MORE RAIN AND TRAGEDY.......

It started raining about an hour ago. A nice, soft drizzle. Sorry Texas. I had just got Lily in when it started coming down real steady.

Had another farm accident yesterday over at the Esch's. I heard it on the scanner when they summoned the amubulance. It was on the road behind my house and by the name, I knew it was Amish. The dispatcher said it was a 12 year old boy, run over by the team and farm implement, with serious head trauma. When I went to the yard sale over at the church, Mrs. Kirk told me it was a disc. They had the chopper fly in and take him and his dad to the trauma center in a neighboring state. It's the best in the area. She also said, someone went to the farm to tend to the other children and other people were driving the mother to the hospital. This community really sticks together in times like this. Haven't heard an update.

Later.............

A RAINY SATURDAY.....

There was a benefit yard sale today for a young, local fellow. He has a disease that is shutting down his kidneys. He is only 21, and has started on dialysis. It was held up at the local Quaker Meeting house. A lot of nice old shade trees, plenty of parking. Well, about 12:30 the sky opened up without a warning and it started to pour. Kept it up for about a half hour, I'm sure it cut into their profits but I still think they did OK.

I left there after the rain let up and went to dad's. He said two of his neighbors had gas stolen out of their vehicles. He parks everything inside so they didn't bother him. I keep the car parked right at the bedroom window, but the truck is back at the end of the driveway at the barn. But nothing gets pasts these dogs. They would be on them like white on rice.

On a sadder note, we had a homicide over at the county line last week. A fellow was house sitting for his sister and her husband and in-laws while they went to the outer banks. Seems he was coming back from the grocery store in a neighboring town and this couple flagged him down. They ended up shooting him and throwing his body down over the bank toward the river. The next day a motorcyclist was looking for something that had fallen off of his bike and he spied a flip-flop, then a hat and then he saw the body and called 911. They eventually got the jerks in Indiana. They said they did it to steal his truck so they could sell it. Ya can't fix stupid.

Little miss Mary Fiona is doing wonderful. Keeps herself entertained in the big carrier I have her in. Chasing the two stuffed mice and the ball. She is eating and poopin' up a storm. The minute I pick her up to give her the meds, she starts purring. Aunt Trudy and Uncle Philip were here on Friday and Trudy fell in love with the little thing. But, she has 7 cats and a dog. I guess I've resigned myself to keeping her.

Coco and Daisy are also doing great. I am truly blessed to have found them in need of a home as much as they are truly blessed to have found me to give them one.

Now, its raining again. Sorry Texas. This is the fourth little storm that's went thru. Suppose to rain tomorrow also. Bring it on.

Later..........

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.....

Check out this great MSN video: Subtitled Dog Conversation

BUSY DAY......

Went to the post office, nothin'. Good, no bills. Had to get gas in the truck and cans for the mower. Filled the cans first, pump stopped at $35. WTH, it did that yesterday when I filled the car. MMMMMM. Ran the debit card thru again. Proceded to fill the truck, stopped at $35. OK, last gas I'm buying there, dude. I would go in and bitch, but I've met the guy and he's a real SOB. My dad's neighbor works there and didn't want her to get involved. I left. NEVER TO RETURN. Gas up the road is usually the same price and THEY PUMP IT FOR YA! Dropped some plastic bags off at the food bank. Went to the bank for cash. Got a vanilla milk shake, got dog food, cat food, litter. Went to the dealers and made an appointment to service the truck. Saw Dad there getting his truck done. They finally found out what was making that noise in the front that he'd been complaining about since he bought it. Something with the tie rods. Good, I won't have to hear about that everytime I get in the thing.

Came home, filled mower, mowed yard. Came in, fed critters, fed me, cleaned house. Now, I'm taking a shower and going to bed. Phil and Trudy are coming down tomorrow to see the new kids, then, we're going to breakfast.

Later.............

BEAUTIFUL, BREEZY DAY....

As I sit here in the 'bird room', and, NO, I do not have birds, a friend named it that after it was built, because of all the bird feeders in that part of the yard.
Anyhow, I feel so blessed but distressed at the same time.
The two new dogs are working out great. I don't think they got a lot of attention from their former owners. They listen so good. When they go outside to potty, they do their business and right back to the door. The cats are no issue for them as they were raised with cats. Daisy has chased Charlie two times as if to say, "I don't like what you did to mommy." Little miss Mary Fiona is very content to lay in the carrier and scope everything out. She was taking a bath this morning, when I gave her the medicine, she was purring. But.....
I am distressed over the things I guess I have no control over. A friend that I email a lot of this crap to has asked me to stop. She said she is anxious and depressed enough and doesn't want to read anymore. Well, duh, isn't everyone? So, what do you want to do? Be surprised when you go to the store and the shelves are empty or bread is $8 a loaf. So, I'll stop sending her any of it. I certainly don't want to be the one to send her over the edge.
At breakfast on Fridays, when ever the conversation turns to "O", another friend immediately says, "Can we talk about something else?" OK, stick your head in the sand. I give up. I am buying food and such, but, don't be coming to my house and expect me to keep ya. Sorry, but I tried to tell ya. Is that cruel? Too bad. The milk of human kindness has soured in my stomach.

