I think, when we complain about not getting to see Karma in action, it's because we aren't looking hard enough! The best example I have is for you to take a look at Tiger Wood's performance in the Major Championships of golf for the past few years since his extra curricular activities were brought to the public's attention. Not only did he have to give his Swedish wife half of his large cash holdings, buy her a couple of houses, and loose custody of his kids, but, he got to do this in the most public way possible. But, that's not the end of the bad karma. Win a regular tournament, that is only shown on the Golf Channel - go ahead, Sir! By all means, enjoy that low visibility success! Go to a major championship, on a network, shown in 15 countries, well, now, you're sure to shit the bed and end up way down on the leader board, with all the commentators shaking their heads and wondering what happened to you. Your Karma bus backs up over you, goes forward, and waits. Keep it in your pants once you make the vows, dumb ass.
My point is, because I don't care if he ever wins another golf trophy, gets any cash, or whatever, is that sometimes you need to look at those around you carefully to see if they are getting their just rewards. Work for a company that treats its employees badly? Get canned later? Ooops. The old saying "if you lie down with dogs, expect to get up with fleas" can also apply.
Bad things will still happen to good people. We won't know why. How you react to what happens to you is the control you have over the situation. Just remember; if the same shit is happening to you over and over, you need to make a change, because you can't expect the situation to change for you - if you're allowing people to treat you like jerks, they'll keep doing it until you remove yourself from their reach. If you work hard at your job and don't get rewarded, ask for rewards, if they still don't happen, get a different job. If the place you live is horrible, pack your shit and move. All of these things are possible - you'll be surprised if you just do what you need to do so you can be happy.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
I've been gone for a while, but, my MBA is done, and we've moved. We brought the gate with us.
So, I cried a little over the last post - we're missing some pets from that time! Finney had to cross the Rainbow Bridge, her thyroid problems were not letting her digest any food; it was time. Eighteen years of grumpy cat sweetness!
Lucy Fur was my good friend to help me with that loss; but, left home for greener pastures last January, I miss her every day!
Sheeba was older than I thought, and this was her last summer; she never did like the heat, and, after 12 years, an auto-immune condition, no teeth, and living outside, she did pretty well! RIP, ladies, you will always have a place in my heart.
I also had to say good bye to my horse of 24 years, Joe Paul Bailey. Kidney failure at age 27. Probably my last horse, due to health issues. My heart has taken several hard blows in the past 24 months.
However - we did move to the area we wanted. I'm still job hunting! I finished school, so that leaves a big gap in my time, and, I fill it with cover letter writing and applying for jobs. Fun stuff, and great for the self-esteem! Everyone is thriving here, the Boy likes his school, Scout pack, and is making friends, and discovering like his parents, that a large number of friends is totally over rated! Simon loves his new crew, and has a good time at work. We had a work get together, were I was the only wife that showed! But, as a designated driver, totally my duty.
Now that we live in the suburbs, we walk the dogs every day, and I am only 4 pounds away from losing 5% of my total weight! It's not helping the depression like it's supposed to, damn it! But, the dogs enjoy it, we went to Azalea Park tonight, very pretty and the dogs got to get hyper over some squirrels. My bestie and I are doing a virtual race for a year - from John O'Groat to Land's End, 650 miles. I'd better track every day! I hope to be running by 6 months. I'm determined to outrun my health problems if I can't get rid of them. The arthritis is probably the only one that will not like this.
I really enjoy reading hyperboleandahalf at blogspot.com, and her journey through depression has been familiar, but, I don't know how much to share. I hate being depressed, I hate having the label stuck to me like a stigma, I hate the symptoms, I hate not being able to tell myself to get my shit together and act like a damn grown up! I don't want to manage it, I want it gone. I wish it were a thing, I'd kill it and bury it in a shallow grave in a pine forest.
But, the puppy gate made the move with us! New drama, the new kittens (because a crazy cat lady can't loose three cats and NOT replace them) won't jump over it. One of them, Athena, she's the Boy's kitten, squeezes her self through it, and, the day is coming where that isn't going to work anymore! Jayne (Simon's) and Isabella (mine) won't jump over it, they jump on our dresser, next to it, and taller than it, and meow so we come open it for them. Whatever! Slave to the fur babies!
If you read this, you can comment, don't be mean, you won't like me when my feelings are hurt - share your trials, we can have virtual group therapy.
Love and take care
Lucy Fur was my good friend to help me with that loss; but, left home for greener pastures last January, I miss her every day!
Sheeba was older than I thought, and this was her last summer; she never did like the heat, and, after 12 years, an auto-immune condition, no teeth, and living outside, she did pretty well! RIP, ladies, you will always have a place in my heart.
