Well, we finally got a call from the contractor who worked on our patio. I say worked on, because it was never finished. He started on it in March, 2005. We paid him a large chunk of the money, then all but the last $1000 30 days later, then we were supposed to pay the last $1000 when it was completed.
Do you all remember the horrific rains we had in March, 2005? We remember them well. They had cut off the eaves on the back of our house a week before and had assured us that they do this all the time, rain would not be a problem. Well, at 4am when Scott got up, we heard dripping...in the walls. Our bedroom wall was soaking wet, top to bottom, the other side of which is in the kitchen. The other side of our kitchen was also wet, though not as bad. Also, water was dripping through the top of the window ledge in the bathroom and above the shower. Basically, the entire back of the house. Well, the workers came, ripped up the carpet, brought fans in to dry it up, tore out the drywall, patched and replaced, repainted and continued on. The guys worked on the outside of the patio as well. They almost got it done. It took about a week to hotmop the roofing materials because of our wind that we get out here, but that got done, too. Then they disappeared. Scott got in touch with the contractor. Trying to find the roof tiles.
A month goes by...
two months go by...
Scott leaves a message for the guy.
Three months go by.
Another message.
Fast forward to present day.
At least a dozen messages have been left and not one returned.
I finally call a friend who knows these people (how we found him to begin with) and she calls the wife/office manager and tells her we are VERY upset and ready to sue.
I get a message on the machine!
Scott calls her back last night, explains the situation. She says her husband remembers us! He darn well better! She tells us he couldn't find the roof tiles. And that the problems Scott has mentioned that are wrong with the patio (caulking separating, pieces of the windbreak need to be re-attached, etc.) are no longer covered by the one-year warranty. Scott says, "Well, it hasn't been completed yet! How can the warranty be up?" Reply: "The warranty started when the work was STARTED." Never heard of THAT before. "So, have your husband get back to me."
Scott gets a call this morning on his cell phone voice mail. "I am not interested in coming back to complete the job. The $1000 that is still owed should be more than enough to have someone finish it."
That's it? You leave us hanging for over a year and that's it? No, that isn't it. He doesn't know me very well. When all is said and done, he will likely be sorry he didn't just come over and finish it. But he had the opportunity.
My biggest question is why? I am pretty likeable and agreeable. But from day one, this guy would not return my calls. I would call and leave a message on his cell phone and he would call Scott back. He refused to talk to me. Then Scott would call me and relay the message. I had his workers in my house and on my roof and he wouldn't call me back! I never understood that, but just dealt with it. Then pretty soon he wouldn't even call Scott back. Not good business practice if you ask me!
I made a call to a roofer in the phone book and they are coming out tomorrow to give us an estimate. And she put me in touch with a local roofing supply place that has these tiles. Amazing. The phone book. Who would have thought.
Now all I have to do is find all the documentation on this, contract, checks, etc. Hmmm. I am sure I filed it somewhere...which box?
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
No Help Here!
I am taking y'all's advice and just saying no! I will not help you, you dumb so and so. Anyway, upon closer examination of the letter, I realized it is in regards to a lawsuit that this dumb.... is filing. Apparently from prison. Because when I did a search on the computer for the name in the v. _________ section, it is the prison warden! He is suing the warden! What a dumb___! And the presiding judge is a newly appointed judge who believes in honesty and integrity. He gave a speech to the USC Law School graduating class and sounds like a good guy. I don't think he is going to give this yahoo the time of day. Good. Serves him right for filing a stupid lawsuit and tying up the courts. The bottom of the letter says that if I send in the letter, "This will keep any further court actions from affecting you in the future." Darn right, I will complain to the court that I am being harrassed by the guy who broke into my home! Thank you very much for giving me all the info I need to report you and who to give it to!
So, now I know where he is. Which prison, that is. In case I care. Oh, and shouldn't he be listed on the Megan's Law site? He isn't. I checked. They do have people listed there that are still incarcerated. Maybe that is for when they get out and then go back in. I don't believe he has been let out yet. He got twenty eight years and it has only been ten. I don't think he could be let out for good behavior yet, especially if he is pissing off the warden! I think he will be there a while.
I do think, though, that I will give "Jane Doe" a call. She has a right to know what is going on, just in case somehow she is contacted.
Oh what fun.
So, now I know where he is. Which prison, that is. In case I care. Oh, and shouldn't he be listed on the Megan's Law site? He isn't. I checked. They do have people listed there that are still incarcerated. Maybe that is for when they get out and then go back in. I don't believe he has been let out yet. He got twenty eight years and it has only been ten. I don't think he could be let out for good behavior yet, especially if he is pissing off the warden! I think he will be there a while.
I do think, though, that I will give "Jane Doe" a call. She has a right to know what is going on, just in case somehow she is contacted.
Oh what fun.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Things From the Past
I got a letter in the mail today. From an investigator in Florida wanting me to mail something to the District Court in Los Angeles. A statement saying I was not the person who was sexually assaulted in February 1996. Apparently the document was written incorrectly and it showed me as being the first AND third victim.
In September, 1995, one week before my birthday, a man broke into my apt and did disgusting things while I slept. He cut the window screen, climbed in through the window, unplugged my phone from the telephone, but not the wall (this makes all other lines go dead), unplugged my nightlights, moved my cordless phone off my bed and locked the door on the way out. I didn't realize until I woke up at 5:00am or so that someone had been there. It took me an hour to convince myself that someone had indeed been there and to call the cops. The only thing missing was a kitchen knife with a five inch blade from the butcher block. I didn't realize at this time that he had performed lascivious acts on my bed while I slept. The cops told me that this doesn't happen in this neighborhood and it had to be someone I knew. I then proceeded to question and fear every man I knew, until I found out who it was.
Needless to say, I did not stay at the apt for the next two weeks. When I did go back, I returned during the day and then left again, then returned at ten o'clock or so for the night. Well, upon my return at ten o'clock, I found a note on the door from the same guy, describing in detail what he wanted to do "for" me, and, if I was interested, to leave the door open and he would be there at eleven o'clock. He knew I had returned because he had been watching. I hightailed it to the sheriff's dept and gave them the note. I never returned to the apt. except to move my things. I spent the next six months in fear for my life, thinking I was being followed, or watched. I didn't know where this guy was or who he was. The second victim, about four months later, was in the shower when he broke in and stole credit cards and watched her. In February, I was very relieved to find out that he had been caught, but, unfortunately for the third victim, his crimes became much more violent. There were numerous sexual counts against him after he cut the phone line outside her apt and she woke up to a guy on top of her. At the trial, in which I testified against him, he got twenty seven years.
This was not one of the highlights of my life. However, even during this time, God was watching out for me. Aside from the emotional trauma, I escaped unharmed. That was enough.
At the time this all happened, my boss had two of the guys at my job help me move. They didn't want to. Someone at the place I worked decided I was lying and had made all of this up to get attention. Huh? I never really understood that one. I guess since it sounds a bit far-fetched, but it was all true and I had to defend myself against all of them thinking I was lying, on top of what I was going through at the time. Nice. When it showed up in the newspaper six months later, I brought it in to prove I hadn't lied. Then they thought I was trying to get attention. Couldn't win.
Well, I met the third victim, Jane Doe (she didn't want to release her name) through all of this and we became friends, and she has told me that when he is released from prison, they will notify her and she will notify me. I didn't expect to receive a letter from an investigator on his behalf. That gives me the creeps.
It stated in the letter that he doesn't know where I am, but how do I know? The investigator is working on his behalf.
I don't want to help him in any way, but am I bound by law to return this form to the court? If I do, am I helping him?
I am pretty freaked out by this, since I have tried to put it all in the past.
Is he trying to get released from prison and they want the record set straight?
Should I write and try to get involved and explain what DID happen? They apparently cannot get ahold of "Jane", since she did not want to be identified. But I know how to reach her. And if they can't get ahold of her, then how will they notify her when he is released from prison?
Should I call "Jane" and let her know what is going on?
My head is spinning...
In September, 1995, one week before my birthday, a man broke into my apt and did disgusting things while I slept. He cut the window screen, climbed in through the window, unplugged my phone from the telephone, but not the wall (this makes all other lines go dead), unplugged my nightlights, moved my cordless phone off my bed and locked the door on the way out. I didn't realize until I woke up at 5:00am or so that someone had been there. It took me an hour to convince myself that someone had indeed been there and to call the cops. The only thing missing was a kitchen knife with a five inch blade from the butcher block. I didn't realize at this time that he had performed lascivious acts on my bed while I slept. The cops told me that this doesn't happen in this neighborhood and it had to be someone I knew. I then proceeded to question and fear every man I knew, until I found out who it was.
Needless to say, I did not stay at the apt for the next two weeks. When I did go back, I returned during the day and then left again, then returned at ten o'clock or so for the night. Well, upon my return at ten o'clock, I found a note on the door from the same guy, describing in detail what he wanted to do "for" me, and, if I was interested, to leave the door open and he would be there at eleven o'clock. He knew I had returned because he had been watching. I hightailed it to the sheriff's dept and gave them the note. I never returned to the apt. except to move my things. I spent the next six months in fear for my life, thinking I was being followed, or watched. I didn't know where this guy was or who he was. The second victim, about four months later, was in the shower when he broke in and stole credit cards and watched her. In February, I was very relieved to find out that he had been caught, but, unfortunately for the third victim, his crimes became much more violent. There were numerous sexual counts against him after he cut the phone line outside her apt and she woke up to a guy on top of her. At the trial, in which I testified against him, he got twenty seven years.
This was not one of the highlights of my life. However, even during this time, God was watching out for me. Aside from the emotional trauma, I escaped unharmed. That was enough.
At the time this all happened, my boss had two of the guys at my job help me move. They didn't want to. Someone at the place I worked decided I was lying and had made all of this up to get attention. Huh? I never really understood that one. I guess since it sounds a bit far-fetched, but it was all true and I had to defend myself against all of them thinking I was lying, on top of what I was going through at the time. Nice. When it showed up in the newspaper six months later, I brought it in to prove I hadn't lied. Then they thought I was trying to get attention. Couldn't win.
Well, I met the third victim, Jane Doe (she didn't want to release her name) through all of this and we became friends, and she has told me that when he is released from prison, they will notify her and she will notify me. I didn't expect to receive a letter from an investigator on his behalf. That gives me the creeps.
It stated in the letter that he doesn't know where I am, but how do I know? The investigator is working on his behalf.
I don't want to help him in any way, but am I bound by law to return this form to the court? If I do, am I helping him?
I am pretty freaked out by this, since I have tried to put it all in the past.
Is he trying to get released from prison and they want the record set straight?
Should I write and try to get involved and explain what DID happen? They apparently cannot get ahold of "Jane", since she did not want to be identified. But I know how to reach her. And if they can't get ahold of her, then how will they notify her when he is released from prison?
Should I call "Jane" and let her know what is going on?
My head is spinning...
Fun on the Mountain
Today's Forecast
Sunny this morning. Partly cloudy this afternoon with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Locally heavy rain possible with thunderstorms. Highs 100 to 108. West winds 15 to 25 mph this afternoon. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
108. 108!!! WITH possible heavy rain! The rain will be boiling hot! I can't do 108 and raining. That's just gross. I thought the worst of the summer was supposed to be in August. How much worse can it get than 108 and raining?! Ggrrr!
Yesterday we went to my dad's house. I got my oil changed and then we looked for ways the mice were getting in the car. Well, when we pulled out the air filter, the entire bottom of it was covered with little pieces of paper. Nesting materials. Great. The air wasn't so clean. Dad did put a screen on the air intake where we found the dead mouse, so hopefully there won't be any more going in there.
The girls had SO MUCH fun at Papa's house. He took us for a ride in the golf cart, but the battery was going, so I got out at the bottom of the hill and followed the golf cart. He got out a little further up and had Jess put her foot on the gas peddle while he held the steering wheel. They loved the golf cart! Then we had lunch, which the girls ate a ton of. I think it was the mountain air. Remember the story of Heidi? Who goes to visit her grandfather in the mountains of Switzerland and the mtn air is so good for her that she gets really healthy. Well, the girls yesterday had rosy cheeks, ran around in the yard, ate a ton of whole wheat pasta with mushrooms and corn mixed in, with spaghetti sauce and they had a grand time. Then we went outside to water the plants and then drove up to Dad's brother's place. They oversee a Greek Orthodox church camp that is about two miles from Dad's place. Well, when we got there, my aunt was in the pool and my uncle was next to it. So, the girls didn't see her at first, they saw the swingset and were all over that. Big slide on the side and everything. Then they came over to the pool and my aunt, they call her Oma (which is Grandma in German), let Jess get in the water. Stripped down to her undies and put a floaty ring around her. Jess swam around like that for a long time. Then Bekah wanted in so Jess got on the raft and Bekah used the floaty ring. They swam and played and traded places and splashed and then, when it got too cold to stay in any more, Oma brought them a bag of Oreos and sugar cookies and Jess munched on those a while. She sat, shivering by the side of the pool, eating Oreos. She was in heaven! The temp outside never got above 85 degrees up there and when they got out of the pool, it was probably closer to about 75-78. The pool was 75 degrees. Cool. Very cool. We all went inside and Sandy dried their clothes and the girls went up to the attic, which their four granddaughters (10,7,3,2) use as a play room and they had a blast! Then they came down and sat in Opa's chair and munched on all his snacks - pretzels, chocolate covered popcorn(!), cookies, candies. They were not lacking for junk food yesterday! Opa pulled out a bag of beads and they made bead bracelets. We have to finish Jessica's bracelet today. Oma sent them home with a HUGE bag of beads to take home with them. They did not want to go home! But at 8:30, we headed out, with the girls promising they would come back! With a quick stop at Dad's house to gather our things, we headed down the hill and by the time we were halfway to the freeway, Bekah was asleep. Jess wanted to stop at McD's and I pulled in and asked her what she wanted. By the time I got to the window to pay, she was fast asleep. They had a busy, fun exhausting day! Me, too.
It was so nice, though, to be where it was cool. Dad says it was 55 degrees yesterday morning when he sat out on the front porch and ate his breakfast. I can see why he lives there. I would love to have him closer, but how can you beat that? Pine trees, soft breeze blowing, his wildflowers blooming, bunnies hopping around, the sound of quail in the brush, clear, bright blue skies. Dad lives where people go to camp, to get away from it all. Nice.
We will go back again before the summer is out. They are already planning to bring their bathing suits. Actually, they got up this morning and Jess mentioned that they might want to go up there today. Can you blame her? This is the place she got hot cocoa and cookies after playing in the snow and sledding down the hill in the wintertime. She calls it the cookie place. She is going now to draw a picture of the pool and the slide. What fun. I could kick myself for not having a camera with me! Dumb, dumb, dumb. And we just went up for an oil change!
Sunny this morning. Partly cloudy this afternoon with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Locally heavy rain possible with thunderstorms. Highs 100 to 108. West winds 15 to 25 mph this afternoon. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
108. 108!!! WITH possible heavy rain! The rain will be boiling hot! I can't do 108 and raining. That's just gross. I thought the worst of the summer was supposed to be in August. How much worse can it get than 108 and raining?! Ggrrr!
