A month's hiatus

Has it really been a month since I last posted? It's hard to believe that time goes by so quickly. I blame it on the recession. Or maybe I was subconsciously boycotting NaBloPoMo for the month of November. Who knows? Here's a list of what I've been up too during the past 30 days:

1. I made a bunch of ornaments from miniature flower pots, paint, wooden hearts, florists wire, elastic cord, and buttons. Then I mailed them to friends. On time, even!
2. I stopped riding the motorcycle. It is so damn cold and I have heated seats in my car, so really it was an easy decision.
3. I taught a few of the topics in our contractor training at work! If you need to know how to repair a pipe penetration using oakum, I'm your gal.
4. I saw Coldplay in concert for Free. I am not kidding. One of my coworkers received free tickets from a friend who is a TBS bigwig and he didn't have anyone to go with. So I volunteered! And Coldplay was so good I wanted to take the whole band home with me.
5. I joined a group about giving thanks on Flickr and it has been so much fun seeing what everyone is thankful for in their lives. Check it out!
6. I finished my Christmas shopping for the in-laws and the package made it to their house before Thanksgiving. If you know me, you know this is unprecedented. I am usually a master procrastinator, so I'm not sure what got into me this year.
7. Thanksgiving came and went! Dave had to work, so we just laid low for the holiday. We ate at a buffet-style restaurant that I like to call the Golden Trough (real name: The Golden Corral). I didn't have to cook and I was really very thankful for that.
8. I bought new boots and so far, I love them.
9. I saw Kristian Bush (from the country duo Sugarland) in concert with Lisa Carver and Ellis Paul at Eddie's Attic in Decatur. Such a great venue...small, intimate with good food and drinks. I got to shake KB's hand and tell him how much I enjoyed the show. That is probably the closest I will ever come to a celebrity and I will tell you this, I would not have recognized him had I walked past him on the street. I am so oblivious to that kind of thing.
10. I am planning a trip to Michigan to see my friend Traci. In December. When it will most likely be snowing. I will be wearing my ski suit the entire time I am there, even for sleeping because I DO NOT like to be cold. I can't help it, I'm from Florida.

The End. (See, you really didn't miss much at all!)

My civic duty is done.

Is yours? Don't forget to vote today!

And now we return to our regularly scheduled programming

This weekend was so so busy and fun. There was Halloween night, where we dressed up to hand out candy to the 15 trick or treaters that came to our door before we had to leave to head downtown to meet friends at a local restaurant that was hosting a Monster Bash for Halloween. Dave dressed as an undertaker and I was his fairy assistant, complete with pointy ears and wings. We met up with Oscar the Grouch, Dr. Feelgood, Catwoman, The Queen of the Nile, A Mime, and others. There was drinking, eating, and dancing. We got home around 4 am and slept in late.

On Saturday morning, we spent the day piddling around, finally deciding to go watch the Gators kick some Bulldog butt when our neighbor came over and invited us to be a part of his Halloween party that night. So we dressed up again...this time I was a witch...and we headed down the street. The neighbor had made a haunted trail behind his house and Dave and I got to participate in the scaring. Dave hid in a tree and jumped out at people and I got to be one of the trail guides. It was a lot of fun and we are planning to do it again next year. Saturday night we moved all the clocks back an hour and enjoyed an extra hour of sleep. The neighbor had invited us to join him and some of his friends on bike ride to the local swap meet, so off we went.

I got to experience my first ride in a pack of other bikes and it was so much fun. I also scored some lined leather chaps and winter gloves for $45 ($65 if you add in the $20 it cost us to get in to the swap meet.) On the way back from the swap meet, we left the pack and went to meet Dad for a ride to Lake Jackson. We had lunch with Dad and then came right back to the house. Total miles covered: 100. My longest ride yet. I am quickly improving, now that I am riding the bike to work everyday, and it is beginning to be a lot of fun. Now I just need a bigger bike so it's a little easier to keep up! I also need a day of relaxation to recover from my busy weekend...so jealous of Dave for having today off.

Happy Halloween

this little light of mine
Originally uploaded by philoschelle

A day late, but I hope you had as much fun as I did!

When procrastination pays off

For a long time now, I have been wanting a smart phone so I can access my email and favorite web pages no matter where I am. I kept putting it off because it just seemed like so much money to spend, not only on the fancy phone but also on the data plan so that browsing the internet would not end up costing a fortune. And also I am just that good at procrastinating. I think the planets must have been aligned just right this weekend, because I was kept very busy discovering newfangled technology, such as: Zappos.com, Netflix, and the Blackberry Curve.

Verizon was running a deal on the Curve, and though I was skeptical, we decided to check it out. We ended up with not only a Curve, but also a fancy new Motorola phone for Dave. And the price? Free! It seems we had waited so long to upgrade our old phones that Verizon had to basically throw the phones at us to get us to upgrade. I so love it when procrastination actually pays off, because you know that almost never happens.

Now I can check the tracking on my Zappos.com order to see when my new boots will arrive no matter where I am. My dvds from Netflix should be coming soon, too. What did people do before the internet? And is it sad that I am already addicted to my new crackberry?

I am Joan

My friend Bluesleepy just completed this quiz and I figured I'd follow suit. It's pretty neat...you should try it!

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Joan!

You are a Joan -- "I need to succeed"

Joans are energetic, optimistic, self-assured, and goal oriented.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Leave me alone when I am doing my work.


• * Give me honest, but not unduly critical or judgmental, feedback.


• * Help me keep my environment harmonious and peaceful.


• * Don't burden me with negative emotions.


• * Tell me you like being around me.


• * Tell me when you're proud of me or my accomplishments.

What I Like About Being a Joan

• * being optimistic, friendly, and upbeat


• * providing well for my family


• * being able to recover quickly from setbacks and to charge ahead to the next challenge


• * staying informed, knowing what's going on


• * being competent and able to get things to work efficiently


• * being able to motivate people

What's Hard About Being a Joan

• * having to put up with inefficiency and incompetence


• * the fear on not being -- or of not being seen as -- successful


• * comparing myself to people who do things better


• * struggling to hang on to my success


• * putting on facades in order to impress people


• * always being "on." It's exhausting.

Joans as Children Often

• * work hard to receive appreciation for their accomplishments


• * are well liked by other children and by adults


• * are among the most capable and responsible children in their class or school


• * are active in school government and clubs or are quietly busy working on their own projects

Joans as Parents

• * are consistent, dependable, and loyal


• * struggle between wanting to spend time with their children and wanting to get more work done


• * expect their children to be responsible and organized

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Seven plus me by the sea

8 Cakes
Originally uploaded by Tracy27

I planted a seed and watched it grow into something beautiful. You see, I had this Good Idea to get away for a weekend and spend it at the beach in Florida near my hometown. I mentioned this Good Idea to a group of my friends, just a casual suggestion, and I was pleasantly surprised that seven of them said yes.

I found us a beach house with six bedrooms and six bathrooms and an open living room with a back porch for eating and a front porch for coffee drinking, the beach so close that you could see and hear it while sipping and waiting for the house to wake up.

So much talking and laughter. Dancing on sand. Watching the sunset. Not wanting each day to end and fighting sleep until you fall over from fatigue. Not wanting to miss anything. Enjoying it all too much.

I am on day three of my return from this mini-break and I am still smiling, still saturated in contentment from the sun and sea and the love of all of my friends.

the very first day of my favorite month

It is October 1st and I am so glad September is gone. That month was beginning to stink, if you ask me. October is so much better...the leaves start to change, Halloween is fast approaching, and the holidays are getting close, but not close enough for the panic to set in. Dave has already put up the Halloween lights on the outside of our house and we'll work on adding fake spider webs over the next few weeks. I love Halloween and can't wait to have kids that I can dress up and take trick-or-treating. I have been so tempted to dress up the dogs, but so far, have kept myself under control.

October is my favorite month and I have a feeling that this one will prove to be one of the best yet. I have a trip to Florida planned with some really great gals and I cannot wait to see them again. This weekend is going to be so much fun.

While I am gone, Dave will get to take care of all of the animals, including the new cat that has decided to adopt us (though I am considering taking Prue so that she can play with my mom's dog Brynn, who happens to be her sister. Did I just confuse you?) The new cat showed up while I was in Florida for my grandmother's stroke scare, and Dave fed him. So now he will not leave. I wonder if he was left behind by former neighbors who have been forced to move because of foreclosure? We've had a lot of those in my area lately. New Cat seems well fed and is super friendly, so I'm not she if he needs adopting. But he has stuck around for almost two weeks now. And yes, we've started feeding him. How could we not? I mean look at that face!



