Countdown to Halloween

Halloween will soon be here,  and I have yet to buy candy to hand out to the kids.
I'm not a dentist or hygienist, but I am concerned about poor dental of our
children.  I love sweets of almost any kind except hard candies, but in a pinch
I'll eat a few if I'm desperate. The last few days I've been on a cookie binge and
I really need to stop.  I will when the cookies are all gone.   I do brush my teeth
several times during the day when I'm home.  I should have done it when I was
working, but I never had enough time with a half hour lunch and a long wait in    the cafeteria line.

But back to Halloween and my dental concerns.  I'd like to find something that
the kids would like but wouldn't damage their teeth.  Once I gave note pads, but
that didn't work out well for the toddlers, and another time I gave pens which I
found on my lawn the next day.  Fruit is good, but sometimes parents are reluctant
to let the kids have it because of incidents  of people using the fruit to harm
the kids (using needles or poison in them).  Small toys might be OK for the very
young, but for the teens and  "inbetweens" that might be expensive and hard to
figure out what would be good.  So it's back to M&M's or Hershey squares.

I don't like Halloween, but I love to see the kids in costumes esp. the toddlers and the ones that aren't so shy.  Maybe someday I'll think of a solution to my dilemma.
I'd welcome some suggestions.  In the mean time I wish everyone a happy and
safe Halloween.  Kiss your kids.

Taxes, kitties and more.

Still behind in my taxes, but a new kitty has been hanging around my yard and in my house.  He's provided hours of distraction.  I've also been working in my yard trimming trees (the areas that I can reach of course) because they are growing through the fence.  I look at it as exercise of a sort.  I've been pulling weeds, and dumping all the stuff over the fence (it's an unpopulated area between my house and the school next door.  My neighbor uses it the same way. No garbage of course, just weeds and branches that I cut. I used to hate that sort of work, but now I find it a pleasant distraction from things like vacuuming, cooking and laundry or taxes.  Of course they all have to be done eventually so it's really like a game of chess or checkers.  One move here, 2 moves there. One task done, one waiting.  Retiring and getting older doesn't really change one's
responsibilities.  There are still plenty of things that need to be done, but I can delay and juggle a little more than when I was working full time at the hospital. I also have more distractions: cats, magazines, computer time, books,  walks, music fest in town, writing group, and senior day on Wednesday at one of the local restaurants (we get a discount for being old) and my blog of course. That part is OK, but the patronizing smiles could be eliminated. And as I finish this entry my taxes are completed and mailed off to the gov.  No refund for me this year instead a big check, 2 really one for the state and one for the feds were sent. No senior discount that I could find.

New kitty complications

If you read this blog, you know that I love kitties, cats, and felines of all species - domestic, small, big, wild, exotic, fluffy, slinky - all of them and am drawn to the homeless even more so.  I have 3 of my own or is it that the three of them are sharing me? Could be.  They do run me. Recently I have been visited by a little tuxedo cat (discussed in a previous entry).  He feels tiny compared to my group (all 12-16 lbs) has long hair, but not fluffy or thick - kind of sleek.  The problem is that he visits me twice a day for food, flea treatments, cuddles and naps, but he won't stay.  He gets along well with my group and loves lap time with me.  When he decides to sleep in my house he likes my pillow and wraps his paws around my head.  I think he likes the contact.  When he first comes in he runs around meowing and I catch him and comb him for fleas and ticks.  I do have some Hartz topical flea stuff that seems to work for the ticks too.  It is supposed to last for a month, but it's more like 3 weeks.

I'm planning to visit my daughter who happens to live in FL (I'm in CT) and stay for close to a year to help out  with my 3 grandchildren (plus a managerie of animals)while she finishes her masters in social work.  So- moving my group will be difficult enough without trying to plan for one more.  Still I worry about him when he's outside at night, and I offer him food and a place to stay, and he does come inside sometimes.  But I wish I knew if he had a family because he needs to be neutered, have shots etc. Also he doesn't actually know what a litter box is used for. He is   a little unpredictable, ocasionally  swiping at me for some unknown reason.  I think he spends his time away from my house in the woods because he usually has around 6-10 ticks and sticky things we used to call devil's teeth when I was kid, stuck to his fur, but I don't know the real name.  He is cute and seems to be winning my heart.  I don't really need this.  I've been trying to follow him sometimes to see
if he goes to a home, but he loses me after 20 minutes. One smart kitty it seems.
To be continued.

10/27/2013

The new kitty now named Timothy Cat or TC for short has resisted moving into my house, but he still visits and takes long naps and purrs very loudly.  He's another one that doesn't like me on the computer.  When he came in tonight he tried to eat but had to jump in my lap after about 2 bites.  He seems to love being loved even more than food.  Right now he just came inside and had a few bites, many pets interrupting my writing then eating then back to my lap (causing me to put the computer down quickly before he punctures the screen). He has his few minutes of petting, scratching, brushing and then goes back to the food for a few minutes.  He is a little character, but he's stealing my heart. The problem is I shouldn't have another kitty.  I'll be moving in a year or 2 and traveling with kitties -4 of them is no easy task when it's more than 1500 miles.  I'm losing sleep over this trying to
figure out the easiest way to do this.  Any idea?

