Tuesday 5 October 2004

head noise du jour

my little one has caught the cold going around her school .. it starts out with a sore throat (the "worst sore throat she's ever had in her life") i'm wondering if i can still call her my little one since she's almost as tall as i am lol
i'm keeping my fingers crossed i don't catch this one .. its no fun being a nursemaid and being sick at the same time .. i'll probably end up running back to the office and picking up a few things so i can work at home if she decides shes too sick to go back to school today
i got a call last night from my son who is attending college in Hawaii .. he called right after he got his first tattoo finished .. he's been talking about getting a tatt since he was 13 or so and being a tattoo affectionado myself i could completely relate to his desire to add some permanent body art .. i was hoping i'd find an email from him this morning so i could see the piece he finally decided on .. all i really know is that its an octopus with a polynesian influence .. black and red .. on the outside of his left calf
he says he has a newfound respect for his momma (since i have 3 tattoos) i figure thats not such a bad thing !!
he swore me to secrecy .. his dad was visiting him last week and got himself a tattoo but told our son he didn't have the money to pay for another one .. i guess our son got tired of waiting for the tattoo his dad promised him almost 2 years ago and used some of his college funds to pay for the tattoo .. now i need to scrape up the money to pay for the tattoo .. my son told me to chill cause he's got it covered and not to worry about it .. i'm not worrying, exactly, but i figure it would be kinda cool to be able to say i paid for my sons first tattoo (i'm a weird kind of momma for sure lol)
i think both my children have always found it easy to confide in me .. i can't remember all the times they've started a conversation with "i know you're going to be upset but ..." or "don't tell dad but ..." .. there are times that they confide something i really could have gone the rest of my life not knowing .. i mean really !! what i don't know won't hurt me right? its difficult at times remembering that we have an agreement to go easy on the reprimand if they've been honest with me

Preview 
like the phone call i got sunday morning from my daughter while i was at the Humane Society .. "mom, i know you're going to be upset but .. " and then she told me how she and her friend had just taken my son's beloved Cadi out for a little spin in the parking lot .. and after they parked it back in the driveway "it smelled like burnt gasoline" and a "whole bunch" of warning lights came on telling them to get the engine checked
::insert big mean momma growl::

his Cadi has got some major problems going on right now and until i get the money to fix some really expensive gasket its going to continue to have an oil leak .. and until i get the radiator replaced its going to leak coolant .. and yes, she did get scolded for doing something so idiotic .. and yes, now the keys to his car are hidden from my very adventurous (albeit honest) 13 year old daughter

Click Here 


i've been spending time adding what recipes i can find from my mother's collection to my own recipe journal .. i've added an index, some backgrounds and graphics .. i am really pleased with the way that its turning out .. i don't know why i didn't think of having an index sooner .. it really was getting difficult to locate any of the recipes since they've gone to that notorious older entry archive
i would really love some feedback if anyone gets a chance to stop by and check it out :)

Click Here

i've also been updating my AOL Journal Hints & Tricks, including an index of the entries ..

Click Here 

and last but not least .. a huge thanks to Amy (Donah42) from hippies in yuppieland 
who graciously combed through the AOL Journal Directory and located all the links to deleted journals .. the Directory has now been cleaned up !!  i still can't believe she volunteered to go through that massive list !!  Thank You Amy !!!
on that note .. its time to check on my little one to find out if she's well enough to go back to school this morning :)

Monday 4 October 2004

Humane Society Update

i spent the entire day yesterday volunteering at our local Humane Society .. i still can't believe its been a year since i signed up for my training and began volunteering .. i know i've been lucky to have been teamed up with people who are willing to spend their time teaching me and training me in several areas of the shelter
i was curious to see what (if any) changes have taken place now that the city of San Jose opened their own Animal Care Center on October 1st and will be responsible for a large percentage of the animals that were previously the responsibility of the Humane Society
there are currently 6 cat kennels at the humane society .. "KR", "Adoption Room B" and "Kitty City" are designated as the adoption kennels .. the nursery, Cat Room A and Cat Room C are the stray and holding kennels
we spent the majority of the morning setting up Cat Room A as an adoption kennel instead of a holding kennel, transferring the cats and kittens still in their holding period into Room C, and then sterilizing and cleaning the room which holds approximately 20 cages, from top to bottom .. we had simply run out of room for the cats that had passed health check and were available for adoption
the dog adoption kennels were also filled to capacity .. so healthchecking additional dogs into adoption just wasn't feasible since there were no adoption kennels available
we started out with behavior check on a confiscation due to an abuse complaint .. a local man was arrested after being seen beating and kicking his pit bull on a public street .. it was our job to evaluate the dogs temperament and behavior .. sadly and predictably, the dog was not suitable for adoption .. situations like this make a lot of people angry .. its not the dogs fault, yet the dog is the one that pays the ultimate in consequences
the next dogs to check on the daily list were the small dogs that have been placed on a "preferred breed" list .. we vaccinate and healthcheck the dogs but rather than place them in public adoption, they are returned to the holding kennels until the Special Needs supervisor can call the people that have paid $50 to be notified when their preferred breed is available for adoption .. cocker spaniels, pomererians, maltese, shih tzu, jack russell terriers, pugs.  are all popular dogs and are first offered to customers on the preferred breed list before going up for public adoption
playing with the smaller dogs while checking their behavior really is a lot of fun :)
i got to take a break from that for awhile when Sarah came in and asked for my help in the feline healthcheck room .. 2 people are required for taking blood for the feline leukemia and FIV tests .. even though it had been several months since i assisted in cat healthcheck, we breezed through the 10 cats in just a few minutes with no problems
i had just returned to the canine healthcheck room when the supervisor asked for my help cleaning up one of the socializing areas for the dogs .. Shelly (the supervisors own dog) had been paired up with Tank .. a silly little 6 month old bit bull boy with an abundance of energy .. Tank's parents had been confiscated for attacking their owner causing her severe facial trauma .. since aggression is a learned behavior, we need to keep a special eye on him to make sure he didn't pick up any of his parents aggression
last weekend he passed healthcheck and spent a week in adoptions without showing any signs of dog or people aggression .. saturday, he was pulled from adoptions for a reevaluation when he growled at customers and started "fence fighting" with other dogs while being walked past other kennels
i've explained Shelly's responsibilities at the humane society .. she is a wonder dog at evaluating other dogs temperaments .. she is well trained at keeping younger, rambunctious dogs in check .. disciplining them and teaching them some much needed manners
while Shelly and Tank are left alone in the room, we had a baby monitor set up to be able to listen to find out if any squabbles started .. throughout the day we stopped by their play room to give Tank some human socialization .. bringing treats for both Shelly and Tank .. by the end of the day Shelly taught Tank that if he's calm and sits on command he'll get to share some of the treats
Shelly continually watched over Tank during the day, keeping him calm and continuing to place her paw gently on his back whenever he passed near her to show him that she was in charge
i'd have to say that being able to spend so much time with a pit bull that shows promise at being a perfect companion with some training and socialization is the biggest change in the humane society .. a mere week ago we wouldn't have had the man power or time to concentrate on Tank
the other change i saw immediately was that the dog socializers have now paired up to work together to socialize the dogs .. since its important to keep the dogs social skills sharp, they are often paired up with other dogs of similar size or breed in the adoption kennels, which makes socializing difficult at best .. now that they've been instructed to pair up its a lot easier for 2 people to socialize the larger paired up dogs in adoptions
the last dog we healthchecked before i went home was a small australian cattle dog .. a 4 month old puppy .. cute as the dickens but she immediately showed signs of dog aggression, fence fighting with every single dog that we passed on the walk to healthcheck .. i literally had to pick her up and cover her eyes to keep her calmed down .. she also failed the food test, scoring a 10 by attacking the hand we use to test for food aggression .. thankfully rescue had already put a hold on her with instructions to send her to rescue if she failed behavior check .. since she's going to rescue, she'll get the training she needs to hopefully cure her of her aggression


