That old sound

I think everyone has songs that remind them of sometime in their life.  Sometimes it's an entire genre of songs and bands.  Just about anything classic rock takes me back my childhood.  Not necessarily all good memories that come back but it still makes me a wee bit nostalgic.  Even if they weren't normally great times, it was still my childhood.  A lot of them bring back parties that my parents threw, 6 hour drives to visit relatives or just my dad sitting around listening to the radio.  And there are other things that it brings to mind but I don't want to dwell on the past all the time.  I'm trying to remember good times more and less bad times.  For some reason, no matter what memory a song invokes, I still miss that time in my life.  I guess you'll always long for your childhood back.  And as a child, you can't wait to get it over with.  My mom would always tell me as a kid that I shouldn't try and grow up too fast, enjoy being a kid and playing.  At the time I just assumed she was saying that because when you got older, you had bills to pay.  Now I realize there's this innocence when you're  a child that you can never get back.  Once it's gone, it's gone for good.  I wouldn't give up what I have now for anything but that doesn't mean that I don't occasionally want to go back to a time when things were simpler.

Tags: childhood, classic rock, nostalgia

What my birthday means to me

Today was my birthday.  (the 27th)  It started out great and ended badly.  We'll start at the end.  Jasmine climbed onto the dishwasher and grabbed a small glass ornament and chewed it up.  I'm not sure if she swallowed any or not.  I called my doctor who never called back (it was 3am) so I called the hospital and the nurse was not too helpful.  She basically said keep an eye on her.  I was scared half to death though.  Now I see why parents always say they've earned their gray hairs.  Now to the beginning, my mom, grandma, brother and his girlfriend all came over and then we went to dinner.  My brother's girlfriend literally made me laugh until I cried.  Then me, Shawn, Jasmine, my brother and his g/f went to the mall and I bought her a pair of jeans.  We had a pretty good time.  And found out that my husband and my brother's girlfriend have known eachother since she was real young.  Small world. 

Being as it was my birthday I was thinking about my mom a lot and the fact that 24 years ago she was in labor.  She was alone (my grandmother waited in the waiting room) and probably scared.  I know I would've been, hell I was even though I had both Shawn and my mom in the delivery room with me.  I was thinking about how much I put her through in my teens and how if I knew then what I know now, I would've acted very differently.  I wouldn't have went out when I shouldn't.  I wouldn't have come home five minutes late.  I wouldn't have dissappointed her.  I would've tried harder.  I would've showed her I loved her more often than I did.  I wouldn't have given her so many dirty looks.  I would've spent more time enjoying her company, instead of worrying about the next time I would see my friends.  There's countless things I would've done differently.  I would've appreciated her more.  And I would've showed that appreciation more.  I've been taking more time to reflect on things that I had previously.  Before a birthday was just a birthday.  Now I think more about my mother.  I think about how we should've been celebrating her instead of me.  She's the one who made it through all that stuff.  The selfish years of my adolescents, the hormonal tween years and the years where I was coming into adulthood.  I regret every time I made her cry.  Every time I made her doubt herself as a mother.  Every time I made her so frustrated that she didn't know what to do or where to turn.  The times she worried.  The times I confused her.  I do not regret every single second of memories I have with her.  Every moment that she is with me, I cherish.  She's not just my mom, she's also my best friend, my confidant and occasionally, my partner in crime.  I would not be the person I am if not for my mother.  She's the reason for every good piece of character that I have.  I love you mom. 

Tags: my birthday, mom, jasmine, eating glass

Dog pics

Even more pics

Pics from today

You can't tell I got a digital camera for xmas can you?  haha

Xmas Pics

INFJ

I took one of those hokey online personality tests tonight.  I was shocked.  It had be pegged exactly in so many different ways.  I am an INFJ.  INFJ Profile  If you would like to know what your personality traits are a little more in depth... Online test based on Jung - Myers-Briggs typology  Who knows, maybe you could learn about yourself.  Or even better, let me know what you are so I can learn more about you.

