What??

This article says that Soy estrogens are ruining children. It is an interesting idea (although a little far fetched), but at least those children are being born and being fed!
What do you think??

Prayer and daily frustrations

Psalms 103: 6 - 13
The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear him.

That is from today's Mass reading. I found it quite helpful.
Matthew is having a really hard time at work. I am not sure of the specifics, but it seems like he may be finding new work after all. Please pray for us.
I saw a cloud that looked EXACTLY like a huge dove this morning, I thought it was a good sign. But today just seems to be getting disastrous.

Because Cool Cats Play with Cassettes

I found this site, Catster, which is like a Myspace for Cats... Goosey already has a lot of friends!! Well, I am really just putting on there to try and give her away for the thirtieth time. I put a link on this page, just look for her pic on the right column somewhere under the links.
Please pass the word on, she needs a home!
I thought I would post some random photos. I found a really good picture I drew as a child, stuffed in an old shoe box..

Rainy Monday Evening

Today wasn't so stellar. I freaked out several times (privately, of course) at work over the smallest of things. But I kept getting rattled, and being really overwhelmed by absolutely nothing.
Then I began worrying about real things.. did I remember to write down all the expenses this weekend, was there enough money to cover it, my car is due for an oil change, gotta find time for that, got to get an appointment changed, got to go in early Thursday due to Dr. appointments, did I know how to get to these new Dr. offices?? My mind was swirling, so I declined overtime and got my nauseated self out from behind that desk and into the car.
I ran to Red Bank and mindlessly pushed a shopping cart around Bi-Lo for over an hour, I didn't buy anything. I picked up Matthew and we came home where my Dear, Darling of a nephew was in the 'cooking' spirit and made both myself and Matthew hamburgers. Too SWEET!
I came home and checked my e-mail.
I also called the really nice lady that I am going to be sponsoring in RCIA this year. She was really excited and seemed to be completely lovely! We are going to meet both her and her son on Wednesday before Mass. YaY!
It is raining here and thundering, the perfect time to get an early jump on sleeping!

The weekend :-)

Saturday I worked and went to the grocery store, lots of big news there, haha.
Sunday we were able to get a lot of work done on the house and get the room with the new flooring primed to paint, although I have no idea yet what color it will be.
We saw Ratatouille and I loved it. I am looking forward to Sweeney Todd though, becase I loved the musical so much!
I just got through talking with Michael for over 2o minutes, YaY. I am so glad he is having a good time! He told me all about his trip to Ireland and Scotland, and all the musicals he's been seeing in London, I am so envious!! He lit another candle for me , I am thinking he said it was at St. George's Cathedral, but I could have been wrong. I can not wait to hear from him while he is in Rome :-)
This week is going to be really hectic... so stay tuned!

Doctor saves mother and unborn child who was subjected to RU-486

San Antonio, TX, Jul 26, 2007 / 10:03 am (CNA).- A 20-year-old woman changed her mind after taking abortion drug RU-486 and, after progesterone treatment, gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, recounted Ashley’s story in his bi-weekly column on the order’s website. Ashley went to see Dr. Matthew Harrison when she was seven weeks pregnant. She had taken abortion pill RU-486 two days earlier but then changed her mind about the abortion and wanted to know if the baby could be saved. The RU-486 process requires taking the drug that causes abortion (called Mifiprex) and then taking a second drug (called Cytotec or Misoprostol) three days later which induces contractions to flush out the unborn child. Ashley had taken the Mifiprex, but had not yet taken the Cytotec.
When Dr. Harrison learned what had happened, he excused himself, went into another room, and prayed. He consulted a number of medical resources, and then decided to give Ashley a progesterone treatment. He informed Ashley about the risks of the treatment — that the baby might die anyway, bring additional complications to her or her child, or even kill her. Ashley went ahead with the treatment, placing everything in God’s hands. She took the first progesterone shot, and began bleeding that weekend. But then the bleeding stopped, and with continued progesterone treatment, the pregnancy continued normally.
Ashley eventually delivered a healthy baby girl, whom she named Kaylie.

“It’s easy to think it’s too late,” said Fr. Frank Pavone in his column. “But where there’s life, there’s hope!”

Taken from CNA.