on a more personal note .. i do believe i've been "cured" of my crazy mad crush on the supervisor at the shelter .. apparently he's already found the love of his life and now i am forced to cross him off my list .. so ok, he was the only one left on "the list" so i suppose i should just throw the damn stupid list away
for the life of me, i can't figure out why i'm so disappointed .. it was the perfect "fantasy" (while it lasted) and he's hooked up with his ideal partner (as far as i can tell) and i should be happy for them .. i know i should just be thankful that his dream lover decided to confide in me that they had been a "couple" for several months now before i made a complete fool out of myself and approached him indicating my own interest
maybe she simply confided in me to cure me of my crush eh .. regardless, it worked .. back to the drawing board .. or maybe not
::big sigh::

Saturday 2 October 2004

here's what my gift really looks like !!!

thanks Nadine for sending me the image

sheesh .. puts my poor pathetic pictures to shame doesn't it? ;-)

Friday 1 October 2004

Remember the day's blessings ~ Forget the day's troubles

when i received this beautiful mirror in the mail from John .. created by Nadine, i thought perhaps John might want to see the gift he got for me (since it was shipped directly from Nadine) so i suggested that perhaps i could just take a picture for him
it really didn't seem that complicated but i admit that i've never tried to take a picture of a mirror before
obviously the 2 images i decided on do NOT do this beautiful gift any justice

you'll just have to trust that its beautiful and soooo perfectly ME !!

and this is one of those times that saying "thank you" just doesn't seem like enough ..
but thank you John ~ thank you Nadine Preview

Thursday 30 September 2004

in the news

via united way and highlighted in a local news story last night .. in order for a parent and preschool aged child to live in Santa Clara County and afford basic expenses, such as housing, medical expenses and child care, and not receive public assistance, the adult must earn $27 per hour
in San Francisco County, the amount is $23 per hour, in nearby less expensive counties, the amount is $20 per hour
1 in 4 families here in the Bay Area can't afford basic expenses
the article below goes on to hint that the responsibility to "fix" this mess belongs to employers
4 years ago my daughter and i were forced to find a new place to live .. it took me 3 months before i was even able to find ONE apartment that was available .. a small 2 bedroom 1 bath in nearby Sunnyvale for $2,200 a month .. by 10 am there was a waiting list of over 30 families for that apartment
visitors to the Bay Area could plan on spending a minimum of $300 a night for a hotel room IF they could find one available
there were auctions being held on available housing .. i recall one friend of my ex-husbands having a room to rent .. he encouraged interested parties to "make an offer" .. what started out as $500 a month ended up going to the person that bid $2,000 a month for a single room rental
in the last 2 - 3 years there has been a mass exodus from Santa Clara County .. dot coms going under .. massive layoffs in the semi-conductor industry .. more housing is available now than in the last 3 years .. and the prices?  they haven't moved
during the time when rental costs in the Bay Area were rocketing out of control, the cost of living was (if i recall correctly) upwards of 7% .. while my employer had normally given out annual cost of living increases, 3 years ago they refused to match the 7% and instead handed out increases of 2%
(currently, the San Francisco/San Jose area is back down to a more reasonable annual cost of living increase of 1/2 %)
my own little cottage used to rent for $900 a month until i moved in .. knowing it was a "sellers market" the landlords increased the rent to $1,700 a month
i moved to the Bay Area in high school .. a million years ago .. well, ok, more like 30 years ago .. while i would love to plan on retiring here, there is NO way under the current housing situation .. once both my children are safely tucked away in college i'm out of here
you can read more here on the findings by United Way ...
BAY AREA / 1 in 4 families can't afford basics / United Way study finds widespread poverty

