Lair of Salem Cat

So Had It With Snow

2010-02-08T19:47:00.000-08:00

Six of us girls stayed at the ocean in Sandbridge Va. Jan.28-31... this is what it looked like on Saturday. Still we had a great time !!! When we arrived back here.. we found 12 inches on the ground here. This weekend we got pounded with another snow storm... about 16 inches. Now we are going to get another large amount starting tomorrow on top what we have. We had about 16 inches on the ground Dec.18 which stayed on the ground for a white Yule. I can't remember when we had this many large snows in VA.

The shop has been pretty much closed since Dec.18. We did open this weekend but only on Friday. Looks like we may not get open this coming weekend. Schools have been closed for so long... I have been watching Sierra & Robert. No telling when they will now open again. I've been in so long that I have apartment fever !! Not used to being in so much as I am usually out and about.

About Time

2010-01-25T06:42:00.000-08:00

Well we got our big snow this winter about 18 inches of the stuff. Snowed like crazy here on Dec.18th. Jeni and I attended a jewelry show at Dulles Expo Center that day and we were sure surprised at 6 PM as we exited the Expo Center. We stopped by a friend's place for a few hours while waiting for the DC traffic to clear some and hoping that highway conditions would improve. Well, it turned out that the 1.5 hour drive increased to a 6 hour adventure and at times we were the only traffic on Rt 95 except for the sand trucks. It was a trip to remember.

Yule was great here except my 6 cats truly destroyed the Yule Tree. Eragon of course was by far the most destructive. I started out with about 100 balls... plastic of course and by Yule only 3 remained. Oh well, they had fun !!

Jeni closed the shop down for the month of January so for the most part.. I have been off work. We have been moving stuff around on some weekends. Always something to get into on weekends for sure.

This weekend 7 of us gals are going to the Ocean. We are staying in a huge beautiful home right on the sand of the ocean in Sandbridge, Va which is next to Virginia Beach. I shall be metal detecting !!!

Getting Ready for Yule

2009-12-10T18:38:00.000-08:00

Lil Kaiya is 7 months old now.. She is so very precious. She loves Santa.

My bad kitties are determined to destroy their Yule Tree. We had about 75 ornaments on but not now... 20 remain. I have a small 4 ft tree on my porch that is protected from the cats. I am still working but sales have been small & few. I enjoy my job and I am not looking forward to be closed the entire month of January. I was invited to go to Orlando Fla but declined.

Been Busy

2009-11-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

Well my Granddaughter Kaiya is back and I sure missed her. She is now almost 7 months old.. time flies. I have been busy with working and going places with the girls. I have met some new friends from work. I am working and out & about on the weekends. Sometimes I do just wanna stay home and rest but I do get bored easily. Well, I need to work as many jobs as possible to provide for my very spoiled 6 kitties. The shop where I work closes for the month of January.. I shall be bored on those weekends. I have a few trips in planning. I so love my apartment and the new closed in back porch.

That is All !!

Blessed Samhain

2009-10-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

This is Pyewacket.. the new baby of Salem's Lair. Hope every one is doing well. I have been fairly busy. Robby and Jessica purchased a nice camper and we celebrated Samhain at the campgrounds last weekend. At the campgrounds there were parties. I have been working at my friend, Jenny's antique shop on weekends. I have been making videos on youtube and now have 42 of them under SalemsLair. I love doing this. Jenny, Mary Rita and I are having a Samhain party on Saturday night... lots of decorations, food, drink and music. We have a Fortune Teller scheduled to do readings upon request. I am wearing my cloak and witch dress. I just hope lots of people show up. Once home I plan on doing my own private ritual.

Sad news... My crazy wacked out drunk daughter in law has run off with my 6 month old granddaughter, Kaiya. She has taken her out of area. My son is devasted and shocked as we all are including her family. Shannon has very much taken care of Kaiya by himself since she was born as Tina runs off to get and stay drunk with her friends when ever she feels like it. This is the 3rd time but up until now she has always left Kaiya behind. Said she is not happy and just wants to party and get drunk. I don't give a fat rat's ass what she does or about her... just bring Kaiya back and stop destroying her life.

New babies of Salem's Lair

2009-09-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Been Awhile

2009-08-26T05:23:00.001-07:00

Time flies --- Robert (Scooter) is 6 years old and going to 1st grade this year. He is playing pee wee football this fall. He is a big muscled guy so he is the center. Sierra will be in the 6th grade this year. She is now 11 years old. She does very well in school. She is so pretty now !!! Kaiya is now 4 months old. She is so very very cute and so spoiled. She has the most beautiful Azure eyes like her Daddy.

Me, I have been busy. I am baby sitting some, working at an antique shop some and hanging out with my friends. Still yard saling with Y every Saturday. Been camping with the family some. My porch and deck is all finished and I am loving it. My kitties are all doing well and happy. I went crabbing on my friend Jan's boat dock... it was fun.. LOL.... I have not sat on a pier with strings dangling and chicken neck tied on since I was about 16 years old. We didn't catch enough to cook but it was fun just the same. I love being on and around the water..tis my element.

My landlady gifted me the most descriptive sign of me... "If youre not barefoot, you are overdressed"... LOL.. Jenny gifted me this sign also that reads... "Caution..Scary Creatures inside"... LOL !! They were gifts for my new porch.

Guess, I am finally settling back in here and enjoying life as much as possible. My friends both old and new are finally accepting me for who I am and my beliefs. It feels good to be myself again. I think last year when I was so sick and being in the hospital made me a much stronger person and I appreciate so much more. I still miss Salem so much and my heart will always hold him close to me.

My kitties keep me so happy. Stephen is still calling every night but you know.. we will never have a permanent relationship not now.. I really don't want to share my life with him.. I will never be barked orders at nor be controlled. I am so used to being alone with my kitties and having my friends and that is what makes me happy.

Good afternoon

2009-07-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

Had a great weekend.. worked at my friend Jen's Antique shop on Friday.. House sat at an open house for my friend Betty who is a real estate agent Friday evening... then out to dinner with Y, Jen, Betty, Jan and Cheryl.... yard saling with Y and Jen on Saturday morning... visited Gittie at her shop...helped Jen out at her shop.. then out to dinner with Y, Betty, Jen and Cheryl.. next, we walked down to the river and boardwalk to watch the town fireworks. They were awesome and the best ever. Population here in town is about 3,000.... this weekend (Sat), it was about 20,000. This lil town was full capacity !!

Sunday, I helped Jen at her shop.. then we went out to eat at the new Tai restaurant in town. It was very good. I stay very busy around here on weekends and I like it. Weekdays.. I watch Sierra and Robert some. Kaiya.. well Shannon allows no one to watch her yet. Talk about protective !!!!!! She is so precious and a very good baby.

My porch is being rebuilt and it is going to be so nice. I am getting a new larger deck also. I can't wait for it to be finished and it will be soon. I found some nice furniture at the yard sales and I am excited to decorate.

Somehow, I have to find time to do some painting around my parents house. Not sure about this month but I promised to get it done. They have so many doctors appointments and camping trips this month. I hate that I have not completed as I promised.

My kitties are all doing very good. They are wanting to get back on the porch. They are so spoiled and loved. I hate being away from them but I have to.

About Time

2009-06-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

Been fairly busy lately... with school being out, I have been watching Sierra and Robert some. I am working some odd & ends jobs.. LOL !! I enjoy a variety of various types of work. My wonderful landlady and landlord are remodeling my back porch for me and adding on a larger deck. It is going to be soo nice.. I love my place. We are also putting in a flower garden out back. They spoil me !!!

Moral dilemma

2009-05-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading.This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first.

Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.

However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS...................The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.

He simply answered: 'I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital.
I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.

'Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.

Never forget to 'Think Outside of the Box.

'HOWEVER...., The correct answer is to run the old lady over and put her out of her misery, have sex with the perfect partner on the hood of the car, then drive off with the old friend for a few beers.

God, I just love happy endings!

Okay I got lots for today

2009-05-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Things are going okay here. Been sorta busy or keeping busy. I have become addicted to making Youtube slide shows. I now have about 29 of them out there. They are under search -SalemsLair. Lots of Them Crazy Cats of Salem's Lair... a few children songs with slides... one on big cats, Wolves, Nature, a Pagan one.. Native American one and many more. I think I have a video of most of my favorite things. I have run outta things now.... well, I am still chasing my little furry stars around with my camera still so there will be more.

Crazy photos of my kitties

2009-05-29T06:46:00.001-07:00

SAMHAIN

TUT

BASTET - BAST

ERAGON

HOCUS POCUS

ERAGON

Been Awhile

2009-05-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

My Beautiful lil Grandbaby - KAIYA RAYNE.. She is a really really good baby.

Been Awhile

2009-04-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Been busy the past month... Baby Shower...Been camping with Jessica, Robby & the grandkids,,, Stephen was down here for the weekend..Been making Youtube Videos and websites. Working for my Mother. My Grandbaby was delivered yesterday,,, C-section. Kaiya Rayne weighs in at 6lbs 13ozs.. 19 inches long.. has lots of hair.. her hair looks light brown with some red.. She is really pretty. Her eyes are blue.. we think but could also be azure like my sons. Mom and baby are both doing good. So happy and thankful for that !!! I held her for a few seconds.. I was scared cause she seems so small. She already has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She was supposed to be born around the end of April.. but was a little early.

Things are going good for me but I am so tired. Alot of worrying is over.

Quiet day here

2009-03-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

Not much happening !! Cats are napping.. me, I am waiting for my TV shows to come on.. Survivor & Hell's Kitchen. I owe taxes this year so I have been working for my parents.. cleaning !!!! Yikes.. I hate it but I need the money & they need the help. I plan on working for them free as soon as I earn enough to pay IRS. I hate taking money from them but they claimed that they were going to hire a Maid. I'm the Maid !! Weather is a bit cooler here today & tonight. I want the 70-80 temps back.

That is all !!

Sharing da love

2009-03-09T05:55:00.000-07:00

March prawled in like the Lion here this year. Last week we had about 7 inches of snow on the ground and very very cold temperatures. This weekend it was in the 70s-80s range. Today it is in the 70s so far this morn. Crazee !!! The kitties & I celebrated my B'day last week. I really missed my Salem !!! Was not the same. Nothing is.

Let There Be Snow !!

2009-03-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

Started snowing today around 2PM... still snowing as we speak. Will maybe snow thru the night & into tomorrow. First big snow that has been forcasted for us in a long while. First snow for my kitties and they are enjoying watching the snow flakes fall. Every window sill is holding a kitty.

