I hate Roaches

Nasty Ass Tree Roach

Yesterday I had an interview and while waiting for my appointment I noticed a roach in the lobby crawling its way along the wall...towards me.

I hate roaches.  I hate them so much that after I kill them I won’t pick them up.  I have actually called my mom to come over to my house and pick them up for me.  I don’t do that any more. Now I use a vacuum cleaner to suck up their nasty, dead carcasses.  Emptying the container is another ordeal but I manage.

In the past when I killed roaches I use to use one can of Raid for one roach.  You just need to make sure they are dead. I mean, if they can survive a nuclear bomb explosion then you just need to be sure, that's all I'm saying. 

I don't use Raid anymore because I have two kitteths now. 

I don't want to exterminate them in the process. Anyway, the kittehs like playing with these nasty ass things until they are dead, which is fine by me.  I have my own roach assassins.  Purrfect.  Except for the times when they leave the carcass on my bed.  I actually had to throw out two blankets that were on my bed because they left their "gift" right there.  I'm breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about it now.

I don't use shoes to squish them either because then I would have to throw out the shoes.  Why would anyone want to walk around with roach guts smeared on the bottom of their shoes. That's just disgusting.

Someone once told me my fear was irrational and that they can’t kill me.  Well duh! Yes they can!  I could have a heart attack from the fear of just seeing them or I might try to run away, slip and conk my head on the floor and slip silently into a coma (probably with a roach crawling all over me while waiting for someone to discover my body).  Irrational my ass!

Tiny Nasty German Roach

These things are nasty and ugly and scary looking. The thing is these are tree roaches, not the tiny roaches that live in your house cause your dirty.  They come in side your house during the hottest time in summer cause they discovered we have air conditioning.  They also come inside during the coldest part of the year because we have heat.  I could dump a bunch of toxic chemicals around and inside the house to keep them out but again its my kitteths i worry about.

But I digress.  So I was waiting for my interview and see this roach crawling towards me.  Trying not to panic and cause a scene I get up and go to the restroom.  After a few minutes have passed and thinking the roach has made its way out of its trajectory of heading towards me, I return to the lobby.  Just as I am walking in, the man I am to interview with is in the lobby. Seeing the roach, he steps on it and immediately afterwards wants to shake my hand.  For the next hour I am sitting in a interview with a man that has roach guts on the bottom of his shoe and that's the only thing I can think about.

I hate roaches. 

 

Sucka!

Over a week ago I dropped off Maddie the foster dog at the shelter (who by the way did get adopted rather quickly) and as  I was walking out the door I was flagged down and asked to take in Max the Toxic Foster Cat.  He needed extra help getting over his cold that the shelter couldn't give. With the "sucker" burning bright on my forehead how could I say no? 

Max the Toxic Foster Cat

Every time he sneezed a snot tsunami came raining down.  I got a face full of it a time or two.  That's just gross.  Well after a week of meds and a vaporizer he is now all better, no need for a hazmat suit.  He breathes through is nose and sleeps in my lap. 

I did not tell my kittehs that Max is here, however they sort of figured it out when they heard him meowing for attention through the door.  I think I might be in trouble.

Angry Baelor

Your getting sleepy...very sleepy

Having trouble sleeping?  According to reports people who stretched  15 to 30 minutes a day helped cut back on sleep problems by 30%.  The stretching helps to relieve stress and muscle aches making it easier for you to drift off to sleep. 

I guess Stretch Armstrong was in a perpetual state of coma given his line of work.

Happy dreams.

Eye see you now!

Maddie the foster dog and I made it through the holiday!  Yesterday she went back to the shelter to be spayed and get the rest of her hair cut. 


This was Maddie before:

And this is after:

Holy Cow, she has eyes!


In a couple of days Maddie will return to the shelter so she can take part in the big Christmas adoption campaign at Neiman Marcus.  I know someone will snatch her up in all her cuteness.  I sure am gonna miss her though. But I must say, I learned a lot from her. 


As  I mentioned before, Maddie was a cruelty case.  She was rescued from a bad situation and in spite of all she has gone through she still loves people, she still loves life.  She doesn't lay down and wallow in self pity and cry over where she came from or what she went through. 

