Our Princess Puppy

Well Folks,

I knows I haven't posted here for a long time, but things have been busy for me. But today, today I have to write something sad, very sad.

Our Dog passed away yesterday. No we did't put her to sleep, we were lucky in a way, she passed over as nature intended, her body just quit working and she laid down, we made her comfortable as possible and watched over her.

When they refuse water and/or very soft food you know that it. It's time.

She did that, poor thing---We had her loving devoted presense for 16 years, from when she was 6 month old.

She and My Hunka Burnin' Love looked into each others' eyes and that was it. Heck she even "called Shotgun" riding in the car, I had to sit in the back seat.

She had her own way of communicating with us, she was even better than Lassie, but Oh if my Man even so much as petted another dog and came home, she'd give him the third degree sniff and I mean right up close a personal at the personals then she'd look at me and ruff and growled and woof and give my Man an accusing glare that said "How dare you go off with another dog, a hussy at that!"

And my Man would be apologizing and saying "I'm sorry to that dog" more than he would to me.

But I didn't mind, she kept him in line. She'd even keep "evil dog" in line letting evil dog know whose boss.

But then she laid down, even evil dog was puzzed, I could see it in Ginger's eyes, "what happened? The pecking order is off kilter, why is boss dog lying down?" and Ginger would give our Princess a lick on the cheek trying to encourage her to get up, then Ginger started standing guard.

Poor thing it was the only thing she could do. And my man petting our beloved hound until she drew her last breath.

We had a spot picked out for her, her spot is carfully marked, I'm going to get a nice river rock and using patio paints that are weather resistant, paint her name and the years we had her.

She's happy and healthy now, young and carefree, playing catch with my Man's Daddy.

My Hunka Burnin' Love expects her to come and get him when it's time for him to go, and I think she'll do it too.

Right now the house is very quiet, no woof's to wake us up in the morning to let us know she's got to do her 1's and 2's. No lying down in front of the open door with the door screen latched to give friendly woof's at the mail person. No jingle of the dog tags, no sitting in the middle of the kitchen waiting for Mommy to give her treats. No more gentle licks from her soft tongue when we're upset about something.

No more playing with her German Shepard boyfriend ( he died 6 months ago), no more rolling around on the big beach towel to dry off after her bath and then looking up at us coyly. No more of those soft brown eyes that each time look at us saying wordlessly "I love you".

You know the word Dog it right for this type of creature, because Dog is God spelled backwards, and it's God's way of saying I LOVE YOU.

WE LOVE YOU TOO BABY GIRL.

Mean Kitty, crying and signing off for the day.

"WHAT IS TRUTH?" Joe Meserle & Oscar Grant.

Well Folks,

I know it’s been a while since I posted here, life has a way of getting a person involved in things and I’ve been involved, the summer is here and I’m enjoying it, but I have to say that I approached this 4^th of July with a certain amount of caution.

Now why you ask, did I look at this 4^th of July differently?

Because I was waiting, waiting on the verdict on the Oscar Grant trial.

Pontius Pilate asked of Jesus of Nazareth and Pilate’s own advisors a three worded question-----

“WHAT IS TRUTH?”

Neither Jesus nor any of Pilate’s advisors gave him an answer.

In the end Pilate asked of the near rioting crowd, whom should be chosen to be spared

They yelled out “Barrabas, give us Barrabas”, Pilate asked “what should be done with this other man” and the crowd yelled out “Crucify him”.

Now I’m not saying that either or neither man should be compared to Jesus or Barrabas, but I am commenting upon the Crowd mentality.

I’ve been asked by many friends to weigh in my opinion on this on my blog, since I had given it via e-mail to them, but they asked me to post it so they could have it to refer to their friends and nothing is lost in the “translation” so to speak.

No I’m not going to call it a murder trail as certain elements and people want to call it because although it did entail a death it was NOT murder.

So----“What Is Truth?”

To me Murder is when someone wantonly, deliberately goes out and with out compunction, consciously, deliberately takes another’s life. Like the situation in the death of O.J. Simpson’s wife----that is Murder pure and simple.

In Oscar Grant’s case it was a tragedy waiting to happen, Oscar and his friends got out of hand and didn’t comply with the Law to prevent an escalation of problems, but then Oscar had always been in trouble with the law before and his friends were not winners either.

No one deliberately set out to take Oscar’s life, he brought it upon himself.

In the O.J. Simpson murder case, one could see the situation brewing, the jealousy, the legal problems, which was a situation waiting to explode.

The Oscar Grant situation is a difficult one, it’s like the O.J. case in reverse, but the thing with O.J. is no one else could have killed his wife, and that was pre-meditated.

In the Oscar Grant case, it was not pre-meditated---it really was an accident that had a very tragic outcome.

Fact one---Joe Meserle really did not have adequate Taser training. That was a deficiency on the part of BART Police.

Fact two---the use of tasers is really much better in a highly emotional situation, because they do not kill people, and really are far better to bring a person out of control under control…

now there are people who will say that there are person’s who have died having been tased, but I can count that on the fingers of 1 hand, and the police officer has no way of knowing if the problem non-complying suspect has a medical problem, the officer is trying to get the situation under control without anyone being hurt.

Fact three---because of inadequate training Joe Meserle in a highly emotional state was not thinking clearly. I know because I’ve had that happen to me, so I can understand how one can have a sort of amnesia in a volatile situation.

This is something I have to watch out for with my Hunka burnin’ Love, he was a DOD police officer but long since retired and he has not had re-training since his Dept. of Defense Police days---I know his emotions will take over—and it takes all I can do to short of punching him in the face to get him to back down.

So constant re-training is vital whether it’s regular or BART police.

