PAW E-Newsletter

This newsletter will help direct people who have lost their pet, or just want to help. I just copied and pasted the whole thing from the email, because it has a lot of great information on what they are doing to help the animals effected and contact information is you lost a pet, and resources that need donations ect...

Pets & Animals in Distress - Sept 3, 2005
PAW e-Newsletter Hurricane Katrina Rescue Update

Hurricane Katrina has dealt a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast that
has left people and animals in trying and frightening conditions that
will take years for the region to recover.

Pets & Animals in Distress volunteers have been of the phones
contacting shelters in the disaster areas that are taking in animals to offer
our immediate assistance to help with food and supplies that are needed.
This is a massive relief undertaking that will require relief
organizations, animal shelters, rescue groups and government agencies to
coordinate and network together to help in the relief efforts for the animals.
Pets & Animals in Distress is also in direct contact and working with
our friends at The Meow Mix Company along with Purina Foods to arrange
to get food and supplies donated and delivered to those disaster area
shelters and communities that need help.

Pets & Animals in Distress has received many distress calls and e-mails
about animals that were left behind in the disaster area - primarily in
the New Orleans area. Many people were forced to leave their homes
during and in the aftermath of the hurricane and couldn't bring their
animal friends with them. We know and understand the anguish these
caregivers are going through and want to assist in the rescue of these helpless
victims.

We are in contact with relief organizations like the SPCA in New
Orleans, Noah's Wish Foundation, Humane Society and several other animal
shelters that are on the ground in the disaster areas. We are immediately
passing on any information that we receive about any animals that need
to be rescued and saved. Many animals are now being saved and rescued
from homes and being reunited back to families.

We have spoken to Roger Smith Regional Disaster Relief Coordinator for
Noah's Wish Foundation organization who informed us that Teri Crisp,
Director of Noah's Wish is now at the Slidell Animal Shelter, in
Louisiana were shelter officials have put Noah's Wish in charge of helping to
oversee the relief efforts of the overwhelming influx of abandoned and
rescued animals that have come into their shelter that normally houses
about 50 animals and is now well over 300.

Pets & Animals in Distress has been making great progress networking
with many of these relief organizations and shelters, sharing information
and contacts and coordinating our relief efforts. We thank our many
volunteers and everyone that is working tirelessly a round the clock
making phone calls, sending out e-mails, coordinating and organizing relief
efforts to bring in supplies and to help rescue and save as many
animals as we possibly can. It is an overwhelming challenge that is ahead of
us for many months, BUT WE CAN DO IT!

I had the opportunity to speak with Laura who is with the SPCA of New
Orleans that is at ground zero that is surrounded by of all the chaos.
We have been told that city officials are now allowing them to go in
and rescue the many animals that were left behind in homes. I also have
spoken to a lady named Linda Coker from New Orleans that had been
visiting her family in Alabama when the hurricane hit. She had left her 2
cats and 2 dogs behind with enough food and water for a week but
couldn't go back because of the evacuation and has been very frantic and
upset trying to get her animals rescued. It was reported that the animals
were alive as of Tuesday from a neighbor. We have passed a description
of the animals and the address of where they are located to the SPCA in
New Orleans who will go to the location to see if they are still there
and rescue them.

There are still many animals that are left inside homes that need to be
rescued. We are putting out a SPECIAL ANIMAL BOLO ALERT and are asking
anyone that may know someone that had to evacuate the disaster areas
that had companion animals that they had to leave behind to please
have them contact Pets & Animals in Distress at:
contact@petsandanimals.org or call (954) 202-9991. We are compiling a
list of animals that need to be rescued to pass on to affiliate
relief organizations, rescue groups shelters and volunteers in those areas
who are already on the ground rescuing stranded animals.


When contacting us please ask them to include:

Contact/ Owners name

Contact phone numbers / e-mail address

Address where the animals are

Name(s) of animal(s)

Description of animal(s)

Please cross post pass this urgent message on to as many people as
you can as time is of the essence.

I also spoke to Danine who is the Shelter Manager with the Humane
Society of Monroe, Louisiana that is about 4 hours away from New Orleans,
who said that their shelter has been inundated with many animals that
were dropped off by pet owners because of the evacuation and are now being
cared for along with many other animals that have been rescued and
brought in on a daily basis and are in need of food and supplies. We have
contacted our friends at The Meow Mix Company who have offered to help
with food and will have several pallets of food delivered to their
shelter within the next few days. We are coordinating to have more food
delivered to help other shelters in other disaster areas. We are
asking any shelters that are taking in Hurricane animals in need of food or
assistance to contact Pets & Animals in Distress at
contact@petsandanimals.org

This is a massive relief undertaking that will require the help,
efforts and teamwork from many other animal relief organizations, shelters,
rescue groups, volunteers and agencies from all over the U.S. to
coordinate and network together to help in the biggest animal relief effort
that is ahead of all of us to help rescue and save the hurricane
animals. The impact of this disaster crisis will be felt for months and years
to come.

We would like to dedicate the very end of this e-newsletter to those of
you who responded to our urgent appeal to help us with their monthly
and one time donations, thus providing us with the funding that will
assure that we will be able to continue our ongoing vital relief work and
efforts to help the animals in the future.

Please keep the people and animals in your prayers. Thank you to
everyone for your generosity, support and prayers in these very difficult
times of need. We need you now. God Bless!