Each morning she gets up and has this big grin on her face and a wag in her tail.  The day is met with enthusiasm.  She does the dance of joy when she is fed dry, crunchy kibbles.  She is over the moon with squish hugs. 

Why is it the human race is considered the smartest of all the species yet most of us can't manage to look at life the way Maddie the foster dog does?

Funny, I got another foster pet because I was feeling down about my situation; wallowing around in the self pity and self loathing.  And here comes this dog to teach me a lesson about living life now.

Karma...its a .....

tscardiff.smartemail.co.uk

The other day I was reading a post by a blogger i like to follow.  He told a story about how he almost killed himself at the gym.  Well, I laughed.  He is a great story teller and he painted a really great picture but I think a part of me knows deep down I have a warped sense of humor and tend to laugh at peoples pain. Sad to admit but true.

Last night I was out walking Maddie the foster dog when I slipped in mud and fell face down in middle of it. Not once. Twice. 

Thankfully all my neighbors were outside and witnessed my face planting. Both times.

That karma will get you every time.

Strollin' Strollin' Strollin'

Since my kitteths have not given me permission to have a dog I must borrow one from time to time.  This is Maddie, the foster dog .  She and I are walking through the hood.  I like having a foster.  It's like going to a library and checking out a book only its a dog. 

Hello, my name is.....???

Madame X

This is my new foster baby. She doesn't have a name yet.   I think for now I will call her Madame X.   She was rescued from a cruelty situation and placed in my care until she gets healthier.  Aside from some physical illness that will be taken care of with meds and a low weight that can be cured with food and treats,  Ms. X's fur was matted from head to toe. 


We cut what we could but at some point she will need to be put under the "milk" in order to clean up her head, neck and ears.  She is a mess.  One big mat ball.  I am toying with naming her Madeline; Maddy for short.  Get it? Maddy?  Matted fur?  HA,  I kill me.

But in all seriousness, no matter what I am going through in my life that sucks, when i give my time to helping another being (human or animal) it takes my mind from that dark place to reach out to another who is in their own.  Maybe together we can end up on the brighter side of life.


I feel like i should say namasta now...so namasta.

The Pity Party was not well attended

These last few days I have been feeling mighty sorry for myself.  Boo Hoo...Squish Squish...So Sad For Me. 

So to snap myself out of this depressing and gloomy mood I have decided to go grab some foster babies from the local animal shelter to take my mind off my problems.

Here are a couple of my fosters from days past...

Iddy Biddy

Wendy

(and they all found happy homes)

It seems to me that ...

sometimes

bad luck

is just

bad judgement

Mm' Mm' Good

I love split pea soup.  

I also love serving it at Halloween parties and telling everyone its booger stew.

Morning Pages

Some time ago I read a book by Julia Cameron called The Artist Way.  Its a guide to help people become more creative; in life, in their work, what ever.  As you go through this program to make your self a creative genius, Julia recommends every morning you write, long hand, three pages of stuff.  First thing in the morning, well after you grab that coffee or tea, you empty your mind of what ever is floating around in there, any thought you have no matter how odd. The idea is that once you clear your mind of crap you are freeing your self to be creative; artistic.  


Example of my morning pages:  "I'm too sleepy to write this early in the morning.  Why is it so cold in here? Why is my pajama top turned around backwards?  Should  I wash my curtains?  Is the lady across the street up yet? Why doesn't she chop down those vines growing on her house? Why did Kim K get married? Was it for real or a scam?  Why do so many people care? Why don't i get married and make a lot of money like she did? Is it too early to go to Shipley's and get a donut?  How far do I have to walk to walk off that donut?

See, you don't have to write a novel or even be a creative writer.  You just need to empty your mind. But I have this slight problem doing it.  I don't want to do it long hand.  You see when I write something out I have to write it in a certain kind of notebook.  They can't be spiral bound.  If I skip doing the morning pages for a while, i have to have a whole new notebook to write in.  Its too depressing to write in an old, used notebook.  I need a fresh start to be motivated. So i have about 8,573,468 notebooks lying around the house as a reminder of my lack of accomplishment.

I also have to have a certain kind of pen to write with.  It has to be a colorful gel pen.  Anything else and it just isn't worth writing. So I have more pens then Office Depot scattered around my house.  Though I never seem to be able to find one when needed.  I think it's easier to go buy new pens then to look for the old ones.

