Bear Cub

With the drought in our area, the wildlife have been moving closer to populated areas.  Unfortunately, the bears have been trying to take back the territory that was once theirs to roam freely.  One of our customers had said that he walked into his kitchen and there was the momma bear digging in the fridge and the baby bear eating a tub of smart balance. 

However, the following stories about a bear being shot and leaving a cub an orphan has left such a sad image in my brain.  I guess the momma was shot at, fell to the ground and died.  The baby ran to the momma and cried and laid on her.  The baby was spooked by the authorities and took off.  They did capture her the next day.  Here are the articles.

http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20070831/Region/108310046/-1/rss01

2nd article about the cub

http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20070830/NEWS/70830011/-1/rss01

What a face!  This whole story reminds me of the scene in the 3rd Star Wars movie with the ewoks.  The mom was shot and the little one was crying over her.  I remember this, since we recently watched this movie with our grandson.

One more day

One more full day and it’s the weekend…WOOHOO!!!  I cannot wait to have 3 days off from work!  The only problem with having a Monday off, is that Tuesday becomes a double Monday.  But, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.  Right now, I am so looking forward to doing what I want for three marvelous days!

Tonight was Music Theory.  I have so much fun in this class.  I still cannot name notes, but hey, I’m learning … again!  I just can’t seem to get them to come to the surface.  The names of notes, especially the bass clef are so far back in my memory, it’s hard to find them in the maze.  But we all have a good time!

My daughter has agreed to extend our little weight challenge to January 1, 2008.  My only big hurdle is the holidays.  But, maybe that will keep me from eating overboard!

Today I went through one major and a couple of minor hot flashes!  I felt like I was having a niacin flush, without the niacin!  Oh my, the doctors office said it will be good in the winter time.  LOL … if I survive that long!  Still as I write this my hands are starting to get all red again and I can feel the heat start to radiate out from me … kinda wierd in a totally strange way!  I guess it is another night with all the fans on my side of the bed and my poor husband buried under all the covers! 

I still don’t understand why the female species are so blessed with all these hormonal changes, from teen years to pregnancy & birth to the dreaded change!  Don’t you think the men could at least participate in some of these lovely hormonal garbage that we have to go through?

Of course, men do have their own type of change, their testosterone levels drop and they get grouchy, no energy, etc., it’s their hormones depleting just like ours.  Only they don’t get the lovely hot flashes.  Although, if they take too much niacin, they will experience the niacin flush, which will be about 1/10th of what we go through with our hot flashes.  If you are into natural medicine doctors, they will run tests on your man and see if their hormone levels have dropped.  If so, they will prescribe hormone therapy.  However, that is if you are into natural doctors.  The normal medical docs, well, that’s not their gig.  No offense to one of the docs I know who may be reading this blog.

I can’t get mine to a natural doctor, but that’s okay.  At least his doctor has a great sense of humor and puts up with both of us in the same room!  Now that’s a challenge!

What are your plans for the Labor Day Weekend?

My husband just asked if we had any plans for the weekend.  He has to work on Saturday, however, he isn’t on call that night.  So we pretty much have Saturday night through Monday night off.  Unfortunately that is too short of time to travel 7-8 hours one way, so now we have to figure out something to do.  I know in Reno they are having the Rib Cookoff.  As much as I enjoy ribs, I’m not sure I’m up for the crowds. 

Then I thought about driving to Stockton to see family, but then we’ll be on the roads with everyone else.   LOL, I’m such a spoil sport! 

I think maybe we’ll just have to gear up and wander the mountains/desert like we used to.  It will just be at a higher elevation than the Las Vegas desert.  We haven’t wandered the desert/mountains in a long time.  That is the whole reason we moved back to Nevada from our short hiatis in Nebraska, no mountains in Nebraska.

Oh yeah, we heard that UNR Wolfpack is playing UNL Cornhuskers.  First game of the season, the Cornhuskers have not lost an opening game.  I think the sportscaster said it best, “The Wolfpack is going straight into the fire for their first game of the season!”  I laughed, them Cornhuskers are mighty serious about their football, alot like Texans are about football!  Should be interesting!  The football stadium at UNL becomes the 3rd largest city in Nebraska on football Saturday.  There is a sea of red all around.

