deal of pain recovering after surgery (Lexus faired well because of her age, but it's a big incision for such a little body--see the picture here). I don't want her to die hauling around a mass and hungry all the time. And at the same time, I don't want to take my happy pain-free rat into a clinic and watch a doctor gas her to death. But the point of putting the rat down is to keep her out of pain, so I don't want to wait until she's in pain to do it.
I lose. However you cut it, this situation sucks. Either I kill an animal that doesn't need it or I wait too long and she dies in pain. Her chances of surviving anathesia and surgery at this age are slim.
Sucks.
I finally admitted this is going to suck and called the vet today. I'm desperately hoping he says we have more time to wait. I would really love not to make this decision. As bad as it is to wish death on a pet, I would feel a lot better about this if I walked downstairs one morning and found that Clover had just passed on in her sleep, not in any pain, and me not needing to decide when it happens.
Well, now Clover is two and a half years old. The tumor is slow growing, which is a blessing, because it's still pretty small--maybe the size of a large marble. She isn't in any pain. People talk about rats walking around with tumors bigger than the rat itself where the tumor doesn't cause any pain. The rat eventually dies of starvation because the tumorous mass saps all the caloric intake and costs a lot of energy to haul around.
When Lexus had a tumor, we had it removed because she was still young. The issue here is that Clover is at least 75 in rat years, and I don't want her to be in pain. At this point she has less than a 5% chance of making it another 6 months. Her life is coming to an end. I don't want her final days to be spent in a great deal of pain recovering after surgery (Lexus faired well because of her age, but it's a big incision for such a little body--see the picture here). I don't want her to die hauling around a mass and hungry all the time. And at the same time, I don't want to take my happy pain-free rat into a clinic and watch a doctor gas her to death. But the point of putting the rat down is to keep her out of pain, so I don't want to wait until she's in pain to do it.
I lose. However you cut it, this situation sucks. Either I kill an animal that doesn't need it or I wait too long and she dies in pain. Her chances of surviving anathesia and surgery at this age are slim.
Sucks.
I finally admitted this is going to suck and called the vet today. I'm desperately hoping he says we have more time to wait. I would really love not to make this decision. As bad as it is to wish death on a pet, I would feel a lot better about this if I walked downstairs one morning and found that Clover had just passed on in her sleep, not in any pain, and me not needing to decide when it happens.
Monday, May 18, 2009
New Puppy!
Say hello to the new puppy! Mazda mpv! I still wish I had Spike but, this new car is rather shiny!
It got checked out by my mechanic today. Its a good little mini van, so he says!
Lets have some crazy times in this car too!
I'm still working on a name, it is a girl car. I can tell by its girlie beep when you honk the horn. Please give me your suggestions! I am thinking about Emma!
Delays
Well, I was supposed to start my new job today.
I have all of my affairs in order. The laundry and the dishes are done. I've cleaned the basement, as it is my intended home office. My mom took me out and bought me new cloths for work. I have taken to programming the coffee maker the night before in case I don't have time in the morning. I wrote a guide for my husband describing, with picture demonstrations, how to do things around the house like laundry, dishes, cooking, and grocery shopping. Summer term hasn't started yet, but my tuition is paid.
In short, I was ready to start my job. Unfortunately the paperwork wasn't, so the current plan is that my new start date is Tuesday next week (because Monday is Memorial Day).
So having done everything, what the heck am I supposed to do now? I'm washing the bed linens even though they don't need it. I'm reorganizing my closet. I've got the final paycheck from my last job to drop off at the bank (because I can squeeze blood from a stone, Q, lol). I'm going to scout our local thrift stores for an elliptical machine, dinette set, and closet organizer. I could go grocery shopping, I guess. Now what the heck am I going to do tomorrow?
All I can figure is that God and the universe have granted me this time to start our little business. We have everything set up, ladies--we have an eCrater store, an established Ebay account with excellent feedback, boxes for shipping, the stuff to sell...we're ready.
1, 2, 3, GO!
Alula
I have all of my affairs in order. The laundry and the dishes are done. I've cleaned the basement, as it is my intended home office. My mom took me out and bought me new cloths for work. I have taken to programming the coffee maker the night before in case I don't have time in the morning. I wrote a guide for my husband describing, with picture demonstrations, how to do things around the house like laundry, dishes, cooking, and grocery shopping. Summer term hasn't started yet, but my tuition is paid.
