Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Elbow deep in Avacado & the key won't open the door!!

In other words: Lot's of Guac but no Unlock!!!
(Sorry about the phone calls that got missed on Saturday!!)

I had one of those days. Nothing seemed to work correctly. When I realized, AFTER we were in public that the socks were on inside out, well one of them anyway, I knew it was just going to be ONE OF THOSE DAYS. Nothing major, just little crap that seems to rise up and laugh in my face. I won't go into the little details, but it really started going bad when we were ready to leave to go listen to a friend play at the coffee shop. I've been wanting hear her forever, but as we were leaving, We decided to see if the new key that we had cut would work in the Front door. Did it? Nuh-uh, nope, of course not. In fact, the Deadbolt lock on the front door decided to break rather than accept the new key. Who EVER heard of a Deadbolt breaking? Well it did and do you know what's inside a deadbolt lock? SPRINGS and PINS. LOTS AND LOTS of itsy bitsy teeney weeney springs and pins. So when it comes apart, they basically explode everywhere. This is where they got the concept for hand grenades.

Anyway, that meant that we couldn't possible leave the house for very long because we couldn't lock it securly against the evil elements. We left it long enough to go to Home Depot to buy another Dead Bolt. Hoping that we'd still have time to get to the concert. (It was a very informal affair so late wouldn't matter so much.) Great idea, but no dice. The guy at Home Depot had to call everyone else in the store so that they could put their heads together and decided just how to go about re-keying a deadbolt to fit our current keys. They finally came up with a solution, and we headed back home.

This lock was a "Quick Set" brand lock. Which would lead one to believe that it would be "quickly set" into the door, right? Well... NO. So we didn't get to go to the concert.

By this time we were both hungry, so while the Counselor worked on the lock, Amid expletive ambiance, I decided to make us a sandwich. Turkey, Fresh tomato, avacado and a little mayo, with chips and a coke. How hard is that? Well let me tell you how hard that is...

1. peel the tomato - DONE
2. spread mayo on bread - DONE
3. fit round slices of Turkey on square bread - .... done?
4. cut avacado in half - DONE
5. CHASE THE STUPID AVACADO SEED around the kitchen floor for 5 minutes. - DONE
6. place avacado and tomato slices on turkey - DONE
7. Put top slice of bread on sandwich - DONE
8. Pick up Sandwich to place it on plate with Chips - ... crap!!!
9. pick up slippery slices of avacado & tomato that slid out of sandwich & fell on floor - (!*&^%) - done
10. realize that nothing's going to stay together without toothpicks or hot glue. - dang
11. have bright idea - DONE
12. Mash the stupid avacado into a paste with a little more mayo.

This is the moment in time when my phone started ringing incessantly. One call after another, but since my hands are covered in tomato and avacado guts, I can't do anything about it. So as the individual ring tones played, I knew EXACTLY whose call I was missing, and I just sobbed into my make shift quacamole.

After pulling myself together, and creating a wonderful "Turkey, tomatoe, & avacado sandwich" casserole, the Counselor comes in and annouces, "whew, got it!! I think it's going to work. Let's try the new key now." So we did!! And... It didn't work!!!

Yep, Lot's of Guac but no UN-lock!! Not a great place to be!!!

Friday, August 25, 2006

It Finally Happened…

…and I knew it would. Of course, knowing it would happen doesn’t make me feel one bit better about it, but at least now it’s over.

They finally killed the puppy!! You heard me. Yesterday morning on the way in to work there it was, all brown, cute, fluffy and DEAD!! Hit by a car I’m sure. And there sitting beside it in the road ignoring her own probability of danger, was it’s mother, nudging and prodding it with her nose to try and get it to wake up and get out of that dangerous road.

No, I didn’t stop. There was nothing I could do. The puppy was beyond help and I have no idea who the momma dog belonged to, and moving her would have been completely futile. She’d just go back to the tragedy, so I kept going. And Yes, I cried a little and then the further I went, the madder I got, and the madder I got, the more I realized that I’ve just got to get this out of my system…

Soap box puh-lease… (chunk chunk... step up, one, two)

STUPID PEOPLE!!!
And I’m not talking about the driver of the vehicle either. It’s the OWNERS of that puppy who are to blame here. Where is the sense of responsibility?
I don’t know why people will get a cute fuzzy puppy and then won’t take care of it. Any halfway intelligent person should know that a puppy is going to GROW UP, and that it can’t FEED or WATER ITSELF. It has no concept of BOUNDERIES and will get its much needed EXERCISE by roaming if someone won’t provide for it. And funny thing about animals, they MULTIPLY. It’s just the way nature is.


(Now, let me say that I understand that Accidents DO happen, even in the best of circumstances but, in the vast majority of cases it's total lack of HUMAN responsibility that causes these tragedies)


Why is it OK to just let your dog roam around and be in danger from things that it has no concept of how to deal with? Not to mention the fact that it seems to be ok to let your dog wander onto another person’s property and make messes and aggravate that person’s dogs, and possibly even his family. And then when, through no fault of its own, the dog gets in trouble or does something that it shouldn’t, or goes somewhere it’s not familiar, it’s the dog that usually pays the ultimate price. If it gets in the road it’ll eventually be hit by a car. If it gets into someone’s garbage, it’ll get shot at. If, heaven forbid, it hurts someone, it is likely to be put to sleep. If it gets pregnant, then the puppies, which didn’t ask to be born, are either killed, dropped off somewhere out in the country to starve, or given to yet another irresponsible home and left to fend for themselves in the same vicious circle as the parents.

If a person chooses to take on the responsibility of having a dog, or any pet for that matter, that person should also accept the responsibility to COMPLETELY provide for that animal’s protection, health and happiness.