Yesterday we went to my dad's house. I got my oil changed and then we looked for ways the mice were getting in the car. Well, when we pulled out the air filter, the entire bottom of it was covered with little pieces of paper. Nesting materials. Great. The air wasn't so clean. Dad did put a screen on the air intake where we found the dead mouse, so hopefully there won't be any more going in there.
The girls had SO MUCH fun at Papa's house. He took us for a ride in the golf cart, but the battery was going, so I got out at the bottom of the hill and followed the golf cart. He got out a little further up and had Jess put her foot on the gas peddle while he held the steering wheel. They loved the golf cart! Then we had lunch, which the girls ate a ton of. I think it was the mountain air. Remember the story of Heidi? Who goes to visit her grandfather in the mountains of Switzerland and the mtn air is so good for her that she gets really healthy. Well, the girls yesterday had rosy cheeks, ran around in the yard, ate a ton of whole wheat pasta with mushrooms and corn mixed in, with spaghetti sauce and they had a grand time. Then we went outside to water the plants and then drove up to Dad's brother's place. They oversee a Greek Orthodox church camp that is about two miles from Dad's place. Well, when we got there, my aunt was in the pool and my uncle was next to it. So, the girls didn't see her at first, they saw the swingset and were all over that. Big slide on the side and everything. Then they came over to the pool and my aunt, they call her Oma (which is Grandma in German), let Jess get in the water. Stripped down to her undies and put a floaty ring around her. Jess swam around like that for a long time. Then Bekah wanted in so Jess got on the raft and Bekah used the floaty ring. They swam and played and traded places and splashed and then, when it got too cold to stay in any more, Oma brought them a bag of Oreos and sugar cookies and Jess munched on those a while. She sat, shivering by the side of the pool, eating Oreos. She was in heaven! The temp outside never got above 85 degrees up there and when they got out of the pool, it was probably closer to about 75-78. The pool was 75 degrees. Cool. Very cool. We all went inside and Sandy dried their clothes and the girls went up to the attic, which their four granddaughters (10,7,3,2) use as a play room and they had a blast! Then they came down and sat in Opa's chair and munched on all his snacks - pretzels, chocolate covered popcorn(!), cookies, candies. They were not lacking for junk food yesterday! Opa pulled out a bag of beads and they made bead bracelets. We have to finish Jessica's bracelet today. Oma sent them home with a HUGE bag of beads to take home with them. They did not want to go home! But at 8:30, we headed out, with the girls promising they would come back! With a quick stop at Dad's house to gather our things, we headed down the hill and by the time we were halfway to the freeway, Bekah was asleep. Jess wanted to stop at McD's and I pulled in and asked her what she wanted. By the time I got to the window to pay, she was fast asleep. They had a busy, fun exhausting day! Me, too.
It was so nice, though, to be where it was cool. Dad says it was 55 degrees yesterday morning when he sat out on the front porch and ate his breakfast. I can see why he lives there. I would love to have him closer, but how can you beat that? Pine trees, soft breeze blowing, his wildflowers blooming, bunnies hopping around, the sound of quail in the brush, clear, bright blue skies. Dad lives where people go to camp, to get away from it all. Nice.
We will go back again before the summer is out. They are already planning to bring their bathing suits. Actually, they got up this morning and Jess mentioned that they might want to go up there today. Can you blame her? This is the place she got hot cocoa and cookies after playing in the snow and sledding down the hill in the wintertime. She calls it the cookie place. She is going now to draw a picture of the pool and the slide. What fun. I could kick myself for not having a camera with me! Dumb, dumb, dumb. And we just went up for an oil change!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
thoughts
So, we were at the Home Depot on Sunday afternoon and there was a squirrel running around inside eating all the seeds under the seed display and trying to find other food. Jess announced to everyone who walked by that they had better watch out because there was a real live squirrel in there! So, she tells this to a HD employee and the lady tells me that about a week earlier they had five hundred toads there that were in the fountain in the garden area. People came and got them and took them home. Small ones. Well, I had read that after the toads are attached for two or three days (!) they lay eggs and have about 400 eggs. Umm, when I mentioned this to Scott, he said we may want to get rid of the toads. It is going to feel like another plague around here! I'm telling you, this desert stuff is for the birds. Who have also been hanging around my front porch a lot lately. Either they are trying to eat the toads or they are waiting for the babies.
Scott caught another gopher by water the other day. We flushed him out. That is four with traps and three with water. The water way is a lot less hassle. And we do it when Scott is home and he gets the satisfaction of killing something. Dad really enjoyed shooting his, but I don't think we could get away with that here.
Our lovely neighbors up the street decided that since they didn't get to do fireworks on the fourth, they would throw a party the day after. A Wednesday. Mid week. Fireworks going off until after 10pm. Dogs barking, can't sleep. Talk about annoying! He is a sheriff, one of MANY in our neighborhood, and one of three on our street within about 8 houses. Well, he probably had to work on the 4th, so they had all their friends over last night and woke up the whole neighborhood. On the 4th, the people one house over behind us had purchased a Ryder truck full of fireworks and that took a while to use up. They were shooting fireworks late into the night on the 4th. Our dogs are sleeping during the day since they cannot possibly at night. What fun. You would think with all the brush we have out here that people wouldn't shoot these things off, but they are for sale everywhere! Dumb. Be thankful you live in the city where they are not allowed!
On the fourth, we went to our friends house and had a bbq and watched the fireworks from their balcony overlooking the whole valley. They had a great view and it was nice. Their neighbors and every tenth house was shooting off fireworks. Pretty, but I can wait another year to see them again. Last year we went to the fairgrounds, well, off the fairgrounds. You just drive out to any street near there and park. There are only open fields around the fairgrounds, so you can see them from anywhere.
That was fun. Especially watching the fires that the fireworks started and the closing of the freeway so they could put out the fires. Like I said, they probably shouldn't have fireworks out here. But since it is not my decision to make, they will still have fireworks. If they would only listen to me...
Scott caught another gopher by water the other day. We flushed him out. That is four with traps and three with water. The water way is a lot less hassle. And we do it when Scott is home and he gets the satisfaction of killing something. Dad really enjoyed shooting his, but I don't think we could get away with that here.
Our lovely neighbors up the street decided that since they didn't get to do fireworks on the fourth, they would throw a party the day after. A Wednesday. Mid week. Fireworks going off until after 10pm. Dogs barking, can't sleep. Talk about annoying! He is a sheriff, one of MANY in our neighborhood, and one of three on our street within about 8 houses. Well, he probably had to work on the 4th, so they had all their friends over last night and woke up the whole neighborhood. On the 4th, the people one house over behind us had purchased a Ryder truck full of fireworks and that took a while to use up. They were shooting fireworks late into the night on the 4th. Our dogs are sleeping during the day since they cannot possibly at night. What fun. You would think with all the brush we have out here that people wouldn't shoot these things off, but they are for sale everywhere! Dumb. Be thankful you live in the city where they are not allowed!
On the fourth, we went to our friends house and had a bbq and watched the fireworks from their balcony overlooking the whole valley. They had a great view and it was nice. Their neighbors and every tenth house was shooting off fireworks. Pretty, but I can wait another year to see them again. Last year we went to the fairgrounds, well, off the fairgrounds. You just drive out to any street near there and park. There are only open fields around the fairgrounds, so you can see them from anywhere.
That was fun. Especially watching the fires that the fireworks started and the closing of the freeway so they could put out the fires. Like I said, they probably shouldn't have fireworks out here. But since it is not my decision to make, they will still have fireworks. If they would only listen to me...
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
It's Hot
The forecast. Hot. Sunny. The extended forecast. Hot. Sunny. The foreseeable future. Hot. Sunny.
I don't like hot and sunny. I want cool and cloudy. Sixty degrees, streaky clouds through the sky. Light breeze blowing. Maybe a little sprinkly. I am ready for winter. I would rather complain that it is too cold out than too hot. I can't wait for the cold! Plus, I look better with a whole bunch of clothes on than less clothing. Hmm. I should have been born in the Pacific Northwest. Someday that is where I would like to be. I know my husband concurs, but what of the job, kids, etc. Oh well. I have a nice home, wonderful hubby, great kids, hubby has a good job. I have nothing to complain about. I'm just hot and I don't want to pay the electric bill if I put the a/c on. Thank you God, that I have a/c. Thank you God, that I have a home. Thank you God, for all that you provide.
I am not feeling as hot now......
I don't like hot and sunny. I want cool and cloudy. Sixty degrees, streaky clouds through the sky. Light breeze blowing. Maybe a little sprinkly. I am ready for winter. I would rather complain that it is too cold out than too hot. I can't wait for the cold! Plus, I look better with a whole bunch of clothes on than less clothing. Hmm. I should have been born in the Pacific Northwest. Someday that is where I would like to be. I know my husband concurs, but what of the job, kids, etc. Oh well. I have a nice home, wonderful hubby, great kids, hubby has a good job. I have nothing to complain about. I'm just hot and I don't want to pay the electric bill if I put the a/c on. Thank you God, that I have a/c. Thank you God, that I have a home. Thank you God, for all that you provide.
I am not feeling as hot now......
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Toady
Well, I was watering last night in the front yard and I splashed a little water in the hole that we flooded the gopher with recently. I looked at the hole next to it and saw a little head pop out. Then another one. At first I thought it was more gophers. Nope. It was our toads. I thought we had only one, however it seems she found a mate. I didn't know they burrow underground and they decided to set up shop in the gophers hole. I had been having a problem with daddy long legs in the front yard and they seem to be all gone. These little guys, or not so little, the female is about four inches long, eat all the bugs. Cool! Too bad they don't eat mice. So, they are harmless as long as we leave them alone and they'll take the place of Hydrex. Cheaper, too. So, we are letting them stay. I did a little research on the toads and they seem okay. Pretty ugly, though! Maybe they will keep the gophers out of those holes!
Oh, and a little information on the story below. Scott figured I copied it from somewhere. No, this is all original Amy. Hope you enjoy it!
Paula and the Angel
Paula and the Angel
Paula was crying. It seemed to her she was always crying now. Nothing ever seemed to go her way. She didn’t know what she was going to do next, but she knew something was going to have to change. She was unhappy at home. Her parents were fighting all the time. She was miserable at school; the other kids picked on her. Boys didn’t like her because she wasn’t pretty or popular and girls made fun of her because she was smart. She just wanted to be left alone.
Paula cried out to God to help her find a way to handle all the things that were making her so upset. She wanted out. She knew that there were only so many options that she had, and she knew that running away from her problems wouldn’t solve anything, it would only make things worse. A girl at her school had run away from home the year before and Paula had heard that she became addicted to drugs and was living in a horrible area with a bunch of other runaways. No, running away would not solve her problems.
So, Paula knelt down next to her bed and put her head in her hands. She prayed that somehow the Lord would help her through this time in her life and help her to get through it. Send me someone, Lord, to help me deal with all of these things. She continued to pray until she fell asleep. Paula awoke with a start. The lamp next to her bed had been the only light on in the room, but somehow, the room was brilliantly lit. As though a bright candle, brighter than any she had ever seen, was somehow lighting up the room. She looked around her and saw a figure, about eight feet tall, with golden hair flowing in loose waves down her back, standing in the middle of the room. Paula sucked in her breath, not wanting to make a noise. But, somehow, she was not afraid. “Could this be my Guardian Angel?” she thought. “I am,” the figure said. “I was sent to you to help and protect you. You are in need of help and I have come to show you the way.” Paula realized the angel had understood her thoughts before she spoke. “Cool,” she thought, “I don’t even have to speak and you can hear me!”
She spoke with the angel, in hushed tones, so as not to wake anyone else in the family. She couldn’t believe she was having a conversation with an angel. The angel introduced herself as Clarice, and explained that she was sent to help Paula, however, that this help was going to be in the way of helping others. Clarice was to take Paula to other places to help those in need. Paula would then realize that in helping others with problems greater than her own, her problems would seem less significant and she would be able to handle them.
Clarice explained that they were going to travel together to a place called Dodoma in Tanzania to help deliver rice and beans to the people there who were starving because of a famine there. “Are you ready?” Clarice asked her. “Yes, I think so.” Paula answered.
The next thing Paula knew, she was in the back of an old truck, lumbering along a dirt road, with Clarice by her side. But not as she had seen her before. The angel was sitting down next to Paula, but Paula could tell she was not as tall as she had been before. Her face still shone brightly, but only in a way of one who has a great secret, a warm wonderful something that they want to share with everyone else, but can’t. Clarice was wearing a soft cotton plaid shirt and blue jeans, neat and tidy, but not extravagant. She had on plain white cotton tennis shoes and her golden locks were pulled back in a pony tail, away from her face. There were other people in the back of the truck, also. An older man, probably a priest, dressed in a black shirt and black pants, with a large cross around his neck. An older woman, dressed in a light cotton dress, buttoned up to her neck, except for the top button. She was smiling and trying to hold her hair back, but the wind was blowing it all over and she was losing the fight. Still, she seemed at peace and happy to be there. Paula then realized that they were sitting between huge white bags. There must have been about 10 or 12 of them and they probably weighed 50-60 pounds each. She realized that they must be filled with food. It didn’t take long to realize, too, that the sun was beating down on them and it was very hot. She went to take off her jacket, then realized she didn’t have one on. The heat was so intense and dry that she yearned for a glass of ice water, however, she realized that would be impossible here. She was already beginning to see that her problems didn’t amount to much. Paula glanced over at Clarice and Clarice nodded, because she knew that Paula was seeing a picture bigger than her own. She understood that Paula was miserable here and felt sorry for the people here. She knew, too, that Paula needed to be here, to see this and to understand what others were suffering.
The truck continued on down the road, seemingly hitting every pothole along the way. Dirt and dust were being kicked up by the tires and it was miserable for all those in the back. But they were on a mission. To bring these desperately needed food supplies to the people here who were starving.
They reached their destination and a man came around to the back of the truck to open it. Paula had not seen this man before. He was very thin, wore a loose fitting linen-type shirt, a medium gray color that almost matched the color of his hair. He was stooped over, seemingly from years of heavy work and yet, he was joyful. Not just content. Not at peace. He was happy. He had a look on his face of one who was truly in love with Christ. Paula realized that when she was a child and had accepted Christ, that her face had shown like that, but that in the last year or two, her smile had faded and she seemed to be trudging along, trying to get by, not thanking God for His blessing and redemption. She found herself staring at this man and he glanced up at her and gave her a big, cheerful smile and she felt even more remorseful than she already did. How could she have forgotten to say thank you to her dear Lord?
They all piled out of the truck and Paula took a look at the people around her. She realized that although she had never been overweight, she felt self-conscious of her weight among these people. Everyone was so thin. The children’s clothes hung on them as though they were on a hanger. Loose fitting dresses on the girls and baggy shorts on the boys. She realized that this food that they were bringing was necessary for their survival.
Clarice grabbed a bag once she got off the back of the truck and dragged it over to where they were all piled up. Paula did the same, though she was rescued by one of the other men, for she could not lift the heavy bag.
People were beginning to gather all around them. They formed a line and were waiting patiently, more patiently, Paula realized, than what she would have been, given the circumstances. The man who had been driving the truck spoke to the people and they brought their bowls over to him and he scooped out rice and beans as the people lined up for it. They all seemed to be saying thank you over and over, grateful for this meager ration that had been brought to them.