Good thing that I enjoy watching the snow fall cause my direct tv is out... oh well, can't have it all.

Them Kitties !!

2009-02-17T05:21:00.001-08:00

This is a problem.....Eragon constantly jumps on my shoulder from the back of the couch, love seat or entertainment center. He perches and rides around on me. He purrs and rubs his face against mine... only time he purrs !!! I have safety equipment which is composed of hot pad mittens that go up my arm. Thinking about adding shoulder pads and maybe a helmet for protection. Ya know the football type.. LOL... will give him a wider area to flop around on. My shoulders look and feel like a drainer.. thinking I could get Cat Scratch Fever !!!

Been close to a year since Samhain was adopted....It has taken awhile for him to feel comfortable and adjust..He is a truly good & sweet boy.. now he is fitting in purrfectly. He has a method now to block me off the computer with placing half of his huge body on the keyboard and the other on the mouse. Smart guy, he is !!!

Revenge Kitties

2009-02-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

We is on ur puter.. blocking u's emails !! Come home !!

Back from the Ocean

2009-02-15T05:25:00.000-08:00

Travelled to VA Beach.....Sandbridge to be exact.. with Jenne, Gitie and Cheryl. Wow.. I had a very good time. It was so very nice to be at the ocean. We walked out the patio door & bam.. we were on the sand and the ocean was about 20 yards from us. It was awesome and talk about a beautiful place. The weather was purrfect.. the company was outstanding.. ya can't get better than that !! I took the metal dectector out for a stroll.. didn't find but $1.48 but I got lots of exercise and fresh air.. Ya can't put a price tag on being with nature at the ocean. I hunted about 2 hrs.. the first day & 5.5 on the second. Oh Goddess, we saw a pod of dolphins.. each day and they were fairly close in to shore. They were so amazing !!! I am still energized from the sand & salt water. I think my kitties missed me.. but at first I got punished by them for taking off.. LOL !! I believe they love me again now. Eragon was brutal with wanting to ride on my shoulder. He needs his claws trimmed... ouch !!!

Signs

2009-02-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

I purchased this cute metal sign from my friend Jen this weekend. I placed it on my porch door. I love this sign. Purrfect weather here in VA for now !!! I am loving it. Up in the 60s. I do miss not having any snow to speak of. For the past week, I have been working for my parents. They pay me well but I hate taking money from them period. Certain chores I refuse to take money for. Actually, I only need to earn money to pay IRS my taxes this year. This is where I hate not having my part time job and with working while I did... I now owe more to IRS this year. Oh well... it will all work out, I hope.

I maybe going to the Ocean at VA Beach this weekend. I shall be armed with my metal detector. I have not been hunting in way over a year now & I miss that. Moneywise, I shouldn't but I do want to be at the Ocean. I miss that !!!!

Eragon has developed this habit of jumping onto my shoulder and perching there while I walk around the apartment. He does this very often & more often each day. I was hoping that it was a passing phase but now I don't believe so. After he jumps on.. he purrs loudly and rubs his face against mine. Only time that I hear him purr, Actually. Problem is ... he sinks his sharp claws in to hold on & that gets painful.

Y and I did our usual Saturday routine with going to the Opp Shop and then out to lunch. I found a nice set of mirrors with a Tiger family on one and a Cheetah family on the other. Soon I will run outta wall space.

That is all !!!!!

Howdy

2009-02-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

Subject: Economic Stimulus Payment

This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment.

This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?

A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?

A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?

A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?

A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?

A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.

If you spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs.

If you purchase a computer it will go to India.

If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).

If you buy a car it will go to Japan.

If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan.

And none of it will help the American economy. We need to keep that money here in America. You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer and wine (domestic ONLY), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

Snow

2009-01-27T09:25:00.000-08:00

And behold... we got snow and tis still but experts say it will turn to ice & rain. Actually, it is not bad outside. My kitties are looking out the windows.. watching the snowflakes fall,,,,,, it must energize them cause .. they take a break and race around the apartment then return to their post. They rip thru here like a herd of wild boar.

Warmer Weather

2009-01-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

My Girls..... Sierra & Bastet

Tut .... The Jungle Beast

Not Much to report from this end of the world. Weather is warming up for a few days.. supposed to be in the 50s tomorrow but another artic blast is heading this way. Did much of nothing today... walked to the store to get kitty food... stopped by the store where I used to work to visit the girls there... my fabulous Landlady stopped by to gift me with a black kitty statue that she painted and 6 kitty Yule ornaments that she ordered for me. I once mentioned to her that next year, I want to do my entire tree with cats... My Landlady is so good to me and I am so lucky to have her. She is more than just my Landlady, She is a very good friend. I will never leave here, She spoils me. She is even clearing out a storage area for me to use so I can move boxes off my porch. Her husband is going to remodel my porch for me this Spring. I am loving that !!

The pride in Salem's Lair are all resting ... getting ready for the bewitching hour. Still have not decided which I shall train to be my Familiar... Thinking Bast because she is so much like my Salem... same temperment... and some of the things she does are so much him. She loves to climb up on my shoulder.. rub her lil face up against mine & purr. She is very loving.

Okay then.... off I go to watch some TV.

Howdy

2009-01-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

Well... it was 7 degrees here on Friday night and the electric went out all over town for about 4 hours. It was getting a bit cold in here so the fur babies and I curled up under a thick comforter in bed.. armed with 2 lil flashlights with almost dead batteries. I was glad when the electric was back !!!!

Y, Gin, Jan and I went out to eat on Friday night and it was miserable outside. We had a good dinner and good conversation. Saturday, Y and I ventured out to the Opp Shop... we always find something there .. whether we need it or not.. we determine that we can't live without it.

My grandkids spent Saturday night with me. What else can I say about that ?? They were actually well behaved but they were bored.

I finally reached a friend of mine that I have missed so much. I am so happy that we got to talk.

Okay,,, off I go to watch some TV.

Witchy Kitties

2009-01-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

Bast talking with Horus.... Eragon with the Craft Witch

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2009-01-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....... really cold outside !!! Shall be staying in today. However, tonight I have a dinner engagement with Y, Gin, Gitie and Cheryl. I have not been out with the girls since I moved back here. Tomorrow, Y and I will do our usual Opp shop hunting. Robby is off work today so I am Grandkid free. But, I am watching them on Saturday night while Jessica & Robby go out. They will be sleeping over. Don't really mind except the grandkids can really really eat & everyone that knows me..knows that I do not have food here. Just don't care about food all that much. I feed my cats very very well... the best.. I stock up on my Diet cokes when they are on sale.. I pay the bills... that is about it.. except my Opp Shop and Yard Sale funds. Losing my job.. hurt me some but I can make it. When I really need extra money, I can go down and work for my parents.. I hate this but sometimes I will have to.

My Lil Granddaughter will arrive sometimes in April. I am really worried but I have to stay positive and not think. Please Goddess let this one be healthy. We still grieve over our Dominick. Lil Kaiya is very small in the 35 percentile... The high risk doctor is checking & watching every week.

Okay.. off I must go to groom this castle.

Home Sweet Home

2009-01-15T18:37:00.001-08:00

Artic Blast is upon us & Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... Tis cold and shall be even colder tomorrow. First night this Winter that I have turned on heat in the bathroom and in my bedroom.. cats are cold.

Cats

2009-01-14T09:06:00.001-08:00

Goddess only knows what a boring life that I live. I hunt my cats down all day armed with a camera.. I know they are thinking.. crazy bitch.. get that thing outta my face. Do they look happy ??

It is Friggin cold here this week.. we are being invaded by an artic blast.. will be worse by Friday. No Snow yet this Winter but who knows !!

Alrighty.. Off I go to capture them kodak moments !!

Crazy Photo of Eragon

2009-01-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL NASTY !!!!!!

Sad & Thinking

2009-01-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

Not sure what happened.. but I can't seem to get in touch with one of my dear friends and she was even more to me.. A Sister that I was so connected with more so than even family. I have tried & tried but with no success. I guess she wants nothing to do with me & I don't know why. I don't think I did anything wrong but if I did... I am seriously sorry and I will do better. I will continue to try to reach her & I am determined but I am not getting through. I feel terrible and I can't shake this. Maybe she will find & read my blog.. worth a try. I have lost friends in my life but they always remain in my thoughts & mind but this one was special to me & I miss her so much that it hurts. I just want my friends to always know that I care about them and they are always in my heart. I know that I too disappear at times but I am only an email or phone call away. I promise to do better myself. I just don't want to force my friends to be friends.. does that make any sense ??

Loving Kitties

2009-01-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

Not Much... Just watching Football....When I lived in NJ, I was an Eagles Fan..... GO Eagles !! When here... Redskin fan !~!!!! Also lioke the Ravens... cause the quarterback lived near my neighborhoodb in NJ.... Damnit ..won't let me delete misstrike keys.. rats !!!!! Kitties are all sleeping.. lazy !!!! Me, I am bored !!! J ((damnit))..... tried to contact one of my friends via email again last night... but still no reply.. why... I am clueless. Seems strange !!!!! Will try again & againe.

Watering Hole

2009-01-10T20:23:00.000-08:00

This seems to be the only place that the kitties will drink water now !! They drink all the water out nightly and cause the fountain to make a horrible noise. Not much to report from this desk... not sure if that is good or bad... I did hear back from a friend that I have not talked to in a very long time..(((Rilana))) and last weekend I talked over the phone with my friend (((Draven))). I missed them and am so happy. I tried to contact a couple of others but got no reply... will keep trying. I have to do better about staying in contact because I think about them so often but I am terrible about email. I called Robynn in Texas Friday.. I missed her also.

Rainy day here

2009-01-06T05:41:00.001-08:00

Sad... my friend in Texas, Robynn, emailed me yesterday to tell me that her 21 year old kitty, Gidget journeyed to the Summerlands on Sunday night. I know Salem will look after her in the Summerlands. Memories of Salem raced thru my mind as I cried for my friend's loss. I got out my camera and stalked my kitties...trying to capture some precious kodak moments and I did. Salem would always pose for me but not these lil rascals... maybe in timen.

