There is a cocktail reception tonight at the convention I'm attending. Here I sit in my hotel room, wearing a royal blue short dress (very beautifully embroidered-from holyclothing.com)and black mid-calf length leggings. So my problem is that I'm wondering whether or not I'm wearing something too "young" for me. I'm not usually one to worry about the age appropriateness of my clothing. I wear what I want to wear, and I do tend to prefer clothes that are worn by people younger than me. I refuse to be stuffy. But will I look ridiculous? This dress could be worn without leggings, but it's too short for me to be comfortable with it. The leggings are kind of cute, but that may just be my opinion. Should I change? The only thing I have left to wear is capri length jeans with jewels and embroidery on the pockets. And I have a nice blouse to wear with it. But I really want to wear this dress. I think it looks pretty good on me (better if I lost a few lbs.,lol)and the color is perfect for me. What should I do?

You know what? I don't care if I look like I'm trying to relive my teenage years. I look younger than my age and have more in common with the younger people that are here than I do the older ones. (Although no one is "stuffy" here.) So I'm going to wear this dress. And no one is going to tell me I look ridiculous even if I do. Who cares? I see these people twice a year. I'm going for it!!! :0)

I'm sitting here at the Hilton in Minneapolis. Of course it's a business trip...I couldn't afford to do this on my own! I took a trek for about 7 blocks down Nicollett Mall. No, it's not really a mall...it's a street...with stores and stuff. Go figure.

I have seminars for the next 2 1/2 days, broken up by a tour of a nursery. (Plants, not babies.) I was going to insert a pic of the view from my room, but it won't upload. Oh, well. It's pretty cool.

When I was on the plane coming here, I saw more lakes than I had ever seen in my life. Wow. I hope I get to go to the Mall of America before I leave. I hate to be up here and not get to go!

I better go get some dinner and get to bed. I got up at 2:30 this morning so I could make my red eye flight. G'Night all!

Here is a picture of my new HHR. The transmission went out on my Grand Am. Now I am forced to eat Ramen Noodles. (A little exaggeration...I ate Thai Kitchen noodles.) There is no double exposure in this picture-that's my Grand Am that you can see just a little bit on the other side of the HHR. Now, how can I save $75 a week to make up for the payments I can't afford?????

This is our office mascot. He came down the railroad tracks a few months ago and he was starving and looked half dead. My boss had someone take him to the vet, get all his shots, have him neutered, and now he's absolutely spoiled rotten. He lies in the path of customers because he knows they will stop and pet him. He's mostly Australian Shepherd. These pictures don't show the true beauty of this dog, but I can't find the other pics right now.

I haven't been on LiveJournal for probably a couple of months. I guess no one missed me. No one has e-mailed to check on me or anything. :(

Here's what's been going on. First of all, I've been working so much that I finally loaded a program so that I could work at home after hours and access my work computer. So I'm putting in a lot of hours. This has been our business season yet, mostly due to a couple of magazines writers talking about one of our products (Better Homes & Gardens, Cooking Light). We weren't informed that they would be mentioned, so we were totally unprepared. I haven't too many chances to do anything fun or catch up on my friends. I hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

Then there was the terrible thing that happened. I don't know if any of you remember last year when my husband had a mini-stroke (TIA)while he was at work and was in the hospital for a few days. That one lasted a few minutes and the whole time he was in the hospital here in Cleveland, TN, they couldn't find any kind of blockage. On Easter Sunday, about 1:30 or so in the morning, he had another one. I noticed he was having trouble turning over and was half asleep, mumbling in distress. I jumped up from the bed and turned the light on and discovered he was paralyzed on the left side of his body. I asked him some questions, like who the president was (which he knew), I ran into the kitchen and grabbed some aspirin and made him take them, then called 911. When the ambulance came, they decided to airlift him to Erlanger Hospital's stroke center in Chattanooga (about 30 miles from Cleveland). I called my mother-in-law and told her what happened and asked if she wanted to go with me, which she did. By the time we got to the hospital (my sons had made it there first)my husband had fully recovered the use of his body. They had already found the blockage in his brain. He was in the hospital for 3 or 4 days (who can remember) and they did an angiogram, but decided not to put a stent in. The good news is that the blockage has been there long enough that there is collateral flow that his body has created to go around the blockage. The bad news is that this could happen again. But we refuse to live our lives worrying about it.