My Friday

First, let me tell you about this really neat website, Giantmicrobes. They have the cutest plush dolls representing what real germs look like. For my picture today I will post the Common Cold plush.
Friday was a really interesting day. I worked my prescribed 8 hrs, and for the first time this year I got exactly 40 hours, not missing any minutes coming in late from lunch, of having any Dr. appointments, I am so proud! :-)

After work I was feeling really lousy but went to the tag renewal place and got my Choose Life tag. Then I made my way ever so slowly against Highway 153 traffic to the Soddy Wal-Mart where I was meeting my Mom. I was really bad off by the time I got there and went to the restroom for a good 15 minutes. I had the worst stomach ache ever, and was super-nauseated.
When my Mom got there she took over driving and we left for Georgia to see my Uncle and Aunt graduate from Covington Seminary. It was a really nice ceremony and I enjoyed the preacher very much. There were a lot of graduates and it lasted 2 hours! Whew!
After the festivities, we met my Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin at AppleBee's. Still feeling queasy I split some chicken fingers with my Mom and we had a really good time catching up with everyone.
By the time we got home it was right at midnight, and I crashed. When my alarm woke me up at 5:00 a.m. I woke up long enough to call my co-worker who I had breakfast plans with and cancel. My body refused to get going that early! So, I went back to sleep and savored a few hours of sleep. I came into work right after 9:00, only missing an hour and a half.. not bad at all!

Crossing Over

Crossing Over Ministries is a great website. It is led by Norma McCorvey, you know, the woman that started the whole Roe vs. Wade thing.
It was before my time, of course, so all I had known about the case was what I had learned in school.
She never had the abortion (the legal battle went on past 9 months), she gave her daughter up for adoption. She was living in a lesbian relationship at the time and did not want her child.
How great is it that now she is a Christian leading a ministry on ProLife?
I think that it is pretty awesome.

Star Trek

It has been confirmed that Zachary Quinto from Heroes will play Spock in the new Star Trek movie, due in theaters Christmas 2008.
Gasp!

Troop Support

I have gotten two addresses off of AnySoldier.com to send care packages to. I think this is a really good thing for me to do, because the things they need are simple. I picked one guy and one gal, both currently in Iraq until summer 2008 officially.
If anyone wants to go to this website and send a soldier magazines, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, etc. you should do it!
It is such a simple thing to do, why haven't I been doing this???

Voicemails

Yesterday was really hectic. I had to do this, do that, run here, run there.. whew! And I found out my sleep study appointment is the same day as my fertility specialist appointment.. and I wont have enough time to get back and forth! I will have to call and see who will reschedule me.. Argh!
Last night was our second Pro Life Committee meeting at St. Jude's. It went really well and we have a map of what we are going to be doing, and everyone has certain parts to play based on their interests. I will be doing research and getting the word out on abortion issues. Other people will be keeping us updated on Capital Punishment, Prayers, Political Awareness, etc. The possibilities are endless.
I have links on the right hand column of this page and if you have time, the Tennessee Right to Life has some good resources, as well as the Spiritual Adoption site.
We are going to meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month, and after the first Friday Mass we will be having a Pro Life Rosary.
Matthew went with me and really got interested in what was going on, I was so glad.
Matthew and I also had a big day spiritually because we were asked to be RCIA Sponsors for this year! I am sooooo excited. Deacon Gaspar, who taught our 2005-2006 RCIA class, and is the RCIA Director, called me and asked if I thought Matthew would want to be a sponsor this year, then he asked if I would like to. At first I was hesitant because although I would jump at the chance to be involved in RCIA again, I really wasn't so sure I was ready to take such an active role in the guidance and teaching of people new to Catholicism.
Gaspar was telling me about a lady a little bit older than me, who had a very gifted teen aged son, and they were both attending the Inquiry classes weekly. When telling me a little of her background he told me that she is coming from a Church of Christ background. Well, that pretty well sealed it for me, how more obvious could it be that I was supposed to be doing this. At the Pro Life meeting Matthew had a chance to talk to Gaspar about sponsoring the teen aged son, and he is really excited too. We will be able to experience RCIA again, this time from the other side, and it is really going to be great.
We will need to pray a lot about it. We will be praying for this lady and her son, and will need the prayers of support from our friends and family that we will be able to be good friends and teachers.

Words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta

You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing.
Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.
Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little
child, you receive me.
Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world.

If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.

