Georgia On My Mind

I met Georgia in 1980 at Officer Candidate School. You can imagine the number of memories packed into almost 28 years of friendship. Besides OCS, we shared an apartment together for a while, vacationed in Hawaii, and were bridesmaids in eachother's wedding - one week apart, 21 years ago.

Georgia gave me one of her first guitars and put together a songbook just for me. She showed me a few basic chords and how to play them, and off I went. That guitar was my stress-reliever through OCS and nursing school. Now it's something that MFD and I share.

Georgia battled ovarian cancer for over a decade and she died Saturday. She was only 49. Georgia has been an inspiration to me, and I'm sure many others, as she went through surgery and chemo. She was realistic - she knew she would die from this cancer - but she was always laughing and joking and bringing smiles to faces.

Her main goal was to live to see her daughter's high school graduation. She not only attended, she was the guest speaker. That was a year and a half ago.

I haven't seen her in quite a while, and the last time I spoke with her was only for a few minutes. Of course she's been in pain for quite some time, and it's all been wearing her down. She's been tired and ready for a long while, but she kept going the best she could as long as she could.

I'm very greatful for the friendship we shared and I will miss that. But she left a lot of memories and examples that I will never forget.

Thanks for the memories, Georgia, and rest in peace.

Love and hugs,
Flo

P.S. KSA and I are having a fabulous time with HollyB and JPG, and I get to meet Phlegm this evening, so I promise to post something happy soon!

Look Out...

…Flo is pissed.

Here I am, minding my own business, following up on treatment for breast cancer, cleaning the house and cooking for all the relatives that came to visit for Thanksgiving, trying to find the energy to shop and decorate for Christmas, figuring out what to do about Christmas cards, when out of the blue, in response to this post (be sure to notice the date), I receive this:

“Flo,

That quote, ‘somewhere a true believer is training to kill you’ can be found here:

’Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.

He knows only The Cause.

Still want to quit?’

NousDefionsDoc
www.professionalsoldiers.com

Flo, you don't want to plagiarize someone elses work now do you?

JD
Adminstrator
ProfessionalSoldiers.com

Posted by JD to Flying Flo's Forum at 24 November, 2007 08:55”

Again, notice the date.

I have a few things to say before I answer the question.

First, get a life, JD. Life is precious, and instead of searching the web for possible True Believer plagiarisms, you ought to spend some of that time with family and friends. If I were one of them, I wouldn’t care much for your priorities if you were out making questionable comments on nearly 11-month-old blogs, instead of sitting around killing time with me.

Second, are you proud to be defending the PS website in such a way that you totally detract from the essence of a post? Did you even read the damn post? My sole purpose in writing that particular post was to pay homage to members of our military that were out risking their lives to defend our freedoms and lives back home. As a former soldier, it disgusts me that you’re more concerned about proper credit being given to a quote, than about the welfare of our military. I don’t supposed it occurred to you to say something to the effect of, “Thanks for remembering the troops, Flo! BTW, that info about the True Believer is from a quote that can be found at PS.com.”

Maybe I’d be thanking you for pointing that out, instead of calling you a moron.

Third, what does an “adminstrator” do? Oh, was that a typo? Hm, perhaps you should use a spell checker. And a grammar checker.

Fourth, yes, I do happen to know that quote can be found at the PS website. I know that because you also stirred up the SOS at my friend’s blog. Eleven months ago. After she copied that particular post to her blog and said she had gotten it from my site. Eleven months ago. A little slow, aren’t you? I also know I found several other references claiming credit for that quote, which I believe included some high mucky-muck at some elite soldier course graduation. Just because that particular quote is located on your site doesn’t mean a thing to me. As much of a stink as you’re raising, show some proof. But not to me—I don’t give a rat’s ass.

Fifth, in answer to your question: No, I don’t want to plagiarize. It’s a good thing I didn’t, or I might have to apologize. According to dictionary.com, plagiarism means “1.) the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work, or 2.) something used and represented in this manner.” (plagiarism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved November 24, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/plagiarism).

I NEVER EVEN ATTEMPTED TO CLAIM ANY OF THAT WORK AS MY OWN.

So fuck you and the horse you rode in on. (Oh dear, I hope that’s not plagiarized.)

Now, as opposed to wasting time like you do, ranting about this has actually been very beneficial for me. Because I feel EVER so much better now.

Flo

Thank You!

You all are just the best! Thank you so much for the support, and know that your prayers are working.

It’s Holly and Lainy’s fault I haven’t written. Holly was here last week, and Lainy got here today. But don’t give them too hard a time, I’ve had/am having a blast and it’s keeping me out of trouble. Well, major, bail me out of jail kind of trouble anyway.