My daughter-in-law will have the dogs and her kids dressed up in Nebraska Red for the day.  If she sends me a pic, I’ll have to post it! 

Is it Friday yet??

What a day!  I’m frustrated, tired, & mad, however, not like I was earlier.  Days like today make me wish I was already at my 5-15 year plan.  My walk down on Lakeshore Blvd didn’t help either.  It just made me more tired, sweaty and smelly … LOL … sorry TMI! 

When I left the office to pick up lunch, I was yelling and arguing with God.  What I thought was a one sided conversation, proved me wrong.  As I was yelling and telling Him my frustrations, anger, and all, I had an interesting experience.  It felt like He was sitting next to me waiting for me to finish screaming at Him.  I felt like He was asking if I was finished yet so He could wrap me up in His arms.  All the wind left my anger sails. 

I was able to go back to work a little calmer.  However, I was still harboring the anger and frustrations.  I just could not let it go.  Now that I am home and not around people or traffic, I finally feel better.  I also feel ashamed for yelling, but it is so nice to know I can yell at Him and when I’m done, He forgives me.  He has so much work to do in me before I have that much grace and mercy to show others.

All in a days work

It has been pretty hectic today.  Problems, solutions, problems, solutions, problems, shootings!  I think we all said, “Just shoot me now” a few times today.  The closer we get to Labor Day, the worst the days are going to get.  This is the last big hoorah before the tourists and part-time residents go home.  And of course, they want everything done yesterday!  I have to admit I was a bit short tempered today also.  Something I am trying very hard NOT to be. 

We have a major star at our work.  She only works in the afternoon and all the customers come in asking for her.  If she isn’t there, they make sure they come back when she is.  It would be annoying, however, if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have anything to look forward to.  Today she was wearing a black T-shirt with DIVA in sparkles along with her bling bling necklace.  That’s our girl.   Everyone loves her and cannot wait for her to come to work.  Her desk is between me and the office manager and she gets to do pretty much what she dang well pleases!

If you haven’t guessed yet, our little DIVA is a 3 month old black pug, named Magic.  Everyone looks forward to hearing her panting the minute she walks in the door.  When you pick her up to snuggle, she nose sprays you while licking you to death.  She definately has a job at our shop.  It’s called “Stress Reliever”!  It doesn’t matter what kind of day you are having, just picking up this little thing and your day is so much better that you can face the next screaming customer!  Best part is the customers melt when they see her and forget all about screaming at ya!  She belongs to the office manager and her husband, who is also one of the owners.  Her desk is actually a doggie play pen with all her toys!  She was wearing a DIVA shirt and her bling bling collar.  We now need to get her a pair of sunglasses!  Funny, as I write this, I hear Sly and The Family Stone sing, “Everybody is a star … “  for those of you that don’t know who Sly and The Family Stone are … bummer dude!  For those of you that do … rock on!

Scott and Renee

So I just watched the final episode of Scott Baio is 45 and still single.   Surprise, hubby watched it with me.

**SPOIL ALERT – IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE FINAL EPISODE AND YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR DVR – DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER **

However, to those of you that have seen the last episode or to those of you that don’t care, I thought it was interesting that he sort of proposed to Renee.  Of course, she also dropped a nice bomb on him that they were going to have a baby!  LOL … poor guy, he just got enough gumption to say he wanted to get married and now finds out he’s going to be a daddy.  In case any of you are interested, they are expecting their baby in December, 2007.   Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know … get a life!

I have been receiving letter after letter telling me it is time to upgrade my cell phone.  I checked out the website and I decided on the Sony Ericson W300i.  Why?  Because it plays music, takes pictures, takes videos, text messages, email, yadda yadda yadda.  My husband asked me if it made and received phone calls.  My answer to him was …  Umm, I think so.  LOL wouldn’t that be  a kick to have all these options and it isn’t a phone!  Anyway,  I have to have music with a good beat while I’m walking … you know, get ya in the grove.  Then I need a camera, just because there is that small chance I could run into Bruce Willis or Trace Adkins or Robin Williams in the small mountain town I work in.   You know, I didn’t want to be stuck without a camera, like in the commercial with the ladies trying to dig for their cameras to get a pic of Mick Jaggar.  As for the texting, etc … the easiest way to get a note to our oldest daughter is to text her!   I have to admit, I am not as fast texting as I am on the keyboard.  Have you all seen the show Burn Notice?  Now that is a texting goal, he textes (word?) without even looking…impressive!  I have to hunt and peck to find the right key and make sure i hit it enough times to get the right letter.   I’m sure glad text messaging is including in my bill and not extra!