And if that doesn't warm the cockles of your heart, how 'bout this one:



I guess once we've figured out what to name him, he's ours. I think when a strange cat adopts you, it brings good luck. I also think a fourth cat officially makes me a crazy cat lady.

Have fuel, will travel

So I'm not sure if you've heard, but Atlanta is running out of gas. Literally. Dave and I didn't do much over the weekend because of the gas crisis. But we were able to completely finish the bedroom renovations and we've moved out of the guest room. I went through all of my clothes and Dave went through a lot of his and we now have four huge trash bags full of donations for the local Goodwill. I am through with keeping clothes that I may someday be able to fit back into or that may come back into style. I am fighting the pack rat gene and so far, I'm winning.

Besides all of the cleaning and organizing I was able to accomplish, this weekend's gas shortage had another positive influence. Twitter's real-time messaging service was elevated to a whole new level when Atlantans started using it to let each other know where to find gas, and even what grades were available, how much the station was charging, and how long one could expect to wait in line at that station. The search tag #atlgas was added to these tweets to make it easier for others in the Metro Atlanta area to find fuel. I think at one time, the #atlgas tag was ranked fourth in the trending topics on Twitter, which at that time, placed it in a position above tweets about the bailout.

Speaking of the bailout, I am ready to hole up in my house and wait for teh storm to be over. The economy is not looking so good and all I can do is hope that our politicians know what they are doing when it comes to this plan to bail out the financial institutions that are failing fast. I also hope that the bailout doesn't allow those responsible for this fiscal mess to walk away scot-free and with millions of dollars of profits in their pockets, especially if the middle class is going to be taxed with providing the 700 billion needed for this bailout. Life can be so unfair sometimes; I hope this isn't one of those times.

But I am going to try and put all of the nation's crises out of my head for the time being, even if I have to play this song over and over in order to accomplish some semblance of inner tranquility. I have a full tank of gas and I'm ready to leave all my troubles behind. Beach vacation with friends, here I come!

On Fall, bathing suits and home improvement

Today is the first day of fall and this morning's chilliness definitely announced the end of summer, like a punch in the gut. It's also officially the second half of my work day and I am so tired and hungry. Maybe I should eat something?

I am hoping that a cold front is not scheduled for the first weekend of October. I have my last hurrah of summer beach trip planned and I want to be able to wear my new swimsuit. I made the mistake of trying on swimsuits late last night, since I couldn't sleep anyway, and discovered that most of mine are either too small or make me look like I am trying to be 21 years old all over again. So I got online when I first got to work this morning and bought this one. If it fits. (Please fit.) My size is fluctuating so much lately, that I am having a hard time figuring out what size to buy. I spent all day Saturday going through my clothes and now have 3 big black trash bags full to give to Goodwill. I don't know why I have been hanging on to stuff I used to wear in high school (hello, 10 year reunion that is coming up next year!). I do not think I will ever be that size again, so I was cut throat this weekend and got rid of a lot of things that I used to love. When they still fit.

This weekend was also spent cleaning out our hallway closet and finishing up our master bedroom. Dave installed the baseboards and I applied two coats of polyurethane to them. I painted the closet in that room, too. Now all we need to do is apply one light coat of paint to the entire room and closet and we'll be able to move back in. I can hardly wait until I get to sleep in my king sized bed again. If I get up in the middle of the night for any reason at all, Dave immediately rolls over and claims the entire full-sized guest bed for himself and I have to fight my way back in.

Two Important Updates:

1. My grandma is doing so much better. She's been staying with my mom since she got out of the hospital last week and I know that must be frustrating for both of them. I think she will be moving back into her little cottage very soon and she'll be back to her old tricks, as long as she takes her medication like a good girl.

2. I have kept to my exercising-during-my-lunch-break plan and it is going well. When it is too hot to walk, we have been doing yoga in an empty office using this site. I highly recommend it for people who do not have the time or inclination to go to a yoga studio (like me!) and would prefer to practice on their own time and at their own pace. At $10 a month, it's a very reasonable way to exercise.

Life is a highway

It's turning cooler in the mornings and I am beginning to dress more warmly before I leave the house. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to ride the bike, but I plan to continue as long as I can. I am going to have to invest in some thermal underwear and some warmer gloves.

I almost ran out of gas on my way to work. I forgot that Dave and I had gone to dinner on the bikes this week, so the tank that usually lasts all week didn't. I stopped at a station near the house that is completely out of gas, except for premium. That's been a problem around here since hurricane Ike shut down the oil refineries in Houston. I think Atlanta gets its entire fuel supply from Houston. I missed the panic where everyone was fighting to fill up over the weekend, since I was in Florida. I'm sure things will be back to normal before too long, but it's interesting to see how people behave when there is a shortage of something as crucial as fuel. It makes me appreciate the bike that much more...2 gallons and I've got a full tank!

As I was riding to work this morning, I was thinking of all of the things I've learned in the last few months of riding. So as soon as I got to my desk, I decided to write them out:

—Learn to be flexible and ready to shift into another gear or swerve around a problem at a moments notice.

—Forget about the road you've already traveled. If you mess up a little, mentally shake it off and just keep on going.

—Be aware of the road directly in front of you, but don't keep your eyes there. Keep your chin up and your eyes pointed forward. You will be a better rider if you are always looking toward where you want to be.

—Loosen up. Tension will just cause your ride to be shaky and your mind to become preoccupied with what could go wrong. The bike wants to move, so let it.

—Don't think too hard about how the bike is able to work the way it does, just appreciate that it works.

—Don't think too much about how fast the ground is moving underneath you. And whatever you do, don't look down.

—Don't panic. If you do, don't grab the brake for a full-stop or you'll end up hurting yourself and the bike. Pull in the clutch and just glide until you get your bearings.

—Wear protection. Even if it's uncomfortable, it'll save your skin.

—Baby the bike. Feed it the best fuel possible, check the tires and brakes often. If you take care of your ride, it will handle so much better, making the ride that much more enjoyable.

—The biggest hazard that you have to worry about is other people. Be confident in your own abilities, but be cautious of the intentions of other drivers. Learn to read them and be ready to anticipate what they are going to do before they do it.

Is it just me, or can almost all of these tips also be applied to living life?

Short but sweet

My weekend was a whirlwind, how was yours? My grandma was admitted to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning last Friday and it was not looking good. She was pretty much incoherent and did not know who anyone was or where she was. The news was pretty grim while the ER doc tried to figure out what had happened. When the possibility of encephalitis of the brain was mentioned, I left work, packed a bag and started driving to Florida.

When I arrived on Friday evening, Gram was doing much better. There was still no diagnosis, but she was a lot more coherent and she knew where she was and she recognized her visitors. But she was still dizzy and fatigued. She also didn't remember much of the ambulance ride or admittance to the ER. Apparently she was pretty hard to handle when she first arrived to the hospital and she doesn't remember any of it.

On Sunday, we finally got a diagnosis from her physician. It seems she had experienced a Transient Ischemic Attack or mini stroke. She had started some sort of diet that required her to drink 64oz. of water a day and by doing so, she had flushed her system of sodium and increased her blood pressure. She will have to be on several medications to manage her heart and to prevent clotting and future strokes. She was also ordered by her neurologist to stay away from any and all weight loss programs. He wrote it on a prescription sheet. At her age the last thing she should be worrying about is her weight!

A lot of love in a little package

Dear Prue,

Two and a half years ago, we decided to get another dog. Kaylee was a few months old and so emotionally needy that we wanted another dog to take some of her attention off of us and onto her new sibling. Come to find out, a tennis ball is pretty much all we needed to give her to keep her entertained for hours, sometimes just staring at the ball, willing it to fly from her so she could go retrieve it again and again and again.

Anyway, I checked Craigslist because surely there was someone giving away free dogs somewhere around Atlanta. And there was! Your mom was a full bred English black lab, calm and well-mannered, and her owners did not have a clue what you father was. But that was okay! We saw you and immediately fell in love with your inquisitiveness and also with how you immediately took to Kaylee and she to you. We brought you home and thought, having two dogs will make everything so much easier! Boy, were we WRONG.

Throughout the two and a half years we have had you around, you have chewed through the drywall in your dog pen, in the hallway, and you started on the foyer but I stopped you just in time. You have eaten off the side of one of our love seat cushions and now I have ugly slip covers to hide the damage you inflicted. You have torn apart and eaten almost every toy we have ever given you in a matter of minutes. You have eaten books, books I was in the middle of reading and books I was saving for any future children I might have. Oh and the chicken! You grabbed that free-range chicken that meandered into YOUR yard and shook it so hard there were feathers everywhere! If chickens have nightmares or suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome, then that chicken is screwed. You have also become very brazen about checking out what wonderful things are in the garbage can...using your nose to lift the lid and peering in. If we leave the house, even if we are going to be gone for a few minutes, you are locked in a crate while Kaylee is allowed to roam free. Because you cannot be trusted.