Weather is crazy

2009-01-05T14:04:00.001-08:00

It is warm here and so not like Winter at all. I spent most of the day walking around town...... Post Office to mail bills.... Food Lion to fetch some kitty food....Business Center to get my printer cartridges refilled with ink.....Bus Stop to get the Grand Kids off the school bus. After, I groomed the Lair of Salem....meanwhile, my boys & girl lounged around in my bed. Samhain & Bast are curled up on my pillows but I could not get a good photo of all 4 cats in my bed cause Bast & Samhain blended in with the dark brown spread...the beast, Tut is protecting and being nosey. He does not associate too often with the others unless he wants to rumble.

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

A few snow furries here... not Much.... but tis pretty to gaze upon. Kitties & I are just having a cozy day here. My resolution this year is to be more witchy... Time to jump back in and get back to being me. I got to involved into mundane existence and my life has lacked much from this extremely. Listening to I Put a Spell on You from Hocus Pocus and I am engerized. I have not been the same since Salem journeyed to the Summerlands and I can not even think about working with another familiar... however, my lil girl Bast may soon be ready for the task. She is very sweet and very smart. Her favorite toy as you can see is larger than her. Well, if ya count the tail.

Lazy Days

2008-12-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

Laid off from my job.. just as rumor had it....miss the extra money but I lived without it before and I shall again. Now I can spent more time with my fur babies. I am learning to put more and more creedence in the phrase.. The more I know people, the more I love my cats. I have a list of past friends which I still consider friends.. yet when I try to call them.. I don't have the proper phone numbers or I was given the wrong ones or they just do not answer or return calls so it is not that I have forgotten them.. I have tried but could not contact them. Most have just disappeared. You can pretty much tell when you notice that they have removed the link to your blog from theirs that they are not interested anymore. Oh well.. life goes on. I do have a couple of friends that do still contact me and I need to generate more their way.

Had a good holiday so far. My bad boys destroyed 3 trees so far. Santa Kitty was very good to them.... spoiled rotten. Bast is the sweetest kitty .. she reminds me of how much Salem trusted and loved me as I did him. I really missed him this Yule.

good day

2008-12-09T07:28:00.001-08:00

Weather here has been crazy....one day 27,, the next in the 50s. Just finished grooming the castle. All my kitties are napping near the fireplace. So far they have destroyed 2 Yule Trees. Tut ate a light !! He is okay but the string of lights no longer work !! Quiet day here for now.. Listening to Enigma. I have about given up decorating for Yule too much temptation for them kitties. I think if they destroy anymore.. I will just hang red balls on my Bast Statues.

I work 8 hours 1 week & 18 the next week at the store.. talk about a part time job !!! Now they are talking about cutting hours again. That will leave the night person to close alone. That is not safe around here. They will probably only want me on every other weekend... 24 hours a month.. and call me in for bad weather and emergencies or maybe they won't need me at all... who knows & I don't care. I only took the job because I live right across the street and my hours were good. There are only 4 of us working the store. I just knew the owner would pull this type of shit around Yule Time. Business has not slowed down and the money coming in is the same as last year. We get paid the very least that he can get by with... minimum wage. He is too cheap to put a light in the parking lot... and it is so dark. Oh well !!!!

pretty on pink

2008-11-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

my lil lady - Bastet

Enjoying My Bed !! Hocus Pocus, Bastet & Tut

Attended with Shannon & Tina ... a visit to the High Risk Doctor.... Baby is doing perfect.. no signs at all of any defect problems.... She is beautiful !!!!!! Long appointment because of all the ultrasounds and conferences. Tina & Shannon are planning to name her Kaiya Marie unless they change that. I wanted Salem but that name is sorta reserved.

Cat's R my life

2008-11-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

Things are good here... Knock on wood .... I have my 5 very special kittys and love each & every one of them more than words can express for they are everything. Each one has their own ways about them and they are a huge part of me. I don't think I will ever stop missing my Salem. He was my love, best friend and my familiar. It has not gotten any easier and maybe it shouldn't. I will never forget Him and don't want to. I have become so paranoid and protective of them. I am sooo afraid that they will get sick and I won't be able to save them. At least one of them sees my vet every month... if they sneeze they see the vet. I keep beating myself up with what ifs... what if I had had Salem tested every year for kidney problems after he turned 8 years old... what if I had had money to get Salem a kidney transplant... could I have saved him... he was worth more than all the money in the world to me . I feel like I failed him !!!! I talked to my Vet last month about having all of my kitties tested each year after they reach a certain age. Maybe... we could control this if any of them show signs of kidney disease.

Bast is the closest kitty that I have to being like Salem. She likes to cuddle... rest on my neck and shoulder... likes to be carried just like Salem did... likes to have me dance around with her in my arms. She is a gift from the Goddess. She picked me !!!!! I think she is Salem as a baby.

Eragon & Hocus Pocus were rescued kitties... brothers... mother is a feral cat...Daddy is a rescued Ragdoll that we named Choctaw... my son now has him. Eragon was near impossible to catch... it took weeks & finally one afternoon he was eating & I just reached down and picked him up.. he never put up a fight when I cuddled him in my arms.. he was 4 weeks old. Hocus Pocus took a couple of weeks extra to catch... but finally !!!!!

Samhain I adopted from my friend Wendy's cat shelter. I was looking for another black cat but that looks different from Salem. After 3 or 4 of visits I decided on him. His owners could not keep him any longer so he was taken to Wendy. He only likes to be petted on his terms and he must approach you !! He has been declawed ( not by me ).

My very special little Bast.. I also adopted her from Wendy. Wendy told me.. I have a cute lil long hair black manx kitty for you to see. I found her curled up under an end table... picked her up.. she cuddled up under my chin and rubbed her lil face against mine and stuck to me like velcro. She picked me !!!!

Tut... I pet set for a girl that works with me. I had him for 2 weeks & then they picked him up. I told the girl that if they could not handle him .. I will take him. Well about 2 weeks later.. he was returned to me. He is a handful with an extreme amount of energy. He gets along fine with the other kitties... but at first .. as soon as I opened the door to the carrier.. he burst out and strutted around with a ... I'm going kick all of your lil asses !!! He tried but only to find out that my big boys that can protect themselves. Bast was submissive so he ignored her.

I pretty much... work my lil part time job across the street..... go to yard sales on Saturday with Y..... watch the grand kids some... and stay home with my kitties. Not much social life anymore but that is fine with me. I love my apartment and the location here in town. I have pretty much all that I want. Stephen still keeps in very close contact with me. He is still at Fort Dix.

Babies in Salem's Lair

2008-11-20T06:50:00.000-08:00

My Baby Boy ----- Tut---- Savannah -----4 Months old & a very active handful

My very very special girl ----- Bastet (Bast) --- Cymric Manx --- 4 Months

The 3 boys in Salem's Lair

2008-11-20T06:35:00.000-08:00

My very lovable kitty Hocus Pocus ---- A Ragamuffin 18 months old

My Mean Lil Kitty Eragon ---- A true Mom's Boy ----Rag Doll ----- 18 Months

My very independent Boy ----- Samhain --- Turkish Angora -- 4 years old

Things are good

2008-11-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

I have a new little kitty.... I named her Bast... She is a precious gift... She is 5 months old ... a solid black Cymric Manx (long hair) with gold eyes. She has no tail at all not even a nub. She is a very very sweet & loving kitty... she will let me hold and carry her 24/7. She likes to rub her face against my face and cuddle up to my shoulder. She is so much like my Salem and everyone has noticed this. She is a true and special gift. The boys get along fine with her. Eragon is a little jealous but I can understand. So Bast, Hocus Pocus, Samhain. Eragon and I are all doing good.

I love my apartment and never want to leave here. It is purrfect for us. My Landlady & land lord are the best in the entire Universe. She loves my cats and brings them presents. She is a very good friend to me. My place is awesome !!!

Scooter is playing Mini-Flag football. He is so damn cute !!! He is in Kindergarden this year. Sierra. my lil princess is doing so well. She is in 5th grade this year. She is a sweetheart. Jessica has her own store to manage... Forever 21. She is working 70 hours a week, which is not good. I am afraid that the hours are going to take a toll on her & it is not even into the Yule season yet.

Shannon & Tina are having a baby !!!! I am very happy but so worried !! So... I have another Grand Baby on the way. Tina has health problems and Shannon has to give her a shot 3 times a day. I still think about Dominick alot but I can't think about anything but positive !!

I still have my little job... my hours got cut some.. I lost 6 hours over 2 weeks. I am happy that I still have a job and whatever will be.. will be !! I like my job !! Not much money but it buys the Diet Coke and smokes.

Y and I still go out on Saturday morning. I have found so much stuff at the yard sales. I love it !!!

Been awhile

2008-11-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Mucho Better

2008-08-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

I am getting stronger and much better. Still have some occasional pain in my left side near my ribs but only when I stand for hour after hour. Now... what is miserable..is the hot flashes and night sweats. I had these years & years ago and all ran its course. Doctor said.. she had hoped that this would not happen again & was surprised that it was. She said she did not want to put me on meds and hoped that is was just a short cycle. She said for me to try to tough it out & if I couldn't to call her and I am very healthy now and she wants no risks.

I am back at work. Was not too bad !! We have a new owner working his way in. Don't know how this is going to play out because he is the bf of a co-worker. There are only 5 of us and 3 are bosses. Terry & I just do our job.. take the orders and wait to see what happens. I do know the manager that hired me is not liking taking orders when she considers the others beneath her. Drama & politics on the way. He is already talking of cuting hours & that means me. As it stands & has... I only work 10 one week & 22 the next... I am the newest and only part time there so I may get the axe. Wages go up... hours come down.

One of my witchy friends found me !!!! I am sooo happy and excited as I had not heard from her in many many moons. I miss her so much but did not know how to get in touch with her after all the years. I joined a new online group and I want my magick back... I have missed that in my life.

I believe I am making a comeback. I have been so withdrawn and out of everything. Working has help me some with talking to people and getting out of the apartment. For years,I was only leaving my apartment to go buy cat food... go to the vets and with Y to the yard sales. I very much lost my communication skills and my health and appearence went to hell. I just did not care about me at all. The tumor would have killed me soon & at that time I was going to let it. Talking with my doctor was a wake up call for sure. I was so stupid !!!

Eragon, Hocus Pocus and Samhain are great company for me but I still miss my Salem so much and it still hurts. I know he sees this and does not like seeing me so sad. Only Time !!!! Samhain is starting to like me & not just use me for food. He actually curled up beside me & purred.

