What's she up to now?

Okay, I know I promised to write more but I really don't have an excuse other than just laziness! I have been quite busy and I will try to fill it all in in one blog!

Lets see: I saw Champagne Sunday at Seabee Days (it is for non military people to see what the seabees really do.) Really interesting. I haven't been on a military base in years. The following weekend we saw them at Borders (which is really great cuz you can hear the words!) The next day we went to see them at Margarita Villa in the Ventura Harbor. It was a beautiful day and we had a blast. I am so excited for the new album. It has some fabulous songs on it. I know I am gonna be loving this album more than the last one.

I celebrated my 15 year wedding anniversary on July 9th. We went out for dinner but really waited until the 11th to celebrate. We went and saw the movie "Ready? OK!" at Outfest in West Hollywood. OMG I absolutely LOVED this film! The movie is very sweet with wonderful performances by the entire cast. I was lucky enough to meet 2 of its stars who were very gracious with their time and were truly nice people. Yes, folks it was Michael Emerson and Carrie Preston! No, I did not pull out the camera and go all fanatical on them. I do have some restraint! LOL Yes, I know, I have very little restraint! I just wanted a nice conversation, which created a very special and lasting memory. What an anniversary gift! We headed off to Bobs Big Boy for dinner! I went again to see the film on the 19th, taking my friend/boss Amy and her friend Sara. We went to Andres for a pre birthday lunch for me. They enjoyed the film as well. I cant say enough about this film. If you ever have the chance to see it do so. You wont be disappointed. The film was shot in 18 days around San Diego. Two thumbs up !! It makes my heart smile to think about it!

The house is once again full of cat energy. I adopted two kittens, a brother and sister. They are from 2 different litters. The female is Emerson or Emmy for short! I call her Emmy as the Emmy Nominees were announced and Michael Emerson has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor (And he should WIN!) She is 13 weeks old and before they could get the mother cat spayed she got pregnant with another litter. The male is Benjamin, yes named after the Lost character. He has the dazed and confused look that one might have if stranded on an island! He also has no fear and struts up to the older cats and the dog with not one ounce of trepidation. I then realized that the cats are black or black and white. I found a grey tabby who purrs like there is no tomorrow. He joined the fleet a week ago. His name is Henry. I have forgotten what it is like to have kittens again. They climb your leg, not caring that you are wearing shorts! Henry likes to nuzzle next to my neck, not good with a tank top on! Not forgetting to mention they like shiny things like oh, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I got Murray's remains back and he sits next to Max in the living room. I had Emmy spayed on Wednesday. She has adopted Brendan, Henry likes my lap at the computer and Ben likes everybody, but really likes Sam the dog. This tiny little kitten with the lanky legged dog! Go figure.

So there ya go! That is about it. I head to the Ventura County Fair on Wednesday. I will spend my birthday as a "Dirt Track Date" Will fill you in on that later. Off to cause more mayhem and mischief .....

MurrMan

Yes, I know I haven't written in like forever, but the chaos at my house has been steady and ongoing. After reeling from the loss of Max, the house was oddly readjusting. Murray, my orange fur child started his decline. I figured we would have a few months with him. He was showing his age and I was okay with that, cuz I am showing mine as well! The other cats were filling in the void the best they knew how but we were still off kilter somehow.

When I moved into the Quonset hut I refused to so all alone. I moved in on Halloween and spent the entire month moving my junk in my new home. Brendan and I weren't engaged just dating. The hut had been empty for 7 months and mice had relocated inside. I wanted a mouse cat so off to the shelter we went. All the black or black and white kittens were placed on hold due to the fact that kids adopt the cats and torture them on Halloween. Brendan saw this orange and white kitten who kept reaching thru the bars and was a total purr box. Seeing the two of them together I knew he was going home with me even before I ever held him. I took him to the groomers as he had fleas. I spent my first night with Murray (I picked out the name before I picked out the cat!) sleeping on my face! He was my companion and he got jealous of Brendan when he came over. Hence, we went hunting for Max. Murray was my love bug. He had a bladder infection and almost died. We spent $800 trying to save him. We even had to doctor him at home with a bag filled with solution to flush the infection out of him. The first time I had to stick the needle in between his shoulder blades I actually almost fainted. I consider myself pretty tough but I really thought I was going to hit the floor. Poor Brendan was trying to help me and hold the sick cat! Quite a sight I can tell you.