Sideways Christmas

In the last 24 hours, our Christmas tree has toppled four times.  I wanted to make it into firewood.  Instead, we bought a new tree stand, took off all the Christmas lights (over 15 strands) and started over.  I took the lights off in a really stupid way.  I basically slide all the lights over the branches onto the floor.  I had a cluster of lights.  It took over an hour just to untangle them and two hours to put them all back up.  If it falls over again, I'm giving it to the trashman, lights included.  And of course, everytime it fell it lost about a million needles that I had to keep sweeping up and while I was putting all the damned lights on, it lost even more needles.  I'm going to be finding those things on my floor till next Christmas.  Surprisingly, the house is staying fairly clean.  I'd like it spotless on Christmas day.  I know it won't stay that way all day due to so many people being in the house but I'd like it to be that way when everyone shows up.  I think in order for that to happen, I'd better send Jasmine to her grandma's from now till then.  And give the dogs and cats sedatives everyday.  Yeah I see that one happening.  I want a maid for xmas.  And chocolate. 

I had a fairly good day and a really shitty night.  The Christmas tree fell over at 1am.  Meaning I had to wake up Shawn to help me pick it back up.  Mr. I-wake-up-very-grouchy.  We get the tree back up, and adjust it so that it's standing almost straight up.  I put all the ornaments back up and begin sweeping up the million and a half or so pine needles that are now all over my floor, when alas, the tree falls on ME.  I tried to get Jasmine to go get Shawn out of bed but he was obviously still awake because he came out of the bedroom.  We get it standing up and while I hold it to make sure it doesn't fall over again, he gets a cinder block.  Around that time, Cash the doberman puppy (aka purebreed moron) decides to try and eat a glass ornament.  I would have never noticed since I was more worried about being crushed by the tree but Shawn saw him and got the glass out of his mouth.  After he goes to bed, I went to feed the fish.  One of my favorites, Sharkbait, is belly up so I had to remove him and the filters so I could put some medicine in the tank.  When I goto put the remainder of the medicine back in the box, I yelp because there is a very large black jumping spider on it.  Now, I'm not afraid of spiders.  I'm afraid of icky biting jumping spiders.  I've picked up many spiders with my bare hands and carried them outside to safety but not them.  I didn't want to walk back past the couch because in my head I was certain he would jump on me and of course his teeny tiny fangs would cause me immediate death.  Ok so maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit.  Eventually he made his way to the other end of the couch.  Now if I could just get Jasmine to go to sleep and my arms and back to stop itching from the million or so stabs I received from the tree.

Link

If you'd like to see more pictures of Molly or of other dogs at the foster agency visit, www.petsconnect.org

oh my back

Ah, I have just taken my first break from cleaning.  It's been three hours since I started.  You would think the house would be spotless now but alas, no.  I scrubbed sinks, tubs, counters and dishes.  I now have two clean rooms, the kitchen and the bathroom.  I should add that not including the basement there are 8 rooms in all.  At the very least I will have the living room cleaned tomorrow.  It's been so hard to get some time to clean.  Anytime I get to myself I want to spend relaxing, not scrub a dubbing.  And I finally changed the last two knobs on the kitchen cabinets tonight.  It's only been four months since I bought them.  I wonder how long the kitchen will actually stay clean.  I give it less than 12 hours.

Our newest addition to our family is settling in nicely.  Her name is Molly.  She's a goofy dog whose feelings are easily hurt.  She's had a rough one year of life.  At two months of age she was set to be euthanized due to a shelter being over populated and her number was up.  A kind foster agency saw her potential and saved her.  At four months, she contracted an illiness that almost took her life.  No doctor was able to make a diagnoses.  And finally, at six months, she was again facing death by euthanasia.  At an adoption event, she became surrounded by ten or so men and became extremely fearful, growling and baring her teeth.  After that day, she would become extremely aggressive at adoption events towards strangers.  Many volunteers suggested putting her down due to her unpredictable behavior.  Her foster mother refused, stating she's a totally different dog at home, even with strangers.  After almost half a year of working with her at adoption events, she's finally able to go into a Petsmart without lunging, growling or showing fear.  It took a LOT of work on the part of her foster mom but in my eyes it was all worth it.  She's a fantastic dog.  She's always happy, tail wagging.  Everytime you touch her or talk to her, that tail is thumping.  She does have a great deal of seperation anxiety.  Which she proved by destroying the blinds in our backroom the first day she was left alone.  She now gets crated when we leave but seems fine as long as two of the dogs are with her.  She loves the puppy, Cash a great deal and fears our alpha female, Mia.  She will cower if Mia even walks past her.  The first two days she refused to go outside if Mia was out.  They're beginning to work past their differences and even played a little this afternoon.  The dog that was labeled, vicious and unpredictable now sleeps in bed with me and Jasmine, her head on the pillow. 

