New Family Dynamics

 Apparently I have a big "S" on my forehead (sucker).  First it was that sweet little 7 week old kitten who is now just shy of 7 months and growing like a weed.

Katie & Sombra

Welcome!

Don't water this plant!

Considering that all the cats that moved up here with us in 2005 have since crossed over the rainbow bridge, the addition of this little black buzzsaw probably makes good sense.  HOWEVER,

 Now, please allow me to introduce you to the latest addition to the family ...

Kasey

Katie & Kasey 

Inseparable playmates

The puppy was dumped a little over a month ago.  The lady who found him fell in love with him but was unable to keep him.  I happened to see a color photo of him and he looked just like Katie did when she was a pup.  That was my undoing.  The lady brought him to the house to see how and if he'd fit in and that was it; he was home.  I purchased a new collar for the Invisible Fence; he suffered the one requisite learning experience (or, as I call it, a frontal lobotomy) and he's now quite content to stay within his designated area.


This is it.  This is our family today.  And I'm thoroughly enjoying them.  Katie has accepted the new ones, even engages in play with them on occasion although she prefers to just watch.  The two little ones have become best of friends.  They race, they chase, they tumble and wrestle, and they nap together.  She's had her surgery and he'll have his next week.  They're slated for their shots and their chips.  They've found their Forever Home.  Meanwhile, life here is no longer quiet and it isn't dull by a long shot but it's certainly full of laughs again.  

By the way, I am having the "S" removed from my forehead - surgically if necessary.  I'm quite sure this menagerie qualifies as a 'full house'.

Yada-Yada-Yada, Blah-Blah-Blah

I don't normally think of myself as a masochist but this evening I listened to Larry & Moe, oops, Obama & Boehner.  One alluded to where they're supposedly going; the other to where they've supposedly been in their 'talks'.  Neither said anything they haven't been saying for months ... "We've got ours, it's protected by the Constitution so we have nothing to lose by digging our heels in and saying, 'my way or the highway', and too bad for the common folk."  Actually, neither said much of anything, period.  I will give Mr. Boehner credit for not breaking into sobs & tears and that's the only credit I'm giving to either.  They said so little even the talking heads had damn little to say when they were done.  God Bless and Protect Us! 

Has Anyone Sought Therapy for Mother Nature?

No matter where you live, you may be a tad confused as to what time of year it is.  Believe it, or not, this is mid July.  I live in the foothills above the central valley of California, just minutes from the gate to Yosemite National Park.

Last week, the town of Oakhurst which is at 2600 ft and 300 to 400 ft and maybe 3 miles lower than my place was right at 100 degrees.  The valley was working its way toward 108.  Even at my elevation and covered by the trees, we were in the upper 90's.  (And the mountain ski resort which closes in May is still open).

Last night I walked around the house early, closing windows though I did leave the doors open until almost 10pm.  Outside, a light sweatshirt was in order.  This morning is nice and cool; the house is open and comfortable and working the flower beds and pond was still pleasant.  The 'forecasted' temp for Oakhurst is only 81 to 83 degrees today meaning I may not get out of the 70's.  For me, this is ideal weather; the sun brightened some late this morning so now all is perfect.  And I give thanks daily that I live on the Western side of the country.  For those of you in the East - I feel your pain.

Bubble burster ... Summer returns this weekend.  But I'll enjoy this for now and take advantage while momma nature is napping.

The Saga Ends - Again

Yesterday I received a robo call from Sears.  Since I was out, the computer left a message asking that I call back "at once".  I called when I returned home and the twit who answered following all the "if you wish ###, dial xxx" asked how he could help me and I told him about the robo call and he said, " well, you have parts on order, have you received them?"  Me:  "No."  Him:  "Well, I can't schedule your tech until the parts arrive."  Me:  "I'm not asking to schedule, I'm returning a call."  Him:  "Let me check, the tracking shows the part being delivered today.  Call immediately when it's delivered".  Me:  "UPS doesn't deliver in my area until after 5pm west coast time.  Will there be someone to help me at that hour."  Him:  "No."  Me:  "Then I'll call in the morning."  Him:  "No, you need to call when the parts arrive."  What?

