Random Thoughts and Musings

So, after my dream the other night, I had snakes on the brain. Real snakes, people, this is no euphemism! LOL

I remember the first run-in with a snake I (indirectly) had. I was young-is, 8 maybe? I had seen snakes before, but they were all in the distance, or non-poisonous, or behind glass where I could admire them without danger.

This particular day, though, my grandmother’s dog, Prissy, would *not* let me go inside. I couldn’t figure out why she was being so obstinate about letting me through the carport to get to the door. I decided to walk around to the front door, but she wouldn’t let me near that one, either. Finally, I started banging on the side of the trailer-portion of the house, trying to get someone’s attention. When nobody answered, I walked around the back, to where my grandfather had built on a two-room addition. I banged on the window, and told my grandparents and parents that I couldn’t get inside. My (step) dad tried to come out the door, but Prissy threw herself against it, and started barking furiously. Suddenly, she swung around and faced inside the carport, barking and growling and lying low to the ground. I tried to walk up behind her, and she swung around to me, snapped, and then swung back around and lunged at something. I heard her yelp, and screamed for my (step)dad and grandfather to come out and help. They looked under the trailer portion of the house, both of them rearing back suddenly and swearing, rushing inside and grabbinbg guns. My grandfather was hollering for my grandmother to call Mr. Jimmy from next door and the neighbor from across the street, and for everyone to bring their guns.

My (step)dad hollered at me to go across the street immediately. This whole time, Prissy is barking furiously and lunging at something under the trailer. I get across the street, and Miss Angie drags me in the house and slams the door just as she shoves her husband’s gun into his hand and tells him to run. I hear three shots a few moments later, and the phone rings - it is my Mom, telling me I can come home.

I rush back, excited to see what was happening, and see Prissy lying in the driveway, my grandfather and grandmother crying over her, my mom hysterical on the phone with someone, and my (step)father trying to calm everyone down so he can look at her. I screamed at them, asking who shot her. They all stopped what they were doing (except my (step)father, who was working furiously over Prissy still) and then pointed to the carport. I looked, and in front of my grandfather’s car, I see a HUGE ASS FREAKIN SNAKE.

Turns out, a diamond-back rattler had slithered out of the woods and under the house. Prissy had been trying to keep me safe (and my family, too, when they walked out), and had decided to stand down the snake rather than let him at me. She was bit twice, in the ear.

Mom was apparently on the phone with the vet, who was out of town. He directed her to an emergency vet, and she hopped in the car with Prissy and my (step)father (who was still trying to keep her alive), and off they raced. She died, twice.

Luckily, she was revived both times. They had to medicate her, keep her overnight, and give her bulldog blood in and emergency transfusion because she had bled out so much. She, literally, fought to her death. If my (step)father hadn’t been breathing for her and doing chest compressions, she would not have made it - he kept shocking her heart and kept the oxygen in her system. She was technically dead before they even left to go to the vet.

While my parents took Prissy to the vet, my grandfather took me over to the snake. I was hysterical, because Prissy was dead (this is before we found out she would be okay), and he told me he loved her, but was happy she was there to protect me and take the bite, because he would have never forgiven himself if the snake had gotten to me.

I was heartbroken until my (step)father called to tell me the vet saved Prissy. She was deaf in her left ear, and went blind in her left eye a couple of years later, but lived for another few years (she was old when this happened - at least as old as me, but I think older).

That rattlesnake was more than 6 feet long. It was beautiful, but I could not see the beauty that day … it was not until later, after it was skinned (for a belt/purse/boots/whatever) and we’d eaten the meat and put the rattler out to dry (or, whatever you do to a rattlesnake’s rattle to save it for a souvenir) that I realized how beautiful a creature the snake had been.