Later............

GOOD NEWS......

Heard from the doctor. No infection in the bone. Just keep taking the meds until gone. Hand is still tender but swelling less each day.
Brought home little Mary Fiona today. She is in the big cage in the 'bird room'. Just staring at everyone wondering 'what kinda of hoaky outfit have I gotten myself into now.' At least she is not screaming. She is starting to use the leg, 'gutting the toy mouse' and flexing her little toes. Must remember to give her the meds before bedtime.

Later............

UPDATE

Went to the doctors, he is concerned about the hand pain. Sent me for an xray. Will hear sometime this after. Doctor is saying if the infection has gone to the bone, I will be in the hospital with an IV drip. Oh yeh??
IF I go, gonna have to board 4 dogs and 5 cats, where does he think that $$$ is coming from?
And, Charlie is walking around like he owns the place.

Later............

AAWWWW CRAP.....

Just called in to the doctors to update him on my hand. Now, he wants to see me at 1. Crap. She said, he is concerned about the stabbing pains that occur now and then plus the swelling that is still present.
And, dear sweet Charlie is now laying on the back of the couch, looking SO innocent.
It is a beautiful day, no humidity, nice breeze. The rain over the weekend (sorry Texas) really helped to bring down the temps. I can't believe how the leaves are falling off of the white birch trees, of course, they are alway the first to lose their leaves. We'll probably have an early fall. I need to start thinking about fire wood also. Was gonna put in gas heat this year but the $$$ is not there, yet.
Sue and Sarah came over yesterday and clipped Coco's nails. They agree with me that the former 'mom' should be shot. The 'dad' had her on Imes food, but the 'mom' switched her over to a cheaper store brand. He told me when he brought them down that when 'she' builds her house (they're separated now) she might take them back. HA, ain't gonna happen. I told him, DO NOT GIVE HER MY PHONE NUMBER AND DO NOT TELL HER WHERE I LIVE. He laughed and said OK.

Later.............

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL...........

Met my friends, Sue, Sarah and Sheila for a late lunch yesterday. This restaurant is in a strip mall that runs around a shopping mall. This is the first time I've eaten off of a senior menu!! WooHoo!! Over 55 saves money. I had a nice cup of Lobster Bisque, Baked Potato and one Chesapeake Crab Cake. It had scallops, shrimp, lobster and crab meat in it. Terrific. Tried their water, it was awful. When she came back I got a Pepsi, yuck. I'm a Coke person. We also each had a dish of pudding. I said to the waitress, "What, no Jello?"
Then Sue and Sarah paid for my meal!!!! Was not expecting that. I thanked them but asked "Why?" Sue said, "Well, you've done all that work on our family tree, and you just took on the responsibility of a new kitten and two more dogs, and, besides, we love ya!" AHHHHHH, friends, can't beat them can ya?
Mostly every Sunday, they load up their 3 dogs and go down to the farm. Their dad is gone but their mom and youngest brother still live on the farm. Mom rents the fields out to her Amish neighbor John. Nice guy, he also has a store over on the main road. They're coming over this after to help me cut Coco's nails and to meet the new kids. They will be the first visitors, should be interesting.
This morning, Coco and Daisy saw the heifers for the first time. Coco just looked at them, looked at me as if to say, "And you think I'm big?" But poor Daisy was just mezmerized. She kept staring at them, and looking at me. "What are those creatures?" They had always lived in town, so I guess this was a very new thing for them. It was quite comical. Even if I'd had the camera, I couldn't have captured the moment.
Well, must get something to eat and straighten up the house.

Later..............

WWIII

Came home from supper last night and Coco has completely trashed the door and framing from the kitchen to the mud room. I had closed that door to keep the dogs away from the outside door and make it easier to get into the house. When I saw this, I went balistic! Now, don't get me wrong, she is a good dog. Listens when she is out, comes when called and such. But, she is a lose cannon in the house and a little squirrley. She will need further training, if I don't kill her. Trouble is, when I yelled at her, Daisey took it personally. And, she is such a little sweetheart, I felt bad.
Last night, after cleaning up the mess. I got the big carrier out of the barn loft and cleaned it up. Little Miss Fiona comes home today, and I have to keep her caged until she can walk properly and the leg is healed.
So, I must have done too much last night. This morning the left hand is swollen again, but, NO red streaks, so I figured between mowing the yard, weed eating and cleaning the carrier, the hand isn't happy.
Charley is now out and about. Sorta. We made up yesterday. He told me he was sorry. But, the hand still hurts. What's a mother to do?
Need to shower and get dressed, stop at dad's and then get the little one.
Going into the city this after to meet friends for supper.

