HOT, the POOL, Paint Colors and the Kanga Book.

Sorry that I haven't been stopping to comment on blogs lately!

I'm reading them on my phone.

In fact I'm doing this post by phone!

It seems like I never have very much time to set down to the computer.

It's been SUPER HOT here

and I've been putting in a TON of overtime.

Don't ask why, let's just say, same old same old!

Sigh.

Anyway, the pool has saved me.

Relaxing and refreshing.... 

Except for yesterday when I came home and within the course of ONE day, it had turned an ugly green color.

I had been adding chlorine tablets but apparently I need to change the "filter" and also to "test" the water and to, at least weekly, "shock" it with chlorine.

Luckily I will have some overtime pay because it's becoming clear that pools aren't cheap.

I mean yes, THE pool was cheap but the maintenance is not.

There's a metaphor here but my brain is too fried to think of what it is.

Other news: I've finally chosen paint colors for my kitchen and laundry room!

This is HUGE for me as I'm addicted to White.

I'll share more on that later.

Other news. My Kanga book...

I have had it written for quite some time.

I've had the sketches scribbled out in a storybook fashion too.

But then I was stalled.

I just couldn't move forward.

Then the other day as I as floating, it hit me.

I felt the story was too generic.

Too typical.

But as I floated, I thought about how I wanted the story to be so many things.

#1 Dealing with a handicap

#2 Rescuing animals, especially ones that aren't perfect

#3 (most importantly) How to choose be happy.

So as I floated, it suddenly started to come together in my mind's eye.

It's still not completely worked out but I'm ALMOST totally sure on how I want it to be.

Yep.

I just need some chlorine and stuff so that I can get back to floating/visualizing so that I can complete the process!

LOL!

OK! See ya later!

Try to stay cool and hydrated!

XOXOXO 

Today is ...MY BIRTHDAY!

Whatever.

Actually, I HAVE been thinking about the aging process a lot lately.
Who knows how long we have.
Someone could be 80 years old and have 15 years ahead of them
and someone could be 19, and die in a car accident that year.
We just don't know.
I've already lived past the age of my Mom's passing
and if I go for Dad's age, I've got slightly less than 20.
But seriously who knows?
and why think that way?!

I got news recently from someone I was close friends with in high school.
I was close with the whole family.
I practically spent all my spare time there.
Their family was polar opposite of mine.
It was loud and rowdy and everyone was on top of one another.
They were outrageous and made messes and had so much fun.

Last year I heard that the oldest daughter had passed away from a brain tumor.
Now I heard that one of the sisters that I spent so much time with, has pancreatic cancer.
She's younger than me!
I haven't seen her in more than 30 years.
She got married and had kids and we just lost touch and now....
Her sister tells me that there's not much hope.

There have been many people over the years that are now gone.
People I grew up with and now, BAM! gone.
Most of my relatives have passed and several of my old boyfriends.
Two years ago, a woman who was my sister's best friend when we were all little,
was posting photos of herself and her fiance on this fun grand vacation they were taking.
Everyday there were photos on Facebook.
They were having so much fun.
I even commented on how she didn't seem to have aged.
So they came home from the vacation and that Sunday afternoon
she had a headache and went to take a nap and when her fiance went to wake her,
she was gone.

Everyone was in shock.
So I was thinking about her again,
as I thought about so many other people who are now gone too.
You just don't know.

So why do we count the years?
I wish we could just live and never know how old we were.
My sister once gave me a birthday card that said pretty much that.
It said something like -
"If you didn't know how old you were, how old would you be?"

I think I'm 36!
Hahahahahahahaha!
No, seriously.
36.

I do know that I appear younger than my age.
I get that all the time.
I contribute that to three things.
#1. Genes. My Dad looked way younger than he was until one day he didn't.
and
#2. It's my nose. I have a Sally Field type of nose.
and
#3 Fat. Extra weight plumps out the wrinkles.

Also, I like things from NOW.

I think that helps keep a person young at heart.

To be open to new things.
I like the current music.
Sure, I love some of the old stuff but I like new stuff too.
I hate when people my age, scoff and talk about the good old days.
There WERE some really GREAT old days
but I hate when people act as though the good times are behind them.
I hate when I hear "I'm too old for that".
I've caught myself saying something similar to it.
But it's because I'm tired, not because I'm old.

OK, ok. Maybe my joints and things hurt a little bit more now but...
I work with young people who complain more than I do about their aches and pains.

So... I'm hating putting a number on myself.
When I hear my new number, I'm shocked!
How can this be?

I've decided not to put things off any longer though.
This year I'm going to try to push myself out of my comfort zone,
which is ironic since I've been working so hard at creating my own little private sanctuary.

