AOL JOURNAL WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT - IF PETS COULD TALK

If I could ask my pet one question and it could actually answer me back - what would I ask it?...hmmmmmm.....good one.

I think I would have to go back several years and ask one of my horses, an Anglo-Arabian mare named Roc-a-neuf......WHY THE HECK ARE YOU SO ACCIDENT PRONE????  This mare had more stitches than Frankenstein!  She found every loose board, every nail, every sharp edge of anything, and became very adept of seeing just how much damage she could do at one time.  My other horse, Champ, went through his whole life with me with only one "emergency" vet visit, and that was to biopsy a lump that appeared on his girth line.

I guess the worst scare that Roc gave me was the time she ran her hoof through a woven wire fence, and then pulled back, almost cutting her whole hoof off.  THAT was a lovely time.  She had to wear a "boot" because it couldn't be stiched and had to heal from "the inside out".  Lovely.  I had to run cold water on it three times a day, then dry it and pack it with "yucky blue stuff" and wrap it, AND she had to had an antibiotic shot every other day for two weeks. OH HAPPY TIMES!

And if she wasn't satisfied with that - she passed on the trait to her filly, Lark.  She carried Lark for a year and a day (normal time is 11 months).  When Lark was born she looked like she was a month old, and bless her little heart, had stiches before she was 24 hours old!  We never did find out how she got hurt in a stall that had no nails, no loose boards, and straw and bedding a foot deep.

The more I think about it now, I think that Roc would have answered my questions with "I LOVE Dr. Lawson and I want to see him at least once a week".  Had I known that at the time, he would have had a standing invitation for dinner once a week.  It certainly would have been cheaper for me, and a lot less painful for her.

Bless her heart, she lived 28 years and I still miss her.

ATTACK OF THE KILLER SQUIRRELS!!!

Ok - the squirrels have evidently tapped into my computer lines.  They are "on guard".

This morning when I let Millie and Abby out, there was a squirrel in the front yard.  I swear I heard the little bugger give a "na na nana na". Millie launched herself off the front porch straight at the little hairball, who then sailed up the telephone pole.  While Millie is doing her version of the "squirrel stomp" and frothing at the mouth, Abby is running in circles and barking at the top of her yorkie lungs.  I have to go outside and pick Millie up to get her back in the house.  Abby follows us in - I don't think she wants to take the squirrel on alone.

I get dressed and go out to the car and look for the squirrel.  He/she is still on the telephone pole.  so I get in the car and back out of the driveway.  "Squirrelo the Magnificent" (obviously from a circus family) starts ACROSS the telephone wire.  I start driving up the street and SPLAT - Squirrelo hits my windshield spread-eagled AND screaming.  I slam on the brakes, causing Squirrelo to slide the length of my hood and onto the ground.  Now I don't think that was intentional - I think it scared Squirrelo pretty bad because there were little "squirrel nuggets" all over the hood of my car, AND a suspicious smear of liquid.  I get out of the car, run around to the front and Squirrelo is already across the street and going up ANOTHER telephone pole.  Doesn't seem to be hurt, only embarrassed.  I know I would be.  So began my morning.  I can't WAIT for the next chapter of  "Dynasty II"!!  Ya'll have a good one!!

IT HAS OCCURED TO ME.....

It has suddenly occured to me that I have a show tomorrow night - a Wednesday night - I mean.....I knew about it...But it really just sunk in.  okay..... I also have a show on Friday night...and if I'm really, really, lucky, I'm OFF on Saturday... WHOOPEE!

Took Ryan to the dentist today - I feel like a BAD Mom - he has 3 cavities because he is not brushing his teeth correctly. Today's visit was $171 and there is at least another $300 to go to get his teeth where they should be.  Did I mention that his insurance doesn't cover him anymore on dental??  That stopped when he turned 21.  I guess that after 21, your teeth are just supposed to stay good for the rest of your life.  Makes no sense to me.

I've named the squirrel family "The Carringtons" (remember "Dynasty"?  Tonight Crystal and Alexis really got into it and they were very vocal.  Millie and Abby had a FIT!!!  I banged on the ceiling and they "scurried"......for now....I hope they forget what they were fighting about.  Probably those old diamonds again....LOL

 

THE TUESDAY AFTER THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE WEEKEND AFTER THE FRIDAY OF MY LAST ENTRY

Well.......hmmmmm......uh.......wow.  I'm so tired I can't even find the right words to type!!

It has RAINED here for the past two days...not just "rain" but "RAIN" also accompanied by winds, thunder (Millie has been under the bed several times) and lightening.

