Gratitude

The Power of Gratitude is amazing! Here is a website which has wonderful suggestions on helping you to be more grateful & the research results on the benefits it provides.

I love the family ritual idea! I also don't think people say "Thank You" enough in the world...for the stuff we take for granted! When is the last time you thanked your children for something? How about your significant other? We usually reserve "Thank Yous" for when people do something out of the ordinary or beyond what we expect etc. How about a Thank You for doing the laundry, making dinner, waking you up in the morning etc. And you really do have to start when children are young & show by example. I remember my youngest niece's first words "Thank You". Isn't that just wonderful! Not cookie or even daddy! :-) It was Halloween & every house she went to she said "Thank You" and everyone could not believe she said it, she looked too young. The next week she went to the doctor & when the doctor looked in one ear, "Thank You", in the other "Thank You"...every part he checked out she said "Thank You." The doctor was laughing & said she was going to run out of Thank Yous! Ha! She is still this way. She is sooo compassionate.

"I'm Sorry" is another one I think is not nearly said enough! Once we were in the mall & a women bumped into my little niece. It was clearly the women's fault, many do not look down for kids. I really think my niece knew it was the lady's fault but she said, "I'm sorry" to the women. The women turned & looked at her & her expression on her face immediately changed & she apologized with a tone like she knew she was the one that should have said it. It is interesting because I could have complained about the woman in front of my niece or told the women off "Why don't you watch where you're walking...there are children here!" but I learned from my niece you will get others to understand much better the way she did it.

My niece is one of the things I am grateful for! She teaches me so very much!  

So what am I grateful for today?

* Having lunch & dinner with my best friend who flew in from the East Coast.
* Talking to my nieces today on the phone
* The power not going off despite nasty T-Storms (just started to go "Boom Boom" again!)
* For the Boom-Booms...I actually sleep better...hopefully it will last until I go to sleep!
* Just checked...it is pouring! Ya, my flowers are getting sprinkled on!
* My back & neck seemed to get much better this afternoon as I was shopping for flowers in the sun.
* My stomach is feeling better since this afternoon!
* Having LOTS of candles to light during the storm! :-)
* My Saturn Vue...much easier to get in & out with my foot & back problems.
* Finding a few more plants for my deck.
* My babies to pet & keep me entertained.
* Finding a few clay pots & discounted! :-)
* A good 7 hours of sleep...better than 4! 
* Medication for my back/neck when nothing else works!
* The police officers who patrol my area & caught the kids ringing doorbells late at night!
* The 2 new Betta Fish...yep the zoo has grown...but they had awesome thread-like tails!
* My friends who email me stuff which makes me laugh!
* Even my officer friends who send me "gross" stuff! Ha! They try!

I can go on & on...but what are you grateful for?

Graduation Speech - Cheryl Richardson

I received an email with Cheryl Richardson's graduation speech she did recently and wanted to share it all with you. It is quite interesting to review & see if you agree & practice what she is stating. Scroll down to the "Topic of the Week" to read the speech.

I love her idea that we have multiple gifts and talents and that there are no perfect choices. Well in some ways I think whatever choice you make is perfect for you at that given time. Then if you change the new one is perfect for you. You do gain wisdom from each choice if you allow yourself to, whether it is career, significant other etc.

I also love the idea of not worrying about what others think of you. That is a hard one for many people I think, especially when it comes to the people you love. If it is a stranger we don't care as much what they think.  I'm sure the parents listening to "make your own rules...in the end the only one you have to answer to is yourself" went over real well! Ha! But really it is true!

Now finding many positive people to be around can be difficult. So many are so negative, they give up in their lives & "stay within the lines". It is hard being a maverick when so many want to be a maverick & since they believe they can't be they do not want you to be!

I think she brings up a good point about drugs - "making it easier to live a mediocre life!"

Her last part about your life being a canvas & you the artist reminds me of "Pleasantville" and how the powerful few in town wanted to tell everyone how they can color their canvas & with what colors! I love the scene when the two of them wake up to the town outraged looking at the mural. I just feel that in my spirit! :-)

Read the speech for much more!

Monday Photo Shoot #3: Humiliate the Pets!

Ok, you have to enlarge these to see what Country & Dusty are looking at for pix 1-5 to understand why I selected these photos for the Monday Photo shoot #3! :-)

Pix 1-5:

How embarrassing! Neither of my babies made the Kitty Bachelorette Finals! She's a two-timer! My poor boys are heart-broken! This young lady came calling both my sweeties on one night!

Country:

"What do you mean you are breaking up with me for Dusty? I'm the man of the house! Baby, look at me...I eat well! I can get you some "good stuff!" Dusty may be more attractive with his long hair, and he may have claws but the boy doesnt know what to do with a mouse! He may be able to keep down tuna & real shrimp but that just means less for you! I'll give you mine! You do have something to trade though don't you? Hey, a man has to eat! Don't worry, little lady, I have my ways of taking care of him. He is a lightweight! I'll take him to the matt!