Morning

2008-07-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

I feel so much better. Still a little pain around my ribs but I can deal. It feels nice to be getting back to normal. My stomach is almost flat again and my older clothes are fitting me once again. I have to see my doctor for a checkup on aug.1. Hopefully, I will get released and back to work. I don't have many details about the operation except that she removed a massive 15-20 lb tumor that had broken off a smaller piece.... hence the visit to ER . Guess she will explain more details at the checkup. I had to stay in the hospital longer than expected for blood transfusions. I had problems with extreme vomitting and that was horrible. I have never had so many IVs and blood test in my life !!!

Jessica was my rock. She stood right beside me and was more than I could have hoped for. Shannon and Tina were so helpful also. They watched Sierra & Robert and my kitties. I needed my kids and they were there for me. Don't know what I would have done without them.

Y has stuck beside me also. She is a great friend to me. She is afraid that I will stop eating again so she takes me out to eat almost every night. I don't like to eat but I enjoy Y's company so I go. She stopped by a few nights and cooked dinner here for me also. I eat one good meal a day.

I am very lucky to still be here and I have a new outlook on everything and what is important in my life.

Strange as it may sound to some. I saw Salem 3 times while I was in the hospital. It was so awesome to see him but I wanted to hold him but I couldn't. The hospital room and walls & hallway were all white and sometimes I could see a fuzzy black cat walk by my door and guard the door way. I know that he was there with me. Goddess, I still miss him so much !!!!

Eragon, Hocus Pocus and Samhain... really missed me. Shannon told me that at times Eragon was so sad... he would watch as he came in the apartment.. sit by the door to see if I followed.. and when he didn't see me... his blue eyes would fill up with tears like he was crying. Eragon has stayed beside me in bed while I rest. Hocus Pocus follows me every where I go and guards me. When I get up to move around Now.. I have 3 cats right beside me. Samhain... well he is a sweet boy... he is trying to connect with me but Hocus will not really allow him to get close to me for long. As soon as he notices Samhain getting attention... he runs over and chases him off of me.

I am starting to feel weak so... off I go

Home

2008-07-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

Home from hospital but feeling very very weak. I know it will take time to bounch back into things.

Osprey

2008-06-30T12:13:00.001-07:00

I AM SO ANGRY !!!!!!! This is the Oprey family that luive in my front yard. There is Mommy, Daddy and 2 babies. This morning my neighbor found the Mommy dead in her driveway. She was almost back at the nest. She was shot in the neck. Why would anyone kill such a beautiful harmless bird, What kind of low life person would do this. I have watched this nest for months and observe the special life that Osprey share together. I watched these babies from the minute that I could view their lil heads poking up. I am so sad and angry !!!! This is a photo of Daddy and one of the babies. Yesterday afternoon there were 4 sharing the nest and it was so interesting to watch them. The babies have not taken to the air yet for their first flight. What in the Fk is wrong witht peopler

Morning

2008-06-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

SAMHAIN.......Found a new spot to homestead

ERAGON......The Terrible......A mean lil kitty with a small loving streak

HOCUS POCUS... My Sweet lovable Good boy !!!

Quiet weekend here. Y and I went to the yard sales and to lunch yesterday... didn't find much but had a great time . I did find some more nice photo frames for photos of my boys. I can never have enough photos of them. I will never stop missing Salem and I cherish every single photo that I have of him...he will always be my everything. He was my magick and I am lost without him.

Today... I have to get the bills ready to mail on Monday. I also must groom this place. Monday afternoon the Direct TV Tech is visiting to reset my dish because I am only getting half of the stations. The ones that I watch the most are missing, of course.

I am really dreading next week but I know that I have to get this thing out. I try to keep my mind on positive things and not on the what ifs. Yet I am pretty scared and worried.

At last

2008-06-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

Well, Jessica who has my short fuze but not as short as mine had to call the doctor's office. I could not !!!! They called me but it sure sounded like they had placed my folder under a stack of books. Still not carved in stone with a bunch of ifs... if we can get the operating room & if this & if that !! I was satisfied cause I DON"T WANT TO GO !!!! It was the rush, rush, rush... the Doctor scared me with and then the nothing. Anyway... this morning the hospital called with the dates... Pre Op on July 1 and operation on July 3rd. Looks like the only fireworks that I shall see will be from a needle or pill.

Everyone around town is thinking that I am dying... funny thing I only told Y, a few family members, my cats, and the 3 others that I work with. Of course my blog, which not many read and none from around here anyway. People that I know and have never seen before in the store stop by to look at me. I must be good for business. My Mother has me just about dead and wants me to let her handle my money (what money.. my lil retirement check?). I am trying to stay positive and worry about getting this thing out first & then deal with cancer if it is there.

And I am STILL Waiting

2008-06-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

I am now turning into the Subborn Bitch that I can sure be & it is suiting me soooo well !!! I have been sitting by this Fking phone for 3 days now and waiting for the damn call from the Doctor's office so I can plan the rest of my life. Friday during my appointment everything was rush.. rush...rush to get this damn thing outta me and if I had plans tooooo bad they had to be cancelled. So I leave outta of there scared to death and with the final words... we will call you with the dates for tests & the operation. WELLL>>>>>>> I SIT & I WAIT and I get more stubborn & angry by the second. If I am priority 2 out of 10... I feel sorry for number 3 and the rest !!!

This thing does not hurt me now... so I am getting stubborn enough to say FK IT !!! What the Fk does HUGE mean on a size comparison chart, anyway ???

SOOOOO I STILL know nothing !!!!! Maybe I should just march the 80 miles to the Doctors.. demand my records... cat scan... and all that shit and walk out !! NOOOO, it was impossible for them to even think about waiting a week or 10 days for Jessica's vacation and now look. I hate going to Doctor's anyway !!!! Infact, now I may hate Doctor's.

And maybe the longer I wait... the longer I Live !!! You know I don't even give a rat's Ass about this operation !! And if I have to call them.. as I sit biting my tongue.. I will surely have to find another Doctor because I will be so damn hateful over this waiting just to know a fking date !! How long can it take to call the lab and request the damn PreOP test. Maybe, the Doctor said.. get that crazy bitch outta here.. tell her we will call her & maybe she will get tired of waiting and go some place else. How many doctors will my insurance pay anyway !!

Waiting

2008-06-23T05:52:00.000-07:00

Here, I sit and wait for the phone to ring so I will know when I go in for PreOp testing. I need to vacuum and clean this place but I can't because I may not hear the phone. I hate this place messy !!!! I worked this weekend.. was not suppose to via Dr.'s orders but I could not and would not ruin the others weekend when we only have 4 of us and 2 working the weekends.. this way we all get 2 weekends off a month. Working keeps my mind off of me. Not sure how things will be when I have to be off. The girls are saying that they will pull my hours and not to worry. I hate them having to do this. I know this is the busiest time for us & with the 4Th of July weekend.. which I was supposed to work... things will be hectic. I told them that if they have to hire a replacement for me... I will understand.. they say NO... we will hold this job for you. If it gets too much for them... I don't want that but I do appreciate that they want me back. So I worry... each one of them already has 40 hours a week as it is.

The hospital that I have to go to is about 80 miles from here. Jessica is my ride back & forth. Her next vacation is not until July 8Th. She is Assistant Manager at Kohl's but she has a real bitch of a manager over her that is never understanding. Problems could be created. I worry.

My Grandkids are in tears.. because Jessica told them that if I feel too bad that I can not watch them . I don't want them upset and worrying.

Me, I have spells where I worry and cry and want to crawl in a hole and I try to occupy my mind and not read any medical info on the internet.

I like my doctor.. she seems nice enough. We laughed & joked some together. She has 10 operations already scheduled and she placed me as number 2 because number 1 must be done asap. She said that thing has to come of me asap because it is so huge. She has very well noticed that I hate to go to doctors.

My Mom and her crew have me declared almost dead. She is like talking to the Grim Reaper. I try to avoid her. My Sister and niece keep her informed that they have researched on the internet and have the facts.

Off I Go

2008-06-20T05:20:00.000-07:00

Spent Wednesday night in the ER.... after all the tests.. the doctor found a HUGE tumor on my ovary that is crowding my bladder. I only have 1 ovary because in the late 80s.. i had tumors that were removed the size of grapefruits. Those pale in comparison when compared to this one. I have an appointment today in Richmond which is about 80 miles from here to meet with a specialist. I must have this thing removed ASAP because of the effect on my bladder and the size of this thing. They are calling it ovarian cancer. So the operation will be scheduled very soon. Not sure how long I will be in the hospital but I am sure that I will hate it. I had a doctor in ER that was a young female version of House...she put the fear of the Goddess in me for sure !!!! In a strange way I liked her but the lectures.She put in my discharge papers.... you have 2 days & no more to see this doctor which I have talked to and set you up with.... you have 2 weeks to have the operation... you can not return to work. After 10 hours in ER and so many test.. I left with a perscription for pain killers and the fear of the Goddess in me.

Jessica took me to the ER. The doctor kept drilling me as to why I had not seen a doctor for this and that it was very noticed that something was wrong. Well Jessica set the tone for young female Dr. House by saying.... that I hate doctors.

The specialist and the hospital are rated the best in this area for this. I hope they are.

School is out for Summer

2008-06-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

Yeppers.... schools out for summer here starting at noon today. I will be watching the grandkids. I know they will be bored here with me & the cats. It has and will be 99 degrees here for a few days. Tis very hot outside !!!!!! I manage to keep more than busy with the grandkids, working, serving the cats and other things. My boys are stretched out on the floor absorbing the AC. No window watching for them today. The roof is being replaced on the building here. Lots of banging around over head and shingles flying. They started yesterday. Last week we had severe Tstorms and Twister warnings just about every night. We had some pretty severe Tstorms.

Good Morning

2008-05-30T05:28:00.000-07:00

Finally captured a photo of all 3 boys looking in the same direction !!!!!! They are learning to stop and pay attention when I have the camera out. I love taking photos of them. Each one has their own photo album to fill up. Salem has 3 albums... all filled. I wonder if they are hanging by the window all the time trying to find an escape route.

Weather here has been purrfect the past few days. No AC on and windows open. Not sure what I shall venture into today. I do need to trek over to Food Lion to purchase more kitty food. I keep a stock pile of food for the boys. They are eating Purina Kitten Chow and Science Diet and Fancy Feast can food.

