Itty Bitty

Pictures of my dearly departed Itty Bitty:

That's more like it

Wow, what a difference the weather can make. I'm feeling more like me - much happier. And I'm now 10 pounds lighter and don't have to buy clothes in the Women's section. Okay, just barely into Misses, but there none the less.

Smokey is doing quite well. The test results, unfortunately, show that he has (or is a carrier) of Feline Leukemia. The vet and I were hoping that he is a carrier only. However, his blood tests show a decrease in white blood cells. The good news is that all his other blood tests are normal. His x-rays don't show any tumors. The x-rays do show a misshapen heart on the left side and she did detect a slight murmur. To have further testing on his heart is another $300, so I'm going to hope that his heart holds out. The vet is mixing up some medicine that we hope will boost his immune system and I will be forcing antibiotics down his throat for his mouth infection. The bill was only - $504. Geesh! However, since I don't take him to the vet for regular checkups, over his 11 years I guess that's not too much money.

Will my Vegas trip ever get here?

JULY TRIP

After the peep meet in Seattle I'm considering two different week long adventures:

The first is a trip down the coast first staying 2 or 3 days in Seaside, OR at a resort my timeshare owns. Then staying somewhere in Northern California for 2 or three days and maybe somewhere else. Then I would end my trip in my FAVORITE city San Francisco! Woo hoo I'd get to meet Bravie and the California peeps.

The other option is rather industrious. I would stay in Seaside the same two days. Then I would travel inland and spend one or two nights in Portland. From Portland I would drive 7 hours and spend a night in Boise (I've traveled through the upper part of Idaho but never spent any time there). The next day I would check out the Boise area and leisurely drive to Twin Falls, ID (2 1/2 hours) and spend the night. From Twin Falls I would again drive leisurely (3 1/2 hours) to Salt Lake City and spend the night (that would qualify me for visiting Utah). The next day I would hightail it to Reno (8 hours) where I would spend two nights. From Reno its a 4 hour or so trip to, yes, San Francisco where I would spend a night or two.

From what I've read the shore line in Washington, Oregon, and northern California is not a pleasant place to swim due to the water being cold. Is that true? Will it be warm enough to swim in July?

I'm leaning toward plan #2 as I enjoy driving and stopping wherever I find something interesting. And #2 will leave me with only New England to visit (well, honestly, also North Dakota - opps and Alaska). Then I can plan a Europe trip in a couple of years.

I've ordered the carpet for my house. I have decided to begin sleeping there when the carpet is installed (to protect it from my boys and their friends) and move the remainder of my stuff after that. I'm am moving very slowly. If the weather cooperates and the rain doesn't wash me out, I am moving something every two days or so.

Has spring put a boost in you?

For GLOWIE

I've finally got a post for Glow. I watched Idol and took notes. These are all songs that I remember.

The first note I made was during Blake's performance. I was wowed! He made the song current and he had a hot sparkle in his eye.

I loved Lakisha's performance - so there judges. What do they insist on making the idols do songs that are 40 years old and then make comments about them acting 40 years older? Lakisha is so much more talented than Fantasia. Fantasia shouted where Lakisha proved that she can sing a soft, wonderful song without shouting. I only compare the two because my first impression with both was Arthea. Lakisha is going to be hard to beat based on voice alone.

Jordan was hot! I've liked her okay before, but tonight I was won over. Based on tonight's performance, along with Blake, she already has the "star" thing going on.

Sanjaya was horrible. Don't get me wrong I like Sanjaya just as I've loved the last idols that everyone hated. The red head (what'shisname) I loved him in a old-timer ballad way. Sanjaya's soft voice is good. Not everyone is the same. His fun voice is terrible but his performance was interesting in that it was different. That crying girl was hysterical.

Melinda is my favorite in that she is so Gladys Knight-ish. Gladys is one of my all time favorites. Melinda is a little timid and not as "hot" as Jordan, but she has an incredible voice.

I actually tried to vote for Blake but the number was busy immediately after and I wasn't motivated to continue.

OTHER NEWS: I'm going to Vegas when Boo is there. Yes, knowing she was going to be there at that time did influence my timing. I wanted to go NOW in March but moving the time out farther saved me $100 on both my son's and my ticket. The hotel is free for 2 nights. So I decided to go when she would be there. I get my FIRST peep meet. We will probably only have a short time - dinner or so - but I'm very excited.

And speaking of Glow, specifically her sig pic. I never look at men's crotches. Never. I look at their eyes, their hair, their everything else but have never looked there. I know there is talk about Phil's equipment (which honestly took me some time to figure out WTH everyone was talking about). Just the other day I looked at some (shhh)crotches. I wondered if that is the same as men oggling my oobies. Should we women stare at crotches? Is that that same? When I'm with a man I'm more interested in his spirit, his soul, his overall than his equipment. So I'm really a "size doesn't matter" girl.