Wednesday 29 September 2004

answering DJ's comment

Comment from: rebafandj
"I'm curious though (not sure if you know), what's the most popular reason why people give up their dogs/cats? What was the most stupidest reason they gave up their dog/cat.  For me, the most stupidest thing I heard of giving up a BEAUTIFUL Tan colored Angora who is 11 years old. No health problems....the cat was given up because the fur color doesn't match the owner's new furniture. Isn't that a HOOT?! Luckily, she was adopted quickly..BUT c'mon!?  Love your Humane society stories...keep it up! ~DJ   "One pet cannot change the world, but the world will change for that one pet."
i just wanted to comment on DJ's recent comment in my journal about owner surrendered pets at the Humane Society
the most common reason i've seen for people to surrender their pets is is "moving to a place that doesn't allow animals"
thankfully its never happened to me, but i do sympathize with people that were forced to give up their pets .. it would be too easy for me to sit here in judgment claiming i'd NEVER surrender my pets .. but just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't ever happen so i try not to be hard on those people .. i'm sure the majority of them feel bad enough
when an animal is surrendered, we try to get as much information as possible about the pet .. habits, likes, dislikes, where he spent most of his time (indoors/outdoors - with people/alone) .. what saddens me are the dogs that are surrendered that spent 100% of their life outdoors with only a small percentage of their time with people .. it just doesn't feel right that people would go to the effort of bringing a pet into their home only to banish it outdoors and not make an effort to make him a part of the family
although we DO ask why the animal is being surrendered .. the majority of the time the answer is left blank .. as long as the reason for the surrender isn't due to a behavior or medical issue, we don't insist that people share that information with us
i've only spent a few hours in customer service where people surrender their animals .. but i do have access to the owner surrender questionnaires .. we go over those thoroughly in healthcheck when we're checking the animals health and behavior
i've never run across anything like DJ wrote about, a pet surrendered because it no longer matches the furniture (sheesh) .. the reason that bothers me the most is where a relative died or is hospitalized and the surviving relative surrenders the pet to the humane society .. that just breaks my heart
just last week a gentleman's father passed away and he surrendered his dads 14 pigeons .. when we explained that there was a $10 intake fee he threatened to go outside and free the pigeons .. rather than have that happen, we waived the fee .. but all he had to do was ask to have the fee waived
the majority of the animals i've seen at the humane society are strays .. i'd venture to say that at least 80% if not more .. some of the dogs are so ferocious and threatening that we actually perform the behavior check IN the stray kennels .. usually a quick food test or the eye contact test (staring contest) lets us know if the dog is sociable enough to be taken out of his kennel for a more thorough test
when we arrive at the stray kennel, refraining from speaking to the dog in a comforting voice, we hunch down to the dogs level making eye contact (staring) .. with the kennel gate closed of course .. stares can be perceived as a threat or a challenge to dogs .. if the dog attempts to attack, he is not suitable for adoption .. period .. thankfully the majority of dogs react with submission when greeted with a stare
what puzzled me initially is when some of the dogs wag their tails .. something i initially perceived as a friendly greeting .. boy was i wrong .. if the dog lowers his head, takes a firm stance .. his shackles raise, his eyes bulge (referred to as "whale eye") indicating that the dog is nervous or afraid .. if the stare isn't broken, a nervous or ferocious dog will begin growling or snarling or sometimes attempt to attack
without knowing what the body language really means, i can understand how some people get bit, seeing only the wagging tail and believing that its a friendly greeting
on that note (i guess i wandered a little off the original subject eh?) i need to go be a momma .. my daughter had two of her permanent teeth removed yesterday afternoon as requested by her orthodontist .. the extraction ended up being more painful than anyone had originally expected .. hopefully her pain is more tolerable this morning but i've already decided to stay home just in case she isn't up to going to school
knowing she was nervous about the appointment, i had the dentist give her a prescription for valium .. thankfully she slept before her appointment and most of the day after her appointment
in two weeks we go in to have two teeth on the other side removed .. i am so not looking forward to that .. something about my baby crying in pain that just makes me want to hurt someone .. i've tried to be consoling and reassuring .. but explaining to a 13 year old to try to get her to understand that some pain is necessary is one of the most difficult challenges i've faced as a mother
i guess i wasn't  really surprised when the dentist refused to give ME my own little prescription for a couple of happy pills .. life just isn't fair sometimes

whoops .. i almost forgot to mention that my daughter made sure and asked her dentist to give her the teeth he removed

afterwards, she handed the teeth to me, telling me that "after what i went through, these teeth are gonna cost the toothfairy some BIG BUCKS"

Tuesday 28 September 2004

Changes at the Humane Society & introducing TWIX !!!


Twix (<-- click here on his name to read more about him) finally made the Humane Society webpage, so here is his picture and the information they've posted about him

Name: TWIX         ID#: A439787
Pit Bull mix
Age: 2y                    Male

Solid, stoic Twix is a gentle giant who loves to snuggle and receive attention. He leans in by your side, putting his big soft head in your lap for petting and stroking. This touch-tolerant, affectionate boy accepts treats with a very gentle mouth and enjoys receiving hugs and scratches. Due to his large stature, Twix will be best suited for a family with kids at least 12 years of age.
there is a sweet tempered gal there that has also captured the attention of several of the employees .. she's an older, very affectionate lady by the name of Erika .. here is her picture and information

Name: ERIKA         ID#: A034936
Labrador Retr/Rottweiler mix
Age: 12y                    Spayed Female

Delightful Erika is a confident, affectionate, and energetic lady. She is food-motivated and not shy to let you know when she wants more treats by vocalizing her desires! Erika enjoys petting and touching, usually staying close to your side for attention. She has lots of energy for her age and is very eager and excited to go out for walks. Erika seems to get along with other dogs and is happy to make friends with everyone she meets.