Recognized

I went to petsmart today to pick up some calendars I ordered from a local foster program.  One of the women that run the organization recognized me from when I helped out at a few of their adoption events.  We got to talking about the fact that me and my husband are looking to adopt a dog.  She asked what I was looking for and suggested a few dogs on their website.  I  had looked at the site but quite frankly thought the fees were ridiculous.  (some dogs were $350)  She told me before I left that if I wanted one of their dogs, it was mine.  I'm not exactly sure what she meant by that but we may have her bring one or two of the dogs to petsmart within the next two weeks.  We already have an appointment with a shelter in plymouth for Thursday and I'd still like to take a look at their dogs before giving her a definite answer.  They know I would give a dog a good home.  I guess sometimes it pays to know so many people in rescue, too bad I don't know many in shelters.  Obviously, we have decided not to go with the humane society.  We had another run in with the vet there when we took August to meet the rotti.  We decided enough was enough and we don't need to be treated that way.  Maybe the next time we go to adopt a dog (YEARS from now since we will be up to four soon) we'll try there again and see how it goes.  For now, I can't stand to deal with that woman again.  The only reason I'm a little against going with this foster organization is because of several comments a guy made while I was up there about my choice to adopt a pit bull from the humane society.  He had the mentality that many have, all pits need to be put down.  I don't believe that.  I think you should always take caution no matter how long you've had the dog or how well you think you know them but I don't think they all need to be put to sleep.  They are aggressive dogs in all breeds.  At any rate I got my calendars and it's pretty cute considering how much (or little) I paid for them. 

Shelter

We went up to the humane society again today.  Mostly to see Anikin but partly to see if anyone else stood out.  Anikin was so happy to see us.  I hate that he can't come back home.  We found two dogs that Shawn liked.  (I like them all) One was a border collie mix and the other looked to be a pure breed rott.  He's always wanted a rottie so we're taking August up there tomorrow to meet her.  I think he's having second thoughts now though.  I may have had some part in that.  Once we got home I looked up common problems with rott's and what you should know before you adopt them.  I already knew they could be bullheaded but it's hard to explain that to someone when they just really want the dog.  Anyways, if he changes his mind about the rott, whose name is Junior and who we thought was a boy.  (that's what the cage card said) Then SHE rolled over and we both were kind of like where's your pee-pee.  She was super sweet but rott's make me nervous.  The border collie is a male named Sammy.  He looked very uncomfortable at the shelter.  I know he hasn't been there long since he wasn't there last weekend.  He never barked and the only time he got up was when one of the girls walked by with another dog.  I know I could train a border collie, whereas I'm not sure if I could a rott.  Anyways, we asked the girl that brought Junior back to the family room if there was anyway we could see how the dog does with one of the shelter cats or take the dog into the cat room. (they're all caged)  She went to ask and another girl came back and gave us a big speech about how there's no guarantee and that the dog could do great with the shelter cats and then come back and eat one of our cats.  I explained what happened with Anikin and told her we just wanted to see Junior's initial reaction to a cat.  She said she'd go get one of the office cats.  She came back and told us we needed to talk to the vet that works at the shelter.  The vet was quite frankly a condescending bitch.  She talked to all of us like we were children.  (my mother was even with us)  She said if we couldn't handle the responsibility of introducing the dog/cat then we shouldn't adopt a dog at all.  She just made me want to start crying because she made me feel like a terrible person for not trying harder with Anikin.  There was NO changing that dog.  Only someone with training and experience could teach that dog not to eat those cats.  I love that dog.  And she made it seem like we tossed him aside without another thought.  She also made it seem like we didn't consider our child in all of this.  I don't want this to seem like I'm saying not to adopt from there just because of one person who was lacking in tact.  Just about every shelter/rescue is going to have someone that needs some training in dealing with people.  Everyone else has been wonderful.  I guess I just needed to vent somewhere.  If you're looking for a dog, PLEASE consider the humane society first.  They are absolutely overflowing with dogs and cats.  If you can't take in anymore animals, you could always donate your time, money or supplies.  Every little bit helps.