Fact 4—I do believe that the situation was elevated to a dangerous situation because Oscar Grant DID NOT comply by staying put. If he had stayed put, he’d be alive today.

Fact 5---if Joe Meserle did have proper Taser training, Oscar Grant would be alive, arrested for being drunk and disorderly and yelling in jail about police brutality and that he’s gonna sue.

If all Oscar Grant said to his pals---and you have to remember they were drunk and out of control and causing fights on the BART train something that the people forget----If Oscar just kept saying “Do what the officer says, just shut up and do what the officer says” then all they would have gotten is a fine and a few days in jail.

But you see Oscar Grant had been in and out of jail a number of times, and what happens is that you don’t want to go back to jail so you do everything to get out of being arrested even resisting and not complying---Grant was doing that.

Fact 6--You see in the video Grant getting up when it’s clear by the officers actions he’s being told to remain put.

Oscar Grant ignored what the officer was saying. That is important.

Now I saw other videos from different angles and Grant is on the ground, he is trying to get his knees under himself to stand up, when it’s clear he’s being told to remain flat on the ground---he’s still resisting.

He would not put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed---if he complied he’d still be alive----I saw in an enhancement that he did put his hand under his body but in a way not to push himself up but to reach down to ‘something’---any officer would take that as a potential dangerous situation, is it a knife, a gun? You don’t know, but you have to take action to protect yourself and your fellow officers and any innocent bystanders.

Fact 7---Joe Meserle saw Grant trying to grab something, Grant was resisting, Joe Meserle said I’m going to tase him (Grant), the other officers moved back because that is what you do if someone is going to be tased, you don’t want to get tased either…. it happens in the blink of an eye, but instead of the bang of a taser, it’s a gunshot.

Fact 8---the look of shock and disbelief on Joe Meserle’s face is real, it was never his intention to shoot with a gun, Oscar Grant. An accident not murder.

An accident brought upon by a highly volatile situation, by people resisting arrest, by inadequate training.

Much like Dick Cheney shooting his friend by accident while they were hunting, fortunately his friend wasn’t killed, but his friend moved into the line of fire---an accident. And Cheneys’ friend said so.

But because someone was killed and considering the highly emotional charge of the situation, to find Joe Meserle not guilty of all charges would have had Oakland, Calif. burning down to the ground, we would have had 3 days of riots like in the Rodney King case, with innocent people hurt, African American businesses destroyed by other but lawless African American’s and everyone distrusting everyone.

But Joe Meserle did no seek to shoot Grant, the situation did not qualify for 1^st or 2^nd degree murder---it didn’t even qualify for voluntary manslaughter---in was involuntary.

I know that if someone broke into my house, and I felt threatened by that person and shot him to save my life, if that person did not have a weapon in hand, even though I did not know if they did or did not have a weapon, I would be charged with involuntary manslaughter and would have to prove my innocence that I felt I had no choice. What would make my case different is that I would be protecting my life and my home during a break-in.

Personally, if I was on that Jury, I would have found Joe Meserle not guilty of any criminal charges but would hold him accountable of the involuntarily taking a life, and sue him for “damages” in a civil court, I would hold BART accountable for their lack of proper training and hold BART accountable also in a civil court. Much like Nicole Brown Simpson’s family did with O.J.

Recently a mother received an award of 5 million dollars from P.G. & E. because one of their drivers fell unconscious and his truck rammed into the daughters car burning the daughter to death. P.G. & E. said they were not responsible, but a jury thought different, this mother said it was murder, but I say it was an act of negligence for which P.G. & E should be held financially accountable and that new laws need to go into place so that P.G & E does not do that again and are always held accountable for their employees actions and health, despite what the law says about employers not discriminating for health reasons..

Now why do I say I would find Joe Meserle not guilty---because much of it was acerbated by Oscar Grant---he placed himself in danger by not complying---and Oscar Grant was no prize package either---he had been arrested and charged 6 months before because of criminal behavior. It doesn’t matter to me that his mother claims he was turning his life around for over a year---he Was arrested 6 months prior to the New Years Eve event.

And what he was doing on New Years Eve according to neutral witnesses was that he was just as much of the problem and frankly that does not indicate that he was turning around his life.

Sad to say it is the old Mamas’ cry of “My Son is a Good Boy” when he’s been found guilty beyond a doubt that he Did indeed commit the crime.

I do not make Oscar Grant a Martyr. Now If Oscar Grant was white, it would be BART and BART Police facing a law suit and not criminal charges, and we would not have had the volatile community problem in Oakland, but no, Oscar was black and someone tossed in the race card

.

I’m sorry if my analysis sounds cold, or prejudice, believe me I’m not---I’m going only by the facts and strictly by the facts.

Granted---the Jury only did 6 ½ hours total of deliberation----Grants family and the family lawyer are claiming that the jury had already pre-judged the outcome---what they don’t say (and I have been on the jury for a murder trial) ---is that the alternates also see the same evidence, hear the same witnesses and hear the same arguments by the lawyers at the exact same time as the selected jurors. The only thing is that the alternates cannot sit in with the jurors when they are debating the case in the jury room. They are left with their own thoughts.

When an alternate is brought in that alternate is brought up to speed on what the jurors have debated so far, then the alternate can ask of the juror’s questions on things that maybe those jurors had not thought of. But it seems that independently the alternate was on the same page as the remaining 11 jurors.

That is why the verdict came in so quickly. And the jurors felt that although they may have wanted Joe M. to go free---if they did that---they would be targets, and Oakland, L.A., S.F., Berkeley, Alameda and the whole Bay Area would have burned worse than the Chicago Fire and the Fire of the 1906 S.F. Earthquake.