beginning October 1st, there is going to be a drastic change in the way that the humane society functions
currently the Humane Society is the only drop off location for all owner surrenders, strays, investigations and confiscation's for the cities of San Jose, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Saratoga, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Monte Sereno, Sunnyvale and Campbell .. serving a total population of almost 1.7 million people.  Last year the shelter cared for almost 30,000 animals
October 1st the new Animal Care Center in San Jose will open for business and will be the only facility accepting strays and providing animal shelter services for residents of Milpitas, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Saratoga and San Jose.
the humane society will continue to accept owner drop offs, (referred to owner surrenders) from all cities, and strays from the remaining cities in our county.  it is estimated that the new facility in San Jose is equipped to house 20,000 annually
what this means for the humane society is that the number of strays or injured animals will essentially be cut by one third, allowing the humane society to concentrate on the "more adoptable" pets, becoming more of a "no-kill shelter"
the only reason any facility can claim "no-kill" status is because they are allowed to be extremely selective in which animals they will allow to be accepted at their facility .. if any animal is deemed unadoptable for ANY reason (whether the animal has behavior or medical issues) they will not accept it
what this change means to the Humane Society is that instead of focusing the majority of their man hours in processing unadoptable pets, is that we will now have the privilege on focusing on spending more quality time with the adoptable pets to ensure that they find suitable homes and to ensure that their stay at the shelter, regardless of duration, is a positive experience for the dog or cat
i am so looking forward to the changes .. the thought of being able to spend as much time as necessary with each animal in behavior check .. being able to spend more time socializing adoptable dogs rather than being faced with a daily processing list of 20 - 30 dogs to process in 8 hours
dogs like Twix are going to benefit .. when he was healthchecked last weekend, he was so happy just to spend time with people .. the lovable big lug was content to sit at our feet and watch us.. once he greeted each one of us making sure we knew he was there, all he wanted to do was watch .. content to feel included i suppose
yesterday, after a week in the adoption kennels, he wasn't his goofy self .. he's a large imposing boy who can't help that his previous owners decided to chop off his ears to make him look more ferocious .. he just wants to play like any of the other dogs
sadly, the volunteers, the "dog socializers" pass him by .. there wasn't one socializer card in his envelope after a week .. why?  i've seen the volunteers make their way, from puppy to puppy, even though there are dozens of larger dogs who have been there for months
why?  yesterday we had NO open kennels in adoptions .. each kennel had anywhere from 1 to 4 dogs each .. half the day was spent attempting to partner up the dogs in the single kennels with another dog to free up a kennel .. unless you reach a certain experience level in dog socialization, you are not allowed to remove any dog from their kennel .. you socialize inside the kennel .. put 2 dogs (or 3 - 4 small dogs) in one kennel, PLUS a socializer, there simply isn't room to breathe let alone play .. you put 2 pits or other large dogs together in one kennel and only the bravest most experienced socializers will dare enter the kennel
why?  the puppies are more fun .. it doesn't take any skill or training to play with a puppy .. the larger, stronger, sometimes fierce looking dogs are intimidating to the young girls who volunteer at the humane society to play with the puppies and kittens
i understand completely .. i really do .. but my heart still goes out to the dogs who sit day after day in the adoption kennels, only being socialized when those of us that work in healthcheck aren't bogged down with processing 20 - 30 new dogs daily
dogs need time to be socialized with as many new dogs as possible .. it keeps their social skills sharp, allowing them to be more adoptable to families who already have pets at home .. if a dog spends too much time alone or with a single kennel mate, they can quickly lose their social skills
you can read more about San Jose's new Animal Care Facility here:
Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services

or here:
Humane Society Can Focus on Core Mission: Finding Loving Homes for Pets

Monday 27 September 2004

was it more than a "game" for #42 ?

this morning i had the opportunity to revisit a time in my life that i've decided was best kept locked away in my closet of skeletons .. filled with those memories that need to be examined carefully ...

and this is the head noise that resulted ~
i really got into football when my son played varsity in highschool .. i learned more about the game, the positions .. the plays .. the dedication .. the hard work .. the effort that it takes in highschool football maintaining a respectable grade average while practicing the game 5 hours a night .. .. but then i went and learned about the politics and then i learned about the way that some young mens already fragile self esteem is tied directly to the outcome of the "game"
thankfully his dad moved and my son was back in our hometown for my son's senior year in high school .. my daughter and i made an effort not to miss a single game .. we'd make signs to hold up during the game .. hearing people yell my son's name during the game when he finally got ahold of the ball .. seeing his name mentioned in the local newspapers .. he even managing to grab a few seconds being highlighted on the local news broadcast .. making an effort to be sure he was on time for all the weekly team dinners .. running down to the school a few nights a week to watch him practice 5 hours a night during the week .. holidays included .. i figured if he couldn't sit and have thanksgiving dinner with us the least we could do was to watch him practice his beloved game


it was the best of times .. it was the worst of times
and then one special young man fumbled the ball on the 2 yard line during the last few seconds of a game .. his team lost by 2 points .. it was an important game, homecoming .. and instead of having the time of his life at his senior homecoming, my son walked slowly off the field, head hung low .. refusing to make eye contact with his mom .. his heart breaking for letting his school down, letting his team down, letting his friends down .. yea ok, the game before he made 5 touchdowns but all that seemed to have been forgotten


i treasure the newspaper articles .. the videos of the news broadcasts .. his "Go Spartans ~ 2002 Homecoming"cup, filled with little candies, made by the school cheerleaders for each member of the team .. after the game i followed my son out to mid-field .. there was no way i was going to let him slink away in shame and self-doubt .. he handed me his cup asking me "Mom, will you keep this for me" .. and i have ..
i haven't watched a game of football since and that was nearly 2 years ago .. i figure one day he'll speak again of his highschool football career and he'll remember the entire 4 years instead of the last 4 seconds .. and maybe .. just maybe .. we'll sit down and watch a football game together again
and when he's laughing, when i know in my heart that he's let his heartbreak go .. just for kicks i'm going to bring out his homecoming cup and politely ask him if he wants a piece of candy .. and if he laughs at the sight of his momma bringing out some stale years old candy for a half-time treat, i'll know i can let go of my own heartbreak

Sunday 26 September 2004

so sorry :-(

no time today to do a voice entry .. i tried going into the kennels once, with the intention of recording it via AOL by phone .. and i swear the dogs must have heard what was up because they were oddly quiet

guess its true that rumors on AOL journals really do spread like wildfire eh?