Since adopting you, we have discovered your paternity. Your dad was a whippet, a sight hound breed known for being agile, strong-willed, and hard to train. Here's a paragraph that sums up the breed quite nicely, "Leaving a Whippet pup alone for more than a couple of hours is a recipe for a problem dog. Some folks get away with it, but every Whippet with behavior problems we have ever taken into rescue came from a home where no one was there during the day. Around three years old, magic occurs and the Whippet turns into a perfect dog. Before then, you need to be ever-watchful, ever-patient, and ready to replace furniture when necessary.*"



We haven't reached the magic 3-year mark where you supposedly become a perfect dog, but to me, you already are perfect. You are willful and sneaky, but you are also the happiest dog I've ever been around. You love to be right near me or your dad, sometimes laying on our feet or curled up on our laps. You get into things and are disciplined, but being in trouble doesn't faze you. You are destructive, but we have learned to channel that behavior, allowing you to chew cardboard and junk mail while we watch and laugh at how excited you get. You love your big sis and she loves you, allowing you and only you to take her tennis ball right out of her mouth so you can play with it, of course. You are the sweetest and most loving dog ever and I am so glad you came into our lives when you did.

Love,

Me

On Politics and Polyurethane

If I keep blinking at you and looking confused, it's not you. I promise. It's just my brain going numb from either breathing the obnoxious fumes of polyurethane floor coating or reading and/or listening to the obnoxious mudslinging and finger pointing of each of our major political parties.

The good news: The floor is almost finished! It only needs a good sanding and the application of the final coat of polyurethane.

The bad news: If the fumes don't render all living things in my household brain dead, the continuing political coverage probably will. No matter what I do to try and avoid reading or talking about politics, it's pretty much inescapable at this point. I really wish November would hurry on up. I'll be voting for the lesser of two evils, so I could care less about all of the politicking and prefer to just get it over with already.

On that note, Dave came home last night to tell me that UFO's had been spotted over the Atlanta airport. Here's a link to a video recorded by a guy who saw them while at Six Flags with his family.

According to Dave, several FAA employees were talking about the incident and how the crafts were sending communication about a mothership returning on October 15 to collect the human race and redistribute us to a more hospitable environment because the earth had become unstable. (I guess they've also been watching the political coverage and have decided to intervene?) I'm glad the aliens are waiting until after my trip to Florida!

Excitement

I am so excited for my friend bluesleepy, I can hardly stand it! She had a baby girl early this morning and that has just made my day. Her new baby is beautiful and so is my friend and I just couldn't be happier for her family. Congrats, K!

I am also breathing a sigh of relief for my family members living in the Florida panhandle. It looks like hurricane Ike will be heading elsewhere.

This busy hurricane season is beginning to worry me a bit. You see, I am supposed to be spending a lovely weekend on the sugar white beaches of the emerald coast of Florida with seven of my really good friends. We have plans to go boating, lay out by the gulf, swim and see the wonderful sites that Destin has to offer. A hurricane will make all of these things a little difficult to do. Though there is always the possibility of a hurricane party. Wonder how everybody would feel about that?

Uneasy like Sunday morning.

1. The floor is stained and will be sealed tomorrow, I hope. I am tired of home improvement projects and cannot wait until we can take a break already. Also, I have learned that no project that Dave starts stays within budget. Did you know that polyurethane floor sealant costs $40 per gallon? I didn't either and by the time I picked myself up off the floor and recovered from that dead faint, Dave had already walked away and started cleaning up the rented sander to turn in tomorrow morning. Dave and his improvement projects are going to be the death of me yet. That brings me to...

2. Dave and I have been fighting today. About money. And I am sick and tired of it because it is literally the same fight we always have. I feel like I should say, "wait a minute; let me go find my script." After a lot of yelling, we are at an impasse. Until the next time, that is.

3. My friend, who I was all ready to give another chance after she about blew off our relationship, did not come to visit this weekend like she said she was going to. She did not call or email to say she was or was not coming, therefore I am guessing that she has made the choice I previously described as difficult much easier for me. I wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors as I wash my hands of her. Hopefully, she will eventually learn to treat people a little better.

4. I've been busy today with chores. I did the laundry, washed both dogs, cleaned and replaced the screens on all of our windows, straightened the house, and cooked dinner. For the rest of the day day I plan to do nothing more than read a book and drink some of my newly acquired Black Box wine that is both delicious and contains a convenient spout for easier dispensing. It is also vacuum sealed, so will last up to 4 weeks...though I will most likely have consumed it all by then, if my dealings with Dave continue to be as stressful as they were today.

5. I'm going to go and drink more wine now as I count down the minutes until bed time. I sure hope that next week is a lot easier on me than this one has been.

A man and his dog

Dave and Prue are busy working on the floor today. The sanding is almost done and that will leave staining and sealing and then it will be finished. And none too soon, since there is a major hurricane heading toward the Gulf of Mexico and, quite possibly, the panhandle of Florida where a lot of my family lives. We may need to move out of the spare bedroom sooner than we thought. I am hoping to be able to talk my mom and grandmother into coming up here if Hurricane Ike looks like it will be targeting the panhandle and we'll need all the spare room we can get.

So far, today has been busy. We went to Lowe's to rent a sander early this morning only to get it home and have it not work. Figures. So we took it back, along with about $60 worth of sandpaper. Dave actually had to explain that the sander did not work and ask for his money back to the same clerk that had rented it to him. I guess she just assumed that he had sanded his floor really really fast and that he was turning it back in. After an hour. It made me miss those little mom and pop hardware stores where you actually got to talk to someone who knew what they were talking about and also where you could count on good customer service. At Lowe's, you pretty much have to fight for your rights as a customer and service is usually mediocre at best.

So, after returning the broken sander to Lowe's, we went to a privately owned tool rental place where we got really great customer service. And the rental was not only cheaper, but we get to keep it thru Monday even though we are technically renting it for one day because this location is closed on Sundays. We will definitely be renting from there again in the future and I will make it my mission to get Dave to shop at smaller, privately owned hardware stores and not at corporate chains. If we can find any near our house, that is. They seem to be a dying breed and that makes me really sad for the future of this country.

Bummed

Today has not been a good day. Between putting out fires at work and dealing with a not-so-pleasant trek to the DMV to take - oh, no sorry, make that fail - the motorcycle driving test, this day is kicking my butt.

Actually, this whole week could use a do-over. All I can say is, thank God it's Friday. And that it's 4:36, which means I get to leave work in 9 minutes. I plan to head straight home and indulge in a good sulk and a big bowl of Oreo cookies n cream ice cream.

When the choice is unclear

I arrived at work today and was taking my time "warming up my computer" as L and I like to call it - translation: catching up on personal emails, blogs, etc. - when I came across an email from a friend that I used to be very close with. Until one day I wasn't. You see, we had planned a trip together with a couple of our mutual girlfriends and this trip was supposed to be a girls weekend away from it all. This particular friend tried to ruin the weekend by turning it into an event that focused all on her. What she wanted to so. Who she wanted to be with. Where she wanted to go, without any consideration for the rest of us. When the three of us refused to play by her rules, she turned on us, accusing us of ganging up on her. And she said hurtful things directed toward me, as her closest friend, that really hurt me and caused a very large breach in our friendship.

I actually went through a period where I grieved for her. I felt so betrayed and "left behind" almost as if she had died. And then I forgave her and the hurt she caused and I've moved on. I've heard from her on and off since then, but just superficial emails under the guise of just catching up. Until today's email. Seems she wants to come and visit. And I'm not really sure how I feel about that. Ever since that incident a year ago, I feel as if I don't really know this particular person anymore. She displayed a side of herself that, up until then, I had been unaware of. She turned into a Mr. Hyde character right in front of my eyes and it really surprised me. And I hate surprises.

Now I am faced with a decision. Do I want this person back in my life? Usually the answer would be so easy for me, and it would be NO. I have always prided myself on my ability to walk away from hurtful people; I have a great deal of practice protecting myself from being hurt. And it would be so easy to walk away this time, too. But a part of me still misses her - the her I knew before I met Mr. Hyde - and all of the fun we used to have.

So I'm going to give it another go. And hope her Mr. Hyde routine was just a momentary lapse in judgment and that we can go right back to where we left off. She wants to come and visit this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

Isn't it ironic.

We had a busy holiday weekend and alls I can say is, I'm glad we had Monday off or I may not have made it.

