Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Thursday Thirteen

Things that make me nervous…
1. My cat, but only when she brings in critters. Have you read about her exploits? Usually , she makes me calm and content.
2. Dealing with car people (sales, repair, etc.)
3. Going to the dentist.
4. Having money problems.
5. Considering colleges with my twins who are about to be seniors.
6. Getting a phone call from my mom who is not getting any younger.
7. Lay-offs at my husband’s place of employment. So far, not us, but the uncertainty gets to me.
8. Flying. Not extremely nervous, but more than I used to be.
9. Getting on a scale.
10. Forgetting my phone charger when I go somewhere for more than a few hours.
11. Big dogs.
12. Dying a sudden death (not dying itself) since my dad passed away suddenly, and his condition may be hereditary. Here one minute and gone the next. I’m scared I will have the same type of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
And
13. My newly licensed daughter driving solo.

Come join the fun at Thursday Thirteen!

Saturday, August 03, 2013

Something on Saturday

So many blogs don't post content on Saturdays, but I've decided to change that! The challenge is to post SOMETHING on Saturday. It can be a regular blog post, a video, a photo, a question for your readers, or whatever you want. It's your blog! So, post "Something on Saturday," grab the photo to use in your post, and leave your link in the comments. I'm going to figure out how to get a Mr. Linky up, so if you have suggestions or a tutorial to offer, that would be great.

Here's my "Something..."

How many of you live in the state in which you were born?  I'm a native Texan.  The city in which I live is very multi-cultural, but as you may know, Texas has a culture all its own in addition to the heritage people bring with them.  We Texans are very proud of our culture.  There is no place like Texas, and unless you live here, you likely have  a misinformed view of our culture.  If you picture cowboys, horses, cows, and farms... your picture of Texas is incomplete.

But that was not my point.  I have a friend who was born in Missouri.  She went to college in Indiana.  She's lived in Texas for 15 years.  Yesterday, she called herself a Texan, and I'm ashamed to say, that bothered me.

If I move to New York, I will still be a Texan, not a New Yorker, right?  I could move to California, but that definitely wouldn't make me a Californian.  Is it terrible that I was a little offended that she called herself a Texan?  Maybe that's my Texas pride.  The food, the environment, the weather, the language - all are part of what makes Texas unique.  I'm happy to share my "Texan" status with so many others who were born here, but it bothers me that someone who's spent only 1/3 of her life and doesn't embrace the culture would call herself a Texan.  So, sue me, I guess!  (just kidding)

Leave your "Something on Saturday" link in the comments.  I'm looking forward to visiting you!

Friday, August 02, 2013

Company Girl Coffee

I haven't had the chance to partake in "Company Girl Coffee" in quite a while, and I've missed it!  So, come on in, grab your favorite beverage (coffee, tea, soda for me), prop your feet up, and please stay a while. 

Today I want to talk about my adorable cat, Lacy.

Doesn't she look sweet?  Oh, she is!  I love her so much!

But... she does have a behavior that is driving me bonkers.  She's supposed to be an indoor kitty, but she's very curious, and my husband lets her out in the back yard.  From there, she disappears under our back fence into the area behind our house that backs up to the elementary school track and playground.

She has been "gifting" us with critters!  The first one was a locust.  Not a big deal, but super-hilarious because she had it in her mouth, and it was still buzzing, making that cicada noise, and she tried to run away from the noise not realizing it was in her mouth.  Up and down the stairs she went, buzzing the whole time!  It was a hoot!

Then she brought in a lizard, basically dead, or at least severely injured, easy enough to capture from her mouth.  Next was a gecko, not dead, that she carried through the house and up the stairs again.  I don't like geckos!  I was able to get it before it could slither behind a piece of furniture.

About a week ago, she was making a strange meowing sound, and I also heard a squeaking noise, as she walked around the living and dining rooms.  The noise was strange because her mouth was full... of mouse!  She had a baby mouse safely tucked in her mouth, injured I believe, but not yet dead.  I guess I scared Lacy because she dropped the mouse, and it sort of staggered a little bit, and mice really do squeak!  I ran to get a broom and dust pan so I could capture it and set it free, even though it was already half dead.  When I turned my back, Lacy picked it up in her mouth again and raced up the stairs, first to my daughter's room, then mine, then back into the hall.  She finally dropped the mouse again, and it tried to scamper behind my washing machine, but I got it.  In the process, it died, though I tried to save it.

Two days ago, Lacy caught another critter.  When I got home that night, she was in my bathroom, and she was looking down and pawing at something.  When she turned around, I saw it.  A snake!  A tiny snake (maybe the diameter of a pencil and about 8-10 inches long).  A dead snake (at least by the time I saw it).  But a snake nonetheless.  Understand this... I HATE snakes!  I don't like frogs, lizards, geckos, etc., but I abhor snakes.  The only good snake is a dead snake.  No, that's not true.  There is no good snake!  This is one varmint I decided I couldn't handle on my own, especially since I wasn't sure it was dead.  My husband did the clean-up on this one.

Good grief!  What next?  This is when I say, "Calgon, take me away!"

People say she is "gifting" me, but she doesn't bring her goodies to me.  She stalks and hunts, and I believe she wants to play with her prey then eat it.  Whatever the case may be, she has found her inner feline and it just may drive me crazy in the end!

Thanks for staying for "coffee" sponsored by  Home Sanctuary and hosted by the amazing and inspiring Rachel Anne.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Tackle it Tuesday

I love to review products!  I enjoy receiving free product for my opinion.  I love hosting giveaways.  But my blog is definitely NOT one big commercial enterprise.  There are many more regular posts than there are sponsored posts on my blog.

Today I am tackling my feed reader and my feelings.  Some blogs have to be cleaned out.

I used to be a huge fan of 5 Minutes for Mom.  Lately, almost every post is sponsored, and this really bothers me.  The site is so commercialized now.  There is very little actual content.  I want to read about what other moms are coping with and how they handle the balance between being a wife/mother/business person/daughter, etc.  I am so disappointed in 5M4M.  When I began reading that blog in ... probably 2006, there was engaging content.  Now it's just another commercial enterprise where the moms receive fabulous products, prizes, and vacations in exchange for advertising on their site.  I love to read the opinions of other moms... as long as they are true and honest and not influenced by expensive vacations or compensation.  If I wanted commercials, I would watch television!  How can an opinion truly be honest when the "reviewer" has received a trip to Disney World?  Wouldn't you say nice things about a company that paid for your vacation?  Beauty products?  Computer software?

Thanks for reading my rant while I tackle my blog reader.
Ironically, Tackle it Tuesday links to Five Minutes for Mom.