Franklin The Turtle - May He Rest In Peace...

So, yesterday the entire Cat Family took a stroll down the neighborhood on bicycles. Upon coming back home, Jr. PC found a turtle as we all entered the gate to Zimbabwee. He couldn't tell if the turtle was dead or alive, so I suggested to get a small amount of water in a bowl to see if the turtle would come out of his shell. Sugar Berry (PC's daughter) was so excited and was anxious to hold the turtle. Ofcourse, with big brother finding the turtle, he was hesitant in sharing his find so quick, atleast until he confirmed if the turtle was DOF (Dead On Finding). Anyway, the turtle was withdrawn in to his shell quite far, I figured he was just scared, no such luck. As I was coming out of the house, PC, Jr. PC and Sugar Berry were all gathered around confirming his state. I suggested that Jr. PC, perform a proper burial, and Sugar Berry was more than ready to do this all proper. Next thing I see is Jr. PC coming out of the garage with a shovel, BIG shovel.

All I could do was smile. Jr. PC proceeded to bury the turtle and inform me that he buried him, face up, this was so that the turtle would be able to crawl out, "in case" he woke up, (HEH) and also that Sugar Berry had named him "Franklin".

Jr. PC, upon my suggestion, said a quick prayer over Franklin, "May He Rest In Peace. Amen"

As you will see in the following pictures, Sugar Berry did right by the turtle, although Jr. PC thought it was "dumb" of us how we were going all out, as Sugar Berry insisted on a marker and flowers!

The Little Turtle

Vachel Lindsay

There lived a little turtle,

He lived in a box.

He swam in a puddle.

He climbed on the rocks.

He snapped at a mosquito.

He snapped at a flea.

He snapped a minnow.

And he snapped at me.

He caught the mosquito.

He caught the flea.

He caught the minnow.

But he didn't catch me.

Thinking Blogger Award

Robert at American and Proud gave me this the other day, the Thinking Blogger Award. So the point to this tag is,the five people listed, offer something that is interesting, informative and things that could really help those that read it.

Thanks Bushwack for including me in this….

Congratulations, you won a Thinking Blogger Award:

*If I didn't tag you, it's because some of the picks that would have been listed here have already been tagged. So, here are my 5 blog picks for the Thinking Blogger Award (see rules below):
(In no specific order)

1. Mushy's Moochings
2. My Thoughts
3. Suzanne Speaks
4. Rennyba's Terella
5. The Cathouse

Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging.

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.
The thinking blog put it best:

Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking!

Maxine Monday

She's been just as tired as I have, but she still has her wit about her, *alteast someone does around here! LOL...

And to go along with Maxine's infinite wisdom, I have to brag and claim that I might be following her advice since I am now the proud owner of a bicycle!

I mentioned in an earlier post, the little fact that I have never owned a bicycle! NEVER!!! In all my 45 years of existence I've never owned one.

To this day, people, I have never owned my own bicycle (I feel like Phoebe on Friends)! I remember being so upset that I couldn't have a bicycle as all my friends did and one day I decided to ride my friends bike. I couldn't let mom find out so we went to the end of the street where she couldn't see me. Well, upon getting on the bicycle, I immediately fell off and skinned my knee. I was too scared of what mom was going to do that I didn't even cry. I had a large gaping hole in my knee, I knew that I was going to have to go home and get it looked at, you could see the knee cap cartlidge. Well, upon getting home and going to mom, she asked the inevitable question "How did this happen?" I couldn't lie, I just knew better. So.... she went and retrieved a bottle of rubbing alcohol and "poured" it on my knee, right over the gaping hole. No kisses, no hugs, no tender words.... "This will teach you not to go against me!"

More of that here: Guns, Toys, Kids, Growing Up, Life....

Well, PC bought me my first bicycle Saturday, we went on a nice little evening ride and I have to say, I can see myself buying me a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and any other type of protective gear that is needed for a first time rider!!! When he instructed me to stop, I put my feet down to stop myself!! All I remember is PC saying, "Use the brakes, the brakes...!!" What can I say, but that this is all foreign to me!!! I'm definitely looking forward to some more evening rides.... Thank you PC! ILY

My Resignation...

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.

I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them. I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple, when all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.

And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, because . . .

I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.

I want to live simple again.

I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.

So . . . here's my checkbook and my car keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood.

You know you're a mom when . . .

*(My baby girl, taking a nap on a 13 hour trip to El Paso, Tx.)

1. You plan your day according to when Sesame Street is on.

2. You have signed a check with a crayon.

3. You find Goldfish crackers in the glove box of your car.

4. You wipe other kids' noses.

*(My baby girl on her 18th BDay and Graduation Day, a big day for mom tears!)