The Jury had to find “What is Truth?” but they knew that if they did not find Joe Meserle guilty of something there would be a riot on their hands, so the Jury Gave Barrabas (Oscar Grant) to the crowd and acquiescing to what the crowd would do, gave a verdict to crucify Joe Meserle.

When I heard that the case was finally with the Jury, I meditated what would be the outcome and my thoughts told me involuntary manslaughter. I realized it was for the best, but Joe Meserle may get killed in prison, he may not live long, because it will be some criminals’ idea to get “Back at the Man”.

I’ve got cousins that are in the Police Force, and one or two friends, besides my Hunka Burnin’ Love---I know what they go through, once Hunka and I were stopped by CHP. All we did was have our hands were the officer could see them and asked the officer exactly what he wanted us to do. I did have to tell the officer that I have arthritis and it would be hard for me to fully comply but I’d do my best.

Well it seems that someone had falsely reported us as having a gun. We told the officer and his fellow officers they were welcome to go though the car. Of course the skeleton hanging from the side window was a bit off-putting and the fact that Hunka’s license plate holder had a cemetery reference on it.

I even asked one of the officers if I could sit on a fire hydrant because I have arthritis in my hip joint, they saw the aluminum cane in the car so they let me sit. We even had cuffs put on us; we were not arrested but told it was for everyone’s safety, we had no objections.

Once Hunka explained to them about the license plate and the stickers on the back, and they did not find a gun, they removed the cuffs, and were very apologetic and explained what had happened. We told them about the idiots that had cut us off a mile back, I even had the license plate number and description of the car---it was the one that called in a false report on us. So instead of bringing them to us to id us, they ran the plates and the ID’s of the people in that car and found that they had warrants.

Because we complied, and followed directions, the officers began to relax and gave us concessions. And the original arresting officer was black, we do not see color---we see either police blue or CHP khaki

And that is where Oscar Grant made his fatal mistake---he and his companions did not comply.

But what really burns me is the lawyer for the family of Oscar Grant making statements to incite riots---that man should be removed from the BAR. He was not part of the prosecution team---he was an outside lawyer. And I felt he tried hard to fan the flames for rioting. And that is wrong, ten kinds of wrong.

I’m sorry if my words seem strong, but I’m trying to see everything from all sides, but I cannot deny the facts. It was a very, very tragic accident.

I’m not seeing this as a black vs. white situation. When I think on the facts the images are simply gray, without color, no race or ethnicity.

The big mistake is that people (not all, but a number of people) try to play the race card, they shouldn’t, it does not move anything forward especially in understanding things. It only promotes more hatred, and that is wrong too.

And what is so very sad is that the crowd decided to not ask the hard question of themselves “WHAT IS TRUTH?” and instead yelled for Barrabas, a criminal, a person who committed crimes against the state---granted the state was the Roman Empire, but Barrabas was a known criminal who after being freed, disappeared to never be heard from again.

I’m very tired, I’ve had a long hard week, and things have been playing havoc on me because of the volatile emotions that have been flying. It’s times like these that I want to just curl up into a ball and say to the world, go away leave me alone---give me chocolate to drown my misery and nobody gets hurt.

Mean Kitty signing off, claws out in defense.

I'm tired~~~

I'm tired of being bothered by those automated phone calls that are nothing more than commercials to vote for this or vote for that.

I'm also tired because I'm going to lose another tooth and the doc has got me on antibiotics. Dang it I hate losing teeth but it's happening because of genetics.

I've got something to rant on eventually---It's about the Arizona immigration law. I got a letter from a friend of mine who is staying down there and as a former California resident she is seeing this up close and personal.

And says that all those fools and idiots in California and the rest of the world should SHUT the H$%## UP!!! Until they have been threatened by an "illegal immigrant" they don't know their asses from a hole in the ground.

I will post her letter here next time---and you folks better read it, because it will be happening to you before you know it.

Mean Kitty signing off and looking for her pills.

Proposition 16

I Hate Politics!!!!

I Hate Elections!!!!

I Hate the Politicos and Self Interests trying to MUCK Things UP!!!

And I HATE a utility company that can't do the JOB!!!

And that's YOU PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY!!!!

You put in these stupid meters and people suddenly get charged hundreds of dollars for a untility bill that not even right---but PG & E says that these are smart meteres, well it seems to me that it's pretty stupid meters.

And now----AND NOW!!! P G & E is the major backer of Proposition 16, claiming that it gives the taxpayers the right to vote----well doesn't it mean that taxpayers who are tired of PG & E from not doing their job to allow cities to get out from under the monopoly that PG & E has??

That the People have no recourse to turn too? Where I live we have a municipal owned electric company and my electric bill is very resonable, of course I don't cook with electricity nor dry with electricity nor heat my home with electricity---that's gas---and frankly my bill has been going up, even when I've cut down on the heat, I line dry my clothes, and barely cook with my stove.

SO WHY IS MY GAS BILL GOING UP, EVEN WHEN I DON'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE STUPID SMART METERS ON MY HOUSE??? Answer THAT PG & E!!!

I know how I'm going to vote on Proposition 16--- I'm going to vote NO!! And if my City wants to go into the gas business I know that will mean more work for people, and we will have greater recourse incase they mess up and we'll have a quicker response to a situation.

On top of that my City can look into more affordable sources for gas than does PG & E.

Vote No on Prop 16! It keeps PG & E in business of being a monopoly!

Mean Kitty with her claws out signing off!

I'M BAAAACCKKK!!!

Ya can't get rid of me.

Again I've been busy, very busy, work, taxes, property taxes, house cleaning (with a shovel and a bull dozer).

And more work and more work.