Flash forward 16 years and I have this poor fur ball that is skin and bones but still very very furry. We tried feeding him wet food to keep his weight up. We ended up feeding him with a syringe. At first he tolerated it and finally he waited until we were done and then threw up. I knew the end was coming and I couldn't believe that I was going to have to play God again and sign my critter to death. Brendan and I decided that Thursday July 3 he would take him to the vet knowing very well he wouldn't return home. I spent part of Wednesday night just talking to him and I told him it was OK if he wanted to go over the rainbow bridge and join up with Max. On Thursday morning he was pretty much in the same spot and again I promised that I wouldn't be mad if he had to go. I held it together until about 2 PM when I called the vet to see if she would be there for Brendan to take him in. I really wasn't going to go. When she heard that it was Murray she knew and I began to cry. I sat and cried and after a wonderful comfort session with Amy I knew I had to do the right thing. God spoke to me and said I needed to be there for Murray not for me. I headed home and when I got there I found him on the floor very still. He needed to be with Max, so over the rainbow bridge he went. I was sad but oh so very relieved. I wrapped him in a towel and talked to him and pet his soft fur. I called Amy to tell her the news and I felt such a rush of relief that he went on his terms, in his home, surrounded by what he knew and loved. I think he passed away that morning because he was quite stiff. I waited for Brendan and I carried him like a baby to the vet and again I knew they would freeze him because I wanted him cremated so he can come home and be with Max and a family that loved him. Now he gets all the chicken he wants because it was his favorite, right along with Wendy's french fries. Bon Appetite my beautiful MurrMan. Mommy misses you! XXOOXX

Monday Already!

Sheesh! It is Monday already. Where did the time go? It has been hotter than all get out for the last 4 days. Here in Simi it has been over 100 each day! (I am at work so Simi Valley it is!) On Friday- "The hottest day of the year" per Fritz Coleman of KNBC weather it was 109. I wouldn't let Sam go down the street for his daily walk. I was afraid it would fry his paws! He wanted his daily walk and then changed his mind as soon as we went outside. I let him wander the grass just outside our door. I guess he figured if ya gotta go, ya gotta go! He couldn't wait to get back in the air conditioning. That is the best part of working here- awesome AC! I used to live in a Quonset hut for 12 years. It is like a metal airplane hanger. Many of the military bases use them. I don't even want to think about how hot that thing got! There was no insulation so in the winter you froze and the summer you baked. Often times it was hotter or colder inside the hut than outside. Took some getting used to living there. But the rent was great and we adapted. It was what I would consider my first home. Time flies, more so now than ever. The year is half over, summer started on Saturday and I didn't blog for a week. What do we do with our time? Its Monday already! Where did the weekend go? Things to ponder....

Icebreakers

I think I will do a Top 10 List of Q & A for anyone who actually reads this blog or to remind me what I thought on this day.

10. One food item that describes my life in the last year: Hum that would have to be Brussels sprouts because I abhor them! The last year has been one stinky vegetable! As a kid we would be forced to eat 3 of them when Mom served them. We would stuff it in our mouths, hold our nose, chew fast, swallow and drink all the water we had to wash it down. That is kinda what I did for working at Classic Limousine. Get in, fly low and hit the door running at quitting time!

9. One item in the kitchen that describes me and my personality: First of all, I gotta ask whats the kitchen and where is it? LOL ! Betty Crocker I am not! I guess I would say I was a strainer because I have been in hot water and I have let it all drain out of me, down the drain leaving only the good stuff!

8. Best Concert ever attended: Wow been to a few of those, I guess it would have to be when I saw Bette Midler at the Greek Theater. She was awesome. One minute laughing and the next crying. Cyndi Lauper was a close second. The woman had more energy than I had ever seen on stage.