anyway, i'm beat .. 9 hours at the shelter and we managed to healthcheck 20 dogs .. and i fell in love with a little terrier mix lady named China .. she's a lap dog from the word go .. she climbed into my lap and sat there while i updated data in the computer for at least 30 minutes .. when her kennel mate came over to get a bit of attention she actually growled .. it was rather comical this baby dog not even weighing 6 pounds doing her best to appear ferocous lol

i had a blast even though i'm exhausted .. i got to work with a new partner in healthcheck, Alexis .. i've seen her around the shelter but never had the opportunity to work side by side with her before .. within a short amount of time we had the radio blasting in health check, dancing and singing to oldies while Tank, the cutest little 6 month pit danced with us .. turns out Alexis gave her notice yesterday and plans to find a new job .. i'm going to do my best to talk her out of it :)

i was hoping that Twix would get his mugshot up in the humane society's adoption page so that i could share it and y'all could see what a lovable big lug he is, but his pic wasn't there .. hopefully they'll put his pic up next week unless he's already found a home by then

on that note, i'm off to indulge in a much deserved glass of wine ~

Wednesday 11 August 2004

i'm missing him already

as of 8:30 yesterday morning, my son is back in Hawaii .. Honolulu to be exact, to start his second year of college .. his dad hooked him up with a studio apartment overlooking the campus .. kid has got it tough i tell ya !!

honestly, i wasn't ready for him to leave yet ..

ok, i'll confess, i'd probably never be "ready" .. just something about waking up in the morning, seeing my son's clothes scattered around the house .. the front door unlocked ..  his shoes placed carefully waiting for me to trip over them .. and my son, sleeping soundly on the couch .. MY couch

i'm missing him already the good news is i have my pickup truck back !!

he's been driving it for the entire summer and i'd been attempting to get by driving his cadi (yea .. the one with the leaky radiator!)

i ran over to his fathers house yesterday after work to exchange vehicles, i just couldn't wait another day to have my truck back .. i feel so much safer .. and bigger :)

i've missed being able to see OVER the continual traffic jams .. of course i'll have to learn to park all over again .. and struggle to find parking spaces that are long enough and wide enough for both me and my truck to get into without doing any permanent damage !!

i had promised his father i'd give him the old "i'm concerned about your future so put down the surfboard and pick up a book" mommy speech but there just wasn't time .. besides, i kinda figure he has gotten enough of that speech .. the concerned daddy version of course

i imagine the next few weeks before my daughter starts the 8th grade will be filled with shopping .. and more shopping .. and perhaps just a *bit* more shopping .. ya think?

i'm going to try to find the time to run by the humane society today and check on Irish .. i know i could probably just call and find out, but i need to see her eyes ..

on that note, i'm trying a little more background stuff .. hopefully it will work a bit better than yesterday :)

Tuesday 10 August 2004

a quick update on Irish

i'm just testing out Greggers instructions for adding a background and at the same time, giving y'all an update on Irish, the adorable pitbull mix that was injured at the shelter on Sunday
i stopped by the humane society after work yesterday and the doc says she's doing fine (g'head .. ask me how much i hate the word "fine" !!!) her wounds aren't bleeding, at least externally .. she's still weak and shaky though .. thankfully she had enough energy to give me a few kisses while i was there
i'm keeping my fingers crossed that she makes a full recovery AND finds a loving family that can't live without her
i can't say i'm crazy about the way this background stuff is turning out .. i am not sure how to get the background to be continuous and not break between paragraphs !!  i even tried adding the paragraph breaks while i was in the html code view but they kept disappearing when i changed to view as text

i am attempting to correct the way the background appears and well, now the background appears to be working and not ending between paragraphs !! sheesh !! i'm not sure what i'm doing different between yesterday and today .. oh, wait .. i know, this is AOL after all .. the day now starts with a "W", its an even hour and i'm sitting with my legs crossed .. THAT must be the difference lol  

Monday 9 August 2004

be still my heart

ok .. so i'm still hooked up with that blasted dating service from yahoo .. not that i'm looking mind you, i've just forgotten my password so i don't know how to turn it off lol
i usually just delete the emails from Yahoo Matchmaker telling me they've found the man of my dreams for me .. but this morning i decided to take a look
oh my .. so many to choose from ..
"My life is dedicated to playing with my kids, skiing, mt.biking, surfing, and rock climbing. I also have a full time job and a home business to pay for it all."
oh .. like exercise? surfing? at my age? yea sure right .. i wonder how my wrinkles will look falling off a rock .. sounds right up my alley .. glad to hear that you'll be paying your own way though


"Looking for a best friend to have fun I love the outdoors, down to earth guy, who is outgoing and Very athletic and fit."


outdoors? like with the bugs? the closest i get to outdoors is taking out the garbage .. give me a 5 star hotel with room service instead please .. have you considered getting an athletic dog?  i hear they're mans best friend

you're a
down to earth guy?  does that mean you don't shower or shave to be closer to nature?  or does that mean you're really really short?
"I love to be with a small group of friends sharing life experience, talking funny stories, and reveal the inner fantasies"
does anyone else translate this into group sex or is it just me?  i'm not familiar with "talking funny stories" .. are those like comedy talking movies?
"Hi there. I'm looking for someone to have fun with...no strings attached...just want to see what happens and how things go. Sense of humor is a must"
whooo hoooo .. somebody wants to get laid .. good luck dude .. i guess you want somebody to laugh when you don't call back the next day eh? or do you mean somebody to laugh at your body parts .. i'm confused
"I believe life is all about going for the gusto! Seeing the world, trying new activities (even if they’re scary), and always learning is invigorating to me.?
gusto? oh how attractive .. old people with gusto .. i nap with gusto, does that count?  i think for something new i'll get patterned sheets on my bed


"Hi, I have lived in the Silicon Valley for nearly 15 years. I am originally from India,"
wonderful !! maybe you can help me fix my computer
oh well .. i had a great time sorting through all the selections this morning .. but i do believe i've had my fun quota for the day ;)