Sincerely,

Brenda Beck, President
Pets & Animals in Distress
"Your Best Friends Helping Our Best Friends"




PLEASE CROSS POST : IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION TO PASS ON



Organization Contact Phone/ Name

SPCA of New Orleans area: Laura 434-589-1499
Northwest Louisiana Humane Soc. Nancy 318-219-7387504-366-8972
Humane Society of Monroe Danine 318-387-9553
Humane Society of Central Louisiana 318-641-0458
Caddo Commission Animal Svcs. Anita Mills 318-222-6624
Lafayette Parish Animal Control 337-291-5644
Noah's Wish Foundation Teri/Roger 530-622-9313



Contact information for Animal Rescue Organizations In Mississippi


Mississippi Alliance 228-216-7729
Gulf Coast SPCA 228-872-5659


Contact information for Animal Rescue Organizations In Alabama

Greater Birmingham Humane Society Jackie/ Melissa
205-290-0055/682-8894


Contact information for Red Cross in Louisiana with Shelter that allows
pets

NW Louisiana Chapter Red Cross Michelle Davidson 318-865-9545


Animal Evacuation and Recovery Plan for New Orleans Area

The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(LA/SPCA), the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), the Louisiana
Animal Control Association (LACA), and the LSU School of Veterinary
Medicine (SVM) are managing animal evacuations and recovery plans for New
Orleans pets and displaced animals.

Evacuees Seeking Pets That Were Boarded in Veterinary Clinics

At this time, animals from the following veterinary clinics are being
housed at the Parker Coliseum on the LSU Campus:

Metairie Small Animal Hospital
St. Tammany Animal Shelter
The Cat Practice (Metairie)
Southern Animal Foundation

This list will be updated as needed.

If you are a pet owner whose animal was at one of these facilities,
please call the Emergency Animal Shelter Hotline at (225) 578-6111 for
information about your pet(s). This number should be used only by owners
looking for their pets and people or shelters that need to drop off
pets. All others (those wishing to make donations, volunteers, those
seeking general information, etc.) should contact the LSU School of
Veterinary Medicine at (225) 578-9900.

The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales is currently housing the
following:

Companion animals owned by people who were in Red Cross-associated
evacuations (Causeway and I-10 bus staging area)

Stray companion animals (may include pets that escaped from homes or
were otherwise lost)

Clinics and Shelters That Need to Transfer Pets

Please call the Emergency Animal Shelter Hotline at (225) 578-6111 to
arrange for drop-off.

Pets Traveling With Owners:

The LVMA is currently accepting pets at the Blackham Coliseum in
Lafayette, LSU in Shreveport, the Monroe Civic Center for small animals and
the Ike Hamilton Center for large animals in Monroe, the Farmer's Market
in Alexandria, and the LSU Agriculture Center/Parker Coliseum in Baton
Rouge. Owners must be housed in a Red Cross shelter; owners are
responsible for caring for their animals, including feeding and cleaning.
Animals will be accepted 24 hours a day. Veterinarians will be on hand to
handle any medical needs.

While owners are responsible for the feeding and cleaning of their pets
at the Parker Coliseum in Baton Rouge, the SVM, along with volunteers
from the Baton Rouge Veterinary Medical Association, will provide
veterinary care. If for some reason, an owner is unable to care for a pet
sheltered in the Parker Coliseum (e.g., the owner is housed in a special
needs shelter), SVM student volunteers will provide primary care, such
as feeding and cleaning. The East Baton Rouge Animal Control Center will
be taking stray animals.

The Parker Coliseum will be staffed 24 hours a day by a supervising
veterinarian and student volunteers from the School of veterinary
medicine. Pets in the Coliseum will be given physical exams and Bordetella
(kennel cough) vaccinations. If a pet requires medical attention and
veterinary monitoring, it will be sent to the LSU School of Veterinary
Medicine's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

People With Pets Who Are Evacuating New Orleans

The LA/SPCA will transport animals from pick-up points in New Orleans
to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. The pick-up points have not yet been
determined and are being coordinated with the agency charged with
transporting people from New Orleans to other areas.

The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 9039 St. Landry Rd., Gonzales, La., will
serve as the primary staging area. Once the shelter is full, animals
will be moved to temporary shelters in other areas of Louisiana and Texas.

The LA/SPCA Dorothy Dorsett Mobile Veterinary Center will be at the
Lamar-Dixon Center to treat incoming animals as needed.

Confined Pets Still in Disaster Areas

Beginning on September 1, residents who left pets in their homes may
call the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Hotline at (225) 578-9900 or
toll-free at (888) 568-5557, to leave information about the number of
animals, species, and their confined location.

We have received news that an animal shelter at Blackham Coliseum in
Lafayette has been opened, right next to the Cajundome. Evacuees may
bring their pets their for housing. The shelter has PLENTY of food,
water, crates, cages, bedding and newspaper. BUT the owners are
responsible for feeding, watering, walking and medicating their own pets.
Interested parties may call Lafayette Parish Animal Control at 337-291-5644
for more information.

Mississippi Animal Rescue League (MARL)

There is a pet friendly shelter set up at the Coliseum in Jackson and
run by Mississippi Animal Rescue League (MARL) and staff of the
Louisiana SPCA, who evacuated to that area. MARL also took some animals in at
its shelter. As of Tuesday morning, the two locations were sheltering
over 100 animals for evacuees. The Houston SPCA has taken in 260 animals
evacuated from the Louisiana. SPCA and currently has those animals
available for adoption. Thankfully, many animal groups are rushing to
assist.