Dusty:

I told you sweetie the man is a bully! He'll be abusing you in 2 weeks! Why do you think he was declawed? Look how overweight he is...you'll get nothing after he is done! The man is all brutt...he can't even hold his tuna & shrimp down! I heard you like older kitties...I'm a few years older than him! I'll give you your space too because I like mine! I don't like to brag but I'm considered a hero you know...saved the family from a raccoon once! That raccoon feared me with just my powerful look. I've also won many 1st place ribbons in a bunch of cat shows!

She was a tease...just letting them drool & then she moved on her way!

Pix 6:

Oh now why do you have to take pictures of me cleaning my tummy! Just tell them I'm doing a yoga position instead! That will help my reputation!

Pix 7:

Boy fresh warm clothes out of the dryer are so relaxing! Now just let me move this here & that there & it will be perfect....folded? Piles? They were like this when I got here!

Pix 8:

I don't know why so many people hate computers...they are sooo warm & relaxing! Just don't let anyone say I'm sleeping on the job!

Monday Photo Shoot: A Bit More Red

As I was driving home a bit ago, I thought of this picture with the Red! I put this picture in different so you can view it larger! The sign says "Keep Out" and the Rooster was the "Security Guard" let me tell you! This was the day I visited the traveling Vietnam Memorial.  An Awesome day!

Amuzing Pet Tales

Well here is some of my pets amusing tales: 

My older niece wanted a stuffed dog from Build-A-Bear and so for her birthday she was supplied with a dog house, leash, and other accessories. Dusty decided a house for a stuffed dog just was ridiculous and evicted it & took up residence! Everyone thought he was so cute! When Dusty visits it is one of his favorite spots to show he is "the king". 

I think I have also described in the past how Dusty got up into the fireplace & my folks closed the flumes & a bit litter heard some meowing! I was sleeping & was awoken with a smelling cat (not Phoebe's!) to bathe! Ugh!

When Dusty was a kitten he would sleep with me either above my head or on the pillow next to me near the wall. One morning he was up before me. I don't know what made me do it, I mean I never suspected he would be in trouble by the noise, but I opened one eye to find him hanging himself with the cord from the blinds. He was hanging between the bed & the dresser. I'm quite sure it just happened as I was hearing him prior to that walking on the dresser. I just took my hand & popped him up. From that moment on, the cord was flipped on the top of the blinds! I teased him on using up one of his 9 lives so early in life may not be wise!

Dusty nearly attacked a raccoon in my folks house. He was lying on my folks bed sleeping soundly with my mom watching tv & he bolted off the bed & walked slowly, low to the ground, with his tail low. My mom knew something was "strange." She found him staring down a raccoon which was on the railing of the spiral staircase to the basement. We think he got in through the basement fireplace. Mom was so freaked she called my dad at work to call the police. She was trying to grab Dusty knowing if the raccoon got him he would be in big trouble & I would not be in good shape myself then. The police came & the way my mom tells it is just hysterical. He says, "show me where it is." She said, "you go first!" Ha! Then when he did get it (it didn't move!) he asked her if she wanted him to just let it loose outside. She looked at him like he was on drugs! She was like "H$#% No! take it somewhere else! " He did! So Dusty was the Hero here staring down the raccoon & protecting house & home! :-) He used his wits & didn't have to attack! His Karate Master would be so proud! HA! Do you gain lives for heroism? Needless to say, mom spoiled him with shrimp that night! Who needs a guard dog!

Dusty is always amusing when he catches mice at my folks. They have a ranch & other than the basement, they have only 1 room which is like a 1/2 step down. He is smart enough to take the mouse in that room to contain them. They don't jump, which I hear they can do quite amazingly. He usually plays with them! Suffocates them to death & then when they don't move he tries to push them with his paw to get them to move so he can chase them more. I'm not sure who is more amusing, him or me chasing him with two Tupperware bowls yelling at him to let it go so, I can catch it & put it outside! My folks even know the "Dusty, let him go!" chant! We usually have a warning, he sits in the kitchen & doesn't move for hours! He is actually a better mouse catcher than my dad's traps! Of course this always seems to happen about 2am! He gets very upset with me that I take his toy away from him! One day he actually headed in the basement & in a matter of an hour & a half he brought up 4 mice! What a superb hunter he is! :-) I think that is his all time high!

Dusty also liked to go fishing! Fresh is always the best so one day I had my fish in a bowl on the counter as I cleaned out the tank...came back & every one of them gone! I was amazed he caught them all.