In short, I was ready to start my job. Unfortunately the paperwork wasn't, so the current plan is that my new start date is Tuesday next week (because Monday is Memorial Day).
So having done everything, what the heck am I supposed to do now? I'm washing the bed linens even though they don't need it. I'm reorganizing my closet. I've got the final paycheck from my last job to drop off at the bank (because I can squeeze blood from a stone, Q, lol). I'm going to scout our local thrift stores for an elliptical machine, dinette set, and closet organizer. I could go grocery shopping, I guess. Now what the heck am I going to do tomorrow?
All I can figure is that God and the universe have granted me this time to start our little business. We have everything set up, ladies--we have an eCrater store, an established Ebay account with excellent feedback, boxes for shipping, the stuff to sell...we're ready.
1, 2, 3, GO!
Alula
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Goodbye to a old friend!
Hey Ladies!I received news from my repair shop last week that my mini van had reached the end of its prime. It needed more repair than the car was worth. Not what I wanted to hear, I loved that car!
Spike (my van) and I have had three happy years together! He worked his fender off for me over the years. He was at my side everyday when I went to work, He work just as hard as I did, if not harder! He was almost always faithful and reliable. Almost every one in the Sisterhood learned how to drive in him. At that time he belonged to Fuzzy's mother. Last year he survived running over a semi tire on the highway. It took quite a tole on him but he just kept going! He will be put on auction and I have been assured he will be purchased but someone who needs him, and they will get a good year worth of love out of him. He drove us to so many great memories! May he one day rest in peace!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Past Perks
Okay, so reading your posts inspired me to share my own reason for picking the topic. Consider this in lieu of individual comments.
Back when I worked at a certain local water park, I got free entry and ten free tickets a season to pass out to friends. I also got half off of all of my food and merchandise purchases (Munchkin, this perk rocks like no other). I learned way more than I ever needed to know about the mechanical workings of the rides, and now I know all of the radio codes and which areas to avoid when there is a resulting "code brown". DoHP, I read you on the window/outdoor thing and the exercise--there was also a bunch of 90 degree vertical ladders for the ride I operated and I had to haul my butt up and down them 100 times a day so I was in fantastic shape. I also have zero fear of heights now thanks to tower 5 and the switch we thought broke in it (turned out to be a short in the wire--huge pain in the butt to fix). Paid okay, but also gave a season end bonus that rocked my socks.
Every time it rained, whoever was operating the ride was supposed to climb up top on an exposed metal platform to shut down the computer; we were told it was safe to do so even in lightning storms because of the lightning rods they had installed to prevent hits. I performed this operation countless times while I worked there, and because it's about the tallest thing in the park you could see forever from up there, and with lightning hitting all around you it was really something. Then one summer we came back and found the computer fried and melted--turned out lightning hits it after all!
So the ultimate perk is knowing that if God had wanted to strike me down with lightning, it already would have happened.
I'm hoping for benefits at the new job too ;)
Alula
Back when I worked at a certain local water park, I got free entry and ten free tickets a season to pass out to friends. I also got half off of all of my food and merchandise purchases (Munchkin, this perk rocks like no other). I learned way more than I ever needed to know about the mechanical workings of the rides, and now I know all of the radio codes and which areas to avoid when there is a resulting "code brown". DoHP, I read you on the window/outdoor thing and the exercise--there was also a bunch of 90 degree vertical ladders for the ride I operated and I had to haul my butt up and down them 100 times a day so I was in fantastic shape. I also have zero fear of heights now thanks to tower 5 and the switch we thought broke in it (turned out to be a short in the wire--huge pain in the butt to fix). Paid okay, but also gave a season end bonus that rocked my socks.
Every time it rained, whoever was operating the ride was supposed to climb up top on an exposed metal platform to shut down the computer; we were told it was safe to do so even in lightning storms because of the lightning rods they had installed to prevent hits. I performed this operation countless times while I worked there, and because it's about the tallest thing in the park you could see forever from up there, and with lightning hitting all around you it was really something. Then one summer we came back and found the computer fried and melted--turned out lightning hits it after all!