Morning from Salem's Lair

2008-05-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening I went to a Tee Ball game to watch Robert (Scooter) play. I have not been able to attend many of his games with my work schedule. He was cute !!! I will be watching the grandkids this summer when school gets out. That is going to rock my world cause they can really be loud & misbehaving at times. They get bored here with me so they test my nerves !! I don't really do much or go anywhere anymore. Work & going to yard sales with Y are the only times that I venture out. I do walk over to Food Lion for cat food once a week.

I have been saving cans for the cat shelter .. Wendy's Feline Friends... I do have plenty to contribute as most know. I try to do whatever I can to help out. Shannon helps unload kitty litter once a month for her. She is a wonderful lady that is doing a wonderful thing for the kitties. She finds homes for many cats & kittens. I call her home the Kitty Hilton. The ones that do not get adopted stay with her.

I found 4 tiny kittens near my steps last week. I feed all the cats that live in the colony in the woods behind the apartment building. The moma cat has been the resident mouser here for about 5 years. She is part Maine Coon and loves to hunt.. her babies do as well.

So to sum it up Cats are my life & I love it.

My Boys

2008-05-26T08:34:00.001-07:00

Left 2 Right... Samhain, Eragon, Hocus Pocus....Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Ragamuffin... What A TRIO

Worked this weekend & it was retail hell !!! I did manage to get to the yard sales with Y from 7AM to 9:15... then go to work. Spent too much money but I found nice stuff. Don't know why I needed more electric heaters but I did. Have a total of 5 now. We could have a cold winter !!!! Bought another cat carrier... I need big ones for these 3 hunks of burning love. Total of 4 now. I am complusive and if I find a good deal, I can't resist. Oh., I collect cat statues and I found more. Honestly, I collect lots of stuff now.... too much !!

My boys always cut up and protest when I have to leave for work. It is always a ritual with them and naturally I get bit in the ankle as I try to sneak outta here from Eragon the Terrible. Oh he is somewhat kinder to me. Hocus Pocus follows me around like a puppy with his sad green eyes and wants me to hold him... he is 9 months old and weighs over 10 lbs. Samhain...Well, he still hates me... he is a food whore..he jumps up on the washing machine for another course of food.. I have to feed the boys in different areas. I keep telling these guys that I must work to feed their fat asses, buy 60 lbs of kitty litter a week and continue to pay the vet bills that they make because I am so damn paranoid now... they sneeze.. they see the Vet. Not to forget flea meds. I have used Frontline, Advantage and Biospot and still a flea or two manages to survive. None of this stuff is doing the job, in my opinion and it cost plenty !!! The soil around here is very sandy.. cause I live near the beach & river.. they never never go outside.. so I guess the damn pesky lil bastard fleas ride in on me ??? Anyway.... they own me.. I wouldn't have it any other way.... I miss my Salem and I wish I could still hold him....I love my boys and they are my life.

Speaking of Samhain... the other night he managed to venture into my bed.. Well, I had the covers over my head.. I looked to see which of my boys wanted to sleep with me... Samhain took one slight look at me... you'd have thought Linda Blair in the Exorcist was in there cause he could not wait to flee the entire room. Goddess, I must have looked horrible !!!!!! Well, I do not allow mirrors in here... So I don't know !!!

That is all !!!!!!!

Beautiful Morning

2008-05-19T05:24:00.000-07:00

Samhain is doing much better. He is getting used to me, Eragon and Hocus Pocus. He is beginning to get into things & making e this his home. we found out that Samhain has been declawed.... the shelter never mentioned this. Eragon & Hocus pocus ... give him his space because of his loud roar and his size.

Y and I went to the yard sales as we do on every saturday morn. I look so forward to spending time with Y. We found a few nice things not that I really needed them but could not resist.

Morning

2008-05-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

I had to work this weekend but it wasn't too bad actually. Shannon & Tina took me & her Mom out to dinner on Thursday night.. had to do it that night because of my work schedule. Next we stopped by Petsmart & Walmart. We got caught in a severe storm and spent more time out than we wanted to but it was a very good evening & night out. Jessica & Sierra picked me up from work on Sunday at 6 PM. We celebrated her Birthday which was Saturday & Mother's Day. We stopped by to visit with my Mother. It was a very good evening.

We had a NorEaster here this weekend (Sunday, mostly). The waves from the river were way up and pounding the streets.

I purchased some build a wall photo frames and I am building my Wall of Salem over my wall behind the TV. I have so many photos of him and each one is so special & holds so many memories. Goddess, I miss him sooo much !!! I know she knows that she is craddling the most special and best kitty in the universe in her arms & kissing his lil black nose. I miss that !!!!

Hocus Pocus and Eragon both sleep with me some at nights. They are both fairly devoted to me and spoiled beyond rotten. My living room is full of toys & baskets and scratching post and puffs for them. Samhain... well, he is very much staying to himself.

Ain't one thing, It's two

2008-05-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

Took Samhain to the Vet's on Friday... He is sneezing once in a while and rubbed a sore on his nose from sitting in the window & rubbing his nose against the screen. Vet said... he is healthy and caught up on his shots ... he knows because he has been his patient since at the shelter. He says to me that he is very very sad about Salem & he knew that he could not survive much longer after our last visit but did not have the heart to tell me... and he knew I already knew anyway. He said Samhain is lucky that I have him and he will love me.

Being paranoid as I am... I checked all of the health records that I was given with Samhain and they all look good and up to date. Next Shannon & I attack the internet with looking up Feline Illnesses. We find a couple to check out. I call back the Vet's office.. they knew exactly who I am by my voice.. Goddess, I hate that. The vet was not there so I talked to the tech. She said that if Samhain had any illness.. he would have caught it and that I need to stop looking on the internet and believing everything I read. Yet.. I noticed that the vet never checked Samhain for a fever and actually spent more time talking to me. I love this vet yet I have my concerns. He told me once that I need to trust him !!!

Saturday Hocus Pocus developed signs of illness. He was shaking & shivering. We rushed him to an animal hospital... of course all the Vet's are 35-40 miles from here and to find one open on weekends is almost impossible.. so we had to use an emergency hospital. They did all kinds of blood tests,,, IVs and fever reducing treament... he had a very high fever and chills and a runny nose. Sent us home with amoxicillan. Virus ???

Now I am giving Hocus Pocus medicine and he is better and watching Eragon and hoping that Eragon does not get ill. Eragon & Hocus Pocus have never been outside since they were 4 weeks & 6 weeks old. Only outside contact that they have is by sitting in the windows. Samhain was in side but allowed in the outside pen at the shelter yet he was checked out by a Vet and had a clean bill of health. My Vet knows that I have other cats so if Samhain was ill he should have told me but maybe not !!!

My friend in Texas.. she called me and was telling me that her cats have been to the vets & ill. Same thing as I have been dealing with. She uses an Eastern Medicine Vet. Her vet called it Wind Invasion .

I don't know and I hate to keep calling my vet but I will.

Being nice

2008-04-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

First time that I have seen these two brothers (Eragon & Hocus Pocus)next to each other without fighting or playing. They usually chase each other around the apartment at max speed... tire out and take a nap. Eragon is the agressive lil Alpha that wants to rule everything & everybody.... as he does !! Eragon also owns everything around here... the 3 huge baskets.. the puff...the play cubes & all the toys. He does not like to share with Hocus Pocus nor Samhain. Samhain is not adjusting as well as I would like but I think he just needs time and that he shall have. It has only been a week since he joined us. He is a very unusual kitty... seems like he may have been abused at one point of his life. He does not like to be touched or petted around his head and he cowers when you try to pet him. Eragon & Hocus Pocus pretty much leave him alone. He is very huge and has a loud growl & hiss.

I don't think.. I will ever attempt to train another cat as I did Salem nor allow other cat to train me as Salem did. I would expect too much of them & they would always pale in comparison in my eyes. It would not be fair. He was a once in a lifetime gift.

Each kitty is different around here... Eragon is a loving yet determined agressive lil guy. He attacks me when I put my shoes on to leave outta here.. he bites at my feet and legs..runs circles around me while making loud sounds.. he wants me here all the time and makes a ritual out of my trying to open the door. Hocus Pocus is a very sweet loving guy.. he follows me around.. sleeps on the floor under my feet when I relax on the couch.. loves for me to kiss him on his lil nose.. he has a strange habit of only eating out of his own bowl and only in the spare bedroom. He refuses to eat in the kitchen with the others... he also hates canned food. Samhain for now.. he just wants to be left alone.. I hope he learns to love me.

Introducing Samhain

2008-04-27T04:36:00.000-07:00

Samhain is a new & very recent member of Salem's Lair. He is 4 years old...a Maine Coon Mix..huge cat. I wanted another black cat... not at all to replace Salem.. because that could never ever be, there is no other. I wanted one similar in looks,,,yet different in many ways. He is true black.. where Salem has brown tones. His fur is not as long and is body build is very different. He seriously does not act like Salem.. so far in all ways. I am sure he will improve in his nature as time goes by. Right now he is a little shy and this place is new to him.

I picked Samhain out of about 75 cats that live at a sorta cat shelter. The place where I got him is very special & awesome. The lady has a beautiful house and all the cats & kittens are free roaming inside and there is a exercise fenced area with doggie doors... where they are allowed outside. All cats are neutered , have their shots and all given well checkups by a Vet. It is a truly awesome place. I had many many cats to pick from but only 2 adult male black cats. I saw so many others that are beautiful and very loving. I am going to be helping out, making donations and saving cans to help support this place.

Eragon wants to rule the Lair and so far he is. Hocus Pocus is a very laid back kitty and a sweet boy. Samhain holds his own and because of his size and loud growl.. the others back off of him. There has been no physical battles yet and I don't feel that there will be. Eragon & HP are very spoiled.. Hopefully Samhain will be too. My apartment is covered with cat toys, large baskets, & puffs. They rule & I just live here.

We picked up my loves ashes on Friday night. We had to go 40 miles from here. Salem had a Private Cremation and it took just about 2 weeks. Now I have my boy back here with me. Now I have to order his Bastet Urn for him. The people were so good and caring where we took him and that really helped.

This is my weekend to work. Yesterday was not too bad and time passed by more rapidly for me. I like my job and the money does help out. I could not have paid my taxes and taken care of Salem without it. I still get to yard sale before I go to work. Y and I managed to go yesterday morn. I found a few things to add to my apartment. My place is decorated in cats & I found some more items to add. I am still searching for Egyptian Art. My main theme is Bastet.

That is all !!