7. What cartoon character best describes me: I am definitely Peppi Le Pew. I am French and a romantic...Oui Oui Oui

6. If I could live anywhere in the world for a year: Wow that is a hard one. Too many places I would want to travel to not just live in one spot. They would have to speak English for sure!

5. Complete the statement "I recommend..." ( TV show, movie, restaurant, book , website ect) : "Lost" Duh!http://dispatchesfromtheisland.blogspot.com/ It is Jorge Garcia's blog. He plays Hurley on the TV Show "Lost" . Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper, The L Word on Showtime (phenomenal writing and acting) Andre's Italian Food off 3rd street in Los Angeles. Good enough for now.

4. What dream would I attempt if money was no object: I would travel and photograph the world.

3. What superpower would I like to have and why: I think I would want to be invisible. Wow I think I have this power already! I feel like people don't see me. LOL

2. If you had $5 million to spend in 5 days, but couldn't’t spend any of it on yourself or your family, what would you do with it? It would all go to different charities. Diabetes, AIDS, helping others in need of basic necessities of life like clean drinking water and food. Animal rescue and of course tiger conservation.

1. “2 Truths And a Lie” – Share 3 unique things about yourself and your life, 2 of them true, 1 false, and let the group guess which one isn’t true. I have been on a picket line carrying a sign for better wages and benefits. I have been on television. I have Emeril Lagasse on speed dial. (Didn't read the full blog if you pick this one! LOL) That's it for today! Hope you learned a bit about me.....

Misc Ramblings

I don't have a "real" topic for today so I will just ramble a bit and see what I babble about for today's post.

Working next to a funeral home can be quite an experience. I do in fact work in a building that also houses a dentists office and the Rose Family Funeral Home. My office is next to the wall that must be their chapel. I have always had office jobs where I wasn't allowed to listen to music so silence at work was nothing new to me. When I started at TheraCare, that all changed. The first week I could hear caskets being moved around. No big deal. (I watched them drop a casket in the parking lot as well!) Then I could hear music from the services being held. Again, "Ava Maria" is a beautiful song. But as time went by, I felt like I was intruding in these poor families private moments. So I started listening to my XM radio online to help drown out the goodbyes next door. That was fine until the day I was alone and a women let out a blood curdling scream! My stomach dropped and I had a flashback (In "Lost" style I might add!) to the moment some 20 years ago when I came around the corner and saw the top of my mothers head and her glasses in her coffin and started to scream. I had to be dragged to the outer lobby until I could get myself together. I wanted to go and comfort that poor woman as I knew EXACTLY what she was feeling. A rather unsettling experience. Also it was the Friday before I had to have Max put to sleep. An Omen, dunno. I hear people cry and sob. I could never be a funeral director. I put up a sign on the wall that was kind of funny. I found clip art of a chapel and added the statement "Dead Mans Party- I see Dead People" I had to find a way to lighten a very dark situation. http://www.simivalleymortuary.com/home.htm

Long time no hear!

Wow!! I just looked at how long it has been since my last blog. Also how depressing this blog is. I will try to post more and complain less. The loss of Max was really hard but "the zoo" as I call it is adjusting. I had him cremated and his remains are back in the living room. He is home.

Been working and just doing much of nothing. The highlight of my time away was the season finale of Lost! This season for some reason has been totally awesome. I have watched from the premier but not with the passion of some of the people I have read about on the web. The writers for this show are unbelievable. I love the character of Benjamin Linus played by the most incredible actor, Michael Emerson. He came in half way thru season 2 and I cant wait to see what he will say or do next. If he doesnt get an Emmy for his portrayal of Ben there is no justice in the world.

I have asked Brendan for my anniversary to see Carrie Prestons (Michael Emersons adorable wife, who played the part of Emily - Bens mother in a flashback of Lost!) new independent film titled "Ready? OK!". It is about a boy who wants to join the all girls cheerleader squad. The motto is "Dont break the rules- Change them" The preview is enticing. Here is the official website: http://www.readyokmovie.com/index.html. Check it out!