When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her.
It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.
"I once picked up a woman from a garbage dump and she was burning with fever; she was in her last days and her only lament was: ‘My son did this to me.’ I begged her: You must forgive your son. In a moment of madness, when he was not himself, he did a thing he regrets. Be a mother to him, forgive him. It took me a long time to make her say: ‘I forgive my son.’ Just before she died in my arms, she was able to say that with a real forgiveness. She was not concerned that she was dying. The breaking of the heart was that her son did not want her. This is something you and I can understand."
"There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. We believe our work should be our example to people. We have among us 475 souls - 30 families are Catholics and the rest are all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs—all different religions. But they all come to our prayers."
The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have the more free you are. Poverty for us is a freedom. It is not mortification, a penance.
It is joyful freedom. There is no television here, no this, no that. But we are perfectly happy.


I pray that you will understand the words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Ask yourself “How has he loved me? Do I really love others in the same way?” Unless this love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love. Work without love is slavery.

Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.

A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace.

Whew!

This week has been really rough! I have been in a ton of pain and have been at work and fulfilling other obligations that I normally would whine about. Other than the blog, though, I am trying hard not to be overly whine-y. I am sure those around me appreciate it, because I am no fun when I am tired or injured.Well, last night I skipped dinner and went to bed early, I knew I would need extra time this morning because I am moving so slow!
Tonight is our 2nd Pro Life Committee meeting at St. Jude. I have been looking forward to it since last month, and can not wait to begin doing more work in this area.
If you've been anywhere lately you have heard about all the attention Michael Vick, the Atlanta Football guy has been given to his illegal dog-fighting activities, and they are appalling! Protesters are forming and will be at each public performance of his.. if he has any, and they will surely be out for the trial. Now imagine, if you will, having a protest rally every time some big movie premiered with an actress who's had an abortion. Wouldn't that be wild? If more attention would be paid to the killing of unborn humans rather than animals, it's a perspective I wish people would realize. Hurting animals is beyond bad, but taking human life is an outright sin!
This is a really good (short) article about a couple who refused to abort their baby. Click Here.
Heavenly Father,
You create men in Your own image,
and You desire that not even the least among us should perish.
In Your love for us,
You entrusted Your only Son to the Virgin Mary.
Now, in Your Love,
protect against the wickedness of the devil,
those little ones to whom You have given the gift of life. Amen.
Have you heard about Anonymous Christianity? Really interesting...

Movie-Minded & Michael

Sunday, Matthew was doing the floor and alternately reading Harry Potter, I had reclined back and just happened across the sequel to the Omen. Having watched the original with Gregory Peck I found it to be the best thing on the TV at the time. Well, this one was not as good as the original, which I barely liked anyways. But it did get me reading about the Antichrist. I found this really good passage from Polycarp of Smyrna:
"Everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is an Antichrist [1 John 4:2-3, 2 John 7]; whoever does not confess the testimony of the cross is of the devil; and whoever perverts the sayings of the Lord for his own desires, and says that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, such a one is the firstborn of Satan" (Letter to the Philadelphians 7:1 [A.D. 135]).

Michael called me at work today, he had e-mailed me this morning and seemed to be having a pretty good time. Apparently someone has stolen his bank account and ordered a lot of things, and he can not file a police report until he comes back to the US in late August! Sheesh! But, it seems to not be affecting his spirits too much, as he talked about the great time he had in Scotland, and said:
I lit a candle yesterday for you at Westminster abbey. I also made a donation in your name and they gave me a prayer card that was what was said when your candle was lit.
Isn't he just too sweet! We tried to talk on the phone, but the phone broke up, so I am sticking to e-mailing him. I am glad the big floods over there haven't altered his plans too badly.

No offense, but...

***Warning*** the views and opinions expressed on this Blog include material from Samantha's brain, and may not be substituted with views and opinions from your brain.

With that disclaimer being said, I will begin the thought..
OKay. I read a blog that had been suggested to me by people I love and care for (you know who you are!) about a mission family getting started on their trip. I enjoy reading things like that. My good friend Niki just recently returned from Venezuela for the third time, and my Aunt and Uncle have travelled to Africa to spread the news of Christ. I really admire those people who give up portions of their time, money, and lives as they know it to travel to areas away from their homes to be Christian examples. The work in being a missionary is an integral part of Christianity, and there needs to be more support of it.
That being the case, I am left wondering why Christians are being sent as missionaries to Poland. This is taken directly from Wikipedia:

In terms of ethnicity, Poland has been a homogeneous state since the end of World War II. This is a major departure from much of Polish history. Due to the effects of the Holocaust and the flight and removal of German populations, Poland has become almost uniformly Catholic. Catholics make up about 90% of the population (94.8% according to church baptism statistics) with 70% to 75% as practising Catholics (according to opinion polls). Religious minorities include Polish Orthodox (1.3% or about 509,500), Jehovah’s Witnesses (0.3% or about 123,034), Eastern Catholics (0.2%), Lutherans (0.2%), and smaller minorities of Mariavites, Polish Catholics, Pentecostals, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jews, Muslims (including the Tatars of Białystok) and various Protestant (about 86,880 in the largest Evangelical-Augsburg Church and about as many in smaller churches).