But I'm going to start putting myself first, or try to anyway.
I'm going to do it in small ways.
Today I actually bought some nail polish that I wanted.
Of course it's the cheaper brand ($1.66) but it's this lovely shade of blue.

seriouslyswatched.com

Not really navy and with a hint of lavender.
and I'm not too old for it!
I also picked out some lip stain ($4.79) from Burt's Bees.
It all totally up to less than $10.00 but I felt so extravagant!

and finally, I'm going to share what I did for myself that is BIG!
Well, to me it's big.
When I first heard this news of my old friend being sick,
when the reality of mortality hit me again.

We all need to treasure the time we have

And to be Happy!
I started to think about what made ME happy in the past.
Maybe not what would make another person happy but Me.
I wanted to start enjoying my life.
Then I got an idea but I didn't have the cash and that's when The Universe stepped in!

I never get tipped at work.
Well, I used to... by two different ladies who boarded their dogs with me
but both of those dogs have passed away now.
There was one year someone gave my hand lotion and gloves for Christmas!
but I don't get tipped like the Groomer at work does.
She pulls in a lot of cash everyday!
She has a tip jar stuffed with $5 and $10's!
She doesn't even know some of the pets names and yet some of them I have cared for,
for several weeks and fretted about their eating and playing with them and .... nothing.
Oh well!

So when I got my idea, a sweet older couple returned to pick up their 3 little dogs who had boarded with me for a couple of weeks
and they handed me an envelope.
I get cards all the time but this one had CASH in it!
I was so surprised and HAPPY.
That set it in motion.
Then I sold 3 painting/photos at work and that decided it!

I took my Lowes giftcards that I got from my step-mom and my sister for Christmas.
(I wanted to buy a cool faucet for the kitchen sink with them)
but instead I used them to buy fence pickets!
I already had the posts and had purchased the cement last Fall but never put the posts up yet.
I just couldn't figure out where I wanted the fence.
But now I had a plan!
I put in the posts and built the fence.
Then I leveled the yard behind it.
That about killed me.
The heat index was close to 100 that weekend but I had to get it done.
I actually had a 3 day weekend off! The Fourth of July weekend
and I was outside working hard for most of it.

Finally it was done.
Then I used all my money.
My money from the card, the painting money
and I bought a pool that I found on clearance!!!!
It's not huge but it's not tiny either.
The water comes to my waist and I can float on a raft
and I can swim three strokes across it.
Or swim like a goldfish around the side.
I'm out there splashing and paddling and I'm loving it SO much that it's ridiculous!

The other night I came home exhausted.
I let the dogs out on the patio and they laid on their chaise lounges
while I paddled around on the raft reading my book.
Then I laid on my back and just floated.
I felt like I was almost meditating.
After a while I gathered up my stuff and went in and feed the dogs and felt so much better.

Yep, I'm going to concentrate on just being Happy
and believing The Universe will help me find a way!
and I'm going to forget this age thing.
Not because I'm denying it
or want to pretend I'm younger than I am
but because I don't want it to define me.

So yeah, it's my birthday
but Whatever!

WATCH DOG

Rained this morning.

Really hard!

It was cool enough afterwards to open the windows for a while.

A few people started out for their morning walks before it started to heat up,

with no idea that they were being watched.

Life is Good!

I'm not sure how to explain this but I'll try.

Sometimes I think I block things from my mind.

I mean I'm not completely oblivious but I just refuse to think about it.

I can feel it floating around in my head.

In my subconscious and then peeking out into my conscious thought.

Do you know what I mean?

See, I knew I couldn't explain this right but... 

it's like having a dream and you know you are dreaming and then you wake up and for a moment that dream is still there, floating in the room and then you get up and go about your day and just forget what you dreamt.

So I noticed this marble size lump on Blue's back foot and when I brought him in for a nail trim,

Doc said he didn't think it was anything to worry about.

Then Blue was being grumpy.

It seemed like everything was irritating him.

So I got to thinking, I mean he's 10 years and 8 months old,

maybe he's feeling some aches and pains that seniors have.

So I talked with Doc and started him on a medication for pain and inflammation.

On a side note, one of the women at work whom I have mentioned before, made a comment to me.

She asked if I was trying to have the oldest Great Dane ever.

I didn't look at her but just replied, Yes! He'll be in the World Guinness Book of Records!

Doc didn't say anything and just went and got the pill bottle

but there was this weird jibe in the air.

Seriously, you don't want to know what I was thinking at the time

or what I wanted to say, when she said that.

So I got the pills and because of his size, the chewable pills would cost $60 a month.

They were flavored and he'd gobble them down with his meal.

He'd eat it first and look at me, like it was a treat. 

He'd come up to me and lean his head hard against my leg.

He'd look up at me as if to say 

"Another treat please".

But he'd still be grumpy at times and show his teeth sometimes when little dogs would bump into him as they played

or when I'd nudge him with my toe to move over or

When I'd try to clean around his eye-

Of course I'm Alpha, so I nipped that behavior in the bud right away!

Then my co-worker/friend went on vacation and left her two dogs to board with me.

As she was leaving she said to me that maybe I could ask Doc about the 2 lumps on her dog.