I miss my boy

2008-04-18T04:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing is the same here. When I come home I still look for Salem on his bean bag. I can't stand to move or part with anything that is his. Eragon & Hocus Pocus are better. They stay pretty close to me and under my feet. Guess,,, we just need time.

Waiting on Salem's ashes. We picked out an urn with Bastet and Isis on it. I think he would like it.

I have a terrible cold.. but atleast I am off of work this weekend. I have no energy at all left in me. Just empty.

I knew that the day would come when Salem & I had to part for awhile. I saved money for vet visits and to prepare but still ... the pain & lonliness surrounds me. It is never easy. The memories and visions are imprinted in my heart and mind forever. I still see him when I close my eyes. I know he is here.

My 2 kitties outside bring me a mouse every day now. I know they are gifting me. One will let me pet her. She is so cute... long black cat with white under her throat and on her feet. The other is black with silver highlights and has long hair also. This one is becoming friendly but taking more time. They are 7 months old now. The mother stays pretty close to them. I think they are both girls.. I will need to get them fixed soon.

I have herbs to plant but waiting on the weather. Still gets chilly here at nights. This weekend maybe I will get them in the ground.

My Salem

2008-04-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

My most cherished Salem journeyed to the Summerlands on the evening of April 12th. Anyone or everyone that knows or knew me.. knows what loss I am suffering and that nothing can be the same in my life. Salem's true age is unbeknowned to me as he found me... I was gifted and blessed to have had him with me for over 10 years and I am very thankful for that time. I know that he is still with me and I can sense him and that will be forever... yet, I want to curl up beside him and kiss the top of his head & his lil black nose. He was so special and my love. Eragon and Hocus Pocus are very sad and depressed. My apartment seems so empty.

Just another day

2008-04-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jessica had to take Salem & I to his Vet's. Salem needed a B12 shot and fluid therapy. He is doing as well as can be expected but he can not put weight back on. I know that each day that we share together now is a treasure. The Vet recommended that I learn to give Salem fluid treatments at home and he will set up a demo for me. Jessica & Robby agreed to assist. Salem is still eating and drinking on his own and he manages to get around but he is still not looking too good.

Went to Tee Ball practice to watch Robert last night. He did very well and is so cute !! I coached Tee Ball for 8 years and I loved it. Now, I get to watch. Robby is helping coach the team so Jessica, Sierra and I sit on the sidelines and observe.

The others.. My Ex, Shannon and Tina moved out of the apartment building and into a house. Was a very stupid move because their rent is now double and they could not pay the rent here. None of my problem !!!! One thing is for sure.. They are not allowed to move back in this apartment building.... Landlady has carved that in stone.

Getting ready to put in my herb garden. Thinking of Sage, Rosemary and Lavender. Not sure what others. I have a very attive nest of Osprey in my yard. I love watching them but oh, are they loud in the wee morning. They have a huge nest and I think babies are in there. I have to watch my head when I walk pass the nest.... falling twigs and branches.

Off to groom this Lair.

Morning

2008-03-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

My weekend to work... Yesterday was busy & I expect the same for today. I get to meet lots of people...talk to the regulars and observe life from a different angle. I never got to do this when I worked for the Government. It was for most of the years... sitting in a private office. Each has a story to tell. Working in the public and in retail, you can really feel the economic downslide. Guess I am out of my bubble now.

I was 5 minutes late arriving at work yesterday... my first time as usually I arrive early. Nothing was said.. but I was upset with myself. there are only 4 of us working there & for most of the time.. only 2 on the shift. The reason late.... Eragon decided to show his dislike of me leaving the Lair. Eragon is way too smart and relentless. As soon as he noticed that I had my jacket and shoes on.. he dashed and hid under the reclining chair. Usually he hides in the bath tub and he is easily caught. Hocus Pocus.. he is such a good boy... he goes right to his bedroom door and willingly when I tell him. I can not leave the others with Salem when I am out. They try to torment him... Eragon mostly. It was a struggle removing Eragon from the chair... I finally had to flip it over to get a hand on him. He fought back with biting. I won but still it was a battle. His behavior is somewhat better but I have to reason with him.. discipline does not work with this head strong lil guy.

The behavior issues that I have encountered with Eragon.. steem from me removing him from the litter when he was only 4 weeks old and his determined attitude. He missed having his mother correct him and playing with his brothers & sisters. Moma cat would have bitten his lil ass back for biting her. I became the Momma and spoiled him & now at times he is a terror. He wants to rule !!!!!!! First kitten that I have ever owned or owned me that bites me. I know he will improve.

Happy St. Patrick's Day !!

2008-03-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

Survived yet another weekend of work...standing up at the register for 8 hrs.. two days in a row is tough. I was tired last night and just wanted to stretch out on the couch. So I Did but only after catering to my boys. They come first and always shall. Pretty much a dull life for me with nothing exciting going on.

Both Eragon & Hocus Pocus are determined to help me on the computer this morning. Salem is resting on top of the couch. I don't think Eragon is calming down not even a little bit.

Morning

2008-03-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

Just me, my Royal Highness and my 2 baby boys and I love it like that. I have to work tonight and this weekend.... I hate being away from my apartment... it is so cozy and comfortable here. Lest I still get every other weekend off. I love my job and it fits me well.. I work 10 hours one week and 22 the next... it buys Diet Coke, Smokes, Cat food, kitty Litter....I am happy with this. My EX, Son and his wife moved out of the apartment building last month. I think it was a good thing for me but not too smart a move for them as their rent more than doubled now. How they will make it.... I have no clue but that will be their problem !!! They could not afford the much cheaper rent that they had here. Not my problem !! I have my computer back and online & all is well here.

Y and I still yard sale and go to the Opp Shop on my Saturdays off. Soon Yard Sales will start earlier and I can go before I have to be at work. That is about the jest of my social life.

A friend of mine that owns a gift shop has asked me to come work for her on my days off but I think that will be too much but I offered to fill in some. I shall think upon this.

Salem is doing fairly well with his condition.. He eats well, drinks lots of water and takes his meds. He just does not put on weight. He gets around fine but does not look his best... neither do I.

Eragon attacks me and runs circles around me while biting my shoes when I try to venture out of the apartment. Soon as I put my shoes and jacket on & stand up... he starts his evil routine. I am his prisoner.

Hocus Pocus will only eat out his own bowls and in the spare bedroom..... he yells at his door to go in and out. He will only sleep in their too. He hates can food and refuses it. He refuses to eat with the other cats in the kitchen. He also goes after my diet coke cans and carries my cigarettes and lighter off in his mouth. He is a Bandit.

Salem makes me sit on the kitchen floor with him while he eats. If I walk out the room he refuses his food and I can't have that with his condition.

I spend most of my days filling my boys wishes and I wouldn't change that. I am amazed at the different habits and routine that each has developed.

Daddy & his two sons

2008-03-13T05:18:00.000-07:00

Choctaw weighs in at over 25lbs now... he is a huge boy but not uncommon to his breed. He is a sweetheart. Big Baby !! My son and his wife jumped claim to Choctaw and he lives with them now.

Hocus Pocus is the largest of the kittens. He will probably reach Choctaw's size. He is a very sweet boy and easy to manage kitty. He respects Salem and is very good with him.

Eragon... WELL !!!! He has Choctaw's coloring & eye color. He needs alot of discipline. He is somewhat aggressive and determined to be the alpha. He is smaller with a huge additude. Salem hates him and has just cause. He is the only kitty that has ever bitten me and I mean several times. He can be a good boy and very loving but only on his terms. I am hoping that with being neutered now.. he may become less aggressive. He is very jealous of Salem and shows it in all ways. I call him Hell Cat.

Been a long time

2008-03-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

Finally got everything hooked up in my new apartment and back online. Salem is still hanging in here with me and doing Okay but has good days & bad days. He is a fighter and not giving up nor am I. Eragon and Hocus Pocus both got neutered last month... they are 6 months old now. I love my new apartment and its location. Still working and loving it. Alot has happened in the past months and too much to talk about. Well, I gotta go.. kitties are complaining about their dislike of their cat food and demanding a different kind... must go to the store.

MERRY YULE FROM SALEM

2007-12-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

My Yule Tree

2007-12-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

Eragon has staked claim to the Yule tree.. no one can go near it as he protects it !!! It is his tree !!! Don't think it is going to weather his abuse until Yule. I have had to redecorate this poor tree 3 times now. My final action being to remove all glass balls and replace with plastic. He destroyed 15 glass balls in a 20 minute time span to make room for hisself. He is really really a determined little kitty. Salem strongly dislikes him and his brother Hocus is beginning not to tolerate him very well. Most times when I am home I have to sit around with a squirt bottle to protect the others. I just hope that he calms down soon as he ages. He is without a doubt the most aggressive kitty that I have ever owned or that owned me.

I had to take Salem to the vets monday. He just has not been feeling well and losing weight. I got some very bad news and I refuse to accept it. After some blood work revealed.. his kidneys are starting to give out. He is now on prescription cat food and he must drink lots of water. He is also on amoxicillan for an infection. He is my love and knowing this is killing me.. as I don't like being away from him for more than a few minutes. I knew that a time like this would come but I wanted him forever and this has really broken me down. He is my love, my best friend and my Familiar and I pray for more time. He is not very sick right now but still !!!!!

Still Working

2007-10-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

I am loving my job...it pays for diet coke, smokes, cat food and kitty litter plus a little extra for the yard sales. I meet a lot of strange people with dealing with the public but so far none that I would invite home for dinner, but ya never know.

My kitties are all doing very well. Hocus & Eragon are growing rapidly. Salem is still being Salem and has his earned position as my Master. Choctaw is a horse.. he is usually a very sweet boy but he growls at his sons and I can't trust him alone with them.

Today, I am treking over to the local hardware store to look at an electric fireplace for my apartment. I have the most perfect place to put it but I will have to relocate my cauldron and water fountain.

Tonight...... I am doing a walk about with my 2 witchlings (Sierra & Scooter). I was lucky to have off work tonight. I can't wait to get into my favorite attire. I can feel the energy building up already this morning.

Many of my friends and others have passed over to the Summerlands in the past months. They have been all ages. This has saddened me very often and bought back memories of Dominick. I still think of him every night before I fall asleep.

That is all !!

MERRY SAMHAIN

2007-10-31T05:36:00.000-07:00

My Boys

2007-10-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

Finally, Sir Salem as Ruler of the Lair has accepted Prince Eragon into his lair. It did take awhile because Salem is very very spoiled and Eragon was very annoying. Next Hocus Pocus will be introduced .