Moving is a slow process. The rain has dampened my ability to throw stuff in my truck. After I get the majority of my stuff out and organized I will hire a mover for the furniture. Finally, I got my new front door put on the house. It's HOT! It's got the blinds between the glass. It really makes the entry lighter.

My kitty that I had put to sleep - I'm thinking she had the "tainted food" disease. I'm taking my Smokey to the vet tomorrow for a full work-up. They call it a senior check-up. He is 11 years old. I very seldom feed my cats wet food, only as a treat. I always use IAM's and had fed them a couple of cans during that period.

I'll blog about my proposed Seattle plans next!

61 degrees

It's predicited to be 61 degrees today. Woo Hoo.

I don't want to jinx myself but I've lost 7 pounds.

Again I hope I don't jinx myself but I purchased an instant lottery ticket that I had to send in to get a chance to appear on the TV show to win some money.

I've decided to take a quick trip to Vegas. I wanted to go soon but the airfare is too high. If I move it out 4 weeks or so I can save $100 on the ticket. I have two free nights at Harrah's. Maybe I'll go when Boo is there!!

I'm moving back to my house. Now that the decision is made I feel good about it.

If Seattle gets underway, I may stay for a week and see Oregon and Northern California. I've never been to Oregon and it seems a shame to miss it when I'm out there. What is there to do in Oregon? I'm thinking of flying into Seattle and out of San Francisco - you know what that means!!!!

I need to find someone to put a new entry door in my house. Two of my son's friends have volunteered but haven't followed through.

My travel companion may be my oldest son. Or myself.

I'm stuck paying my youngest son's car payment again this month. That makes three. I may take the car (300M) and drive it until he gets another job.

A week from today is my brother's birthday, my bestest's birthday and my 24 year anniversary at work. Today is just another day!

Lottery

The mega millions is at 350 million and some. Do you ever fantasize about winning? What would you do with that amount of money? Who would you share it with?

First to me is my family. Some people have feuds with their family. Perhaps some family member deserve being ignored. I don't know! My family consists of fairly normal people trying to survive. None of us are evil, nasty people.

I have a road trip planned if I ever win that kind of money. First I drive to my home town and find out what I can do to help my ex-brother-in-law and my niece. Then to West Virginia to my brother's. Next to North Carolina to my sister's. Then I'd come home and talk to my other sister.

I have: 1 brother, 2 sisters, 6 nieces, 1 nephew, 2 great-nieces and one great-nephew. I'd leave the nieces and nephews a trust to pay for their college. Two nieces graduate from High School this year. Both are beautiful young women - both I'd love to see have a career.

Then are my closest friends - Darcy, Candi, Barb, Keith, and I'll add Dbf here.

Then my foster-daughter.

Then my ex.

I fantasize about buying 10-20 acres of land with a pond and stream. Then I want to build three houses on the land: one for me, one for each son. The family farm!

I think I would buy a Thunderbird convertible.

I know I would buy a mobile home. Then the road trip that Nutz wrote about would come true. The wienermobile could be towed or just follow behind. I'd head to the great white north to visit Survey and then take bids. This trip would take 6 months or so. The building of my house would be left to my bestest!

What do you want with my millions. I'm guessing that all of you want your mortgage paid off. Or maybe just a week at the best resort in the Caribbean.

*hits head to return to reality*

I've come up with a solution to my money problems. My solution with buy me 2 years or so. One day at a time.

I'm so needing spring. I need to be in the garden working my flowers.

I might be moving back to my house. When a relationship starts to be so painful without any joy, well it's time to regroup.

I had to have my "Itty Bitty Kitty" put to sleep Sunday. Itty Bitty wasn't a cat that hung around people much. Plus I've been distracted. Sunday morning when I was putting food out she tried to walk. She couldn't. I went to her and gently stroked her. I wondered if she had been hit by a car. But she didn't mind when I picked her up and put her in the laundry room on the rug. She just laid there. I called an emergency vet service and took her in. Of course they wanted me to sign that I would cover any cost associated with her care (stated beginning price - $400.) I declined. Then I was asked if they could take a blood test. "Yes". The conclusion was that she was very, very sick. Her temperature was in the high 80's, she was severely dehydrated and anemic. Further tests could pinpoint the cause which might include Feline Aids, Feline Hepatitis, Liver/Kidney failure. Sadly I don't have the money to spend and the Vet said that after spending lots of money her problem could still be fatal. So I had her put to sleep. **sob** She was only 4 years old.

I don't have a picture here on my work 'puter. I took one of her lying on the carpet in the laundry room. Bye sweet kitty.

That's part of what is in my mind today! A small part!

Thursday's thoughts

When Thursday rolls around I feel the week is over. That's because tomorrow I'll have a paycheck.

Do any of you ever feel that we build our lives around certain ideas, thoughts? We picture in our minds what life will be. Then a bump in the road changes what we thought would happen.

Aw, I'm no good today.

Rats in a maze - that's how I feel today.

Maybe I need a puppy!