“Have I forgotten how fortunate I am? Have I neglected my Lord because of all the other things that have crowded my mind?” Clarice looked over at her. “Yes, you have. But you may make things right with Him now.” Paula bowed her head, ready to pray and thank the Lord for all His blessings, for His compassion and for giving her the opportunity to see that her problems were not insurmountable with His help. As she lifted her head, she realized she was back in her room, with her head on her bed, kneeling on the rug. “Thank you, God, for sending my angel to me and for showing me the things I need to change in my life. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to see all that You are doing and for showing me that You can take care of people in depressed nations and You can take care of me!”
Then she got up, still feeling tired and hot and went downstairs to get herself a tall glass of ice water. As she drank it, she said another prayer. This one for the people in other parts of the world who didn’t have the luxuries she was used to. And she thanked God for all He provides. And she slept better that night than she had ever slept before.
Paula was crying. It seemed to her she was always crying now. Nothing ever seemed to go her way. She didn’t know what she was going to do next, but she knew something was going to have to change. She was unhappy at home. Her parents were fighting all the time. She was miserable at school; the other kids picked on her. Boys didn’t like her because she wasn’t pretty or popular and girls made fun of her because she was smart. She just wanted to be left alone.
Paula cried out to God to help her find a way to handle all the things that were making her so upset. She wanted out. She knew that there were only so many options that she had, and she knew that running away from her problems wouldn’t solve anything, it would only make things worse. A girl at her school had run away from home the year before and Paula had heard that she became addicted to drugs and was living in a horrible area with a bunch of other runaways. No, running away would not solve her problems.
So, Paula knelt down next to her bed and put her head in her hands. She prayed that somehow the Lord would help her through this time in her life and help her to get through it. Send me someone, Lord, to help me deal with all of these things. She continued to pray until she fell asleep. Paula awoke with a start. The lamp next to her bed had been the only light on in the room, but somehow, the room was brilliantly lit. As though a bright candle, brighter than any she had ever seen, was somehow lighting up the room. She looked around her and saw a figure, about eight feet tall, with golden hair flowing in loose waves down her back, standing in the middle of the room. Paula sucked in her breath, not wanting to make a noise. But, somehow, she was not afraid. “Could this be my Guardian Angel?” she thought. “I am,” the figure said. “I was sent to you to help and protect you. You are in need of help and I have come to show you the way.” Paula realized the angel had understood her thoughts before she spoke. “Cool,” she thought, “I don’t even have to speak and you can hear me!”
She spoke with the angel, in hushed tones, so as not to wake anyone else in the family. She couldn’t believe she was having a conversation with an angel. The angel introduced herself as Clarice, and explained that she was sent to help Paula, however, that this help was going to be in the way of helping others. Clarice was to take Paula to other places to help those in need. Paula would then realize that in helping others with problems greater than her own, her problems would seem less significant and she would be able to handle them.
Clarice explained that they were going to travel together to a place called Dodoma in Tanzania to help deliver rice and beans to the people there who were starving because of a famine there. “Are you ready?” Clarice asked her. “Yes, I think so.” Paula answered.
The next thing Paula knew, she was in the back of an old truck, lumbering along a dirt road, with Clarice by her side. But not as she had seen her before. The angel was sitting down next to Paula, but Paula could tell she was not as tall as she had been before. Her face still shone brightly, but only in a way of one who has a great secret, a warm wonderful something that they want to share with everyone else, but can’t. Clarice was wearing a soft cotton plaid shirt and blue jeans, neat and tidy, but not extravagant. She had on plain white cotton tennis shoes and her golden locks were pulled back in a pony tail, away from her face. There were other people in the back of the truck, also. An older man, probably a priest, dressed in a black shirt and black pants, with a large cross around his neck. An older woman, dressed in a light cotton dress, buttoned up to her neck, except for the top button. She was smiling and trying to hold her hair back, but the wind was blowing it all over and she was losing the fight. Still, she seemed at peace and happy to be there. Paula then realized that they were sitting between huge white bags. There must have been about 10 or 12 of them and they probably weighed 50-60 pounds each. She realized that they must be filled with food. It didn’t take long to realize, too, that the sun was beating down on them and it was very hot. She went to take off her jacket, then realized she didn’t have one on. The heat was so intense and dry that she yearned for a glass of ice water, however, she realized that would be impossible here. She was already beginning to see that her problems didn’t amount to much. Paula glanced over at Clarice and Clarice nodded, because she knew that Paula was seeing a picture bigger than her own. She understood that Paula was miserable here and felt sorry for the people here. She knew, too, that Paula needed to be here, to see this and to understand what others were suffering.
The truck continued on down the road, seemingly hitting every pothole along the way. Dirt and dust were being kicked up by the tires and it was miserable for all those in the back. But they were on a mission. To bring these desperately needed food supplies to the people here who were starving.
They reached their destination and a man came around to the back of the truck to open it. Paula had not seen this man before. He was very thin, wore a loose fitting linen-type shirt, a medium gray color that almost matched the color of his hair. He was stooped over, seemingly from years of heavy work and yet, he was joyful. Not just content. Not at peace. He was happy. He had a look on his face of one who was truly in love with Christ. Paula realized that when she was a child and had accepted Christ, that her face had shown like that, but that in the last year or two, her smile had faded and she seemed to be trudging along, trying to get by, not thanking God for His blessing and redemption. She found herself staring at this man and he glanced up at her and gave her a big, cheerful smile and she felt even more remorseful than she already did. How could she have forgotten to say thank you to her dear Lord?
They all piled out of the truck and Paula took a look at the people around her. She realized that although she had never been overweight, she felt self-conscious of her weight among these people. Everyone was so thin. The children’s clothes hung on them as though they were on a hanger. Loose fitting dresses on the girls and baggy shorts on the boys. She realized that this food that they were bringing was necessary for their survival.
Clarice grabbed a bag once she got off the back of the truck and dragged it over to where they were all piled up. Paula did the same, though she was rescued by one of the other men, for she could not lift the heavy bag.
People were beginning to gather all around them. They formed a line and were waiting patiently, more patiently, Paula realized, than what she would have been, given the circumstances. The man who had been driving the truck spoke to the people and they brought their bowls over to him and he scooped out rice and beans as the people lined up for it. They all seemed to be saying thank you over and over, grateful for this meager ration that had been brought to them.
“Have I forgotten how fortunate I am? Have I neglected my Lord because of all the other things that have crowded my mind?” Clarice looked over at her. “Yes, you have. But you may make things right with Him now.” Paula bowed her head, ready to pray and thank the Lord for all His blessings, for His compassion and for giving her the opportunity to see that her problems were not insurmountable with His help. As she lifted her head, she realized she was back in her room, with her head on her bed, kneeling on the rug. “Thank you, God, for sending my angel to me and for showing me the things I need to change in my life. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to see all that You are doing and for showing me that You can take care of people in depressed nations and You can take care of me!”
Then she got up, still feeling tired and hot and went downstairs to get herself a tall glass of ice water. As she drank it, she said another prayer. This one for the people in other parts of the world who didn’t have the luxuries she was used to. And she thanked God for all He provides. And she slept better that night than she had ever slept before.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sick and Tired
I went up Sunday for "a bless". Father Rich prayed for me and said it seemed as though I am trying really hard to be happy. You hit the nail on the head, Father. Well, apart from my trying to save money and having to cook every meal at home (currently over a hot stove), I have been trying to get my house clean. Every time I try to clean something, either the kids need me or they need something to eat, or they just need attention. I have about 200 interruptions per day. At this rate, I might be able to get my house cleaned up in, say, September, 2012. I have been staying at home a lot lately, like Peg, to save money and gas, however, since it has been like in the low 100's here, and I am trying to save money on air conditioning, too, it has been exceptionally hot. So, when it is 80 in the house, you don't feel like cleaning. And the last few days it has been extremely humid, too. So, at least once per day, I stick my head in the freezer to keep cool, with the excuse of trying to find something for dinner in there. Well, it takes a long time to find something in the freezer...
The only saving grace is a gift from a friend. Last night, after sweating over a hot stove making tacos, I climbed in the pool with the girls. Now most of you will be thinking, they don't have a pool. But, alas, thanks to Julie, we do! It is about 8 feet across and two feet deep. Just perfect. Has a pump and everything. Very cool! Literally! The girls have thoroughly enjoyed it! It even came with a floaty thing for Rebekah to sit in and a cover that ties on and won't blow away in our gale force winds. We parked it on the back patio under the patio cover and the girls can go in without getting sunburned. And when we needed to change the water in it, we just dumped it all over the grass, which needed watering anyway. Cool! I went to bed last night feeling very cooled down. It was great. I highly recommend a dip in the pool before going to bed.
Another thing that is causing me angst is my mouse. Or, should I say, mice. They are everywhere. My neighbors have them, too. The neighbor's cat has been catching them in the house, but the cat decided to bring a prize onto their bed and kill it there. At least I don't have them in the house! They ARE in my garage and in my car, in my backyard and in my bbq. They are driving me nuts. I have figured out how to get rid of the gophers, now how do I get rid of the mice? I was driving down the street the other day and I happened to glance on the floor behind the front passenger seat. I saw a mouse run under the seat. I was DRIVING! This is not good! I have no junk in my car. The girls are not allowed to bring stuff in the car. I need to vacuum it again because there is mouse poo in my car. Nice. I don't know how to keep them out of my car. I need to try the peppermint oil. I am going to get some tomorrow. Today. It is two in the morning. We used the bbq the other night and I went back out to make sure it was turned off. Open the lid and a mouse stares up at me. Great. Do you try to incinerate the mouse in the bbq or just let him leave without an incident? I let him leave. What's one more mouse in the scheme of things?
Top Ten Ways To Know You Have a Mouse Problem
10 You find a dead mouse in your car's a/c unit
9 You make noises before going into your garage to scare them away
8 You open your car as loudly as possible so as to scare away the mice.
7 Your car is clean...except for the mouse poo
6 Your car is never clean, except now that you have mice
5 You have a mouse in your car and you don't panic
4 You catch three mice in your garage...without a trap (they all climbed in the trash can voluntarily)
3 Your children are not afraid of mice...and they cheer when you catch one in the glue trap
2 You consider hiring a big mean cat to scare away the mice
1 You spend more time thinking about mice than about gophers
Uggh! I am so sick of this. Last year was the floods, which probably contributed to the mice this year. You know, more vegetation, food, places to hide and have babies. This year is the mice. Are we going to have snakes next year? It feels like the plagues!
Thank you God, for sending mice and not snakes or scorpions. I mean it.
Anyway, I have been trying really hard to be happy amidst all of this. I know God loves me and I have been trying to be faithful and have trust in Him that He will take care of me. Spiritually, financially, emotionally. Listening to Canon Gary was amazing, and eye-opening. I just need to have more faith.
I am also a bit jealous of Scott. Getting to take these courses and learn all this stuff. I see him in church, praising God, lifting his hands. Reckless abandon. How cool! I always feel I have to watch out for the girls, but less so now that Bekah goes in with Grace. Scott is doing very well. He has learned so much. He has so much more faith than I do. Thank you God, that I am married to a rock. He is wonderful and I am so blessed that God chose him as my husband. I would not have made such a good choice. God knew better than I did. I am curious where God will lead our family in the coming years. He has a plan, we just don't know what it is. I love my husband so much and I can't wait to see what God has in store for him.
I am trying to be happy, but it helps to get some of it out here. Thanks for listening. To whom should I make out my check for this session?
The only saving grace is a gift from a friend. Last night, after sweating over a hot stove making tacos, I climbed in the pool with the girls. Now most of you will be thinking, they don't have a pool. But, alas, thanks to Julie, we do! It is about 8 feet across and two feet deep. Just perfect. Has a pump and everything. Very cool! Literally! The girls have thoroughly enjoyed it! It even came with a floaty thing for Rebekah to sit in and a cover that ties on and won't blow away in our gale force winds. We parked it on the back patio under the patio cover and the girls can go in without getting sunburned. And when we needed to change the water in it, we just dumped it all over the grass, which needed watering anyway. Cool! I went to bed last night feeling very cooled down. It was great. I highly recommend a dip in the pool before going to bed.
Another thing that is causing me angst is my mouse. Or, should I say, mice. They are everywhere. My neighbors have them, too. The neighbor's cat has been catching them in the house, but the cat decided to bring a prize onto their bed and kill it there. At least I don't have them in the house! They ARE in my garage and in my car, in my backyard and in my bbq. They are driving me nuts. I have figured out how to get rid of the gophers, now how do I get rid of the mice? I was driving down the street the other day and I happened to glance on the floor behind the front passenger seat. I saw a mouse run under the seat. I was DRIVING! This is not good! I have no junk in my car. The girls are not allowed to bring stuff in the car. I need to vacuum it again because there is mouse poo in my car. Nice. I don't know how to keep them out of my car. I need to try the peppermint oil. I am going to get some tomorrow. Today. It is two in the morning. We used the bbq the other night and I went back out to make sure it was turned off. Open the lid and a mouse stares up at me. Great. Do you try to incinerate the mouse in the bbq or just let him leave without an incident? I let him leave. What's one more mouse in the scheme of things?
Top Ten Ways To Know You Have a Mouse Problem
10 You find a dead mouse in your car's a/c unit
9 You make noises before going into your garage to scare them away
8 You open your car as loudly as possible so as to scare away the mice.
7 Your car is clean...except for the mouse poo
6 Your car is never clean, except now that you have mice
5 You have a mouse in your car and you don't panic
4 You catch three mice in your garage...without a trap (they all climbed in the trash can voluntarily)
3 Your children are not afraid of mice...and they cheer when you catch one in the glue trap
2 You consider hiring a big mean cat to scare away the mice
1 You spend more time thinking about mice than about gophers
Uggh! I am so sick of this. Last year was the floods, which probably contributed to the mice this year. You know, more vegetation, food, places to hide and have babies. This year is the mice. Are we going to have snakes next year? It feels like the plagues!
Thank you God, for sending mice and not snakes or scorpions. I mean it.
Anyway, I have been trying really hard to be happy amidst all of this. I know God loves me and I have been trying to be faithful and have trust in Him that He will take care of me. Spiritually, financially, emotionally. Listening to Canon Gary was amazing, and eye-opening. I just need to have more faith.
I am also a bit jealous of Scott. Getting to take these courses and learn all this stuff. I see him in church, praising God, lifting his hands. Reckless abandon. How cool! I always feel I have to watch out for the girls, but less so now that Bekah goes in with Grace. Scott is doing very well. He has learned so much. He has so much more faith than I do. Thank you God, that I am married to a rock. He is wonderful and I am so blessed that God chose him as my husband. I would not have made such a good choice. God knew better than I did. I am curious where God will lead our family in the coming years. He has a plan, we just don't know what it is. I love my husband so much and I can't wait to see what God has in store for him.
I am trying to be happy, but it helps to get some of it out here. Thanks for listening. To whom should I make out my check for this session?