Surgery is tomorrow, we’re keeping it simple. She’ll take a little more tissue from the area she took the tumor, then check lymph nodes. If they’re clear, she’ll insert a temporary catheter into the tumor cavity. The MRI results were fine, so as long as the final pathology report is good, there’s no fluid around the catheter, and there’s enough clearance between the catheter and the skin, I will be doing the short form of radiation. It’s called mammosite therapy, and twice a day for five days they will insert a seed through the catheter, radiate me, then take it back out. I’ll go for the final evaluations next week, then hopefully start the treatment the week after.

I was going to tell you about all the fun stuff I’ve been doing, but the mind sort of just went blank. Imagine that. So I’ll leave it to Holly to fill you in. I do know that she probably needed a couple of days sleep to recuperate from all the running around we did.

I’ll get back as soon as I can. Maybe I can get Holly to post a note about how surgery went, so check at her place. (Is that ok Holly? Can you do that for me? Can ya, please? Huh? Ok?)

Thanks again, y’all just give me goosebumps!

Flo

Rant and Pray

Ok, well, we never went out of town. Here’s the deal:

I received a call and the day we were supposed to leave I had to go in to see the surgeon about the pathology report on the lump that was removed from my breast. It is ductal type cancer, however, it is very small (0.6 cm) and Stage 1. The tumor profile came back the next day and the nurse said it was “favorable,” but I don’t know the specifics of that yet. I had a special MRI Friday afternoon and am waiting for the results.

Right now, I basically have three options; all involve further surgery. Option 1 is clean out a little more around the area the tumor came from. The margins of the tumor were clear; this is just extra precaution to make sure they got it all. Then they’ll check the lymph nodes while I’m in surgery and take some out if necessary. Afterwards, I will have to have some type of radiation therapy.

Option 2 is a mastectomy; option 3 would involve simultaneous reconstruction. I will probably not require radiation with either of those.

We don’t know about chemotherapy yet. I imagine that will depend on what the profile results mean, and if the MRI shows any more tumors.

I know things will turn out fine. It took a couple of days for the shaking inside to go away, and I think that mainly came from the word. Cancer, no matter how favorable the prognosis, is a gut-clenching, kick-in-the-teeth word. Especially if you’re not expecting it, which I wasn’t. I think even my doctor was caught by surprise.

Supposedly, a mammogram can detect tumors that can’t be felt. This one could be felt, but didn’t show up on the mammogram. My PCP also requested an ultrasound of the lump. Nothing there. When I saw the surgeon, she said of course it felt abnormal, but it didn’t feel like a tumor. Even when she took it out, she didn’t think it felt cancerous.

How in the hell can something that’s there, especially something that’s now obviously abnormally there, not be there on the films?

Anyway, as I said, I know it will be ok. However, there are already some changes in my priorities, and the time I spend on the computer is one of them. Right now I’m doing well to keep up with my email.

To my daily and regular readers, I’m sorry I’m going to become scarce and unpredictable, but I want to thank all of you that have taken the time to visit. I told MFSG that there were about a bazillion people praying for me (and she responded that she made it a bazillion and one), including a priest and an entire convent of nuns, and this simple gesture of love from my family and friends brings tears of gratitude to my eyes. Because of the blog world, I’ve added a few more to my family, and you have brought me laughter and joy with your visits and comments and your own blogs.

May God bless each of you. You’re all special people, and I hope to continue seeing you around here and there.

HOWEVER…

(What? You thought I would leave on a mushy note? Not hardly! It’s time for the rant part.)

KSA and I did get out for a couple of days last weekend. One of the things we did was go see Jodie Foster’s new movie “The Brave One.” If you haven’t seen it, and you want to see it, stop reading right here.

I like Jodie Foster, I think she’s a very good actress, but I expected better of her. This movie pissed me off. I was ready to leave after her third violent encounter. But I told myself: “I know she’s usually the good guy, but surely she isn’t portraying a person who is glorified for purposely, knowingly, going-out-of-her-way calculatingly, to find and off the bad guys.”

She is. And she even ends up with the police detective on her side. I was disgusted.

Sure, she was killing bad guys. The first couple were even understandable. A guy comes in a convenience store and shoots his ex, then comes looking for her when her phone starts ringing. I’m thinking justifiable, even though her gun wasn’t registered. So why didn’t she call 9-1-1 instead of sneaking off?

A dude is holding a knife to her throat on the subway, she blows him away. Sure, I would, too. I’m not sure about his buddy, though. I don’t remember how fast it happened. And again, she runs away. But when she walks up to the creepy guy in the car after he calls to her, oh yeah, she’s lookin’ for trouble.

The humor at the end also just set me off. Then, wah-lah, she’s a heroine.

She might have even been “The Brave One” if she hadn’t taken matters into her own hands.

Flo

I'm Leavin' On a Jet Plane

I do know when I’ll be back again, but I’m not gonna tell you, otherwise you’ll either start worrying about or yelling at me cuz I haven’t posted in ages.