Still Employed

2007-10-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Work is not too bad...I don't have many hours but I like it like that. The extra money does come in handy. Eragon is a hand full of aggressive energy... He is a beast, but soooo damn cute. Salem would have killed him by now.. if he had more teeth. He annoys my Salem to no end with wanting to wrestle. Eragon has attacked my arms so many times and I have many many claw holes on my arms. He thinks my arm is another kitten to beat up. I have tried all types of reasoning with him with no results. I hope he out grows this behavior soon. He is only a sweet loving guy for a very few short minutes and out comes the beast. This morning he attacked Hocus Pocus and I had a time getting the two seperated. HP is alot bigger but Eragon still refuses to back off. HP is very sweet and does not seem as aggressive.

I spend most of my day taking care of my kitties and I feed the homeless kitties that are in the woods behind my place. There is a Moma Cat and 2 kittens

Photos of babies

2007-10-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Choctaw'ss son Hocus Pocus.... Largest in the litter

Eragon... looks most like his daddy... check out his hairy paws ..his eyes are blue but showed up red in the photo

Another

2007-10-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

Eragon is growing so rapidly.. he is going to be a fairly hunky cat. He is coloring out more & more each week. He now has a mask. Salem is annoyed by him... he wants to play and wrestle and Salem gets annoyed. I was lucky enough to get my hands on another of Choctaws sons. This lil fellow is huge for his age... he is white with black patches and green eyes... another fuzz ball. He reminds me of a long haired version of my HP that Tina's mother took away from me for spite... yet another family issue !!! I am now calling the new lil kitty Hocus Pocus. The new kitty is in isolation for now until I get him Vet checked... I take no chances.

Choctaw is more Shannon's cat. He is huge.. weighs over 25 lbs & will reach 30. His breed can weigh 25-30 lbs. He seems to have connected with Shannon from the get go. I can barely pick him up anymore.... you need very long arms..like Shannon's because Choctaw likes to be craddled in your arm on his back like a baby. This big guy likes to take baths.. he jumps in the tub full of water and loves it... then we have to towel dry him... he gets all but his head wet.

Salem is loving his new Lair.. he loves to bask in the windows on the back porch.. I have to make him come in at night time. He will always remain my Royal King and master. At bed time he sleeps on my pillow beside me... no others are allowed.

The job is going okay... there are only 4 of us working there. I mostly work the cash register which keeps me very busy. I may have to fill in some this saturday.. which was supposed to be my weekend off... but I saw that coming !!

That is all. Photos to follow of my boys.

Busy times

2007-10-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

Things have been very hectic around here for the past couple of weeks. I have been working for my parents... getting their rental house ready to go on the market for rent. Not a fun job at all !! Also been getting Sierra & Scooter on & off the school bus and some weekend babysitting. Just started a part time job at the Discount Store across the highway from my apartment. I work 5-7 PM in the evenings and every other saturday & sunday all day. Not bad at all.. extra money for Diet coke, smokes and kitty food & litter.

Father & Son

2007-09-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

Eragon is starting to color out like his Daddy now. He even has the same mean look in this photo but both are so loving and sweet.

Where do I Begin

2007-09-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

It has been a very long time & so much has happened around me. I just have not felt like doing much of anything including sitting at the computer. Hopefully, I will be back to me soon.

I just returned from a vacation in Ocean City, Md. I spent most of my time along the ocean metal detecting.. that is what I wanted to do.. So I did. I found about $10.00 in change and a $160.00 man's watch out in the water. I enjoyed hunting and being in the sand & ocean. Wish I could have stayed longer.

I lost Hocus Pocus.. Tina's low life bitch of a mother took him away from me. She did this just to be mean because of In-Law problems & we hate each other !! I loved Hocus Pocus & he had a purrfect loving home with me. For over a year .. I bought all of his food.. put frontline on him.. took him to the vets and loved him. She abandoned him 1.5 years ago & he hates her & runs & hides from all of Tina's family... now he will be mistreated just to spite me.

I am so thankful that I have Eragon.. he is an unexpected gift from the Goddess. He is so much like his Daddy and so loving. Salem is somewhat jealous of the baby but he was over HP at first also.

I am loving my new apartment... so much more room and I have a yard.

Robert (Scooter) started Pre-K this year... he is 4. Sierra is in 4th grade this year. My babysitting job is down to only a few hours & I miss them so much !!

I broke my left hand & damn.. did it hurt.. I don't think it will ever be back like it was. It still hurts & aches sometimes when I pick up something with it.

Y and I still do our yard sale & opp shop quest on Saturdays.. I have found some nice things this year for my new place. That is always the high light of my week.

So much drama happening around me here & anymore I just ignore it because I was losing my sanity and I stay to myself in my apartment with my kitties. All.. I will say is Shannon married into the most worthless, no moral, lowlife family that anyone could ever imagine.

Okay enuff for now.. off I go to kiss & hug on my kitties.

Salem Relaxing

2007-09-09T11:36:00.001-07:00

Choctaw's Son

2007-09-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

Here is ERAGON... He is Choctaw's son.. He is such a smart & loving little guy.

New Apartment

2007-07-26T17:17:00.000-07:00

Salem, Hocus Pocus & I are loving our new apartment. We have so much more room now. The place is a large apartment compared to many others. It took a month to get everything moved and placed. I also love having the yard & porch outback. The Grandkids are enjoying having a playroom of their own. The cats have their own sunroom with lots of windows to enjoy.

I have not been at the computer much anymore. Not much to do on there anyways. Maybe now that I am settled in my apartment, I will find more time.

Whew !!

2007-06-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

Spend most of the week with helping my landlady get my apartment ready for me. Was a gruesome task !!! We decided to remove the wall paper from the kitchen & bathroom and just paint the walls white. I volunteered for the removal of wall paper. The kitchen was a breeze to do as it was more like contact paper... off in about an hour. The bathroom was a bitch to remove and there were layers of the stuff. The stuff was imbedded into the wall board in areas. I managed to get wall paper glue & dust into my right eye...... Oh, that really hurt and my eye swelled up but after a couple of days it was okay. It took me 4 days from 10 AM to 5PM removing the damn wall paper. It is painted white now but we are thinking about putting up a border.

The lady that used to lived there was in a huge hurry to leave town and pretty much left with just the clothes on her back. She left here via train. It was a mess... inside and outside the apartment. I was able to use some of the furniture but not all that much.

Showed Y the apartment yesterday....she loved it and is going to help me decorate. It will be both unusual and striking.. like Y said it will be a cultural experience when finished. I can maybe charge admission.... LOL !!!!

Y and I did our yard saling and visited the Opp Shop. I found some very nice curtains and a lamp. My apartment is totally furnished in yard sale & opp shop furnishing, etc. I love it !!! After we stopped by for Market Day on the Towne Greene. I found some scented oils for my burners.

This weekend has been very emotional here. Friday was Dominicks first birthday. It has been a year now and at times it gets no easier. We spent Friday afternoon with Dominick at his grave site. We had his birthday party. His lil space is so decorated. I sang a lil birthday tune to him.. and believe me my voice is hideous... It was Happy Birthday to you dear Dominick. Happy Birthday to you.... your Grandma belongs in a zoo but you still love me as I Love You !!

Okay... Off to suck up kitty litter !!

Bast Statues

2007-06-17T06:06:00.000-07:00

Busy here !!! Not complaining at all.... I like it. Sorta long story.... A friend of mine (Getie) that owns a gift shop,,,, I asked her months ago to look for Egyptian Art for me when she goes to Estate Auctions,,, She goes to New York . I told her that I am looking for Bast or Bastet Statues. Last weekend,,, I was watching a parade here in town.. Getie noticed me and flagged me over.. She was excited to tell me that she attended an auction and found me 2 huge Bast Statues ...She was excited, I was excited,,,,, The statues are 17 inches tall, 12 inches in depth and very heavy.. they are Museum Reproductions and beautiful !!! I love them & they will be perfect in my new apartment on the brick floor stoop beside my huge cauldron. The photo does not near do them justice. One of them is missing an earring in the ear but I can fix that. Otherwise, they are in perfect condition. I love Getie for finding these and thinking of me !!

The past 2 weekends have been Potomac River Festival here in town. Parades, art exhibits, crafters, food vendors, music and many activities around town and lots of tourist on the Boardwalk and Town Greene. It is also the 100th year of the school here. Y and I have been yard saling on Saturday and then rushing down to the events for the past 2 weekends. Yesterday, a boat sorta small but awesome arrived here from Jamestown... Capt. John Smith used a small boat like this called the Scallop. It was awesome... just a wooden vessel with wooden benches and oars (4, I think) and a sail. The boat is on a 121 days venture along the rivers and the bay. The crew said they were 36 days so far on the seas. Also along the boardwalk... They had Weavers, Colonials, Native American Drummers and Bagpipe groups. It was very interesting.

Later that night,, My Aunt & I attended a social for the school. I saw some that I attended HS with. They had a good rock band there but My Aunt did not like the music... LOL... I did !!!!

Still watching the kids... with school out.... I have Robert & Sierra all day. They like to fight !!! They keep me busy. I am glad when Robby or Jessica fetch them in the evening. I need to meditate afterwards !!!

My Landlady is still cleaning and painting the apartment. The people left everything when they moved out... lots of junk and it seems like it was never cleaned in the year that they lived there. She is furious !! She has now decided to remove wall paper and paint the entire apartment. I am going to help her next week with removing the wall paper. I am so wanting to move in but it is going to be in July now.

Last Sunday... I attended my cousin, Jamie's Graduation and a small yard party. She received 7 scolarships and numerous honor student awards. She will be attending Virginia Tech this fall. I am so proud of her.

Hopefully this afternoon we will be shark teeth hunting... Last week, I found a very good size tooth.. the second largest that I have ever found. I have the fever now !! As we were driving away on the exit road in the Park,,, we saw the cutest sight... A moma skunk with 3 tiny babies trying to cross the road... we stopped to watch.. at first she tried to get them to follow her across but they were not willing.... she carried one in her mouth across the road and into a wheat field.. the other 2 were standing on the edge of the road. Shannon decided to block the road so no oncoming traffic could endanger them until Moma returned..... we waited & waited for her return.. We were getting nervous... Shannon was just about to wrap them in a towel and carry them across the road when Moma returned... she carried the second on in her mouth and finally the third one followed behind. We were not as worried about getting sprayed as we should have been... but more that she abandoned them & if we picked them up and they got a human scent on them that the moma would reject them.... but we could not leave until they were safe from harms way !!