We are hearing about so many tame, stray, and feral cats in threatening
circumstances, and we know that more frightened, displaced cats will be
found. If you know of cats, caregivers, or a rescue group in need, call
Alley Cat Allies at 240-482-1980, ext. 125, and ask for Vanessa or
e-mail alleycat@alleycat.org. )

Many hurricane animals were also found with microchips in all the
States hit by Hurricane Katrina. There are several hundred already safely
placed and need the owners to call any of the following microchip
companies if you have lost your pet.

AVID MICROCHIP ID (THEY ALSO OWN PET NET MICROCHIP COMPANY) CALL 800
336-2843

HOME AGAIN MICROCHIP RECOVERY CALL 866-738-4324

VET-LINK.COM MICROCHIP 800-838-8563

HERE IS A NATIONAL DATA BASE LIST OF ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS
FOR ANYONE THAT NEEDS HELP OR INFORMATION

(Type in the state, city or zip code to find a shelter)

Go To:
http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=41570261&u=383216


HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW

Volunteers are needed on site at area emergency animal shelters, but
you must be fully self-sufficient. They need your help, but shelters
cannot supply any food, water, vehicles, lodging, or accommodations for
volunteers (at least for the time being). Supplies are critically scarce
or non-existent. Do not even consider volunteering unless you can fully
provide your own housing, transportation (including gas), food, and
water.

Gonzales, Louisiana: The Louisiana SPCA has established a shelter for
animals rescued animals from Hurricane Katrina at the Lamar Dixon Horse
Expo Center off Exit 177 on I-10 in Gonzales. To volunteer, contact
director Laura Maloney at 225-413-8813.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University School of Veterinary
Medicine and Louisiana Animal Control Association are setting up an
emergency animal shelter at the LSU Ag Center. They already have some 500
animals there, with another 60-100 expected any time. The center is
open 24 hours a day. To volunteer, contact Cathy at
wellsc@legis.state.la.us or call 225-578-9900.

Other emergency shelters that may need assistance or supplies: at the
Animal Services facility and at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

LaFayette, Louisiana: The Cajundome is a shelter for humans only; pets
are being housed a block away at Blackham Coliseum. People are
responsible for caring for their own animals. To assist, contact Lafayette
Parish Animal Control at: 337-291-5644. The Cajundome is located at 444
Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506, phone: 337-265-2100.

Donate needed supplies

The emergency shelter at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge is
accepting donations of supplies. (They already have approximately 500
animals there, with another 60-100 expected to come in any time now.)

Today they report needing the following:

These items are always needed:
Pet food* Wet / Dry (Dog, Cat, Puppy, Kitten)
Cat litter*
Litter Boxes
Bowls
Large/ Small Cages and carriers
Litter scoopers
Clean sheets and towels

New items also needed:

Amoxicillin / Clavamox
Flea preventative (Frontline, Advantix, Capstar, etc.)
Heartworm medication (Interceptor, Heartguard, etc.)
Cameras (to take pictures of the displaced animals)
Medicated shampoo
Neosporin
Bandages
Fans and extension cords
Large trash cans
Can openers
Cotton balls
Waterless hand sanitizer
Baby wipes
Rubbing alcohol
Empty spray bottles
Trash bags
Disposable paper bowls

* Food and litter are needed immediately, but expect to get larger
shipments of food and litter donated within a week, so if you are sending
items from a distance, please select other items on the list.

To check on current needs, call 225-578-9900 or e-mail Cathy at:
wellsc@legis.state.la.us

Items can be sent or delivered to:
Disaster Relief-Companion Animal
Louisiana State University
School of Veterinary Medicine
Attn: Dr. Rebecca Adcock
Skip Bertman Drive at River Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: 225-578-9900


MAKE A DONATION TO PETS & ANIMALS IN DISTRESS
THE HURRICANE RELEIF FUND. PLEASE HELP NOW!

Click the below link and go to our secure on-line donation page on the
following page.

http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=41570261&u=383217


Send Donation By Mail to:

Pets & Animals in Distress
C/O Hurricane Relief Fund
1511 East Commercial Blvd - PMB #129
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334


Please visit our PAW website to look at our past hurricane relief
efforts

http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=41570261&u=383218

http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=41570261&u=383219


1511 east Commercial Blvd
PMB #129
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334
United States

I am deeply saddened

I am deeply saddened for all of the people left homeless by the hurricane, but for just as much as I am saddened I am baffled.  Anyone who reads often knows that my mom and dad live in Wright, Wyoming.  They had a devastating tornado a few weeks ago, that destroyed over 90 homes.  I know that doesn't sound that bad in comparison to what is going on in the Gulf States, but the population of Wright is only 1400 people that is a lot of homes lost, but that is not where I intend to go with this post, so let me get back on track.  