Not done yet ... I got home from a meeting last night a little after 8pm and found the pkg on my front porch.  Just to be able to say I did, I called.  There WAS someone there.  (Here we go again)  She said, "Did you receive all 3 parts?"  Me:  "He only ordered one part."  Her:  "Well, how many did you receive?"  Me:  "The one."  Her:  "Three were ordered".  Me: "No, just one."  Her:  "No, there were three, they were ordered on different dates."  Arrrrgh!!!  Me:  "The first two have already been installed in the previous visits."  Her: "Oh, so how many parts do you have now?"  Me:  "Could we just schedule the tech?"  Her:  "The earliest I can schedule him is Thursday".  Me:  "Check your notes, I'm not home on Thursdays."  Her:  "Well then, the best I can do is tomorrow."  Arrrrgh!!!  "Tomorrow is fine."

I know people who need work and have gone beyond the 3rd grade; probably over-qualified.  No disrespect to 3rd graders (or their teachers). 

The loud resounding noise heard around the world, or at least throughout western North America this afternoon, was Ryan, the Sears repairman, and me as my dryer proceeded to heat while it tumbled.  I'm not sure which of us was most leery about turning the start dial or who was more pleased when the **** thing actually worked.  Since he also does washers, I'm going to call and request that he come back and do preventive maintenance on the washer.  We're both hoping that doesn't open a door better left closed.  Then I still have two other appliances and the TV on the maintenance program.  This saga has the opportunity to rear its ugly head yet again, but let's hope not.  Please ?!!!!

Happy Birthday, Liz!!!

One of my dearest and best friends is celebrating her 70th birthday today.  We're still trying to figure out how we skipped so many years to arrive at this place in our lives.

Liz and I met over a decade ago (when we were mere youngsters) at church.  It was the first visit to St. Mary's for each of us and we were completely taken with the church, the people, and most of all - the priest.  We agreed later that had it been anyone other than Fr., Michael, it might well have all ended right there.  But he is truly a fisher of men (and women).

We became acquainted and over a period of weeks became friends.  In time we realized we were not only joined at the hip, we were joined at the soul.  We've been sister/friends ever since.  In 2002, she joined my family for a family cruise to celebrate my 60th birthday and was 'adopted' into the family.  She was told, "you can walk away from friends, but family is forever."

She was my best friend, my playmate, my support, and Katie's Godmother.  We've been through good times and traumas together.  We've taken road trips and day trips and sometimes just hung out.  We've tested more than a few wineries and some local wines.  We have a big book of really fun memories.

Liz was with me during the tough times, to see me through them.  When Larry was sick, she gave us both her support.  She came to the hospital at 3:00 in the morning to sit with me after he died, and to wait with me for my family to arrive.

When a hip replacement slipped out, she again went to the hospital to meet me in the wee small hours and take me home.  We were in the mountains when I lost it again.  She drove my car down the mountain behind the ambulance and was with me while they put me back together --- again and, again, took me home then had to return to the mountains to bring our gear home.

She was with me when I found my little house in the mountains and cheered me on when I decided to relocate.  Then she found her little house, only it was in Tennessee, not exactly an hour's drive.  We're each of us contented in our new homes but we're still joined at the soul.  We realize our time together was for a season and that season has passed and now we share via distance and technology.  And seasons or no seasons, she'll always be my sister/friend!  Today I wish her the very happiest of birthdays!

  Liz, have a great day!  Know that I love and miss you ... everyday!!!  

Thank You, Lord!

Following a relatively normal, stressful week, today was a great day for me!  It was a long day and I was a little nervous going in to it.  I attended the late church service this morning, not a comfort zone for me (I'm a born 8 o'clocker,) to participate in a special friend's Holy Confirmation ceremony.  I stayed through the coffee hour/reception after.  Each of these is, for me, an accomplishment by itself, but we also had a lunch at the priest's home for the Bishop and members of the church vestry.  Now, any of these alone can be an opening for the ogre to stop by for an anxiety visit, but together they could well be an engraved invitation.  Not even a nudge from that Satan's spawn.