“Playing by Heart”

I just finished watching this movie and I don’t know why it isn’t on my favorite movie list.  I will have to add it.  It’s an older movie staring:  Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Angelina Jolie, Gillian Anderson, Madeline Stowe, Dennis Quaid, and others …

Good movie about relationships, family, friends and love.   Relationships on any level can be difficult.  The dynamics between family, friends, spouses, co-workers, you name it, is so complex. 

I only have one or two close friends and I haven’t really talked to them in a long time.  We’ve seen each other and talked, but not really talked like we used to.  The rest are acquaintances.  I know them, but keep them all at a distance.   Why is that?  It is easier for me to talk here over the computer than it is to talk in person.  I feel more free to write about what’s going on then I do talking to someone about what is going on.   Is it just me or do you feel the same way?

What about relationships with family?  Mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, fathers and sons and/or daughters, sibling and sibling, not to mention adding “in-laws” to all that mix.  I am so guilty of being able to see the problem between other family members, however, am oblivious to my own problems with family members.  I guess I shouldn’t say oblivious, because I am aware there is a problem.  How to correct or fix the problem, I don’t have an answer.  I’m pretty much damned if I do and damned if I don’t.  I’ve tried, however, I feel my efforts are a waste and leave me feeling sad and disappointed.  I actually don’t know what to do, so I don’t do anything at all.  I feel a gap growing wider between me and this person, to a point that I’m afraid it will be unrepairable.   Whatever I have done to this person, I am sorry.  We’ve never really had an open relationship and again, I am sorry for that also.  My one thing in life I miss  terribly, is this person.  It would be nice to start again to try to get to know each other.

Removing the blinders

So, I worked on the challenge I gave us all.  Blinders were off and besides watching traffic, I started noticing the things around me. 

When I left the house it was so smoky.  From what I was told the smoke was from the Santa Barbara fire.  The jet stream brought it to our area.  When the afternoon wind started, the smoke quickly dissipated .

Of course I noticed my cows.  There was one large one trying to get up after laying on all fours.  It was a struggle for that poor thing to unhinge the joints to stand.  Unfortunately, I can relate all too well to that feeling. 

Driving home tonight, off in the distance the sun was just at the right angle that it was reflecting off something in the middle of the mountain.  I’m hoping it was a roof top and not a downed plane.  Then I noticed the moon is almost full.  Remembering an email I received yesterday, I thought how interesting it would be to see something that looked like 2 moons.  Here’s the email:

Mark your calendar!!!Subject: *Two moons on 27 August*27th Aug the Whole World is waiting for………….*Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will cultivate
on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles of earth. Be sure to watch
the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has 2 moons. The
next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.

Share this with your friends as
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY
Will ever see it again.

It would be like something out of Star Wars, when Luke was looking out over the land and 3 moons were overhead. 

If this is true, I will have to try to stay awake … LOL … however, that is usually my “dead to the world” time and I’m not sure I’ll be able to actually see something as interesting as that.  So, my assignment to you – should you wish to accept it –  is for any of you nightowls that happen to be out and about at that time, take a picutre and post it.  I would love to see it from all different areas of the country.

Going through life with blinders on

How many of us do this?  Yes, I have my hand raised also.  I am so guilty of that and I need to stop!  Someone had apologized to me for being so unaware of what the ministry I am involved with does.  This person has taken over the outreach ministry and my involvement is a small corner of outreach.  He decided to make it a goal to be more aware of what is going on in our church.

Which got me to thinking … LOL … I know, here we go … It isn’t just church things … but life things that we all go through with blinders on.  We may see something, but choose not to see it or acknowledge it. 