Friday, June 16, 2006
Life in the Desert
I wish it was life in the dessert! Oh, well. We caught another one. There seems to be an abundant, never ending supply of gophers here in the desert. Mice too. And of all things, we are going to Chuck E Cheese today. More mice. I spoke with my neighbor the other day and she told me that the elementary school where her son goes just put out poison for the gophers a couple of weeks ago. The kids couldn't go outside for six days. Well, they picked up over seven THOUSAND dead gophers on the lawn at the school. Yeah, thousand. Her son looked outside of his classroom one day and said he could count over a hundred right outside the window. That's a lot of gophers. I guess I am fighting a losing battle. A whole bunch of the bulbs that I planted in the spring have been dug up and eaten. I thought I was victorious again when I caught one in the trap at the beginning of the week. Then I walked out to the slope and found a huge pile of soft dirt and a couple of holes in my lawn. That's where I draw the line. Well, I was watering, so I stuffed the hose in the hole. Instead of bubbling out, it went down. So, I waited. It kept going. So, I waited. It started to finally come out halfway down the slope. As I was pulling the hose out, I looked about halfway down the slope and saw fur. Grey and wet. I yelled to Scott to come out and help me. He ran outside, without shoes on, and brought a shovel with him. I had the hose and kept water on the guy. He was coming straight at me! He was about two feet away when he went sideways on the slope and behind a big flowering bush. He was trying to dig, but I kept the water on him and he was moving really slow. Well, Scott and the shovel came to my rescue. His innerds became outerds, so to speak and the gopher was no more. I guess this will be a continuous battle. Bummer. I will not be able to have bulbs out here. Not until there is more civilization around me. Or maybe just in containers. My calla lilies in the planter are coming up nicely. Of course, they will probably burn up in the heat before they have flowers. Oh, well, such is life in the desert. At least we don't have the quantity of stink bugs that my sister in law has at her house, crawling all over the place. Yuck. We don't have cockroaches out here and we don't have fleas. I haven't seen any scorpions yet and only a few black widows, not like in the valley. But mice and gophers are abundant. No more mice in my car. Good incentive to keep it clean!
I had to juggle activities tomorrow. Possible activities for tomorrow included helping my mother in law's friend Andy pack up his stuff to move, go see my aunt who I haven't seen in almost a year, go cherry picking with Dad, go to a birthday party. Well, we will be going cherry picking EARLY in the morning, like at 8:00, then off to the birthday party. With the kids running around, I would probably be more trouble than help with the move. And thankfully my aunt understands. This is why it is important to look at your calendar before you make plans. I, who never have any plans, made multiple plans on the same day. I am beginning to feel like someone else I know, who can't make any plans until she checks her calendar! Thankfully, I am not that busy. But I do need to check the calendar!
The girls are doing very well. Looking forward to the birthday party. They helped pick out the presents and Jess has been counting the days until it is time to go. She loves parties and being with people. She has had the dress picked out that she is going to wear for a few days already. Rebekah has been building with lego's lately. She built a "robot" and a house. She said she needs more lego's. We have been listening to The Chronicles of Narnia in the car on audio CD's. It is wonderful. And the girls have watched the movie so many times that Rebekah has even memorized the lines. She sat on my lap and looked at me and frowned. "Well, I ain't gonna smell it, if that's what you want!" I burst out laughing and so did she. It was very funny. She's funny without trying to be. I just love my girls.
We are getting ready for Jessica's ballet recital on July 1. She "performed" for us the other night and did the whole thing perfectly. I know because yesterday in her ballet class we got to watch the whole class do it and she was great! Her teacher said she knows the material, she just doesn't listen very well. When I was in grade school, they always told my mom, "Amy is very smart, she just doesn't apply herself." Well, my mom's request that I get a kid just like me, so I know what she went through came true. Jess is a lot like I was. What am I in for? A fun time, I think, she is a joy to be around and always has a smile on her face. She likes to do things for others and she really cares for kids smaller than her. She is always doing something. We just have to channel that. She is already doing chores. It is now her resposibility to vacuum under the kitchen table and take the swiffer mop and mop under the table. She does a great job, too. For a five year old. She misses stuff, but she is learning. Gotta start somewhere. She makes her bed and cleans up the playroom, too, but not consistently. That is what we have to work on. She will get to enjoy her summer and then, in the fall, we will be on a new schedule...School!
I had to juggle activities tomorrow. Possible activities for tomorrow included helping my mother in law's friend Andy pack up his stuff to move, go see my aunt who I haven't seen in almost a year, go cherry picking with Dad, go to a birthday party. Well, we will be going cherry picking EARLY in the morning, like at 8:00, then off to the birthday party. With the kids running around, I would probably be more trouble than help with the move. And thankfully my aunt understands. This is why it is important to look at your calendar before you make plans. I, who never have any plans, made multiple plans on the same day. I am beginning to feel like someone else I know, who can't make any plans until she checks her calendar! Thankfully, I am not that busy. But I do need to check the calendar!
The girls are doing very well. Looking forward to the birthday party. They helped pick out the presents and Jess has been counting the days until it is time to go. She loves parties and being with people. She has had the dress picked out that she is going to wear for a few days already. Rebekah has been building with lego's lately. She built a "robot" and a house. She said she needs more lego's. We have been listening to The Chronicles of Narnia in the car on audio CD's. It is wonderful. And the girls have watched the movie so many times that Rebekah has even memorized the lines. She sat on my lap and looked at me and frowned. "Well, I ain't gonna smell it, if that's what you want!" I burst out laughing and so did she. It was very funny. She's funny without trying to be. I just love my girls.
We are getting ready for Jessica's ballet recital on July 1. She "performed" for us the other night and did the whole thing perfectly. I know because yesterday in her ballet class we got to watch the whole class do it and she was great! Her teacher said she knows the material, she just doesn't listen very well. When I was in grade school, they always told my mom, "Amy is very smart, she just doesn't apply herself." Well, my mom's request that I get a kid just like me, so I know what she went through came true. Jess is a lot like I was. What am I in for? A fun time, I think, she is a joy to be around and always has a smile on her face. She likes to do things for others and she really cares for kids smaller than her. She is always doing something. We just have to channel that. She is already doing chores. It is now her resposibility to vacuum under the kitchen table and take the swiffer mop and mop under the table. She does a great job, too. For a five year old. She misses stuff, but she is learning. Gotta start somewhere. She makes her bed and cleans up the playroom, too, but not consistently. That is what we have to work on. She will get to enjoy her summer and then, in the fall, we will be on a new schedule...School!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Cherries!
Well, I have already gone to two cherry places and the cherries are good! Cherry season officially opens on Saturday the 17th. So, they will be available for at least three weeks after that. We went to one place on Sunday after church to check it out and the cherries were $3/lb. The place I went to today was $2/lb. At Rhodes Ranch today we got bing cherries and they were good, big and sweet. Rebekah and Jessica sat down at the table when we got home and ate cherries. The air was cool at the orchard, a lot of people had light jackets on. Breezy, about 70 degrees. Nice! We only got five pounds of cherries, I picked three and the girls each picked one. But we had fun! It only took about 30-40 minutes. We had fun. They wanted to get more, and so they are looking forward to going again.
What a Day!
Some cute pictures. The girls are just cute all the time and the sunset was absolutely gorgeous on Sunday night. The sheep were out on the field across from our house, you could hear them making sheep noises out there and the sunset was beautiful. This is the view of the sunset we have from our front yard. One good reason we like living where we live.
As far as the gophers go, I caught another one. I have figured out that if I "bait" the traps, they come running. That is, set the trap, put it in the hole and find a half eaten bulb that they have destroyed and put it just outside the trap. Has worked twice now. The dumb gophers are still eating my gladiola plants and I don't think I will get a single flower from them. They are also eating the strawberry plants that are in the ground. And one dared to dig a hole in the grass. That was the last straw. They must die. So, I set the trap, baited it and WHAM! Checked it the next morning and there he was.
Oh, and I had a mouse in my car. The lady at the deli gave Jess and Bekah chocolate ladybugs and I left them in the console between the seats. Got back in the car later and found a scrape in the top of one of them. Okay, throw them away, just in case. Wait, where is the third one? Couldn't find it. Found it yesterday after I opened the door to my car and saw a mouse run under the seat. I think it got in through the heater vents under the seats. Anyway, cleaned out my car, which wasn't very dirty and found the other ladybug, on the floor behind the seats, with all the aluminum foil peeled off and a big chunk of chocolate missing from the top of the ladybug. Dumb mice. They must be female mice. What with the way mice reproduce they are probably all PMSing all the time. They need chocolate, too! I am going to try baiting the traps in the garage with chocolate! One hershey kiss in each trap ought to do it! I'll show them!
I never thought I would see the day that Scott would put a bug outside that was in the house, but he does a lot for his little brown haired girl. She found a little black beetle in the house the other day and decided it was a baby bug and that we needed to take care of it. I finally convinced her to let Daddy put it outside and let it find its family. So, Daddy did the honorable thing, but it took all he had not to squish it. He was good. The next morning the girls were looking out the door to see if it was still there.
At the grocery store last night. Trying to pick what flavor of yogurt the girls would like. Woman standing next to me. Jess stands next to her, (she is on her cell phone), looks at her and says, "Do you know who the devil is?" I wanted to disappear into the floor! Well, luckily, the lady's response was, "Yes, I do, but I also know Jesus!" Thank heaven for small miracles! We had a little discussion about tact. Talk about embarrassing!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Rodents
Websters: belonging or pertaining to the gnawing or nibbling mammals of the order Rodentia, including the mice, squirrels, beavers, etc.
Amy: a group of small pain in the behind critters that mock me continuously, even in death
I don't like them. No, that is too nice. I despise them. I hate them. I want to kill them all. I am not normally a violent person, however rodents bring out the worst in me. And blogland lets me vent. So you have to listen.
It all started as I went to take Jess to ballet today. We were running late, looking for her ballet slippers, which were not where they were supposed to be. So, we piled into the car and backed it out of the driveway, when I noticed an unusually strong stench in my car. I could barely breath and decided that another mouse had gotten into my car and decided to die there. So, put the car in park and proceed to look under all the seats. Nothing. We proceeded to go to ballet. I realized quickly that it was coming through the air condition vents. Turn off the air. Over 90 degrees outside. Turn the air back on. Try not to breathe. Turn the air off. Put the window down. Hot. Noisy. Yucky smell coming from my vents. WHY ME??? I call Dad.
"Something died in my air conditioning in my car."
"Well, it's probably in the air cleaner, so take off the cover and look inside." (He thinks this is easy for everyone!)
Okay, I will have Scott take a look at it when I get home."
Scott arrives at the gas station shortly after I do and I lift the hood and we start to poke around. Don't see the black box that Dad swears is in there.
"Hi, Dad, what are you doing tonight? I will make you dinner...oh, you don't eat dinner, well, how about breakfast? Oh, well, I will look in the engine and call you back when I get home."
So I get home, take apart big parts of my engine that don't look like they should be removable and find a big duct that has a fan at the end of it. Upon closer look, I find a dead mouse in there. So that's the little bugger stinking up my world. Couldn't he die someplace else? Scott gets home as I am donning the gloves to do the extraction and he says, "Let's suck him out", so he gets the shop vac out and sucks up the mouse. Done. I call Dad back. "We got him, the car is rodent-free." "Yeah, I knew that's where he'd be." "Well, Dad, that is why I called you. Thanks."
And I didn't invite the mice. There is nothing in my car except papers. And only a couple of days worth of mail.
And, by the way, there's another gopher.
Worry
Worry. Why do we do it? There are a million things to worry about and we are not supposed to "worry" about any of them. Webster's says, "To torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret."
So we try not to worry, but when things start to go south, those of us who are prone to worrying start to do it. Then we have to pray to God that He will help us to get through the worry times.
Our house payment is going up $330 per month. Because of the escrow account. Stupid escrow account. And the people who estimated it wrong. They seem to assume that people have an extra few hundred dollars sitting around for just such an occasion. THEY ARE WRONG! So, the worrying sets in. How will we come up with the money, where else can we cut back? The car thing was great, saves a lot of gas, but we didn't find out until after we bought it that the VW takes PREMIUM! and the stupid salespeople didn't tell us that. We went in to the dealership to cut our gas expense and they sell us a car that runs on PREMIUM! So, the savings are not as great as anticipated, but still better than before. So now, we have to come up with more money for our house payment. So, I am lying in bed praying, worrying, "God, please help us, what are we supposed to do?" Please tell me what we should do!"
"HAVEN'T I TAKEN CARE OF YOU SO FAR?"
"Well, yeah, but what are we supposed to do NOW?"
"HAVE FAITH."
Okay, cool. So, now I know not to worry. But I already knew that. I just wasn't doing it. I am still wondering what to do, but I am trying really hard not to worry about it.
I bet God gets frustrated with us when we beg and plead for answers and when He does speak to us, we don't do what He says. No wonder He doesn't speak to us very often.
Hmmm. What next?
So we try not to worry, but when things start to go south, those of us who are prone to worrying start to do it. Then we have to pray to God that He will help us to get through the worry times.
Our house payment is going up $330 per month. Because of the escrow account. Stupid escrow account. And the people who estimated it wrong. They seem to assume that people have an extra few hundred dollars sitting around for just such an occasion. THEY ARE WRONG! So, the worrying sets in. How will we come up with the money, where else can we cut back? The car thing was great, saves a lot of gas, but we didn't find out until after we bought it that the VW takes PREMIUM! and the stupid salespeople didn't tell us that. We went in to the dealership to cut our gas expense and they sell us a car that runs on PREMIUM! So, the savings are not as great as anticipated, but still better than before. So now, we have to come up with more money for our house payment. So, I am lying in bed praying, worrying, "God, please help us, what are we supposed to do?" Please tell me what we should do!"
"HAVEN'T I TAKEN CARE OF YOU SO FAR?"
"Well, yeah, but what are we supposed to do NOW?"
"HAVE FAITH."
Okay, cool. So, now I know not to worry. But I already knew that. I just wasn't doing it. I am still wondering what to do, but I am trying really hard not to worry about it.
I bet God gets frustrated with us when we beg and plead for answers and when He does speak to us, we don't do what He says. No wonder He doesn't speak to us very often.
Hmmm. What next?
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The Nethercutt Collection
If you have never been to that big tall building in Sylmar (going north on the 405, just before you get to Roxford, look to your right, big yellow building, can't miss it), you need to go. It was so much fun! I made a reservation for Scott, Dad and myself and secured babysitting with my wonderful friend, Lana. This was for an early father's day present to the two of them. I didn't know if I would be able to get in closer to Father's Day, so I figured I would take what I could get. Well, I had been there about 15 years ago and always wanted to go back. They have done a lot since then. There are over 200 restored cars in the collection, housed in two buildings. You can get very close to the cars, as only about half of them have ropes around them. Bugattis, Duesenbergs, Model T's, Model A's, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Cadillacs Cunninghams, Cords, Hispano Suizas. Every kind of car you can imagine and some you can't! Electric steam engine cars that used very little gasoline and other things that we think are so "new" and creative, that they came up with 75 years ago. Nothing is new anymore. We spent about two hours looking at all of these, as well as a pullman rail car that was completely restored and a steam engine. They have hood ornaments for cars, a travel trailer from the 1920's, I think. It is so cool! And all this other stuff. My father car lover and husband car lover saw things they had never even heard of, let alone seen! Then we took the tour across the street at the original San Sylmar. Two levels of cars (including a 1933 Duesenberg SJ 20 Grand - one of a kind, because nobody had the "20 Grand" to spend on a car like this at the time) and then a bunch of other stuff. Mrs. Nethercutt's collections are here. More David Winter cottages than you even knew existed. A beautiful doll collection. Hummels. Crystal. Antique Louis the something furniture you can sit on! And the music collection. Oh, the music collection. It was amazing. They have a pipe organ like you have never seen or heard. And this huge organ that they have music concerts on. Several times per year and then they record it on the computer and the organ plays it back exactly the way the original performer did, mistakes and all. They have player pianos that play the paper roll music and a big huge music machine that plays 24 instruments at the same time. And you get to sit down and listen to them play! This is a very entertaining way to spend the day. And best of all,
It Is FREE to get in! You just need to make a reservation!