Sunday 8 August 2004

Journal Directory Updates - 7/31/04

abeator81-Amy-Amy Loves PeccarysThe weird and wonderful (or not so!) life that is mine and those that share it with me....
bluestblink82-Blue-Bluestblink8222,Crazy,Bored and MotivatedImpress Me
colesmomndad-Kim-The "Fats" of LifeThis is a journal of my current attempt to lose this fat butt and be a better, more energetic mommy to my son, Cole.
fjrav-Prospective on RotationsUsing this journal, I'll write my thoughts about my last two years of med school, which I may refer to later when I need to decide what type of doctor I want to be.
mgraves6033-Humorous Verse, or "Life With A Wife"Christian, husband, father, runner, average guy, adequate at most everything, outstanding at nothing.
mskitty611-Jes-Kitty's PlaceJust a bit about me, my kids, hubby, hobbies, and life.
playingam-Amber-blah.... blah....blahmy terrible life
rachoh322-Diary of a DramaqueenA journal written by and about a teenager who deals with the ups and downs of being a teen... a drama teen.
rebafandjDJ-DJ's Mind MazeCome and see what's inside my mind...beware you may get lost and not be found....it's abt my life and my cats.
ruthcollins00-Amber-It's a Dog's LifeA not-so-daily journal of my life...
wfhbear-Bill-Comments on the events of my lifeMy rants, raves, stumbles, and falls as I stomp my way through the swamp of life."Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home." by John Newton

wumzels2-Regina-SEDUCTION OF LIFECOLLECTIONS OF THOUGHTS, POEMS, PROSE, BOTH DARK AND JOYOUS

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY JOURNALS
aynetal3-Ann et al-AOL Journals' First Year Hall of FameThis journal will be a contribution toward AOL Journals' 1rst year anniversary.  :)  The journal will present the work of first year journalists and their introduction to AOL J-Land.  
The requirements are to have registered in Pam's J-Directory by July 19, 2004 and to have given us permission to publish your information in this journal.
Pam's Directory can be found at http://hometown.aol.com/his1desire/page1.html
dornbrau-Debbie-JOURNALS ANNIVERSARY CARDSThis is just a compilation of Anniversary cards from Journalers throughout the AOL Journal communities.
floralilia-Flora-succulent wisdom - juicyness from j-landdedicated to all of us - to inspire, to enthuse, and to admire our collective juicy=ness.happy anniversary!
journalsrock-Together We Are One...Fly your FlagTo honor ourselves, our nations and our states, we proudly flew our flags high on opening day of the AOL-J celebration.Thanks everyone who participated.  Continue to fly your flags proudly.
lisbnjvi-State Flag JournalList of State Flags and the Journals of Proud "Flag Flyers" In Celebration of AOL's First Anniversary
sepintx-Steven-AOL Journal Garden-(Homepage)AOL Journal Garden
You are the Garden
tjexpressions-J-Land Registry-Celebrating J-Land's first Anniversary. Journals uniting together in a virtual Celebration all in fun and it's for everyone.
tjexpressions-FloatsShe who manages must hear and be deaf, must see and be blind. After all nonsence is the end result of all sence..
viviansullinwank-Vivian-AOL Journals !st AnniversarySpecial Edition Anniversary Blog (SEAB) to house and highlight the events of the cyber-celebration marking the 1st anniversary of AOL Journals. Event dates = 7/29/04 - 8/21/04
viviansullinwank-JLandAnniversaryGraphicsThis journal will contain graphics Ive received from other journalers for the 7/29/04 - 8/21/04 Journals 1st Anniversary Celebration

Journal Directory Updates - 8/2/04

bho171-Gladys-Gladys'Diet DilemmaA running account of the efforts of a senior struggling with discipline (or lack there of) as measured by weight management (pounds lost and weight maintained), skills gained (pc), PMA built and maintained, and tracked on a bi-weekly basis.
bigred3392-Tracy-Stepping Stones and CoffeeThe transition from adolescence to adulthood can be an awkward one. Out of nowhere, questions have started to sprout at the corners of my psyche: What is the meaning of life? How can I make a difference in the world? Why am I still single? There are a few things I'm certain of: I want to be a first grade teacher, I want to venture outside of the doldrums of routine and I want the road leading me toward my independence to be flanked by coffee shops.
dklars-Kath-Secret GardenMusing, Pondering and Whining about My Life.
kahdib-KDBLivin' The Crazy Life (of a 20 something, career-starting, recently-engaged, newly-independent, kid in grown up pants)
puppetmaster966-Michelle-A whole lot of nothin!!!A little bit of me, a little bit about them and a whole lot of nothin!
wordsinc-Paulie-The Side Doorpolitics, religion, lifestyle, health, finance, how-to's, quizzes, games, puzzlers and lots of free advice on living simply

Journal Directory Updates - 8/7/04

amviolinist07-Amanda-Now Entering Amanda's MindWhats actaully going on behind closed doors in my mind. Things that you would never guess.
brokeninmyself-Dalyce-When nothing else matters
when you take a deep breath and see things more clearly then before, when you can lift your head and smile without fear in your eyes, and when light seems to grow deep inside you. you know your ready.
cathy0o0-Cathy-Anything Goes
Anything and everything and inbetween.
derasta-Debbie-A Journey To A Healthier Me
My thoughts and feelings along with recording everything I eat on a daily basis..this is my journey and an exciting one, one that I know I will follow thru with and become the person i've so longed for...join me on this trip
First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.  Aristotle
derasta-Debbie-FORWARD CITY
Frustrated because no one appreciates the tons of forwards you send? Fret no more...here we love them! Send them to me and i'll add them here for everyone to enjoy...
ebonygrl3-Taste of the South
Recipes from the heart of a true Southern cook.
edpaintered-Ed-If Thoughts Could Talk
My talking thoughts regarding family life and freinds.
elbxmatatan-Hood Politics
Bringing Politics to the urban community.
foreverme382-Renee-The Journal Of The Unique Other
Everyday something new runs through my mind. Isn't that how it works for everyone? I am in a stage of my life where I cannot make up my mind about my own person. I am very happy, but at the same time, I am in a lot of pain and I am suffering major depression issues. I guess I'm just trying to piece myself together and this is just another possible helpful solution.
Im Here102-Mary-Politics: Does not compute
My views from the far reaches of my mind
jkb2320-Kim-Going Mach 2 with my hair on FIRE !!
My busy life as a wife, mother of 5 and grandmother of 10. There's never a dull moment, so, visit each day to see who does what and how I react to it. You wont be disappointed!
journalsuk-A Mum's Tale
A blog about a family in West London
journalsuk-One Apple Tasted
A Novel about love, death and safety pins
in 31 Chapters by Hodmandod
All Rights Reserved: Copyright 2004
lilbithvnnhell-Tammy-Something to talk about
Whatever is going thru my mind...
michelewln-Michele-Visions Inside My Mind
A place to share my art, writing, poetry, recipes and thoughts because sometimes you need someone other then the cat to listen to you.
munowe-Mary-CHAOS REIGNS
This is my life.  Share my experiences, opinions, family, friends, and the chaos that is my life.  Put your seatbelt on it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
mzgoochi-Lahoma-Remember when..
I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you---Nobody----Too?
Then there’s a pair of us?
Don’t tell! they’d advertise---you know!
How dreary---to be --- Somebody!
How public---like a Frog----
To tell one’s name---the livelong June---
To an admiring Bog!
Thank You Emily Dickinson and Kathleen
playin35style-Erika-Playin' 35 Style
This journal knows what playin' 35 style is all about. From the "35" herself, go into the mind of erika and learn what playin' 35 style is all about
quitlaffinatmysn-Headin' South
Follow along on what I'm sure will end up being a journal packed with humor, confusion and seriousness as I relocate from the coast of Lake Ontario in New York to the Gulf Coast of Florida!
sara97racer-Sara-Just a Girl
I'm just a girl looking for love.. but my main love is NASCAR and anything that deals with NASCAR.
sara97racer-Sara-NASCAR World
All the latest news and info from the world of NASCAR. Race updates and points standings.. and anything else that might be going on at the moment
smprfipisis1114-Rachie-Rach's Journal
This is just a buncha my thoughts, feelings, and randomness. Oh, and sometimes even I become sensable and say something smart
sweetmelissa4u-Melissa-One Time At Band Camp
Just for fun ... isn't everything anyway
trinainmobile-Trina-Reflections...
A blog to vent about the day-to-day drama in my life, poems, pictures, and whatever else pops into my head.