I have squirrels in my attic.  Please God, let it be squirrels and not mice - don't want to see mice that big!

I seem to have a family of them, and from the sounds of them, they are not a happy family.  There seems to be one BIG squirrel and several smaller ones.  They fight - a lot - and often - in the middle of the night - and early in the mornings - and in the evenings - a lot.  If I take the broom and hit the ceiling, they stop and "scurry".  Later they regroup in another area, one of them brings up what they were fighting about earlier and the whole thing starts over.  I think they need family counseling, but am not sure who to call.  Terminex comes to mind.  I love the little furry buggers, but not in my attic - and not unhappy ones.

Now..... my dogs are unhappy.  They don't like squirrels in the attic.  They don't like squirrels in the yard.  Having them in the attic is like having a key lime pie in the refrigerator and not knowing how to open the door.  They are not happy.  They want to meet the squirrels - up close and personal.  I think they could encourage the squirrels to seek other shelter.  Hmmmmmm.

 

IT'S FINALLY FRIDAY!!

Well, I have survived another week.  Someone asked me today "How can you work three jobs?"  Well... I don't know....someday I'll figure out I CAN'T do it and just fall over....LOL.

I need to get back on track with this journal.  I still haven't "done" the rest of the birds (the 2 cockatiels and the 2 parakeets), and I still want to do an entry on some PEOPLE in my life....and there are quite a few.  I have the greatest friends in the world.  I have a friend I have known for 35 years (we went to college together); I have a friend I have known for 20 years (she moved to Georgia, but we still maintain contact), and I have a friend that I have known for 3 years, but have never met in person!!  I met her on the internet, we discovered a mutual love of pekingese dogs, and we have been friends ever since.  We write each other, e-mail each other, call each other on the phone and send each other special gifts, but I have never had the pleasure of giving her a hug.  And then there is the family "adopted" Ryan and me with whom we shared Christmas and Thanksgiving.  The wonderful lady that Ryan called "Grandma" is in heaven now, but we still love each member of that family.  Each one of these people will have her own special entry.  But I will have to take my time when I do them so that I don't leave anything out.

Well - Dollywood tomorrow and Sunday and guess what - Sunday I'm PIC again.  Wheeeeeeee!  LOL

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  I'm gonna do my best to have one too!!!

 

ANOTHER MONDAY

Well - the tree is gone from my roof and the only damage I can see is a bent shingle on the edge of my back porch roof.  The insurance company hasn't called to let me know of any damage they found, so I think that is it. 

I never saw the guy who removed the tree.  He was supposed to move it to the front of the house for the city to pick up, but no - it is scattered around the back yard in many pieces so I guess Ryan and I will move it to the front as we can.  Right now I just don't have much time.....hmmmmm....wonder why?

Worked at Dollywood Sat. and Sun. - I'm tired, but we had two good days at Dollywood.  Weather was a little nasty Saturday afternoon, late - bad storm came through and effectively shut us down for a good while.  Sunday was great - not too hot and no rain, so the guests were happy.

Have to work next Sat. and Sun too so....no day off for me - oh well, I need the money - that's for sure, and I do dearly love the people I work with up there.

Hope your Monday is a good one - so far - it hasn't been toooooo bad here.

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!!!

My insurance agent just called and it will cost me NOTHING....Zip...Zilch...Nada...NOTHING to get the tree off my house.....HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!  My deductible will come off the repair of any damage to my roof and I honestly don't think there is much.  WHEW!  What a relief!!  He even told me the guy would move the limb up to the street where the lovely City of Maryville will pick it up and haul it away.

My day is MUCH better now.

RUMBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

Well, we had a storm come through night before last.  The weather man had been coming on our local tv stations about every 20 minutes warning that a bad thunderstorm was headed our way wth damaging winds.  Okay - that has happened a lot this summer.  Not worried.  About 11:30 p.m. I heard a rumble (thunder?) and the house shuddered.  Ryan yelled "Mom what was THAT?", and Millie went under the bed - typical for her during a thunder storm.  "Oh that's just thunder" I said to Ryan, got Millie out from under the bed and we all went back to sleep.

Wednesday morning I got up, let the dogs out, got dressed, got the dogs back in, woke Ryan up to let him know I was leaving for work, went out, got in the car, looked straight ahead and

THERE IS A HUGE TREE LIMB ACROSS THE BACK OF MY HOUSE!!!!  I couldn't believe it!!!  I got out of the car, walked back and it looks like it is just across my back porch roof - don't think it has done any major damage to the roof (Please God). 