I really don't know how to say what I am trying to say without just being blunt and to the point and I am sure that is going to offend some of my readers, so be it.  I turn on the news and it seems to be a bunch of people expecting everyone to give them stuff.  I am not saying we should not help them we should, but when I was in Wright after the tornados I was amazed by the fact that the people who where hit the hardest were the ones helping everyone else.  When my mom was talking to the FEMA guy he told her he was amazed at how the people of that one little town pulled together and got things done.  There were people who lost everything making donations to the red cross, the church of Christ was have trouble giving away clothes and other items because people were to proud to take hand outs.  The words were always the same "Oh I don't need charity", and the simple fact was they did, they do.  When you have a family of five and no home you need a little help.  I am not saying that there are not people like that down south, but the majority seems to expect a hand out.  I think that they need to do something instead of setting around at the convention center complaining that the buses have not shown up to get them out.  Start piling up the garbage that is littering the streets in front of you, gather up all the children and do something to entertain them for awhile, get everyone on the same page, have a pray group, whatever just do something instead of crying and complaining.  Start helping yourselves a little bit until other help can get there… and the people who have already been taken to shelters, get yourselves cleaned up and rested up and do something useful instead of sitting around saying poor me I lost everything… well so did everyone else around you.  Go offer to lend a hand in getting other people fed or clothed, find one of those Red Cross people and find out what you can do to make someone else have an easier time of things.   You are all in the same boat; help yourselves and each other, because that is the only way things are going to get better.  

On a side note something that keeps bothering me. Everyone is talking about New Orleans and I know those poor people are suffer beyond belief, but so are people in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida... lets not forget this was not just one town this thing hit the whole gulf coast, and it isn't just the people in New orleans who need help!

obliterated
forgotten

The world is forever

The world is forever changing, but it seems for every step forward we take two steps back. We are no closer to peace in the Middle East, natural disasters are increasingly getting worse, people have forgotten how to band together and help each other out, and the world is quickly becoming more and more self centered. The words my sister said to me earlier tonight keep echoing in my ears "this is the beginning of the end". I asked her what she meant and she said the end of everything as we know it. I think she is right.

A little good news today
Anne Murray

A little good news today
Anne Murray

I rolled out this morning
Kids had the mornin' news show on
Bryant Gumbel was talkin' 'bout the fighting in Lebanon
Some senator was squawkin' 'bout the bad economy
It's gonna get worse you see, we need a change in policy

There's a local paper rolled up in a rubber band
One more sad story's one more than I can stand
Just once how I'd like to see the headline say
"Not much to print today, can't find nothin' bad to say", because

Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today

I'll come home this evenin'
I'll bet that the news will be the same
Somebody takes a hostage, somebody steals a plane
How I wanna hear the anchor man talk about a county fair
And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care
Whoa, tell me

Nobody was assassinated in the whole Third World today
And in the streets of Ireland, all the children had to do was play
And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA
We sure could use a little good news today

Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
FADE
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today

The mind of a child is a terrible thing to waste!

"Hey, Colton, bring mommy a towel would you?" I yelled from the shower.

"Sure momma!" I heard him say as the pitter patter of his feet run from the living room, where he had been watching nicktoons, to the linen closet.

"Here, mom!" he beamed.

"Thanks, baby! You are awesome cool!" I tell him.

"I take good care of you huh mom! It's just like a dream come true!" he states as he runs back to the television!

He has been a little bored without his brothers around to entertain him all day, and he is ready to start school next Tuesday. I however have enjoyed our time together this week.

Cameron and David are glad to be back at school to play with their friends. Thankfully they have each other. David protects his little brother and Cameron takes care of the things that need taking care of. The first day I sent lunch money with David and the next morning I asked if he turned it in. "oh, no mom I forgot!" so I get the money back from him and give it to Cameron. After school that day I asked if he turned it in.

"Yes mom I gave it to my teacher and I told her it was for lunch for me and David, and to credit half to me and half to David." He is five, but sometimes I think he is much older.

These thoughts in my head are driving me mad.

I just have not been on with this blog stuff lately. I just don't seem to have anything to say. Well I have a lot to say I just can't find the right words to say it here it seems.

David really wants to go help the people who were effected by the hurricane. He also went to granny's to help after the tornado that hit them. I am thinking of organizing a food drive at the school with him. I think that would be a good lesson for him and he would feel like he really did help. Kids amaze me. They are not self centered like most adults are. I wish we didn't lose the innocence of childhood that really sucks. It would be such a nicer world if everyone thought like children do.

I don't understand the looters. I don't understand why anyone would take advantage of someone else misfortune. It makes me angry that there are people that do these kinds of things. I am at a lose for words over these people.

I have seen Scooby Doo 2 about ten thousand times in the last 5 days. Colton knows the script by heart, he is going to be sick tomorrow when I have sent it back to blockbuster!

The boys are suppose to ride the bus home today. Cameron wanted to, but David didn't so who knows if they will arrive home or not. I am sick to my stomach worrying about that. I will go to the school and watch them to make sure they get on the bus.

I was viewing my stat counter looking at the keywords and apparently there are a lot of people out there looking for naked pictures of Jenn, and there are a lot of naked Jenn's running around out there. I am not one of them, nor do I plan to be. I like keeping my nakedness off the web honestly because I am sure it would just plain frighten people!

Brittany does not answer my phone so stop calling her here please! I have gotten about 12 calls in the last 3 days for her, and I don't even know a Brittany. I would like to find out where she lives, because I am sure she is all of 16 or 17 from the sound of the teenage male voices asking for her between the hours of 10 and midnight. I would love to be able to pretend to be Brittany and entice these young hot blooded American males to show up at her house at 11 o'clock at night and invade her life like she is invading mine by giving out my phone number as her own!

and those are just a few of the thoughts running around in my head today.

I won't cry damn it I won't!