So what's the point of this long drawn out story of my lack of commitment to being creative? I found this web site called 750words.com.  This site has taken Julia's concept of three pages a day and converted it into a web site.  750 words is how many words it takes to fill up three pages by the way.
Don't worry, it's private.  No one can read what you wrote so you can have all your deviate sexual fantasies written about your boss and no one will know.  You can even misspell words and you won't be judged.

Every day that you do your Morning Pages you get a little cyber cheer from the site! That's a big deal for me because I'm kinda competitive and I like to see how I have done.  I need to know how many check marks i got in a month and how many months i went over 750 words. It also can tell me how fast I wrote my Morning Pages that day.

If you are looking to make a creative change in your life then I recommend reading The Artist Way.  No matter what your talent is; a writer, a painter, a mime, this program can help get you back on track.  If you are a crappy long hand writer like myself, then check out 750words.com. 

Joy to the World

I witnessed an odd exchange the other day as I was driving around town.  One driver got very angry at another for cutting in front of him. This man rolled down his window, leaned half way out  and let out a slew of curse words directed at the car in front of him.  It was a bit unsettling but oddly funny.  It reminded me of...well of me once upon a time.


There was a day when I would get so angry anytime someone got too close to the rear of my car; what I thought was too close i should say.  Stomping on the brakes real fast, I put the fear of God in that reckless driver!  How dare they infringe on my space!  If some one whipped in front of me and made me step on the brakes,  I would give them the biggest one finger salute in the state of Texas.  I would cuss out a nun if I thought she wasn't driving the way I thought she should. If I had a ruler I would have probably tossed it at her as I said every cuss word known to man.


But one December day it all change for me.  It was several years back, I was on my way to work and I had a Christmas cd on playing "Joy to the World".  There I was driving down the road singing so loud and so proud you would have thought I was Whitney Houston (OK, maybe not), just feeling the love and Christmas spirit all around me when outta nowhere some woman cuts right in front of me.  With out skipping a beat, or lyric, I flipped that lady off. 


It was at that very moment I knew how ridiculous I looked and how hypocritical I was.  Since that day I have never gotten to the point where I needed to cuss someone out or wave the finger in their face for their reckless, crazy driving.   Don't get me wrong, I still get frustrated at times while driving.  Let's face it, no one drives as well as I do. But now I just don't let the anger drive me to react that way anymore.

Flops away

These are my favorite shoes

So are these

but since i am trying change my style i need to look beyond the flops.  Also fall/winter has arrived 

(its 80 degrees...burrrrr)

and my feeties are getting cold.  I needed a change, something stylin',  so i found these...

I got them at a clearance sale for just $15! 

How cool is that?! 

Of course they were probably made in a sweatshop by 3 year old babies

out of material that is caustic to the human body but what the heck!

This is my favorite poem ever....

Nobody knows it but me

There's a place that I travel,
When I want to roam
And nobody knows it but me.

The roads don't go there,
And the signs stay home
And nobody knows it but me.

It's far, far away and way, way afar,
It's over the moon and the sea,
And wherever you are going,
That's wherever you are
And nobody knows it but me.
-Patrick O'Leary

Can you hear me pee now?

I like cell phones.  I own one.  I actually have owned many over the years because I wanted the latest and prettiest, or I needed a new one because I broke one dropping it or worse…I lost one (OK really its been two and its too painful to talk about).  Cell phones have their uses.  Talking to people is the main reason that comes to mind but honestly, do we have to talk to folks while we are on the can?

I was in this office building the other day and needed to stop by the loo.  Walking in I heard a voice coming from one of the stalls.  A woman was having a conversation with a friend (I at least hope it was her BFF) while she was making a poop and pee.  I could hear a stream of water hitting the toilet and loud explosions of gases escaping from her body while she shared the latest gossip. I find that to be totally disgusting.  I don’t want to talk to someone while I'm doing my business and I certainly don’t want to talk to someone while they are doing theirs.  Who wants to hear that?  Just because we can take cell phones anywhere does that mean we really have to? 

Color Me Pretty Part Three- Take a clothes capsule and look marvelous in the morning

A quick recap:  We found our color group, know our body shape and organized our closet.  We are ready for our capsule now.
 