Journal Directory Updates - 8/9/04

jjfgiuffre-John G-All Things ChristmasAll things Christmas is a place to remember those wonderful Christmas's we have all had and even some that may not have been the best. It is also a Journal for you to use all and any grahics you would like for your use.
lindainspokane-Linda-Unedited BB5...Behind the Scenes
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at the BB 5 house?  What they aren't showing on TV? Well I will tell you and show you all the juicy tidbits and gossip!!
moondawghouse-Larry-MOONDAWG'S PARKING LOT
A long-haul trucker's stories, anecdotes, observations, opinions, and rants. A lighthearted glimpse of life on the road and life in general in this crazy world.
moondawghouse-Larry-THE 'DAWG'S SOAPBOX
The opinions of a truck driver?? Yep, I have some and this journal will be dedicated to airing my personal take on politics, social issues, current events, and more. Every time I feel like "mouthing off" about something. This journal is public and I invite any and all comments, in agreement -- or not, as long as they are respectful

Irish, i'm so sorry

i thought i'd seen the worst .. that should teach me
i ran off to the humane society this morning to put in my weekly quota of volunteer hours
for those of you are new to my ramblings on about the shelter, i volunteer there at least once a week for a few hours .. i'm trained in cat socialization and in canine healthcheck, where we process all incoming dogs, after their mandatory hold period, to find out if they're suitable for adoption .. we also vaccinate and check for any possible medical problems .. i've been doing this for almost a year and even though it has its ups and downs, i finally feel i'm pretty good at what i do and i no longer feel like i'm a "newbie liability" to the shelter
oh .. and i have a long-standing fear of big dogs .. the scar from a german shepherd on my chin, the scar from a saint bernard on my right foot might give you a clue as to why i'm fearful .. i now consider myself a cat person .. and a fish person .. and a hamster person lol
this morning. our first healthcheck was on a lab/retreiver mix .. a huge goofy male, that i ended up naming "Roy" .. "Big Boy Roy" .. he was timid and shaking at first, but finally warming up, content to sit at my feet while i typed in his vaccination dates and anything we noted about his behavior .. he's going to make some family extremely lucky to have found such a peaceful content dog
we'd only gotten through 2 dogs this morning when the super, Dennis, came in. saw me and said "well !! if it isn't our best loved volunteer !!" i laughed and told him if they really loved me they'd give me a raise .. at *least* 10 percent more than i'm making now .. "i think you deserve 15% percent more" .. we all laughed
then he informed us that we were to shut down healthcheck for the day .. the adoption kennels were full .. sometimes 1 dog per kennel, usually paired up, and if they're small, 3 to a kennel
instead we were to run over to adoptions and work on changing the dogs in the kennels, pairing them up with different dogs
why fix something that isn't broken was my thought .. if the dogs were getting along, why not just leave them?  because they can become too "content" with their new kennel buddy and may lose their social skills with other dogs .. they need to be paired up with different breeds, different personalities, different sizes and genders, so they stay on their toes and allows them to improve and practice their socialization skills .. in the end, it makes them just *that* much more adoptable knowing they can (and have) socialized with other dogs during their stay with us
the rub?  the shelter used to have a cap of 3 adult pitbulls in adoptions .. they recently removed the cap and today, we have 18 adult pitbulls in adoptions, some of them there over a month
as i'm typing this, i'm thankful that i'm no longer shaking .. the tears have subsided .. perhaps from the wine that i felt i deserved at 1:00 in the afternoon .. my tummy is still tied up in knots .. my heart is still breaking and i've realized it might take awhile to get over this one
ya know how you feel when something happens that you just *know* that its going to be one of those life defining moments?  one of those things that will never be replaced with newer memories .. one of those things that you have no doubt will end up effecting how you react in the future in similar situations?
yea .. its one of those .. me, recently feeling like my huge fear and caution of big dogs was finally replaced with knowledge (knowledge displaces fear .. did you know that?)
i'm not the victim .. i'm merely an innocent bystander .. the victim was Irish .. a beautiful gray pit bull mix that we healthchecked 2 weeks ago into adoption .. she has the sweetest demeanor for a pitbull mix that i've ever seen .. she got into a tangle last weekend with a more aggressive male pit so we quickly pulled her and put her in with a smaller male puppy so she could be the dominant
and now she's laying in the hospital .. sedated, her wounds cleaned and antibiotics started
it happened so quickly .. so very quickly .. the 3 dogs, all female pits, getting along wonderfully in the socialization area .. playing with toys, showing NO outward signs of even the mildest form of aggression .. until one of the dogs snapped .. pinning me in the corner with my pitbull who thankfully was still leashed .. the leash stuck on my wrist when they screamed at me to hand them my leash so they could pull my dog out of the mix .. they finally pulled out my girl, leaving me in the corner with the fighting pitbulls .. Irish frantically trying to get away from the pit that had a death grip on her neck
i finally ended up jumping over the 4 foot fence getting out of the way of being involved in the fight .. we had immediately called out a code 3 so thankfully the area was soon swarming with knowledgeable techs who succeeded in pulling the dogs apart
from what i understand, its going to be remembered as the worst dog fight in the history of the humane society
and my heart is breaking for Irish .. i was the one that decided she would do well in the pairing up .. there is no aggression in her that i've seen and felt she was a good candidate .. i stopped and saw her in the hospital before i left for home .. i'm guessing she doesn't blame me since she was still willing to give me a few kisses .. i'm hoping Dr Chad is going to work his miracles on her
after everything had finally calmed down i knew i couldn't go home .. first of all, i was an accident waiting to happen .. and i knew that if i went home now. after falling off the horse, that it might be a cold day in hell before i go back to the shelter
so i jumped back on the horse that threw me .. standing back this time so that MY fear didn't play a part in how the next set of dogs interacted .. i guess Dennis knew that we'd all be prone to being a little gun shy so he valiantly held our hands through the next set of pair ups .. and the next .. where we ended up having to break up yet another dog fight
i decided it was time to call it a day .. a million hours later
i'm thinking tomorrow i need to find time to go check on Irish .. and tell her again that i'm sorry