So, if you want to have a fun day out, go down there and see it. It is so worth the drive!
It Is FREE to get in! You just need to make a reservation!
So, if you want to have a fun day out, go down there and see it. It is so worth the drive!
Water Babies
The girls are in the bathroom every chance they get. No, not like teenagers, who go in the bathroom and lock the door and you don't see them for hours. They go into the bathroom, close the drain and then proceed to "wash" everything in reach. They take out the soap and scrub down the counters. They fill the sink up with water, put everything in it and play. They get water all over the counters, floor, everything. Then Scott and I have to go in there and clean up the mess. Which wouldn't be so bad, except we have the kind of sinks that have the raised edge and you can't just wipe the mess off into the sink. You have to get a towel out and mop it all up. Which is why they have been getting in trouble for this on a daily basis for the last several days. Scott went in the bathroom last night and stood in the doorway. Rebekah opens up the cupboard and stands on the shelf so she can reach the sink. So, Scott is standing there in the doorway looking at her. She looks up at him in the mirror, big brown eyes even bigger than normal. She has the sink partially filled with water and a toy in it. She hits the drain plug on the back of the faucet and says, "I'm not playing in the baffoom." Then proceeds to make a hasty retreat out of the bathroom. He could hardly contain himself. No punishment for the cute little girl with the big brown eyes. Some things you just gotta let go.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Cherry Picking Change
For those of you who work and would like to go cherry picking, bring the kids and a cup of coffee and we will go on Saturday, June 10 instead of Friday, June 9. Plan on being to the area about 9:00am. Let me know if you can make it. Will give more details as we get closer.
Another one bites the dust...
We caught gopher number two yesterday. Yeah for us. I am not normally so ruthless toward God's creatures, and I can see how gophers are good as far as irrigating the soil and such, but I can't help doing the little "I Won" cheer when I catch one. This one started in on my lawn and now I have two holes in my lawn. And I have been working so hard at that! So, he had to go. Set the trap with gloves again and Scott found him yesterday. So the score is Amy 2, Gophers 0. Plus, I don't want gopher snakes or rattlesnakes looking for lunch. Last year a mojave green rattlesnake got in our back yard and bit our then two month old german shepherd puppy. After close to $2000 of treatment, she was fine. The year before, my neighbors caught and killed a mojave green on my slope, right where the gophers are hanging around now. So I don't want to invite any more snakes into my yard.
I think the worst is over and now at least I know how to catch them. Hopefully this is not something that happens every year now. I wonder if they are attracted by all the flowers I worked so hard to plant this year...
I think the worst is over and now at least I know how to catch them. Hopefully this is not something that happens every year now. I wonder if they are attracted by all the flowers I worked so hard to plant this year...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Cherry Season
So, cherry season is almost upon us and I have a list of people who want to go cherry picking this year. So I figured I'd put it on here and whoever wants to go with us when we go, can. Cherries should be ready either June 3 or June 10 this year. I will know more the closer we get. As warm as it has been, it just may be June 3. We will probably go on a couple of Fridays. So figure if they are available June 3, then we will go Monday, June 5 and also Fridays June 9, 16 and possibly the 23rd. I will find out soon what day they will open. Most of the places open on the same day. For anyone coming from Santa Clarita, you can take either San Francisquito Cyn and turn right on Elizabeth Lake Road or Bouquet Canyon and turn left on Elizabeth Lake Road and it will take you to 80th Street West, which is where most of the cherry orchards are off of. Except for one BIG new place that is a little further east. There are about 18 cherry orchards, some better than others. The earlier you get there, the cooler it will be. Tennis shoes or hiking boots, clothes you don't mind getting stained, in case they do. And a hat if you think you will need it. Sunscreen if you use it. And some paper bags and possibly a cooler to take your cherries home in. Oh, and cash to buy them with. They are sooooo good, sweet and yummy, you will want to pick a whole bunch! I have a bunch of cherry recipes, too, in case you don't know what to do with them.
If you are interested in going with us, let me know. Or if you want the info on where to go, so you can go on a Saturday or a Sunday, I can provide that to you.
If you are interested in going with us, let me know. Or if you want the info on where to go, so you can go on a Saturday or a Sunday, I can provide that to you.
Friends
I have been thinking about my friends lately. My friend in New Jersey - I talked with her the other day. She is thinking about moving to North Carolina. I have known her for 33 years. Wow, that is a long time to know someone considering I am only 29. Yeah. She has three boys, 6 1/2, 3 1/2, almost 2. She's done. She must be a saint! I don't know how she does it! When I speak with her on the phone, it doesn't seem that we haven't talked in ages, it seems as though I talked to her a week ago. She told me that a girl in our high school class died three months ago. Had five kids, four girls one boy ages 12 to 2. Brain tumor. How sad. I haven't been out of high school long enough for people to be dying already! I can't imagine what her kids are going through, though.
Another friend just announced she is pregnant. Eight weeks. I am SOOOOO happy for her, I can't contain myself. She has that "glow". It is not just a myth, people. She is radiantly beautiful. I am sure her husband thinks so as well. And I hope that we grow even closer, as now we will have one more thing in common. What fun!
Another friend is going to have a baby next week. She has been on bed rest because her blood pressure is too high. She, too, looks beautiful. Just totally at peace. She has a six year old son and she is having a baby girl. She wanted a girl. She has bought things for my girls on occasion because she just couldn't put down the cute little pink item. Well, now I have had a chance to buy her a few little pink things! She is a wonderful person and a joy to be with and I am so happy for her that she gets to have another baby.
I have a new friend. Jess and Bekah go to a gymnastics class and one of the mothers I found out lives on the street behind me. In the same house as me! They came to Jess and Bekah's birthday party. She is so nice! One of the nicest people you could meet. I hope that we become better friends.
My very good friend, who helped me with my gophers, took me to the dealership the other day to get the windows tinted, has watched my kids when I am in need and would do anything to help. She is one of the nicest people I know. I enjoy her company immensely and am so glad that we are friends. And she has a great laugh.
My dad is becoming a very good friend. We never spent much time together before, but we see him about once a week now. It is very nice. We can talk and laugh and joke and he is so much more relaxed now than ever before. And we have this gopher thing in common.
My sister-in-law's sister. She is always positive and upbeat. She always has a smile on her face. If you are feeling down, she is the one you want to have around. She has a three year old daughter with white blonde hair and she is so cute. Rebekah's best friend. They have a good time together and so do Mary and I.
My aunt, who reads this blog to get a laugh. So I write, hoping she will. I can't think about her without smiling. She is one of the most generous and genuinely nice people I know and especially since my mom passed away, I have become closer to her and I am glad she is in my life. She is a wonderful person.
There are other people I have become close to lately and I am so thankful that I have these people in my life. Aren't we blessed to have close friends that we can talk to, share with and that understand us? At different times in our lives we become close to different people and sometimes we don't talk to someone for a long time, but friends, unlike relatives, are chosen and they are the people who we spend time with because we want to. You can be yourself with your friends and they still like you! I thank God for all my very good friends.
Another friend just announced she is pregnant. Eight weeks. I am SOOOOO happy for her, I can't contain myself. She has that "glow". It is not just a myth, people. She is radiantly beautiful. I am sure her husband thinks so as well. And I hope that we grow even closer, as now we will have one more thing in common. What fun!
Another friend is going to have a baby next week. She has been on bed rest because her blood pressure is too high. She, too, looks beautiful. Just totally at peace. She has a six year old son and she is having a baby girl. She wanted a girl. She has bought things for my girls on occasion because she just couldn't put down the cute little pink item. Well, now I have had a chance to buy her a few little pink things! She is a wonderful person and a joy to be with and I am so happy for her that she gets to have another baby.
I have a new friend. Jess and Bekah go to a gymnastics class and one of the mothers I found out lives on the street behind me. In the same house as me! They came to Jess and Bekah's birthday party. She is so nice! One of the nicest people you could meet. I hope that we become better friends.
My very good friend, who helped me with my gophers, took me to the dealership the other day to get the windows tinted, has watched my kids when I am in need and would do anything to help. She is one of the nicest people I know. I enjoy her company immensely and am so glad that we are friends. And she has a great laugh.
My dad is becoming a very good friend. We never spent much time together before, but we see him about once a week now. It is very nice. We can talk and laugh and joke and he is so much more relaxed now than ever before. And we have this gopher thing in common.
My sister-in-law's sister. She is always positive and upbeat. She always has a smile on her face. If you are feeling down, she is the one you want to have around. She has a three year old daughter with white blonde hair and she is so cute. Rebekah's best friend. They have a good time together and so do Mary and I.
My aunt, who reads this blog to get a laugh. So I write, hoping she will. I can't think about her without smiling. She is one of the most generous and genuinely nice people I know and especially since my mom passed away, I have become closer to her and I am glad she is in my life. She is a wonderful person.
There are other people I have become close to lately and I am so thankful that I have these people in my life. Aren't we blessed to have close friends that we can talk to, share with and that understand us? At different times in our lives we become close to different people and sometimes we don't talk to someone for a long time, but friends, unlike relatives, are chosen and they are the people who we spend time with because we want to. You can be yourself with your friends and they still like you! I thank God for all my very good friends.
The Gopher
Okay, apparently what we have here is a pocket gopher. Other people's gophers are huge! This one is slightly larger than a hamster, but not as cute. Not really cute at all, when you get to see it up close, which we did when I pulled out a trap with the little bugger in it. Yeah! I got him! Scott was home that morning and I went out to check the traps. Not expecting to find anything. Well, the trap had been sprung, so I went back in the house and told him to come out and get it, "Cause I think I got a gopher!" So, he comes out and we both got to look at it. "What if it is just knocked unconscious?" So Scott smacks it on the head about five or six times with the big metal thing we had attached to the trap so it wouldn't run away. No, it's dead. But look at those claws and teeth! For such a little guy he had huge claws and teeth. Good thing I didn't have to deal with him while he was alive!
Jess came outside and we showed him to her. She went "Aaaaah!", then took a closer look. She's not afraid of this stuff!
Well, I reset the traps just in case and figured I was done. Then I came inside to announce to the blogging community that we had caught our gopher.
I wasn't. Yesterday I went out there to water and found a new patch of soft dirt. !#@*!@ gophers! Two new holes on the slope. SO, I set the trap in one of these and we'll hope for the best. My gopher troubles are here to stay...but I will get him eventually.
Scott watched a few minutes of Caddyshack last night on TV. It's funny when it is happening to someone else.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Me Vs. Mr. Gopher
Me vs. Mr. Gopher
Well, Mr. Gopher seems to be winning. I haven’t caught a single gopher. I have lots of new holes in my yard, though. I did get one of those sonic things. It beeps every 28 seconds. On Wednesday, Dad and I went to Lowe’s and he and I both got one. $19.95 each. Such a bargain…if it works. Dad has a gopher, too. His showed up about the same time mine did. His driveway circles in front of the house and there is an area in front of it that he has planted lilacs, pine trees, birch trees and flowers. He has bulbs and wildflowers there and he started to water it more lately. Here comes Mr. Gopher! He is happily setting up shop there. Pretty soon he’s going to bring home a wife, have babies and then they will put up the “Santa Stop Here” sign! Where does it all end?
So, Dad and I both got the sonic things and he put mine in before he left on Wednesday. Yesterday morning, I had two new holes on the slope and one next to the fence. He had eaten two gladiolus shoots, about six inches high and the new hole was right next to one of the eaten ones. Little bugger.
I went out yesterday afternoon and discovered that my irises are in bloom. Much more so than the tulips. So far the freesia and irises are doing the best. I have mostly the kind of irises that they put in flower arrangements. Not the big kind. Well, the first to bloom was the typical dark blue, yellow center. Yesterday I found a white with yellow center and a lavender with yellow center. Really pretty! And Mr. Gopher has not touched those. Yeah! Thank heaven for small miracles!
Speaking of miracles, Scott had gotten a ticket a couple of months ago. Running a stop sign and 70 in a 40. Problem is, this time he didn’t do it. He doesn’t run stop signs and he doesn’t go quite that fast. The officer came up behind him with lights flashing, at 4:30am, and Scott speeded up to get over so the maniac behind him flashing his high beams could get by. Well, it was the Sheriff and he pulled him over for speeding. Go figure. So, he paid the fine and pleaded not guilty. His court date was yesterday and we were praying that everything would go well. God listened and the deputy didn’t show up! So the case was dismissed. Yeah! Praise God! We will get the money back and, believe me, it was a lot of money! Thank heaven for big miracles!
So, anyway, we shall see if there is any new gopher activity today. I pulled one of the traps and the other one is still set, but I haven’t caught any gophers. Well, the only good part of that is that I haven’t had to clean out any traps!
Dad hasn’t caught any yet either. He said he set traps, but they haven’t used his either. Well, he was sitting on his front porch yesterday, waiting for UPS to arrive (picture the two old guys from Secondhand Lions – great movie, highly recommend!), when the gopher sticks his head out of the hole! So Dad goes and gets his shotgun and puts some kind of little tiny shot in there and shoots at the gopher. He doesn’t know if he got it or not, but I guess if the gopher doesn’t come back, then he did. So, dad is using the traps, sonic thing and shotgun. I don’t think I put shotgun on my top ten list, but maybe it will end up being up near the top of the list!
See, it is a good thing he lives in the mountains. The city couldn’t handle him! You gotta love a person that goes after a gopher with a shotgun!
My gopher (getting kind of possessive, I know) so far is only interested in destroying my yard. I would love to hire a professional, however, it is not in the budget right now. Unfortunately. I am trying to cut corners everywhere and I can’t spend money to have the little buggers eradicated. Hopefully I don’t regret that one.
The other thing I did on Wednesday was to mow my lawn. I never mowed a lawn before. Dad pulled the spark plug from the lawnmower and it was wet. He held it over the flame on the stove and I guess that dries it out. Well, we got the mower started. Apparently it wasn’t working right when my mother in law had it. They couldn’t get it to stay on. The part that sucks up the grass was blocked and the sparkplug was wet. Anyway, so we got it running and I pushed it around the front yard. It looked so nice! I was so proud of myself! It was hard to do, though. Dad told me at first to go from the bottom of the yard to the top and then we decided side to side would make more sense because it was hard to push from the bottom! Well, I also did the bottom of the slope on the side of the house. That was hard work! I couldn’t do any more. I brought the mower back to the driveway and Dad started the mower up again, I’m not sure why. Well, that is when he realized I hadn’t been holding onto the bar underneath the handle. The one that makes it go forward by itself. I was pushing the entire weight of the mower myself! No wonder I could not also push it sideways on the slope! I sure got my exercise, though! It was much easier to do once he showed me that! Well, I was so tired after mowing that I sat down with a drink and Dad had a beer. I won’t drink the stuff, but it sure seemed like someone ought to have a beer after mowing the lawn. Dad was happy to accommodate me! Good thing he was there!