Later............

Addendum.........
Stopped at vets, she saw that hand was still swollen and said she would keep little Fiona a while longer. She has another cat in for the weekend so she'd be there for her. Said Fiona is no trouble and I maybe could take her home next week. Total bill.............$524.

NOW AIN'T THAT JUST SPECIAL............

Dow has the biggest drop since October 2008, and on O's birthday! SHIT.
I'm going to breakfast. I think I have enuf spare change.


Later.................

A SIMPLE QUESTION.....

So, somebody tell me, what is the difference between a recession and a depression? Now, I already know a recession is when your neighbor loses his job and a depression is when you lose your job. But, what's the difference, really. I also know the PTB never say the D word. But, when we are in a recession, and things are not getting any better and in fact seem to be getting worse, when is it time to call it a depression? Where do the numbers have to be? You can't really compare this decade to the 20's and 30's. The USA was a lot different back then. Hey, I'm just asking...............

OK, so I googled it and here is what I got.........

The stock market crash of 1929 triggered the greatest depression in modern history that ended in 1945 after World War 2.In economics, a depression is a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is a more severe downturn than a recession, which is seen by some economists as part of the modern business cycle.

Considered, by some economists, a rare and extreme form of recession, a depression is characterized by its length, by abnormally large increases in unemployment, falls in the availability of credit— often due to some kind of banking or financial crisis, shrinking output—as buyers dry up and suppliers cut back on production, and investment, large number of bankruptcies—including sovereign debt defaults, significantly reduced amounts of trade and commerce—especially international, as well as highly volatile relative currency value fluctuations—most often due to devaluations. Price deflation, financial crises and bank failures are also common elements of a depression that are not normally a part of a recession.

NOW LOOK AT THE FINE MESS YOU'VE GOT US IN....

Since getting the two dogs on Sunday, I went two days without seeing Charley, I finally went up Tuesday into the attic/2nd bedroom and there he was behind the blanket chest. I reached down and picked him up and he turned into a freakazoid. Bit me, scratched me, blood everywhere. I go down stairs to let the blood run and then try to stop it. Normally, a wound will close up too fast on me and I'll get an infection. Went back up stairs, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, said a few choice words and threw him down the stairs. Shut and locked the door, so he spent the next day under the steps. My hand started to swell at the index finger. I got him out of there and boarded it up. He has to face these two characters sooner or later. Felt like shit yesterday, dizzy, week, headache. Went over to Dad's but didn't stay long. Called the doctors this morning and went in at 1. The whole hand is swollen and by the time he came in to see me I noticed the red streaks. He freaked out, wanted to put me in the hospital. "I am NOT going to the hospital!" He put me on the strongest med he had and I'm to call him tomorrow morning at 9.
Stopped at Dad's and told him. He told me, "Well, I can't take care of your crew." "I didn't ask you to. Besides, I'm not going."
The red streaks are slowly going away, I stopped at the vets to see Fiona, she is doing well. They're going to keep her until the weekend. The vet tech saw my hand and said the same thing happened to her and they wanted to put her in the hospital and she refused. "I've got horses and dogs to care for. Besides, I have to work, I ain't going." She asked what he put me on. I told her Augmentin, she said that's the same stuff she was on, and, she started feeling better the next day. So now I've had a second opinion. Oh, and I lost another 1 1/2 lbs. Yay!!!

PS...When I got home from the vets, came in, took the dogs out to pee, walked into the kitchen and fell over Elijah. He's like a concrete block in the middle of the floor. Left knee hurts like hell. I'm going to bed.

Later................

HERE THEY ARE.........

THIS IS COCO, WHO IS NOW ON A DIET.

THIS IS DAISY, HER NAME WAS BUTTERCUP.

THIS IS MY OLD SWEET LADY...CLEO.

WHERE DO I START.............

Got the two dogs yesterday. The last time I saw Coco, she was 2 and about 50lbs. Now she is 6 and about 150lbs. Stopped at the store and bought a special food for that girl. She's now on a diet. The other one, Buttercup, yech, that is a god-awful name for a very sweet girl. She didn't have a tag this year, so I bought one this morning. Her name is now Daisy. She has the face of a dachound, the coat of a lab, she is supposed to have coon hound in there somewhere.
Went to the vets this after. Fiona is out of surgery with two pins in her left hind leg. She was still a little loopy, laying there on the hot pad. No cast, shaved leg. I told them I didn't plan on bringing her home tonight, would check in tomorrow. Now, I'll try to get these guys to sit still and take a few pics.

Later.........