So, what do you look at as you drive to work/school/errands/gym?  How many of you said the back of the car in front of you.  What are the thoughts going through your mind?  How can they possibly hear that music with the bass so loud … lol … oh sorry, I said your mind, not mine.   Well, since I can’t hear your mind, this is what goes through mine:

• Would you hurry up the light is going to change.  See, I told you! 
• Go, go, go, geez, you could have put a semi through that space! 
• Would you all just DRIVE!!
• You stay in your lane and I’ll stay in mine!
• Detour!  No thank you, I don’t want a tour!
• Now what are you doing to the road, you just fixed it last week!

So, did we see the sun rising as we were waiting at the light?  Did we see the person with cerebral palsy riding his bike so he doesn’t stiffen up.  Did we see the way the light rays were shining through the clouds over the mountain? 

This is just in driving that the blinders are on.  What about seeing the needy, the homeless, the abused woman/child, the person standing next to you with such a distraught look on their face.  It only takes one minute for our circumstances to change and that could be any of us; needy, homeless, abused, sad, distraught and physically disabled. 

With today’s economy, who will be the next victim to be laid off?  Is it you?  Is it me?  Is it the single mom barley making enough money to raise her child?  What happens then?

I challenge all of us, me included, to take off our blinders.  See the world around us, the good, the beautiful and the sad.  So we can appreciate our circumstances today.  If you feel a tug to help someone, do it!  You will feel pretty good inside.  You can always pay for the car behind you at the drive-in restaurant or coffee place.  Go ahead, I dare you! 

WooHoo!!

I actually walked tonight after work.  I was able to make it back up the hill without oxygen … LOL … that’s an improvement from Monday!

Well, they drew 4 large thingies of blood.  Everyone else before me was done in a split second … not me … it seemed like it took forever.  Then I had to do the tinkle in the cup.  Oh goodie!  You guys have it easy.  You can whip it out and aim.  We have to do whatever it takes to make sure we are hitting the cup!  Not to mention, in the desert you don’t have to worry about something jumping up and biting your bumm when you gotta tinkle!  LOL … sorry all, just had to get that off my chest.

So, my husband told me this morning that he had lost another 5 pounds.  As I said before … well, you know …  No, I didn’t lose anything, according to the doc’s scales.  According to the Doc, I’ve lost my marbles, what else is new?!

I have to tell you about this sandwhich on Geek Hiker’s blog.  You have to see it to appreciate it … the site is on my blogroll.  His sandwich has received such aclaim from everyone … you’ve gotta check it out!  Anyway, I had to say this to lead into my sandwich story … NO, I did NOT make it … however, it was quite yummy.  It was on grilled cranberry/wheat bread with turkey slices, cream cheese, cranberry jelly, and lettuce.  Oh my, it was quite delicious!  Then I shared a large oatmeal raisin cookie with the saleman (the same one who picked up my desk items from the floor.)  This cafe/bakery is right behind my work.  We don’t go there too often, since it is quite pricey, however, everything is made/baked by them.  By the cash register they have all their baked goods staring at you, calling your name and when you are about to cave in, you see the price and decide you really don’t need it.  Want it, yes, but I could use the money elsewhere than to appease my eyes and craving.  I’ll have to get one of those cell phones with a camera so I can take pictures of my world.  Who knows, I may run into Bruce Willis in the mountain town I work in.  LOL, like I’d recognize him!

Sorry, this is a long post, my brain is jumping from thought to thought and i’m trying to keep up by writing them down quickly before the fleeting thought disappears. 

Last night was Music Theory.  Very basic stuff, however, it is nice to review the basics.  Last year was the first time I had sang in a long time.  So reading music, being an Alto, was easy, since Alto music is written in the treble clef.  I am so rusty on the bass clef.  I really miss having a piano around to keep my brain reading that side of the music.  Must be a left brain/right brain thing.  Not sure which is which, but I am definately week on one of those sides.  I am afraid to ask my husband for a piano.  He’s had to move my old upright piano so many times, that we left it in Vegas with someone … lol … don’t even remember who.  But a full keyboard one would be cool, that way it has volume control!  Hmmm … an item for my wish list … besides a big truck to pull my travel trailer!  If you are gonna wish … why not wish big?  LOL, I am NOT holding my breath.