Temporary Insanity

......So there I am at work, it's pouring outside and I've got a few extra minutes on my hands, nothing else to do, why not re-join e-harmony. They were running a special, 6 months for the price of 3. How could I refuse such a deal? Well may I just say I am only sorry that I can't share the photos of some of the eligible candidates. Can it be that all men over 45 years of age are under 5'8"? Except of course, for the guy in ice skates. I know we all loose a few inches as we get older, but please. And do these guys not see what the photos look like before they post them. I don't know about you, but Budweiser T-shirts and black knee socks is not what I'm attracted to. I know, I know, my standards are a bit high, but Dear Baby Jesus. Most of you remember last time I was a member of this never fail dating site, I was paired up with a cross dresser, a skinny, redneck alcoholic and a gentleman who had just had a gastric by-pass and told me all about it over dinner. With that kind of luck, it's no wonder I signed up again. I hate rainy days.

Weekend Worries

Recently a good friend of mine got divorced. She has been living separately from her ex for approximately 2 years. When she asked me to testify for her at court, I didn't hesitate. She was there for me throughout my separation and divorce. Divorce is nothing, if not sad. No one knows that as well as someone who goes through it.
Before the proceeding my friend's ex, armed with a Bible, walked by Karen's mom, Gloria (another close friend), and myself all seated outside the courtroom. He thanked us all for ruining his marriage. None of us responded, it wasn't worth a reply, besides safety in numbers and we're in a courthouse.
2 maybe 3 weeks go by, and the ex shows up at Woofs & Whiskers. He hangs outside for about 5 minutes, walking back and forth in front of the shop. I give Karen a call and tell her that her ex is outside, should I call the police. Well luckily I have 2 female attorneys in my shop who offer to hang around until the problem is settled.
Now let me tell you a little about Karen's ex. I don't think he's had a hair cut in the 2 years since Karen left him, and I know he hasn't shaven. He is Greek so has that olive coloring that I usually find so attractive in men, but without the upkeep he looks like someone straight from a terrorist cell. He also should be medicated for his erratic behavior, and that is not something I say lightly. He is a wicky-wack, and the divorce seems to have put his condition in fast forward.
Okay, so now he walks back to his van, and I think crisis averted. The lawyers make their purchase, and here comes the ex again. I ask the ladies to stay until he leaves, they agree. Well the ex hands me something that he thinks is mine and says he wants it out of his house. I explain to him that it belongs to Karen, but I will see that she gets it. No problem, I think the exchange is over. Then with a malice that I have never felt, he screams,"Thanks for ruining my marriage". I of course tell him, "Anything I can do to help". He leaves after mumbling something under his breath. I thank the attorneys for hanging out, then they leave. A minute later one of the attorney's came back in with her phone number in case anything were to happen to me. Nothing has.
The reason I'm posting this now is because Karen has asked that we all get together this weekend, to move her remaining possessions from her ex's house to my basement until she finds a permanent residence. As her friend, I will be there for her, but I can tell you right now I am not looking forward to another run in with OSAMA.

Winter Projects

In the process of getting my downstairs in order I came across 2 plastic containers filled with fabric. I have been wanting to make a quilt ever since my sister Kris made 4. I figured the only way I'd ever make one is by making it with 4 jumbo squares. Unlike Kris's, which was made of thousands of 2in. by 4in. squares. I know myself well enough to know I have neither the patience, nor the patience to try to tackle something of that scale. So I opted for something in the middle. There was never any question as to the pattern I would choose. Squares, plain and simple. No diamonds, no stars, no animal shape cut-outs, nope it's squares all the way. So after counting and cutting the numbers needed, I was spent. How in the hell my sister made 2 at once with about 40 different fabric swatches is still a mystery to me. My dinning room looks like MOOD burped up fabrics. Notice I didn't post that photo.

Shots Fired.

Well, I made it through the first round of shots without any problem. I had to add yellow fever to the shot menu, but malaria comes in pill form for 21 days, so that was subtracted. I got both hepatitis A and B, but they were combined so that was still only one shot. That made today's shot total 3. I go back in 30 days for round 2 of hep A&B. Shots have never really bothered me, so the worse part of today's office visit was paying the bill. I wanted to get this posted early just in case my arm swells up and I can't feel my fingers later in the day. :0

Lessons From Riley

Most of you know that I am only as happy as my next adventure. Well now that Montana is behind me, I'm planning my next trip. I'm going to Panama and Columbia, South America. My good friend and neighbor, Donna, is a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. Every year Mercy Hospital sends volunteers to poorer sections of Countries to give free and much needed medical assistance. When Donna told me she had signed up, I asked if they needed any non-medical assistance. 2 weeks later I got the green light.
Now the fun begins, shot city. That's right, because it's a medical mission I've got to immunize myself against things that I've only heard of, or read about. The best part is I can't get them through my GP, I've got to go to a shot clinic and pay full price for them. I guess this whining won't be getting me the Mother Theresa Award. I go Friday, October 10th for malaria, typhoid, tetanus and the 1st round of hepatitis B. I just hope I do as well as my great niece Riley.

Martha Strikes Again.

As I have said before, I'm trying to do things myself that normally I would have had a professional do. This weekend I tackled removing carpet from the laundry room. Removing the carpet was actually pretty easy. It was the tack strip, albeit easy,that took a little bit of time. This is something I've been wanting to do since I moved in, but I put it off because something more interesting was going on. Paint drying, grass growing, anything not to do it,you know the feeling. Anyway.... The community dumpster was going to be here for 2 days, so I had to git-r-done. It never ceases to amaze me, that once I get started on something that I've put off for so long, I wonder why it was so much tougher in my head. It really is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. The hardest part of the entire job was lugging the carpet upstairs. Nike has the perfect tag line for me,"Just Do It".

Change of Seasons.

I can always tell when the season changes for me. Before when the dogs woke me in the morning I would just slide into flip flops and sleepwalk them up and down the path right outside my back porch. Now I have to put on a sweatshirt for the walk. I have also cashed in all my Barnes & Noble gift certificates to stock up on my books for the upcoming hibernating period. I've already read 2 of these. I'll need a few more to get me through March. I am sleeping with my windows open and added two blankets last night. I love the feel of being cocooned in blankets. By the time winter arrives I'll have 3 blankets, 2 comforters and a quilted bedspread to wrap myself up in. Yummy.