Called my insurance company and I have a $250 deductible.  Whoopee.  Like I HAVE $250 "spare" dollars.  So the guy is supposed to come and let me know how much it is going to cost to remove the darn thing.

I think I have more trees on my lot than anyone else on the street - and they are huge.  I love the shade, but hate when all those leaves fall.

Oh well.  Today is another day.  Hope yours is a good one.

MONDAY NIGHT - NO REHEARSAL - NO SHOW TOMORROW NIGHT!

I can't believe it - a night off!!!! I am so excited I could spit!! Ryan and I got some supper, stopped by the store and then came home where I was finally able to cut some brush out of my driveway AND I've done a load of laundry!!!!  PRAISE THE LORD and pass the Bounce!!  Ryan's bedroom floor is clear for the first time in two weeks, and I'm pretty sure I can get a load of those multiplying towels done tonight too!

I'm sitting here in my bedroom waiting for the dryer to buzz, and I had this "dream" of mine again - A LARGER HOUSE.

Now mind you, there is only Ryan and me (and the birds and dogs) and a two bedroom house should be big enough - but I want more ROOM - especially CLOSETS (I only have two and one is microscopic).

Here is my dream home (it never hurts to dream - what would we do if we couldn't dream?):

THREE bedrooms.  It would be soooo nice to have an extra room for visiting friends.

WALK-IN CLOSETS in each bedroom.  And I mean WALK-IN - big enough so that I could actually hang summer stuff on one side and winter stuff on the other, shoes underneath, shelves, and storage area

TWO AND ONE-HALF BATHROOMS.  I think I would be in heaven if I could actually go in the bathroom when I wanted too - Ryan and I on way tooooo similar a schedule..LOL.  I would like a big "garden tub" with whirlpool jets so that I could put this old body in one and just let the water flow!!!

A LAUNDRY ROOM.  Oh what heaven - a place for my washer and dryer, a table that I could fold clothes on, a rack that I could hang clothes on and storage space for all cleaning supplies - heaven I tell you - just heaven.

AN "ADEQUATE" LIVING ROOM.  Nothing fancy - don't need it, but would love to have a room that I could "close off" that would stay clean for any unexpected visitors.

KITCHEN:  Now I don't cook. Really.  I don't.  I know how, but am just too tired to do it.  But I would love a kitchen with lots of cabinets, counter space and "built in" appliances.  Eat in kitchen is fine with me. I want a walk-in  PANTRY where I can put canned goods, dog food, bird food, etc.  Doesn't have to be fancy - just servicable.

A FAMILY ROOM:  A place with a BIG comfortable couch with big soft cushions, a rocking chair, a recliner, a big screen television (I'm still dreaming), lots of built in bookcases and places for books and videos and DVDs.  A big table where we could play board games and I could work my puzzles, and do some crafty stuff.  Ahhhhhhhhh (sigh)

A ROOM SOLELY FOR STORAGE.  This is my dream room.  A room with shelves, racks, bins, places for me to PUT things that I find on sale.  Now I find them on sale, bring them home and they disappear - never to be seen again.  So frustrating.

NO CARPETS EXCEPT IN THE LIVING ROOM.  I love hardwood floors with accent rugs wherever.  Also it's easier to clean when you have little dogs.

Thus are my dreams.  Will they ever come true?  Don't know. BUT I'll continue to dream.

 

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS......YEP

MONDAYS....YECH!!  Well, worked a full weekend at Dollywood - and boy was it hot!!!!  Gee I love the people I work with.  Everyone is just super to work with.  When I got to work on Sunday I found out I was PIC (Person In Charge) that day.  The PIC is responsible for seeing that the ride runs smoothly, lunches and breaks are scheduled and rotation happens every hour.  Sunday we ran 20 boats on the river which means we had 9 active positions, 7 on the dock (Load 1, Load 2, Load 3, Unload 1, Unload 2, Unload 3 and Dispatch) 1 person in Tower 1 and one person in Tower 2 which are located along the river.  Then at 11 a.m 3 more people come in and these 3 people are the breakers who go from one position to another giving people their lunch breaks and afternoon breaks.   Every hour we "rotate our positions like this:  A breaker comes in, goes to Unload 3, takes Unload 3's position and rotates that person to Unload 2. Unload 2 rotates to Unload 1. Unload 1 rotates into Dispatch.  Dispatch rotates to Load 3, Load 3 goes to Load 2, Load 2 goes to Load 1 and Load 1 goes to Tower 1, and Tower 1 goes to Tower 2 and Tower 2 rotates in on the dock to Unload 3, freeing up the breaker to go about lunches and breaks.  Sounds complicated?  It really isn't. THEN every two hours one of our people actually RIDES in a boat to determine that the ride is functioning normally and that there are no hazards along the river bank that could potentially hurt a guest in one of the boats.  The PIC also handles any problems with guests, but can call upon "Unit 400" (PIC for the whole park) if he or she feels that they haven't handled something to the guest's satisfaction.