Saturday 7 August 2004

just DON'T ask

i'm not quite sure what i did that constitutes a violation of community guidelines
i was searching for a journal thats all .. honest !!
i suppose AOL thought i was asking how something went wrong with AOL .. and i suppose THAT is against the rules?
hehe

Friday 30 July 2004

Other Notable Firsts

JOURNAL ENTRIES RECEIVING MOST KNOWN COMMENTS PER SINGLE ENTRYThe following entry has 197 commentsFound at:  Share the Love


The following entry has 256 comments
Found at:  The Basics
Found by:  Onestrangecat


The following entry has 266 comments
Found at:  15 Hours of Fame Winning Entry




The following entry has 279 comments
Found at:  Skychick's Air-Camping Adventures
The following entry has 344 comments
Found at:  Best Southpaw Ever?
Found by: Onestrangecat


FIRST KNOWN MEMBER TO GIVE RECOGNITION TO INDIVIDUAL JOURNALS


as early as August 2003 John G (Jjfgiuffre) who no longer has an AOL Journal, began giving recognition in the form of his “Journaling Excellence Awards” to several AOL Journals.  I’ve searched high and low out there in J-land and the journals listed below aren’t necessarily the first nor only journals to receive his awards.  Several journals have since been deleted or moved. 
The reason I’ve decided to highlight these awards here is not specifically to give recognition to the journals again, but instead to highlight how members reacted to the generous recognition
.


Sunday, September 21, 2003

Nwanyioma's Journal
Wow my journal received an award!
FLATTERED IS PUTTING IT MILDLY! This evening I was very pleasantly surprised to see some extremely complimentary remarks placed in my journal as a comment by one of its visitors. I immediately emailed John to thank him.
I also wanted to let him know that I've been very fortunate to meet some great people since I've been journaling. We've shared some tips, done some brainstorming and virtually challenged ourselves to make our journals do things we had no idea they could do!
John has really honored me with this award, which I proudly display here. He has also not only listed my journal on 'Other Journals' in his blog, but but he has given me very prominent mention there! What a marvelous way to end what has been a great day!!
Thank you VERY much for this award, John!

Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Just One Girls Head Noise

thank you John !
i wanted to take a moment and thank John from
Thoughts from a Collapsed Brain for awarding this journal his AOL Journal Award for excellence

i sincerely appreciate the positive recognition !!

Ayn's Multiple World

Thank You John G.!
Today we received a wonderful email from a new person!  He gave us his award for having put a lot of work and time into our journal among other nice things.  We are very honored with his consideration and accept the award with honor!  We think of the work and time as "no end to pleasure."
We will be returning the visit to his journal at: Thoughts From A Collapsed Brain.
Again thank you John G.

Ayn and all
(hehe - now we visited ... it's a wonderful journal full on all kinds of neat thoughts and people.  Please visit John G.'s place!)
This Is Michael NYC

I'd like to thank the academy..

I got a lovely email from someone who I have never met, that gave me an award.

Thanks John G!.


Monday, January 5, 2004
Amused
A Mighty Star

Last but not least
, I'd like to publicly thank John G. for the vote of confidence by giving me his Journal Award for Excellence.  A writer's best encouragement is knowing her reader(s) like(s) what she writes.  Thanks, John.
Monday, January 26, 2004


Daily gratitudes and attitudes
An Award, much to my surprise


Much to my surprise, I found this in my mailbox on Saturday! Thank you for the E-mail, John G! Thanks to the panel of the Journal Keepers for finding interest in my Journal, and for being so kind to give me your award. I display it proudly and thank each of you!

FIRST KNOWN AOL MEMBER BASED AWARDS FOR AOL JOURNALS:
JOURNEY TO PEACE


BEST JOURNAL PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO JOURNAL


BEST VARIETY OF SUBJECTS

JUST ONE GIRLS HEAD NOISE



MOST THOUGHT PROVOKING JOURNAL
LIFE AS IT OUGHT TO BE


BEST FEMALE PERSPECTIVE
DAY IN THE LIFE OF SHELLI P


BEST MALE PERSPECTIVE
ON WHINING WELL


BEST OVERALL JOURNAL
A LIFE IN SLOW MOTION


BEST USE OF GRAPHICS
NWANYIOMA'S JOURNAL


MOST HUMOROUS JOURNAL
THIS THING CALLED.....LIFE


MOST ORIGINAL JOURNAL
JOURNAL ENQUIRER