Can’t wait to see what damage this little guy has caused today. He seems to only work at night. Must be underground during the day. Busy little thing. Go do your digging in someone else’s yard! Can’t you see you aren’t welcome here? Go away! Leave my yard alone. Or I am going to come after your little furry butt!
Oh, yeah and the dried fox urine, apparently they have foxes in cages with a sloped floor and when they urinate, it rolls downhill into this little collection thing and then they bottle it! I guess it crystallizes or something. Thank you, internet!
The dried blood you can get at Lowe's in a like gallon size container. It doesn't say what type of blood it is (type O or AB or just plain old A) or what type of animal it comes from. It does come from Washington State. Really, I am not making this stuff up! Sounds like one of those old gimmicks where the guy sells the elixir from the back of his wagon for like $2 a bottle (such a deal!) and you are stuck with a bottle of stuff that doesn't do anything. What are they called?
Well, Mr. Gopher seems to be winning. I haven’t caught a single gopher. I have lots of new holes in my yard, though. I did get one of those sonic things. It beeps every 28 seconds. On Wednesday, Dad and I went to Lowe’s and he and I both got one. $19.95 each. Such a bargain…if it works. Dad has a gopher, too. His showed up about the same time mine did. His driveway circles in front of the house and there is an area in front of it that he has planted lilacs, pine trees, birch trees and flowers. He has bulbs and wildflowers there and he started to water it more lately. Here comes Mr. Gopher! He is happily setting up shop there. Pretty soon he’s going to bring home a wife, have babies and then they will put up the “Santa Stop Here” sign! Where does it all end?
So, Dad and I both got the sonic things and he put mine in before he left on Wednesday. Yesterday morning, I had two new holes on the slope and one next to the fence. He had eaten two gladiolus shoots, about six inches high and the new hole was right next to one of the eaten ones. Little bugger.
I went out yesterday afternoon and discovered that my irises are in bloom. Much more so than the tulips. So far the freesia and irises are doing the best. I have mostly the kind of irises that they put in flower arrangements. Not the big kind. Well, the first to bloom was the typical dark blue, yellow center. Yesterday I found a white with yellow center and a lavender with yellow center. Really pretty! And Mr. Gopher has not touched those. Yeah! Thank heaven for small miracles!
Speaking of miracles, Scott had gotten a ticket a couple of months ago. Running a stop sign and 70 in a 40. Problem is, this time he didn’t do it. He doesn’t run stop signs and he doesn’t go quite that fast. The officer came up behind him with lights flashing, at 4:30am, and Scott speeded up to get over so the maniac behind him flashing his high beams could get by. Well, it was the Sheriff and he pulled him over for speeding. Go figure. So, he paid the fine and pleaded not guilty. His court date was yesterday and we were praying that everything would go well. God listened and the deputy didn’t show up! So the case was dismissed. Yeah! Praise God! We will get the money back and, believe me, it was a lot of money! Thank heaven for big miracles!
So, anyway, we shall see if there is any new gopher activity today. I pulled one of the traps and the other one is still set, but I haven’t caught any gophers. Well, the only good part of that is that I haven’t had to clean out any traps!
Dad hasn’t caught any yet either. He said he set traps, but they haven’t used his either. Well, he was sitting on his front porch yesterday, waiting for UPS to arrive (picture the two old guys from Secondhand Lions – great movie, highly recommend!), when the gopher sticks his head out of the hole! So Dad goes and gets his shotgun and puts some kind of little tiny shot in there and shoots at the gopher. He doesn’t know if he got it or not, but I guess if the gopher doesn’t come back, then he did. So, dad is using the traps, sonic thing and shotgun. I don’t think I put shotgun on my top ten list, but maybe it will end up being up near the top of the list!
See, it is a good thing he lives in the mountains. The city couldn’t handle him! You gotta love a person that goes after a gopher with a shotgun!
My gopher (getting kind of possessive, I know) so far is only interested in destroying my yard. I would love to hire a professional, however, it is not in the budget right now. Unfortunately. I am trying to cut corners everywhere and I can’t spend money to have the little buggers eradicated. Hopefully I don’t regret that one.
The other thing I did on Wednesday was to mow my lawn. I never mowed a lawn before. Dad pulled the spark plug from the lawnmower and it was wet. He held it over the flame on the stove and I guess that dries it out. Well, we got the mower started. Apparently it wasn’t working right when my mother in law had it. They couldn’t get it to stay on. The part that sucks up the grass was blocked and the sparkplug was wet. Anyway, so we got it running and I pushed it around the front yard. It looked so nice! I was so proud of myself! It was hard to do, though. Dad told me at first to go from the bottom of the yard to the top and then we decided side to side would make more sense because it was hard to push from the bottom! Well, I also did the bottom of the slope on the side of the house. That was hard work! I couldn’t do any more. I brought the mower back to the driveway and Dad started the mower up again, I’m not sure why. Well, that is when he realized I hadn’t been holding onto the bar underneath the handle. The one that makes it go forward by itself. I was pushing the entire weight of the mower myself! No wonder I could not also push it sideways on the slope! I sure got my exercise, though! It was much easier to do once he showed me that! Well, I was so tired after mowing that I sat down with a drink and Dad had a beer. I won’t drink the stuff, but it sure seemed like someone ought to have a beer after mowing the lawn. Dad was happy to accommodate me! Good thing he was there!
Can’t wait to see what damage this little guy has caused today. He seems to only work at night. Must be underground during the day. Busy little thing. Go do your digging in someone else’s yard! Can’t you see you aren’t welcome here? Go away! Leave my yard alone. Or I am going to come after your little furry butt!
Oh, yeah and the dried fox urine, apparently they have foxes in cages with a sloped floor and when they urinate, it rolls downhill into this little collection thing and then they bottle it! I guess it crystallizes or something. Thank you, internet!
The dried blood you can get at Lowe's in a like gallon size container. It doesn't say what type of blood it is (type O or AB or just plain old A) or what type of animal it comes from. It does come from Washington State. Really, I am not making this stuff up! Sounds like one of those old gimmicks where the guy sells the elixir from the back of his wagon for like $2 a bottle (such a deal!) and you are stuck with a bottle of stuff that doesn't do anything. What are they called?
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Cool Site
WheresGeorge.com
You can put the serial numbers from your money in there and track where it goes around the world (or around town). Pretty cool.
You can put the serial numbers from your money in there and track where it goes around the world (or around town). Pretty cool.
Can't get me down
Rebekah just got up.
"I got mine Elmo and I got mine horsey."
I picked her up and said "And you got your mommy."
She looked at me so matter-of-factly and said, "You are too big for me to hold!"
So, ha on you, stupid gophers. I can still be happy.
"I got mine Elmo and I got mine horsey."
I picked her up and said "And you got your mommy."
She looked at me so matter-of-factly and said, "You are too big for me to hold!"
So, ha on you, stupid gophers. I can still be happy.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Caddyshack Part Two (or *!#*@!* gophers!)
They're mocking me.Okay, my yard looks like crap. Huge mounds of dirt all over the slope. I went out there this morning to find three new holes. I moved the trap from one place to the other, only to find the little bugger had blocked the hole in front of the trap. So the trap didn't do anything. To make me feel even more frustrated, my friend who came over to help me set the traps set one in her front yard this morning and caught one today. Apparently I have the more intelligent gophers, while hers don't understand that they can circumvent the traps. I put one trap on the slope and then moved it to another location later because there was a fresh hole right next to the chewed-down-to-the-dirt gladiolus. (side note: I thought these things ate the roots. They aren't supposed to eat the plants from the TOP!) Well, he went around the first hole and dug another hole within 4 inches of the first one. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE FIRST BLEEPING HOLE? I had taken the trap out of it before he made the new hole!
Went to Lowe's and got a different trap. Couldn't figure out how to use it and it didn't come with instructions.
Hubby came home. Sat down for a while to figure out the trap. No luck. This one didn't come with directions and cost $8 something. The other ones were two for $10, but they don't catch gophers, so what difference does it make. No bargain on either of them. Took it back to Lowe's along with the Castor Oil granules (said for moles, not gophers, so hubby said take it back). SO, now what?
6am - Went out there with Scott at 4:30am. No gophers. Well, they are there, just not in the traps. I must have gophers with PHD's! Two new holes next to the tomato plants. Gonna try flooding them out. Sister in law said that worked for them. Then they sat and waited and popped em with a BB gun. Can't do that. The neighbors would complain. Hmmm. Lady up the street said they used ultrasonic things in the ground and they went away. Yeah, they came to MY house.
This sucks. I am being totally proactive, but they just won't get in the darned traps. Perfectly good holes, and they make new ones next to them! Are they just bored or are they doing it to spite me? So, here is my top ten list of ways to get rid of gophers and, this will change order depending on what ends up working:
10. Dried blood
9. Poison
8. Dried fox urine
7. Castor Oil
6. Stupid trap we couldn't figure out and took back
5. Propane (but how do you get it in there?)
4. Water flood
3. Hose attached to car exhaust pipe and other end in hole
2. Flares
1. Stupid trap we could figure out but doesn't work
How many new holes will there be today? How many plants are eaten today? I need to get more traps. They aren't working. I need a new plan. I am losing sleep at night . Dumb gophers. Smart gophers. Dumb person. Smart person? I will be when I figure it out. Then they'll be sorry...
Beginning to know exactly how Bill Murray felt in CS. This is all-consuming. Don't want to go anywhere in case the trap ends up working. No, I do want to go get more traps and put them in front of every stinking hole they made.
And from what I hear, a lot of people have gopher stories. Feel free to share...
Caddyshack and Pink Eye
My yard is looking so nice. Blue wildflowers dancing in the breeze every morning. If you don't get up early enough, you will miss them. They only last a few hours. Pastel blue, quarter size flowers with paper-like petals that float away before noon. Beautiful. Two tulips have come and gone, the rest have not yet bloomed. One deep red, the other a pale, soft pink. I just love tulips. One iris, the small kind that come in flower arrangements, deep dark purple with the yellow streak in the center, with the petals forming in three distinct directions. My freesia are all in bloom. Yellow, bright as sun and purple, with a soft white center. Gladiolus starting to shoot out of the ground. Strawberries all in bloom, promising of a delicious crop of large, luscious red berries. Tomato plants with dainty little yellow blooms that will turn into dark red globes. My lawn is starting to turn a dark green. The weed and feed didn't seem to affect the surrounding plants and I fired the gardener. I asked him to come twice a month instead of every week and he said it would be ten dollars a month less. Such a deal! So, we got the lawnmower back from my mother in law and I will attempt to mow the lawn. Heaven help me! It has to be fixed first, so the hubby is working on that.
So, I have been enjoying days of warm breezes and beautiful sunshine when, out of nowhere, I find this big pile of soft dirt on the slope where the wildflowers are in front of the house. I start to sift through the dirt with my hands and there's nothing there. I am a little concerned, because I think maybe something is living there. Then again, it could be the kids who get off the bus at the corner and pick the flowers. Well, just one dirt pile, but a rather large one. I will keep my eye on it. So, Saturday night, I was outside watering the plants and I look up at the front porch to see this small, hamster-like creature with a stubby tail scurrying away from the corner of my front porch. It runs across the front porch to the other side. I am about ten feet away. I yell for hubby and he comes out of the house, finally, and by this time the little critter has run again through a little tiny hole, about one inch wide, two inches long in the bottom of the plastic fence next to the house. Gone. Into the backyard I assumed. Little bugger. So, now, it's confirmed. I have at least one gopher. So the next step is to get traps. So, Saturday night, I start thinking about the small rodent who is going to wreak havoc on my work in progress. My first real attempt at creating a nice yard. I tossed and turned all night. Didn't help that it was warm in the house and I couldn't sleep. Every time I turned and woke up, I was thinking about this little monster that was going to have a habitrail under my yard. Sixteen feet an hour is what they can supposedly tunnel. And once the tunnels are dug, they can travel something like seventy five feet a minute. That is impressive. So, I am lying in bed thinking about all the mounds I am going to have all over my yard, this little furry creep pulling my bulbs from the roots and chomping down on all my pretty flowers. I got up at 12:30am Sunday morning and looked up "how to get rid of gophers" on the internet. There are all kinds of things. Traps, castor oil spray, sonic repellers, high frequency repellers, dried blood, poison granules, dried granulated fox urine. This is big business. And a lot for my 2am head to take in. So, I attempted to return to bed, only now I was thinking of all the ways I could eradicate this little sucker. I woke up Sunday morning feeling mentally challenged. Not ready to face the day. Not ready to face the gopher. Feeling like he was going to win the battle.
Sunday after church the plan was to go get gopher stuff. Everything. Try it, see if it works. Well, that didn't happen. We decided to stop at the VW dealership to see what they had and if replacing the seventeen mile per gallon Suburban with a smaller vehicle would make sense. I guess it must have made sense. After five hours at the car dealership watching little girls run around collecting balloons, you will soon see the fruits of our labors. 32 miles per gallon is much more respectable. Almost double. That should save a large chunk of change. More money to buy gopher trapping paraphernalia. So, needless to say, we didn't get to home depot on Sunday. So, Monday morning I go outside and there are two more mounds of soft dirt next to the larger one and another along the bottom of my plastic fence that is about three feet wide. Just inches away from where he went under the fence. I use the word "he" but it may not BE a he. So, since the gopher has been busy at work, I figure it is time for me to step up to the plate. So, I call my friend who has a large piece of horse property. About two acres. Dirt in the back, grass and flowers in the front.
"Hi, I need to pick your brain for a minute. Have you ever had gophers?"
Oh, yeah!
How did you get rid of them?
Traps, it is the only thing that works.
Really?
Yeah, then you know for sure you got 'em. You don't have to wonder if they are still out there. But the hard part is setting the traps. They are a real pain to set if you don't know what you are doing.
Great. So, what, you just pick up the trap and throw it away like a mousetrap?
No, you can't throw it away, they are like ten dollars!
Oh, dear, you mean I have to get it off of there?
Uh huh. (laughing)
So, the spray and the sonic things don't work?
No, nothing else worked for us besides the traps. But you have to attach a wire to it and a pole or something otherwise it will take off with the trap attached.
Okay....So, umm, are you going to be around tomorrow? 'Cause I might need to call you. I am on my way to Home Depot now to get this stuff.
So, I go to Home Depot and find the traps. $10 for two. Such a deal. Hmmm, maybe I could just throw it away after....
We get the stuff home and Scott is busy attaching wire and such. He got this huge thing that supposedly screws into the ground. It is about a foot and a half long. So, he is trying to set the trap. Don't get your fingers in there! Warning on the box reads in part, "...Keep traps away from children and anyone not familiar with their use." That would be ME! Scott's mumbling that the instructions read like stereo instructions. Great.
