What a Day!

Okay, so today, New Year's Eve, has been quite the day.

Let me first begin my story by telling you about my cat, Freckle. Freckle is a timid cat - very loving and loveable... She is a scabby, flabby, fat cat that I absolutely adore. The poor thing is afraid of her own shadow. She was always a scaredy cat. Her brother is quite the opposite. He's simply lazy and playful.

Now, some of my cats (I have three), like to go outside. I know some of you will scold me for this but with three kids, it is very difficult to keep them inside. Now there is Slug, the mother cat. She is sharp and resourceful. If we don't pull the door tightly shut, she can use her paws to open the front door and let herself out and in. It is amazing.

Anyhow, this morning I got up and made breakfast and while sitting there, Keira asks me if I had seen Freckle. It is not unusual not to see her around because she likes to keep to herself but I thought about it and it occurred to me that I hadn't seen her. So we begin to search the house. High and low we look. In cabinets and under beds, no Freckle. Oh, sadness.

We all pretty much knew that Freckle isn't that smart and might not find her way home if she were out. We all knew that we couldn't let Freckle out because of her disposition. She would have a heart attack, we were certain, if she encountered children or, heaven forbid, a dog or another cat. Our hearts sank at the thought of frightened Freckle out in the cold for how long we did not know. We had company over the other day and were afraid that they may have let our beloved Freckle out.

Then there is Kody. Six years old and quite active. He comes and goes in and out the door to go play with the ample number of children in the neighborhood. He could have let her out.

Anyway, we were sad.

Well, prior to our discovery of our lost cat, I had called my husband who was at work. See, he is a bill collector for a small loan company. Yippee. I'm not proud of that, by the way. He has a degree in Anthropology/Archaeology... I wish he could do something with that. Anyway, he went to collect money today from a young white debtor and was attacked verbally by the debtor and then on the way out physically by the debtor and his Dad. They punched him and knocked him to the ground and held him down with a stick. My husband managed to toss them off himself and get back to his feet with only minor injuries but there were no other witnesses which is probably why the shit heads attacked him thinking they would do more damage to him than they did. Now he has a cell phone but did not have a camera phone, which I wished that he had.

Though he doesn't recall, seems he got a punch on one of them. And his boss told him not to bother to come back in after that, though it isn't clear that they were even the slightest bit concerned about what happened. The whole industry is predatory, in my opinion, and his job is probably one of the most dangerous that a person can do or at least high on the list. No one likes to see a bill collector when they've got drugs to buy or beer to buy...

Anyway, I've encouraged him to seek employment in another industry or trade though this is about the only thing he has done since college.

So, on with the day....

This evening, after lamenting the loss of my cat all day and worrying about the safety and sanity of my husband, I decided I would just step out onto the porch to see if I could call my Freckle. Well, to my delight, a figure emerged from the darkness out by the trees. Was it my beloved cat? Yes! It was!

Now, this cat is not the smartest in the world and she is scared of her own shadow so I had to convince her that she knew me and that I wanted to help her. I began calling her gently by name and calling her by her favorite nick name "pretty girl"... she seems to respond really well to that in the house. Slowly she creeped toward me until her brother ran out of the house, down the stairs and toward her. I see her figure disappear into the night and hear hissing and ran down the stairs with as much care as to not make too much noise as possible and scare her away even more.

Slowly I tried to approach her as she ran away toward the fence in the back of our complex that separates this deep trench between a nearby neighborhood and the complex. And through the fence she went. Oh, I was so frustrated. Stupid cat. I stood there, calling for her in as gentle and calm a voice as possible by her name and her nick name. Trying to be as reassuring as possible until I was frigid. I grabbed her brother and took him back into the apartment and told my daughter Kaitlyn to come give me a hand. She grabbed the flashlight and off we went.

Back into the cold night we went. Though I couldn't see her in the darkness, when I turned the flashlight on, I saw her eyes reflecting the light. Then I was able to get her in the light. Again, I stand there calling her, shining the flashlight on myself in the hope that she would recognize me. She sat in the middle of the deep trench just staring at me. Frightened, I'm sure but what could be more comforting when you've been alone and cold for hours, if not days, than to be in the warm embrace of someone you know? Stupid cat.