And before you start hollerin’, Lainy, I already got my excuses all lined up for why I won’t be posting while I’m gone. Unlike Holly, who drove, I am flying. Our hosts are picking us up and driving us around, so I don’t have personal transportation to go to the library. And it’s not like I’m going to visit my brother, either. It’s a guy KSA worked with that retired, so it wouldn’t be very polite of me to help myself to his computer. If he even has one. With his view of the mountains, I sure as heck wouldn’t!

We’re headed toward Minden, NV and some kind of air races. Evidently I’ll be allowed to attend one day, whereas the men folk will be going twice. I think I might be flying in a glider, too, and I’m hoping I don’t puke. I heard mention of Napa Valley, but I’m not sure. Isn’t that in California? I hope I don’t need my passport, I’m not even sure it’s current.

Y’all be good while I’m gone, cuz I ain’t comin’ back to bail you out of jail.

Flo

P.S. I see MFSG has visited some. Everybody wave and tell her hi!

Talk Around the Water Cooler

There are a couple of women leaning against either side of the door jamb, just inside the kitchen. This poor dude walks up to the two on his way into the kitchen, and asks one of the women if she needs to stay on the rosary list.

Woman 1: Yes, please, I’d really appreciate it.
Woman 2: So when are you having it done?
Woman 1: Tomorrow.
Woman 2: You know, I still have like a dent where I had it done several years ago.
Woman 1: Really? Was it a needle biopsy or did they take it completely out?
Woman 2: Just a needle biopsy—I don’t have that much there to begin with.
Woman 1: I know exactly what you mean!
Woman 2: You know, one side is bigger than the other.
Woman 1: I know, and they’re taking it out of the one that’s smaller to begin with!
Poor Dude: Excuse me ladies, you’re getting a little technical on me here. I think I’ll just slide on by you and grab me some fruit and crackers.

+++++++++++++++++++

So Lovi calls me the day after my biopsy, checking up to see how I was doing. She asked how big the lump was. I said I didn’t know, maybe the size of a pea, maybe less. So she says, “Do ya still have a boob left?”

Don’t ya just love sisters?

Bitch.

Flo

Stadol vs. Versed

This morning, Holly and I were discussing the benefits of Versed. I think she’s even written a blog about it, IIRC. Yesterday, I had, I think, my first experience with it.

See, I went to see the breast surgeon Tuesday. She’s pretty confident it’s nothing to be concerned about, but we decided to take the lump out for peace of mind. KSA and I are going out of town next week, and the only time the surgeon had open before then was Wednesday.

So off I go for outpatient surgery yesterday. They gave me what I think they called “anesthesia with sedation,” and one of the drugs they used was Versed. It was good, I was nicely sedated. They said I’d go to sleep nice and wake up nice. I don’t know how nice I was, but I did wake up easily, surprised it was all over. And I was tired the rest of the day, but not groggy.

So yes, I have to say that the Versed did relax me. However, Stadol made me feel Oh So Good.

I had Stadol when I was in labor with both of the kids. I didn’t have a whole lot of time to experience its effects with MFS, but I was laying on my back, looking up at KSA, and his eyes were suddenly SO blue. They were about the purtiest blue eyes I ever did see!

Well, it was a whole different story with MFD. (Of course, what else would you expect?) I’m sitting up in bed, they’re pushing the Stadol as I’m having a contraction. I’m starting to feel really good, floating along, and suddenly, I’m feeling so good I’m laughing. Practically hysterically. I couldn’t stop.

In the mean time, MFS is sitting on my mom’s lap, looking at me, and says, “Not funny, Mommy. NOT funny, Mommy!”

KSA’s eyes didn’t turn as blue that time, though. Then again, the back of her head was pressing on my back, so instead of looking at his eyes, I was yelling at him to “get her out of there!”

I still do think I prefer my Stadol.

Flo

Thank You

When it’s more than just Lainy checking up on me, I know I have been horribly remiss in posting. I’m so lucky to have the family and friends that I do, including my blog family. It really brings tears to my eyes when I think of your concern.

Thanks for asking about me, I’m sorry to have worried you and I’ll try not to do it again.

Flo

In A Funk

I’ve been a bit “off” here for a couple of weeks. Have you ever felt like there’s something wrong, but nothing you can pinpoint? Like it wouldn’t take much for you to start crying? You’ve got plenty you should be doing, but just can’t give yourself that little push to get started?

Well then, you might be suffering from depression. But I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.

Ah, still got a sense of humor. There may be hope for me yet.

Actually, I am a bit disgusted with this whole “life” situation. You know, my body has been falling apart for years. The eyesight is going, my knees and neck sound like Rice Krispies, arthritis occasionally flairs up in a thumb, I’ve got carpal tunnel, a couple of bad discs, high blood pressure, I tend to be hot, my memory stinks, and I’ll spare my male readers the details of my monthly ordeals. You’re welcome.