5. You have accidentally brushed your teeth with Desitin.

6. You have caught spit-up in your hand.

7. You leave for a date with your husband carrying a diaper bag instead of your purse.

8. You have memorized the entire lineup of Saturday morning cartoons.

9. You have finally paid for all of your groceries and are heading out of the doors when you realize one of your kids has lost a shoe somewhere in the store.

10. You can recite Goodnight Moon and Green Eggs and Ham by heart.

*(Scrap book page from my oldest's book, he loved the Simpson's at that age.)

11. You let your baby sit in his dirty diaper until Oprah is over.

12. You have shared a fifteen-minute conversation about your baby with a complete stranger at the grocery store.

*(My son on his 21st BDay, celebrating after his first Legal Beer.)

13. You filled up your child's baby book before her first tooth appeared.

14. You silently curse people if they call during naptime.

15. You forgot your mother-in-law's first name because you now only refer to her as "Grandma."

16. You arrange your travel itinerary based on McDonald's Playland locations.

17. You are just as surprised when you sleep through the night as when your child does.

*(My middle son, still hating how "MOM" was dressing him, if he only knew that he loved that shirt!! LMAO...)

18. You consider the person who invented the Sippy Cup a genius.

19. You see a mom from your child's playgroup at the mall and know her son's name but not hers.

20. You consider it a major triumph if you shower by noon.

21. You justify every excessive crying spell with teething.

22. You pick up the phone and call your mother when your baby rolls over for the first time.

23. You have kept your favorite babysitter a secret from other mothers in your playgroup.

24. You have your pediatrician's telephone number on speed-dial.

25. You own the entire Baby Einstein DVD collection.

26. You find yourself humming the "Rubber Duckie" song in the shower.

27. You have dressed your baby in whatever is on top of the clean laundry pile.

28. You cry at Johnson & Johnson commercials.

29. You have considered trading your whole life savings for just one good night of sleep.

30. You see your parents in a whole new light.

31. You consider parenting to be the best job in the world.

*(My oldest, skateboarding in Austin, TX!! I love this picture!)

Crazy Commute Stories - Unusual Moments from the Daily Ride

I have to say that I'm one of the many that commutes to work and to Zimbabwee on a very regular basis... I ran across this article and it got me to thinking... "What is the most unusual thing I've seen while commuting to work?" Nothing stands out in my memory at this moment, but I'm sure that I have been one of those "moments" for someone else's commute. I have to admit, I've changed clothes in my car while driving... Yes! I admit it! So there! Ok, but I haven't done that in a long time. I have been known, here recently, to change clothes in the car, in the parking lot of a Target before going to meet up with PC for an evening date of coffee... There is one other story, but I reserve the right to withhold that one... No people, not that while driving!!! Good Lord! lol...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last summer, I was driving in slow-moving traffic on the Washington, DC, Capital Beltway when I noticed a small pickup truck behind me was weaving back and forth and having a hard time staying in its lane. As the truck got closer to me, I looked in my rearview mirror and discovered why the driver was having such a hard time keeping his vehicle on the road. He was playing the flute! To make matters worse, he was reading sheet music that was laid out on his dashboard. _________________________________________________________________ The first commuting day from my home to UCLA, I was driving home and the traffic came to a complete stop! All the negative factors of being in traffic were in full force: hot weather, bumper to bumper and a 5:30 p.m. commute time with what seemed like half of the state of California. As we approached the fire engines and all the other emergency vehicles, I thought this must be a very big accident. It was on the opposite side of my commute home. So as I approach this big accident, I look where the vehicles are, and there is a plane that had landed. Though it didn't look like it hit anyone, there were many cars whose sudden stop caused them to take up many lanes to avoid hitting or getting hit by the plane. Two and a half hours later, I got home. ___________________________________________________________________ I was on the F train going from Brooklyn to Manhattan, about 10 a.m. The train was full, and a man got on at Delancey Street. He was about 60, wearing a worn but clean suit and tie, scuffed shoes and a trench coat, and he was carrying a shopping bag. As soon as the train pulled out of the station, he walked over to the doors and faced them like he was looking in a mirror. From the shopping bag, he removed a Chinese takeout soup container of water and began pouring it over his head. From his pocket, he took out a small bar of soap and began washing his hair. He took out another soup container of water and rinsed out the soap. Then he washed his face and also took a few ice cubes from his pocket and kept rubbing them over his face for several minutes. At this point, we had just passed the Broadway-Lafayette station. He splashed the remaining water over his head and face. The floor was quite wet, and he took off his trench coat and shook off the water, placed it neatly over his arm, put the soup containers back in the shopping bag and got off at West Fourth Street. He dumped the shopping bag in the garbage can on the platform and proceeded on his way, looking refreshed and clean. _______________________________________________________________ Driving to work one morning, I looked over at the car next to me, and the guy was brushing his teeth! Where was he going to spit? ___________________________________________________________________ While driving through a school zone in South Florida, I noticed the driver in front of me was driving rather erratically. She swerved from one side of the lane to the other and back. Fortunately the speed limit was only 15 mph, and she was only doing about 10. I passed her, and as I went by, I noticed she was smoking. In between puffs on her cigarette, she was using an asthma inhaler. She had the inhaler in one hand and the cigarette in the other and was alternating between the two while switching hands on the steering wheel -- thus the erratic movements of her car. ___________________________________________________________________ One morning as I and about 5 million other cars were stuck on 101 North in Phoenix, I happened to glance over at a blue Honda. There was a girl on the cell phone, which isn't unusual. What was unusual was that she was shaving her legs. That's right. She had one leg up on the dashboard and was using an electric shaver to free her gams from nasty little hairs. I looked away and looked back, thinking my Starbucks had been spiked, but, no, there she was, talking on the cell phone and shaving her legs. I've seen people read, eat a salad and even tie a tie, but I've never seen anyone performing acts of personal hygiene in their vehicle. ________________________________________________________________ I work in Center City Philadelphia and take the SEPTA R5 Regional Rail line in from the suburbs. On the ride in, we go past West Philly, which is a bit run-down. A few blocks on that stretch are particularly bad, complete with boarded-up buildings, burnt-out cars, etc. While taking the train this morning, I was looking out the window and saw a boat lying in the middle of the street. Yes, a boat. It was white, about 12 feet long, mostly intact. But that's not the strange part. The strange part is that someone sprayed graffiti on the side of the boat that read, "3 hour tour?" ___________________________________________________________________ I saw a person driving down a major highway with a speed limit of 70 mph holding a bowl and eating cereal with a spoon while driving with his knees. It was 7:30 in the morning, and traffic was trying to get around him as he tooled along at about 60 mph. ___________________________________________________________________ A homeless man on the subway line going to Oak Park suburb of Chicago proceeded to take all his clothes off until he was naked and then turned them inside out and put them all back on. ___________________________________________________________________ Last year's highway construction resulted in several standing detours, some of which went through some rather questionable neighborhoods. One morning as I was driving through one of these areas, a "lady of the evening" was standing along the shoulder of the road and raised her top -- flashing all of us commuters on our way to the office. Needless to say, it was a new morning eye-opener to go along with the morning cup of coffee.