So the ultimate perk is knowing that if God had wanted to strike me down with lightning, it already would have happened.
I'm hoping for benefits at the new job too ;)
Alula
Work work work
Today on the way to my wonderful and perk filled job, I ran over a squirrel. This is the first animal I have actually killed with my car. *sniff* Poor little squirrley.
So, unexpected perks from my job. *thinks*
I have a customer that brings me state quarters.
*thinks some more*
I have a window. I get fresh air and get to see how pretty it is outside.
Step aerobics when I'm putting things away on the top shelf.
Non-work related note time!
Remember my dead dog lab? Well as a preservative they put PVC/vinyl in the blood vessels. So everything smells like PVC. I just bought a new shower curtain liner because my old one was kinda gross. It's PVC/vinyl. My bathroom now smells like dead dog lab.
So, unexpected perks from my job. *thinks*
I have a customer that brings me state quarters.
*thinks some more*
I have a window. I get fresh air and get to see how pretty it is outside.
Step aerobics when I'm putting things away on the top shelf.
Non-work related note time!
Remember my dead dog lab? Well as a preservative they put PVC/vinyl in the blood vessels. So everything smells like PVC. I just bought a new shower curtain liner because my old one was kinda gross. It's PVC/vinyl. My bathroom now smells like dead dog lab.
Lovely Perks!
Although you may know that most people feel that tipping is optional in a time when the economy is bad and I only make $4.21 an hour, there are a few perks to my job. Anytime I want to go out with anyone to one of the restaurants that are affiliated with the one I work at, I get a very good percentage of the bill discounted.
This discount doesn't apply to alcoholic beverages, and you must tip off of what the original amount would be. If just me or 2 people go out we get 50% off. If 3 people total 33%, 4 people is %25... so on and so forth. It is a really good deal. If you have questions for me as to which restaurants we can go visit please let me know.
These perks are the only reason I still work in the food service industry. I plan to keep this job for one day a week when I get a real job, just to keep the perks.
~Munchkin
This discount doesn't apply to alcoholic beverages, and you must tip off of what the original amount would be. If just me or 2 people go out we get 50% off. If 3 people total 33%, 4 people is %25... so on and so forth. It is a really good deal. If you have questions for me as to which restaurants we can go visit please let me know.
These perks are the only reason I still work in the food service industry. I plan to keep this job for one day a week when I get a real job, just to keep the perks.
~Munchkin
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
yard work
Well I am currently ignoring my laundry I have a load in the washer and the dryer my dryer takes forever to dry anything two to three cycles usually. I also have three clean laundy baskets full and two dirty baskets full and the random clothing thrown around the area because I have a kid who tries to help. I spent the moning doing dishes and then mr man tilled a few spots in the yard for gardens and I got to pull all the big clumps of grass out and big rocks. one of the gardens are done so I get to at least put my green beans in tomorrow afternoon when they turn the water on for our side of the park. I also have zuccinni, cucumbers, squash and a few other things to plant cause vegies are way to expensive up here to buy. We are having fun I think at least one garden is almost done. I also wanted everyone that wants to are invited up to my house next month Strawberry days is usually fun they have music and everything and I figured it out the only reason its called strawberry days is because its held at Strawberry Park but still no actual strawberries are around. Mr man will probally disapear for those days of course. I just want someone to see my house its not as bad as I make it sound just small. also work is interesting the big wigs in Denver made to new guy the assistant manager and this guy is very strange he just got divorced and has three kids with the ex wife and he is in a 5 year commitied relationship with a lady who has twins that are 7 months old any guess what caused the recent divorce? anyway the only thing this guy dose is cook chicken and clean the friers and I do everything else. He chased the co worker I liked over to the bakery so I don't work with her anymore, the old assistant manager is moving to Denver to get away from this guy and the other girl I work with is applying to every local place that is hiring to get away from this guy he's gone a little power crazy this make my part time job now a full time job and I don't want a full time job it doesn't leave me with a lot of energy to get everything around the house done, the boss said it would only be for a few weeks (I Hope). Ok back to house work fun fun!
Fuzzy
Fuzzy
Perks of my job!
Hey Ladies!
When I get a job I am hopping its gonna come with the perk of a pay check! At the moment having a job would be a perk! :)
When I get a job I am hopping its gonna come with the perk of a pay check! At the moment having a job would be a perk! :)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Avoiding All...
