I am Going to Get Shot

Good grief. One of these days someone is going to pull out their gun and pop me one. I swear I just react when I'm in a certain mood...like today. It's "that" time of the month and I'm feeling a little ornery.

So I stop by the Liquor store (which I did NOT want to do but hubby has been working really hard and he loves this one drink so what's a good wife to do) and they have this stupid little sign that says something about saving the planet by not using a bag. WTH? I think it's stupid.

So I say, "I don't want a bag but I'm not trying to save the planet." The look she gave me ... like I was speaking Japanese. Then she asked me, "If you don't mind me asking, why?" So I told her what I thought - no one is going to "save the planet" unless they're the ones in the space ship shooting the astroids heading toward earth. We could chop down every single tree on the entire planet and still not "destroy" it. Granted, it would suck for us, but we are not so all powerful that we can actually destroy the planet. We could set off nukes all over everywhere and not actually destroy it. Again, it would suck, but the earth would still be here...we wouldn't.

I just hate the line "save the planet" as if humans are so all powerful as to have this ability. *sigh* But the teller of course didn't care ... and thought I was bonkers. :)

THEN...as I'm driving home I see some punk kid toss a drink cup over a fence into someone's yard. Oh for Pete sake! I couldn't stop myself and I honked! Not only that, I wagged my finger like some little old lady. For Pete sake! I'm lucky they were just punks and not seriously violent. I hate liter bugs but it was stupid to honk...not to mention wagging my finger.

I have so many issues. I need a nap! No...Ice Cream!

If You Pray ...

I am just now reading about this but wanted to share it with you as well.

One of my very favorite bloggers, Rachel Lucas, has a request that we pray (or whatever) for her future father-in-law who was injured in a very bad motorcycle accident. I hate motorcycles - it wasn't his fault and it could be due to a drunk. :( I hate drunks more.

Seriously? Why is this a Good Idea?

My local papers both had stories this weekend about earmarks - aka Pork Projects that congress members sneak into bills, usually unrelated to the bill itself.

I don't know why (well, yes I do) but both papers were touting the great things about all this Pork for our community.

Excuse me?!?!

I just shook my head because I know the Olympian is a total rag of useless tree wasting paper. But I still have a hard time believing that anyone can believe that earmarks are a good thing.

Let's see ... how logical is it for the federal government to take tax money from us and then return it to us...less a "minor" processing fee?

"...review of budget earmarks provided by the 2007 Congress — which funneled $1.38 billion in special budget awards to Washington state..."

Hello! Just keep that money here locally in the first place and let us do what needs to be done! The federal government doesn't know local needs and all that earmarks do is encourage waste and fraud. Not to mention lobbyists earning huge salaries - for what? Just for taking politicians out to lunch to persuade them to funnel tax payer money to their particular cause?

"One other earmark — for $446,500 — helps pay for a gym and culture center for Nisqually tribal youth. ... Yet another gives Intercity Transit $343,000 to design a bus station — for lease to Greyhound — next to IT's transfer station in downtown Olympia."

Seriously? SERIOUSLY!?! Do you really want to help pay for the Nisqually tribal youth's gym? Really? Do you even know where the Nisqually tribe is? I live very near it and trust me when I tell you that they do NOT need the federal dollars. Their casino is going gangbusters and they can afford to build their own freaking gym.

Not to mention the fact that no one living in Kansas should be taxed to pay for these things here in Washington State. The people of Washington should be the ones to decide what their taxes should be used for here. Let the people of Kansas use their tax money for themselves! (I just picked Kansas at random...feel free to insert your own state!)

The ONLY thing the federal government SHOULD be taxing and spending on is the military and national infrastructure like highways/freeways. That's it. Everything else should be left to local and state government. Oh and national parks. Those are good too.

Our government is so freaking inefficient it blows my mind and yet our local papers say its a good thing to have earmarks? Ridiculous!

Some New Surveys for Saturday

I've snuck inside to check e-mail and I had a couple of conversations waiting for me. It's a very cold day and threatening to rain but I'm stuck outside working at my mother's garage sale. *sigh* At least I've sold a couple of items...mostly old beads I no longer need. But my fingers are freezing!

Oooo...I like this survey. =)


Click This One...it's for Charity - I picked Pet Smart Charities...


And one more...

National Donut Day

Did you know that today is National Donut day? I had no idea. Something tells me that Krispy Kreme made this one up.

I love donuts but avoid them quite easily. They make me sick to my stomach and leave that weird thick taste in my mouth. All that fat. But I do love Maple glazed Krispy Kremes....*drool*

Contrary to popular belief, cops do not necessarily love donuts. However when hubby is being naughty I say "Bad Cop, No Donut!" He thinks it's funny. And yes, he loves donuts.