So I go in for my annual exam a couple of weeks ago. I’ve got a few things I bring up to the doc—my BP meds are making me cough, I’m really fed up with my monthly ordeals, and a couple of other minor complaints. She orders tests.

I go the next day for my mammogram, sonogram of a lump the doc found, and a pelvic sonogram. They always give me the results of my mammogram before I leave, and they said that it and the ultrasound were normal. Yeah, well, I still get the pleasure of consulting with a surgeon.

I had to wait for them to send the result of the pelvic ultrasound to my doc. Ladies, if you haven’t had a pelvic ultrasound lately, evidently current SOP calls for two views, the usual one directly on the abdomen, and another one from inside that is supposed to give them a better view of the ovaries. Except after all that, she still had to go back for an abdominal view of my right ovary because it was so high up. Turns out I have an ovarian cyst and a thickened endometrium, so I also get to see a gyn.

As if all that isn’t bad enough, the doc also checked my hormone levels. They’re normal. NORMAL. I am NOT peri-menopausal.

All these years I’ve been telling myself, “Just a little bit longer.” And I haven’t even started!!! This SO sucks.

It’s all my mother’s fault, you know. And stupid me asked when she finally started going through menopause. I think she lied.

And poor KSA doesn’t have a clue how much worse things are going to get.

However, there is good news. I went for recertification last week and I am now qualified to shock the shit out of you.

Flo

I Must Be The Youngest Mother Alive...

…because my daughter seems to think I was born yesterday.

Our adorable church accompanist is leaving in a couple of weeks to attend the Berkley College of Music in Boston. So we had a nice little reception for her after Mass the other day.

After a while, I noticed MFD wasn’t around and when a couple others asked where she was, I went out to see if her car was still there or if she had just up and left. She was sitting on the curb by her car, talking with one of the ensemble members. She said she wasn’t feeling well and had gone outside for some fresh air. So I told her the guest of honor wanted to talk to her and she needed to be getting back inside.

She came inside a little bit later with a big grin on her face and some kid trailing behind her. She told me That Kid drove for a whole hour to surprise her.

Surprise. Uh huh.

So we have a little discussion when That Kid is gone:

Me: So how did That Kid happen to know to surprise you at church?
MFD: Well, I had told him that we were having a little party and I be hanging out for a while after church.
Me: Uh huh. So, you didn’t invite him to meet you?
MFD: No.
Me: So he decides to crash the party? Invites himself to this party for someone he doesn’t know?
MFD: I guess so.
Me: So how did you happen to meet this kid if he lives an hour away?
MFD: Well, somehow, he and the members of his band managed to get in to the Back to School Dance.
Me: Really? The dance that was for OHS students only.
MFD: Yeah.
Me: Uh huh. So these non-OHS kids got into a dance they weren’t supposed to be at, and none of the chaperones noticed anything.
MFD: I guess.
Me: You know, this just isn’t sounding right.
MFD: Well I don’t know what else to tell you.
Me: I guess the truth would be a little too much to ask, huh? So you’re telling me you’re ok with a guy that thinks nothing of being rude or breaking rules?
MFD: I didn’t look at it like that.

Oh, now I get it. I wasn’t born yesterday, but obviously I’m suffering a concussion from falling off the turnip truck.

Flo

Gift Idea

You know, it’s never too early to start shopping for Christmas. Here’s one for the Democrat that has everything:



Flo

Check This Out!

My crusty ol’ CWO sent me this link to an unusual eBay listing. Just from seeing the picture, I couldn’t understand what the big deal was until I started reading the description.

I was hooked.

Dawn has a blog, and I’ve read every single one of her posts. Fortunately, she just started in June. In that short amount of time, she has logged over 130,000 visits to her site, and almost 13,000 views of her profile.

Don’t I feel like the little pipsqueak?

I enjoyed all of her stories, but a couple that really stick in my mind are her very first one, then one I believe this month about dieting. I’m sure I won’t be the only one that will take up her calorie counting ideas.

The woman is a hoot—she has to be, I’m sure, if she wants to retain any piece of sanity while raising 6 (yes, six) kids. Pay her a visit.

Flo

I LOVE This!

We must have had the same mom! Enjoy!

*Sniff*

Allie and I have been abandoned.

Lainy went back home yesterday. MFS also left yesterday for his second year at college. Today is MFD’s first full day of school. As a junior. And, of course, KSA is at work. Actually, he reported for jury duty today.

The house is quiet.

I used to be a night person, detested mornings. I loved the peaceful feeling after everyone was asleep. It was a different kind of quiet than during the day when they were at work and school. Probably because I knew they were all at home together, safe and sound.

I miss that.

Flo

No More Margaritas for Us

Lainy is up visiting for a few days and we’ve been having quite a bit of fun. Here’s a sample of what we’ve been doing to entertain ourselves:

Your Boobies' Names Are...