We are super safety conscious at Dollywood.  We are all empowered to stop something if we think that a guest might get hurt.  Our maintenance guys at the Rampage are the best.  They go over everything with a "fine tooth comb" to make sure that our ride is safe at all times. 

I have to work Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend also, so no day off for me.  Oh well....I'll make it.  Don't know about my laundry though.  The pile is getting bigger - and it's starting to talk to me....

HELP!!  SEND DETERGENT AND SOME BOUNCE!!!!! 

IT'S FRIDAY!!!! wish I had a day off this week!!!!

Friday is here at last - wish I was off this weekend.  I have a show tonight - Murder at the Midnight Hour - and work Dollywood Saturday and Sunday, then back here Monday morning...I'm already tired.

Ryan worked 3 days this week, two hours a day. When I called him to see if he wanted supper before I went to do the show his quote was "I've worked so hard this week, I think I need to catch up on my sleep".  I about fell out of my chair laughing when I hung up.  Bless his little pointed head!!

The dogs have been "cuddle bunnies" all week - so glad to be home from the kennel while we were gone.  they are soooo sweet and I love them soooooo much.

My laundry is "calling my name". LOL  The dirty socks were spelling out "wash us please" across Ryan's bedroom floor and the towels in the bathroom are forming into groups - and reproducing!!  HELP!!!!

First Day Back At Work After A Week At the Beach

TAKE ME BACK TO THE BEACH....ARGHHHHHH!!

Lordy - what a day.  The phone message bank was full - no one could leave a message until I deleted messages...which I could just delete the whole day.

Seems I really screwed up last Friday.  Before I left the office I put a message on our memory call that said I would be out of the office all week and that we would be closed on Monday for the July 4th holiday - but evidently I didn't "save" it so everyone got our usual message and.....oh well - irate clients, irate boss (I may never get another vacation...LOL).  It was a Monday on a Tuesday.  Oh well.  I'm sure tomorrow will be better.  Let us hope.

BACK FROM THE BEACH

Well the week that took all year to get here is gone in 5 minutes.  We got back from Panama City Beach at 10:30 p.m. Friday night.  We had a WONDERFUL trip with only some minor mishaps.  One child got on the bus Monday morning throwing up in a plastic bag.  Needless to say he did not make it to the beach.  We stopped in Athens and contacted his family to come and get him.  He seemed to get sicker by the minute and we weren't too sure just what was wrong with him.  While we were in Athens waiting for his family, another boy had a "teenage moment", tried to use a high karate kick to knock off a flower from a bush about 4 feet high and hit the ground flat.  We were afraid he had broken something for sure.  Thank goodness his parents were along on the trip.  They did end up taking him to the hospital on Tuesday down in Florida and he just had a bad bruise.  Then on Wednesday, not wanting to be outdone by the "younger" set, I dislocated my kneecap getting in the pool at the retreat center.  OWEY OWEY OUCH!   @#%$#@$##@$#.

BUT, the weather was great - kids in the ocean every day, no horrible sunburns (except that Ryan's head is peeling like crazy - looks like terminale dandruff...LOL).

I came home, tired, sore, but at peace with life once again.  It's amazing what the beach can do for me.  My stress level is at an all time low - wonder how long it will stay that way.. LOL.

Had to work at Dollywood yesterday and didn't think I was going to make it with my knee but they (my team) were extremely kind to me - giving me lots of sit down time in dispatch when I needed it.  I was supposed to work today also but my leg swelled and stiffened so that I couldn't get it in the car so had to call and let them know I couldn't make it - it was my first time not working when I was scheduled.  I felt bad about it but there was no way I could have stood on this knee today....Ryan got little mementoes for all his "girlfriends" at Dollywood.  He can't wait to give them to him - probably next weekend.

I'm off work tomorrow (5th) for the 4th so will try to add some pictures either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Hope everyone had and is still having a wonderful 4th of July celebration.  Hope everyone stays safe, healthy and happy.