Other interesting articles:

Gadgets for Your Commute

What We Do on the Commute

Commuting Survey Reveals We're Driving Longer

Gathering of Eagles 3-17-07

A Big HT to Bushwack and his family for the following pictures and recap! Great job in keeping those of us, that couldn't make it there in person, well informed! Maybe some day, I can make my way to see this awsome memorial wall to our men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice for us. My deepest respect to all who have served and those who are serving today.

The Gathering of Eagles Recap and Pictures.

By American and Proud

There have been many accounts of the rally in Washington. I am going to offer a different perspective, “a through the eyes of a patriot” look at what transpired on this day.We were three, my wife was the photographer, and my son was with me every step.

More pictures here:

Gathering of Eagles 3-17-07

Caught On Cell Phone Video: Diner Owner Kills 1 In Robbery Attempt

*This is exactly why I chose to carry... you never know, no-one EVER knows!

PHILADELPHIA -- The owner of a small breakfast restaurant who has been robbed in the past killed one alleged robber and injured another during a robbery gone bad in Philadelphia Thursday morning, police said. After several rounds were fired, a witness captured the aftermath on his daughter's cell phone video recorded.

A witness, Gary, who did not wish to use his last name, used his daughter's cell phone after the shots were firing and captured the owner making the robber he previously shot in the face stay on the ground.

More here.

Warning: Images Could Be Disturbing To Some

http://www.nbc10.com/slideshow/news/11200731/detail.html

Wednesday and already my day is spinning out of control...

I actually got to go home early yesterday, not actually home, but to take care of personal things. Things that I can never take care of on a normal day in my corner of the world. I was able to leave work about 2:30 pm, go to the bank and run some other errands before close of the day for most businesses. I even got to meet up with an old girlfriend that I hadn't seen in over a year.

I even got in bed by 8:30 pm...

This morning started off at 5:20, shower, dress or atleast attempt to get dressed. I was experiencing pretty bad dizzy spells, (NO!! I'M NOT PREGNANT!! That has been the question of the day for me here at work... I thought I would clear that up first hand! PC, no worries... lol...) I managed to make it to work, dizzy spells and all, and they still continue. I'm here, but not worth much to be honest... I'm told I "look" like I'm not right! I think we all knew that... ;)

Upon trying to get my day going, this is where and how it started off at my desk... care to take "a shot" as to what this is?