Without getting into the Catholic vs. Protestant debate (which I will not do, thank you very much) I am still scratching my head as to why a nation who is blatantly worshipping Christ, is in need of mission work, while there are nations who are blatantly Anti-Christian like China, North Korea, Libya, and dozens more that I feel really need Christ brought to them.

In Need of Award

Yesterday was the true day from Hades. One of those days where it seems that everything you do is 100 times harder than it should be.. and frustrating.
I had the most horrific cramps (sorry not more glamorous) and had a hard time concentrating on anything. Matthew calls and was so put out with something going on at work he insisted I drop what I was doing and find him another job. He does this ever-so-often, gets upset at something and thinks I have to go online and search the paper, websites, etc. to find him something different. When will he learn that there is B.S. to deal with at every job? Ugh. So, that made my stomach hurt even more.
I managed to work over an extra hour, then went to Matthew's work and picked him up and headed to the UPS Store to get a paper notarized and sent off so that we can get the truck refinanced.. which I was really excited about, but unable to really enjoy over the cramps.
Then we went to his parent's house and he helped his Dad move a new stove in. We had a good little visit and then headed to CVS. I went in a bought a bag of Epsom Salt for Matthew, who's back was hurting and was probably the source of the mid-morning tirade over needing to find a new job, which hopefully he has reconsidered.
We went to Mom's house and had dinner quickly (remembering to grab my pain pills which had been left up there), then to our house. I got his Salt Bath ready and did laundry and cleaned up after the cats, all while in excruciating pain. Finally the pain pills kicked in and I was so relieved and drained. I went to sleep very quickly, and actually had a good night's sleep (except for when Nermal decided to kiss my nose 10 times at 2 a.m.), because we switched sides of the bed. We had switched sides about 6 months ago and although you might think a water bed should be similar on each side, it truly is not. We are like tires that need to be rotated to remain efficient :-)
Oh, and on the way to work this morning my oh-so-clever hubby tells me I should try Gas-X to relieve my cramps. He was sincere and well intented, but I had to laugh.

Beginning of the We(a)k

Monday must have been longer than 24 hours. It had to be, because my 8 hours at work seemed to go on and on and on!
After work I went to look for a plant for my desk at work, because if I am going to sit there and have the perception I am there long hours, I at least wanted something nice to look at.
I picked Matthew up from work and we went to Lowe's looking for a part that his work needed. I ran off to the garden section and found a Fittonia plant. The picture above is what it looks like.
We ate dinner at Chik-fil-A, and then went home. I watched a tivo-ed 4400 episode, and Matthew worked on the computer fine-tuning his Ipod.
Hey, didya hear that Drew Carey is the new Bob Barker? Freaky!!

Where's my Calculator?!?!?!

Read this on the BBC website.

One Highly Motivated Muggle

Baby has bounced back after surgery, and is into everything again, back to loving the laundry area...

I would have lost the bet. With all the work to be done to the house this weekend, I just knew Matthew would have to put off his planned read-a-thon. He ripped though book six in a few hours, one sitting. We bought the new book last night. Through all the work and chores, he still read on breaks and managed to finish before the sun went down. I am impressed. If only he were so motivated to do other things!!
Well, we were out early around 8 a.m. to get linoleum and then back to work. I cleaned and nursed a rotten tummy while he caulked, laid, cut, and glued linoleum down. It looks awesome!
I cannot wait to see the room trimmed out and the walls painted. (Hopefully tomorrow night)
We are getting ready to go out to Wal-Mart and take my nephew to purchase a Wii. Those things are really fun, too bad I have no coordination! LOL These youngun's and their fancy electronics! :-P

