Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Poor Figaro

So at 5:00 am this morning my poor cat Figaro took a turn for the worst and past away. It is believed she had died from kidney disease but we do not know for sure. She didn't suffer which was good. She had been slowing down over the last few weeks and we all had hopes that she might bounce back but the powers that be had other plans for her.

For those who don't know she was my first true pet. I was 12 years old and working for free at the local animal shelter in San Antonio Texas. My father wasn't about having pets so when a litter of kittens came to the shelter while he was on business my brother and I took advantage and adopted Friskey (my bro's cat) and Figaro. She was sweet as can be from day one. She loved people.

I am now 2 weeks from turning 28 and this unfortunate event has taken place. Even though I had to leave her with my parents in VA because she probably couldn't have made the move the relationship I had with her will never be replaced. I've known that cat and she had know me for longer than any friendship I have today. 16 years is along time and I can't even remember how many life changes I've had since 12. Sorry for preaching the bad news I just felt her life should be reconized and remembered even if you didn't know her.

Chris

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Our Furbabies...

I am working from home today and my cats are SO adorable. They are both sitting right next to me, cuddling each other and being so loveable. Both Nittany and the Baby Kitty wont leave me alone, but its just so nice to be loved by such a cute little being. Just had to post a note.

My New Chanel's...

So we went to the store to look at the other Chanel's and tried on EVERY pair...whew, it was exhausting! I ended up walking out with the same pair Chris got me and wore them for about 2 minutes and they were leaving marks in my face. So we went BACK to the store and I got the pair that were my 2nd favorite. All I have to say is I look like Money, I smell like money, even DRESS like MONEY!! They are sooooo awesome. Christmas came early this year...cant wait to see what Hanukkah and Kwanza have in store!

Friday, November 16, 2007

OMG! Chris is the BEST!!

So I called Chris yesterday afternoon, just to say Hello, and he tells me that he is buying my Christmas gift right then. He goes on to ask me if I want it right away, and I say no, and he says YES, so I agree. He gets home at around 5pm and hands me this oblong package, which I thought: JEWELRY!! Nope, even better, a BRAND NEW PAIR OF CHANEL Sunglasses, which I KNOW cost more than any pair of sunglasses should! But I love love love them!!
There is one issue, they dont seem to fit my face properly, so we will be going back to the store in a week or so and see if there is something else I like, which will be hard because I LOVE these soooo much (good job Chris). Anyhoo...Just wanted to give a shout out to a man who KNOWS how to please his woman, in more ways than one!!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Lady bugs cont.

She had forgot to mention that when she said alot what it meant was at least 200 or more. It is insane but in my research I found that they like light colored houses and houses that get alot of the setting sun in southern states. This describes our house to a T since we just got all those trees taken out. But I would rather believe there is so many of them because we need all the extra help we can to get pregnant. If thats the case the more ladybugs the better. For those who don't know Ladybugs don't eat plants or clothes but other small bugs like aphids and mites so they aren't really a pest.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Goodness that's alot of Ladybugs!!!

So our house has become a haven for none other than LADYBUGS. These cute little beetles are ALL over our house. They especially like my office because of the sunlight that it gets. Apparently, they are hibernating! Unbelieveable...they are everywhere...but then again, they are just ladybugs!! However, now they fly around the lights and it was kind of creepy to see how many of them where actually in the house.

Chris looked up how to get rid of them and the site said not to scare them because they will leave little yellow spots on the wall...the yellow is BLOOD that they emit when they are scared and it has an odor to ward of preditors...ew! SOoooo...now we are left with the choice to either leave them alone, or get a shop vaccum and put them back outside...but wouldnt they just come back??

On the flip side, old wives tales tell that Ladybugs are a sign of good luck and fertility! Oddly enough we didnt have ANY ladybugs last year, so maybe this is a good sign...who knows...I will take whatever help we can get!

Friday, November 9, 2007

The sequel to the poem below...

Read the other one first...

Casey's Revenge
by Grantland Rice ©

Published: The Speaker (06-1907)

There were saddened hearts in Mudville for a week or even more;
There were muttered oaths and curses- every fan in town was sore.
"Just think," said one, "how soft it looked with Casey at the bat,
And then to think he'd go and spring a bush league trick like that!"

All his past fame was forgotten- he was now a hopeless "shine."
They called him "Strike-Out Casey," from the mayor down the line;
And as he came to bat each day his bosom heaved a sigh,
While a look of hopeless fury shone in mighty Casey's eye.