Tomorrow I'm driving to Fresno again.  I'm taking another friend, who doesn't drive, to Fresno for a doctor appointment.  Because of the incident three weeks ago, I feel I'm again pushing the envelope.  But after the protection you gave me and the sign you allowed me to see following that incident, I'm comfortable, knowing we'll be in your care and will have the power of the Holy Spirit with us.

Thanks and praise to you, Lord!

The Saga Just Goes On and On and On and ...

When I was a kid, our parents bought from Sears because their products, Kenmore and Craftsman, lasted a lifetime.  If something did go bad it wasn't repaired, it was immediately replaced.  There was pride in product, pride in workmanship, pride in the company name.  Obsolescence wasn't yet being built in; appliances, tools, whatever, were often handed down from generation to generation.  Times, they are a changing!

So - The Sears dude showed up at Judi's this morning about 11am and quickly repaired her 'new' washer.  Then dispatch (who only advises the techs one stop at a time) advised him that I would be his next stop following his lunch break, sometime between 1pm & 5pm.  (Remember, I live all of two doors down from her and it's not even 11:30am yet.)  After a pleasant phone conversation with him while he was at Judi's, we agreed he'd come to my house, install the new part in my dryer, and then go to lunch.  And so it begins - again.

And it's my turn - The timer has been replaced (last visit) and now the resistor is replaced (this visit).  Hmmm, tech can't figure out why dryer still won't heat.  Tested all other components and they test okay but the voltage isn't getting from point a to point b.  Called the all-knowing, all-powerful Tech Supervisor who (who'd have guessed it?) doesn't have a clue.  The all-knowing, all powerful Wizard of Oz comes to mind; "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

Now we are ordering virtually all new parts ... emergency order so they'll arrive within days instead of weeks...starting Monday naturally, since this is Saturday.  Oh, and a return visit apparently isn't being scheduled until the new parts actually arrive.  Been there before too.  I can be holding the parts in my hand but if their computer at the distribution center hasn't been updated, the parts are only a figment of my imagination and aren't really here, ergo, no scheduling of a tech.

Remember when my freezer went belly up and I was given a phone number for a department that apparently actually cares about the customer?  I called, the young man listened, checked the history of "repair" tries and I was given authorization for a new freezer within minutes.  Well, the tech supposedly called them himself this time and advised me that they would call me back within 20 minutes and I could/should explain what's going on and express my displeasure and frustration, blah, blah, blah.  It's now been somewhat over 20 minutes, in fact, it's been well over 8 hours.

I truly hope these people have a wonderful weekend and are well rested when I call them Monday.  Meanwhile, I'm beginning to look forward to my new washer/dryer.   Let the Sears saga continue!

Another Saga (or Two)?

Yesterday I called Dish Network and requested a technician be sent to the house.  I'm aware that some damage was done to a cable during the storms.  I HATE calling Dish and said so to the far distant person of another country whose 2nd or 3rd language isn't english but who insisted that she knows all and apparently has a 'bewitched' nose and can reach out and make this thing work.

After reaching that level of frustration that I seem to attain much easier in my, pardon the expression, golden years; I suggested that I hang up, call a stateside dept. (Sales is still stateside) and cancel my subscription.  Could I please have her name for reference purposes.

The tech' will be here this afternoon.  Please, just one saga at a time ... Sears is due back tomorrow.

Note:  The Sears tech said he'd be here tomorrow between 8am - noon.  Sears' computer just called and said I'm scheduled for between 1 - 5pm.  Guess I'll go make a phone call.  The saga(s) continues.

This Could Be Deja Vu All Over Again

So, many of you remember the Sears Freezer saga (see September 16 - October 15).  This was a two-section freezer, one of which decided four years was its maximum.  I called Sears, they didn't have food in my freezer so they weren't overly concerned and could send someone out in two weeks.  The guy came and, of course, the appliance needed parts ordered from some planet just outside our solar system  ... two more weeks.  The parts arrived, but having been built by aliens, they didn't fit.  Parts were ordered again.  Uh-huh, two more weeks.  This time they kinda fit.  The tech notified the powers that be that it only had an 80% seal and the great mind on  the other end of the phone asked if that wouldn't be acceptable to me.  I offered him the 80% sealed freezer to use for his children's food but he declined my offer and said they would 'review' the situation and get back to me in - together now - two weeks.  The tech, being as fed up as I was, gave me a special number to call and the next morning I talked with a young man in an area of Sears that I hope they never discover, explained the situation, he looked up the history, and that afternoon I took the authorization code he gave me for a replacement freezer and went to the local Sears and ordered my new freezer.  By the weekend the old was out and the new was in.  Sears is very good about honoring their maintenance agreements provided you have more perseverance than they do.