Flooring & Football

Today was no ordinary day, oh no. Today the stars aligned and magical things happened!
To begin, of course, Harry Potter book 7 came out to much hype, and yes, we buy into every scrap of it! I remember first reading Harry Potter, at the request of Matthew, back in 2002 as we were employed at the Tennessee Aquarium. You see, when you work there sometimes you get put into "spots" like the membership counter, where all you did all day was sit by yourself, read, waiting on people to come your way. I am sure it has all changed since then, heck, they even have a new building! But, anywhoo, we had a bookshelf going on with Harry Potter and Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels. I am pretty sure there were only the 2 books at that time, and the 3rd was just coming out, there are no more anxious fans waiting for anymore Harry Potter tales now, and I am sad. But it was a happy memory as I went back and visited how it all began for me..Its those memories I hope to be able to hold onto when I am in a nursing home someday :-)
Second milestone today was while I was off working, Matthew and my Dad, and my Nephew replaced the Dining Room (Storage Room more like it!) floor, and from what I hear they didn't get on each other's nerves, and no one was strangled. That's what I am talking about!
Thirdly, and more importantly of all... Beckham made his US debut for the LA Galaxy tonight against Chelsea FC. Yes, I just finished watching it, on ESPN (I am so glad now I can see games other than just the Olympics and the World Cup Final). You may think I am a bandwagon jumper buying into the hype and press machine that is David and Victoria Beckham. I can honestly say I am not. I had a poster of Beckham in his Man Utd. uniform in a place of prominence on my dorm room wall at UTC, and that was in '99. Sure did. I had a long sleeve shirt (as he ONLY plays in long sleeves, superstition but easy to spot on the field too!) with Man Utd. symbol on the front, and 'Beckham 7' on the back, yep, sure did. I ooh-ed and aah-ed over the films (and quite good movies at that!), Bend it like Beckham and Goal! in which he made cameos, yep, sure did. Did I start watching BBC America's Footballer's Wive$ because it eluded to Beckham, yep, sure did.
So, all in all, I think I can defend my love of a certain British footballer. And also proves it was pre-Matthew and I can still unashamedly declare my adoration.. LOL

I can tell you, when he came on that field tonight and everyone stood up, and all the celebs there, I got emotional. I actually teared up, I was so happy that people were happy. But I cried at last year's World Cup Finals, too. Athletic competitions in general evoke some hormonal thing. Such a girl.
Here is Goosey sitting on the recliner arm "pretending" not to be watching Beckham, such a good actress!! Do you like her haircut?

Hype & Ennui

Friday after work was a whirlwind of rushing around and trying to coordinate. I left work and went to the bank to get some money out, and pay a bill. Then I went to Red Bank and went to the Shoe Show to kill time. I found a really good pair of Nikes that I really loved, and only $39.99!! YaY!
After Matthew got off work, he loaded a lot of tools into the trunk and we went to a house on Dayton Blvd. and bought a Craftsman Chipper. I picked it up as a gift for my Dad and Nephew who will be helping out Matthew on the floor project. The pull cord was with it, but broken.. and I know how much my nephew loves a project of his own!
We ate a quick dinner at Firehouse Subs, went back to Signal View to get my car, and then went to Matthew's parents' house to borrow some more tools and the trailer. After leaving with the trailer, we headed to Lowe's and bought 5 sheets of plywood, and 10 2x4's...$155. I thought that was a pretty good deal for replacing a floor!
Coming home, Dad and my Nephew came and helped unload and were really happy to have the Chipper. We locked up all the cats into the computer room, and they brought in the lumber.
After all of that, Matthew decided to start ripping out the floor to "have a look", haha. I watched a Sopranos episode, then went to sleep.
After work today I will go to Wal-Mart and buy "THE BOOK".
:-)

The Best Laid Plans...

Well last night was pretty normal, in fact I just had to go lay down for "a few minutes" to rest my eyes. HaHa. I went to sleep at 8:10! I actually had really nasty nightmares and was up every hour or so, but I tried to get some quality sleep.
I found out today that we will be working overtime tomorrow 8 hrs. That pretty much nixes any involvement I would have in the ripping up or installing of a new floor. Matthew is not on his own, though.
My Dad and Nephew will be there for assistance, and I am sure it will be appreciated as long as there's not an abundance of chiefs and not enough Indians! :-)
Well, things never turn out exactly as planned, though.

King Me!

Click this link:
Checkers Game
You have to read this article. They've cracked the Checker's mystery, and had been running this computer program since 1989!
Reminds me of Deep Thought.
I am going to play it, there's a link at the end of the article.

I can believe that!