Friday I had to work, but Dave had the day off. Since my friend Jill and her family were driving up from Jacksonville, I asked Dave if he wouldn't mind cleaning up the house a bit before their arrival around the time I was to get home from work. He mentioned plans to work on a throwing implement for his Scottish Games Competition on Saturday, but said he'd straighten later. Guess what that translated to? When I walked in at 5, the only room that had been straightened was the garage...which, I guess according to any man, is the most important room in the house. I could have throttled Dave, but I didn't have time, since I got to speed clean after calling Jill and finding out they were 15 minutes from our house. I have never cleaned that fast in my life and I hope I never have to again. And you better believe Dave helped.

We went to dinner with Jill and her husband and 2 year-old daughter and they left to continue their trip to the north end of Atlanta to visit family. I couldn't offer them the spare room unfortunately since Dave and I were using it while finishing the floor in the master bedroom. But I did offer to keep their dog for them and Hershey is so well behaved, we barely knew she was there. Except for the times when my dog Prue kept trying to instigate a fight with Hershey.

On Saturday, Dave and I headed up to the north Georgia mountains for the Appalachian Celtic Festival and Highland Games. He competed with the more advanced group this time while I kept score for the group he used to compete with. I didn't really get to watch him, but I know he got 5th place out of 7. Not bad, considering he was competing against two of the top ranked guys in the nation. I had fun keeping score for a judge who was from Scotland. Man, those accents are sexy!

We didn't get home until late on Saturday and luckily, I did not have to call Jill and tell her my dog had killed her dog. Prue and Hershey seemed to have worked out their differences and become best friends in our absence. Weirdos. We made plans to get together with Jill and her family the next day, along with a friend of mine who is a single mother to a 2 year-old daughter. We ended up going to an art festival at Grant Park in downtown Atlanta and had a great time watching the kids wear themselves out.

On Monday I did nothing in my attempt to recover from all of the activity of the previous couple of days. I love days like that where you have no where to go and can just relax. Dave was bored and kept complaining about it, so I finally hinted to him that the lawn needed mowed so that kept him occupied for a while.

I really do not understand people who complain about being bored. I can always find something to keep me occupied, whether I am reading a book, watching tv, playing on the computer or even daydreaming. Dave drives me crazy with his constant need to be entertained and his inability to sit still for longer than a few minutes at a time.

Late Monday afternoon, Jill and her family came to pick up Hershey and they headed back to Jacksonville. I still think it's ironic that she has kept planning to visit and them putting it off for the three years we've been here, but the few weeks we decide to do major renovations to our bedroom, she finalizes her plans. Guess that's just the way things work sometimes.

Oh, and another funny irony...a car cut us off on the interstate as we were heading to dinner the other night. The vanity plate read: Godlike. The Universe sure has a warped sense of humor!

I did have to call my mom on Monday morning as hurricane Gustav was hitting the gulf coast of Louisianna. A tornado touched down 6 miles from where she lives, but she was still asleep and didn't even know about it! I woke her up and insisted she stay informed about what was going on. Geez, you'd think that a hurricane hitting near you would cause a little bit of concern, but I guess she is used to them. It's so much harder for me to watch all the action on tv now instead of riding it out with those that I love. I hate living so far away from my hometown, especially during hurricane season.

Fay, you are beginning to smell.

When I moved from the panhandle of Florida to Georgia, I figured I would be done with tropically classified storms. And this has been true for the last 3 and a half years I've been here. Until this week, when Fay decided to make an appearance. She is currently sitting on top of north Georgia, and though we really needed rain, it looks like we may get flooding with it. Fay, Fay, go away - you have overextended your stay.

All of this rain is doing two things for which I am not pleased.

1) Fay is making my head hurt. I have nutty sinuses and low-pressure systems make my head feel like it is going to either explode or fall off of my neck.

2) Fay is forcing me to pay more to get to work that I would like. I am driving my SUV instead of my bike, and I am going to need to fill up soon and oh my god that's painful. I am a cheap-skate at heart and do not like paying over $100 for anything, let alone a tank of gas. Man, it's not like I can wear it or show it off or anything.

In other news, Dave is installing wood flooring in our bedroom. I am excited about this because the carpet in there was nasty when we bought the house and has gotten even nastier since. Our dogs sleep in our bedroom with us at night and they are a huge source of dirt and hair and love to wrestle. Berber carpet cannot withstand two energetic labs, especially the cheap stuff the previous owners installed in the master bedroom. So now we will have oak floors and hopefully, my allergies will thank me...err, thank Dave, rather, since he is the one doing all of the work.

The downside of this project is the mess it is making of the rest of our house. We have moved into our guest room and all of the furniture and crap from our bedroom has been strategically placed around the rest of the house. It is currently looking a little cluttered around Casa de Chelle, though the cats are loving all of the new hiding spots that have been created. The other downside: going from sharing a king size bed to a full. Have you seen Dave? He fills a full sized bed by himself, so needless to say, I am awakened several times a night by elbow jabs and cover thievery, oh, and the snoring! Have I told you about the ear plugs I keep stored in my pillow case? I have had to use them only once since we moved rooms, but thank you baby jesus that we even had any, because there are times when Dave sounds like a freight train and it's either ear plugs or strangulation and I would much prefer to keep him around to continue with the home improvement projects and to do all of the heavy lifting. I cannot wait until this project is complete and we can move back into the master bedroom and back into our own sleeping zip codes.

Feeding time at the Zoo, or Why my house is always hairy

Part One:


Part Two:

Sneaky

I like to capture pictures of my cats with the cell phone, because they are often not cooperative when I try to take a picture with the digital. Here are my favorites:

Gavin:


Leo:


Colin:


Man, I love these furry furry faces so much.

Careful, she tends to wander

I have finally gotten a chance to breathe at work, so I have time to update. L has not been feeling well lately - her wisdom teeth are really bothering her - so I've been carrying the department for the past couple of weeks. She gets them out on Saturday, so hopefully things will be back to normal next week.

My little bro had a birthday yesterday, and I forgot to call him. I don't think he'll be upset, but I'm going to call him as soon as I get home tonight. I have written this on my hand in red Sharpie marker so I will not forget again.

And now, a funny story:

When I was very young, I had the bad habit of wandering away from my mom in stores. I was so short, that in order to locate her, I would look for strollers, because she would usually be pushing my brother around while browsing. On more than on occasion, I would latch on to the nearest stroller, eventually looking up to realize that the woman pushing the stroller was not my mom. So off I'd go to find her.

Well, I have not outgrown this bad habit, as I proved while grocery shopping with Dave the other day. He was pushing the cart and picking out green peppers right next to me, while I was browsing the bagged salad choices. My decision being made, I placed the lettuce mixture into the cart. And heard a "Hi," causing me to look up at Dave. Only it wasn't Dave. Or the cart he had been pushing. I made my apologies, grabbed my salad and scurried off to find Dave. Mortifying! I finally located Dave and told him what had happened and he laughed and asked if he needed to hold my hand so I wouldn't get lost or go home with the wrong guy. hahaha. My new tag-line: Keep an eye on that one, she wanders.

*****

We took all five animals to my Mom's house over the 4th of July holiday. I am impressed with how well-behaved everyone was while in the car for over 5 hours. Gavin and Leo were a little impatient with one another a couple of times, and Colin got carsick on the way down to mom's, but that was it for problems. I think it helped that they were all in carriers: three cats in a medium-sized crate and two dogs in their big crate.

I was able to visit with family I have not seen in a while. It's always a little strange because I do not have much in common with the majority of my family. I do not think we would associate with one another if we weren't related. Plus, living so far away and not seeing them often always makes it awkward when we do get together. I am glad I got to see them, though.

We stayed home last weekend and tried to clean house a little bit. We hadn't done much of anything since Dave's parents left, so it was high-time to get our butts in gear. I will be doing the same tonight, since Mom will be here from Florida this weekend. She is flying out to California to visit Chris for a (slightly late) birthday celebration. This will be the first time that Mom has ever visited Chris and I think it will be good for both of them. Although, I really hope he cleans at least a little bit before she gets there.

Well, that's it for an update. Soon I will be sharing info about our garden and whether or not I passed the motorcycle driving test. Wish me luck!

I am in love with a robot

This one, as a matter of fact:


(© Disney/Pixar)

I saw Wall-E over the weekend and it was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I think the story was well done and the graphics were everything we've come to expect from Pixar and more. Wall-E is such an endearing character because he is so flawed and hopelessly romantic...wishing for more than his lonely existence on earth. Plus, look at that little robot face! What's not to love? Go see it. I promise you will enjoy it and it will be worth your ten dollar ticket and twelve dollar popcorn, candy and coke combo.