What's a clothes capsule you ask?  By definition it’s a group of 5-12 pieces consisting of a jacket, skirt, slacks, shirts, etc. that work in combination with each other in style and color. 
   

Here is a sample of one to give you an idea:

From this basic group of one jacket, one shirt and two skirts, I created at the least four different ways to wear them.  I can dress them up for work (if I had a job) or just go casual. A clothes capsule can make it look like you have more clothes than Macy’s warehouse before Christmas.   Keep in mind this is only a sample.  You can and should have more in your basic group like two jackets and two shirts.  Then you can really increase your wardrobe options.

Hopefully it’s clearer now why we grouped our clothes by item and then color.  This allows you to better see what you have and helps to provide a blank canvas for you to create a new outfit.  After I did this step, I spent hours putting together different outfits.  Considering I hate shopping and anything "dress up," I have to say it was fun.  It was like I had an entirely new wardrobe and it didn’t cost me a dime!

I created a couple clothes capsules for my work clothes and casual.  I am even able to pull some things from my work capsules into my casual ones.  Instead of wearing the exact same thing every day, I try to mix it up. I actually shock my friends now when we meet up because I’m not wearing my daily uniform of cropped khaki's, a white tee and flops. (don’t get me wrong, I still put those on when I’m not going to see people. I do loves my comfy clothes most definitely.)

To give you a better idea of the clothes capsule concept here's a video i found on youtube.com.



After you have played with your clothes then you may see some holes in your capsule. Maybe you need a new jacket or skirt to round it out. My suggestion is to check out a Goodwill Store (a resale shop), a consignment shop or even Marshall's or TJ Max,

I bought a brand new (tags still on it) suede camel colored jacket at my local Goodwill store for $10. You never know what you will find. One good tip, go to a resale shop in the rich area of town. Good pickings there!

Just because I am unemployed doesn’t mean I need to look homeless. Now more than ever I should care about how I look, dress and present myself to the world whether I'm interviewing or shopping at Wal-Mart.  I always reached for the easiest thing to put on without any effort.  If I don't care why should anyone else. 

OK boys and girls that concludes my topic on how to dress and not look a mess.  I know I didn't give a blow by blow detail on how to do it but what i discovered while researching is that you need to create your own style.  Don't go by what I wear, but by your own color type and body shape. Get creative.  Look at what you have in your closet and see how you can make it work for you. 

Savasana or Corpse Pose

This is my favorite pose in yoga.  I find myself doing it all the time at home......


except I'm usually on the couch with a remote in my hand.

Namaste

Harry Potter Cat House

I don't let my cats watch TV for this very reason...they would want one. Kinda crazy but also kinda cool.

Heights Workshop Builds 'Harry Potter' Cat House: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Health insurance: FAIL

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with cancer.  It was suggested she have surgery but before she went under the knife  she wanted to get a second opinion.  Understandable. 

Her health insurance didn't allow for this specialist so she opted to pay out of her own pocket.  Calling the docs to set an appointment for the second opinion, she was told they won't take her without insurance to which she replied "but I'm paying out of pocket".  Their reply; "that will be $50,000".


$50,000?!  WTF! Not to run test but to look at the test already done.  To read her file... $50,000.  That's more than her annual salary!

I am beginning to think that it isn't cancer that kills so many people but rather our insurance providers and medical institutions.

SU2HMO

Coming into the closet - Step Two from slob to styling

Last week we looked at finding out what colors looked good on us and incorporating those colors into our wardrobe.  By now we should have gone through our closets and become a radical clothes racist, kicking out all the colors that don’t belong. 

Now for Step Two – If it Doesn’t Fit You Must Omit

Take everything you have in your wardrobe that’s left after your colorectomy and try them on.  EVERYTHING.  If it’s in your closet try it on. If it doesn’t fit properly get rid of it.  I know what your thinking cuz I had the exact same thoughts; “but I’m gonna lose 10 pounds and I will be able to wear it again.”. Then I realized I have been saying that for YEARS.  So let it go.  It’s OK.  If we really do lose 10 pounds we should go out and celebrate by buying something new (as long as its in our color plan).  Let me share a secret.  We can still lose weight if that thing isn’t in the closet.  Trust me, it’s for the greater good.  Don't let this be you:

OK, We have thrown out the tight stuff (don’t make me come over there and do it for you!)  Now we need to become aware of our body type.