Right now I'm ready to demand a raise, The city finance system screwed up direct depositing my paycheck, so they don't know where my paycheck is. I told Head of Finance they better cut me a check because I"M NOT HAVING MY CREDIT RATING DESTROY BECAUSE OF THEIR STUPIDITY!!!

So we shall see how all of this is going to work out on Monday, they owe me an apology and something for my stress.

In the mean time Hunka Burnin' Love and I will be going to my brother Bubba's house for Easter. He's putting a good size Ham on the Bar-be, or Ham steaks, it's goina be cold and rainy, it's been that way all week.

I want to know where did the nice weather go to.

So if I don't post for a while we'll I've been busy.

Oh and I ran into her again that Gal that looks like Ava Gardner, whoooo weee she is pretty, she was at the Gun Show a few weeks ago and bought a vintage small caliber automatic that belonged to a Madam who owned a "House of Ill repute" back in the 1920's. it was a pretty little thing.

We had a nice little chat over in the snack bar area, said she works in the City for some financial institution, I can't say which one, I mean even on the Internet you've got to have some privacy.

Well we exchanged business cards (Like the professionals that we are), and we may stay in touch. So we shall see.

When I have the time I'm going to do some links here to a couple of blog sites that I like. But right now I've got to do some shopping with what little money I can spare.

Mean Kitty signing off

WELL HAPPY NEW YEAR YA'ALL!!!

It’s me Again Folks!!

No I didn’t forget about you, I’m still a rantin’ and a ravin’. But as with all things busy, Busy.

Health wise I’m doing fine, had a CT scan for my Kidneys, it was a 2 for 1 deal, check for tumors and the stones.

I tell ya’ you do not want a kidney stone attack, the pain is something that I would only wish on Osama Bin Laden and anyone with those extremist Terrorists groups. Frankly I think they deserve the pain.

By the way do ya like the picture of Gingersnap---whom I call "Evil Dog" she looks all sweetness and light but she'll take a chunk out of ya. I'm experimenting, seems I can add images to my blog, so this should be fun.

Now back to my health, So I’m drinking water, keeping things flowing (maybe too much) gotta watch those ecltrolytes (don’t ask me to spell it).

So what have I been doing since Thanksgiving’? Well working mostly, and having family members getting’ in touch with me, seems like we’se need to be in touch, find out who we came from ya know all that genealogy stuff.

Well I found in a tiny green address book, all the basic info that my Mama wrote down, had to use a magnifyin’ glass the writin’ was so small. So now me and my Hunka are going to go to the cemetery to get some more dates and such. Good thing I know where they’re buried and also can check on the headstones.

Do you know that there are some punk kids goin’ around grafitting headstones---no respect for the dead I tell ya, none at all. But don’t worry the dead is gonna get them, ya don’t mess with them. That’s what’s my Granny told me.

Anyway getting back to the kidneys (why is it when one gets old it’s always about goin’ to the bathroom?) The doc calls me said everything is O.K. the stones are small and so far staying put, and no tumors. But it’s back in the next 6 months to keep an eye on those things. But no Barium and no dye injected. And I tell ya that’s no fun.

I had to fast from midnight the night before and then get up at “Oh My God it’s Early” in the dark, shower and dress (and it was cold too) then 2 hours before my 9 a.m. appointment drink ½ of this stuff that they call Berry Barium Smoothie, look it may smell like berries, and have a little berry taste with a chalky after taste and it maybe a little bit smoother, but it’s still no fun to drink, although the berry smell and taste did make it a little bit better.

Then we’se got to get there early to find a parking space, and now it’s an hour before my appointment and I have to drink the other half, still no fun.

So then I go to my appointment, early because they need to find a vein on my arm (my veins are not good) but I do have to say at KP they are very, very nice to me, didn’t want to hurt me although they had to try 3 times to find a vein. Then they walk me to the CT machine room and helped me into that hospital gown, ‘cause the IV lock is in the vein in my hand (not comfortable but they taped it down good) then it’s my turn in the CT machine, first the saline, bit of a chilled rush in my hand and arm, then the dye, well they did warn me what to expect.

O.K if you’ve never had a CT scan with dye this is what happens, you get this metal taste in your mouth and then you get hot all over like having a major, Major hot flash only hotter, then you feel like you’ve got to go potty, but you can’t. So I close my eyes as the machine takes over and says “take a breath, hold, breathe” and repeats is several times and I’m moved in and out of this donut hole, Now I hear the medical Techs come in and say “You’re doing good” just a little more. Well me I’m ready to leave any time now.

But after a bit I stop hearing the machine whine, and it stops, but I’m inside the donut, but the techs come in and ask me if I’m takin’ any blood thinners, guess that important. So’s I tell them what I am takin’ and they say that’s fine we’re all done, but I’m still inside the donut, so I says to them “Can you get me out of this thing, it feels like it wants to make love to me” (Not bad for an old lady) well the techs laugh and say “Now that is a new one” and they very gently help me out of the machine and take out the IV lock, puts a band aid on it and helps me get dress.

Then they ask if I have someone with me (yeah Hunka), and tells me to get some protein into me and water, and then to go home and rest for a bit. Well Hunka takes me to breakfast and all I want is poached eggs and grits, and whole wheat toast, and O.J. I even asked for a second bowl of grits---now I rarely eat grits but I do like them and I very seldom have poached eggs, but poached eggs and not one but two bowls of grits?---man that is demanding major comfort food.! Then after that Hunka took me home and I slept the rest of the day. Even he took a nap---no fun getting’ up at “Oh My God It’s Early!”

I’m fine, Doc says I’m fine, and that is good.

CHRISTMAS---DICKENS FAIR

Christmas---I loved the Holiday season, Hunka and I went to the Dickens Fair and just had a Major good time, even dropped off a couple of toys for the Toys for Tots collection.