Jane Austen fan submits her work anonymously to publishers... and receives a dozen rejections

Gearing Up

Yesterday was madness. I was not feeling well, but went to work. I came home and Mom got us some Taco Bell. Matthew and I went home and watched all of one hour of TV. Michael called, I talked to him about things, then we were in bed by 8:50.
8:50! I was sooo ready for some heavy duty sleep. Did that happen??? No. I finally went to sleep after midnight, and my great plan of getting to bed early backfired. Oh well, that's life.
We are starting this evening gearing up for the great "Weekend Project". Matthew is already sulking about not being able to have time to devour the Harry Potter book until the work is done.. BooHoo. LOL, he could have been like me and just read the leaked version, now I know the ending and I'm not all stressed over a book.
Tonight we are bringing Baby home from the vet, re-shuffling the furniture to make plenty of room for new flooring to come in and the old flooring to come back out.
I am going to go price out the plywood and lumber after work so I will not have to make any weird decisions tomorrow evening when Matthew will want to buy this, that, and the other. LOL
Gotta stick to the list!
Oh, PS I got e-mailed a bunch of cute animal pics and thats why Ive been using them these past few days.. they are just too too cute!

Harry Potter Book

Michael just called me from Europe, YaY. It's funny how e-mailing him all the spoilers made him call me very quickly.
http://www.zendurl.com/h/hallows/

Back to Normal?

I am back at work today, still with an upset stomach and sore arm, but for the most part, O.K.
Baby went to the vet today, she was very unhappy to be in a carrier for the first time, but will relish in all the attention she will get in the next few days.
I downloaded the last Harry Potter book last night, I found out it was leaked and found a copy. I wanted to stay up and delve into it, but I only got through 16 pages before my eyes protested.
We are replacing the floors in the Utility/Storage room this weekend, I am so excited. Dad and my nephew should be on hand to help out, and we are getting linoleum from Matthew's Dad, so it truly takes a village!

False Cognates

This weekend has been wild. I say weekend, even though it is 12:51 a.m. Tuesday, because I haven't been back to work or normalcy since Thursday.
Goosey came home and has now been given free reign to move around the house. She was slow to get active, but is doing much better now.
What can I actually say about this weekend? I had managed to get a list of things to do and pretty much did nothing but sleep and moan about the itching. Here is a pic I just took.
The Dr. said it is red ant bites, hundreds of them. Since I can only go on what I saw at the early hours of Friday morning, I couldn't really argue. Probably chiggers, but the Dr. wasn't too acquainted with them :-)
So, I am on antibiotics, got a shot in the rear of steroids, and a TETANUS shot in the arm.. ouch! Actually, the steroids hurt more, LOL.
So, I came home today and spent the day with my sister and nephew driving around and had a really good time. I felt groggy all day due to the shots, but luckily I was just the passenger. We timed it just right to meet Matthew after work for chips and dip at Amigo's. YaY.
I haven't spoken with Michael in a few days. I hope this means he has finally found the bus schedule, train schedule, and a grocery store nearby his dorm in London. I felt so sorry for him when I talked to him last because nothing seemed to be going right with this leg of his trip and he was actually considering coming home!! I hope he stays and makes the best out of it. By now though he's probably gallivanting around and not worrying anymore about the little things (like procuring a Diet Coke!).
Ugh, well it is after 1 a.m. now and I might go and TRY to get comfortable enough to sleep. The itching hasn't yet subsided, even though I am keeping ointment on my legs.. and it is doing a number on my sleeping!!
Hopefully be back at work tomorrow and getting on with it!

Parasites and Insomnia = Ankle Biters

Well, yesterday went pretty well, as I said before I made a trip to the dentist, went to work, and still put in over an hour in at the gym. YaY.
Matthew took Goosey home from the vet with her new haircut and belly scar. As of right now she is still not wanting to get up and walk around. I will start worrying tonight if she hasn't improved.
We went to Matthew's parent's house and had a really great dinner and watched some more Disney DVDs.
That was the good part of yesterday.
The bad part came at about 1 a.m. (and yes, Im considering it part of Thursday, because attributing it to the Friday the 13th just seems a bit weird.)
I noticed my ankle itching wildly and in my no-glasses post-sleep haze I scratched at it until I was pretty sure it was a flea bite. I was able to make it back into dreamland. Fifteen minutes later,t he other ankle itched and burned and woke me up. I had enough and put on my glasses, headed to the medicine cabinet for the anti-itch cream and some flea powder. I threw out the flea powder on my way back to the bed, hoping to at least not get any more new "friends".
Once I had made it back to the bed and was getting ready to apply the itch cream I saw what I was unable to see when my glasses were off... fifty or so little round welps coming up on my legs, each centered by a tiny brown dot.
On closer examination, these brown dots had legs and heads and were, in fact, seed-ticks. I have no idea where they came from. I dont think I had walked through grass all day. So, I spent an hour picking them off my ankles on up to my thighs and applying anti-itch cream in palmfuls.
Ugh. I got no more sleep, and stayed home from work.

