Friend To All Creatures

What?? I'm a southerner!! :)

2006-12-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The West
The Northeast
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Long time gone

2006-10-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging. I guess because I know no one reads me. How do you get folks to look at your blog and how do you know that you've got anything to say that's worth a read?

I've posted before about the fact that I like to read other's blogs. What is it about them that draws me in? Comedy? Tragedy? Cander? I'm not sure. I do know that those I want to read most are those that are updated each day. Who has the time or energy to update each day? I love to read it but I don't understand it. I don't have enough of a life to blog about every day AND I don't have enough time in my life to blog every day. How does that work?

2006-05-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

The earth spins on its axis. Sometimes I think I can feel it. I've had the strangest week. I've felt all week like I was in a massive fog. I realized in an early meeting Monday morning that not only everything that others were saying but also everything that I was saying seemed to float in the air and never be absorbed by my brain. It has gotten better since Monday but I'm still feeling that the air is thick. I'm a libra and although I'm not an astrology geek, I do think that it can be very interesting to explore. Libras by nature are thinking folks. We are usually the more intelligent of the species (although I certainly don't claim to be) but because we're thinking and thinking and thinking all the time about any and every concept that pops into our heads, we get very tired and grumpy sometimes and need a rest. I guess that's were I am right now. Too much mental stimulation and my brain needs a break. Is it alright to check out for a bit? To just meditate in a quiet corner? That's what I'd love to do. If anyone would like to volunteer to come to work for me and pay my bills and do all that stuff that I'd like to ignore, just let me know. :)

Inspire Me

2006-05-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

While I still love the idea of this blog, I feel that I've had writers block for a while. Instead of feeling fulfilled by writing down all of my feelings, I've been enjoying and really appreciating reading all of the other blogs out there. I get inspiration each day from the folks whose lives have been opened to me. A new perspective can really change you. If I'm feeling down, I can just open one of the blogs that I know will cheer me up and after reading just a bit I'm feeling so much better. Or on a day when I'm having a bit of a pitty party for myself, I can open one of the blogs where I know someone is struggling and things don't seem so bad for me after all. All in all I think that most people struggle with some of the same basic trials and tribulations but they come at different times in our lives in different forms and affect each of us differently.

So I'll write when I'm inspired to and I'll read when inspired. Hopefully I'll get what I need out of this blog thing and if you've been so kind as to read my blog I hope that I've touched you at some time in some way.

The Clan

2006-04-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Although I did want to highlight Rainey for her birthday, I now feel that I may have neglected the rest of my family so here they are:

Chloe Grace - miss beautiful eyes

Lacey Victoria

Whiskers & Benjamin - baby girl and her daddy (Chloe is her mom)

Aren't I the luckiest mommy ever?? There couldn't be a family of more beautiful critters around. :)

My sweet baby

2006-04-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

Rainey Noel just had a birthday so this one is for her...

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL???

To move or not to move. That is... well ya know.

2006-04-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

I have a job with a great company. Well, the benefits are great anyway. Our health insurance is paid (completely) and we get one Friday off each month in addition to all the other vacation, holidays, etc. I just don't feel like I belong here. I've been in several corporate jobs and always after about 4 or 5 years, I get really frustrated and want to find something new. In the past I've done that. Trouble is that I've just moved to another corporate job and I'm now deciding that maybe the corporate world just isn't for me. I did nails for 5 years right out of highschool and I remember loving that job. At the time it was very lucrative, but with an influx of salons in the last 10 years, I don't think that's the case any longer.

So, I'm thinking that something where I can be a bit more "free" is a better fit for me. I'm very right-brained but never really honed any artistic skills. (Well, other than the 10 yrs of voice lessons and a trip to Italy last summer to study painting) So what do I do? I could go back to school and finish up with my efforts in getting a teaching certificate in Elementary Ed. or I've thought about dog grooming, but I just don't know. With the extra "perks" at my current job, I'm really making a decent salary and it's hard to just give that up without a real goal in mind, but I'm afraid I've waited too long already and I'm going to pull out my hair if something doesn't change soon.

Are there career counselors out there that I'm not aware of? Some that are maybe not associated with a college? I know that you can visit a counselor at school when you're enrolled, but I can't seem to locate an independant career counselor that can help with the decisions that I'm trying to make. I have a couple of books to read. I guess I'll start there and see where that takes me.

I really believe that it's okay to be unhappy in a good situation if that situation isn't necessairly good for you.

So do I move or not move?

2006-04-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, I like these and this is my first. I stole it from Ginger and I saw it on Tricia's page and I just think the meme's are interesting sometimes so here it is...