I also had to say good bye to my horse of 24 years, Joe Paul Bailey. Kidney failure at age 27. Probably my last horse, due to health issues. My heart has taken several hard blows in the past 24 months.
However - we did move to the area we wanted. I'm still job hunting! I finished school, so that leaves a big gap in my time, and, I fill it with cover letter writing and applying for jobs. Fun stuff, and great for the self-esteem! Everyone is thriving here, the Boy likes his school, Scout pack, and is making friends, and discovering like his parents, that a large number of friends is totally over rated! Simon loves his new crew, and has a good time at work. We had a work get together, were I was the only wife that showed! But, as a designated driver, totally my duty.
Now that we live in the suburbs, we walk the dogs every day, and I am only 4 pounds away from losing 5% of my total weight! It's not helping the depression like it's supposed to, damn it! But, the dogs enjoy it, we went to Azalea Park tonight, very pretty and the dogs got to get hyper over some squirrels. My bestie and I are doing a virtual race for a year - from John O'Groat to Land's End, 650 miles. I'd better track every day! I hope to be running by 6 months. I'm determined to outrun my health problems if I can't get rid of them. The arthritis is probably the only one that will not like this.
I really enjoy reading hyperboleandahalf at blogspot.com, and her journey through depression has been familiar, but, I don't know how much to share. I hate being depressed, I hate having the label stuck to me like a stigma, I hate the symptoms, I hate not being able to tell myself to get my shit together and act like a damn grown up! I don't want to manage it, I want it gone. I wish it were a thing, I'd kill it and bury it in a shallow grave in a pine forest.
But, the puppy gate made the move with us! New drama, the new kittens (because a crazy cat lady can't loose three cats and NOT replace them) won't jump over it. One of them, Athena, she's the Boy's kitten, squeezes her self through it, and, the day is coming where that isn't going to work anymore! Jayne (Simon's) and Isabella (mine) won't jump over it, they jump on our dresser, next to it, and taller than it, and meow so we come open it for them. Whatever! Slave to the fur babies!
If you read this, you can comment, don't be mean, you won't like me when my feelings are hurt - share your trials, we can have virtual group therapy.
Love and take care
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Me and Venus
So, I just want to say my prayers go out to Venus Williams, another young woman who has been diagnosed with Sjogern's Syndrome. She and I are both young to have been diagnosed with this, and while usually just inconvenient, it can be more than that. I am affected by sunlight, too much and I have an outbreak, meaning extra fatigue, pain and emotional suffering. By emotional suffering, I mean the depression that often goes with an autoimmune disorder. So many of these illnesses or conditions are "invisible", meaning, you look healthy, what do you mean you're tired and you don't want to have fun with your friends anymore? Well, it means just that, and I hate it, and I want something different, and I was going to take on the world, but now I need a nap.
Depression is so prominent in our society today. It's just like that little black cloud or ball and chain the cartoon drug ladies drag around with them. Depression cost me my last job, and I think it cost me one of my oldest friendships. It creates its own fear that it will cost me my family, and then it will win.
With an autoimmune disorder or an "invisible" illness, it's almost impossible to tell people what you're going through. Depression adds to that, my husband, most wonderful man on earth, told me recently, "I used to just think it was being sad, now I know it's so much more." Yeah, sad, you can get over, depression, it has hooks and claws, it wants a host and doesn't like giving up one when it has found it.
So, to everyone out there with one of these invisible, highly toxic disorders, illnesses, curses or whatever you want to label them, I wish you well and I hope you find your peace and help.
Depression is so prominent in our society today. It's just like that little black cloud or ball and chain the cartoon drug ladies drag around with them. Depression cost me my last job, and I think it cost me one of my oldest friendships. It creates its own fear that it will cost me my family, and then it will win.
With an autoimmune disorder or an "invisible" illness, it's almost impossible to tell people what you're going through. Depression adds to that, my husband, most wonderful man on earth, told me recently, "I used to just think it was being sad, now I know it's so much more." Yeah, sad, you can get over, depression, it has hooks and claws, it wants a host and doesn't like giving up one when it has found it.
So, to everyone out there with one of these invisible, highly toxic disorders, illnesses, curses or whatever you want to label them, I wish you well and I hope you find your peace and help.
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Return of The Puppy Gate
Most people have baby gates to keep their infants safe in their homes. Even after we had a baby, we still called them puppy gates. Because our dog of choice is the Great Dane, we have the all metal, four feet tall puppy gates that attach not with pressure, but hardware. Today, due to the "Princess", our oldest cat, needing a diet of high calorie wet food, and her royal refusal to eat in the laundry room with the other cats, the puppy gate came back into use to stop the dogs from eating her food. This houseful of animals has a wide range of coping mechanisms.