I’ve got to tell you that Dickens Christmas Fair in S.F. is somethin’ else. Where else can you meet Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, Father Christmas, Scrooge, Fagin, Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, the characters from a Jules Verne novel, and Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson all in one place? It’s great!

Ya go in and suddenly you are overwhelmed by the smells of baking, cinnamon, nutmeg, sausages, spicy tea, fudge and the sounds of people in a busy thoroughfare, sort of like walking down Diagone Alley in a Harry Potter story, but it’s Charles Dickens time. And of course Hunka was right in there all dressed up in his Cowboy Sunday go-to-meetins’ clothes, and me I’m dressed like a Frontier woman from Kansas, only we’se aint in Kansas Toto.

For a little while you forget your worries or cares, you just want to get into the fun of it. No problems of the 21^st century, just a fairy tale of what we think the 19^th century is all about. ***sigh*** Wish it were so.

Hunka and I went to Christmas eve Vigil Mass (not midnight gotta get my beauty sleep ya know), then we drove over to Christmas Tree Lane, had to park away from it because it’s so popular, so Hunka gets out my rolling Hooptie, so I can walk a bit, it was cold but the lights were so pretty. People were having their pictures taken.

CHRISTMAS—AT BROTHER BUBBA’S

We celebrated Christmas Dinner at my brother’s house, I love the way he’s got it all fixed up, the colors of the living room and dinning room, just brings out the woodwork the way it should be. And the food, everyone brought something, me I baked yams, turned out pretty good to.

My brother Bubba, didn’t want to do the Turkey bit, so he had instead a Ham from Trader Joe’s (bone in) man, it was delicious, but big well he got a 18 pound ham for 17 people, and there was nothing left, I have to say there was nothing for left overs, and my Sister in law was expecting left overs but everyone had a good appetite.

Instead of crashing out they set up a couple of tables and everyone played different games, the kids were playing some sort of weird card games and really getting into it, some my brother, and his brother in law, Hunka and a couple of the kids were playing Squeak, Me and my sister in law her two sisters and mother we were playing Mexican dominos. We played until late, only taking breaks to much on the left overs or having desert. Hmmm come to think of it no wonder there were no left overs.

Bubba to make up for it being a “no burn” day (ya know they did that on Thanksgiving too---lots of people yelled that it was a conspiracy, but the EPA kept saying no it wasn’t---I don’t believe them) Well anyway Bubba burned candles all in holders in the fireplace and on the T.V. he had this DVD that shows a log burning in a fireplace and played Christmas music, kept it on a loop too.

And some of those Candles smelled of Cinnamon and Vanilla, felt good.

It was nice and mellow; it seems that everyone was relieved that we didn’t do a gift exchange it felt more old fashioned, more Christmassy.

At work it was slow, everyone out of town, which was fine, but next year I’m taken the week between Christmas and New Years off. I’m doin’ it out of self defense (talk about furloughs) so I’m saving up money to cover two weeks now if they only furlough one week I’m ahead of the game, if they don’t furlough at all I’m still ahead and will just let it make interest.

NEW YEARS EVE ---was something else. I mean it was a mellow New Years Eve for me and Hunka; we managed to eat out at Ta-daaaa! Carls Jr. yeah real fancy, but it’s what we wanted. As a matter of fact we met all kinds of people there, just having a late dinner before going to any parties. I was surprised at some of the evening dresses. And no they didn’t get any sauce dripped on them

Hunka and I went home and we watched a DVD of “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” talk about a story getting’ dark and complicated. But it was good. Then we switched to the Dick Clark’s New Years event---I’m sorry but Dick Clark looked Mummified, well the poor guy had a stroke and considering his age and all he’s doing well. But still he looked mummified.

About a couple of minutes before Midnight Hunka poured two glasses of sparkling cider into our cheap wine glasses and we were bundled up in blankets and went out onto our front porch. There were a couple of parties going on, and we could hear them do the count down. Then the whistles from some ship blew nearby, we heard fireworks go off, our partiers were yelling and blowing their horns and banging pots. We knew they were happy.

Hunka and I toasted each other and drank and wished each other happy new year and kissed---I know---awwww ain’t that sweet. But wait until I tell you the rest of it----and no we didn’t do the “dirty deed” we were too tired for that.

No, what happened next is that some guy from down the block at one of the parties comes running up the middle of the street blowing a whistle and wearing nothing but his tennis shoes and his tidy whiteys’ as he got near our house he stopped blowing for a few seconds and I yelled, “don’t go onto the next street they won’t see you!” I was afraid he’d get hit by a car because we maybe a quiet street but we do have a busy cross street and we didn’t need an accident to some guy wearing tennis shoes and his tidy whiteys’.

But he runs to the street end turns around and runs back, now I have to say that took courage or a lot of beer because this guy had a gut on him that was jello in motion, it was almost hypnotizing, everyone else on their porches saw him but no cops were called----after all it is New Years. And he ran back to the cheers of his party goer friends.

I looked at my Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love and said “Honey I think this New Year is going to be very interesting”.

And with that we finished our cider, went inside, turned off the T.V. and went to bed.

And so far the New Year has turned out to be Very Interesting---and its not even Jan.30^th.

So now at work they’ve were for two days upgrading the computer systems so we couldn’t do our regular work, which in a way was good, it gave me a chance to do major clean up and organizing, got ride of 3 years worth of back log stuff, shredded tons of stuff I didn’t need any more, I was goin’ to town! Told my Boss “Hey do some more of this upgrading and I can be totally caught up”

Did I make any new years resolutions---No---Why you may ask?

