I am feeling nicely contented and peaceful this year. I recovered from my....oh....maybe fourth "Empty Nest" attack....(three kids left, one came back....then left again).
I know it sounds goofy to those of you without kids, but when the darlingks leave ....as much as we want them to grow up and be independent...it still knocks me (anyway) for a loop. It's the dumbest tug of war feeling...I know with all of my mind and about 85% of my heart that I want them OUT AND INDEPENDENT.....but that 15% still has to get over it. And I am!
YAY!
So, I am loving my Christmas lights. They are multicolored. They are warm and cozy. I love glancing into a room....kitchen, livingroom, familyroom and out the window and seeing them.
They bring warmth to my soul.
The animals are all tucked into bed. 8 cats....(two belong to Ashlee)....all fed and put to bed. The chickens (one of which I had to locate behind the shed because she jumped the fence and couldn't get back in and is sleeping on a tomato cage) are all locked cozily up.
The fish tanks are cleaned and bubbling away. The Plecostomus is out sucking down his algae wafer. He only comes out at night so that's when he gets his wafer.
Bertha, the guinea pig, has forgotten all the food and snacks she had all day, and is squeaking for more. Sorry, dear, the food is done for the night.
I am happily content and cozy this year. Family will be arriving starting tomorrow and that will probably start up the griping again...but, in a truly grateful way.
Peace, love, dove, friends.
Here is the Giant Rat, that yesterday I claimed could reach "30 pounds". Apparently I misread that and they are really only 3 pounds. Yes, a big difference...but they are cute as heck! They have been isolated from the rest of the world by living in a 1000 foot deep extinct volcano in New Guinea. They have never seen humans before, so they are tame and gentle. Edit...they are also vegetarians! :)
And, just because it's funny here's a new "poster" I received in my email...
most top ten lists just cover the soon-to-end current year.
amateurs
unambitious amateurs
should have a more expansive view
like The Onion does
among my favorites:
5. Sumerians look in confusion as God creates world
Final tally from my office holiday drives: For the Ottawa Food Bank - over 350 pounds of food and $225. For the SPCA of Western Quebec (who helped out with that big husky rescue in the Laurentians last month): $85 plus assorted leashes, collars, treats, toys, and food.
I thought our poundage was more than that, based on last year's reported 480 pounds, but hey, I can only assume they give me the right numbers.
For every dollar donated to the Food Bank, it counts as five dollars in distribution, FYI. Money-wise, we only had $20 last year, so I would say we did about the same overall.
For the SPCA, we had more stuff last year, but no money, so I think we came out ahead, and they were thrilled with everything.
Here's the bit from last night:
Niece #2: "Hey Aunt Amy, you're rich, aren't you?"
Me: "No, I'm not rich."
Niece #2: "Yes you are. You have more money than we do."
Niece #1: "That's because she doesn't have three kids."
Niece #2: "Or a husband."
Niece #1: "Yeah, if Mom didn't have three kids or a husband, she'd be rich, too."
Ha ha! I just told MomH. She had a good laugh.
I haven't made it outside yet today. Yay, Lazy Me! DadH and I watched the Sportsmanship Awards earlier today and gosh darn it, I got all weepy. Too many times we just hear the bad things in sports and not all the good things that happen.
Other random things so far:
- The non-Northwest/Delta terminal in Detroit is brand new. Thank heavens. The old one was worse than a bus station. However you will still have to wait a long time for your bags. Because of this, there is now a bar in baggage claim. (Okay, I don't know if that's why but it makes sense to me.)
- BFF Kelly and I stopped yesterday at a Michigan winery on the way back to the farm. Proceeds from some of the wines go to local charities. Being a philanthropic sort, I bought a case of assorted wines. I told my parents that I was supporting the local economy and local farmers. DadH said "You'll have to drink a lot more than that." See how supportive his of my drinking habit?
- Michigan doesn't have great red wines, but the white wines are yummy (<-- that's official wine lingo, methinks).
That's as exciting as things are so far. Hope everyone is doing well. I'll need to check in with you all later because this is on dial-up and there's a clamoring for the phone lines to be open.
Catch ya later!
That title was just to remind me. I am posting from work again because I am pissed off at being here. The weekends are so nice with no stoopid mange-agement, so it disgruntled me to think of coming in today with all the usual bullshit back.
I had to fill out a sheet that we check nine zillion things in the lab like "Is there anything except cleaning agents under the sink?"
"Is there anything flammable within 18 inches of the ceiling?"
"Is there paper in the trash bags only used for biohazard materials?"
"Did you wipe your butt after using the bathroom?"
Stupid crap like that. We sign and initial and check checklists until our fingers are bloody....but that still doesn't mean anyone did anything. In fact mange-agement doesn't give a shit if anything actually gets accomplished as long as everything is signed and initialed and checked and dotted.
So, since I was in a pissy mood anyway I wrote all over the check-off sheet that there is not enough room in this ER lab to actually work. There is no room for their damn trashcans, biohazard or otherwise and the new chair they stuck in here doesn't lower down enough to actually fit my legs under the desk.
I'm sure they love all my snotty comments I write on all their bullshit paperwork. That's why I will continue to make my contributions regularly. :)
I wouldn't be so crabby if I had gone to bed when I should have last night. But, for some unknown reason I just had to start cleaning a fishtank at about 8 pm and got myself all wound up.
Now I'm just tard. Have a good day, y'all. :)