So, it was determined that the only way I was going to get her was to climb the fence. Kaitlyn went and got a stool for me to climb over the "taller than my crotch" fence. Slowly I made my way towards her while Kaitlyn stood in the cold night air with flashlight aimed on Freckle and slowly she crept away but I seemed to be gaining ground.

We got near the fence of the nearby neighborhood and I was able to get down on the ground and actually touch her and let her smell me. She liked my touch but when I tried to grab her, she bolted. Tangled up in thorn bushes, I tried to run after her and decided that would only make her run farther and possibly jump the fence, though we are certain that she is too fat to jump the fence. From the bushes, she emerged and ran toward Kaitlyn who was on the other side of the fence that I jumped. She paused, looked up and saw Kaitlyn and ran away... Stupid cat. She ran up to another area of the fence where a hole was and crawled through the hole to the other side. The side that Kaitlyn was on. Kaitlyn took off to catch her.

I was left there to climb back over the fence. The fence that was "taller than my crotch". The wires of the fence were not wide enough to get good footing and I did not have my survival gear with me. Though I could get my leg up on the fence, I was unable to get enough footing to hoist myself over. For whatever reason, I figured I could get my bare foot wedged into the wire and hoist myself up and tossed one of my shoes on the other side and tried to do this. Too painful! So I stood there in the darkness and cold no longer lamenting my lost cat but the fact that she was so stupid. I hoped that Kaitlyn would be more lucky than I in catching her. I would wait for her return.

Within about ten minutes, she returned with the great news that she had caught her. She gave me my shoe and helped me back across the fence.

Sweaty, bloody and cold, I returned to the house feeling much happier than I had the whole day. Though my cat is rather stupid, we love her dearly and are so glad to have her back at home. Though now I am certain that my cat Baby has an evil plan to rid himself of her existence. Seems everytime we came back to the house for something we needed, he was dashing out the door to go pounce and scare Freckle away. We had to lock him up in one of the bedrooms because he was growling to get out!

Holiday Notes

Christmas was good for the kids. Kody got Yu Gi Oh stuff like he wanted and was thrilled about it. He also got clothes and some pokemon stuff and B-daman stuff.

The girls got clothes, ipod shuffles. Kaitlyn got shoes and a hoodie and some goth/punk accessories.

Keira got a Ninetendo DS with Ninetendogs.

We also got a few playstation games and a printer and headset with microphone for the computer so we can place pc to pc calls.

I've been feeling less than well the last couple of days and seem to have contracted a stomach virus. I think I'm getting better but still things are a bit rumbly.

My anniversary is coming up in January and the biggest thrill I can think of associated with it is that I might get to go have sushi at my favorite sushi restaurant. Looking forward to that.

In one week, I will test for my green belt in Tang So Do. This will put me at 50% completion of the requirements for earning a black belt. I'm both excited and nervous as the holidays and illness have come between me and my training. I am positive I have more than the minimum number of classes in and feel like I can ace the forms but it is the other requirements that I am concerned about and the board breaking. Hopefully I will be at full strength next Saturday.

I did get an im from my sister Sherry and from Sandi which was really great. Everyone keeps wondering when I might come to the St. Louis area. I say when are you coming to the Nashville area? Of course, I do have a tiny apartment that is barely large enough to contain its current contents.

Well, that is it for my update.

Feeling Better

Well, I am happy to report that I am feeling better, however, Kody got sick last night. He threw up on my hallway floor. He had perfect attendance, that is until today. Of course I couldn't send him to school sick.

Now, he is feeling better but still sounds a little weak.

I had karate last night. I thought for a moment that I had broke my toe. I really need to get the sparring gear. We did spar last night. Not sure how I got the bruise on my knuckle, whether from the punching drills we did or from the sparring. The good news is that the bruise is on the correct knuckle for making contact. I would say then that I am doing something right.

I am going to attend a seminar called Blogging for Business on January 12th. I'm really looking forward to that.

I have my Blogger and Podcaster's Meet-Up tomorrow. I am also looking forward to that.

Well, I have to go. I'm really tired.

Noisy Ass Neighbors

How long should you let your noisy ass neighbors bang on whatever the hell it is that they are banging on before you go completely bezerk and haul their ass out into the street and beat the living daylights out of them?

My teeny, tiny apartment is not only too small to fit a damn Christmas Tree in, it is also plagued by neighbors who seem to be building the ark in the apartment next to me!

Seriously, though, I've not really ever heard them but I have this thing, you see... It is this thing about a repetitive noise at random intervals that is like finger nails scraping down a chalk board to me!