What's your favorite donut?

imagesofcolorado.com

Quinn Goes to the Vet - and a Survey

My poor little girl. :( I think it's my fault but she has a hole in two of her top teeth. I'm so worried about her and we are going to the vet this morning. I may have to leave her there while they put her under anesthesia (which I don't think is good for an older dog) and clean her teeth. I'm just praying that they won't have to pull those two teeth.

The reason I think it's my fault is because I started feeding all three dogs a softer food...it's sort of stew like. I mix some kibble with it and they love it. It's very healthy food but it didn't occur to me that being a softer food it would get stuck in their teeth. At least it seems to have done this with Quinn - right at the gum line. We'll see what the verdict is but I think I'll need to start checking all 3 dogs teeth after they eat. Oh joy.

I'll have an update after I get back from the Vet on my pet blog Home Zookeeper. And please visit me there as often as you can. I get paid to write there (there are various rules and things and I won't get rich anytime soon) and I've decided to donate all my earnings from that blog to Saving Shelter Pets.

And now...two surveys! Click on them and see how your answers compare. :)

Mac vs PC


Should Hillary Concede? (Does she really have a choice?)

Wordless Wednesday - I'm Really Tired Today

(Not My Cat - I didn't take the photo - it's from one of those e-mails that goes out all the time of cute animal pics.)

Glad to Know My Breaks Work

Last night's drive home seemed normal and uneventful. Traffic was flowing well for once and I was headed toward my mom's work to pick up more coupons (I am now addicted to coupons). I had just hung up my cell phone after telling her I was only a few minutes away. Traffic had slowed down but was starting to pick up again. I was traveling 60 mph in a 60 mph zone on I-5.

An SUV behind me had been tail gating me severely - I could not even see their headlights. But I hadn't slowed down and was using my cruise control. I did not tap my breaks at all.

The driver swerved to the right, nearly rear ended a car in the right lane (I was in the middle lane) and jerked his SUV in front of me, nearly side swiping my front end. I honked...because...duh. He nearly caused a 3 car accident.

At which point the psycho SLAMMED on his breaks.

In the space of 2 seconds I reacted - slamming on my breaks, gripping the steering wheel, getting tunnel vision - all I saw was the rear end of his car, him wagging his finger at me, as I felt my wheels skid and squeal. I didn't swerve - I had no idea where the other cars were.

If there had been a car behind me they would have rear ended me and I firmly believe it was only a miracle of God's hand and quick instincts that saved my life. If I had hit this Psycho I think that I may not be here today. I was going 60 mph when he slammed his breaks and would have hit him full speed. And his car was bigger - a Toyota Highlander - gold in color with an Oregon license plate that had a 5, an X, and an H in it. That's all I remember.

I called 911 and by the time the operator was on I was sobbing. I couldn't think. I could hardly see the road for all the tears in my eyes. Breathing was difficult as I tried to explain what happened. The excellent man on the phone told me to take deep breaths and understandingly said he knew this kind of thing was scary. I seriously think that I was on the verge of losing it.

Somehow I pulled my act together, got all the details to the operator and prayed that the police would be able to catch him - though realistically I know the odds were slim. There are only a few Troopers for the entire county at any one time.

When I called hubby, still sobbing, I immediately said "I'm okay" because I knew a sobbing wife is not what a hubby wants to hear while traveling. I told him what happened and his first comment was that he was glad I was okay but I shouldn't have honked.

LOL That is such a Trooper-ish thing to say. A normal person A) wouldn't have tail gated me so closely and then passed me on the right (also illegal) and nearly take out two cars; and B) wouldn't have slammed on their breaks no matter what I did!

As if this moron will teach me a lesson by causing a horrible accident!!! Who does that?!?! If I had hit him he would have been at fault (I confirmed this with hubby) and I would have sued his ass. I'm not normally in favor of suing but if I knew who this Arse-Hole was I'd be tempted to sue him for emotional distress. :(

As I continued on to my mom's work I was crying so hard I could hardly see the road. I could not calm down - my breathing was labored and short and I felt like I'd been shaken up and beat up. Then I felt a sharp pain in my side and noticed that my back was starting to hurt.

And do you know how exhausting it is to sob...by the time I got home my head was pounding and I was exhausted. I'm still tired today because I couldn't get to sleep. *sigh*

What is wrong with people?!?!?! That guy was clearly unbalanced. This is just one more negative of working so far away from home - the commute nearly kills me!