1. Where were you 1 hour ago?
At my computer at work working on getting our summer interns settled

2. When is the last time you filled up your gas tank?
I think I stopped on Sunday

3. What is the most amount of money you've spent in one store?
Great question. Maybe the Apple store the day I bought my iPod and all the accessories!!!! But, really probably more likely that it was somewhere that I bought furniture.

4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?
A post-it note

5. When is the last time you went to the mall?
Not sure. Maybe February? It doesn't happen often. Oh wait, now I remember, it was just a couple of weeks ago when I went to J. Jill and spent my life savings. :) Maybe that's why it doesn't happen often!!

6. Are you wearing socks right now?
Nope

7. Do you have a car worth over $50,000?
Are you f-ing kidding me???

8. When was the last time you drove out of town?
Went to Macon for the Cherry Blossom Festival two weekends ago

9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?
No, but there are several out that I'd like to see and I bought The Cronicles of Narnia yesterday. Does that count?

10. Are you popular?
I think I'd have to say "no" but I'm not worried about that at all because I think I'm well liked.

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Lipton green tea from a packet - mandarin flavored - LOVE IT!!

12. What was the last thing you mailed in the mail?
A digital postcard from Vegas to my friend, Max, in Italy

13. Do you wash your car?
Define "wash your car". I'm unfamiliar with that phrase

14. Last fast food you ate?
Pasta salad

15. Where were you last week at this time?
At work

16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?
Yes, I got a cute sweater set at Target yesterday. Wearing it today

17. What bank do you use?
Local credit union

18. Do you own any land?
I wish!!

19. What do you want to be when you "grow up"?
Still trying to figure that out. Any suggestions?

20. Your dream vacation?
Um, if "where" is the question, then it's England. If it's figurative, then it would be somewhere warm and sunny - probably the beach, with "chill" music playing all around, and a nice, handsome man to share it with.

21. Last boat ride you went on?
Wow, maybe the cruise I took in 1999!! I need a boat ride, huh?

22. How old are your parents?
58 and 54

23. Are you in love?
Nope, not right now.

24. Do you have any single friends?
Not enough.

25. Last play you saw?
Little Women - last week.

26. Have you been to New York?
I have, but it was only for the afternoon and it was about 12 years ago. I'd love to go again and see and do more!

27. What are your plans for tonight?
Watch some TV, love on my furry kids - nothing very exciting.

28. Last concert you went to?
Must have been Chris Isaak last summer.

29. Next trip you are going to take?
Helen, GA

30. Ever go to camp?
I did go several times when I was young. I liked it but I was really shy so when I finally warmed up to everyone it was time to go home (two weeks later)

31. Were you an honor roll student in school?
Only in grammer school and then I got bored with school and didn't do well. :(

32. What is your current GPA?
Does GPA stand for "Gone Psycho Already?" 'Cause if that's the case then I'm over the top! :)

33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
Some orangeyish body spray from Bath & Body Works

34. Are you hungry?
Yeah, kinda

35. Where is your best friend located?
Georgia

36. Do you own a cowboy hat?
Um, no. The idiot man at Horsetown said "Oh honey, your head is way to big for a ladies' cowboy hat". Idiot!!! (Guess I need to learn how to upload a photo here real soon, huh? 'Cause my head IS NOT BIG!!)

37. Do you have a tan?
No, but I'm hoping for some time at the pool soon, so maybe after that. Oh, and I do have one little tan spot on my chest where I got burned at that Cherry Blossom Festival.

38. How old do you want to be when you have kids?
I missed that date long ago. I'm just still praying to be able to have one!

39. Do you collect anything?
You name it, I collect it. Trying to get ready for a yard sale!

40. Is this quiz annoying?
Not yet.

41. Last time you got pulled over?
It's happened but it's been so long ago that I couldn't tell you when it was.

42. Ever been arrested?
No, thank goodness!

43. Been to Mexico for Spring Break?
Spring Break?? I guess it's pretty obvious that these things are written for/by highschool or college age folk because I can't even remember spring break. Never went to Mexico. When I was that age you didn't go to exotic locations. Panama City Beach or the "Redneck Riveria," whichever you'd like to call it, was the spot of choice.