I discovered that I keep changing the date of my blog to “2010.” Apparently, I am anxious for the new year to be rung in …

Willow D. Kitten keeps attacking the window in my living room looking out onto the back porch, and the window in the door leading out onto the porch. I couldn’t figure out why, so today I sat for a while, biding my time, waiting for it to happen again. As soon as it did, I got up to stand behind him, so I could see what he was seeing. Suddenly, he leapt into the air, trying to grab onto …. MY REFLECTION IN THE GLASS. Dork kitty … apparently, he’s been chasing the kitten in the window this whole time!

Lil Lady spent an hour looking for her cell phone. She went through every room in BFF’s house, retracing her steps, thinking about the places she would have set it down if she had done this, or that, or the other. Eventually she found it: in her pocket. In the jeans she had been wearing ALL DAY LONG.

Gotta love those d’oh moments in life!

First of all, I want to wish a happy birthday to one of my friends who has been a constant source of inspiration since I met him. We initially met on Twitter and he seemed to be relatively tame and enduringly cheerful, with the most positive outlook on life I had ever seen. After a little time, we talked via DMs and IMs, getting to know each others’ ’story,’ and learning about what made one another tick.

I discovered a lot of little tidbits about him that made me respect and admire him as a person, a father, and a friend. His dedication to his children was the first thing I had noticed about him, on Twitter. His willingness to admit to his mistakes, own up to his faults, and correct himself when he is wrong all strengthened that admiration. He has reached out to me during some of my struggles in the last year, and provided neverending cheerfulness during the last year while I helped my BFF & her family through a tough time last year.

He has also provided a fountain of laughter, making comedic entrances and exits on our favorite social networks. Most of all, he has given us all a reason to think with his provocative blog posts, passion for improving the world, and innate sense of what should and should not be.

Happy Birthday to my friend Soren … who will forever be united with me as my Twitterhubby … the poor, unfortunate soul!

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Secondly, there is ME! Today is also my birthday. I will be alone today, as my BFF is still out of town, and my Lil Lady is working with BFF’s Mom to run the daycare. Lil Lady is going to spend Saturday creating a little something of an edible sort for me (I believe it will be a fruit bouquet-I love her imagination and creativity!), and BFF has promised to take me to dinner anywhere I want after she returns. Until then, though, I will have all I wish on my birthday! I shall close my eyes in a little while and dream…

First, my travels will take me to a local bakery for a light breakfast - a bowl fresh fruit and a delicious blueberry muffin. I will sit by the window and watch as people come in and out, sit for breakfast, or pick up orders to take back to work or home. I will make up stories about them in my mind: who they are, what they do for a living, who they are rushing home to see. I will probably even go as far as decorating their homes and naming their pets, because I like my fantasies to be complete!

After breakfast, I will walk the beach in my mind … the beautiful Destin pass. I will scrunch my toes in the sugar-white sand, tilt my face up to be warmed by the sun, and dip my toes into the warm emerald green waters of the Gulf. The breeze carries the the salt of the water to me, filling my heart with happiness. The birds in the sanctuary behind me are noisy this morning, comfortable in their habitat because the beach is nearly deserted and they feel no danger pressing upon them. I will walk out along the beach, rounding the first corner to stop at the spot where we spread my brother’s ashes several years ago. There, I will walk out into the water to find the warm current, knowing in my mind that it is just that - a warm current; and at the same time understanding in my soul that it is my brother, tackling me and hugging me enthusiastically. Walking back up on the sand, I’ll sit down and lean into the dune, wiggling until the sand hugs my back like an armchair custom-made for me. There, I will watch the minnows and remember how my brother would spend hours diving into the water, chasing them. And because my little sister has blocked out nearly all of our childhood, I will also remember her carefree laughter as her skin darkened a shade every half hour and her hair sailed in the wind behind her as she ran along the shore, not a worry in the world. Once the sun has dried my skin and clothes, I will mosey all the way down to the jetties, to listen as the waves crash against the rocks and the sea gulls dive for their sushi luncheon.