Rare Bird Finds Hits the Motherload

Okay, I get the Rare Bird Finds daily finds e-mail every day and I couldn't enjoy it more. Except on days like today when they just find the neatest things ever! My paycheck is not large enough to cover all the cool stuff they found!

Did you play Super Mario as a child? My brother and I did all the time. I still long to play the old versions. It doesn't surprise me that these adorable plush pillows are sold out at Japan LA.

I know my doggy blogging on this site has been lax - that's because I have a new pet focused blog called Home Zookeeper (please visit me there sometime too). But I can't resist talking doggy today.

I love spoiling my mutts with treats - though I'm super careful lately about how many they get because two are seriously overweight. With goodies like these Apple Blueberry Biscuits by Little Pies I'd be hard pressed not to share with the pups!

And would I not be the MOST fashionable doggy mama on the Agility field in one of these hilarious shirts by the Fleas Knees Tees???


What's a girl on a coupon cutting budget to do?!?! Rare Bird Finds - you're killing me here!!!

But seriously...if you love finding cute, quirky, unusual, funky, and wonderful things - for you or for gifts - I highly recommend RBF. I've found some fantastic gift items and fun things for myself. =)

Marriage Isn't Easy

I told my husband, before we were even engaged, that I do not believe in divorce. At the time he was hesitating and resisting marriage. His parents got divorced and he is still hurt and affected by the pain it brought the whole family. He feared marriage and especially divorce if there were kids involved.

That's me, 50 pounds lighter!!!

And I don't believe in divorce (with some exceptions that I will address below). I believe divorces are too easy to obtain and that most are done out of convenience, boredom, or selfishness.

Marriage is NOT easy!

It takes work, dedication, patience, understanding, and lots of communication. Hollywood starlets get married and divorced several times a season, making it look like so much fun to get married. It's like Prom. Get dressed up, have a party, say the vows, hang out for awhile. Bored? Get a divorce.

This post that I found via Freaky Frugality shows the power of working at marriage and True Love.

If you don't cry, or at least tear up, you are a true cynic. A couple of quotes...

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

This smart wife did not accept this. Marriage is a partnership and partners need to work to keep their relationship healthy. When partners in a business fail to talk, fail to plan, fail to work together the business fails.

On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life
lacked intimacy.

I drove to office… jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore.

Read the whole thing.

My grandparents were married for 60+ years before my grandmother died. Their life was not easy, raising 4 kids and running their own business (two businesses actually). And they did NOT always get along. When I was little I remember some big blow ups between them. But even more I remember more their laughter and joking around. We'd all roll our eyes when grandpa patted her on the rump and called her sexy. Ew! But so important for marriage.

Hubby and I have issues in this everyday kind of intimacy. It's hard when you go for days on end without even seeing each other (due to his rotating shift schedule). We've been married 5 1/2 years and in the last year we've talked about how we don't hold hands, or sit next to each other in the living room, or kiss when we say goodbye. And we've started doing those things again.

It makes a difference.

I refuse to get divorced out of boredom or because I *think* I've fallen out of love (not that I think this...I don't!). Falling out of "love" is not an excuse for divorce in my book. Love is something that must be cultivated...like a plant. Without fertilizer, attention, and light it will die.

Now...I do think divorce is a necessary function for some people. Abuse (physical AND mental) is never okay and no one should be forced to stay in that situation.

I'm torn on the idea of getting a divorce due to infidelity. Hopefully, if the two people work together and work continually on their marriage this wouldn't even become an issue. But I know that things happen. Situations come up that no one would expect.

I told hubby that even if he cheated on me I would not divorce him. As if I'd let him off the hook so easily! Of course I don't think he'd ever do such a horrible thing so it's easy for me to say that. I did say that if this event happened that he would be required to move out and we would start counseling.

Marriages go through ups and downs. Infidelity would be a major "down" moment but if both parties are willing I believe that it can be overcome. With time, I believe that trust can be regained.

Those are the only two situations where I think divorce is acceptable. One of my coworkers and I were talking about this the other day. She is divorced and remarried. I told her my views and she agreed with me. She says that she got divorced because it was easy and he was annoying. She was bored. If she had it to do over again she wouldn't. Not that she would trade her current life...she's very happy and has two more children with her new hubby. But looking back on it she sees that getting that divorce wasn't the right thing.

My aunt on the other hand divorced twice and both were for good reason - physical abuse. Her third husband is a prince in comparison and their two daughters are angels (as are her two children from her second marriage).

So divorce has its place. But that place should be in the back row, far corner. Seldom addressed and rarely invited up.

What do you think? Do you agree that marriage is hard work and too many are given up because work isn't fun?