Well ladies, I believe that God would like me to continue a love and hate relationship with him. The reason I have come to believe this is true goes a little something like this.
A Couple days ago I was ALL set to start my laundry (I feel your pain on doing it DoHP, I hate putting it away too). I have all my cloths sorted into piles and ready to start the 5 loads I need to do, when all of the sudden I go down to check out the spider my brother is trying to catch and I see a spill in the floor of his basement bedroom. I proceeded to ask him what was on the floor (it looked like one of my dogs had tried to do him a favor and clean his carpet with their urine). He to me, "Oh, it's just water." To which I proceeded to tell him that when there is water underneath the carpet soaking it, there is no such thing as just water. We frantically found the leak area and best we could while I called my favorite plumbing company (the one who gave me a new pipe in February 2008).
The plumber arrives and finds the leak quickly because there is a loud drip. We watered the front lawn about thirty minutes before we discovered the leak. Obviously this was the problem, so we now have a new from faucet. Here is what the old one looked like:
That split you see is about half an inch long and was an eigth inch buldge on the side view of it. Now you may be wondering what caused this massive burst in our faucet, I assure you that no one but God Almighty could have done this. Every winter including the last we remove our hoses like good little children, as we did this winter. This being said, the pipe with the burst in it you see above is "freeze proof" and it froze and burst. Just our luck, we can even freeze a freeze proof pipe so we spend all my money. Thanks so much God, for all your love and good fortune... after all I didn't have to do my laundry that night, it was the perfect out.
~Munchkin
A Couple days ago I was ALL set to start my laundry (I feel your pain on doing it DoHP, I hate putting it away too). I have all my cloths sorted into piles and ready to start the 5 loads I need to do, when all of the sudden I go down to check out the spider my brother is trying to catch and I see a spill in the floor of his basement bedroom. I proceeded to ask him what was on the floor (it looked like one of my dogs had tried to do him a favor and clean his carpet with their urine). He to me, "Oh, it's just water." To which I proceeded to tell him that when there is water underneath the carpet soaking it, there is no such thing as just water. We frantically found the leak area and best we could while I called my favorite plumbing company (the one who gave me a new pipe in February 2008).
The plumber arrives and finds the leak quickly because there is a loud drip. We watered the front lawn about thirty minutes before we discovered the leak. Obviously this was the problem, so we now have a new from faucet. Here is what the old one looked like:
That split you see is about half an inch long and was an eigth inch buldge on the side view of it. Now you may be wondering what caused this massive burst in our faucet, I assure you that no one but God Almighty could have done this. Every winter including the last we remove our hoses like good little children, as we did this winter. This being said, the pipe with the burst in it you see above is "freeze proof" and it froze and burst. Just our luck, we can even freeze a freeze proof pipe so we spend all my money. Thanks so much God, for all your love and good fortune... after all I didn't have to do my laundry that night, it was the perfect out.
~Munchkin
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Grr. Argh.
I can't dress myself. And I get made fun of because I can't follow the rules that nobody told me in the first place.
So, jeans it is. Can't wear skirts anymore because I don't have appropriate shoes.
So, jeans it is. Can't wear skirts anymore because I don't have appropriate shoes.
Friday, May 8, 2009
...and guess where it was?
Please read this post first: Men: Unusually large children.
I finally found the paycheck. Get this: It was UNDER Mr. B's laptop.
He's the $^%&ing king of passive aggresive.
Alula
P.S. I turned turkey leftovers into turkey soup today, and there's a lot of it. Speaking of, Mr. B just spilled some on the kitchen floor as I'm typing. And you know if he's (attempting) to eat it, it must be good. Anyone who wants some is welcome.
P.P.S. The pinto beans I planted in my garden are coming up now, and I'm way more excited than I should be. My mom dropped off coleus for the season today, too.
I finally found the paycheck. Get this: It was UNDER Mr. B's laptop.
He's the $^%&ing king of passive aggresive.
Alula
P.S. I turned turkey leftovers into turkey soup today, and there's a lot of it. Speaking of, Mr. B just spilled some on the kitchen floor as I'm typing. And you know if he's (attempting) to eat it, it must be good. Anyone who wants some is welcome.