The tiki-style roof over the bar at AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar beckons, remind me it is lunchtime, and a day spent at the beach is not complete without heading across the bridge. I’ll sit out on the deck, sipping an ice-cold drink and enjoying the sun’s warmth while I wait for lunch: a blackened amberjack sandwich topped with cole slaw instead of lettuce and tomato (one of their specialties). Growing up, this was a family tradition of ours, and we regulars at AJ’s every summer.

After lunch, my dreams will carry me to the spa, where I will indulge in a mani/pedi. I love being spoiled, so having my legs and feet massaged and my nails trimmed and painted while I sip champagne and nibble on hors d’oeuvres is the natural progression of my day. Topping it off with an hour-long hot stone massage can only heighten my relaxed state, so after my champagne is consumed and my nails are dry, I will carefully tip-toe across the cool floors, ducking behind the curtain to lie down on the cool white sheet covering the extra-padded massage table. The relaxing sounds of rain and thunder mixed with wooden wind chimes piped through the speakers of the small stereo in the room, the warm stones being pressed against my skin as my masseur explains their healing properties, and the scent of the oils as they are massaged into my skin will work together to send my entire being into sensory heaven.

My friends will still be another couple of hours before they can meet me for dinner, so I will need to find a way to bide my time. The bookstore beckons from across town, so I head over and spend a few hours browsing the shelves, sipping an iced coffee, and perhaps making a purchase or two with the gift cards I have been saving since Christmas.

Dinner will be at Pepito’s - the local Mexican restaurant that BFF & her whole family have loved for years and years. There, we will feast and enjoy frozen margaritas, laughter, friendship, and love. Afterwards, we’ll gather at one of our houses and I will be presented with a chocolate cake, decorated with chocolate icing and sugar-dipped strawberries. We will go for a late-night swim (I guess that means my imagination took us to M’s house - he’s the one with the pool LOL), have a few cocktails, and eat cake. Lots of cake.

Of course, the only thing that would make the day even more perfect is if P suddenly decided he couldn’t live without me in his life and showed up on my doorstep to join in on the celebration. Then again, this is MY dream … and in my dreams, anything can happen. The day will be absolutely perfect, with no meltdowns, no tempers rising, and no mishaps with the children.

So, happy birthday to me. I shall have the most beautiful day in the world, and I won’t have to leave my bed.

Life is damned good, thank you very much!

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes that have already been pouring in from my lovely friends. You all know how to make a Gyrl feel warm and cozy inside!

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Thirdly: I am entering a giveaway for one of these sweet babies.

While I would love to have one for myself in green, I am actually looking to win a purple one for Lil Lady:

I love that she is such an incredibly person already, and has strength of character, confidence, and a gentle spirit. I want that to continue, and I think this pillow is just one more way to encourage those things in her heart.

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Fourthly: I am entering THIS giveaway for myself. I have been lusting after Switchflops for more than a year. My OBFF was the one who Tweeted a link way back when, and I had to ask her for it again a few months later because I couldn’t stop thinking about them. I haven’t been able to justify buying them, because I have had perfectly good flip flops that I purchased in 2007. They still have the beading and everything … or, at least, they DID … until a certain little rescue kitty attacked them and chewed off the strap. Gah! I’ve gotten him to stop chewing my shoes (although he still sleeps in them), so now it is time to find another pair!

What better way to get them … than free?! And, how cute is this shoe? (Black  ”Taylor wedge” with the “Vanessa” strap. Full description: The black Taylor wedge provides a little lighthearted lift to your day. 1.5” lift. Black and metallic silver jacquard strap with brilliant grey rhinestone button. Summer Shine Collection.)

Go on, check out the Veater Family Blog, read through Ashley’s posts (I’ve liked what I’ve read so far), oooh-and-ahhhh over her adorable children, and take a peek at some of the giveaways for yourself!