"Hi, umm, you said you were going to be in and out tomorrow, right?"
Yeah, why?
Well, you know what they say about a friend in need.
(laughing)
We just bought the traps and...
(speaking to her husband) Is it okay if I run over to Amy's for a minute? They just got the gopher traps....I will be over in a few minutes.
Coooool! Thanks. I will see you then.
Turn oven with leftovers in it down to 225 degrees. Continue watching hubby try to figure this out.
Well, between the two of them, they figured them out. Turns out our traps are different than hers. But, hubby did eventually figure it out. Yeah, hubby. We took them outside and my wonderful friend poked around in the dirt a bit and very quickly found the hole! I looked for the longest time and found nothing. Oh well, she has the experience. Anyway, so we put the trap in the one hole and decided to look up near the fence for the other one. Well, it was there all right. But in the backyard. A den or nest-like hole with tons of weeds and grass stuffed inside. My dear friend (did I mention how great she is?) stuck her hand inside to clear it out so we could put the trap in and kept pulling out ALL THIS STUFF! So, like I said, the he might not be a he after all. Anyway, so she was able to get the other trap in this hole and we are "set", no pun intended. Okay, it was intended.
So, before I went to bed, I went out there with a flashlight. No gophers. I went out with Scott before he left for work at 4:30am. No gophers. Now it is 5:30. I will check again in a few hours. Won't you all be anxiously awaiting the outcome? My dear, sweet friend, the Gopher Catcher Extraordinaire, said she has caught about 15-20 of these little critters. I would just be happy if there are no new mounds in my yard. So, I know you will want to come back for Caddyshack Part II.
Oh, yeah, and my sweet little blue eyed girl has pink eye. She started rubbing her eyes last night. Poor little thing. Don't know where she got it, but now she has it and we will just have to wait for that to go away. Bummer. She's not too happy about that. Hopefully, her sister doesn't get it, too.
Will keep you posted on the gophers...
So, I have been enjoying days of warm breezes and beautiful sunshine when, out of nowhere, I find this big pile of soft dirt on the slope where the wildflowers are in front of the house. I start to sift through the dirt with my hands and there's nothing there. I am a little concerned, because I think maybe something is living there. Then again, it could be the kids who get off the bus at the corner and pick the flowers. Well, just one dirt pile, but a rather large one. I will keep my eye on it. So, Saturday night, I was outside watering the plants and I look up at the front porch to see this small, hamster-like creature with a stubby tail scurrying away from the corner of my front porch. It runs across the front porch to the other side. I am about ten feet away. I yell for hubby and he comes out of the house, finally, and by this time the little critter has run again through a little tiny hole, about one inch wide, two inches long in the bottom of the plastic fence next to the house. Gone. Into the backyard I assumed. Little bugger. So, now, it's confirmed. I have at least one gopher. So the next step is to get traps. So, Saturday night, I start thinking about the small rodent who is going to wreak havoc on my work in progress. My first real attempt at creating a nice yard. I tossed and turned all night. Didn't help that it was warm in the house and I couldn't sleep. Every time I turned and woke up, I was thinking about this little monster that was going to have a habitrail under my yard. Sixteen feet an hour is what they can supposedly tunnel. And once the tunnels are dug, they can travel something like seventy five feet a minute. That is impressive. So, I am lying in bed thinking about all the mounds I am going to have all over my yard, this little furry creep pulling my bulbs from the roots and chomping down on all my pretty flowers. I got up at 12:30am Sunday morning and looked up "how to get rid of gophers" on the internet. There are all kinds of things. Traps, castor oil spray, sonic repellers, high frequency repellers, dried blood, poison granules, dried granulated fox urine. This is big business. And a lot for my 2am head to take in. So, I attempted to return to bed, only now I was thinking of all the ways I could eradicate this little sucker. I woke up Sunday morning feeling mentally challenged. Not ready to face the day. Not ready to face the gopher. Feeling like he was going to win the battle.
Sunday after church the plan was to go get gopher stuff. Everything. Try it, see if it works. Well, that didn't happen. We decided to stop at the VW dealership to see what they had and if replacing the seventeen mile per gallon Suburban with a smaller vehicle would make sense. I guess it must have made sense. After five hours at the car dealership watching little girls run around collecting balloons, you will soon see the fruits of our labors. 32 miles per gallon is much more respectable. Almost double. That should save a large chunk of change. More money to buy gopher trapping paraphernalia. So, needless to say, we didn't get to home depot on Sunday. So, Monday morning I go outside and there are two more mounds of soft dirt next to the larger one and another along the bottom of my plastic fence that is about three feet wide. Just inches away from where he went under the fence. I use the word "he" but it may not BE a he. So, since the gopher has been busy at work, I figure it is time for me to step up to the plate. So, I call my friend who has a large piece of horse property. About two acres. Dirt in the back, grass and flowers in the front.
"Hi, I need to pick your brain for a minute. Have you ever had gophers?"
Oh, yeah!
How did you get rid of them?
Traps, it is the only thing that works.
Really?
Yeah, then you know for sure you got 'em. You don't have to wonder if they are still out there. But the hard part is setting the traps. They are a real pain to set if you don't know what you are doing.
Great. So, what, you just pick up the trap and throw it away like a mousetrap?
No, you can't throw it away, they are like ten dollars!
Oh, dear, you mean I have to get it off of there?
Uh huh. (laughing)
So, the spray and the sonic things don't work?
No, nothing else worked for us besides the traps. But you have to attach a wire to it and a pole or something otherwise it will take off with the trap attached.
Okay....So, umm, are you going to be around tomorrow? 'Cause I might need to call you. I am on my way to Home Depot now to get this stuff.
So, I go to Home Depot and find the traps. $10 for two. Such a deal. Hmmm, maybe I could just throw it away after....
We get the stuff home and Scott is busy attaching wire and such. He got this huge thing that supposedly screws into the ground. It is about a foot and a half long. So, he is trying to set the trap. Don't get your fingers in there! Warning on the box reads in part, "...Keep traps away from children and anyone not familiar with their use." That would be ME! Scott's mumbling that the instructions read like stereo instructions. Great.
"Hi, umm, you said you were going to be in and out tomorrow, right?"
Yeah, why?
Well, you know what they say about a friend in need.
(laughing)
We just bought the traps and...
(speaking to her husband) Is it okay if I run over to Amy's for a minute? They just got the gopher traps....I will be over in a few minutes.
Coooool! Thanks. I will see you then.
Turn oven with leftovers in it down to 225 degrees. Continue watching hubby try to figure this out.
Well, between the two of them, they figured them out. Turns out our traps are different than hers. But, hubby did eventually figure it out. Yeah, hubby. We took them outside and my wonderful friend poked around in the dirt a bit and very quickly found the hole! I looked for the longest time and found nothing. Oh well, she has the experience. Anyway, so we put the trap in the one hole and decided to look up near the fence for the other one. Well, it was there all right. But in the backyard. A den or nest-like hole with tons of weeds and grass stuffed inside. My dear friend (did I mention how great she is?) stuck her hand inside to clear it out so we could put the trap in and kept pulling out ALL THIS STUFF! So, like I said, the he might not be a he after all. Anyway, so she was able to get the other trap in this hole and we are "set", no pun intended. Okay, it was intended.
So, before I went to bed, I went out there with a flashlight. No gophers. I went out with Scott before he left for work at 4:30am. No gophers. Now it is 5:30. I will check again in a few hours. Won't you all be anxiously awaiting the outcome? My dear, sweet friend, the Gopher Catcher Extraordinaire, said she has caught about 15-20 of these little critters. I would just be happy if there are no new mounds in my yard. So, I know you will want to come back for Caddyshack Part II.
Oh, yeah, and my sweet little blue eyed girl has pink eye. She started rubbing her eyes last night. Poor little thing. Don't know where she got it, but now she has it and we will just have to wait for that to go away. Bummer. She's not too happy about that. Hopefully, her sister doesn't get it, too.
Will keep you posted on the gophers...
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Part of the Revolution
Well, we have finally joined the internet revolution. DSL is not available at my house, but we have a cablemodem and we are now online! Yeah, no more dialup. Gee, I'm gonna miss waiting 5 minutes for my email to come up...
So, now we are going to be able to do things in the internet, like download stuff, upload stuff, etc. without it taking half the day.
I guess I have a little catching up to do.
My yard looks nice. Green grass coming in after a cold winter, wild flowers blooming, everything starting to look really colorful. My strawberry plants are in full bloom (that means lots of yummy strawberries!) and my flowering bushes and plants are all about to explode. I spent yesterday using the drop spreader on the lawn with weed and feed and ammonium sulfate to green it up. If it doesn't kill it, it should work. Never done this before. And part of this job was pushing this thing sideways on the slope on the side of our house. Wow, I never imagined it would be so strenuous to push a wheeled trough sideways on a hill. That was quite a workout. But, I figured, if the gardener can do it (and he never shows up when he is supposed to), then so can I. And I can do it when it isn't windy (three days per year), so it won't kill all my flowers in the process. Last time he put the weed and feed on it, all the plants on the perimeter of the lawn died! Let's hope I did a better job.
Looking forward to the girls' birthday party on Sunday. My house is not yet cleaned up. I guess I will do the 24 hour marathon clean the day before....or something. I will never be confused with Martha Stewart!
Hope all you all in cyberspace are doing well. Now that I can get on here faster, I will try to post more often. Plus, I can be on the internet without worrying about anyone trying to call. Isn't High Speed Internet wonderful?
So, now we are going to be able to do things in the internet, like download stuff, upload stuff, etc. without it taking half the day.
I guess I have a little catching up to do.
My yard looks nice. Green grass coming in after a cold winter, wild flowers blooming, everything starting to look really colorful. My strawberry plants are in full bloom (that means lots of yummy strawberries!) and my flowering bushes and plants are all about to explode. I spent yesterday using the drop spreader on the lawn with weed and feed and ammonium sulfate to green it up. If it doesn't kill it, it should work. Never done this before. And part of this job was pushing this thing sideways on the slope on the side of our house. Wow, I never imagined it would be so strenuous to push a wheeled trough sideways on a hill. That was quite a workout. But, I figured, if the gardener can do it (and he never shows up when he is supposed to), then so can I. And I can do it when it isn't windy (three days per year), so it won't kill all my flowers in the process. Last time he put the weed and feed on it, all the plants on the perimeter of the lawn died! Let's hope I did a better job.
Looking forward to the girls' birthday party on Sunday. My house is not yet cleaned up. I guess I will do the 24 hour marathon clean the day before....or something. I will never be confused with Martha Stewart!
Hope all you all in cyberspace are doing well. Now that I can get on here faster, I will try to post more often. Plus, I can be on the internet without worrying about anyone trying to call. Isn't High Speed Internet wonderful?
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Great Bumper Stickers! Pick your favorite!
Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up.
So many stupid people, and so few asteroids.
Never believe generalizations.
Avoid alliterations always.
Dyslexics are teople poo.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
The control key on the keyboard does not work.
On your mark, get set, go away!
I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetarian!
I am not infantile, you stinky poopyhead.
I have a degree in Liberal Arts - do you want fries with that?
Suburbia: Where they tear out the trees and name streets after them.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you weren't asleep.
Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
Cover Me! I'm Changing Lanes
How do I set a laser printer to stun?
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.
The trouble with the gene pool is that there's no lifeguard.
Old age comes at a bad time.
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to ME.
Without ME, it's just AWESO.
Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.
Your kid may be an Honor Student, but YOU'RE still an idiot.
I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
To err is human, to blame it on somebody else shows management potential.
Driver carries no cash. He's married.
Watch out for the idiot behind me.
Don't believe everything you think.
Earth is full. Go home.
All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
My wife keeps complaining I never listen to her (or something like that).
Never miss a good opportunity to shut up.
If it isn't broken, fix it until it is.
What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?
So many stupid people, and so few asteroids.
Never believe generalizations.
Avoid alliterations always.
Dyslexics are teople poo.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
The control key on the keyboard does not work.
On your mark, get set, go away!
I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetarian!
I am not infantile, you stinky poopyhead.
I have a degree in Liberal Arts - do you want fries with that?
Suburbia: Where they tear out the trees and name streets after them.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you weren't asleep.
Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
Cover Me! I'm Changing Lanes
How do I set a laser printer to stun?
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.
The trouble with the gene pool is that there's no lifeguard.
Old age comes at a bad time.
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to ME.
Without ME, it's just AWESO.
Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.
Your kid may be an Honor Student, but YOU'RE still an idiot.
I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
To err is human, to blame it on somebody else shows management potential.
Driver carries no cash. He's married.
Watch out for the idiot behind me.
Don't believe everything you think.
Earth is full. Go home.
All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
My wife keeps complaining I never listen to her (or something like that).
Never miss a good opportunity to shut up.
If it isn't broken, fix it until it is.
What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?
Wednesday, and all is, well....
Wednesday, and all is, well…
I wish it were better. On Sunday, the 12th, we went to Petsmart, which I used to think was Pet Smart, but not anymore. Stupid cat. Anyway. We went to see the pet adoption cats and the lady was in the room with us. She let me know the cat I was petting was not available but this other one, a gentle 3-4 year old male was. Large cat, grey and white, very nice. Purring, loving, reached out his paw to get petted again. I told Scott, “I want to see if he likes to be picked up. Well, when I did, Scott commented that, wow, he didn’t even put his claws out or anything! So, I am holding the cat, he is purring, when all of a sudden, he grabs my hand with both paws and bites down into my wrist as hard as he could! I have had cats all my life and have NEVER experienced anything like this! No growling, no ears back, no nothing. Purring to biting in .05 seconds! ¼ inch deep puncture wounds on the top and bottom of my wrist. It didn’t bleed much, it was right next to the vein. So I was able to see how deep the hole was. Well, little bleeding means that the toxins the cat deposited into my hand did not come out. So, the swelling and subsequent infection traveling down my wrist were no surprise.
So, the people at Petsmart told me to go to the Urgent Care covered by my insurance, which is in Van Nuys. Great. Pile the kids in the car and drive down there. It was 5:45 when it happened. Urgent Care dr. gave me a prescription for Zithromax. I was allergic to the first and second line drugs. Great. The doctor also told me that because of the diabetes, I run the risk of having a major infection. She was very concerned.
So, now I am supposed to go home and take care of it. Try explaining to a two year old why you can’t pick her up. Or carry her to bed. Why your four year old can’t hug your arm and make you feel better. The slightest pressure on my hand hurt. Still does, but it is a smaller area.
Then, the following Sunday, I wake up and can’t move. The muscles on the left side of my back were frozen. It took about ten minutes to get out of bed. I didn’t figure it out until about a week later, but this, I contribute to the cat bite as well. I was compensating. Lifting what I needed to pick up with my left hand, using my left hand when I would normally use my right hand. After a week of this, my back was out of balance and decided to throw in the towel. Another trip to the doctor. Took four days to get the prescription for muscle relaxants from the pharmacy. It still hurts. Not nearly as bad, but it does hurt. Very stiff and sore, especially if I am in one position for too long.