Now John said noone hurt... but this is amusing also in a way. I had Dusty at the Vet & the vet seemed to get his shot either right in a a nerve or his bone because he wailed like I never heard him before! I saw he was going to go after Dr. Fleming... well he was going to the source causing the pain right? Now Dr. Fleming is amazing! He has been Dusty's doc. since he was less than a year so about 14 yrs now. Dr. Fleming use to come to the house but now just for those who need him to. Dr. Fleming is so laid back, has a long ponytail and has such a big heart! My older niece is actually going to spend some time with him this summer. He invited her to get the "behind the scenes" look a few years ago when she was older. She is so excited because she wants to be a horse vet. So I pushed Dusty's butt the opposite, so his head would not get to Dr. Fleming & he then turned & got me! UGH! Well at least he did not get Dr. Fleming, because let me tell you the pain was horrific! He actually got me pretty bad & held on. Luckily between my two fingers of my hand & then a bit on the top of my thumb & next finger. I don't know if you know this but Cat bites are much worse, as far as infection, than dog bites. With dogs one bleeds out but cats they are punctures so it stays in. Even with getting me on antibiotics right away I had no knuckle lines by the next day. Had to draw a line on my hand to watch the progress. Luckily I had just saw a show on Emergency Vets where I women almost lost her hand so I took it very seriously. (BTW I love Dr. Fitzgerald & Dr. Taylor! Did you know Fitzgerald worked for the Rolling Stones & is a great comedian!) Well to me it is so funny because Dr. Fleming was like "oh it is no problem, we get bit from time to time." Here I am trying to save him, I get hurt & he says it is no big deal! I tried! Well another "Life scar" to explain when dating! Ha!

I already mentioned Sam freaking me out in my recent entry on Sam & Ella. Still got to get a bigger tank! And I also mentioned some of Rugby's goofy things...like attacking the rug, visiting McDonalds & our principal's office. I do remember bringing him home from the vet one time & he wasn't quite awake yet. He was standing next time, I was sitting on the floor & he litter fell over sideways! Dusty has walked totally drunk at times too.

It was pathetically funny when I would be coming home from MS & coming down the escalator in the airport my mom would yell "Dusty" grab his cage & start walking...I'm like "Hi Mom!" Ha! Oh & speaking of airports...I hate to admit this but I did travel with my hermit crabs in the pocket of my coat! Ha! They would go through the metal detector with me. This is 1995 so pre 9/11!   

Dusty also looks so funny when he plays with the plastic caps off hairspray bottles. He carries it & it looks like he has a cap on his nose.

Hmm...if I think of more I'll add it later!

Monday Photo Shoot: Seeing Red

Well here is my entry for Monday's Photo Shoot: Red! I was out looking for clay pots...CHEAP....and I saw these red flags on the top of Menard's and thought... this is great, I don't have to look at home! I had my digital camera with me, since I have a new purse that has all kinds of pockets & one made just for it! :-) I take pictures of everything now! I may have to start leaving an hour early to go places! Ha!

The flags were really blowing as some clouds where visiting us, as you can see!  Well got some plants & fertilizer at Menards...wait wasn't I going for pots because I had plants with no pots? Ugh! I then headed to Lowes (well I metionined one so...) and found a few pots but need to still get a few! Still trying to get this little deck garden done so I can take pictures! HA!

Sam & Ella

 

This is Sam & Ella! I know...not very creative with the names but it has turned out to be fun. Cute little things right! That was 4 years ago come July. You can read my Pet Blog about them! They are HUGE now! I need to get them a 75 or 90 gallon tank. I'm in the processes of looking for one now! I can just imagine how big they are going to get then! YIPES! I want to make a fountain that trickles down a set of flat rock stairs they can climb up. If I get it completed I'll take pictures & post them. If you do not know, they are Red-Eared Sliders.

   
This is Ella - BTW they are both males! I didn't know what they were when I first got them so I just tell Ella he is French...French name! Ha! Ella has more of a distinctive marking on his shell now. He is also the smaller of the two but he can manage to spar with Sam quite well.

   


Sam is the dominant one, another way of saying "the Bully" in the Darwin Theory of Survival! You can see Sam is about 3 times the size of Ella. They are mostly eating superworms now but they just had some of the new foods that came out on the market recently. I hand feed them the worms & that is fun. Sam is quite a snapper! My grandpa would have loved them...well he would have told me we were going to have "turtle soup!" I'd be at college & talk to him on the phone & he'd tell me we were going to have rabbit. We had a bunch of rabbits from a friend that kept multiplying no matter how we tried to keep them apart. I guess if one is "determined!" ;-) At times Ella almost catches up but not for a while now.

  

Sam is being held. Wanted to give some perspecitve. You really need to hold him with 2 hands now. You can see an overview of how much larger his shell is & look at the difference in their feet. You can see Sam is much darker.

  

 I love watching them! They are such a hoot! And very relaxing! Well I'm a Pisces, so it is a kindred spirit thing! I think they actually understand their names when I call them...well if not it is a very strange correlation. Ella likes to sit on Sam's shell to sun bathe. One night I was on the phone & all of a sudden I see claws over the tank & then a head peering at me! Sam...the little devil had wanted to explore! I screamed! Ha! Sam hasn't done it since!

There are 3 goldfish in with them for about a month now. They managed to get 3 but these last 3 they don't seem to be able to catch? The fish even realize it & are not really intimidated by them now & swim right near their mouths. You know I had won a goldfish when I was in 2nd grade & it didn't die until I was like a sophmore in college. Amazing! Took up the whole tank! I think it was blind at the end because it would constantly pump into the tank...that are they sleep a lot when they get elderly! Ha! Huge fanned tail, mostly white with a gold spot. Now that I think about it, my brothers were taking care of it when I was at college, God only knows what they fed it considering the one gave his fish milk because he thought they were thirsty when he was little. I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did with them.

Well if you have Red Eared Sliders let me know all about them & any helpful hints you may have!