Thunder and Lightning

Boobie Name Generator

and here’s Lainy’s:

Your Boobies' Names Are...

Wonder Woman and Batgirl

Boobie Name Generator

Flo

Spewing

MFSG came over the other night with her dad, younger sister, and aunt to “watch the meteor shower.” It turned out cloudy, so we missed out on the streaks in the sky.

Getting together with MFSG’s family is always a fun occasion. Actually, it was a little toned down this time, because it usually includes her mom (had to get up early for school the next day), her grandfather (I was crushed, he wasn’t sure if he was included), and her older sister (has a one month old). One time we also had the half-brother and his family.

It sounds like they do a lot together, which I think is just the coolest. They can be a wild bunch, too, so we all get along really well, as you can imagine. We just have a blast.

The other night, MFSG had shown us her fingers that she had burned while playing with fire (and she’s a fireman’s daughter). Later on, she made a comment that she thought she might lose a fingernail because of a blister underneath it, and she wondered if the fingernail would grow back. I said, “no.” She believed it! Then she said she knew someone that had lost a toenail and that it grew back. So I told her she still had a problem, because there was a difference between toenails and fingernails. I really had her going for a while, until she said she knew someone that lost both a toenail and a fingernail and they both grew back. So I was kind of busted.

A little later, we’re sitting around the table, talking about car horns. MFSG said hers used to sound like a duck. “Wauck,” she said. Since they were younger, I’ve teased the kids when they made different sound effects. The horn sound was so funny, so I said, “How did that go?” And she said, “Wauck.” “One more time,” I said. “Wauck!” We were all laughing, so she said, “You wouldn’t think it was funny if got you mad at some stupid driver and you had a horn that sounded like ‘wauck!’” Unfortunately, just as she was getting into that sentence, I was taking a drink of root beer. I literally spewed when she got to the “wauck!”

Just great. That could possibly end up a story for future grandkids. I can see it now: “Go ask grandma to show you her special trick.”

Flo

Home Improvement

Those of you that know KSA also know this is not my problem:

Oh no. Nope, if I see KSA doing that, it’s time to call for AD’s services.

KSA is always working on something. The problem is that his priorities are usually not my priorities. For example, we have to climb up and down a ladder to get from the back porch to the yard because there aren’t any stairs yet. But KSA has been working on the yard, getting things smooth and level so he can seed it.

And I don’t dare let him know how important something is to me or else he’ll put it on the back burner. He’s got so much on that back burner that half of it has either burned to a crisp, is mushy and worthless, or evaporated into thin air.

If I get really irritated, I’ll do it myself. I’ve learned things like how to run telephone lines and install ceiling fixtures. I need to find a project I can muck up just enough that it won’t cause harm, yet will have to be taken care of immediately.

Maybe that’ll teach him not to put things off for so long.

Oh hell, no it won’t. Whom am I kidding?

Flo

Legislation Allows Veterans to Salute the Flag

Perhaps one of my learned readers can answer a couple of questions for me. I received the following in an e-mail:

There is new legislation that clarifies allowing Veterans and service members not in uniform to salute the flag. This may seem like a small change, but all Veterans can now render a smart hand salute to the flag during all appropriate public events.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service," Senator Inhofe said. "Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. "Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not.

"I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens. To those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others."

My questions concern the following statement: “Veterans can now render a smart hand salute to the flag during all appropriate public events.”

Question 1: What are considered appropriate public events? The senator refers to baseball games, etc. However, what I have seen of the wording of the bill states only when raising, lowering, or passing by of the flag. I did not see anything about the Pledge of Allegiance or the national anthem, which are other times Service Members would salute the flag. Although the Pledge of Allegiance is covered under Title 4, Chapter 1, the national anthem is in a completely different Title.

Keeping in mind that I am from the Show Me State, can anyone provide a link that specifically covers this?

Question 2: I have seen this posted on various forums and passed around in e-mails as if this bill is in effect now. How can that be? Unless my references are not the latest, I show that the bill still has to pass the House and then be signed by the President. Am I missing something, or is this a special bill?

I would be proud to post this as factual—if I knew it was, in fact, a done deal. However, it would embarrass me greatly if I posted something that turned out to be inaccurate. It’s this quirk I have.

Can anyone out there help me?

Flo

Puddle Jumper Days

Puddle Jumper Days, aka Funnel Cake Day, was quite a disappointment this year. We only had one funnel cake, and even that one left something to be desired.

We’ve been meeting at Lovi’s for this annual event for a number of years now. We adopted PJ, our collie/golden retriever mix, from one of the crafters there five years ago. The woman lived in the country outside of town and someone had dumped PJ and her littermates, so the woman took a picture of one of them and posted it at her booth. We took pictures of PJ the following year to show her and found out she had kept one of the boys.