I just wonder why the hospital here in Cleveland didn't find the blockage last year.....

Hey everyone,

I was watching a You Tube video by user name "usetobe803" and he was talking about how he used to weigh 803 lbs. and it talked about some of the things he was going through. He was really pretty sick at one time. There was a link to a Livejournal post, but the last update was December 2007. The video was in July of that year, I think. I was wondering if anyone out there knows what happened to him? For some reason, that video really touched me and I couldn't find out anything else after 2007.

It's been such a long time since I've posted! The last time, I think I had two new kitty cats and that they had to be outside cats because my husband won't ever allow another cat in the house. I don't blame him...my last cat was sick, peed on everything, and was really messy with the litter box.

Sadly, one of my cats disappeared some time ago. It was Watson, the black and white one. My hope is that someone saw him and couldn't resist bringing him into their home. My cats really liked to roam. They would stay gone for a whole day or more. Now that I only have one, he sticks close to home. And I let him in every morning and every evening, but I have to put him out before bedtime.

Last night, the temperature got down to 14 degrees. I looked at my husband pleadingly, and asked him if Sherlock could please stay in the house all night with a temporary litter box. Being kinder hearted than he would like to admit, in came the cat, the dog, and the litter box for the night. When I left for work this morning, it was still 14 degrees. So I left everyone in and left a little note for my husband to please forgive me, and to let out the animals when it warmed up. So he had to let them out when he got home from work.

It was so nice to have a little warm body next to me all night like I used to have with my former kitty. (Doggie stayed in my son and daughter-in-law's room. Dog and cat do not get along yet).I had really missed that. Oh, how I hope the winter brings a lot of low, low temperatures! :0)

Because of these little cuties being so inquisitive, always looking through the french doors, wondering what we are doing...drum roll, please...their names are Sherlock and Watson. :0)






Sherlock



Watson



Sherlock and Watson

Everyone, I need your help! I have these two adorable cats, but they have no names. I put off naming them, because I was afraid they would run away. But it looks like they're here to stay. So I need some names. My husband has threatened me....if I don't get these cats named in the next couple of days, he's going to name them something stupid. Any ideas? I don't want to name them Tiger and Socks, ok? I need something original and clever.

I welcome your ideas.

I hear so much slamming of the "religious right". I'm getting very confused about what most of you consider the religious right. What is that exactly? Why are we putting tags on people, when most of them are individuals who are completely different from each other? Let me tell a little about myself and you all can judge (some people are good at judging) whether I am or not.

I am very religious. I go to church three times a week. I don't believe in abortion (we can kill babies, but it's against the law to kill those out of the womb), but I certainly don't believe in bombing abortion clinics. I don't believe homosexuality is in harmony with the Bible (which most of you don't believe in anyway), but I don't believe in mistreating those who are homosexual and, in fact, I have actually had friends who were gay. I don't understand them, but I don't hate them for it! I would love to see the world converted to Christianity, but I respect your right to say no. I don't badger anyone who doesn't believe the way I do, and I have friends who are pagan, agnostic and atheist. I've even been to a Wiccan wedding! Yes, I wish all my friends believed the same way I do, because some of the things I've heard some of them say or post about religion offends and hurts me. But I don't get on my soapbox and go into a tirade about it.

Also, I think we all have the right to be human and certainly not perfect. I have a dark side (trust me, I really do) which I try to keep under control. So I don't expect people to be perfect. We all do the best we can.

So, dear readers, please tell me if I'm one of your hated "religous right-wingers" or horror of horrors, a "fundy". Tell me if I'm just a label, or am I a person with feelings and ideas of my own.