44. Do you like hot sauce?
I'm a wimp. I think that the mild sauce at Taco Bell is too spicy.

45. Last time you sang Karaoke?
It's been too long. Since I'm a singer, I like Karaoke.

46. Favorite flavor?
Depends. Mango and raspberry are definately two of my favorites.

47. How many friends do you have?
Lots, fortunately.

48. Are you someone's best friend?
I think so. I hope so.

49. Are you rich?
Far from it. But I'll gladly take donations. :)

50. When was your last paycheck?
Friday and it's all gone!!! Did I mention that I'll take donations???? :)

Transparent Heart

2006-03-29T13:57:00.000-08:00

I went to see Little Women the musical last night and I'm sure that most people do this, but during the really emotional parts I began to think about things that I'm personally emotional about. I had a realization, an epiphany of sorts.

There's this guy that I've had a thing for off and on for a while (5 yrs). Thing is that I haven't ever quite understood fully WHY I am attracted to him. Don't get me wrong, he's attractive, but he isn't really my type. I see some great qualities in him, great qualities, but I also see some that just don't jive with where I'm at. Anyway, last night I realized that for whatever reason, when I look at him I see his heart. The other things don't matter. I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean. I've always believed that God puts people in our paths for a reason. Usually to teach us something important about ourselves or so that we may teach them something. With this guy I'm not sure what that is (not that I think we are ever sure) but I AM sure that when I look at him I see his heart.

Maybe the lesson is to find out if he sees mine. I'm pretty guarded with it. Wait, who am I kidding? I have a 10 foot brick wall up around mine. So maybe it's nothing more than realizing that it's okay to share mine again - even if it might end up broken?

Hee Hee

2006-03-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've determined that although my "top" is a 34 HH, XL tank tops/camisoles from Old Navy are still too big. I have one on today and the straps keep falling down my arms off of my shoulders. It stinks to have tig bitties. :)

Busy, busy weekend - aren't they all, though??

2006-03-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, I guess I'm old now 'cause I didn't do a thing for St. Patty's Day. Or maybe I'm just boring. :) So Friday night I went home from work and did nothing really. That's always nice to do. ( I needed to stay home after spending a mint at J. Jill on Thursday night - I LOVE that store). Anyway, Saturday I got up and did some laundry and did the dishes and chores like that around the house. At 12:30pm I left for the groom school. I'm desperately trying to figure a way out of Corporate America and I think that grooming may be a good fit. I really love animals and I understand you can make some pretty great money in grooming. Being able to manage your time as you see fit is also a plus. So, groom school orientation was interesting. It's dirty business, I guess. Dog fur ALL OVER THE PLACE. Must be hard to keep things clean. Have to remember that when making my decision.

I was done at the groom school at about 1:30 and ran by the grocery store on my way home to pick up some much needed kitty food. They were very excited to see me when I returned. (They usually eat at about 7:00am so 1:30pm is really late for them!!)

So, back to my probably-not-so-interesting story. I had an appointment at 3pm for a facial. I've only ever had one facial and that one was done by a friend (an esthetician friend at a salon we both were working at) and it was nice but not particularly of the most professional nature. We were cutting up and playing around and she was giving me a hard time about some of my skin imperfections. So I didn't really know what to expect from a facial.

I had stopped into this salon when just passing by one day because I needed some waxing done. The owner was there alone and, fortunately, available to do the waxing. She was nice, the salon was super nice, and the work she did was great (I do have a lot of experience with waxing). So afterward when she suggested a facial with a hand massage and upper body massage for $65, it didn't take much for me to agree. It sounded fun. Knowing that I planned to go for an orientation at the groom school that day, and not knowing how long it would take, I made the facial appointment at 3pm. Okay, so Friday night I get a call from the salon and it was the owner confirming my appointment and asking if I could come in at 2:30 instead of 3 because she had a cancellation. I reminded her that I had made the appointment later because I had an earlier commitment and wasn't sure I would make it by 2:30 but I would give it my best effort and would be no later than 3pm. WELL, I got there at 2:20 and waited and at about 2:45 she, the owner, came out with the client she was servicing and took me back into the room where she proceeded to ask me what service I was there for. WHAT?? When I told her a facial, she asked if I meant a regular one or a "European" one. WHAT?? I asked her the difference and she explained that the European one included the hand and upper body massage. So I explained to her that I was expecting the European based on the way she had described the appointment and the facial. She tells me that she's not sure that she has enough time because she has another client coming in in 45 minutes and couldn't we do a regular facial for $45 and do the European next time?? I reluctantly agreed but explain to me how she was going to do any facial if she began at 3pm - my scheduled appointment time- and had booked someone else at 3:30pm???????