The Cats:
Finney, aka "the Princess", Skinny Finney, aka Super Brat: at 17, her thyroid is overactive and she's gotten pretty thin. We'll have more on her battles against medication at a later post. She's so thin at this point she can squeeze through the bars.
Sheeba: (as in a great annoyance, not the Queen of) She's so happy to be an inside cat, not a barn cat, that she doesn't care about going to the front door side of the gate. On this side, through the pet door to the laundry room, is food, litter boxes and water. And laps, don't forget laps. She's never going to the barn again.
Lucy Fur: she's taking the role of the Fat Cat, and in denial about it. She remembers her youth, when she jumped easily to the top of the gate, balanced, and finished her leap over. It took four tries to get to the top today, but we are not allowed to laugh.
Hades: recently underwent a complete ankle reconstruction, which I also had done this year. The other cats are giving him grief about being a brown noser, but we're just glad he's home and healthy again. In our relief that his leg was saved and didn't require amputation, we make up disabled nick names for him. Keeping the leg means "Peg Leg" is out, so we like "Hop-a-Long Hades". He has use of the leg, but has discovered that for now, he's faster on three of them. I was pretty impressed when he climbed a tree when still in his cast. Pissed at having to catch him, but impressed at the same time.
Scratch: (yes, the last three cats all have devil names. The next kitten in our lives will be Pestilence, Pest for short.) He's a solid 30 pounds of cat muscle and fur. I've never rubbed a kitty belly before him that had muscle definition. He just pushes on the gate with his head. It usually moves anything in his way.
The Dogs: they haven't quite realized that this is the end of sub-par tuna snacks. Even though, they are pretty afraid of the Princess and don't try to take her food, Hades has been getting some special attention after the injury, and he's a big pushover.
Lydie: English Springer Spaniel, 10 years old, liver and white. Lydie likes to play dumb. She'll get her face stuck in the puppy gate at least twice a week because she "forgets" which way it swings open, but she can sneak into the garage, pull hardware cloth and chicken wire from a chick coop, and eat a nice chicken dinner without help. She's the main reason for the gate.
Schumacher: Also a member of the weasel Spaniel clan, but a Publix mutt. I brought him home from the grocery store 8 years ago. He's so busy trying to trail boss the Great Danes he forgets to eat and finds himself hungry later. Also, he's pretty sure no one should have anything better than he does. This is why I'm down to four pairs of running socks. He learned to open the drawer and was taking nice, clean, fresh pairs of socks to play with, no laundry rejects for him! In our house, he's a "small" dog, less than 50 pounds, so he thinks he can slip in and out with a human and not be noticed. Good Try.
Anita: a Mantle Great Dane, and probably the sweetest dog on the planet. She was our first puppy rescue, most of our Danes come to us full grown. That's when people realize Marmaduke is not a cartoon, but an illustrated diary, and it's not as much fun as they thought and take the poor animal to the pound. Anita was one of a litter of nine, with both parents, taken to the Citrus County, FL animal shelter. Six of her brothers and sisters died from flea anemia. I had written a grant proposal from The Body Shop Foundation for Tampa Bay Great Dane Rescue, and they won the grant and saved me a puppy. I wasn't sure I was ready after the loss of two wonderful Danes in our life over the past four years, but I'm so glad she's here. I'm not sure she's noticed the gate yet, she's not very food motivated, and well, we'll see.
Kaya: our newest Dane, she's a Blue Merle and was an abuse case I liberated from the son of a former co-worker. She's got a lot of fear issues we're working through, to the point I called an "animal communicator" about her. It's a charitable donation and was pretty interesting. We'll see what she does when she's not on the lookout for my husband!
There are outside animals here; horses, goats and chickens, but they deal with so many gates and so far, I haven't let them in the house. I'm sure there will be a story about them one day.
The humans: Me, I'm Rebecca, Mom, Babe (my husband never calls me by name, I think he's a closet bigamist or something and can't keep us all straight, lol
Simon, the husband, silent tough guy who can fix anything, thank goodness, and the only person who can strike fear into a bunch of dogs by simply entering a room. He must do something terrible when I'm not here. All I've ever seen him do is feed them, walk them and play with them. Maybe they're afraid he'll stop the gravy train!
The Boy: he's six, he's in first grade, tomorrow is open house, he talks more than I write, he loves the animals, and they're not sure about him. Kaya is his dog, don't mess with him, you'll be short an arm. And she won't give it back, she will gnaw on it in front of you. Schumacher will back her up, probably hamstringing you so you are crippled for life and easier to catch in the future. Your arm tasted yummy. Lucy Fur can deal with him because she's the Angel of Light. He also has thick hair she likes to groom. Go figure. Sheeba thinks he's the devil, and meows her funny sound at him. I taught him to brush her, which she loves, and he's winning her over.
I hope you liked this, and I can write more later! I think I'm going to throw my arms over my head and take a nap on the couch, it looks like it works for everyone else!