P.P.S. The pinto beans I planted in my garden are coming up now, and I'm way more excited than I should be. My mom dropped off coleus for the season today, too.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Taking the topic
If I were to guess, I'd say that the suggested topic is one that we should all post on right? Right.
Today at work I am supposed to be scanning my outs. I walk around the shelves with a scanny gun and scan the labels of everything that's out of stock. This is incredibly boring. I get part way through, and lo and behold, the wall of birth control is a mess! Packs didn't get taken out of boxes, boxes are stacked outside of their baskets, there are several empty baskets of things we don't stock anymore... So I organize it. It's pretty now. That was my freak organizational moment for the month. I also found a full afternoon's worth of tasks to keep me from sending back my expired drugs.
I've also gotten a whole lot done, mostly reading and knitting, while avoiding doing laundry. The "there's something in the dryer" excuse never gets old. For the record I do my laundry. I could probably do it more frequently, but it gets done. Normally at about 2am. The folding is the part I really hate.
Today at work I am supposed to be scanning my outs. I walk around the shelves with a scanny gun and scan the labels of everything that's out of stock. This is incredibly boring. I get part way through, and lo and behold, the wall of birth control is a mess! Packs didn't get taken out of boxes, boxes are stacked outside of their baskets, there are several empty baskets of things we don't stock anymore... So I organize it. It's pretty now. That was my freak organizational moment for the month. I also found a full afternoon's worth of tasks to keep me from sending back my expired drugs.
I've also gotten a whole lot done, mostly reading and knitting, while avoiding doing laundry. The "there's something in the dryer" excuse never gets old. For the record I do my laundry. I could probably do it more frequently, but it gets done. Normally at about 2am. The folding is the part I really hate.
Men: Unusually large children
I get to be a real witch during finals. So inexcusably much so that I apologize to people in advance. I warn Mr. B that things around the house just aren't going to get done, and usually he's okay with it, but I just need to recount my week.
Monday morning: I didn't get my paper finished the night before due to a family emergency where Ociffer needed me to watch his kids. Woke up, came down, found a bowl of guacamole in the fridge, uncovered, the entire fridge smells like rotting avacado. I let it go. I find a bunch of plastic bags in the recycling bin, inform Mr. B in a very friendly tone that bags cannot be recycled (hence the reason we have reuseable ones), and let it go. I point out to him that we have a sheet that details what is recycleable right above the garbage, and let it go.
Monday afternoon: finished my paper, turned it in, took a shower, had marital relations to celebrate. Started the next paper.
Tuesday Morning: I come downstairs and find the leftovers of Mr. B's dinner from the night before, Macaroni and cheese and peas, still sitting on the stove. I let it go; at least he cooked for himself and left me alone. The box for the macaroni and the can for the peas are in the garbage. I rinse the can and put those items in the recycling, along with the junkmail from Monday afternoon which was also misplaced in the garbage, and in a friendly tone tell Mr. B that junkmail, cardboard, and cans go in the recycling. I again point out the recycleables guide. I let it go.
Tuesday night: Mr. B gets home and finally cleans up his mess of Mac 'n Peas from 24 hours earlier. He opens the fridge and complains that there's no food, I tell him to go shopping, he doesn't want to, he finds a package of hot dogs and decides to cook them. I have to instruct him on how to operate the Foreman grill, and tell him he will need to rotate the hotdogs about every 3 minutes for a 10 minute cook time; this is apparently too much work, and he asks me to do it for him because he needs to play WoW. I ignore him, trying to type my paper. He steals my cell phone and starts texting people. I get up, threaten to beat him viciously for interupting my paper writing, wrestle my phone from him, somehow his hands are down my pants. I scream at him to leave me the heck alone because I haven't hit my goal on the paper yet, and he starts whining about how we never have sex. I tell him we had sex the day before--his response is "Oh yeah." I have him call Q to play WoW with him so he leaves me alone.
Wednesday morning (today): Come down stairs, and find junkmail and cardboard box in the garbage. Again. Have it out with Mr. B over the guac, the recycling, the sex, my unfinished paper, and his general inability to act like an adult. I return to the livingroom and find the paycheck that arrived for me in the mail on Monday has been moved from the coffee table by the door; I ask Mr. B where he put my paycheck. He says he didn't touch it. Paycheck is still missing.