She said she'd be right back and went out front to settle up with that first client. She didn't come back for another 20 minutes!!! At about 5 after 3pm she comes in and I say "should we maybe reschedule this appointment?" and she says "no, I just called my next client and told her I'd be late." WHAT??? It was like she was implying that I was making her late. This is not the end of it either, while doing the facial she left the room twice. The first time for about 10 minutes and the second for about 20 minutes. The second time I think she had put a mask on my face so it may have been that it needed to stay on that long, but don't you think she should have told me that she was leaving the room and maybe why she was leaving the room and just maybe how long she'd be gone??? The last time she left I wondered if maybe she was done and I should get up and take the cotton ball thingys off of my eyes and rinse my face myself and leave. The next client had shown up anyway and she was out front chatting with her. I could hear them. But, no, she came back. Took the cotton ball thingys off of my eyes, rinsed my face and asked if I had enjoyed the facial. All I could manage was a "sure" (with very little enthusiasm). When I left the room I went up front to find her debating with that next client now about the fact that the client thought she was getting a service other than what the owner thought she was getting and did the client have the time to get the service that she had really wanted. Apparently the client thought that it would take much less time than it would actually take and she hadn't scheduled that much time into her day. WHATEVER!!! I can't begin to tell you how fed up I was at this point. I worked in the salon business for years - still do some of that work at home - and I have never experienced anything like that! People in the salon industry are a different breed, that's for sure, and I know that this lady is working by herself and trying to make a living in a tough industry, but this was crazy!!! I hope she isn't expecting me to make that appointment for the European facial. :)

I know you're tired of reading but I'm not done - we're just at Saturday at about 4pm. :) No, really not much more other than that I volunteered for a gallery show that benefited a golden retriever rescue organization that I help out with on occasion. It was nice. About 300 folks showed up at $25 each or more so I think that the group made some good money. Good stuff.

Sunday was a sleepy day. Sleep, read, clean. Sound like fun?

Thanks for listening to me ramble!! I love this blog thing. Kinda like a diary with potential feedback. :)

Las Vegas

2006-03-17T07:27:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas was a little piece of heaven to me this past weekend. I needed some time away and I got just enough. I went to Vegas for work. I won't go into any boring details, but the company I work for does work at the NASCAR races and I volunteered to go. It meant that I worked the weekend, but then I stayed Monday and flew out Tuesday. The weekend work, although it was definitely work, didn't take up too much time. That meant time to play with the co-workers, time to shop, and more significantly, time with my friend Chris who lives in Vegas. She and I worked together at the same company years ago and we've kept in touch. She's a bit older and married so we don't have those things in common but we get along very well and she's a blessing to me. She has always been a rock. She's very giving, very understanding, a great listener, everything a friend should be. Too bad she isn't closer to home. A visit to Las Vegas isn't bad, though.

I didn't know that there were lions at MGM. It makes sense since they have a huge gold lion out front on the corner. Duh, Christi. Anyway, they were great. I happened on them by accident and was about two minutes late to see the baby lions, but they brought in two grown female sisters and they were wonderful to watch. One got this big red ball in her mouth and carried it around like a dog would. She carried it for like ten minutes and then sat down with it in her mouth. Crazy!! I love me some kitties. (and dogs, and bunnies, and snakes, and horses, and elephants, etc.)

I was also excited that I finally got a French Connection shirt there. They have an outlet mall and there's a French Connection store there. I was so excited. I got Chris to take me before the airport on Tuesday and I finally got one of their t-shirts. I know it's silly that I'm 36 now and really wanted a t-shirt but I saw them on TV a long time ago and have wanted one ever since. The one I chose says "Cool as FCUK." I understand that they had one that said "FCUK in Sin City" but I didn't see that one. I'd have liked to get that one. I just think they're funny. Chris ended up getting a hoodie with FCUK in big letters on the front. She's 50 so if she can pull it off I figure I can too. :)

Oh, and we saw "O". How cool was that?? I'd never seen a Cirque Du Soleil production. It was awesome!! I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't see it. They do it in and on the water. It's really cool.

My babies missed me. Good feeling. Missed them too. Glad to be home now. All rested up. Back to the grind.

2006-03-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

You Are Apple Green

You are almost super-humanly upbeat. You have a very positive energy that surrounds you.And while you are happy go lucky, you're also charmingly assertive.You get what you want, even if you have to persuade those against you to see things your way.Reflective and thoughtful, you know yourself well - and you know that you want out of life.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorgreenareyouquiz/">What Color Green Are You?