The lil turtle that Shannon rescued is going so good. We have his habitat just right for him. He likes to swim and bask on his rock under the light. He eats vitamin pellets and blood worms. He is just a bit smaller than a quarter.

I have lots of wildlife in my soon to be yard. I have 3 deers, a ground hog, 2 Osprey, racoons, etc. I also have a couple of feral cats that I feed.

Morning

2007-06-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

Busy week here... Jessica is on vacation this week so we have been busy. Robby, Jessica, Robert (Scooter) and I went on Sierra's class trip with her to the National Zoo. The National Zoo is usually very nice but this time... many of the exhibits were closed....animals moved somewhere and the grounds needed more upkeep. I have never seen it like this..perhaps the funding has been cut way back. However, we saw animals and enjoyed what we did get to see. Robert who is 4 years old now was perfect... he walked the entire route which is mainly up & down hills in the heat and never complained nor asked for anything. Poor lil guy had horrible leg cramps that evening. He loved the big cats, turtles, and the gorillas and orangutans. We got some awesome photos. After, I arrived back home, I jumped in the car with Shannon & Tina and off we went on a Shark Teeth hunt.

Yesterday was a trip to the vets to get Luna's claws trimmed. Now, she can't scratch the hell outta us. She was well behaved and a sweet doggie.

Jessica has a new car...it is awesome ... Well, she got it back in May. They purchased a GPS system ... like a Tom Tom & it is soooo amazing. It took us right to the National Zoo enterance with no problems. It is well worth the money spent.

I am getting a new apartment. I will be moving in this month. It is downstairs and much larger. It has 2 bedrooms, back porch and a yard. Only drawback is... it is much more a month and money will be tight.

Boys will be boys

2007-06-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hocus Pocus

2007-05-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

can't leave the lil bad boy terror out !!!! How cute is he ??

Morning

2007-05-28T05:35:00.000-07:00

Quiet day here... I got up at 7:30AM... Finished the house work... it is now 8:30 and what to do?? Guess, I could take a bike ride.

Saturday was a busy day... Y and I went to the yard sales and the Opp Shop. There were plenty of yard sales to be found, for sure. We only ventured to about half of them because it got so hot as the morning turned to afternoon. Still, I managed to find many things that I could not live without. I wanted to find an intercom system to put between Shannon's apartment and mine. I found a nice new one for $3.

Took a bike ride down to the beach & boardwalk yesterday morning. It about killed me... So outta shape. Next, I groomed Choctaw... he is sheding all over the carpet. Then off to a cookout at Jessica & Robby's house. Watched the kids swim in the pool. It was a fairly good afternoon. I left about 9PM... Shannon & Tina stayed to party a bit. I think they got home about 2AM. I bet Shannon was dancing, singing and acting like a clown... LOL !!! That's about the only time that he is funny... after a few beers. Jessica, well... she is crazy & funny most of the time.

Today, I need to spend some energy... so I guess the bike ride will take care of that.

He's not too happy

2007-05-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Just finished grooming Choctaw.... He shed sooo much hair and is very annoyed with me in the photo

Morning

2007-05-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

Jessica is off today.. we are going to Sierra's field day events at school. Not sure what time but we are going. Next week we are going on Sierra's school trip to the National Zoo. I can't wait... I love the National Zoo and have not been in years.

I may be moving into another apartment here in the complex....two different ones may come available around June 1. One is the 2 bedroom downstairs. It has a yard and a back porch but the rent is much higher. The other is about the same as this one except the layout is a little different and the appliances are much newer and all around it is nicer. Now it all depends on if the tennants actually move like they told the Landlady. We shall see !!

Off to get really to leave outta here.

My Second Hobby

2007-05-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Of course my first choice hobby is metal detecting, but when I am not metal detecting along the beach.... I look for fossils & shark teeth. We have a couple of special beaches where we only look for shark's teeth......interesting that along the same river there are only special spots were shark's teeth can be found. Yesterday, Shannon, Tina, Sierra, Robert and I decided to spend the afternoon at our special spot. We don't sift for these but instead rely on our eye sight. We also find some interesting fossils but the shark's teeth are my fav. This is sorta a Family tradition that I started when I was teen growing up along the river and it has been passed down & I hope it will continue to future generations.... I believe it shall.

These are a few of the shark's teeth that I have found in the pass 2 weeks. The large one, I was lucky enough to find yesterday. It is the second largest that I have found in many years of hunting. The history and age of these teeth are very interesting. The large one is a Megalodon (approx. 24.5 million - 2 million yesrs ago).... the others I am still researching... some Tiger Sharks. Shannon & Tina have a very nice collection which is expanding. Sierra & Robert have a collection going of their own also.

King of his Jungle

2007-05-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

This is Salem's new chosen spot.... for how long... who knows !!! He has staked claim to my bed, bedroom and entire contents. HP gets the foot of the bed sometimes..but, that is a dangerous spot with my bear paws feet down there. Choctaw likes to relax on the wooden floor where it is cooler. They only wander out into the living room area for food & water & litter box.

Vacation Week

2007-05-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Jessica is on vacation this week so I don't have Sierra & Robert. Very quiet around so I am listening to music. Mother's Day was great !!! Shannon, Tina, Tina's Mom and I spent the afternoon at the beach and later visited Dominick. We found some nice shark's teeth while strolling along the shoreline. I received lots of nice gifts from the kids. It was a very nice relaxing day. Jessica & Robby returned early from VA Beach so we could spend time together before I treked off on an adventure.

Been riding my new bike some but I can only manage about 5 miles. Been a long time so I need to get back in shape for the 10 mile course. It was a struggle !!!!!

Took the metal detector to the beach yesterday. Weatherwise, it was a great day and I enjoyed being amongst the waterfowl. Only managed to unsand 2 nasty pennies. Skunked !!! The water was calm & warm for the most part. Was sorta hard to stand up in the river because of all the pea gravel that has washed down. Anything lodged on the bottom is very well covered in gravel. Well, the conditions need to improve and they will as the tourist arrive.

Talked to Juli on the phone last night..... She plans on making a road trip down here this summer to visit. Stephen calls nightly and he plans on coming down here in July or August. We shall see. I foresee his visit as not a good thing !!

Scooter (Robert) & Salem playing

2007-05-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

Playing with the train

2007-05-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

HP gets the evil eye from Salem.

Choctaw

2007-05-11T05:42:00.000-07:00

Choctaw is doing very well. His true colors (and there are many) are beginning to evolve. He eats like a horse and is very picky. He is a huge baby and when he runs around the apartment, he generates the sound of a herd of elephants. Late at nights, he gets an uncontrolable burst of energy and becomes a terror. Salem tolerates him and Choctaw knows his limits around Salem. However, he is not fond of HP and when HP wants to play Choctaw gets too rough with him. HP is the runt and I worry. I mean HP can be a very bad kitty but when he jumps & climbs.. he generates a lot less damage than Choctaw. Choctaw is a bull in a china cabinet !! He needs training for sure.

Interesting to witness the various personalities in the kitties. Salem is the wisest, the Alpha and King of the Lair and .... he is a very very good kitty ..... HP loves me so much, he requires lots of love and when he does not think that he is getting enough, he demands it. This is how HP demands.... when he wants me to hold him and I have stood up to walk away... he will vertical jump & distance leap from the floor and land directly onto my shoulder. Once landed he will perch on my shoulder like a bird and there he stays as I walk around. When I remove him off my shoulder,,,, he will keep repeating the process until he gets bored with it. Choctaw is a sweet boy but he also has a dark side. Sometimes he bites and scratches and he can be very aggressive. He needs more human contact.

Nyla (my son's little cat) seems to remain only connected to Salem... She grooms and sleeps next to him. The other boys, she smacks, bites and hisses at sometimes. She is tiny lil girl but full of fire. She is a Bitch Kitty. She walks around with her back humped up all the time with a fuzzed up tail. If she does not want you to touch her which is most of the time, she bites, scratches and hisses.... she will attack. I believe Choctaw is learning too much with observing her behavior. Only time that I can pick her up is when she wants me to carry her down to my apartment to visit Salem then she pours on the charm. She also has a strange habit of sucking and biting on your ear when you are sleeping.

Salem is purrfect and the rest, well they are a challenge & a work in progress.

Today

2007-05-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

This has been a crazy week so far. We went to Walmart (35 miles away), three nights in a row. First to get me a bicycle as I need wheels...second night to get Jessica a Birthday present & last night to buy turtle food. This weekend is going to be a little rough as I have the Grandkids & Luna for the entire weekend. Jessica & Robby are going to VA Beach with some of Robby's family. Luna is usually very bad when I watch her... more so than the kids. She likes to get me in trouble !!

Shannon rescued a tiny hatchling water turtle ... the lil guy was trapped between a huge tall cliff and the tide & waves at the edge of the river. Shannon is like his Mommy when it comes to animals & the such and nature.

I have not been on my bicycle as of yet but I plan on riding every day next week... Jessica is on vacation & I get the week off. We plan on going a few places... Like the Vets to get Luna groomed. How much grooming does an Old English Bull Dog need anyway ??? She does however need her Freddy Kruger claws trimmed.

I Love Him Sooooooo Much !!!!!!

2007-04-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

He Is doing so much better Fangless. I believe his extra long fangs caused him problems for many moons. He is back to hisself & as demanding as ever. He loves wearing his collar. He is just a handsome boy !!! Hopefully HP will earn his collar & Choctaw will follow right behind. Although HP's behavior has improved greatly... he is still a Terror and he tests me daily. Choctaw is just a big sweet lovable boy and him & Salem... Well, they are purrfect in all ways. HP is a challenge but in his own way... he is a sweet boy. I love him. My bedroom is off limits to HP for the weekend. He knocked a bunch of my treasures off of one of my wall shelves.... trying to climb the wall... no spiderman kitty,,, some things were broken... so he is being reasoned with.

I promised Salem to take him for a walk in the park this afternoon. Gotta keep that promise !!

I have spent over $300 in Vet bills this month on the kitties. Hopefully it will not be repeated next month. It takes me forever in the kitty food section of the grocery store..... They are very picky & so am I. I have to check online to see what brands are still safe. At the store, I read the labels and check dates. No one likes to go to the store with me because I take so long.

Nice weather here & I am running barefoot !!!

Off, I go to once again suck up kitty litter... is a ritual.