The long days of summer have dwindled down, and the nights are getting colder, prepares us for fall. Fall use to be my favorite time of the year, but anymore it is the saddest time of year. The boys woke up this morning extra early. They showered, and I feed them, dressed them, and they got their backpacks with all their supplies out. They were ready to go back to school, even if mom wasn't ready for them to go. We still had over an hour before school started so they watched a little TV, and then they sat in the van for half and hour waiting. They were so excited, and I want them to be excited, so I encouraged their excitement all the while thinking I just might throw up. It was finally time to go and we all got in the van and off we went. They kissed me and Steve and out of the van they jumped of off they went never looking back! I always get that empty pit in my stomach when they go off to school. I worry about them all day. Do they like their teachers this year. Were all the other kids nice to them. Did they eat their lunch. Was the teacher nice to them. Just hundreds of little questions run through my mind. I have a terrible head ache and I am on the verge of being sick from worrying and they have only been gone an hour! I have 5 and a half hours left until I can go and get them. You would think that these feeling would go away after a few days of school, but they last until that last day when they get out for summer. Colton doesn't have to leave me until next Tuesday, and that helped some. I will just go with him to school on his first day, and he has the same teacher that David and Cam has had for the last 3 years. I know he will be ok, because she love the kids in her class like they were her own children. I am going to run a few errands today and try to keep busy until I can go get my babies!

Well this is what my house is looking like now. See the lovely new windows. I put those in with dad, and our nice new front door, oh yeah and it isn't that ugly yellow house anymore! Woooohoooo for that! We still have to get the facia cover up and a few odds and ends, but it is so close to being done!

Remember thisfrom yesterdays post. Thank God I don't have to pull into the drive way and see this anymore! I am so happy I could dance, if I knew how to dance I would, oh hell I am dancing who am I trying to kid!

I am going to get some white shutters to put around the windows and mom and dad got us a really nifty thing that holds our house numbers, now as long as I can keep everyone who visits outside so they don't see the mess we have in here, and my ugly brown carpet, and the horrible linolem in the kitchen, and...

I have absolutely nothing...

Thankfully I don't have that ugly yellow house anymore.

Look I honestly did have a shiney house! You guys thought I was kidding huh!



Safety in motion... more like hell on wheels right there!

I couldn't get the pictures of the new gray house off the camera tonight. Damn dead batteries!

Mass murder.

The little bodies lined the highway, there must of been 500 mangled bloody masses in a mile stretch. I thought it must have been a cult much like that of Jim Jones, but instead of cyanide in the cool aid, these little creature choose running onto the highway as their form of suicide. The tires made an awful crunching sound as I drove over body after body, but I had no choice every inch was covered with blood, guts, and bones of the poor little bunny rabbits. I see dead animals along the road everytime I go somewhere, that is just how it is when more wildlife than people live in your state, but man I have never seen that many dead rabbits all at once in my life. They coated the whole road on both sides of the little two line for about a mile, and there were bodies on top of bodies, some smashed up flat others bloated and swelling. All you could see was blood and fur, no black top at all. It was almost like they were having a big gathering and choose to set up right in the middle of the road. It actually creeped me out having to drive over them and the sound it was making just added to my unease. I just keep thinking "please don't let me have a flat right here in the middle of all of this", because that is the kind of luck I have. I didn't thankfully!

It is getting colder at night and the animals go to the road to warm up, because the asphalt holds the heat. We saw 6 raccoons, 2 badgers, about 10 deer, and thousands of rabbits dead along the 90 miles stretch from my house to my moms. We saw a few live rabbits, lots of deer, and a live badger trucking down the road. If you have never tangled with a badger don't they will kick your ass. They are the meanest critters alive and they don't give up they will chase you for miles. One chased us down the middle of the highway I slowed way down so the boys could get a good look at him and Colton thought that he just wanted a ride. He really wanted to kill the van I am sure. He was still chasing us when I sped up and I could see him in the rear view mirror for quite sometime. I am sure his stupid ass is dead along the side of the road by now chasing cars will only lead to demise! We did manage to get to Wright in one piece and we made it to the fishing tourney.

We had a good day, I actually took a nap after we got done at the pond, and mom took the boys swimming. All the boys were sad because we had to leave granny. They all cried. I think they were scared to leave her there because of the tornado, they actually got to see all the damage. It looks like a bomb went off, you have to see it to understand it that is for sure. I know the boys were just scared if they left granny there another tornado would get her.

and now to quote Dr. Suess "Today was good, today was fun, tomorrow is another one." goodnight.

I love this song!

Me: "Party on Garth"
Cameron: "Party on Wayne."

He now calls me Wayne to be funny. "Hey Wayne what's for dinner?" He will say and laugh and laugh. I love giving my kids something for the past that is a part of the way things were when I was growing up. We watched that movie the other night, and Cam really liked it a lot. All my boys love Queen so they were quite impressed.


Because we were talking about Rob Thomas, and how excellent he is. I thought I would post the lyrics to what is quickly becoming one of my favorite songs.

Now Comes the Night

When the hour is upon us
And our beauty surely gone
No you will not be forgotten
No you will not be alone

And when the day has all but ended
And our echo starts to fade
No you will not be alone then
And you will not be afraid
No you will not be afraid

When the fog has finally lifted
From my cold and tired brow
No I will not leave you crying
And I will not let you down
No I will not let you down
I will not let you down

Now comes the night
Feel it fading away
And the soul underneath
Is it all that remains
So jus slide over here
Leave your fear in the fray
Let us hold to each other
Till the end of our days

Riddle me this.

I have questions that I am sure no one can answer for me... lots and lots of questions.