There were a few comments directed in a particular direction from fellow co-workers... How something "so innocent" can be taken down other roads. The following was sent to me via email here at work so I'll leave the rest to you... I even had a wonderful co-worker offer her services to clean off my monitor!! I feel special now!!! hehe

I can always count on good friends to make me feel better and change the direction that my day is going... Thanks girls!!

Houston Rodeo - Final Day - ZZ TOP Rocked!!

Show Attendance History

Mexpsychan Fashion??? Porta's Cat seemed to think so... Being a "Mexpsychan" myself, I have to say "NO"! LMAO!!!

ZZ TOP

Finalé Performer Sunday,

March 18, 3:45 p.m.

RODEO HOUSTON™ performance Xtreme Bulls

RODEO HOUSTON appearances: 2002 – 2003, 2007
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members since 2004
“That little ol’ band from Texas”
Billy Gibbons (guitar), Dusty Hill (bass), and Frank Beard (drums)
formed in 1969
inducted into the Houston Hall of Fame in 2006
named “Official Texas Heroes” by the Texas House of Representatives
Singles: “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Cheap Sunglasses,” “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers,” “La Grange”

(Sugar Cat, caught having a "moment" ofcourse the song that I went a bit wild on was "Pearl Necklace and Legs... go figure!!! Heh)

Pearl necklace

Shes really upset with me again,

I didnt give her what she likes.

I dont know what to tell her,

Dont know what to say.

Everything got funky last night.

She was really bombed,

And I was really blown away,

Until I asked her what she wanted,

And this is what she had to say:

A pearl necklace.

She wanna pearl necklace.

She wanna pearl necklace.

She gets a charge out of bein so weird,

Digs gettin downright strange.

But I can keep a handle on anything,

Just this side of deranged.

She was gettin bombed,

And I was gettin blown away,

And she held it in her hand

And this is what she had to say:

A pearl necklace.

She wanna pearl necklace.

She wanna pearl necklace.

Shes so cold, as pure as the driven slush.

And thats not jewelry shes talkinabout, [see notes]

It really dont cost that much.

She was gettin bombed,

And I was gettin blown away,

And she took it in her hand,

And this is what she had to say:

A pearl necklace.

She wanna pearl necklace.

She wanna pearl necklace.

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

Of course, St. Patrick's Day wouldn't exist if not for the man himself! But how much do we know about him? Did you know that he spent six years of slavery in Ireland until he escaped and undertook religious training abroad? Click here to find out the details about this great man!

February 08 came and went

One year of blogging - nothing but this and that, ranting and raving, silliness, heart felt stories, support for our men/women in uniform, gun range visits, Cat Stories, Family stories, the list goes on...

My first post:

Predators & Prey

*(To Sage.. This is why I choose to carry... Preparedness!!)

Finally...

Porta's Cat puts it perfect...

It Had To Happen.....

We Will Remember - From the children of Vietnam Veterans

Take a minute to watch this one.

http://www.operationmom.org/ToOurParents.html

*HT to Tejano for sharing this tribute

"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened"

New Cell Phone = Great Pictures

My most recent addition to my collection, thanks to PC, an SAR1. PC took this picture with my cell phone so that I could use it as my wall paper... I love it!

The littlest and weakest angel

Sleep Deprivation causes you to take pictures of the oddest things at times.... LOL!! but a good "reminder" of the simple things.
A640 by Samsung®

Maxine Monday and 6 AM going on 11 PM UPDATE:

First Maxine's thoughts for the day...

With that being said.... on to my update of my previous post.

Ok, so, I remember leaving work at 1:30 am, exhausted and drained, mentally numb from going, computer to computer all over the grounds, manually downloading and installing updates and upgrading 61 computers to Office 2003 (don't ask). I do remember the lights being blinding as I drove out and home, even at times, things being a bit fuzzy. Next thing I knew it was 3:30 am. Somehow I feel like I was abducted by aliens on my ride home from work at 1:30 am. I was finally getting in to bed at 4:30 am and having a very hard time sleeping. I was all over that King size bed... all to wake up at 9 am and start the day.

What's bad is today we are dealing with unlimited calls from staff, that can't log in to their computers, forgot their passwords, I'm locked out of my system, yadda, yadda, yadda... I'll be working late again today. PC, start making plans to spend my money, start shopping for all the guns my OT can buy... I'm going to be too tired to spend it.

Can the aliens abduct me again????

I have to say a big thank you to PC for taking care of me on Sunday... made sure I took a good nap and suggested (firmly) that I turn off my cell or my kids would be calling and disturbing my nap. Thank you babe! ILY

6 AM going on 11 PM

And I'm still at work....

Damn....

And I don't see and end to it yet...