Cavity Search

Wednesday after work I went to Dad's, had some fruit salad, read on a book. Had some quiet time before Matthew got home. Yes, I'm still scared to go home by myself, sometimes I am not, but I can never tell until I try. It was one of those days where I did not find the thought of coming home to 7 cats and dark rooms comforting.
Matthew had taken Goosey to the vet for spaying, so she went an entire night without us :-(
We came home and settled in and watched some TV, then I said,"you know I would like to shave Wader". So, we did.
Our fattest, most persnickety cat, she did fairly well at being handled and buzzed. It might not be the prettiest cut, but she is about 80% hair free and you can imagine the dandruff her black hair held.
Our next cat will be Pumpkin. I am alternating between long and short haired cats. Goosey hated it, so I imagine Pumpkin will be a nightmare also. The things we do for a little animal affection.
This morning Matthew went to play golf with his Dad. I slept in a little bit and headed out to the dentist. I got a cleaning, confirmation that I had a cavity, and set up for a time to come back to fill it in.
I knew I had one, its on my right upper side on my furthest tooth. They said that was the most common in adults because it is right on the gum line, hard to brush, and when you sleep at night all your saliva rests there... yumm!!
Oh well, another day.

Wonderful

I posted a link to this on someone else's blog yesterday. I went to youtube to watch the video with subtitles. It is so good. I turned the sound off and just read the lyrics as I watched the video. Very moving.

Titles are back!

I am trying to make a list of songs to workout to. You would think this an easy task, but so many songs are just not up to speed. ;-{
Yesterday after work I went and visited with Adam and his family. He has started painting, and while I did not like his first piece, the next 4 are absolutely amazing. Maybe he will get some pictures for me to post here of them. I am so proud!
Matthew and I ate at O'Charley's and then dropped his truck off at his parent's house.
Then we went up to Mom and Dad's and borrowed their pet clippers. We got Goosey pretty shaved on top of her body, but she wiggled too much for us to finish. Her allergies and hairballs have gotten way too crazy. We took her to the vet this morning to get fixed, and hopefully they will let us know what else we can do with her for the allergies.
She was so cute with no hair on her back, and velvety soft :-)

Salve Regina: Hope for Canada

Salve Regina: Hope for Canada
I just love this blog

Sicko, Me

Well, yesterday was a bad day. I was in a ton of pain, having a lot of symptoms, and feeling ill. I went to see the Dr. and he said that my problems were probably complications from endometriosis, and that it can attack any organ. He told me of one lady who had her lungs fill up with blood every month because of it, Thank the Lord I'm not that bad. That's dangerous, I just thought I had an ulcer..Sheesh!
I left the Dr. office feeling quite sorry for myself and went to the gym for about an hour. I felt a little better after being there and getting out some of my frustrations.. and my last tiny bit of energy.
I went up to Dad's and had leftovers and Matthew came up and ate as well. We went home, did a few chores, bypassed the TV altogether, and went straight to bed.
We're too young to be this tired.. :-(
I was up all night last night with stomach cramps, so I slept in (as best I could) and came in to work today late.
But it was actually an unplanned little blessing, because I was leaving as my nephew was arriving home from vacation from his Dad's. So, I got to run down there and get a little hug before I headed out. He's been gone too long, it was so good to see him!
On the news was a student who died on the UTK version of Michael's UTC Europe trip, and that got me a little worried. :-( I left him a "be careful" message, but still havent talked to him directly since Friday.