Well, here we go again.  Four weeks ago I called Sears about my dryer.  It wouldn't heat.  Do you know how long it takes to tumble dry a load without heat?  After the mandatory two week wait, a tech came out, tore the dryer apart, determined that it was the timer, ordered a new one and said, " I'll be back in two weeks".  This past Tuesday another tech showed up, checked the new part, opened that area of the dryer again and found a surprise.   The timer may or may not have needed replacing; but after frying the mouse that had gotten in there and walked on or otherwise touched the resistor, said mouse and resistor were both fried and inoperable ... and had been for a few weeks.  As my sister once said when she was very little, "the mouse was so dead, he didn't even wiggle."  Guess the first tech just didn't see this dead mouse or thought it should stay where it was as a deterrent to other mice.  New resistor has been ordered.  The saga continues - again!

A Fun Fourth!

Every year there's a plethora of patriotic concert/firework shows on TV on the fourth.  I am now at the stage of my life where I prefer my hot dog or corn dog in front of the TV watching one of these.  No parking hassles, no walking forever to get to a spot that I can't see from anyway, no 2 hour exit for what normally takes 10 minutes.  I choose to call it maturity not age!

Of the concerts presented last night, one appealed to the pre-teen, Bieber set, one appealed to those who like their music screamed at them.  I did enjoy bits and pieces of the Boston Pops, they're the essence of the fourth of July concerts but to draw crowds they've looked to a much younger generation.  My favorite was from in front of the Washington Monument.  If I were younger, I could become a Matthew Morrison groupie. And Josh Grobin sings beautifully - always.  My favorite, and this is where my age comes in ... was the Million Dollar Music from the broadway play ... faux Elvis, the Man in Black, Bill Haley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.  And to top it all off; Little Richard and his piano were wheeled out; he did a medley and it was the 1950s all over again.  This was all topped off with the requisite patriotic and military music and the marches (I love Chan & Sousa) and the beautiful fireworks.

Katie and Sombra and I sat here and sang and laughed all by ourselves (well, maybe it was just me, but I think in their hearts they were singing and laughing) and we had a wonderful time.  The corn dogs weren't bad either.

Our LOKI dog!

It's the 4th of July.  Independence Day!  Fireworks!  Guns!  Fire truck sirens!  Dogs losing their minds!!!

Many years ago, we were living in the southland and we had a 3 year old Norwegian Elkhound.  He was a wonderful dog.  Great with the kids and took his job of protecting his people very seriously.  My husband traveled a lot and when he was away the dog spent the nights in the house.  There was more than once when Larry came home in the middle of the night and tapped on the bedroom window to tell me, "tell that damn dog I live here".  The kids and I could walk anywhere and the 'dudes' would make their stupid cat calls but they always crossed the street when they got close to us.

Fourth of July was tough for him.  Because of the fireworks, legal & illegal, the fire trucks (the station was directly across the street) with their sirens blaring as they came out of the barn, gun shots (there are always a few idiots in every neighborhood) ... and this dog was terrified.  We ended up tranquilizing him from about July first for maybe a week.

One year, Larry happened to be home on the fourth and Loki was sleeping outside and, yes, he was tranq'd.  We woke to a strange noise and when I looked, this poor dog was under the bedroom window trying to alert us, in his tranquilized haze, to an intruder on the other side of the fence.  Once he knew we were aware and in charge, his head dropped and he returned to dreamland.

We discovered there was a man just outside the fence but couldn't tell whether he was injured, on drugs, or what.  He'd done his job!  Good, no - great, dog!