We try to get there in time to grab a funnel cake for breakfast, then we sit out under the tree and watch the parade go by. My favorite is the horse-drawn hearse that the local funeral home enters and usually signaled the end of the parade. No hearse last year, which was a major disappointment. Fortunately, it was back this year, but the parade was only 30 minutes long.

And to top THAT off: NO craft tents. There used to be two large tents, then last year there was only one, and now none. We loved going up and down the aisles, checking out all kinds of merchandise. I got one of my favorite t-shirts there several years ago, a huge yellow smiley face with a bullet hole and oozing blood in the forehead. (Take THAT, Wal-Mart!)

You could get a custom made garden stone, handmade jewelry, refrigerator magnets, quilts, stained glass, or fun bumper stickers. Even the main street didn’t have as many tents this year, and very little unusual merchandise, All they had were mostly food booths or tents for various churches or a raffle of one kind or another. Oh, and sunglasses. There were about three places with those knock-off sunglasses.

Lovi and I would go up sometime after the parade and scope things out. The kids usually set off for the carnival area. Then we’d go home during the hottest part of the day. After Mass, we’d have dinner, then the whole lot of us would go back out—Lovi and me to buy anything we hadn’t gotten earlier, visit friends we’d run into, watch the little ones on the rides, and see the cute (or ugly) dogs.

No dogs allowed this year! I finally have a dog that’s not hyper, doesn’t have to sniff every little thing, likes attention, and isn’t bothered in the least by unfamiliar dogs, and she can’t go. Which was probably a good thing, because evidently the day was exhausting for her—she would lie down with a groan, flop over, and go to sleep.

Anyway, there wasn’t much worth going back for in the evening, so we hung out with Lovi’s family, her oldest son and his girlfriend, and her folks, and had a nice time visiting and pigging out on her hubby’s brisket. No leftovers for them!

I might have to write a letter to the local paper expressing my disappointment. The Puddle Jumper Committee should be darn grateful we don’t need no stinkin’ festival to have fun!

Flo

Why Do People Have Sex?

Oh great! This is just what I needed to change the rating of my blog from PG-13 to maybe an R. The only reasons it wasn’t G was because I had “knife” twice (I knew I should have cut myself with a spoon) and “bitch” once, when I was referring to a female dog.

As if that’s not bad enough, according to the Inkblot test, I’m a Buddhist Monk. I think they just couldn’t evaluate my write in answers

So. The University of Texas spent five years and, fortunately, their own money, researching why people have sex. After coming up with 237 reasons, 1500 college psychology students ranked the reasons from 1 to 5. Thank goodness they selected a representative segment of the population.

According to the study, the number one reason is because we are attracted to someone. Of course the findings are being disputed.

Reminds me of something a friend told me years ago. And he went to a seminary for high school, so I know he wouldn’t lie to me.

Seems the French spent $1 million studying the purpose of the head of the male’s penis. They determined it was to give the female greater sexual satisfaction.

Not to be outdone, the U.S. spent $5 million. They determined the purpose of the head of the penis was to give the male greater sexual satisfaction.

The Polish decided they wanted the world to start taking them seriously, so they conducted their own study. They spent $3.18 and determined the purpose of the head of the penis was to keep the hand from slipping off.

PG-13 and Buddhist Monk my foot.

Flo

The Name for the Day Is:

Allie. [sigh] It’s halfway between Ellie and Addie, so whatever I call her, I’m not too far off.

We’ve considered Gypsy and Bella and Sophie and Arial and Brandy and I don’t remember what else. None of them really seem to fit. Maybe if she hadn’t come with a name, or we didn’t know what it was. Before she got here, KSA had suggested calling her Ellie 2, but she’s just not an Ellie.

I was about rolling, though, when I read DW’s suggestion of AD! And JPG, what if we lengthened the abbreviated version of Damsel to Dam-Dam? Do you think that would work? ;-)

I understand better the issue with her potty habits (although I don’t think it’s an excuse to return her). She seems to prefer concrete or gravel instead of grass. And it’s not really an issue of sniffing around and finding the right spot—if she needs to go, she just squats, wherever she is.

It’s going to take some time and patience, but she’ll learn about the good life of a pet. In the meantime, she’s an awfully sweet little girl and we all love having her around.

Flo

She’s Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere!

Would you check this out?

KSA adores her. He tries to make like he’s not an animal person. Especially an indoor dog person. But he’s really a softie.

Except he’s never taken to one of my animals so quickly, and never right off the bat.

He came home yesterday and there Addie is, looking up at him, wagging her tail, prancing back and forth on her front feet, and that was that. He goes on about how cute she is, he really likes her, and on and on. It’s almost disgusting. He’s telling me what to do—you ought to brush her, she’ll like that; if you get her to poop and take her back to the same spot, she’ll poop for you; yada yada. And he offered to walk her this morning, even when I told him it could take a while and he’d have to be patient and he had to keep her on the leash (we’ve been taking her to the field instead of to the fenced area downstairs).