Woodstock And More

Today I went to the Woodstock Fair (not the same Woodstock of the rock concerts).  I don't usually like these events, and today was no exception. I
found myself exhausted, achy, hungry, thirsty, and annoyed by just about
everything.  My friend knows I'm not too happy about these things, but since
he doesn't read my blog I think I'm safe venting in this manner.  I do enjoy
looking at some of the booths that sell almost anything from food to RV's.
The problem is we don't like the same sites.  I like books, jewelry, animals,
some of the homemade items (just a few) and I like to touch.  But you can't
touch the animals that you see - unless you're very careful and sneaky.  I am
both.  I love the bunnies, the goats, the sheep, birds etc and especially any
baby animals.  I also can't resist talking to babies and toddlers and pets on leashes. But it is heart breaking to see the ones in cages, knowing that some may end up as food. (That would be the chickens and some bunnies and calves).  I do eat meat, but really very little for the most part.  I seldom cook it.

Next he wants to go the Springfield Fair (MA).  I really don't want to go, but might get dragged there against my will.

When I finally got home I was numb and tired, and very thirsty.  Of course
after I got settled I opened my computer to check my email.  Someone reminded
me of my blog and here I am updating it.

Next item - cats.  I have 3, but another one is trying to move in.  He's young and very friendly and likes to cuddle.  Imagine a lap cat.  One of my other 3 likes my
lap, but the other 2 only tolerate a few minutes and literally fly out of my arms or
lap whenever I attempt to cuddle with them.. Only if I offer them a brushing by
waving the brush at them and tapping it on the floor or the arm of a chair do they
let me actually grab them a little and they will stay as long as I keep brushing.
But I'm OK with that - they rule.  So I need a name for a little tuxedo cat.  I've
been thinking something from the Harry Potter series like Colin, Amos, Teddy
or maybe Merlin (although I don't think Merlin was a character in the Harry Potter books, but I like the name.)  I also have to get him acclimated to my cats and them
to him to avoid any bloodshed. If anyone actually reads this and has a suggestion
I would love to hear it.  When I finally decide on a name I will post it in this blog.
I wish everyone a pleasant Labor Day, spent with friends or family or both.

10/22/2013

Since this blog entry my little visitor kitty has been in my house a lot and fits
right in with my cats.  I have tried several names for him and the most recent
and probably the final one is Timothy Kat or TK or TC for short.  He's very
lovable and cuddly, but only for short periods then he's on the run.  Next are
shots, neutering and flea treatment.  I haven't been able to get him to stay inside
for very long. Half way through the night he wants out and howls.  When he does stay for a few hours he sleeps on my pillow and wraps his little paws around my head.  I think it reminds him of his mom (my hair maybe). He doesn't
seem to understand the purpose of a litter box.  I'm hoping time will help
him figure it out. Stay tuned for further updates.

The Last 2 years

So it has been a long time since I entered a page to this blog.  Which means it's about time.  So much has happened in the last few years and the last few months.
After my mother died my friend and I started renovations on my mother's house.  We removed all the kitchen cabinets, sink etc - all but the fridge.  We put in new floors in 2 rooms and cleaned and resurfaced the wood floors - ourselves.  It took almost 2 years, and when it was finished I moved in with my cats (a month before hurricane Irene hit New England which is another story).  Then we started work
on my house.  We stripped down most of the inside.  I'm good at that, but when
it came to refinishing the inside, Larry of course did about 90% of it with me as
the carpenter's helper.  It was long, tedious and grueling work.  When it was finished we put it on the market to sell.  That took another year or so with price reductions because the housing and real estate market dried up.  Last Friday
we closed - partially until the home equity loan is paid from the proceeds of the
sale.  But at this point the buyers are committed and can't back out.  From that
money I'll being paying Larry for his work - he never asked for money, but I
wouldn't be an honest person if I never gave him a cent for all he did.  So
that will take a large clump, but it has to be done.  If I had sold it "as is" I
wouldn't have made any money on it.  So I'm relieved, and accepting the
lower amount.

 There are still some repairs that could be done to this house (my mother's)
esp. to 3 of the windows.   But that is another issue.

I am glad that this is about over.  The electric and water have been changed to
the buyers and we have a few papers to still be signed and then I'm getting my check.

Growth Through Discomfort

ls it comfortable for you to look at events, political speeches and big changes from a perspective that isn't your own?  How do you feel about practicing that right now?

I like it actually.  It's important to get a variety of opinions about almost anything.
I will admit that it is uncomfortable, but it's a kind of discomfort that makes one grow. And  growth, personal growth really only happens with the ability to listen to others, take in the ideas, analyze and dissect them, honestly and  then form an opinion.  I also like to challenge myself with forming arguments against my own opinions.  I am a worrier by nature, and sometimes I look for reasons to worry, afraid that I might be missing something that will get me when I least expect it.  But some worrying can lead to prevention, solutions, and new opinions.