The Cats:
Sheeba: (as in a great annoyance, not the Queen of) She's so happy to be an inside cat, not a barn cat, that she doesn't care about going to the front door side of the gate. On this side, through the pet door to the laundry room, is food, litter boxes and water. And laps, don't forget laps. She's never going to the barn again.
Lucy Fur: she's taking the role of the Fat Cat, and in denial about it. She remembers her youth, when she jumped easily to the top of the gate, balanced, and finished her leap over. It took four tries to get to the top today, but we are not allowed to laugh.
Hades: recently underwent a complete ankle reconstruction, which I also had done this year. The other cats are giving him grief about being a brown noser, but we're just glad he's home and healthy again. In our relief that his leg was saved and didn't require amputation, we make up disabled nick names for him. Keeping the leg means "Peg Leg" is out, so we like "Hop-a-Long Hades". He has use of the leg, but has discovered that for now, he's faster on three of them. I was pretty impressed when he climbed a tree when still in his cast. Pissed at having to catch him, but impressed at the same time.
Scratch: (yes, the last three cats all have devil names. The next kitten in our lives will be Pestilence, Pest for short.) He's a solid 30 pounds of cat muscle and fur. I've never rubbed a kitty belly before him that had muscle definition. He just pushes on the gate with his head. It usually moves anything in his way.
The Dogs: they haven't quite realized that this is the end of sub-par tuna snacks. Even though, they are pretty afraid of the Princess and don't try to take her food, Hades has been getting some special attention after the injury, and he's a big pushover.
Lydie: English Springer Spaniel, 10 years old, liver and white. Lydie likes to play dumb. She'll get her face stuck in the puppy gate at least twice a week because she "forgets" which way it swings open, but she can sneak into the garage, pull hardware cloth and chicken wire from a chick coop, and eat a nice chicken dinner without help. She's the main reason for the gate.
Schumacher: Also a member of the weasel Spaniel clan, but a Publix mutt. I brought him home from the grocery store 8 years ago. He's so busy trying to trail boss the Great Danes he forgets to eat and finds himself hungry later. Also, he's pretty sure no one should have anything better than he does. This is why I'm down to four pairs of running socks. He learned to open the drawer and was taking nice, clean, fresh pairs of socks to play with, no laundry rejects for him! In our house, he's a "small" dog, less than 50 pounds, so he thinks he can slip in and out with a human and not be noticed. Good Try.
Anita: a Mantle Great Dane, and probably the sweetest dog on the planet. She was our first puppy rescue, most of our Danes come to us full grown. That's when people realize Marmaduke is not a cartoon, but an illustrated diary, and it's not as much fun as they thought and take the poor animal to the pound. Anita was one of a litter of nine, with both parents, taken to the Citrus County, FL animal shelter. Six of her brothers and sisters died from flea anemia. I had written a grant proposal from The Body Shop Foundation for Tampa Bay Great Dane Rescue, and they won the grant and saved me a puppy. I wasn't sure I was ready after the loss of two wonderful Danes in our life over the past four years, but I'm so glad she's here. I'm not sure she's noticed the gate yet, she's not very food motivated, and well, we'll see.
Kaya: our newest Dane, she's a Blue Merle and was an abuse case I liberated from the son of a former co-worker. She's got a lot of fear issues we're working through, to the point I called an "animal communicator" about her. It's a charitable donation and was pretty interesting. We'll see what she does when she's not on the lookout for my husband!
There are outside animals here; horses, goats and chickens, but they deal with so many gates and so far, I haven't let them in the house. I'm sure there will be a story about them one day.
The humans: Me, I'm Rebecca, Mom, Babe (my husband never calls me by name, I think he's a closet bigamist or something and can't keep us all straight, lol
Simon, the husband, silent tough guy who can fix anything, thank goodness, and the only person who can strike fear into a bunch of dogs by simply entering a room. He must do something terrible when I'm not here. All I've ever seen him do is feed them, walk them and play with them. Maybe they're afraid he'll stop the gravy train!
The Boy: he's six, he's in first grade, tomorrow is open house, he talks more than I write, he loves the animals, and they're not sure about him. Kaya is his dog, don't mess with him, you'll be short an arm. And she won't give it back, she will gnaw on it in front of you. Schumacher will back her up, probably hamstringing you so you are crippled for life and easier to catch in the future. Your arm tasted yummy. Lucy Fur can deal with him because she's the Angel of Light. He also has thick hair she likes to groom. Go figure. Sheeba thinks he's the devil, and meows her funny sound at him. I taught him to brush her, which she loves, and he's winning her over.
I hope you liked this, and I can write more later! I think I'm going to throw my arms over my head and take a nap on the couch, it looks like it works for everyone else!
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