She got here late yesterday morning and I think she’s finally settled down now. She walked and walked and walked yesterday, all around the house, with occasional stops to look at Smokey lying in one of the chairs. He just hissed if she got too close, but that was it, and off she’d go again. Tawney tried to sneak out from under our bed once, but Addie spied her and went to see her, so Tawney took back off to crawl under the bed. Addie went back and forth from one side to the other, then she’d crouch down and bark. She wanted to play with the kitties so badly. They still won’t have anything to do with her.

She’s not pacing all around today, though. She’s found herself a little spot by the door in my office, so she plops down and goes to sleep.

PJ and Harley are ok with her now. Of course they have to stick around when I’m outside with her, but they don’t follow her every move. And she’s perfectly fine with them, which is why I’d rather take her out to the field with them instead of the fenced area, because she’s used to having other dogs around.

I’m not quite sure what to do about her name, though. MFD and I love “Adrianna,” but it’s too long for everyday use. We don’t much care for “Addie,” and neither does KSA. Originally, I was going to try to keep it fairly close, but I think it’s going to be too confusing for me. A couple of times I have automatically said “Ellie” and when I realize what I’m doing, it goes to “Allie” and finally to “Addie.” So I may have to get completely away from it.

She has the most adorable face, it reminds me of something, I just can’t place it yet. I don’t know how well you can see on the pictures, but she has the black that goes around her eyes except the little touch of brown right above them, and a little stripe of black off to each side. And her tail looks like a fluffy little fox’s tail, with white right on the tip.

What a pretty girl, look at this face:

How’s about this fluffy tail:

Look how daintily she crosses her feet:

Name suggestions, anyone?

Flo

Adoption Delayed

The foster mom’s own Australian Shepherd was bleeding from his ear, so she had to rush him to the vet clinic.

She just called back and it turns out he had some cuts and a puncture wound. He and one of the other dogs must have been roughhousing and gotten a little rambunctious. Took a couple of stitches, but he keeps shaking the bandage off and bleeding all over again. She needs to stay with him and try to keep it under control, and I understand.

She’ll call back to make other arrangements with Addie, but I’m sure she’ll be tired after the adrenalin rush wears off, so I don’t expect to hear from her until tomorrow. Poor things.

Will keep you posted.

Flo

Picxthures for JPG

This is the only one I have right now. It’s off of the rescue website, and it doesn’t do her justice at all. I promise to get more for you all.

She’s coming around 1030-1100 today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flo

We're Adopting!

A dog, of course.

Her name is Adrianna (Addie) and she’s a 5-year old tri-colored Sheltie. She is very sweet and adorable and loves attention.

I went to the adoption clinic last month to look at a couple of dogs they had. Addie was in her crate when I first got there, but she got up when I came by, looking for attention. Later, when I was sitting around with a couple of the other dogs and Addie was out on a leash, she came over to me several times on her own. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. She wasn’t one I had originally gone to see—I was looking more for a sable, with perky ears, on the younger side. But she was on my list for consideration when I left.

I was sick the next clinic, so I didn’t go. Addie’s picture was gone from the website shortly after that. I thought, “Oh well, she must have been adopted.” She wasn’t gone for long, though.

The rescue group had gotten several new Shelties, so MFD and I set out Saturday to take a look. I asked, and Addie’s foster mom said someone had tried to adopt her, but evidently had problems with her potty habits. She’s not one to rush out and do her business, and I guess they didn’t want to wait so long.

I never said anything to MFD. I was sitting with a couple of the other dogs when MFD came over and said Addie was the one. I even tried to dissuade her—“look at this one with the beautiful blue eyes.” “Addie is 5-years old, don’t you think we should look at one a little younger?” Nope, Addie was the one.

[sigh]

She comes to me on her own…she’s adopted, then she’s not…she’s the one MFD picks out. What other signs do I need?

One of the gals from the rescue group had called last week to see if I was still looking. I had already put in an application and she said she had checked my vet references and I was approved for adoption as soon as I had a fenced in area. We’ve got a walk-out basement with retainer walls on two sides, so we just needed to close off the fourth side, and I told MFD and KSA that’s what I wanted for my birthday.

Baling, delivering, and stacking hay put that on hold, but I told KSA we’d picked our dog, so he made it his priority (once the hay was done, of course) and got it done Monday evening. Someone came out yesterday to check and approve it. Now we’re just waiting for her foster mom to call back to make arrangements to get her.

Addie came from a puppy mill, which surprises me a little because she seems friendlier than a lot of the puppy mill dogs I’ve seen. Those breeders are so disgusting, the only thing they love about the animals they have is the money they can make off of them. A couple of the latest dogs were rescued just days before the owner would have shot them. He was moving and couldn’t take them with him. I just cannot fathom such a callous and heartless being.