RIP Max

Death. They say it is part of life. I disagree. Death is like a period at the end of a sentence. It is supposed to bring closure to life. I think it is another chapter in the book that makes you who you are.

I adopted a grey tabby cat in February 1992. I fell in love with him the minute I saw him at the animal shelter. I already had a name and wanted to bring him home as a companion to my first cat Murray. The tag on his cage said he wasn't available until Monday. I waited and worried that he would be gone before I could get a chance to get him. On Monday Brendan and I went to the shelter only to find a long line of people. My heart sank as I saw my chances of getting that little grey tabby dwindling. The God smiled on me and when the doors opened, two lines formed, one for dogs and one for cats. The swarm of people swam to the dog line, leaving me at the head of the cat line. I blurted his cage number, hoping they hadn't moved him. The lady at the counter asked if I wanted to double check. I said Nope, I knew what I wanted. I named him Max. He had a constant purr and came to our family to be known as "the nudger". He was the friendly cat when visitors came to our house, dominating our guests with his meow and constant need for attention. Originally I had a collar on him but he was an indoor cat, so he really didn't need it and when I took it off he had a ring around his neck with no fur that never grew back.

Years passed and Max would be Max. He always wanted a lap, trying unsuccessfully to sneak in my lap while I sit here at the computer. He thought I didn't know when he would curl up and go to sleep while I played away. His favorite foods were: Chicken- You could lose a digit when you offered him poultry. Vanilla pudding- Brendan's staple for his lunch and a constant favorite of a cat who would stuff his entire head in the plastic cup to lick every single bit out. French Fries- He would eat any kind but Wendy's was top on his list.

He has always been the runt of the group with his pointy toes. Age took its tole on him and he began to loose weight and the contours of his face was more gaunt. On Wednesday he didn't want to eat. I did get him to drink water. On Thursday he was disoriented and staggered around a bit, but still mostly sleeping. I tried to force feed him wet food mixed with water, but it wasn't working. Last night Brendan and I knew the day we feared and dreaded was coming. I have always said I would not know if I would stay in the room when it was time to put him to sleep or I would leave because I just couldn't take it.

I knew in my mind it was time but telling a loved member of your family goodbye was breaking my heart. I took him to his regular vet, a Philippine doctor who Max hates. He would drool when it was time for his vaccinations. This time he didn't want to come out of the carrier. She knew when she looked at him that the prognosis wasn't good. They took his temperature, a bit too low for a cat and weighed him. He weighed a little over 5 pounds. I tried to be brave. When I imagined doing this I didn't think I would be alone. The vet said she thought it was kidney failure and old age. I wanted Brendan and I to both be there to say goodbye and be the family unit for the one in need. Alas it was not meant to be. I was alone signing a card to euthanize my beloved pet and filling out a card for cremation. When she stated the options the word "dispose" made my stomach drop. I rescued him and I promised all my critters that they would never be dumped again. At that moment I knew I needed to bring my baby home even if it was just his feline remains. The vet left me in the room to sit with him and prepare to face the prospect of bringing home an empty carrier. She met with a couple in the next room who ultimately decided to put their dog down. Death. There it is again. She came back and asked if I needed more time. I knew it was time to give him up. While we sat in the chair I prayed that my mother would be there for Max and comfort him until we meet again. I could imagine dying and not having the critters of my life not waiting there for me. I cry for each of the ones I have lost, from the goldfish to the elder fur child Max. I handed Max over to the assistant and repeated that I loved him and he was taken to the back room. She said it is better for us if they took care of it. The vet said he would be sent to the Crematorium on Tuesday. She said he would be frozen which made me almost want to faint, until he could be sent out. The thought of my baby sitting in a cold freezer makes me ill but it is what it is. I have spent the day trying to keep it together but the house is missing something and everybody here knows it but isn't sure what to do about it. I know I did the right thing. He didn't suffer. That is left for us here at home.

Death. Not a part of life but another chapter in the book of life. The final chapter. Rest in Peace, I love you Max, now and always.