Why is my television plagued with infomercial? I pay good money for television and after midnight that is all they put on infomercial. I find the price of cable outrageous considering that they are getting paid by me to have it in my home, then companies actually pay to have their commercials viewed by millions during prime time, and now all freaking night with the infomercial that someone pays them to put on my TV. I should have free freaking cable if all that is the only crap I get to watch after midnight.

Is Rob Thomas awesome cool or what? Ok that isn't really a question that is more of a statement. He is, you can just take my word for it and go purchase his CD. I have liked Matchbox 20 for awhile. I mean really they sing my theme song, Unwell. I swear he wrote that one especially for me somedays, but his solo album is just way good.

Why are my children so selfish? D man abandoned me and went off with his grandparents. Oh no it isn't like mom isn't sitting here missing him or anything, he just goes off only thinking about his happiness... I was teasing him before he left and he looked at me and said "mom you should just be glad I have grandparents who love me enough to want to take me home with them." I really am glad, because mom and dad are important people in all 3 of the boys' lives. I am thankful they love them, because that is all the boys really want to be loved and spend time with those people that love them.

What makes naked swinging so great? Colton went out the other morning just before our short trip to Colorado, it was early morning. I could hear him outside and it woke me up. I crawled from the bed to the back door peered out and there he was naked as the day he was born swinging away. I was to tired to ask him what he was doing, so I made my coffee. He came in a short while later, stretched his arms above his head and said in a gruff voice, well as gruff as a 4 year old can get, "Oh yeah, just doin' a little naked swingin'." He was grinning from ear to ear like it was the best way to start the day. He is always happy, maybe I should try it out.

If my dog barks at the back door long enough is the deck going to magically rebuild itself? They have finally gotten to the back side of the house with the siding and we had to take the deck off the house. Doc stands at the door and barks and whines because he can't go out that way now. It is driving him insane, and he is playing with fire, because I am already over the edge. We may have Doc stew by the first of the week if he doesn't knock it off! Stupid spoiled dog anyway, if he didn't think he was in charge around here he might get it through his head that I can't put up a new deck until they get the siding done! I keep telling him and I know he understands me, he just wants it now now now... I would throw my shoe at him, but he ate them. I think he needs to go see a shrink and work out his issues, because if I don't have any shoes how does he expect me to build the deck?

Where do Cam and Colton expect me to sleep? They are taking up my whole bed. How can 2 little people require so much room in a bed anyway?

Just a few things I have pondered tonight, because I am a thinker. Yep always thinking I am... I think I will go to bed now, I might even sleep. I would go get in their bed, but they would just track me down.

Amazing

Mom came to town Tuesday night and we went to the Alison Krauss and Union Station concert. If you have ever heard her sing you know that she has one of the most beautiful voices ever. I have been to a lot of concerts, well over 100 probably closer to 200, but who is counting. I have never been to a concert where the singer sounds more polished and beautiful in person than on an album. Ms. Krauss has an angelic voice and that comes across beautifully on her recording, but in person it is just mesmerizing. If you ever have a chance to see her live, and you appreciate music, you will not regret her performance, or that of Union Station. They are a fun group of musicians. They know how to make an audience feel like they are part of the experience instead of just spectators.

My sister and my aunt make me laugh until my sides hurt!

THE LETTER FROM MOM:

Just a quick update this morning, the FEMA team is still here, they declared this a disaster area along with Barbara Cubin and Enzie then the declaration has to be signed off by the President. If he agrees, the people with insurance could get rent money and up to $5800, people without insurance could get rent money and up to $10800, the SBA will come in and people can apply for a low interest loan. They set up a fund at the Credit Union up here, guess people from all over the world are sending money!!! There was 91 total uninhabitable homes!! The state highway department is hauling debrie (mobile homes) out at no cost and Black Thunder Mine opened a pit to put the debrie in. The Red Cross, BLM, Fire Department, and EMTs are all still here too, people are finding other peoples personal property as far away as 5 miles!!! The town has set up a lost and found and I guess there are 5 tables full so far. Our damage feels small when you look at the others losses. Anyway we are doing ok and the town is pulling together. Of course there was one man at the town meeting last night that made a complete fool of himself!!! Screaming and cussing and wanting answers, like it was the fault of the officials that we has a tornado, always one in a crowd!!! The laws hauled him out about half way thru the meeting!!! Will check in later, love to all!!!!

THE REPLY FROM MY AUNT:

Hey there,

Well, at least it sounds like they are trying to do something – sounds like people are really trying to help each other out. Are you meeting with your insurance guy today?
The jerk at the meeting probably had minimal damage – usually the way it goes!
I saw that Barry was quoted in the Casper paper on Saturday – probably the first person in history with all his teeth to be interviewed after a tornado. In Oklahoma, when we have tornadoes, it always hits people who don’t have any teeth….at least those are the ones they always interview!!!

AND HERE IS WHAT MY SISTER HAD TO SAY:

That is what I told mom when she said that CNN and Good Morning America contacted her and she turned them down. You should have never turned them down because they will find some in- bred idiot with no teeth that does not speak proper English and that is how everyone will think people in Wyoming are half retarded. She would have at least combed her hair!!
Maybe it was for the best though because they would have asked her what did you do when you saw the tornado and she would have told them they just kept eating dinner that would have been worse than no teeth and curlers!!! People would then know they are half retarded.
Mom next time (hopefully there will not be one) takes shelter in the bathroom or an interior door. I know you thought better than that.

