Fur Balls and Dog Paws

The time has come for you to see how much "Dion" (Dionysus), my German Shepherd Puppy, has grown. He's made a lot of progress. He no longer looks starved, he's learning a lot, and he's getting to be such a handsome dog. He is going to be a big and gorgeous Shepherd. He just doesn't have anything to herd haha... well, except us.

All is going o.k. this week. The workload is still very hectic at work, but that's just the way it is going to be for a while. I just need to remind myself always to be happy that I have a job. Even though we screw things up for ourselves, and get all tangled up in too much, we need to try to simplify as much as we can, and make sure to take time to breathe, meditate and relax and enjoy the scenery on this rock.

It is amazing how comical people begin to look running around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to beat each other to "nowhere", acting like rude assholes, cutting each other off at the pass, stressing out and freaking over stupid issues if you just take a step back and watch them, it's like you're in a peaceful, slow motion watching a ridiculous comedy. I wish they could see themselves.

Now, I am not saying that I'm not guilty of stressing out myself, I am! It's just that I do know how to get a handle on it, and I can take a deep breath and let it go when I need to. I can get things done and still at the end of the day say, "Whatever, none of this means anything in the big picture so I might as well chill out and enjoy... trusting that it is all in Divine Order." That's very true, no matter what our circumstances are, or what we are going through. You'll get through it and it is small potatoes in a HUGE pot roast. ;)

Oh my god, now see?? I have relaxed myself before I got the chance to bitch about the lady that annoyed me at Petco earlier. See, I was waiting in line to exchange dog collars for the right kind, and the lady was checking out right in front of me. She was one of those people who gets in front of the cart, gets her stuff out and leaves the cart behind. She finished up, and walked right off without even attempting to move the cart out of my way. I just found this to be extremely rude.

Even if it hadn't been her cart, she should've seen me as I inched the cart slowly towards her, thinking that she would take the hint and pull it out of my way on her way out (it would've hardly been any trouble for her). I rolled it forward, a little more, and I just kept thinking, 'Yeah, she's gonna realize and say she's sorry and just roll it back into the other carts as it is on her way out.' But it never happened. She took her bag (one small bag, it wasn't like she had her hands full) and just walked away. People are such apathetic, rude and thoughtless creatures.

I resisted the urge to slam the cart into her when she turned her back.

Another thing I have noticed is the number of abrasive jackasses who don't slow down and allow people to cross at Pedestrian cross-walks. What is the point? You are supposed to have the right-of-way and be able to cross a parking lot or street, but people just fly on through the parking lot at break-neck speeds. Even if you try to cross, it seems like they speed up in some morbid attempt to "plow you down" or at least make you think that. What gives??

Every day I find more and more reasons to dislike the human race and love my animals.

I mean, take a look at this cute guy! 'Course there are a couple of gratuitous shots of Mr. Rodney the Cat at the end.

Cats always have to have the last word! So the world turns.



If You Cannot View The Slideshow, Click Here.

Until next time...

*The animals shown in the above slideshow were all adopted or rescued. "Don't Breed Or Buy While Shelter Animals Die!" Rescue Your New Pet Today!

Lazy Me

Not only have I been busy with so much lately, and a lot going on at work, I have been a little lazy too. Just haven't felt enough energy to gather my thoughts and post.

There are so many things that go through my head on a daily basis, that I wish I could get it all into words, and post it. Perhaps I might entertain you guys then. But if I do not catch the thought and write it down or record it whenever it happens, later on the feeling or sentiment passes and it turns sour... not even worthy of blogging.

I don't know how that happens. The ideas seem really good at the time, and I jot down a note or two that I think will remind me of what I wanted to write about and later when I go back to it, I'll read and think to myself, "Geez, I don't really feel like finishing that."

To recap the last few days? Wow, I can't think of anything to make it sound interesting honestly.

Work. That sums it up pretty well, and then when I am not working, over the weekend I was at my Mother's, and taking care of business (TCB like 'Big E').

One interesting thing I guess is that lately I have noticed a lot of people calling me "pet names". These are not only people I know, but other people that I don't know, like fast food workers and wait staff. One night we went to Fox and Hound pub because Mr. J was fiending for a brewsky and I ordered the fish and chips. When the waitress brought out our order, she sat my plate down and said, "Here you go love bug."

At first, I thought I was hearing things. When she walked away I looked at Richie and said, "Did I just get called Love Bug?" Of course he thought this was the greatest thing ever for a waitress to call me these names. It didn't extend to just Love Bug, she also referred to me as "Sweety" a few times too. Other than that, I have heard Sweetheart, baby and the usuals.