But, I think a lot of Addie’s attitude is due to the love and care of her foster mom. And now, like the man throwing the starfish back into the sea, I’m making a difference in the life of at least one girl that’s been rescued. I just hope, for Addie’s sake, that the transition to her furrever home is a smooth one.

Flo

I'm So Lucky

Guess what I got to do for my birthday. (Not you, Holly and Lainy, you already know.) You’ll never guess. Give up? Are you ready for this? You better sit down. You ladies are going to be so jealous you don’t have a husband like mine. I don’t know what I did to deserve such a man.

I had the pleasure of…

…sitting in the tractor and baling hay most of the day.

Yep, that’s right. Overwhelming, isn’t it? Just screams “I love you.”

Ok, it really wasn’t that bad. I haven’t baled for years. MFS took over when he could handle the tractor, then KSA went to round bales. This year he’s got some good brome hay, so he decided to square bale it and sell to horse owners. And since MFS had to work and MFD doesn’t do tractors, I got to do it.

Brought back so many memories. There’s nothing like the smell of diesel, except for maybe JP-4. I forgot ear plugs, so I couldn’t hear KSA half the time. Getting hot and sweaty and dirty…what a way to spend your birthday, huh?

Didn’t take me long to get back into the swing of things. It’s really not that complicated, but you do have to keep an eye on things. Get the RPM up, plant the tire on the edge of the wind row, make sure the baler doesn’t get clogged. Then you just daydream or sing to yourself. It was while we were baling at the other farm that I got the bright idea to sell that farm, get something smaller and move closer to town.

Huh. Maybe that’s why I didn’t bale any more.

Ah well, it all worked out. And I still had a nice day.

Flo

That'll Teach Me To Volunteer

It’s been a week now, and I still get twitches when I think about it, but I want to tell you about my pistol of a nephew.

I don’t know what possessed her, but Lovi felt she and the DB were entitled to a weekend without children. Harrumph! Arrangements had previously been made for MFS to spend the nights over there. I don’t know what he was thinking (or maybe I do), but he had messed up and had scheduled appointments until late Friday. Nice mommy and sister that I am, I offered to take Levi overnight and until MFS finished Saturday.

MFS now owes me WAY more than an ER co-pay.

The kid cannot sit still or be quiet. The talking and the questions started as soon as we got in the car to bring him back here. I’m sure he talks in his sleep, but I didn’t want to chance the sound of my breathing waking him up.

He had been up past his usual bedtime when I told him it was time to get ready for bed. He told me that he really didn’t have to go to bed yet. So I told him he had been up an hour and twelve minutes (and 23 seconds, but who was counting?) longer than usual and I thought that was more than generous of me.

His sister hadn’t packed his pajamas, so we dealt with that and sent him off to bed. Then he needed a drink and he was off to bed. Then he had to go to the bathroom and was off to bed. Then, after telling me he didn’t need night lights any more, he couldn’t see to get to the bed; so we discussed that and he went to bed. Then he told me he would leave the light on until he could say hello and goodnight to MFD (who was at a guitar class that evening) and could I turn the light off when I went to bed; and then he went to bed. Then he had to inform me, this wasn’t something he did on purpose, it just happened, that he woke up at 0700. After informing him that was fine, but that if Uncle KSA was still sleeping, he had to be quiet, he went to bed. Forty-eight minutes later, after I told MFD that if Levi got up one more time, she should tell him she was going to get me, I collapsed on my bed.

Peace and quiet until 0650. Lainy was outside, chain smoking. She had gotten up about 0530, and guess who was there waiting for her when she came out of the bathroom?

We ended up having to take Levi to Mass with us. MFS was home when we got back, but he wasn’t quite ready to take Levi home yet. Levi was ready to go into Leech Mode, but I told him he had to leave MFS alone so he could finish up as soon as possible. Then they were finally out of here. Another 5 minutes and I might have taken up smoking again!

I don’t think they can ever come up with a drug strong enough to numb an experience like that, but I did learn some interesting things about Lovi and her family. Bwahahahahahahahaha!

All in all, I have to say it was entertaining, [twitch]

Flo

They're Here, They're Here!

Look what I got yesterday:

Yes, those would be my new canisters and cookbook from Holly! Aren’t they beautiful? Couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect. (And do you see the third knife from the top? That would be the one that attacked me.)

Here’s reference for ya, Holly, so you know where in the kitchen the pictures were taken:

The dogs love Aunt Holly for using UPS. PJ climbs halfway into the truck waiting for the guy to come out with her treat!

I barely had a chance to remove all the bubble wrap before I had to play Farmer Fran and go bale hay with KSA. But I can hardly wait to try out some of these recipes. First will be the Classic Crème Brulee, which looks like the easiest recipe I have come across.

I bet if I come up with the Ultimate Crème Brulee Diet, I’ll be more famous than Jared from Subway!

Flo