What else? Oh, it stormed last night. It hasn't stormed that hard since...well...oh, yeah, since I rode my motorcycle home on the day my in-laws were arriving from out-of-town. What was so neat about this storm, though, is that it was threatening all afternoon while Dave and I went and ran a few errands. Right when we pulled into the driveway, it started raining really hard. It waited until we were home to really get rough. We were already eating dinner when the lightning started, so we hurried to get done so we could watch the show. In Florida, we had severe thunderstorms all the time, but here in Georgia, they are rare. Mostly, it is just hot. And humid.

So the storm was short-lived and Dave and I watched it from the safety of our garage. Then, when it was all but over, the sky turned this amazing orange color (due to the setting sun) and there was a rainbow and also the departing lightning. So I grabbed my camera and captured this:


(Click here to see the lightning in action.)

A few random things...

I have been busy, internet, and I've been neglectful in my blog updating. But yesterday Kaylee had another seizure. She is fine; she snapped right out of it after a few minutes, just like the last time. I remembered that I recorded the first two instances on this here little blog, so I figured I'll just use my blog to keep track of her seizures from here on out.

Okay, now that the bad news is over with...here are five fun things I have been up to:

1. I finally saw Sex in the City and I'll admit, it was pretty good. A lot better than I expected it to be, since the reviews have been so mixed. I actually enjoyed the story and felt that the writer(s) did a good job of keeping it real. My only complaint is how much of a bad guy they made Miranda, but whatever. It really doesn't bother me that much. Dave went to it with me, but only because he did something that I could have held over his head for a very long time and he used this movie as a way to make me promise never to mention the incident again. So, I will make good on my promise and not even mention what he did here. But I wish I could because it was golden blogging material!

2. I have now seen all of the Bourne movies and I like them. The Bourne Ultimatum is my favorite. Are they coming out with a fourth one? I really hope they are. I love me some Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. Or David Webb. Or whoever he wants to be, really.

3. I have read three books in the past week or so and I am currently working on Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. So far so good! The one I just finished was the fourth book in Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series. I thin kit is called Odd Hours. Originally, I tried to check it out at my local library, but they take forever to get new books. The library man said a lot of people had been asking about that one, so I decided to donate it when I was done reading it. I'm so glad I did, but I wish they had counted it toward my late fees.

4. I have become something of a bad ass at Assassins Creed. I am not much of a gamer, but Chris bought me this game a while back and I just never made the time to play it. So now that gas costs a fortune and I can't afford to go anywhere or do anything fun that requires spending money, I am searching for entertainment closer to home. And I have discovered that playing video games is a cheap thrill. And so is assassinating people, apparently.

5. I am now riding the motorcycle to and from work every day. And I rode it to the library. I am getting to the point where I am actually enjoying riding and am no longer fearing for my life every time I gear up. Of course, it has been in the 90's around here lately, so that kind of takes some of the fun out of it. Motorcycle gear is hot. (Haha, I typed hott, at first. I guess it's that, too.) I just keep telling myself, 70 mpg!

Sometimes, I just don't know. And that's okay by me.

The in-laws are officially gone and now I want to just curl up somewhere soft and warm and go to sleep for about a week. Like a cat. I am so tired, but I did it to myself. I do not have any leave left, so I had to work while our company was here and I stayed up late visiting each night. YAWN.

The visit was nice, though I am always amazed at how differently Dave and I were raised. Dave's mother is very mothering, always wanting to know what is going on, hanging on every word, following him around. So completely devoted. This is completely opposite me and my mom and I just don't know what to think, sometimes. Things she did while she was here that my mom would never, in a million light-years, would do:
1. All of our laundry. She even washed the sheets from our bed yesterday.
2. She prepared dinner the first night she was here.
3. Dusted.
4. Made our bed every single day.
5. Walked into my room while I was changing, immediately after knocking, but without waiting for a reply.
6. Insisted on camera help.
7. Removed the teapot from the stove top every time we left the house. I would remind her that the teapot lives on the burner (turned off, of course) when she is not here, but she needed to put it elsewhere.
8. Went grocery shopping.
9. Packed lunches for our trip to Dave's games on Saturday.

Dave's dad is a lot more laid back and a lot less officious. He's quiet, an observer and a hard worker. He likes to stay busy busy busy and while he was here, he:
1. Helped Dave cut down trees. I think more than two, but less than five.
2. Planted even more stuff in our garden and flower boxes.
3. Burned leaves, brush, branches and logs from tree removal.
4. Burned our Pampas grass. "They will grow back even better. Like a phoenix."
5. Tilled our front island and removed the old pavers.
6. Helped Dave take the old refrigerator to the dump.
7. Moved my old futon mattress into one of the guest rooms, under the bed. We threw the frame away years ago, but I like the mattress and want to keep it for company or to use in a new frame someday.
8. Helped Dave with attic stuff.

Just typing all of this is making me tired. Okay, Yankees, you win. This southerner needs sleep!

he's always a winner to me

Originally uploaded by philoschelle

We went to another Scottish Games, this time in Blairesville, GA. The weather was rainy, then it wasn't. But it wasn't hot, and this was a good thing. Dave placed in every event, and finally claimed first place overall in his division. The best part: I got to take the winner home with me.

Tiny Victories

I've been riding the bike to work lately on days when it does not look like rain. I rode it on Monday, but since the forecast called for rain on Tuesday, I decided not to risk it and drove my gas guzzling suv, instead. And the day turned out sunny and gorgeous. On Wednesday, the forecast again called for rain. Dave needed the suv so he could pick up his parents from the airport after work. So I decided to chance it and rode the bike.

It started to look overcast about the time I was leaving, but the rain held off. I said a little prayer in my head for it to please just wait until I made it home. Not two seconds after that thought had left my brain did the sky open up. And it didn't just rain; it poured. It was storming so hard that Dave later told me his parents' flight was delayed because the weather conditions would not permit them to land safely. They spent 50 minutes circling the airport. That was the 50 minutes it took me to get home on the bike.

I made it safely, despite the lightning and fallen (or falling) tree branches. And despite the deer that ran in front of me out of nowhere. I had to stop at one point because the lane was closed due to a fallen power line and wait for a police officer to direct traffic (me) around it. I had stayed relatively dry up until that point because I was moving. Once I stopped, it was all over.

I didn't want to stop and wait it out because I knew my in-laws would be at the house soon. So I pressed on and finally made it home. The power was out, so I had to park and walk through the house to manually open the garage door. I didn't know how to do that, but now (thanks to Dave) I do.

In a way, I consider my experience to be a series of tiny victories. I was worried about being caught in a downpour...scared that I wouldn't be able to handle myself on a motorcycle. I feared falling on slick roads. I feared that the bike would malfunction. I feared that I would be drenched in the spray of oncoming cars and lose control. I feared the unknown. Now, I know better. And I can finally say that I've had an experienced on a motorcycle that Dave has yet to have had. And that makes me feel a tiny bit triumphant.

He's not heavy, he's my brother

Chris is safely back in California and my in-laws are in the air as I type this. I had so much fun with my brother and I wish he didn't live so far away.

He got here after midnight on a Tuesday and left on the earliest flight the following Wednesday. On his weekend, he decided to drive down to Florida to visit mom. I took a sick day and rode along with him. We only stayed a weekend and weekends go by so fast. We helped mom with a few chores around the house that she just can't do anymore. Like cutting down tree branches that were damaging her roof. Chris climbed up onto the roof in flip flops and shorts. I told him it was unsafe, but he never listens.

My older brother is becoming more of a recluse than ever. He only drove down from the city twice to see Chris. Only the first visit was any fun. The second, he wasn't feeling well and left soon after he arrived. On Chris's last night here, he didn't even make an effort at all. I feel uncharitable when I get so annoyed with him, but I don't understand how someone can not even try, always expecting everyone else to bend bend bend. I don't feel close to breaking, but I am tired of being so flexible.

I got to go on a bike ride with Chris while he was here. He gave me a few pointers and said I was doing really well for a beginner. I am glad Dave trusted Chris to ride his new bike. I think that was one of the highlights of Chris's trip. I know it was one of my favorite things.

I also put Chris to work during his visit. He came to eat lunch with me at work everyday, and on his last day, we did this:



Chris is a really good sport. I needed a photo for an ad for our manhole security product. The premise of the ad is keeping unauthorized personnel out of manholes. Chris offered to be the model (and the muscle) and we got a good photo for the ad. And we had a great time while doing it. Oh, the jokes that were flying around during this photo shoot!

I miss Chris and hope he moves close to me and Dave when he gets out of the Navy. He is mellow and fun and easy to be around. It's always hard to watch him leave, especially when he is so unhappy in the Navy and disappointed with where he lives. Only one more year. I hope he can hang on that long.

I'm looking forward to the next group of visitors. The house has been cleaned, the dogs bathed, the garage straightened, so I think we are ready. Now, if only I had about a day or two to catch up on my sleep!