She was sure they were just fatty lumps but since they would be at the clinic anyway....

One of the lumps turned out to be Cancer. 

They called her and then did surgery and the good news is that the results came back with clean margins and they got it all.

But my friend said she felt bad because she almost hadn't had the lumps checked. 

So the end of last week, I searched all over Blue. He grumbled and ROARED!

Then I found another lump.

It wasn't just below the surface but deeper.

Below his rib cage and close to his tummy.

I took him to work Monday.

He was SO happy to go!

He loves riding in the car.

(Jimmy about had a heart attack as we left. Jimmy loves playing with my little dog Ricochet but he needs his Blue).

So we went to work.

I had an official appointment for later in the day at 4.

At 10:00 I couldn't handle it.

I noticed a cancellation at 11:30 so we took that appointment instead.

Years ago, Blue didn't like Doc and would jump and bark at him like crazy.

It was kinda embarrassing actually.

I think Blue was feeding off my energy at the time.

Now I think things are better. I feel like I'm treated with more respect now.

So on Monday Blue was happy to see him.

He was happy to see everyone!

Doc looked him over.

I told him about the pills having no real effect on him so we'd decided not to continue those.

I told him that Blue no longer had the skin irritation or the scratching and seemed to be doing really well on the grain-free food.

Blue is doing good at maintaining his weight and was still 145lbs.

Doc said he looked good.

Then I showed him the new lump and he aspirated it with a needle and it turned out to just be a fatty lump!

I swear I felt like someone took a huge wet backpack off of my back.

Suddenly I felt like I could stand straight again.

Then Doc gave him a chiro adjustment.

I asked if there was anything else?

So Doc got out his stethoscope and listened to Blue's heart.

He said - Sounds Good!

I thanked him and took Blue back to my area.

I swear, it was hard not to skip.

I felt so happy!

I felt like my head cleared suddenly and I could think!

It was like suddenly remembering a dream.

It was a good dream! A happy dream!

After work I loaded Blue up into the car 

and as happy as he had been to come, he was just as happy to be leaving.

I'd glance at him as I drove and he sat there, looking straight ahead.

We got to a stoplight and he leaned over and tried to lean his head on my shoulder.

I laughed and gently pushed him back into his seat.

Blue is healthy and

Life is Good.

THE LAST OF MY COMMISSIONED PIECES and my MODERN FAMILY.

I've finally finished my friend's pets.
Truly, she has waited forever for them.

This is her old guy.

This is Winter, who I plan on blogging about someday.
He lost his front leg.

Horrible story that I won't share today but a Happy Ending
as he now is living with my friend.

All of her other pets are rescues too.

And here's her kitty Peg.
Another three legger.

Many times people comment on my blog and say very nice things to me about ME
and how my pets are rescued.
I feel uncomfortable as I am not the only one that has a house full of rescues.
I plan on sharing some of my friends stories.
I'm afraid that sometimes I complain too much about the negative people in my life
but I'm fortunate to know some awesome people too.

Other news,
I also finished up some work for another dear friend that I will share later.
I don't want it to be seen here and the surprise ruined.

I've been working outside a lot.
I've come to realize that it's therapy for me.
Slowly my yard and is becoming what I want it to be.
A refuge of sorts.
Or as I told a friend recently about finishing up my fence -
Step One in becoming a recluse has been completed!
LOL!

I received a gift the other day that I'm very happy about.
My step-mother contacted me to ask if I had a need for a patio table and 4 wicker chairs.
I did not.
It's very pretty, a woven wicker kind of set but I'm no longer collecting things I don't need.
But I do appreciate her asking me.
Then she asked if I'd be interested in some 16" paver stones?
Well - YEAH!
She said she and her husband would be glad to deliver them and
that they would give them to me at a good price - FREE!

So yesterday she and her husband dropped of 40, yes FORTY of these pavers!
They are nice thick stones, weighing 35lbs a piece.
They will fit into my plan perfectly.

On a complete different topic,
it's so nice how well she and I get along now.
I mean, we are really good friends!
I wonder what my Dad would think of this whole situation? LOL!
She's only 7 years older than me
so it was never a mom/daughter relationship.
There was a time I think we honestly hated each other!
But what 15 yr old is going to listen to a 22yr old?
What was my Dad thinking?
OK, NEVERMIND. I don't want to think about THAT. LOL!

But here's the odd part.
After Dad died, instead of us going our different ways
we became closer.
My sister and I even stood up with her when she remarried.
She found a really good guy and I am a highly critical person of men most times
but she found the nicest man.
He had been a farmer and now hauls freight for a living
I must say, She lucked out with him.
A good guy
and I'd be the last one to approve of anyone else but my Dad.

At Christmas time, we all get together on Christmas Eve.
My sister's family, me and my step-mom, her husband and his kids
and their kids.
Yep, a Modern Family.

OK, off to work in the yard!
Have a Wonderful Fourth!