All of my Girl Scout gyrlies know the rest of the song, and will likely belt it out regardless of whether they like it or not, just out of habit.

I have a big mouth, and a hot temper. They get me into trouble more often than naught, and I spend a lot of time apologizing for running that big mouth when my hot temper gets the best of me. I have one saving grace: when I love someone, I truly love them, and I will go to the ends of the earth to do what needs to be done for them.

I might bitch, complain, and mouth off about it when I get tired, frustrated, or sick of other people’s attitudes … but I’ll still be working my ass off.

I have a very close-knit group of people that I talk to regularly and seek out when I want company. I have a wider circle of friends that I keep in touch with for holidays and birthdays. I have an even bigger circle of friends that I speak with daily, although I have not met  most of them in person.

That bigger circle of friends is made up of all of the people I have met on various message boards and social networks. I may not get to sit and kick back with them on Friday nights or Saturday afternoons, I may not speak to them on the phone, and I may not even know exactly where they live.

What I do know is that they have proven themselves time and time again, whether it be a card out of the blue, an offer to help obtain a certain goal, a present sent in the mail, or a phone call when they know I am down. This circle of friends is not any less important to me than my BFF, who they all hear about regularly. They are, in fact, more important to me than some of the people I have known for years.

For all of you who have done for me what I cannot do for myself, or who have offered to do things for me because you know I am struggling, or have reached out to smack me out of depression or cheer me up when I am down … thank you. I love you, and if there comes a day that I can do for you what you have done for me, please please please let me know.

Social networking gives us all a medium to share our personal thoughts, worldly ideas, and business ventures. There are plenty of all kinds of people promoting businesses: spammers, selfish self-promoting sycophants, celebrities, small businesses, large businesses, chains …

Then, there are the people who try to make the world a little brighter, a little lighter, a little more special. Sometimes they direct their ideas at the world in large (erase poverty), sometimes to smaller groups of people.

One of my favorites is @SavvyAuntie on Twitter.

We first met because she caught wind of the Baby S ordeal last year, and the small things I tried to do to help my BFF & her family get through the horrible ordeal they were going through. At the time, @SavvyAuntie had not yet started her venture, but it was in the works. I remember when she told me what she had in the works, it brought tears to my eyes.

I think that EVERY person who gives extra love and attention to children deserves a day for themselves, to be smothered with love and adoration and treated to something special. @SavvyAuntie has set up “The first community for cool aunts, great aunts, godmothers, and all women who love kids.”

So, for all of you women who dig the little munchkins in your life … run over and take a look: SavvyAuntie.com.

For all of you men who are wonderful uncles and godfathers and such … keep up the fabulous job, and know that we know you are out there and we admire you greatly.

Last night, I had nightmare after nightmare, and couldn’t seem to sleep properly. Some were re-living things that had happened in my past. Others were nightmares about the impossible.

I woke up feeling cloudy, distressed, and had no idea why. I stumbled out into the still-dark living room, and screamed at the top of my lungs when I saw a coil in the floor, poised and ready to strike. I leapt backwards, screamed out “Aidan! Get this fucking snake out of the house!” and flipped on a light.

When the light filled the room, I realized
A) It is *not* 1994 …
B) The ’snake’ was Willow D. Kitten, curled up in a ball, his tail propped up on the glass he’d obviously been sneaking a drink out of when it fell to the ground.

Despite the fact I was alone, had no audience, and was fairly certain nobody had to know what had just happened, I was blushing beet red and laughing my ass off at the same time.

I wonder if Aidan’s ears were burning? If so, I hope he knows, as much as I love him… I’m gonna kick his everloving ass for entering in my nightmares. Ex-boyfriends are supposed to play nice in dreams, dammit, and we’re only supposed to remember the *good* things.

** Disclaimer: this nightmare of mine is based on a true story, when I *did* nearly step on the little poisonous snake my then-boyfriend Aidan had sworn could *not* get out of the fish tank because he’d stacked a dozen porn magazines on top. Aidan was wrong. I was not a happy camper. The snake immediately found a new home.