Misplaced

You haven't seen my May, have you? I seem to have misplaced it because it cannot possibly be June already. Can it? Damn.

Why is it that the older you get, the faster time gets away from you? When I was a kid, I remember days just dragging by, especially school days. And even in the summer time, the days felt endless. My brothers and I would head outside to play not long after the sun had made its appearance and we'd only go back inside for meals until the sun went to bed for the day. Now that I am older, I feel like time is just slipping away and I've done nothing to try and capture it.

So, it's June. Day two, to be precise, and this month is already off to a busy start. My house has decided to become a bed and breakfast for the month. My bigger-than-me little brother will be here Tuesday night. He's having a rough time of it in these last few months of his naval career. For some reason, his Chief is really out to get him and he's trying to hang on until he's fulfilled his obligation. I think he's hanging on by a thread at this point, so I'm hoping that this visit will help lower his stress level a little. I want him to know that it's okay to escape every once in a while and sometimes, the very best escape comes from being surrounded by those who love you, no matter what.

Chris leaves on the 10th and my in-laws get here on the 11th. They are staying until the 17th. That leaves the second half of the month wide open for potential guests of the Philoschelle Bed & Breakfast. Any takers?

Visitors also mean that I get to clean, which I will admit I have been slacking on lately. I would much rather hang out with friends or read a good book or watch a movie than dust and vacuum. This weekend was perfect for cleaning, though; Dave had to work evenings and I had no plans. So I vacuumed and dusted and put away a lot of clutter and even caught up on laundry. Tonight I will clean bathrooms and wash the sheets on the guest bed and maybe mop the floor in the kitchen, though I am hesitant to go too crazy in the cleaning of the kitchen since our refrigerator is on the fritz and Dave keeps dragging it out of its nook to mess with it. I think we just need to bite the bullet and buy a new one, but Dave wants to try and fix it first. We are on Try #2 and it doesn't seem to be working any better. The fridge was bought in '94, so I think it's had a good life. Ima give Dave one more chance because I'm really beginning to miss having a freezer. And ice! I really miss you, Ice.

I have been at work for an hour now, and have done nothing productive. So I'd better get to it.

One month later

Oh, hello. You're still here? I know, I've been a slacker and have not updated for almost a month. But only because I've been busy doing fun things!



I went to Florida twice - once for Mom's birthday and once for a beach weekend with friends. Mom's birthday was on the 27th and I rode down with my older bro to visit with her and to catch some much needed rays on the beach. I was also able to swing by and visit with my dad's parents on the way back to Atlanta. I really should email / call them more often; they are such cool cats and we had a blast and did not want to leave. Their house is like a vacuum. You feel safe and loved and well-fed when you are there and time just seems to slow down. But Time is a bitch and doesn't stop for anybody, so we eventually had to say our goodbyes and head home.

The second visit was on Mother's Day weekend, though I didn't get a chance to hang out with mom. I made it up to her, though, with really great seats at an Eagles concert in Alpharetta the following weekend.

Jessica's friend Rebecca had rented a beach house in South Walton and we all shared the expenses. It was a lot of fun, but it was one of those experiences that I do not wish to repeat. Rebecca is a very selfish person who wants to be the constant center of attention and I do not plan to hang out with her ever again. I hate to sound harsh, but I do not have time in my life for people of her toxicity. And that's that. I will, however, be hanging out with Jessica as much as possible in the future because she is such a strong, beautiful, non-judgmental person and I think I am a little bit in love with her. I also found out that she rides a bike similar to mine, so we can start going on rides together. Someday. When we aren't so busy.

Mom arrived on Wednesday and we went to our concert on Wednesday night. She stayed the weekend and we did a lot of nothing which is just how I like it! Saturday we walked around a local arts festival for about twenty minutes until we got too hot and tired and wanted to leave. Then we went home and watched Juno and I have to say, it is a really great movie and you should go watch it right now if you haven't yet.

Sunday, I did not feel so good because of a newcomer in my life named Allergies. I hate you, Allergies, and think you should take a long walk off a short pier. I was miserable until I took some drugs and then I ended up feeling loopy and had to go lay down. I woke up with two cats fighting over the spot in bed next to me, so I got up and tried to do chores while waiting for mom to call saying she got home safely. Sunday night was dinner with dad and my stepmother. A weird experience that becomes even more so when you are souped up on antihistamines.

Here is a funny picture I took just for you!



Lesson: Do not leave your car parked in Home Depot's parking lot for very long, or they might prepare it for shipping!

An update

There has been so much excitement around here lately, I'm not sure where to start. So I will make a list:

1) Gavin is better. He tested negative for all sorts of nasty-sounding things and after two enimas, three separate overnight stays at two separate veterinary clinics, and our emptying of our wallets over six hundred dollars, he has finally pooped, has stopped throwing up, and is back to treating us like his royal majesty's personal servants.

2) I went to Savannah over the weekend. Dave went to Huntersville, NC. Both trips were for fun. He was participating in yet another Scottish Highland Athletic Competition and I was ghost hunting, drinking, and soaking up the sunshine. Our lovely, though a bit nosy, across the street neighbors fed the dogs and have offered to do so in the future for our little over-nighters. This is a really good thing when you own two labs that are not easily transported everywhere you would like to go.

3) I have learned that I am not a person who is sensitive to paranormal energy. No spirits tried to communicate with me and I did not get to witness even an unexplained noise or movement. Ghosts, if you want to talk to me, better not be subtle!

4) I miss the ocean! We visited Tybee Island before leaving for home on Sunday and I highly recommend it as a place to visit if you ever want to visit an East Coast beach.

5) Do not ever stay at the Savannah River Inn. It is ghetto. The "lobby" is a desk in what used to be a hotel room. And the person manning said desk is rude. I am happy that Hotwire refunded my money and I was able to stay at a much nicer hotel in the historic district.

6) Sunday evening I was productive! I cleaned litter boxes. I did laundry. I washed dishes. And then I dropped dead from exhaustion.

7) Today is Tuesday and I rode the bike to work today for the first time since purchasing her at the beginning of last month. And just in time, too. Gas prices ain't lookin' so good.

The Right Regrets

Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.
— Arthur Miller

Gavin is back at the vet this morning. But it is a NEW vet, who is already proving to be way more competent than the one I've been taking my animals to for almost three years.

The entire time I've been going to the old vet, I have had this nagging feeling that something didn't feel quite right. I attributed this feeling to moving to Atlanta and finding a vet to replace the awesome one I had back in Florida. I figured I was experiencing growing pains and that I'd get used to the new place and the nagging feelings would disappear. Well, I was wrong and Gavin's case has proved that I should always listen to that little voice that is telling me "something's not right."

Yesterday, Gavin's symptoms had returned with a vengeance, so I decided to take him back to the vet...the old vet...because I figured they had already done a bunch of tests and they were close to the house and on the way to work, etc. I dropped him off and went to work and waited for the vet to call with a new prognosis. When the call came, the first words out of the vet's mouth were, "Gavin's not very happy today. He won't let us touch him so we'll have to sedate him in order to re-examine him." This immediately put me on the defensive because Gavin is usually a very sweet and mellow cat. So if his dander is up, it's for a good reason. I told the vet not to do anything until I consulted with Dave. Then I called another clinic and made Gavin an appointment for later that day.

I took the rest of the day off of work so I could ferry Gavin from the old vet to the new vet. I called the old vet and told them I was picking him up and requested them to fax his records over to the new vet. I was surprised that they did without any argument. Then I picked him up and we spent a lovely two hours at home, calming down from the traumatic experience, before heading to our new appointment.

The new clinic was so much better. It was cleaner. The staff was more professional. The vet and the tech actually took time to let Gavin get to know them, petting him and talking to him before starting the exam. And he was fine; though he was a little bit "argumentative," he didn't try to bite or claw anyone - no sedation required.

The verdict as of right now is that he is constipated. He spent the night so that they could give him an enima and then x-ray him again this morning. I am relieved that it turned out to be something so simple and easily treated. And I am also so angry at the old vet that I could just punch him in the face and I am not an aggressive person at all. I spent two-hundred and sixty dollars last week for them to run all sorts of unnecessary tests that served no purpose in getting him well. I had gotten so worked up over their incompetence, that I felt ill yesterday. They will want to sedate me if I ever step into that office again.

I plan on writing a letter, asking for a refund, especially since I asked the old vet, point blank, if his symptoms could be a result of constipation and he assured me that that couldn't possibly be what was making him throw up. If nothing else, I have at least learned my lesson when it comes to listening to my intuition and trusting my instincts. I was beginning to believe I wouldn't be a good mother someday and that if I couldn't even take care of a cat, how was I ever going to handle kids, blah blah, woe is me. But now I know better.