The rest of the story ... we called the police and were advised that our house and address didn't exist so they couldn't come out to help.  When we advised that we were located directly across the street from fire station #48 that didn't seem to mean much either.  After 3 or 4 phone calls and my frustration level having peaked, I gave them directions from the nearest donut shop.  Okay, not my smartest move.  We ended up calling the fire station and asking the guys to call the  police.  They came over, took the man into custody and made that call.  Hmmm, the police were able to find them.  I considered notifying the bank that my house and address were non-existent and therefore I'd no longer be paying my mortgage but I was willing to bet the police would find the address and evict us just out of spite.

When we relocated to Fresno, we brought Loki with us.  He lived to be over 16 years old and, like my Katie, was one of the best dogs to ever love and be loved.

Friends & Neighbors

Those of you who read my blog regularly (or as regularly as I've been posting) and who read Judi's 'Bread & Beauty' blog (which,coincidentally, has been on hiatus also), will remember that she was in the process of buying a house earlier this year and it just so happened to be in my area.  I'd say neighborhood but up here the neighbors can be a "fur piece up/down the road".

Anyhoo - she's all moved in and is now in the process of making her home what she wants it to be.  Having said that, I've been here 5 1/2 years and I'm still in that process.  Meanwhile, we've learned the difference between neighbors who become friends and friends who become neighbors.  There's an introductory and 'getting to know you' phase with the first.  Sometimes it develops into friendship and sometimes you're just friendly.

However, when a friend, who has been a friend for some time already, moves up the road from you, it's like being kids all over again.  She comes to your house to hang out; you go to hers.  You now have someone to watch your favorite TV shows with - at either house.  A trip to the city for dr appt's and to run errands is now a fun road trip.  And the dogs are as good friends as you are (the treats each one takes as a hostess gift don't hurt).  We gals prefer a bottle of vintage (or not) wine as a hostess gift but I guess there's no accounting for canine taste.

Really important, we've discovered meals again.  Crackers, cheese, & wine are great for an occasional dinner but when they start becoming mainstays along with Marie Callendar & Lean Cuisine, something's got to give and it's usually the waistband.  Now, we do at least two dinners a week together taking turns making real honest-to-goodness fresh cooked meals.  I remember when, back in the day, dinnertime was fun.  That stopped when there was just me - and five four-legged critters staring at me while I ate a couple of cookies or some take-out in front of the TV and called it dinner.  Now the two of us sit at a kitchen or patio table like semi-normal people and we visit while we eat and dinner has become fun again.

I like having a favorite playmate up the road.  It's even better now.  No one's mom tells anyone when it's time to go home.

Remembering the Fourth of July

This is THE weekend!  Or, should I say WAS the weekend.  The kids and grandkids all came up from southern California to spend a week every 4th of July.  The kids and grandkids who lived up here came and joined us.  Our very first gathering, our first summer in Fresno, the thermometer on the patio read 110 degrees but we'd started a tradition and it lasted almost 20 years.

It was a big 4 bedroom, 2 story house and there wasn't room to turn around in.  At night you didn't dare try walking through the rooms because every square inch of floor had bodies on it.  The swimming pool was filled all day and a good chunk of the evening.  The animals hid for most of the day, coming out to walk around those bodies on the floor when the house finally got quiet.

The neighbor used to tell me he was going to set up a toll booth --- for outgoing traffic only.  He figured he could make his mortgage payment off of us.  All the neighbors said they took delight listening to the sounds of this family delighting in each other for that week every summer.  Dad and I used to worry they were going to run us out.

We waited for the kids to quit bringing dogs and start bringing grandbabies.  When the babies started coming, we had assembly lines on the den carpet for diaper changing and napping.  Then we watched the grandbabies grow up.  Grandpa taught them how to swim and jump off the diving board.  Lisa made Orange Dreams for the grown-ups in the 'Blend-Blend'.  Judy kept the dryer going with warm, dry towels.  Every year the grandkids put on a show for us.  We celebrated July/August birthdays.  We cooked, we ate, we drank, we laughed.  It was a wonderful time!  The memories run through my head like a slide show.
 
I'm wishing a happy Fourth to all my family and to all of you as well!!!