Simple---I made my resolutions when I got out of the Hospital last October, I said I was going to fix myself up, wear my good clothes, make up, jewelry, perfume (yea and don’t tell me they’re people allergic to it, I’m entitled to wear it) and bit by bit, get more organized, clean out Krap, even if it’s a little at a time, and work on projects, O.K. it’s going to take more than a year to get some of this stuff done, but I’ve got to start somewhere.

So why? Well my Cousin Edna sent me via e-mail this little short story called “Someday” Seems this lady was helping her late friends’ husband pack away his wife’s things. She came across all this beautiful clothing and such that was never worn. The grieving husband said “My wife would save it for ‘Someday’ to wear, but ‘Someday’ never came”.

Well I’ve got stuff I’ve been savin’ for someday, so with everything that surgery was a wake up call, my Someday is Now!! So I’m wearing it Now! Using it Now! Because if I wait for Someday, that might never come.

Just remember that Folks, if you’ve been saving something special for Someday, Don’t. Because Someday is now, and things are special now, make yourself feel special Now, don’t wait, because if you do, Someday may never come.

Mean Kitty leavin’ you with that thought.

Random Thoughts and pissed as Hell

Hello Again Folks,

Well I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. Mine was pretty mellow, even if it was a T.M’s house, she of the Frozen Cheese Lasagna of two years ago come Christmas.

I have to say things have improved ever since her daughter took over the cooking arrangements, I only had to bring baked yams, which is not hard to do, and some soda, which if you get it in Liter bottles is a lot cheaper than buying by the can.

The food was good and arrived at the table warm, well above room temperature, things were wet where I live, but frankly we need the rain, I just hate the wind and cold.

And speaking of cold, I’ve come down with one, I know it’s a cold because my sinuses are running and I cough because the stuff tickles my throat, but I do have a lot to be thankful for.

We can at least pay the bills, stay warm and can buy food, everything else we use it up, make do, save for it, recycle it, fix it, or do without.

A really good bit of philosophy in the long run, but I just hope the state government doesn’t come along and muck things up. Just when you think you can “dog paddle” along, the government has to come and mess things up, raising rates or doing something stupid that they think is great, when it isn’t.

And they seem to keep changing the rules mid-way through “the game” now that is not fair.

I know of a number of people that are leaving this golden state which isn’t so golden anymore, because of all the stupidity done by the government and the Feds aren’t much better.

One family I know of managed to sell their house, pay off what they owe; they sold their big fancy cars, bought a mini-cooper and a big rig to pull a gently used 5^th wheeler. That is their home and it’s much cheaper than their old house. The kids were not happy when their fancy cell phones were discontinued, and their video games were sold off as well as all the fancy furniture and such.

But their parents told them to face life; it was either this way or being homeless for a long, LONG time.

They did a lot of other sacrifices as well, of course the kids belly ached and complained because they lost the life style they could not afford----well too bad said Mom and Pop.

They moved out of state, and found a place where things were affordable and Dad got a full time job and Mom managed to get a part time job where she can be home when the kids get out of school.

I got an e-mail from them not too long ago, and they’re saying they wish they’d done it a lot sooner, but they are making do and don’t live too far from the Wife’s folks, which is good. And the kids are discovering ‘board games’.

Because Mom doesn’t work a full time job and can keep an eye on them, their grades have gone up, and they’re not into so much mischief. Of course the kids are not happy with the new rules but their parents sat them down and said things are changing for everyone so it’s gotta be this way.

Heck, I could have told them that years ago.

This morning I was writing up the bills (and coughing and sniffling) and I was thinking about all this Krap junk mail, all these changes that the Banks and Credit card companies are doing so quickly that it’s impossible to keep up with it.

I was even looking at the phone bill, and it’s getting to the point where do I need to have internet at home? Can I do without this and that? And some of it has come back as “yes”.

I mean I seriously started thinking about what we can do without; do we need Cable or Satellite T.V.? Do we need a fancy car? Do we need a swimming Pool or hot tub? Video games? I mean stop and think Folks, what do you really, really need?

Well of course you need an income, and you need medical and dental insurance, and you do need auto insurance, and if you own a home you do need home owners insurance, so those are givens, they are the needs that one has to have.

Now I have a friend of mine, she got fed up with her house that she called a “Money Pit” and sold it, put her funds into something for her retirement. She too sold off most of her furniture, and rented a large studio apartment. She has said that if it can’t fit into a large trailer for her to tow then it’s too much.

She doesn’t entertain at home, but will meet friends at a favorite spot. She looked into renters insurance and figured that if anyone stole her stuff they were welcome to it. And she told me she is much happier because she has the mobility that she didn’t have before.

In some ways I wish I was just as free as her, but one makes choices and one has to deal with them.

I’m selling off my old 1963 Chevy Nova, hated to do it but I had no choice, I even took some old antique stuff to this Auction house and they told me what it was worth and could auction it off for me. I need the money.

Because we just got a bill for a medical service done in August and they are finally billing us now, nearly $400 dollars, for What!!?? Just to say that my Hunka Burnin’ Love snores??? And there’s nothing they can do about it?

That was a waste of money because I could have told them that!!! So the Money I was hoping to save to cover the cost of the License of the SUV is going out the window, because my Hunka snores!!!

I told him that from now on we weight each thing very carefully, because we don’t have that much funds left. The only thing we need to do right now is watch to see what we are going to have to do when we replace his pacemaker. We Have to do that, don’t have any choice.

And I’m going to have to negotiate with them because we can’t pay $400 dollars all at once. That is going to be “fun”.

Maybe we should have socialized medicine, if our medical system was like Kaiser, we’d be in good shape, they’ve treated me real good and I have a very low co-pay.

That’s it; just do it like Kaiser Permanente, instead of the government sticking their nose into it.