Baby steps

Thanks for the kind comments on my last post. Gavin is back to normal, with a slightly improved disposition. I think the two days away made him realize just how good he's got it!

*****

Last night, Dave and I took the bikes to dinner. We went to our favorite sushi place that's about 5 miles away from our house. Dave let me lead, and we made it there and back with out any mishaps on my part. And I even had to ride over railroad tracks and a large puddle of water on the road. We definitely weren't traveling as fast as I'm sure Dave would have liked, but he is being patient with me as I take baby steps toward mastering this motorcycle. And I am so happy with the progress I am making! I am no longer apprehensive about the twist throttle or the shifting and can now concentrate a little more on how I should be riding. When to lean and how far when turning. How to sit more comfortably. And soon I may just be able to wave back at the other bikers we pass.

Bikers have a special "wave" that they give other bikers when they pass each other, much like boaters wave at other boaters. When passing another boat, you just give a friendly wave, but on a bike, you are supposed to take whatever hand is closest to the other rider, make the peace sign, and hold you hand down by your side, fingers pointed toward the ground. I have not been able to do this yet, because I usually have a death-grip on the handlebars. But I'll get there, fellow bikers, just give me time.

And the cat came back

So Gavin has been sick. He threw up his dinner on Sunday night and I didn't think anything of it, except, "Well, that's what happens when we eat so fast." Monday morning, he wouldn't touch his food, which is very un-Gavin-like. Then he threw up and there was a little bit of blood in it. So to the vet, he went.

Dave took him, since he's on nights and didn't have to be at work until 2. I went on to work. Now, I like my vet and I love my husband, but I don't think they are the best "team" when it comes to handling a crisis with one of the pets. The vet, oh how he loves to jump to conclusions, or present you with the worst possible scenario. Combined with Dave's ability to dramatize, and they both were sure that Gavin was dying from Feline Leukemia.

After I had calmed Dave down, I decided to take over the coordination of Gavin's treatment, so I called the vet. And explained how Gavin is an inside cat and that there is no way he could have contracted leukemia. I went ahead and authorized the tests, and of course, they came back negative. Gavin's blood sugar, enzymes and everything else were also normal. But they wanted to keep him overnight for observation. I went to visit him after work, and though he was a little out of it, he seemed pretty happy to see me.

So yesterday, he was fine. No more throwing up. So they sent him home with an antibiotic and some special canned food that I paid a lot of money for and that he refuses to eat. Though I don't blame him, considering how it smells.

The verdict? They still don't know what was wrong with him. He either ate something that was toxic or had the beginnings of a bacterial infection in his GI tract. He did not want to eat last night, but he finally started picking at his food again this morning, so things are looking up. And now I am questioning whether or not Dave and I are really ready for kids.

Make a difference

Monday and back to work. My weekend was quiet. I didn't do much of anything of Saturday, considering it rained all day and Dave had to work. It was really quite lovely. Sunday L & I went to the Dogwood Festival, which was an entertaining way to spend the day. We perused the artwork, none of which I could afford, and I took a few photos. I did not eat a chocolate dipped banana, unfortunately, though it was tempting.

Once the festival became a little too crowded for comfort, we did a little shopping at the mall and stopped to get a bite and a drink at The Bucket Shop. I love sitting outside to eat. Especially when I am sipping a tasty beverage.

We took MARTA, which is Atlanta's version of a subway, and I am so glad we did because, in addition to saving the environment, we saved ourselves a lot of grief over traffic and parking! And the exercise was just another benefit. On our way back to the station, we passed a beautiful old building that had been transformed into condos and they were having an open house. We stopped in to do a little (legal) ogling. I wanted to move in, but at 850 K it was a little out of my price range.

All-in-all, I had a lovely weekend and I hope you did too!

Foolishly fun

Today is Tuesday, It is also the first day of April and The Day of the Prank. I've never been a big prankster and I'm rarely the one on whom pranks are pulled. I guess I'm not very gullible; or maybe it's that I tend to take a swing at people who try and trick me.

This past weekend was Dave's first Scottish Athletic competition of the year, the Mint Hill Scottish Games. He came in second overall, winning first place in the Caber toss, the 56# weight for height and the 28# weight for distance. I went for moral support and I froze my butt off. I spent a good portion of the time sitting in the car, reading my book, so there are very few pictures. Plus, it rained on and off all day. Here are someone else's pictures if you are interested: http://highlandgames.us/2008Pages/08MintHill.htm.

I have decided that I am not going to attend any more of Dave's games, unless, of course, friends and family are present. It really is a very manly sport and there is a great deal of camaraderie between the players and I end up feeling like I am intruding when I try to hang out around Dave. So this will be his "man time" and I will either travel with him and go do my own thing in whatever city we are in, or I will stay home and babysit the pets.

I drove us home Saturday night, through the rain and it was so lovely to be home and in my own bed again. Sunday was a lazy day, until dinner. We met my Dad and his family, and my aunt and her family at our favorite sushi restaurant. Then my aunt et al came over to my house for coffee and to visit a little longer. My cousin is looking at colleges and was here from Jacksonville to tour Georgia Tech, though I am trying to convince her that Florida would be a MUCH better choice.

This week, Dave is on nights, so it will be quiet for me at the house, which is perfect. I've been needing some me time. I left my book at work today, which is a bummer, but maybe I should watch a movie instead. I guess I could always start another one, even though it feels like cheating on the first one.

I'm am currently being stared at by a few pairs of beady eyes. I think the cats are trying to telepathically tell me that it is time to be fed.

Things that make me happy:
* I am switching my company's web hosting to a new company because our current company needs to learn the art of customer service.
* A good friend is sending me a mixed cd and I cannot wait to get it.
* I unexpectedly received pretty magnets in the mail from another friend yesterday and I love them! Totally made my day.
* Text messages from Catiecake.
* New parts for a broken motorcycle were waiting on my front porch today. My mechanic (Dave) should have all repairs completed by this weekend. Yay!
* 10 Cakes

1 Lap + Lots of Hair = Unconditional Love

One of Colin's favorite things is to jump on my lap and insist on being petted when I am sitting at the computer. Most of the time, it is when I am trying to type something. Today, I was only catching up on reading some blogs and so I could give him a little bit of the attention he was craving.

I love these spontaneous moments. Colin is not a cuddly cat the majority of the time and I guess that's what makes moments like these so special. My camera happened to be on the desk in front of me, so I decided to try and capture the sweetness. I was a little worried about the low light, but the light from the monitor was just enough.

I love the way a little thing like a cat cuddle can completely brighten the day.

Happy Love Thursday.

Happy Anniversary, Hon

Dear Dave,

I can't believe it's been three years already. Where did the time go? Three years ago today, I was getting ready to climb a mountain in a long white dress and white Nike's so we could pledge ourselves to one another in front of all of our family and close friends. And now, three years later, we are still going strong. Amazing, huh? I think so. I feel so lucky to have met you and I am grateful that you are such a huge part of my life. I know for a fact that the ride has gotten a lot more interesting and fun with you right here beside me. And what a wild ride it's been!

In the last three years, we have:

1) Learned how to pick our battles. Though I can't say we never fight, I think we have learned to fight graciously and fairly. We are comfortable enough with each other that we seldom hold anything back and we never hold a grudge. Or go to bed mad. I think it's because we usually forget what the argument was about five minutes after having it.

2) Learned that humor - the ability to laugh at ourselves and each other - is one of the necessary components of our relationship. Since you have come into my life, I have laughed more than I ever thought possible. You are such a joker and I love that about you. I love our shared jokes, the ones that no one else gets but us. And I love that you have ended arguments by forcing me to clear the room to avoid the stench emanating from your rear-end. Dude, that shit STINKS.

3) Learned how to be comfortable with one another. And that comfortable doesn't necessarily mean boring.

4) Learned how to work as a team. We've tiled together. We've painted together. We've learned how to ride motorcycles together. We clean house together. We take turns feeding the animals. I love that we have learned to share the load...to help each other shoulder the burdens that are a part of life. I can't wait to have children with you because I know we will do well raising them as a team.

5) Discovered that it's okay to need a little bit of time apart. We have our own interests, separate from us, and I think that is awesome. And you are awesome because you know that sometimes, I need my space. And I love you so much for that.

Oh, there is so much more we have learned and done together and I know there is more to come. And I can't wait to see what the future brings. I love you, hon. Thank you for being you, the light of my life.

Love,

Chelle

It's all good

Happy Easter, everyone! Or Day-After-Easter, as the case may be. It has been a busy weekend and the good news is it isn't over yet. I am taking a mental health day (otherwise known as a sick day off from work when you are feeling perfectly fine) and the day is just full of endless possibilities. I think I'll do a little gardening and let my otherwise indoor cats run around outside for a little while. Dave is also home, so we are going to go register the motorcycles and maybe have a nice lunch together. I love three-day weekends, and I just don't get them anymore with this current job.