** Disclaimer 2: I like snakes, I think they are fascinating and beautiful, and I love holding the really really really big ones … the little ones? They scare the bejeezus outta me.

A wave - minimal movement, opens doors and hearts and minds.

A smile - costs nothing, provides light in the depths of personal darkness.

A hug - a small personal touch, crosses bridges and demolishes barriers.

A kiss - minimal movement, causes waves of emotion.

Employ these actions and open a world many do not know exist.

xoxo

On Wednesday night, just before I turned in for the night, I ran across this news story. I cannot fathom WHY, when you have a perfectly good car seat in the car, you would hold your baby in your lap while in the vehicle.

I know, I know: she may have had a reason that seemed perfectly valid. Maybe she was already on the way to the hospital with a sick baby, and they were in such a rush they were too frantic to figure out the car seat. Maybe the guy who ran away from the scene forced her into the vehicle at gunpoint before she could fasten the baby into the car seat. Maybe.

Please, please, please … buckle your children into a car seat before driving out onto the road. Ask your pediatrician for your state’s guidelines for car seats. We just recently learned (last week) that Lil B, despite her age, is required to be buckled into a car seat due to her height and/or weight. Babies have to reach the age AND weight guidelines to be moved from a rear-facing to a forward-facing car seat.

Your children depend on you for their safety and welfare. Please do not let them down.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the woman in the article who lost her baby. May her tragedy be a lesson to us all.

xoxo

I have not known @brainmusic for very long, but I felt an immediate connection with her. Our sense of humor, flirtatious style, need to sooth our loved ones, and tendency toward insomnia made me lay claim to her immediately as a kindred spirit. @NotAMeanGirl and I brought her into our fold as a brain triplet (NAMG & I had immediately decided we shared a brain when we first met, too).

Holly has brought many hours of texting fun into my life - we tend to stay up late and text while we play on our favorite social networks. We do not usually need anything in particular to talk about, we just babble on incessantly about anything, everything, and nothing.

Today is Holly’s special day: it is her birthday!

She and her hubby (@bookwyrm76) are off in Vegas living it up for a week and enjoying friends, fun, and each other. Holly, I hope you have the most spectacular birthday, ever! I love you muchly.

I am bad about drafting things and saving them to post later … but not putting publish dates on them and just setting them to publish. So, I screwed myself up at some point with my Blog 365, and I didn’t post my July 8th post. I’m numbering that #203, to put myself back on track … so tomorrow I can pick back up with #204, where I am supposed to be!

If you don’t like it, spank me. :p

(Gently … I hate being spanked, and much prefer to DO the spanking.)

One of my friends, whom I love dearly, is a very special woman. She gives of herself like few people I have ever met, and she is absolutely devoted to her remarkable daughter. The fact that her daughter is remarkable is not the key here … she would be devoted, regardless. My friend is completely supportive of those around her and everything they are going through, she celebrates when we celebrate, cries when we cry. She asks little for herself, though we would all give freely.

Today is my friend’s birthday, and she happens to be visiting NYC with some of her close friends, whom I also admire and adore. I hope she has the most fabulous of birthdays, and although she is not with the two people she would choose first to celebrate with, I hope she has a fabulous time.

My sweet Adelle, I love you!

Today my BFF & her family are off to Disney for their annual trip. Ok, so they aren’t sailing … but they are driving across the state!

They had to put it off to a little later than normal this year (they usually go during spring break), because in the spring we really were not sure where Baby S’s health stood. However, now that she has started receiving her immunizati sons, she is in remission, and she is making strides in her development, they can (cautiously) go about their lives.

I miss my BFF already … but I know they are going to have the greatest 10 days EVER at Disney.

Love you C, B, Lil B, Lil C, Lil K, and Baby S!

xoxo