Here's a pic of one of my new babies. My camera stopped working before I could get a pic of the other one. I'll have to wait until it's repaired to get the other one unless I can get a decent one with my cell phone.

Wow, did everyone take me off their friends list? No reply to my last two posts. And I don't post very often, like many people do. Hmmm.

Anyway, if anyone cares, my kitties were there last night. However, my husband had to rescue one out of a tree. But he was no worse for the wear. The cat, I mean. :0)

Yes, I know I've been away for almost three weeks. I don't know if I'll ever get caught up on commenting, but I have now read every post from all my friends, even if I didn't comment. Please forgive me. Life has been hectic, but now has settled down.

I was going to post a joyful blog about the two new felines I had acquired (both about 6 months old). But, alas, there was sad news yesterday evening. I had a beautiful tabby boy and a black (unknown sex as yet) beauty with white feet. The tabby had come around and was purring and loving the petting. The black cat was still skittish. I had kept them in a very large cage on the deck for about 5 days or so. But I couldn't stand them being locked up any longer. The tabby was fine. I took him out of the cage and put him on the table on the deck where I had placed their food (so my dog couldn't reach it). My son tried to get the black one out of the cage. But in doing so, received quite a scratching and the cat took off under the deck. No problems with the tabby so far. I went back into the house (our dog was locked up in the garage at the time so he wouldn't interfere)and the little kitties came back onto the deck, frolicking and having loads of fun. But then when we let the dog out of the garage, it scared the little felines. I didn't see them all last night or this morning. If they get hungry, will they come back to the deck and eat? Was I wrong to let them out so soon? I think if it had just been the tabby, things would have gone much better. I don't know if I will ever see my babies again, or if they will trudge through the woods and end up at my uncle's house. Or will they try to make it back to their original home? If they show up at one of those places, should I put them back in the cage? Where they don't have room to really play? I have cried over these kitties. I had to put one cat to sleep awhile back and was just now able to open up my heart to these two. I hadn't named them yet for fear of losing them. It seems my fears were justified. My heart is breaking.

I think part of the problem is that they were too old to get used to new surroundings that quickly. If, in fact, they are lost for good, the person I got them from now has a new litter of very small kittens. Their mother disappeared, so they had to be hand fed. The people who had all the kitties lives in an area where there is a large field and there are coyotes everywhere. So if I hadn't taken the two cats, they would have either eventually been eaten by coyotes or taken to the pound. They have a much better chance now, even if they end up somewhere else nearby. But I still want them back safe and sound at my house. If I don't find them today, I'll call my uncle and see if they came through the woods to his house.

Sorry for the long post. I'm just really grieving over these cats and wishing I had done things differently. Putting them in the house wasn't an option. But maybe I should have left them in the cage at least long enough for them to get used to the dog.

I found this website that has clothes that I absolutely love. It's called www.holyclothing.com.
Today I have on this lovely blouse that is kind of a renaissance type thing. I went to the store where my son works. (This is my oldest son, not the one that got married.) This is the conversation that took place:

Me: How do you like my new blouse?
Chris: I guess it's ok. It looks like something a witch would wear.
Me: It's supposed to be renaissance.
Chris: Well, that's kind of the same thing.
Me: So it looks like something Willow would wear? (You have to be a Buffy fan to know who Willow is).
Chris: Willow would look really hot in it.
Me: Ok, I'm going now while my ego is still intact.

One of his co-workers walks by.

Chris: Hey James, this is my mom. Isn't she pretty?

A few weeks ago I posted about how I had to put my kitty to sleep. It was devastating. And now I think I'm just going crazy. Everywhere I turn, I see my cat out of the corner of my eye...only to find that there's really nothing there. The other day I saw his fuzzy tail hanging down from a dining room chair where he sometimes sat. Again, nothing there. I burst into tears. I'm so lonely without him there. I don't know if my "sitings" are from loneliness or guilt. I'm thinking of getting another kitten. If I don't take it, it will end up at the animal shelter and probably be eventually euthanized. I can't let that happen. So I need to take the cat. I just don't know if I'm ready or not. I haven't seen the little thing yet, but I know I'll fall in love with it as soon as I hold it. I don't even know if it's male or female. I hope male because it costs less to get it neutered. But if it's a female, I will still probably take it.