Banana Shapes:  The Bust and Hips are basically the same size with no noticeable waist

Apple Shapes:  The Bust is larger than the hips

Pear Shapes:  The hips are larger than the bust

Hourglass shapes:  The bust and hips are basically the same but the waist is more defined

Knowing this helps with the rest of our elimination process.

Keep only what looks good on your body shape. You will need to do research on dressing for your shape.  There is a lot of information out there to help you out.  Pick what is flattering.  If you aren’t sure ask.  Be sure to ask someone who is honest (and don’t get mad if they tell you your butt looks big).  If it looks bad, chunk it. Be done with the uglies!

Whew!  That’s a lot of work but just one last thing to do and we are ready for margaritas.  Take all the clothes you are keeping and put back in the closet.  But group  items together.  In other words, all jackets together, all shirts together , all pants together.  Once you have your clothes segregated by item, group by color.  Example:  All your jackets are in a section together with all the black jackets together, all the brown jackets together.  See?  All jackets together separated by color.  Easy.

If you have a suit (jacket and skirt) then you must separate them.  Put the jacket in its section and the skirt in its.  You will see next week when we continue with....

From slob to styling – Take a clothes capsule and look marvelous in the morning.

Disposable Pets

Since I have a lot of time on my hands being unemployed I spend most of my time with the local animal shelter usually cleaning cages in the Cattery.  I clean up cat poo and give them food and water and a little love squish if they will allow it.
 

When people find out I work there they get all sad.  They couldn’t do it; seeing all the stray animals that come in.  “It’s heartbreaking”, they say.  Not to me.  For the strays that come in I know they are receiving medical attention if needed.  They get a warm/cool place to stay and two square meals a day.  They even get to go to the spa for a mani and pedi plus a new do. This is the Ritz for them.

The ones that break my heart are the pets whose owners don’t want them anymore; pets that they have had for 7 or more years and suddenly they don’t want just cuz.  I’m not talking about the down-on-their luck owners.  I mean the owners who get tired of their pets and trade them in for a newer version or they are just bored with them. 

Today I saw two cats that were 8 years old and they were surrendered by their owners because they don’t have time for them. How much time do cats really need from you?  You give them water, throw out some kibbles and clean their litter box.  Done.  It seems our society has become so use to things being disposable that we have decided to treat living creatures (human and animal) the same.

Here’s a little something about me.  I love dogs, Labradors specifically.  They are a dog’s dog.  They are big, fun and lovable.  When my dog Barney died, that was it for me.  No more pets.  PERIOD. THE END.  Then fate stepped in and gave me two cats.

Baelor (street name: Booger Boy)
He is waiting for me to stop taking his pic so I can give him his sugar spanks.

 All I ever knew about cats was that they were vicious predators.  They would claw your eyes out and smother you in your sleep and if you died they would feed on your corpse.  I didn’t know nothing ‘bout no kitties!

But after struggling to overcome my fear and lack of knowledge of cats, and then learned to become an exceptional servant to them, I could never give them away because I grew tired of them.  Once I made the decision to allow them in my home I made a promise to care for them for all their lives and I will.  If I need to give them away, it’s because I am dying or about to become homeless. 

So don’t feel sorry for the strays in the shelters, feel sorrow for the pets that have been deemed disposable by their owners.  And if you feel the urge to get a pet, check out your local animal shelter, you just might find the perfect pet that someone threw away.

Not my real cat. This is a stand in for Baelee (AKA:Sister Girl, Miss Baby Girl). She does NOT pose for pics.

If you could meet a famous dead person who would it be?

I have heard that question a million times (maybe not that exact question, it was probably re-phrased to be a bit more PC so not to offend dead folks).  Every big interviewer usually asks that question.  The majority of people asked will say the same thing; Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, even Hitler.  Those are all interesting choices but they aren’t who I would select.

My choice would be George Washington…..Carver (HA! You thought I was going to say George Washington didn't you?!)

I first learned about George Washington Carver in the 5^th grade. 

“Do you know who invented peanut butter?” my teacher asked in class.

No one knew, but as 5^th graders who had peanut butter oozing from every pore, we were all sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to find out who this god-like person was.

“George Washington Carver” she said. 