He pondered in the days gone by that he had been their king,
That when he strolled up to the plate they made the welkin ring;
But now his nerve had vanished, for when he heard them hoot
He "fanned" or "popped out" daily, like some minor league recruit.

He soon began to sulk and loaf, his batting eye went lame;
No home runs on the score card now were chalked against his name;
The fans without exception gave the manager no peace,
For one and all kept clamoring for Casey's quick release.

The Mudville squad began to slump, the team was in the air;
Their playing went from bad to worse - nobody seemed to care.
"Back to the woods with Casey!" was the cry from Rooters' Row.
"Get some one who can hit the ball, and let that big dub go!"

The lane is long, some one has said, that never turns again,
And Fate, though fickle, often gives another chance to men;
And Casey smiled; his rugged face no longer wore a frown-
The pitcher who had started all the trouble came to town.

All Mudville had assembled - ten thousand fans had come
To see the twirler who had put big Casey on the bum;
And when he stepped into the box, the multitude went wild;
He doffed his cap in proud disdain, but Casey only smiled.

"Play ball!" the umpire's voice rang out, and then the game began.
But in that throng of thousands there was not a single fan
Who thought that Mudville had a chance, and with the setting sun
Their hopes sank low- the rival team was leading "four to one."

The last half of the ninth came round, with no change in the score;
But when the first man up hit safe, the crowd began to roar;
The din increased, the echo of ten thousand shouts was heard
When the pitcher hit the second and gave "four balls" to the third.

Three men on base - nobody out - three runs to tie the game!
A triple meant the highest niche in Mudville's hall of fame;
But here the rally ended and the gloom was deep as night,
When the fourth one "fouled to catcher" and the fifth "flew out to right."

A dismal groan in chorus came; a scowl was on each face
When Casey walked up, bat in hand, and slowly took his place;
His bloodshot eyes in fury gleamed, his teeth were clenched in hate;
He gave his cap a vicious hook and pounded on the plate.

But fame is fleeting as the wind and glory fades away;
There were no wild and woolly cheers, no glad acclaim this day;
They hissed and groaned and hooted as they clamored: "Strike him out!"
But Casey gave no outward sign that he had heard this shout.

The pitcher smiled and cut one loose - across the plate it sped;
Another hiss, another groan. "Strike one!" the umpire said.
Zip! Like a shot the second curve broke just below the knee.
"Strike two!" the umpire roared aloud; but Casey made no plea.

No roasting for the umpire now - his was an easy lot;
But here the pitcher whirled again- was that a rifle shot?
A whack, a crack, and out through the space the leather pellet flew,
A blot against the distant sky, a speck against the blue.

Above the fence in center field in rapid whirling flight
The sphere sailed on - the blot grew dim and then was lost to sight.
Ten thousand hats were thrown in air, ten thousand threw a fit,
But no one ever found the ball that mighty Casey hit.

O, somewhere in this favored land dark clouds may hide the sun,
And somewhere bands no longer play and children have no fun!
And somewhere over blighted lives there hangs a heavy pall,
But Mudville hearts are happy now, for Casey hit the ball.

Love this poem!!

When I was going to Camp Pok-o-MacCready, every year during the talent show, this counselor would recite this poem and every time is was awesome:

Casey at the Bat
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer ©

Published: The Examiner (06-03-1888)

The Outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that -
We'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat.

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despis-ed, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped-
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
And its likely they'd a-killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew;
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two."

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud;
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out.

"Phin"

I hope you enjoyed it!

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Almost 28, but really 14...

So, my husband, my wonderful husband, bought a CUSTOM long board and was sitting on pins and needles until it finally arrived. I must admit, the thing looks pretty cool, but as soon as he took it out, he was threatening to ride the damn thing in my house...and ALL OF A SUDDEN, I sounded like a stereotypical mother: "NOT IN THE HOUSE" was yelled a few times!

So he boards outside for all of 10 minutes and comes back looking winded and tired...must be some good exercise. I told him NOT to ride on it until we get him a helmet (he does not listen). So finally, we go to Ambush Wake Skate and Snow, where I get 2 new pairs of wicked awesome sunglasses and Chris gets a nice helmet and skateboard shoes! Now he is good to go.

Yes, I have made sure his life insurance policy is up to date...God help us!