So maybe ghosts aren't such a fantasy after all.....

Today, I'm sitting here with my laptop, the only person in the house that's actually awake. (Except for my best friend's husband, who has already left for work.) My husband, my son, his new wife, and I have been here since Saturday evening and I'm really enjoying being here with my best friend. I do this trip every year and sometimes wish I could move up here. It's a cute little town, about 20 minutes from Indianapolis.

While here, I've been reading a book that I converted to a palm file written by our own livejournal friend amberdine. I have to say that I'm very proud to be friends with such a talented writer. I'm only about 1/4 way through the book, but it's great! It's very well written and a real page turner. This book is definitely good enough to be published!

Also, I'm still waiting patiently for another friend, zoegrace to finish all her editing and get her novel published. Another good book, deserving enough to be read by people all over the world!

It's so inspiring to be surrounded by friends who are so talented. I only named a couple because I'm currently reading their work. There are so many more here on livejournal. Good luck to all of you who are endeavoring to make writing your life's work. I hope I get there someday, too.

I finally went to the vet's office and made an appointment to have my kitty put to sleep. "Put to sleep". What a euphemism. But how can you put something like this delicately? I feel like my heart is being ripped out. Little Toby looks at me like he trusts me completely and I feel like I'm betraying him. Yeah, sure, you can trust me...oh, by the way, I'm having you killed tomorrow. I've cried and cried. I even cried at the vet's office when I was there making the appointment. They were very understanding. So I'm doing it at 9:00 tomorrow. I'm trying to decide if I want to be alone with him or if I want my son there. I know I don't want my husband there. He hates Toby. And then I'm going to work. I'll be better there than at home. All the guys will pamper me and try to help me feel better.

I'm spending all the time I can being with Toby tonight, petting him and holding him. This is so hard! But I know it's the best thing for him. I just wish it felt more right to me. My head knows it's right, but my heart keeps protesting.

After this, I'll have the job of cleaning up all the cat litter, getting rid of all the kitty things in my house. Oh, and we'll probably have to buy new furniture, since there's so much cat urine all over everything.

Next week, I'll be in Indiana, visiting my best friend. That will help a lot, not being here at home missing Toby. And she had to do the same thing with a dog she had for about 18 years. So she knows what I'm going through.

Think about me tomorrow.

Has anyone out there ever heard of WEbooks? It's a site where you start a novel, you network with other writers and it looks like they can critique your work. And if your novel is picked, they will publish it either as a paper book or an e-book. I don't know all the details. I saw them on an ad and checked it out. I want to be VERY careful where I put my work and who sees it. But I'm trying to look at different publishing options. I self-published my first book. The two biggest drawbacks to the way I did it was 1) I had to pay to get it published and 2)They charge too much for it on the website. (I've only sold 10 paper books and 1 on Amazon Kindle.) I am seriously considering looking for an agent for this next one. I have a customer who offered a long time ago to look at an excerpt and see if she knows agents that might be interested. I may contact her at some point and see if she still wants to do that.

Ok, how did I get to rambling when I was originally going to just ask about WEbooks????? :0)

P. S. I've seen my book on websites all over the USA and Europe (even on "Shop MTV"). How in the world does THAT happen?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I've always thought of myself as a very "eclectic" person. I read everything from horror, to mystery/crime, to romance. If asked if I find a young, long-haired tattooed guy or an older sophisticated guy more attractive, I would say "Depends on what day it is." I listen to all kinds of music from classical to heavy metal. (no country music, please!) I'm very religious, but also have a bit of a "dark" side. But today I took this test to determine whether I'm a right brain or left brain person. Each question let you know which answers pointed toward which side of the brain. Mine was split right down the middle! So is there a middle brain???? Is there something wrong with me? Any thoughts?