2006-03-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

So my question is ... What the heck do you do when you are blessed with lots of good friends and lots of people that you know care about you, but life isn't quite fulfilled? I read another blog this morning that I could relate to so well and it made me think. This girl wrote primarily about finding love, but I'm needing so much more than that. I work for a great company, but don't love my job. I have a great family, but am always wishing they were a bit more like the Cleavers or the Waltons or something. I live in a nice home and currently have no rent or morgage payments due, but have nasty neighbors and feel the place is too small. My car runs great and I've really had no mechanical problems with it, but I keep thinking I need a new one because I'm tired of the one I've got and it's no longer asthetically pleasing. I feel like a big IDIOT and that I need a major attitude adjustment. But how do you do that? Is this a phase that everyone goes through? Will it end? It seems that it's lasted a very long time. Why is it that I can't just appreciate my life? Is it because I was spoiled when I was younger? My mom raised me on her own so we didn't have much but she gave me everything that she could afford to. Am I just too used to getting what I want?

One of my favorite quotes is "Happiness isn't getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you have." I LOVE that. But how do you get there? The things that I want aren't spectacular things. I'd like a Toyota Rav4 or a Honda CRV, I'd like more time with my friends, I'd like a home that is larger than the two bedroom townhome I'm currently in - that maybe has a garage and a basement(oh, and isn't attached to anyone else's home), I'd like a family that I see more often with no major drama and no health complaints, I'd like some time where I feel rested, I'd like some respect in my work and true recognition for a job well done, and then I'd really also like a special someone to spend some time with. It doesn't seem to me that I'm asking that much, really. Am I?? I'm definately questioning myself. I hate to have pity parties when there are so many folks in this world who have nothing. I'm truly blessed. I just can't seem to find peace with it. What do I do? I guess it's okay to have desires. How could we set goals for ourselves without desires? I think maybe I just need a push. Something to motivate me to achieve all of these things and quit just bitchin' about them. Any ideas?

Apparently I'm an "Everything Pizza"...

2006-02-28T10:39:00.000-08:00

Everything Pizza

Diverse and adaptableYou enjoy the full buffet of lifeIt's hard to you play favorites with friends... or flavorsThere's very little that you dislike!

What's" Your Pizza Personality?

Benjamin Skylar

2006-02-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

I know that most people don't love animals like I do. So I get it when my friends - well it's really just aquaintances - tell me that I should give this kitty up, but there's just no way that that's going to happen. Benjamin Skylar, or Benjamin Tinkler as I often refer to him, is my beautiful male kitty cat that, unfortunatley, likes to tinkle on EVERYTHING. If it is soft, he thinks it's a good place to go. He's been to the vet and there doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with him. It may just be that when he was 7 months old he fathered a litter of kittens. It was an accident. The mommy was just barely 5 months old and they hadn't made it to be spayed and neutered yet so we were blessed with four beautiful kittens.

The "daddy" factor is the only thing I can come up with. He was neutered just after the kittens were born and then shortly after that the tinkling began. He tinkles the carpet, the laundry (when he can get to it), the dog's bed, and here's the worst - Are you sitting down??- he tinkles on me in the middle of the night. SO... when the Animal Planet Network came to Atlanta, I took the opportunity to ask Dr. Bob from Emergency Vets about the problem. He suggested that I get Ben a big plastic dog carrier and put him in that with JUST a litter box, food, and water for two weeks. Then you move him to a small room where he's isolated with just the litter box, food, and water for another two weeks, then to a larger room for two weeks, then if he has not been naughty, you give him run of the house again. (I also read about this in a pamphlet that came with some litter so I felt fairly confident in giving it a try although it seems kind of drastic) He's in phase two now and so far, so good. I just HATE keeping him cooped up. While I'm hating it, I think that "the girls" are loving it. The girls would be Lacey- my 8yr old shih tzu; Rainey- a beautiful white, long-haired, odd-eyed kitty; Chloe - a georgeous royal blue eyed, flame point, siamese looking kitty (mommy to Ben's kittens); and Whiskers - sweet little tan tabby who looks just like her daddy except she's a little bit darker. (I'll post pictures when I figure out how the heck to do that) I think they think life is better with the "man" locked in his own room. Wouldn't it be fun to have a real man locked up in a room? Sorry, my mind began to wander...

So I'm just hoping for some luck in getting Benjamin re-trained to use the litter box ALL the time instead of just when he feels like it.

Anyone want a cat?? :)

All new to me!!

2006-02-22T13:21:00.000-08:00

I've just decided that a blog might be fun. Trouble is that I have no idea what I'm doing!! I've read some other blogs (really nice ones, I must say) and thought it might be fun to just go for it. Now, can someone help me and tell me what the heck I'm supposed to do with it? :)