It's all good.

Mom and dad are doing well, and the rest of the town is holding it togethers. Fema came and assessed the damage and now all that needs done is for the President to sign it. There are 91 homes that are not livable, and in a town the size of Wright that is a lot of homes. The thing is there are not 91 other places for these people to live. Many of them will have to move out of town.

Mom and dad are coming tonight so mom and I can go see Alison Krauss tonight. Grandpa is going to watch the boys for me. I have great parents don't I! It always makes me happy to know that they love my kids so much!

This weekend we will go to Wright and celebrate Wright Day's. We go almost every year, this years it will be a little sad, but I am sure that everyone needs the break for all the worries.

We're not in Kansas anymore Toto!

This is where my mom lives.


About 5:30 I received a panic phone call. "Jenn are you guys all right there?" "Mom? Yeah we are fine what is going on?" "We just had a tornado." "Mom are you guys ok?" "We are, but it was bad really bad."

In the little town of Wright, Wyoming, where everyone knows everyone else and you can still depend on your neighbors to lend a helping hand disaster hit and it hit with a vengeance. Over 40 families lost their homes, 2 people are confirmed dead, 1 is still missing, and over a dozen were injured. The homes that were not completely destroyed are severally damaged, windows broken out, siding blown away, roofs damaged, landscaping gone, and the list of damage gones on. The alert system went off seconds before the twister struck and there was no time for people to evacuate their home before they were picked up and throw to the winds. The tornado ripped through a trailer park picking and choosing homes to take with it. Many people were left with nothing, no family photo's left, no little hand prints of their childrens school days, none of those important papers that everyone keeps, everything they owned is gone. These people will pick up the pieces and they will carry on, that is what they have to do, but no one will forget the wrath mother nature delivered them on that tragic August day.

Holy shit, fuck and god damn it!

If you know me then you will inevitably hear these word often in my presents. I never really knew I said them all that often until I had children. The boys know when they can say these words and when they can't. Like when we went to Grand Junction I coached them on not using any fowl language, and then I did a lot of "please don't say it" when I knew something was coming. I was pretty lucky they all held their tongues for the most part. I am not so hopeful with Colton going to school however. How can I expect the boys not to talk like little sailors when both of their parents do? David trips over something and the first thing out of his mouth is god damn it, he learned that from me because I do the same thing. Cam's favorite words are "Oh shit" when he is doing something and it doesn't seem to be working out his way. I am guilty of the same thing. Colton uses them all, but his favorite is dumb ass, he has called each of us a dumb ass at one point or another, and trust me if you do something he finds utterly stupid you will be a dumb ass in his eyes. I say that one a lot especially when we are driving somewhere the world is full of dumb asses! I never thought that David or Cam were dumb asses until the first time I witnessed them piss Colton off and he let go of his vocabulary and made it clear in no uncertain terms that they were being dumb asses! I highly doubt that this will fly in school. I can just hear it now.

"Mrs. Schall can you please come to get Colton."
"Oh shit what did he do now?"
"Well he call little Sara a dumb ass, because she wasn't holding the crayon the right way..."
"OK I'll be right there."

Then in the office the conversation between me, him, and the principle will go something like this.
C "Mom I didn't do anything."
M "Well honey you made Sara sad."
C "Well it was her own dumb ass fault."
P "Colton you can't be mean to people and you can't say those words at school, maybe you should stay home the rest of the week to think about this."
M "He's fucking 4 you think kicking him out of school sets a good example? God damn it this school is just full of dumb asses!" as I grab my baby and storm out the door.

Yeah him going to school scare the holy shit out of me!

The problem with that is...

I have been told that I am not the same person that I was 8 years ago. I will admit that I am not, in the last 8 years I have gone though so many changes that I can't even keep up myself. I came out of an abusive relationship and right into a brand new relationship, I was thrown into motherhood over night, not once but 3 times, I became a wife, I lost my independence, I have ups and downs with depression like I have never had in my life. I have changed a lot. I no longer have the option of being irresponsible and carefree. I lost my youth the minute I because a wife and a mother, and the boys are the only thing in life that I have. They are my only world and I am sorry that I am not fun anymore and I am sorry that I don't just take other peoples shit anymore, and I am sorry that I won't budge on my feelings toward people who have angered me. I am sorry that you feel like you have to share my attention with my boys and they get most of it. I am sorry that I am not what you expected me to be. I am sorry that we never really knew each other before we got married, and I am sorry that I let other people influence my decisions on what was right. I am sorry that we have nothing in common anymore. I am sorry for a lot of things that can't be changed now, but it is just as much your fault as it is mine, and if you don't know the person I have become maybe you should take a little time to get to know just who I am and figure out if you even like this one, because this is who I have really always been even if you never cared to take a close enough look before you married me.

Don't go off to College mom!!

To the men in my life;

I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, but under all of that I am a woman. I have desires and dreams and hopes. I want to fly off on grand adventures, and I want to live life and I want to breathe the ocean air, and I want to be loved for who I am not what I am. I want to be romanced and I need to feel special sometimes. There are things I want to accomplish in this life. I have so many things that I want to see and do before I am old and unable to see and do them. It gets a little tiring trying to be everything to everyone and nothing to myself.