I don't want to sound paranoid.  It's just that I have a slight problem with not paying attention so I miss things.  The worrying forces me to review the things that I might have overlooked.  The downside of this is that the worrying sometimes causes me to miss other things frequently of equal importance especially sleep.  I am a bit of an extremist in many ways: too much sweets, too many earrings, too many books, note books, pads and programs on my computer.  Even too many animals at one time.(Though I feel certain that one can never have too many cats.)
I am prone to extremes: enough is only enough when it's too much.  I have too many pens and most of them don't write any more. Moving has forced me to rid myself of many of these things, but still I'm overflowing with stuff that I can't throw out or give away because it's opened and partially used (lotions and cosmetics, soaps etc).  And now I'm way off my subject.

However, my best conversations are with my daughter when we're on the same wave politically or socially.  Often she can enlighten me with her perspective and make me think, but I don't have the same effect on her nearly as often.  But getting out of one's comfort zone is certainly one way of growing emotionally, politically and intellectually and possibly in other ways.  But much depends on how the person who holds the opposing view presents his case.  I don't like to converse with loud, obnoxious, argumentative people who won't give me the same tolerance and respect that I would offer him or her.  If I give him freedom to speak, I expect the same.  Red neck kind of men usually bellow out their opinions and then won't be quiet in order to hear the retort.  I would like to see those people bound and gagged and forced to listen to the other side or any side but their own. Wouldn't that be something to see?  My older sister is a bit like that and a bit red necked
as well.  It is difficult to have an intelligent discussion with her especially if
she disagrees - then things get heated.  One can't disagree with her and manage
to get a word in at all.  She shouts, interrupts, and gets downright nasty.  Needless to say we don't have discussions of any substance esp. if we're on opposite sides of the issue.  But I don't think I'm missing much.
                      

Reflections on a Difficult Time

I was listening to NPR on my car radio today.  They were broadcasting an interview with Sandra Day O'Connor former Justice of the Supreme Court.  It was very interesting.  She tells us about the time just after she graduated from law school and was looking for work. Apparently her husband was finishing law school so she needed to work.   Several large and prestigious legal firms had notices on the information bulletin boards at her college.  She did say the name, but I was driving and couldn't write it down and now I can't remember it.  But everywhere she applied or tried to apply she was told "we don't hire women". No apology, no explanation and no laws to prevent that sort of discrimination. She is older than I am, but not so much that I never experienced sex discrimination in work, hiring, and most especially in school. Of course being a Catholic girl in a religious school we saw the discrimination on a daily basis.  Nuns were secondary citizens in the religious life. They couldn't be priests and were subject to the authority of the priest and the bishop and the pope who were all men. When the sex scandals surfaced they were always with priests or brothers (monks).  There have been some scandals involving nuns, but they were few and related to  the abuse of the children and sometimes women in their care, but not of a sexual nature.  There weren't many scandals, but enough to make me wonder about the preaching.  Imagine someone in authority telling you that you must be honest, not steal, not be lazy, not touch your own private parts for pleasure - all these things are sins (and many more that I don't really have the space to mention), displeasing to god, making the devil happy, and  a shame to your parents if you get caught - and then committing all these acts and more as well as molesting young children who are terribly hurt by these acts.  It should destroy your faith. I can't imagine why anyone is still a member of this church. I do believe in God, but not the one the catholic church believes in or claims to believe in.

It is interesting to me that things have changed a lot, but there is still room for improvement.  So these days a potential employer can't say that he won't hire you because you are female.  That is simply against the law.  But what he can do is make it difficult to get hired  or to keep the job.  If she has children and knows that she will have to work odd hours or weekends she may not be able to meet these requirements.  If training of a specific nature is required and she  is unable to get the training because she is female then she won't get the job, but she may have a chance to fight that depending on the specifics.

But back to Sandra Day O'Connor.  She faced much sex discrimination as a female attorney, and she sort of just went with the flow.  I think she's an amazing woman and I am sorry she retired.  She was worried about her husband who was and presumably still is suffering from Alzheimer's disease or some type of dementia.  Not many men do that for their wives, but in large numbers women care for their husbands until it becomes impossible.  Most people with this disease are older citizens and their caretakers are also older.  That makes it hard when it comes to some of the physical aspects of care and almost impossible in some cases.

My father suffered from this disease, and my mother and I took care of him for years, but when he got aggressive and threw things we had to place him in a nursing home.  My mother was only about 4ft 10 inches tall and very frail herself.  I helped but was working full time at that time and a single parent as well.  I couldn't be there all the time and my mother's health was deteriorating.  We visited regularly. The nurses were good. He died about 5 years after moving to a nursing home.  It is a sad and terrible disease that steals a person's memory and exhausts his caretakers and family members.  And yet so little is known about it, it's causes and prevention, and most of what is known is not helpful.  Treatments are still in the trial stages.  I hope my sisters and I are spared the ravages of this disease. I for one have seen more than enough.

When one is in this situation with a parent or mate who is draining the life from
her death sometimes seems like the only way out.  It is sad and tragic and research needs to be done yes, but something needs to be done for the caretakers.  They need help too.