So, let me fill you in on everything that has happened in the last few days!

1) I got to leave 40 whole minutes early on Friday so I could get a jump-start on my Easter weekend. Don't I work for a great company?! I came home and immediately practiced on the motorcycle all by myself for about an hour. My confidence has improved greatly and I am finally getting excited about going on an actual ride outside of the safety of my neighborhood.

2) We got up early on Saturday and packed up a bunch of Dave's tools and a wheelbarrow to go help with the Cabbagetown Community Cleanup. We got to the spot where we were supposed to meet-up with the organizers, and it was absolute chaos. There was no parking, so cars were parking along the streets, turning two-ways into one-ways, but the traffic was still coming from both directions. We ended up stuck a couple of times, we parked somewhere we were told we weren't allowed to park, and Dave didn't want to park a distance from the meeting place and walk because he was afraid his tools would get stolen. We kept circling until Dave finally ran over a hole in the road that ended up having screws in it which pierced his rear tire in two locations. At that point, I made the executive decision to abandon our attempt at volunteering, so we could go take care of the tire situation instead. Oh well, we tried!

3) The remainder of Saturday was spent cleaning house. Boring, but necessary. I kicked the cats outside while I swept the floors and at one point, my house was completely empty of all animals. Well, except for Dave.

4) Sunday was Easter and Dave volunteered us for two things. The first was a motorcycle ride to Lake Jackson (thirty miles away!) with my dad and the second was Easter dinner with my dad and his family. The motorcycle ride was going so well! We made it to the lake in about 40 minutes and I really felt like I knew what I was doing. Until the ride back. For some reason, Dad was pushing speed around some of the turns and I ended up dumping the bike...again. But this time, going kinda fast. The good news is I am fine! Not even a bruise, which I find highly disappointing. The bad news is, Stella did not fare as well, and she will now require a new set of handlebars, a new headlight, and a new left rear shock. Also, she is going to require some cosmetic surgery at some point. But not until I know what I am doing. Poor Stella. She is not quite so shiny anymore. She's tough, though. I was able to ride her home, even though she was banged up pretty bad.

(On a side not: my guardian angel should get a bonus this month. She didn't even get the Easter holiday off.)

Dinner at dad's went well, though it is that polite type of chit-chat that is typical of any event that includes my stepmother and stepsister. I feel so different than those two that I really don't ever know what to say. And my dad just sits there, letting them dominate the conversation. He is a lot more fun without them around. I remarked to Dave after dinner, that he would really have made a better big brother than a father. He is not very paternal. He acts like he has something to prove, like a big brother. He was driving too fast around that curve and I guess he didn't realize that stupid me was trying to keep up. He kept saying it was his fault I fell, and I kept saying, "no, it wasn't," but a tiny bit of me thinks that "yes, yes it was" since I had never been out of the neighborhood on a ride before today. I keep having to remind myself that I am Inexperienced. Obviously, I have to remind my dad, as well.

I just had a cat (Colin) crawl into my lap, so there goes typing. And, it is time to find something to eat.

Up in the air

This weekend is Easter. And Dave and I have no plans to do anything other than just spend time together. We may ride bikes, though I really wish we could find somewhere nearby where there is little to no traffic. I am getting better, but I have a long way to go until I am comfortable riding on my own.

Remember those tornadoes that hit downtown Atlanta last weekend? We were very lucky that they did not affect us at all, but they hit pretty close to us, about twenty miles north of our house, to be exact. This weekend several of the areas that were hit are staging community clean-ups. I would like to volunteer Dave and myself for the Cabbagetown Community Clean-up this Saturday. I need to discuss it with him, but I think that would be the perfect way to celebrate the Easter holiday. Dave has a chainsaw and a truck (and the muscle) and I can pick up trash or do smallish repairs for someone who needs them.

Tomorrow is Good Friday and a holiday for a lot of people I know. Not for me, unfortunately. One of the disappointing things about this job is the lack of time-off. I get no other holidays off, other than Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and New Years Day. Dave, on the other hand, gets to count every holiday and even if he is scheduled to work on a holiday, he gets double the pay. Dave's family is getting together for Easter and I would love to suggest that we go. But a part of me wants to have a quiet weekend, since we've been so busy lately. We will be heading up to PA in August for the wedding of one of Dave's good friends, but that seems really far away right now. We go to my mom's house so often, that I start to feel a little guilty that we don't live closer to Dave's parents. Also, next weekend is a Scottish Games in Mint Hill, North Carolina, so we'll be traveling fools once again. I am looking forward to the traveling part, but all of the Scottish Games start to blend together after awhile. I am left to pretty much fend for myself while Dave is competing on the athletic field. The competitions take all day, so I only get to talk to him when they take a break. It would be a little easier if I had someone there to hang out with while he's competing. We will probably be taking the dogs, so at least I will have them to keep me busy!

I just reread what I have written and I think I am being a little bit whiny today. Hopefully, a walk in the beautiful sunshine during my lunch break will be just the pick-me-up I seem to be needing! And it's the first day of Spring. That alone makes me very happy.

In which I anger the locals

by displaying this on my vehicle:











The rivalry between Florida and Georgia is so intense, that now lawmakers are trying to take away my shiny, new UF tag:

House votes to stop out-of-state college plates

By BEN SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Published on: 02/21/08

Georgia House members dumped two things off their plates Thursday: Gators and Tigers.

In a 142 to 10 vote, the chamber voted to stop making out-of-state university mascot tags if neighboring states don't return the favor.

"Whatever is good for the goose is good for the gander," said state Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem), speaking with great earnestness on the matter.

Fleming was really talking about Bulldogs. He and the vast majority of his House colleagues think the citizens of the Bulldog nation living in South Carolina, Alabama and Florida, should get mascot tags of their own in those states.

After all, the state of Georgia offers Clemson and Auburn Tiger tags along with those for Florida alumni living in the Peach State.

The Gators fans' response to the House vote was essentially: Grow up.

"Now this is really a joke, isn't it?" said Martha Smith of Norcross. "I've never heard of anything so infantile in my entire life."

Smith, a Georgia Gator tag purchaser said she worked in the University of Florida's athletics department in the 1970s and has a son who attended the institution.

Under the bill, Smith won't have to give up her tag until it needs to be replaced. For Gator alumnus Greg Grillo of Alpharetta, that could be as early as August.

Grillo said he wouldn't be surprised if the Florida Legislature asked for some reciprocity from Georgia on another issue.

Said Grillo, "I heard the Florida Legislature told Georgia to pound salt unless they would allow for Sunday alcohol sales in Georgia."

As of right now, I can only keep my Gator plate until I need to renew in December. Georgia is just determined to continuously irritate me and this is only one more reason why I need to move somewhere else. That, and the law that bans alcohol sales on Sundays. Oh, Florida, how I miss you!

broken

I am still a little sore today from tiling this past weekend. The areas completed this time were the kitchen, hallway, laundry room and foyer. Oh, tiling, I am so over you!

We got a very late start back home Sunday, so I only got three hours of sleep before I had to be up for work on Monday morning. We are having a training class the first two days this week, so I could not take the day off. Plus, I do not have enough vacation days and want to save them for fun stuff, not sleeping. Dave did not have to work, so he was able to sleep in. Lucky bastard.

Last night after work, four of us gals from the office went to a local bar for drinks after work. Since it was St. Patrick's Day, the bar was packed. I drank two green beers in honor of the holiday and got to gossip about office politics. Yay! Our receptionist, B, had a few margaritas and got a teensy bit tipsy. So our drinks after work turned into dinner, which turned into dancing. L and I finally ordered coffee to help everyone sober up and we finally called it a night around 9. Which doesn't seem that late, but we needed to be back at the office at 8am. This morning, I got a call from B saying she wasn't going to be in to work because she thinks she may have broken her wrist. ACK! You see, B is 64 but last night she was partying like a rock star. L and I are both in our twenties and we felt like we were barely keeping up! At one point, B fell on the dance floor and that's when she must have hurt her wrist, but she doesn't remember. She is getting it checked out today and I hope she is okay. But man, what a party!

A sunset on my leg

A sunset on my leg
Originally uploaded by philoschelle

I will not be posting until next week because I am heading back to Florida for a weekend of the Never Ending Tile Project, now showing at my mother's house. I am a little worried about her seeing the injury I incurred whilst learning to ride my motorcycle. She thinks it was very minor and may just loose her shit when she sees this. I don't think she'll buy the, "But it's so pretty!" excuse.