1. Keep the dog in a decent sized FENCED, (no chains), yard so that it can move freely but still be contained for its own safety.
2. Provide proper nutrition, water & food, on a regular basis
3. Provide an opportunity for ample exercise
4. Provide a regular opportunity for that dog to have some real interaction with its family. They NEED to be loved and needed
5. If you’re not interested in PROPERLY taking on the additional responsibility of having offspring from your dog, get it SPAYED OR NEUTERED.

Otherwise, you don’t need and shouldn’t have a dog!!

You can take my soap box now. (step down, one, two)

Thankfully, by the time I came home, someone had scooped that poor little puppy up off the road so I didn’t have to see it. (literally anyway, it’s still pretty vivid in my mind). And of course its Momma was out again this morning wandering the road…

STUPID PEOPLE!!

Friday, August 11, 2006

HOOAH!!!



I just got back from the Fort Knox Army base in Kentucky, where I got to watch my little brother graduate from the Reserve Officers Training Camp. To my surprise, what I anticipated as being a “yada yada yada” type event, turned out to be, in fact, a truly moving experience and I came away with an enlightened opinion of my Country, her Soldiers, and my little brother.

Pride is not always thought of as the best of feelings. Pride is often thought of as being an egotistic and power hungry love of ones self. The phrases “Pride goeth before a fall” and “ stubborn pride” come to mind. But in this case, I think that Pride is one of the best feelings a person can carry. In this situation, when I say I’m PROUD to be an American, and I’m PROUD of our soldiers, and I’m PROUD of my brother, the word holds so many more meanings. For instance:

GRATITUDE
I’m thankful for the men and women who have already chosen to be in the Army and who are so sure that it’s the right choice that they are willing to help train and nurture and protect these youngsters who are just starting the journey. I was so impressed to see those seasoned men and women watching over their charges like mother hens. Don’t get me wrong, they were rough and tough, but you could just feel the compassion and desire to instill in these kids the concepts of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Honor, Personal Courage, Selfless Service, and integrity and make them into heroes. With guidance like that, I don’t think there’s too much worry about.

I’m grateful for the blessings that God has showered upon us by allowing us to live in a Nation where we can feel safe in our individualities. I’m grateful for the men and women from countless years gone by who have had the courage to stand up and fight for Right and Good, even when it wasn’t the most popular opinion. I’m grateful for the sacrifices that have been willingly made in order to fight that fight. Some give up precious moments with families, such as births, and school plays, and quality time. Some make financial sacrifices to make sure that the fight can continue. And way too many have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives so that we can live in comfort and peace. For that, my gratitude is boundless.


FEAR
I fear that those who have grown to take our freedom for granted, who feel that freedom is their right, or those who are in positions of power, and are more consumed with matters of wealth and popularity than with the well being of our country, will someday be able to lure the people of our country into believing that freedom is indeed free. Which will in turn surround us with a false sense of security that says all we have to do is sit back and practice tolerance and all will be well. Then, when our morals are crushed, our ethics destroyed, and our entire way of life threatened, my greatest fear is that it might very well be my brother who makes that ultimate sacrifice with his life.

HOPE
Because as I watched the ceremonies, and the people involved, I realized that all “kids these days” are not clueless, helpless and hopeless. I saw approximately 225 young men and women who, even though they may not all continue to follow the Army path, are obviously made of some real tough stuff. They purposely and willingly gave their time and effort to complete this training. They made it through grueling physical and mental exercises and sleep deprivation. They gave up creature comforts such as TV, cell phones, ipods, and real beds. They ate MRE’s and Army food. All this was done with the full knowledge that should they choose to continue with the Army, their next training sessions and challenges will most likely be even more difficult.

And yet, as the Cadets from Alpha Company stood on that Fort Knox field under crystal blue clear skies, on what had to be one of the most gorgeous days ever, and even though there were no smiles during the ceremony, their eyes were sparkling, and their posture was straight to the point of statuesque. Their movements were sharp and precisely placed. They exuded such strength, confidence and anticipation and they seemed comfortable and at peace with the decision to become a part of this Army.

I have always considered myself to be patriotic, and appreciative of this country in which we’re blessed to live. I have always stood with my hand over my heart for the National Anthem, and have always maintained that the pledge of allegiance should remain an integral part of our school systems. I’ve always understood and appreciated the sacrifice our soldiers have made throughout the years so that we may enjoy a freedom unknown to others outside these United States of America. And I have always been disappointed that so many of my fellow Americans seem to take that blessing so lightly. Yes, I have always thought that I knew what it meant to be “ Proud to be an American”.

However, after this visit and after having seen the men and women who are in training to become the soldiers that secure our freedoms, and after having seen the men and women who are providing the training for our incoming soldiers, I must say, in the words of
the Mad Dogs of Alpha Company, 4th Platoon, 2nd squad,

Am I proud to be an American? “HELL YEA!!!”
Am I proud of the United States Army? “HELL YEA!!!”
Am I proud of my little brother? “HELL YEA!!!”

HOOAH SOLDIER BRO’!! I love you man!!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Hooah!? Now ya see it, Now ya don't

I'm working on Joe's write up. Can't figure out why it wouldn't work, but I've got "The Mommy" on retainer and have a call into her voicemail, so when she has a minute, I'm hoping to get this back up so ya'll can see it!!

Consider the picture a teaser!! Ain't he just the cutest thing EVER? (and I say that in a 3yr old little brother cute sense, cause you just can't say stuff like that about your bro, now can ya?) Ah, HECK, I'm the BIG sister, so I can say WHATEVER I WANT!! I thought he was just as cute as a speckled pup under a red wagon!!! AND THAT'S CUTE!!!

Ya'll tune back in now, ya hear?!!