Men suck.
Alula
Monday morning: I didn't get my paper finished the night before due to a family emergency where Ociffer needed me to watch his kids. Woke up, came down, found a bowl of guacamole in the fridge, uncovered, the entire fridge smells like rotting avacado. I let it go. I find a bunch of plastic bags in the recycling bin, inform Mr. B in a very friendly tone that bags cannot be recycled (hence the reason we have reuseable ones), and let it go. I point out to him that we have a sheet that details what is recycleable right above the garbage, and let it go.
Monday afternoon: finished my paper, turned it in, took a shower, had marital relations to celebrate. Started the next paper.
Tuesday Morning: I come downstairs and find the leftovers of Mr. B's dinner from the night before, Macaroni and cheese and peas, still sitting on the stove. I let it go; at least he cooked for himself and left me alone. The box for the macaroni and the can for the peas are in the garbage. I rinse the can and put those items in the recycling, along with the junkmail from Monday afternoon which was also misplaced in the garbage, and in a friendly tone tell Mr. B that junkmail, cardboard, and cans go in the recycling. I again point out the recycleables guide. I let it go.
Tuesday night: Mr. B gets home and finally cleans up his mess of Mac 'n Peas from 24 hours earlier. He opens the fridge and complains that there's no food, I tell him to go shopping, he doesn't want to, he finds a package of hot dogs and decides to cook them. I have to instruct him on how to operate the Foreman grill, and tell him he will need to rotate the hotdogs about every 3 minutes for a 10 minute cook time; this is apparently too much work, and he asks me to do it for him because he needs to play WoW. I ignore him, trying to type my paper. He steals my cell phone and starts texting people. I get up, threaten to beat him viciously for interupting my paper writing, wrestle my phone from him, somehow his hands are down my pants. I scream at him to leave me the heck alone because I haven't hit my goal on the paper yet, and he starts whining about how we never have sex. I tell him we had sex the day before--his response is "Oh yeah." I have him call Q to play WoW with him so he leaves me alone.
Wednesday morning (today): Come down stairs, and find junkmail and cardboard box in the garbage. Again. Have it out with Mr. B over the guac, the recycling, the sex, my unfinished paper, and his general inability to act like an adult. I return to the livingroom and find the paycheck that arrived for me in the mail on Monday has been moved from the coffee table by the door; I ask Mr. B where he put my paycheck. He says he didn't touch it. Paycheck is still missing.
Men suck.
Alula
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Slacker Productivity
Hello Ladies!
Right now I'm slacking on my 15 page paper (unstarted) that's due tomorrow. However, I find that when I avoid things it's because I find a way to distract myself by doing "important" things on other projects. I have termed this phenomenon "slacker productivity"--today, you can thank my slacker productivity for finally updating this site to include the resolutions y'all gave me, removing the old counter, reorganizing our sidebars, and introducing a new feature.
Our new feature is the "Suggested Topic" you can find at the right. I hear from all of you a lot about how you can't find things to post about or forget to post. I thought this might mix things up a little, so have fun with it.
Please feel free to send me suggested topics and links to pages you would like to see in "Places we hang out."
Avoidance = Progress,
Alula
Right now I'm slacking on my 15 page paper (unstarted) that's due tomorrow. However, I find that when I avoid things it's because I find a way to distract myself by doing "important" things on other projects. I have termed this phenomenon "slacker productivity"--today, you can thank my slacker productivity for finally updating this site to include the resolutions y'all gave me, removing the old counter, reorganizing our sidebars, and introducing a new feature.
Our new feature is the "Suggested Topic" you can find at the right. I hear from all of you a lot about how you can't find things to post about or forget to post. I thought this might mix things up a little, so have fun with it.
Please feel free to send me suggested topics and links to pages you would like to see in "Places we hang out."
Avoidance = Progress,
Alula
Its officially spring!
Hey Ladies!
Its officially spring I stepped on my fist Gardner snake yesterday! If you do not know this already, I have a curse! If there is a Gardner snake in a fifty foot radius I'm gonna step on it. I swear to you they slither out of now were and I find them under my foot!