Blogger is glitching out today, and I was unable to add a headline to today's post. Which is really fitting, seeing as how I had decided to use "Failure to Communicate".
Ugh. Well, sometimes you never understand the meaning of utter frustration until you want to talk to someone but can not.
Michael is off touring Europe for now beginning his second week. He bought a SKYPE phone so that it would be a local number for those of us back home to call him. Well, I have called him pretty much daily and only gotten through twice. We seem to be playing phone tag. Apparently this phone only works in WI-FI areas. Geez. He says once he's through sloshing around and paying too much for cigs in continental Europe, we will be much better off. Apparently where he's staying for a month in England will be completely WI-FI. YaY.
This weekend was really good, even though we were stifled by a financial crunch that made us buy groceries and stay home all weekend. But staying home and saving money is good sometimes. Friday night I went and bought some fruit and veggies and took them up to Dad.
Mom is off in Texas for a 10 day trip, so I thought I would be nice and surprise him. Since my sister works late, I just followed her into town around 9:30-ish and went to the gym. It was pretty well empty, and I did a little jogging, then pooped out. I have waning energy after sunset. HaHa
Saturday I got caught up on some television, then Matthew and I went to the store and stocked up on some essentials and groceries for dinner that night. Matthew took it upon himself to make dinner for us, my dad, and my sister. We went up to Dad's and Matthew made the best green onion mashed potatoes, hamburger steaks, and corn. Yumm, we were all very happy.. and full.
Sunday I woke up early and went up to Dad's with Stefanie around 7 a.m., we watched a movie from Netflix and ate leftovers. We went driving around and saw some new houses.
Matthew came up after he finally (lol) woke up and decided he would make another great dinner. He fried some hamburger and sliced potatoes, and it was very good.
So, all in all we had a very good weekend, although we didn't get much accomplished in our own house! Oh well.
My stomach ached all weekend, and I was really sick. It was actually better that I stayed home, rather than be out and about while ill. Stomach troubles are the worst! I was having some serious problems. I am going to the Dr. this afternoon, so hopefully I can find something out.

4th of July, revisited.

According to Wikipedia:
The Rebel Flag:
"It was used in battle beginning in December 1861 until the fall of the Confederacy."
The 4th of July:
"a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain."

So, my point is, the misguided intent of fireworks-goers. Do they just not know the reason we celebrate Independence Day?
Do they not know that their "Rebel Flag" came an entire 85 years AFTER Independence Day?
Do they not know that the difference between the American Revolution vs. The American Civil War?

Once again, I am baffled at the number of rebel flags dating from the civil war being flown at a celebration of America's independence from Britain. Geez.

Oh, and on a side note.. to all those confused people that happened to be at the Soddy fireworks:
No, there is not a huge child-prostitution market in Soddy...
that is actually how parents let their little girls dress.
Appalling!

Fireworks Hooplah

Every year I have to register my disgust at the Soddy Daisy Fireworks Show. This year, was a banner year for the redneck majority. I emailed the SDPD this:
I just wanted to say that I have been going to the fireworks at the lake for years, and this year I was amazed at the lack of policing going on. I saw two police officers in their cars, and that was it. Just riding around the crowd, I saw many recreational vehicles that are not "road-safe", some golf carts and ATVs even being driven by children. I just found it to be incredibly unsafe for the operators of these vehicles, as well as myself. Some of these vehicles had no headlights, brakelights, seat belts, etc. riding on the same roads as huge cars and trucks in a very congested area.
Just curious as to the "tolerated?" disregard of the road laws on July 4th.
So, there! We saw 10 to 1 rebel flags versus the few and hard to find American Flags while riding around.
I am so sick of going and thinking I am at some white pride rally. We even saw a "white pride worldwide" t-shirt wearing redneck. Geez. I was physically ill.
Every year is the same though, and I swear that when I do have children I will make the effort to go downtown to the fireworks show there, just because in Soddy it is not clear that it is a celebration of America. My children should know which flag they will see on July 4th.

A Lot Going On...

This has been a very busy weekend, I must say. Friday my uncle died, and I left work early to go help my mother pick up some relatives from the airport and then organize some things. I spent the night at Stefanie's because she was ill and couldn't work, and we watched some movies.
Saturday Matthew and I cleaned out our vehicles and went to the car dealership to see if we could trade two for one, and save some money, and get a better interest rate. We are still waiting to see if the deal will work out. My mom has a lot of bargaining skills and knows the salesman from a previous purchase. Oh well, if it works out, then good. If not, then I will just try to refinance what we've got. No biggie.
Saturday evening we met Michael and took him to the airport to pick up his rental car and then ate dinner together at O'Charley's. I can't believe he is thousands of miles away right now!!! :-( But I am excited and proud of him too.
Sunday was the visitation at the funeral home and we went long enough to say hello to everyone and then left for Mass. After Mass we went grocery shopping, then home.
Yesterday I took the day off, as did Matthew. The funeral was at St. Paul's Episcopal in downtown Chattanooga. The church itself is very beautiful. I thought the funeral service was nice, although the pipe organ drowned out the congregational singing.
After the funeral Matthew, my dad, and myself went to my cousin's condo and helped get the food out and get everything ready for the family get-together. After everyone started piling in we left and ate at Wendy's. HaHa.
I am glad to be back at work, if only for one day before the holiday.