Not sure what this little trend is all about... maybe it's my cologne. (scratches head)

While I was too busy to get to it, I totally wanted to blog about November 11 since I am obsessed with 11:11. Because basically, if you think of it there are 3 elevens involved: November is the 11th month, it was the 11th day, and our year, 2009 adds up to 11. Whadaya get?? "11-11-11" Yeah! So I was going to talk all about that and the 11:11 phenomenon, which still affects me greatly to this day but just didn't get to. I know a lot of people see different occurrences of this "synchronicity", some buy into the strangeness of it, some just shrug it off and others don't even notice. I notice... I think it's pretty interesting, and of course do not care if BBC thinks it's bullshit hahaha. (Because I just knew that was coming).

Anyway, it's Sunday night, and although there is another busy week ahead of work, I will be trying to chronicle more of my wisdom and insights and occurrences. I hope maybe I will be able to find the time.

Until then, enjoy my pictures below... I got this from this flash tool over at http://www.sp-studio.de/sp-studio.swf (Sp Studio). It was fun creating the "South Park" versions of Mr. J and Me.

The South Park Mr. J (complete with bald head, goatee, tattoos, a
Raisins shirt and no pants in front of the computer)

The South Park ME, looking as mean, wicked and vixenish as ever!!! :)

So there you go... Hope ya enjoyed! Wishing a safe and magical week to the dear few readers that I have left. ;-)

Cleaning Bug

Those who know me well know that I am the worst housekeeper on Earth. It is strange because when I do start something, I am rather "OCD" about it, and will clean in pretty heavy detail.

The photo to the left could not be less like me. A Stepford wife I am not. In fact I have always been more like "one of the guys" who likes to have fun, play video games, and of course mostly just enjoy treats of a physical nature (safe way to say it right?) Sometimes, I wish I was the epitome of "Domestic Goddess", but then I think on the larger scale of all that is, it's a small and unimportant shred of talent that I missed out on.

Sometimes I do have my "moments"... like today.

I made great progress in the room I have been neglecting, but meaning to clean for a long time, I am proud of that. We'll see.

The rest of the weekend, Mr. J had been sick, he says with a sinus infection, I thought he probably had a cold. I got a little sniffly and spent the weekend with sinus irritation too, which might be one reason that I was prompted into a cleaning binge.

The weather has been gorgeous and I was going to ride my motorcycle a lot over the weekend but just didn't get to, or didn't get to it one or the other. I think that the time change and the fact that it is getting dark now before 5:30 in the afternoon is still bumming me out quite a bit. I love winter, but I hate the hours. It just kind of sucks driving home from work and it is dark already.

So that is my boring, uneventful, sad little "dirge" lol. I hope you enjoyed it.

I am sweaty, stinky and still have clothes to put up so I am back at it for a few. Mr. J has gone to grab us some Subway. I've worked up a bit of an appetite so I'm ready for that!

Have a good week ahead, whatever that means to you!

Cartoon Me

BBC shared this in e-mail the other day and I had to put it up... It is me in cartoon form (well the before pic could use a bout triple thighs and arse, but you get the picture...) It's me at heart.

I want to talk more, say more and vent more, but I need just a bit more time to gather thoughts.

This has been a tiring week.

Fair Share of Nightlife (WWC)

Ok I made it this week! To be fair, I will have to say that these were all taken from my Halloween 2009 collection, which are mainly taken from a gig we attended Saturday night for a 60s rock band we are friends with called, The Vynals. Craig and the gang do a bang-up job of some of the great 60s songs. Artists they cover include, "Paul Revere and the Raiders", "The Zombies", "The Beatles" and more! We enjoyed the gig quite a bit and I will just briefly cover a few event highlights in this week's "Weekly Words Challenge" brought to us by the lovely M.C. "Tink", now on Facebook.

I started out trying to figure out what the heck I wanted to be, and had a hard time settling on my costume. But I finally wimped out and went for the easy "Goth" look... As you can see here, I go right along with the nightlife as my undead-looking self.

I had my fun little self-portrait photo shoot, and then it was time to head out to see The Vynals play. Mr. J had been deeply rooted in an all-weekend long game of "Super Paper Mario Bros." on the Wii, but I peeled him off to get ready finally, and we were off.

There was a vast array of characters at the show, including the band, most of which dressed like "Paul Revere" and "Raiders" ;) The drummer, Craig just dressed up like a Hippy.

I guess the "cutest" costumes I saw were...

Dorothy and one of the Lollipop Kids




Father Dick is another story entirely...



Member of the "cloth", he had no trouble
whatsoever showing us his gospel



Father Dick shown here with his Slutty Taxi Driver Wife



Wayne and Garth even came out to 'Party On'



Mr. J shown here "FourDinners" and "Cappy" style...
He does love the nightlife.