They stick their nose into areas where it’s not wanted and enough is enough.

Mean Kitty signing off.

I'm Back and just in time for Thanksgiving

Well Folks I have a lot to be thankful for.

I guess you just thought I had blown away and died---NOT!!

I’ve been busy, both me and my hunka burnin’ love, we’ve been hit by illnesses, I had to have some serious surgery and My Hunka is gonna need to have his pacemaker replaced.

Yeah it was pretty serious, I had a cancerous tumor on my kidney that was the size of my thumb from the tip to the first joint. I was worried they were going to have to remove the entire kidney. But the good thing is that it was localized.

The tissue around it was healthy and so was the kidney, no radiation, no chemo, I was one lucky son of a gun, Doc says I have a 95% chance of staying healthy, I’ll take those odds.

Of course now I’ve got a scar that looks like I’ve been in a knife fight, good thing I don’t wear bikinis.

And of course the economy being what it is (down the drain) we’ve been hit hard by it as well. Not everything was covered by my Medical plan, so we had to economize. My surgery came upon me so close to Halloween that we didn’t celebrate it this year. Just put a sign up saying “Sorry, Due to Serious Family Illness, We will not be doing Halloween this Year. Watch for the Haunted Graveyard in 2010. Have a safe and fun Halloween, See you next year.”

Do you know that we had a lot of trick and treaters write get well wishes on those signs, now that is nice. It only goes to show that people care, they worry when things change or someone, even someone they don’t really know they want to be safe and healthy. Most of them are parents now who came by when they were kids and now they are bringing their kids---Hey I’m at the Grandma level, I never knew we were such an institution in the neighborhood, of course a few days later some of my neighbors said that we put pressure on them because we couldn’t do Halloween this year, but they were glad I was fine.

That gives me hope.

My friends and family and the neighbors were worried about me, talk about Hugs and just feeling good about things, and bringing food, my brother Bubba and his wife had us over for dinner a lot, of course the first few weeks it was hard for me to sit up and I’d tire quickly, and it was hard to eat much, my appetite had disappeared, and even now I get hungry, but I get full real quick, I lost weight nearly 10 pounds, of course it’s a diet I don’t recommend.

But my family was really, Really worried about me, and my co-workers always calling and checking in, my Boss especially---he found out how much I do at work, it will make our work evaluation much easier now that he understands what I do.

But now I’m back at work, and it feels good, my brain need to wake up again, one thing I found out from all of this---I have seen what my future looks like if I retire----it ain’t pretty. I need to work, to have a purpose, it’s like air and food. So I think if and when I do retire, I’ll try and find a part time job, work a few days a week, just to keep mentally active, it’s important.

I get this newsletter from these folks that teach “Ghost Hunting” now this one gal she posted comments about how things were back then (way back then like 1950’s), and I have to agree with her thoughts on this.

Before we got all this new fangled stuff like the internet, twitter, fancy-shmashy cars with computer bits in them, cell phones, and crowded the freeways with urban sprawl, we were a close knit bunch of people and this was before wanting to have the latest gadget, and keeping up with the Jones and a swimming pool in every back yard, fancy wines, mani-pedicures, plasma screen TV’s, loud music that promotes bad behavior and beating up your woman.

Before we had credit cards, litigious behavior, every one of your teen age kids demanding their own phone and car and credit cards, before we started having bad behavior and bad etiquette, people came together, I mean really came together, you knew your neighbors and you tired to work things out. Of course one had cranky and crazy neighbors back then as well but you at least felt you could do something. Not now.

Now it seems we can’t move unless we have one of these things, we can’t do business unless you are on the internet, we can’t go anywhere unless you have a fast car, we can’t get what we want unless we are in DEBT!!

Now I should know, because we are in debt having fallen into that trap, no I don’t get a mani-pedicure, although with my bad back I do go in to have an occasional pedicure but that is because of my bad back, otherwise I’d do my own.

But we made do---it was use it up, recycle it, fix it, save for it, or do without. Of course you can’t do without indoor plumbing, but if your T.V. is broke, then save to have it repaired and in the mean time do without.

I remember my car needed a 300 dollar repair job, I didn’t have the money, so I drove it back to my home, took the bus, saved up the money and then took it back to get it fixed, of course by that time it cost me $350 dollars, but that was O.K.

The shame of it is we are a throw away society, we can’t do that anymore, now a days I see people put things out on the curb with a sign that says ‘FREE” and by gum! People take the stuff.

The other day my Hunka and I saw two captains style chairs and the sign said “Free” we checked them out, one needed a little repair, both had paint on them but for us they were fine and nothing that a hammer and a nail can’t fix and they were just the right size that we needed.

Now for a long time I was on dial up inter access, yeah I got hooked on the internet, but in doing business I looked for a phone number, called them and asked it they would take a U.S. Postal Money Order---I wasn’t having my checking account or credit card number flying all over the ether. And 100 % of the time they would take it. U.S. POSTAL MONEY ORDER ---- for real money.

But if they say they only want this Pay Pal---forget it---I’ll walk away.

I’ve gotten to the point where I’m just paying down my credit cards, if I have any extra change that I can put aside I put it into a separate checking account and just use the debt card if they don’t take checks.

As a matter of fact I know one lady who was in a situation where she had no choice, she had to declare bankruptcy, she sold off almost all that she had, moved in with her folks, which was a good thing, because they were getting up there in years. She sold off the more expensive of her two cars, kept the other for emergencies. Took public transportation, brown bagged her lunch, rarely ate out, she did need an internet connection at home for her work, but she couldn’t have a credit card, so she got a debt card, knew exactly how much she would need to keep in it.