The asst. manager at Petsmart called me the day after this happened. The woman at Petsmart’s insurance company called me a few days later and told me that because the cat belonged to Claws rescue, the adoption company, that Petsmart is not responsible. So, wouldn’t you think that the people at Claws would call me? She hasn’t returned my phone calls or the Petsmart insurance companies phone calls. That is unbelievable! They probably think I did something to this cat! It bothers me that this cat may go to a home with small children because they think he is “gentle”.
I have had cats all my life. I have never been afraid of cats…ever. I am now. And I am angry that these people are more concerned with the life of a cat than the life of a person.
I wish it were better. On Sunday, the 12th, we went to Petsmart, which I used to think was Pet Smart, but not anymore. Stupid cat. Anyway. We went to see the pet adoption cats and the lady was in the room with us. She let me know the cat I was petting was not available but this other one, a gentle 3-4 year old male was. Large cat, grey and white, very nice. Purring, loving, reached out his paw to get petted again. I told Scott, “I want to see if he likes to be picked up. Well, when I did, Scott commented that, wow, he didn’t even put his claws out or anything! So, I am holding the cat, he is purring, when all of a sudden, he grabs my hand with both paws and bites down into my wrist as hard as he could! I have had cats all my life and have NEVER experienced anything like this! No growling, no ears back, no nothing. Purring to biting in .05 seconds! ¼ inch deep puncture wounds on the top and bottom of my wrist. It didn’t bleed much, it was right next to the vein. So I was able to see how deep the hole was. Well, little bleeding means that the toxins the cat deposited into my hand did not come out. So, the swelling and subsequent infection traveling down my wrist were no surprise.
So, the people at Petsmart told me to go to the Urgent Care covered by my insurance, which is in Van Nuys. Great. Pile the kids in the car and drive down there. It was 5:45 when it happened. Urgent Care dr. gave me a prescription for Zithromax. I was allergic to the first and second line drugs. Great. The doctor also told me that because of the diabetes, I run the risk of having a major infection. She was very concerned.
So, now I am supposed to go home and take care of it. Try explaining to a two year old why you can’t pick her up. Or carry her to bed. Why your four year old can’t hug your arm and make you feel better. The slightest pressure on my hand hurt. Still does, but it is a smaller area.
Then, the following Sunday, I wake up and can’t move. The muscles on the left side of my back were frozen. It took about ten minutes to get out of bed. I didn’t figure it out until about a week later, but this, I contribute to the cat bite as well. I was compensating. Lifting what I needed to pick up with my left hand, using my left hand when I would normally use my right hand. After a week of this, my back was out of balance and decided to throw in the towel. Another trip to the doctor. Took four days to get the prescription for muscle relaxants from the pharmacy. It still hurts. Not nearly as bad, but it does hurt. Very stiff and sore, especially if I am in one position for too long.
The asst. manager at Petsmart called me the day after this happened. The woman at Petsmart’s insurance company called me a few days later and told me that because the cat belonged to Claws rescue, the adoption company, that Petsmart is not responsible. So, wouldn’t you think that the people at Claws would call me? She hasn’t returned my phone calls or the Petsmart insurance companies phone calls. That is unbelievable! They probably think I did something to this cat! It bothers me that this cat may go to a home with small children because they think he is “gentle”.
I have had cats all my life. I have never been afraid of cats…ever. I am now. And I am angry that these people are more concerned with the life of a cat than the life of a person.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
She's Done!
Rebekah is officially out of diapers. Yeah! What a good girl. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. She was exactly the same age as Jessica was when she finished. Two months before she turned three. Day, night, everything. Well, Rebekah, having been in underwear for about a week and a half now, was the same age as Jess at the time. Yeah! No more diapers. Only, brilliant me, thinking it was going to be quite some time before she was completely through, bought all these pullups. Like the big box from Costco and two packs from Toys R Us (with discounts and coupons, of course). Well, now, she has not had a wet pullup in like a week and a half and I am re-thinking this whole plan ahead strategy. Seems like a waste of about forty bucks now. BUT, on the bright side, I definitely won't be buying any more!
Rebekah got to pick out a barbie from Toys R Us and she got dinner on the celebrate plate. When her Daddy asked her why, she said, "Cause I'm potty trained!" She was very excited.
Now where did I put that list of all the things we could do with the pullup money...
Rebekah got to pick out a barbie from Toys R Us and she got dinner on the celebrate plate. When her Daddy asked her why, she said, "Cause I'm potty trained!" She was very excited.
Now where did I put that list of all the things we could do with the pullup money...
Disappointed
Last night I went to the grocery store. Got $170 worth of groceries for $105. Coupons and specials. Scott stayed home with the girls. I told them if they cleaned up the playroom, I would bring back a special treat. Well, I got them the little valentines day candy hearts. Each box was on sale for 33 cents. Not bad, I thought. Jessica worked on the playroom and got it cleaned up. She worked hard. Rebekah didn't help, but her job was to root through the bags of groceries looking for the treat. She gave up when she got to the box of valentine cards. So, I found the candy hearts and gave them each a box. Jess will get something extra special tomorrow because she was the only one to really clean up. And she will get to have dinner on the celebrate plate. Anyway, the first candy Jess put in her mouth was a white one. Peppermint. Doesn't like peppermint. Spit it out. Next one, didn't like the taste of. Tried one more. Decided she didn't like the candies at all and promptly threw the entire box in the trash. I think I was more disappointed than she was. Here, I was trying to reward her for going above and beyond and the reward was a bust! And she LOVES candy. And sweets, and anything chocolate. I should have just bought her her very own Hershey bar and called it good. But I thought I was doing something good. What a bummer.
Of course, Rebekah was sitting on the floor with her box of confections going, "These are GOOD!" So, the one who should not have been rewarded enjoyed the reward. Best laid plans...
Of course, Rebekah was sitting on the floor with her box of confections going, "These are GOOD!" So, the one who should not have been rewarded enjoyed the reward. Best laid plans...
Six More Weeks?
Six more weeks of winter? Well, okay, but if we have to have em, let's have some good winter weather. We haven't had any rain to speak of, no snow, no fantastic thunderstorms, well, there was one, but really not too much except really cold. I want some weather! Like the torrential downpours of last year, when I was glad my car was higher up off the ground. Like when you can't tell how deep the puddle is you are driving through. Real puddles, that look like little lakes. Not piddles. Rain, like when all the streets around here were flooded and the gutters turn into rivers. And all the newly graded subdivisions have to re-grade because the lots have fallen downhill. Rain, the kind that makes the plants grow like crazy! And lightning, so at three a.m. I can look out over the entire valley and see huge flashes light up the night sky from one end to the other. Huge bolts of electricity that go straight down from the clouds and pop the transformers and make everything go black in a huge part of the valley until it cycles and the lights come on again.
Yeah, I am looking forward to spring, but I want to see some good winter weather first!
Yeah, I am looking forward to spring, but I want to see some good winter weather first!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
You Want Me To Build a WHAT!?!
Imagine, if you will, being in Noah's shoes. Noah from the Bible, not Baby Noah, although he is SOOO CUTE! Okay, so you are lying in bed one night, drifting off to sleep and you hear a voice. You look around. Nobody is there. You say to your wife, "Honey, did you say something?" She's like, "Huh?" Okay, nevermind, go back to sleep. So, then you hear the voice again. You realize it is God talking to you! Imagine that feeling! I have seen angels, I have seen demons, but I have yet to hear the voice of God speaking directly to me. I know it is a possibility, but I can only imagine what it will be like! Awesome! Anyway, so you are sitting there, talking to God and He tells you to build a really big boat. You have never seen a boat before. You don't know how to build one! What is everyone else going to think? HOW are you going to explain this to your wife! They are all going to think you are out of your mind. What if they try to lock you up for being crazy before you are able to finish it? God tells you He is going to destroy all mankind, except you and your family. Talk about walking on eggshells! Boy, you don't want to make God mad, but are you really sure you want me to build this boat thing? Oh my goodness. Talk about a leap of faith! Noah had more faith than anybody! Oh, yeah, and after you are done, go and get all of these animals and bring them together into the ark. Yeah, like they are just going to come along willingly...oh, they are?
I would have to say that Noah was delighting in God's will. Despite all the things that others must have said to him while he was working on this huge project. Everyone around him must have thought he was nuts. And it would have been so huge that everyone around for miles would have been able to see it. Not like you could hide it in a garage while you were building it! The only thing he had going for him was that he knew it wasn't going to rain until he was done. No down time!
And he had faith that could move mountains, or animals, as it were.
Oh, if we could have such faith in the midst of adversity! To be able to say, "Okay, God, whatever you want me to do, I will do it without question." Gen. 6:22 "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Gen. 7:5 "And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him."
Noah was six hundred years old at the time the floodwaters came. Would you have that kind of faith at an old age? That is a hard thing to do! Pretty set in your ways, ready to retire, and God comes to you and gives you this huge assignment. Okay, God, where do I start? That is faith!
They were in the ark for a hundred and fifty days. five months. That is a long time to be in there with all those animals and your family. Talk about claustrophobic! I get antsy if we are in the house for a couple of days! Five MONTHS!? You have got to be kidding! More faith. Okay, God, is this really going to end? Okay, I hope you are right!
Let's all have the faith of Noah and maybe God will give us some extraordinary job to do also. Or maybe we are already doing extraordinary jobs and we just don't realize it. Hopefully, when other people see us, they will see the love of Christ in us and isn't that what it is all about?
I would have to say that Noah was delighting in God's will. Despite all the things that others must have said to him while he was working on this huge project. Everyone around him must have thought he was nuts. And it would have been so huge that everyone around for miles would have been able to see it. Not like you could hide it in a garage while you were building it! The only thing he had going for him was that he knew it wasn't going to rain until he was done. No down time!
And he had faith that could move mountains, or animals, as it were.
Oh, if we could have such faith in the midst of adversity! To be able to say, "Okay, God, whatever you want me to do, I will do it without question." Gen. 6:22 "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Gen. 7:5 "And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him."
Noah was six hundred years old at the time the floodwaters came. Would you have that kind of faith at an old age? That is a hard thing to do! Pretty set in your ways, ready to retire, and God comes to you and gives you this huge assignment. Okay, God, where do I start? That is faith!
They were in the ark for a hundred and fifty days. five months. That is a long time to be in there with all those animals and your family. Talk about claustrophobic! I get antsy if we are in the house for a couple of days! Five MONTHS!? You have got to be kidding! More faith. Okay, God, is this really going to end? Okay, I hope you are right!
Let's all have the faith of Noah and maybe God will give us some extraordinary job to do also. Or maybe we are already doing extraordinary jobs and we just don't realize it. Hopefully, when other people see us, they will see the love of Christ in us and isn't that what it is all about?
Monday, January 30, 2006
Emotional II
We sang How Great Thou Art in church today. There were not many people in the church today. Very light crowd. So, I really felt the need to sing louder than normal. Make up for the empty seats, you know. Hoping not to offend anyone by being off-key or anything. After all, it is for God, not for anyone else, right. Anyway, so I am singing at the top of my lungs and the next song is How Great Thou Art. And it hits me as I am singing the words.
Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
HOW GREAT THOU ART. Truly. Our God is amazing. He does so much for us and what do we do for Him?
Tears were streaming down my face and I was kind of glad that the church was so empty, I didn't feel as though I had to look a certain way or be a certain way depending on who was watching me.
Then Sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee! How Great Thou Art. HOW GREAT THOU ART!
The few voices, combined with the AWESOME music (that guitar just gets me) and I just lost it. Well, I hope you all had equally earth-shattering experiences...I know I for one am glad I made it to church this Sunday.
Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
HOW GREAT THOU ART. Truly. Our God is amazing. He does so much for us and what do we do for Him?
Tears were streaming down my face and I was kind of glad that the church was so empty, I didn't feel as though I had to look a certain way or be a certain way depending on who was watching me.
Then Sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee! How Great Thou Art. HOW GREAT THOU ART!
The few voices, combined with the AWESOME music (that guitar just gets me) and I just lost it. Well, I hope you all had equally earth-shattering experiences...I know I for one am glad I made it to church this Sunday.
Emotional
Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
So, I came upon this in my little calendar and I was reading it and thinking about it. How many times have you heard someone quote this Scripture? Probably many times. Maybe at least once. Well, often, when people quote this, it is done thus: "...and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Forgetting, or omitting the first part. Maybe you have done this yourself?
What does it mean to delight thyself also in the Lord? DO HIS WILL. Live in His will. Be in His will. ACT in His will. I am picturing a parent (something I can relate to), having their child do what they know the parent wants them to do. May not like it. May complain about it, but does it because they know it will make their parent happy. Been there? We are all God's children. We sometimes, well, often, act like children. Children are notorious for testing their boundaries. "Jessica, don't touch that." So, while looking me straight in the face, puts her hand as close as she can get it without actually touching it. Just to see what I will do. Don't we do that? Okay, God, where is my boundary? At what point will I get in trouble? You already are. Why are you testing Him? It doesn't get you where you want to be.
If we remain in the Lord's will, He will bless us.
I am struggling with this whole "Let go, let God" thing. It's hard to do! We want to control, to be in charge and can't you just picture God up there going, "Aww, look, how cute, Amy wants to be all in charge." We just aren't. The older our children get, the more we give them the opportunity to test their limits. But it is controlled. We don't let them get hurt, get in a situation where they can injure themselves or do any serious harm. Let them test their boundaries but within limits. Isn't that what God lets us do? Test our boundaries, within His limits? So as not to cause harm to ourselves? Isn't that what we trust Him to do? Shouldn't we?
Maybe we should spend more time delighting in the Lord and less time wondering when He will give us the desires of our hearts. If we delight in Him, He SHOULD be the desire of our hearts and...problem solved.
So, I came upon this in my little calendar and I was reading it and thinking about it. How many times have you heard someone quote this Scripture? Probably many times. Maybe at least once. Well, often, when people quote this, it is done thus: "...and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Forgetting, or omitting the first part. Maybe you have done this yourself?
What does it mean to delight thyself also in the Lord? DO HIS WILL. Live in His will. Be in His will. ACT in His will. I am picturing a parent (something I can relate to), having their child do what they know the parent wants them to do. May not like it. May complain about it, but does it because they know it will make their parent happy. Been there? We are all God's children. We sometimes, well, often, act like children. Children are notorious for testing their boundaries. "Jessica, don't touch that." So, while looking me straight in the face, puts her hand as close as she can get it without actually touching it. Just to see what I will do. Don't we do that? Okay, God, where is my boundary? At what point will I get in trouble? You already are. Why are you testing Him? It doesn't get you where you want to be.
If we remain in the Lord's will, He will bless us.
I am struggling with this whole "Let go, let God" thing. It's hard to do! We want to control, to be in charge and can't you just picture God up there going, "Aww, look, how cute, Amy wants to be all in charge." We just aren't. The older our children get, the more we give them the opportunity to test their limits. But it is controlled. We don't let them get hurt, get in a situation where they can injure themselves or do any serious harm. Let them test their boundaries but within limits. Isn't that what God lets us do? Test our boundaries, within His limits? So as not to cause harm to ourselves? Isn't that what we trust Him to do? Shouldn't we?
Maybe we should spend more time delighting in the Lord and less time wondering when He will give us the desires of our hearts. If we delight in Him, He SHOULD be the desire of our hearts and...problem solved.
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