However, he hates dressing up so here's what
he thinks of Halloween... lol

Party on the lot of you!!! Have a great week... AJ

Sweet November

Halloween came and went so fast, and I find myself here at the face of November wondering what I have really accomplished in 2009. It hasn't been that much, not that I am able to really scratch together on paper right at this moment. I am going to have to take stock and see where I am, gather my thoughts and start looking at the upcoming holiday season.

This is going to be so very surreal, the first Thanksgiving and Christmas ever without Daddy. It's something we have to do, and learn to get through it and continue moving, always moving.

We went to a show of a friend of ours, his band is called "The Vynals". They play a lot of 60s music, and he has always supported our band so we try to support his when we can. It was pretty fun. Most everyone wore costume, myself included, and there were some characters at the gig. I'll have to blog about in more depth and post a few pics. Just don't have much time right at the moment. Another week looms ahead, got so much to do.

Aside from the gig, we were around the house and Mr. J was deeply immersed in a game of "Super Paper Mario", he played it most all weekend. I just did my own thing, and relaxed, etc. It was all-in-all an o.k. weekend.

November... so we meet again.

The leaves have certainly taken drastic turns in the last couple of weeks, I have been watching them with a keen artists eye. I do so need to hit the canvas, but I can never find sufficient motivation, space or solitude. I need my own art studio so badly. Why am I not more motivated and resourceful??

Everyone else around me always seems to have their head on straight and always be able to do the things that they want, need to do or enjoy doing. What is wrong with me? Why did this 'gene' seem to escape me? Where the bleep is my mind??

Even so, I find myself captivated by the beauty of the season, the chill in the air and everything about fall and winter except for the time change. I mean the extra hour was cool, but the getting dark earlier seems to just be depressing me mostly.

Oh Fall...
bringer of winter,
and Death's maiden,
kiss me
on the cheek
as you and
your brilliant leaves
brush by to say
their goodbyes.
Here comes the hurt,
here comes the cold.
On play the memories
over and over
in my head,
like an old
movie reel
from long ago.

Strange Brew

Have you ever noticed that all of the old remedies taught to you by your mother, grandmother, great-grandmother (or the fathers) and so forth work better than any over-the-counter product you can buy?

Well if you are saying "No" right now, then you need to get in touch with your roots child!

I was just thinking about this today as I read this prevention.com article entitled: 19 Bizarre Home Cures That Really Work.

One of the ones that stood out from this to me was about Duct tape. You know we have all made the joking generalization at times that Duct tape works for everything.

In fact a popular saying is, "There are only two things you need in life, Duct Tape and WD40. If doesn't move and should, use WD40. If it moves and shouldn't use the Duct Tape." lol It's funny but in a lot of ways kind of true! :) So just when I thought I knew all of the uses for the stuff, besides the obvious ones, we find:

Home cure: Duct tape

Use it for: Warts

Yes, this really does work! Covering warts with duct tape eliminates them better than freezing them off, according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. In the study, the duct tape eliminated 85% of the warts after 2 months, compared with 60% with the freezing method.

To use duct tape safely, clean the area. Then cut a piece of duct tape to a size slightly bigger than the wart. Apply the duct tape to the site and rub into place. Every 3 days, remove the tape and file down dead skin with a pumice stone or nail file. Repeat until the wart disappears. Chemicals in the tape suffocate and kill the wart.

Can you believe it??

If anyone has a wart, please give this a try, or I will if I get one anytime in the future. I must know the outcome of this "home remedy".

Other natural remedies that I have been taught throughout my life are:

1. Hiccups - A spoonful of sugar. This one works. Of course the 9 swallows of water works too, but either way, give em a try. Beats getting the Bejezzuz scared out of ya.

2. Ringworm - Once my nephew had a ringworm, and my Mom used a Green Walnut on it. She simply opened it up, and placed one of the sides of the unripe pod over the ringworm, worked like magic.

3. Zits, Burns, Irritations, Cuts - Anything related to skin is solved easily with a pinch off the ol' Aloe Vera plant. You can get the stuff from the store, but nothing works quite as great as the leaf itself. The plants are very easy to grow, so even if you don't have a green thumb, you can still most likely grow an Aloe Vera plant. It's worth it!

4. Coughs/Colds - Mom always has her "remedy" made up for this, which consists of "Old Charter Bourbon Whiskey", Glycerin (preferably vegetable glycerin) which is a lung healer, rock candy or honey/lemon etc... something to sweeten the bite of the Old Charter. It really does help... or you'll end up drunk, whichever comes first. ;)

What are some natural remedies that have been passed on to you from your elders, or that you have learned in your life that truly work? Why not share and pass along a bit of wisdom. We could save a bit at the Pharmacy to boot!