She would take a 2^nd seasonal job from time to time, no cable or satellite T.V. for her, but her folks were interested in the old T.V. shows, so they got cable T.V. but she let them pick the programs they wanted.

If she needed some clothes she’d go to a clothing on consignment store, the only things she’d buy new was underwear and shoes that could no longer be repaired, and of course personal hygiene stuff, to get her hair cut she’d go to the beauty school and got a hair cut that would just need a trim from time to time, no hair dye, no perms.

Her Mother didn’t need fancy clothing and would buy her clothes from catalogs, or sew her own, so this lady learned to sew as well, staying with basic pattern styles.

When Hallmark came out with the 99 cents cards, she was happy, she could afford to send birthday, anniversary, get well wishes to friends, and she found at the Target Store, savings in stationary for Thank you notes, of course she’s not happy with the postal rates going up, and she’s found that a lot of people like gift cards to stores that they go to when she wants to give a gift.

She has a male friend who takes her out on dates, like to the movies, or to a special event.

But she has no plans to get married, her Folks’ home is small, and old fashioned, but in a good neighborhood, and she told me that she has re-fallen in love with her Folks house, with the money she’s saved she’s been helping them fix it up, replacing worn out things, and such, she even had the kitchen done so that it looks like it did back in the 50’s but with new appliances that are retro looking when the old ones died, her parents are happy, she feels happy and her parents feel safe as well.

It will be another 5 years before her credit can be reestablished, but she’s discovered that she’s hasn’t felt it because she’s learned to do without.

The only thing that she’s discovered is that she does need her cell phone for emergencies, her internet connection so she can do some of her work from home, and her car for shopping, but she’s keeping her folks old car as well, it’s a Buick from the 1950’s and in great condition. She’s been building her savings up, and she knows she can afford things again. Her Folks are going to transfer things into her name, to avoid estate taxes and so they can get assistance without draining their finances.

She’s lucky, others aren’t but she’s learned to be frugal, and we should too.

Me and Hunka are trying but it’s hard, things come up, money is not there, we hate to use the credit card, but sometimes we have no choice. I’ve gotten to the point where I consider the credit card as a Loan from a Financial institution but you can’t take a tax write off, which makes things difficult.

My Hunka and I are learning to be very frugal, we take stuff to the recyclers for cash, Tapes, CD’s and such we don’t like we take to the Media shop and get credit to get something we’ll like, we get our books at the library, we shop from a grocery list, we pick up and roll pennies, we keep a sewing kit ready for repairs, clip coupons, watch the sales ads, price compare at gas stations and stores.

My brother and I have agreed since the kids are teens that Christmas will be just a holiday get together, no gift exchanges, who can afford it? Even the two Christmas parties we’re going to everyone was told keep the ornament gifting as much under $5 as possible.

And we are looking for every single tax deduction that we can take. And if you pay for something and it ain’t right we squawk good and loud, we don’t do business with “fly-by-night” businesses, only the ones that are solid and know they have to make good on their product.

I have a friend of mine, her web blog is listed right here on my Blog list, you should check her out La Diva Loca Fabulous aka the Crazy Fabulous Diva, and there is another lady who calls herself the Fabulous Diva, check out both their blog sites.

Anyway with the surgery I was out of work for a while, driving my Hunka Burnin’ Love up the wall, now don’t get me wrong. He took good care of me while I was recovering, most of the time for the first 3 weeks I just slept, because of the pain meds, and I’d tire out easily.

Beaucephus is glad that I’m back but Gingersnap is afraid to come near me, a friend of mine who is a sort of “Dog Whisperer” said that when we got Gingersnap that tumor was growing inside of me and the little one smelled it and thought it was a part of me, now it’s gone, I’m well and the dog has a hard time accepting me. DW said I have to go slow with the little thing, keep to the familiar routine, and on occasion give the dog bribes. Go figure.

One hard thing I’m doing, I have to sell my old car, my beloved Chevy Nova, I’ve had that car for 40 years, but for the last few I haven’t been able to afford getting it fixed, this guy that collects cars has made a very serious offer, I can’t refuse it, so he’s paid something down, and will pay the balance when he comes to get the car over Thanksgiving weekend.

He’s going to fix it up real nice and show the Nova off at different Car Rally’s, his wife wanted a car that represented the early 1960’s and my Nova fits the bill and it’s just her size. It’s going to be her car at the rally’s I’ve written about all the adventures I’ve had with my Car and she just loves it, so I gave her the binder of stories (I kept a copy).

The folks have got money, seems they were not hurt bad by the down turn, and my old Car will be in their garage out of the weather. They like to focus on the cars from the 50’s and early 60’s, but he has two that he really likes and won’t sell and she wanted one of her own. And my Nova was what she was looking for.

I’m going to really cry a lot when my car leaves, it’s my one and only, but I have no choice, I need the money.

As a matter of fact this surgery that I had was a bit of a wake up call for me, Hunka and I have been going through things, sorting things out, getting rid of junk, selling what we don’t use or can’t use, donating that which is still good, and even some of our neighbors have taken things off of our hands because they could use it.

So cleaning things out is a good thing, and it feels good, even if we only tackle just a corner when it looks good it feels good and that is important.

And Thanksgiving is coming up----that’s is going to be very interesting----it’s at my sister-in-laws sister’s house, she who had the frozen lasagna disaster a few years ago. That is going to be a very interesting situation. If you don’t remember my writing about it, check my earlier blogs on it.

Anyway that’s it for now, I’ve got some chicken to bake and coupons to clip and a couple of skirt hems to mend.

And I’ve got to rest up and find out what I can rant about…. There’s a few things, but I’m not sure how topical they are going to be.

Mean Kitty just mellowing out.