Captains log:

Keira overslept and is in considerable trouble with me though she did bum a ride from a good neighbor who is probably suffering as she lives under the noisy neighbor but that is beside the point. She needs to get her butt out of bed in the morning!

Kaitlyn has been very helpful this evening.

Kody is doing fine but is feeling a little sluggish, I think.

I have a meeting for an entire day tomorrow. Hopefully I will learn a skill that will entitle me to either more money or will make me more marketable. We will be getting Microsoft CRM 3.0. I will be a super user.

I have delved deeply into the world of podcasts and am enjoying it thoroughly. It makes walking much more pleasant. I have downloaded podcasts on learning to speak Russian, Chinese and Japanese. I hope to one day be able to communicate to a wide range of people which I know can gain me incredible job security - especially as China becomes more integrated with the rest of the world.

To all goodnight.

It's Saturday

It is Saturday and I am at home with the kids, as usual. Keira was supposed to got try out for mid-state's today but at midnight last night, it occurred to me that she did not have her violin. I called in sick on Wednesday and she threw up on Friday morning and called me at work to tell me she stayed home.

All fine and well except that Thursday night she had a concert at the school and left her violin in the music room afterwards.

At 6:00 this morning, we were up trying to reach a friend of hers who was going to the competition because Keira thought she had an extra violin. We called everyone that google had indexed by the same last name with no luck. I emailed the group running the program, I emailed her music teacher - still no luck.

And so, we resolved to call it quits and try again next year.

I had very little sleep over the night anyway. I have been sick myself and last night I was kept awake by a cough. I try to steer clear of the cold medicine because it lingers with me twice longer than the directions on the box state but I had to do something to get some sleep so I took a Thereflu thin strip. Finally, my cough calmed down enough for me to get some rest but 6:00 AM came much earlier than I would have wished.

Perhaps it was best that things turned out the way they did. I was able to get some extra sleep and have managed to stay put most of the day, although I do feel like a hermit or a homeless person. I think I need some warm air and a nice long walk in the park.

Maybe I won't get the warm air but I wonder if I can force myself out of the house to take a nice long walk. Walking always makes me feel better.

I spoke to my dad tonight. I really should call more often but have developed an aversion to using the telephone. We spoke about Christmas and the car. My step mother is sending me a list of birthdays so I can start the family calendar. I want to put anniversaries on there as well.

Mine is coming up. I will have been married for three years to my beloved. Hard to believe.

I did get my wireless network up and running this week. I'm quite proud of myself. Anyone could do it, I suppose but I DID do it... I'm pecking away at my laptop right now. Hooray for me.

I am also in the process of getting all the software that I feel that I need downloaded. I need to get Open Office downloaded and the GIMP. I just downloaded NVU for web development.

Anyhow, that's what is going on in my life right now. Blogging, working, kids and husband in no particular order.

I Still Love You Even Though You Are Bastards

Hello my dearest family. I don't know where thouest be. I've been waiting to hear from you. Patiently, I might add. Is anyone listening?

I have been near death. Sickly, I tell you. The taste of vomit has swelled up into my mouth and the pain of a thousand razor blades has made a home of my throat.

Well, I wasn't really that bad, but I was sick - am sick... Not completely well, anyway. I really should be sleeping but can't stop playing with my laptop and the wireless connection that I set up in my house all by my lonesome. I swell with pride.

Yesterday, I was feeling worse. But, alas... A mother's work is never done. I had to spend the evening at the High School. Keira had her Christmas Concert last night. So, despite my feeble condition and my desire to sleep, I hauled my fat lazy butt down to the high school and proceeded to go to Wal-Mart afterwards for some necessities.

Tomorrow, I will be taking Ms. Keira to a high school in Nashville to compete in the Mid-State competition. Wish her well.

Love you all. Everyone of of you bastards who continue to ignore me.

Today

Today, it is raining. My gums are sore as they get from time to time. I have two extra children staying with me. I went to the video store and let them pick some movies. Now, our PS2 is not working so I can't watch my movie in the living room.

I have a mound of laundry that is nearly as tall as I am to do. I have to take Keira to Mid-State next week.

Love you all.

Something Groovy For Your Sick Friends At Christmas Time

It is Pee and Poo. How funny.




Tip of the hat to the CMO Blog.