Its officially spring I stepped on my fist Gardner snake yesterday! If you do not know this already, I have a curse! If there is a Gardner snake in a fifty foot radius I'm gonna step on it. I swear to you they slither out of now were and I find them under my foot!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Week of the Sisterhood
It's finals again and I'm tired as all get out. Emotional, too.
This week I got to see all of you, which was a rare treat. If Fuzzy had been able to make the wedding, we all would have been together for the first time in who knows how long--even so, I'm still glad I got to see all of you.
DoHP, you need to move back, sweety. We all miss you more than you realize. You can stay in our front room cheap, and we'll find you a job. You can have your own bathroom if you're willing to deal with our OCD cleaning nueroses. I can't even tell you how much you were missed after you left--they way we all kept staring at the empty spot on the couch. This time around, the couches were full, and it was good. Plant those black eyed peas I sent you home with, because we need to break your black thumb curse. And thanks for not killing my orange trees.
Munchkin, congratulations on getting married. I can tell you it's the most frustrating and rewarding thing you'll ever do in life. Just remember--that first year is a doozy. Everyone thinks they will be different, but the first year is hard. It's like dating all over because suddenly you think he's going to change, and he will, but probably not the way you want him to. Just weather that first year, and as a subtle recommendation, don't add pregnancy hormones to the mix. One year either way won't make a difference at this point, and when you're screaming about dishes or trash removal or money, he won't be able to throw it in your face that your just hormonal.
Fuzzy, when did that boy get so big? Seems like just yesterday I was sleeping on a wooden hospital bench at 3am while you were sitting there in the worst pain of your life, trying to bring new life into the world. Remember when we were like 12 and we rode our bikes around the block? Remember when we read Animorphs? Remember when we used to get dropped off and picked up together in middle school? Kiddo, you need to move back too. I don't see enough of you anymore, and I really want to know your kid.
And Q, these last few weeks were really special. I'm sorry if I creeped you out with all the smiling--I just kept looking up and seeing you and Mr. Q, all cuddly and together again, and the two of you just look so happy. You're a different person when he's around; it really is like the two of you own a piece of each other, because I can tell when he's been away too long. You fake smile a lot and you're a little hallow when you talk. This past week you really smiled. You really laughed. And you looked really, really happy. I'm happy to have my old Q back, because when you shine, the rest of the world does too.
Alula
This week I got to see all of you, which was a rare treat. If Fuzzy had been able to make the wedding, we all would have been together for the first time in who knows how long--even so, I'm still glad I got to see all of you.
DoHP, you need to move back, sweety. We all miss you more than you realize. You can stay in our front room cheap, and we'll find you a job. You can have your own bathroom if you're willing to deal with our OCD cleaning nueroses. I can't even tell you how much you were missed after you left--they way we all kept staring at the empty spot on the couch. This time around, the couches were full, and it was good. Plant those black eyed peas I sent you home with, because we need to break your black thumb curse. And thanks for not killing my orange trees.
Munchkin, congratulations on getting married. I can tell you it's the most frustrating and rewarding thing you'll ever do in life. Just remember--that first year is a doozy. Everyone thinks they will be different, but the first year is hard. It's like dating all over because suddenly you think he's going to change, and he will, but probably not the way you want him to. Just weather that first year, and as a subtle recommendation, don't add pregnancy hormones to the mix. One year either way won't make a difference at this point, and when you're screaming about dishes or trash removal or money, he won't be able to throw it in your face that your just hormonal.
Fuzzy, when did that boy get so big? Seems like just yesterday I was sleeping on a wooden hospital bench at 3am while you were sitting there in the worst pain of your life, trying to bring new life into the world. Remember when we were like 12 and we rode our bikes around the block? Remember when we read Animorphs? Remember when we used to get dropped off and picked up together in middle school? Kiddo, you need to move back too. I don't see enough of you anymore, and I really want to know your kid.
And Q, these last few weeks were really special. I'm sorry if I creeped you out with all the smiling--I just kept looking up and seeing you and Mr. Q, all cuddly and together again, and the two of you just look so happy. You're a different person when he's around; it really is like the two of you own a piece of each other, because I can tell when he's been away too long. You fake smile a lot and you're a little hallow when you talk. This past week you really smiled. You really laughed. And you looked really, really happy. I'm happy to have my old Q back, because when you shine, the rest of the world does too.
Alula
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)