 
Ever since that moment I was stuck on him like peanut butter on bread.

I eat peanut butter every day.  EVERYDAY.  I love it.  I do limit myself on how much but still...I will have it on my toast in the morning or perhaps it’s a PB&J sandwich for lunch or even some spread on crackers for a snack.  It’s a main stable in my diet and I am not ashamed to say it. When Hurricane Ike hit and I had to evacuate my home...I packed the peanut butter first.

I know George Washington Carver didn’t really invent peanut butter, I think the Aztecs have been  credited with that, but if it weren’t for Mr. Carver’s efforts I don’t think peanut butter would have made such a positive impact in America.  It was his efforts in the south that influenced farmers to rotate their crops from cotton to another source of income that not only fed the farmers themselves but America as well. 

Mr. Carver did invent uses for peanuts; like shaving cream and peanut oil.  He didn’t just create a food source but a way of life.  Have you ever fried your Thanksgiving turkey in peanut oil? Yum!  What about shaving your legs to feel as smooth as a baby’s bottom?

All this is because of him.

Mr. Carver was a scientist, agricultural chemist, an inventor and instructor.  He was more than just about peanut butter, he was an exceptionally gifted man. But to me, he helped to create the mass production of a food deemed to be for the gods and I would love to have dinner with him just so I could thank him.    

I would serve Peanut Butter and Banana spread on fresh sourdough bread with  a glass of ice cold milk. For dessert, freshly baked peanut butter cookies. Now that’s good eatin’.

Color me pretty. From slob to styling one step at a time

found on http://www.screamcute.com/color-splash-photography2.php

I think every Friday I will share what I have learned about how not to be a slob.  That way you have the weekend to do whatever it is that needs to be done, like throw out the ugly stuff and organize anything that may be left. 

I have been doing lots and lots of research.  There is a prolific amount of info for stylishly challenged folks like me.  That's good because I don’t want to end up on the pages of www.peopleofwalmart.com. 

I have tried to compile this info into some sort of logical order. At least I hope I did.  I was a project manager after all; I should be able to map this process out.  I also am trying to keep this style refurbishment economical as possible.  I am on a very limited budget so I am going to suggest alternatives to paying the big bucks to look pretty.

 All righty then, let’s get going….

 Step One:  Know what colors look good on you.

Color is the foundation of your wardrobe, even your make-up.  If the color looks good on you, you radiate a positive look to the world.  Literally.  Colors can brighten your skin; even highlight the color of your eyes.   Color is important. Wearing a crappy colored designer dress will only make you look crappy. 

 

I thought everyone knew instinctively what colors looked good on them and would pick those choices out automatically but apparently not.  It seems I have picked some real color stinkers just because it was “in style”.  So never ever go by what’s in style, but by the color.

 

If you don’t know what colors look good on you, there are quite a few free color analysis sites on the web you can try. Here’s a couple: 

http://www.colorenalysis.com/index.html. 

http://www.shopmyclosetboutique.com/color_guide.html  

There are also books on the subject.   Color Me Beautiful by Carole Jackson is an oldie but goodie. It goes into a lot more detail, not just about colors in your closet but what color make-up you should use.  You can check it out at the Library.  If you don’t know what or where the library is try a used book store or www.amazon.com.

I am what they call a warm autumn.  Basically, fall color hues look best on me because of my skin tone and hair and eye color. 

http://www.shopmyclosetboutique.com/color_guide.html

Now that I am armed with the correct color swatches I am going to weed out my clothes based on that.  In other words, I am going to become a clothes racist and kick out all the colors that don’t belong in my spectrum! Don’t send hate mail, it’s only clothes and they will be placed in a loving home via a charity store. Keep in mind, I don't have to throw out everything.  Maybe there is something I could dye to make it fit into the color spectrum.  Still, pull it out of the closet and pile it somewhere out of the way until then. 

While I am at it, I will also go through my make- up and throw out my lime green eye shadow.  I kid!  (as far as you know). 

If I need to replace any make-up I can get it cheaply at ….

Wal-Mart! But this time I will look soooo much better than the last time I walked through those doors.

Knowing what colors you should incorporate into your wardrobe and on your face is the foundation to a changing your style. 

 Well, that’s Step One.  Next week for Step Two we go into the closet!