I think sometimes you all overlook the fact that underneath this person you think I am, there is a woman. Each one of you thinks that I am simply your wife or your mom. I shouldn't want things and I shouldn't have dreams, after all if I were anything but a servant to your wishes and whims you might have to do things for yourselves. Perhaps you think that I may find some happiness outside of you and it would exclude you from a part of my life. Possibly you think that I will leave you behind, or maybe you think that I don't deserve a life outside of this world or that maybe I will stop loving you if I have a life beyond this one.

I will not stop loving you if I step outside these doors on my own, and I won't forget you, and I won't leave you behind. I do deserve to venture out on my own and live my own life, and I want you to be proud of the things I have done just like I am proud of each of you for every accomplishment you have made and will make. I am on this journey through life with you, and we might not share every adventure and we might not be there for every failure, but that is never going to change the fact that I will always be here for you when you need me. It doesn't mean that I won't drop everything I am doing at any given moment to hold your hand and get you over difficult times in your life; it doesn't mean that I am giving up on you or your dreams. I am your mom and that is what mom's do for their children. It just means that I can't live through you. You are all growing up and before long you will want to venture out and live your own lives and I just need to prepare myself for that time. I will always love you and you will always be the most important things in my life.

Educating the uneducatable

My baby will start school this year and I am so sad. I have decided that I to will go back to school. I have to go to the college next week and find out a bunch of stuff. I can take most of my classes online. I am going to get my teaching degree. This has been a very difficult decision for me to make. I tend to put things off and expect other people to take care of me, but I have made up my mind that I need something to do while my kids are in school, and I don't want to have a job that I can't spend my summers and holiday's with the boys that just won't work out for me. I am not really sure that teaching is something I want to do or will even like doing, but the hours work out just right for me. I need to be in a position to take care of me and my children without depending on Steve to do that all of the time. I hate being under his thumb, it drives me insane to not have my own money. I get so tired of him saying "it'll cost money" and well I am not even getting into all my complaints about it here. I just don't like anyone having that much control over me and I can't do it anymore.

Here it ends

Here it ends, just like it began.
Never knowing what could have been,
how I shined when you were around.

Here it ends, there is no middle ground.
You could never love me the way I loved you,
and I know that.

Here it ends, how it should.
my heart torn to pieces,
and skattered on the winds.

Here it end, there is no place for me.
there is no middle ground, this was as good as
it got for me.

Here it ends, and I will begin again.
without you.
Here it ends.

It's all relative

I had a nice trip. It was way to short, but I got to see a lot of my family. I wish that I lived closer to my grandparents. It would be nice to be able to see them everyday, but I couldn't live in Grand Junction everytime I am there it is just way to hot. I got to see my cousin and her baby. She is the cutest little thing, she wakes up smiling and falls asleep smiling. I wanted to just keep her, but her mom and dad wouldn't let me, and Colton wouldn't either. It was nice to just sit and visit with everyone, and it is always great to get to hug my granny and grandaddy. I miss them more now though.

Reflections of unspoken words

We are getting ready to go to Grand Junction, Colorado to see my grandparents. I didn't think I was going to be able to go, but I am going and I am happy.

David spent the week in hockey camp. He loves hockey so much. This year was his first year of all day camp, and they were on the ice for like 3 hours so by today he was dead tired. I didn't stay at the rink all day everyday like I normally do, it was just to long and the other 2 got bored after an hour, so today we watched them all day. They did some skills assements today and then they played a game, which was the highlight of Davids week, and then they watched themselves on video and he got to bring his video home with him. He is ready to start the season next year and we still have 2 months before it starts. The mites have a travel team and he wants to try out for it, but I think 7 is a little to young to be that competitive, not to mention the fact that all I hear from Steve is how expensive it is. I think next year will be better for the travel team, he will be a better skater and it the other 2 will be a little bigger and easier to travel with.

Jenn's very own quiz

The Relationship quiz

1. I am going to go see my grandparents, who live 6 hours away. You...?
A. Tell me to have a good time and you will see me when I get home.
B. Pout and throw a fit.
C. Make any excuse you can find to keep me from going ie. We canÂ’t afford it, the car might break down ect.

2. You drink...
A. To get drunk and you do it often.
B. When your having a good time and never so much that you can't stand up.
C. Once in awhile, but only if your not driving

3. You want a little sex, and I am tired. You...
A. Turn over and pout all night.
B. Storm out of bed and go through all my files on the computer, because I must have a boyfriend.
C. Understand and hope for the best tomorrow morning.

4. Tomorrow morning rolls around you...
A. Sweetly wake me up doing all those things you know are going to turn me on.
B. Nudge me and say "you wanna fool around?"
C. Take advantage of the fact that I am still mostly asleep and just go for it.

5. You sister and I have had a falling out. You...
A. Tell me I am childish because I don't want to spend time with someone who says I am a bitch and a bad mother.
B. Stay neutral it's not your battle.
C. Get sad because I "hate" your whole family.

6. I am chatting online with one of my girlfriends. You...
A. Do your own thing until I am done.
B. Keep asking me who I am talking to and keep walking over to look over my shoulder to see what we are saying.
C. Get mad and drink more beer.

7. We are sitting watching a movie I want to see, but your not really that interested in. You...
A. Sit quietly and watch with me, it might surprise you and be good.
B. Talk excessively through the entire movie.
C. Get on the phone and have a 2 hour long distance conversation 2 feet from me so I can't hear the movie.

8. It's a quiet night at home and you are watching TV. I am sitting at the computer writing. You are...
A. Glad I have something I enjoy doing.
B. Annoyed at the fact that I am not paying attention to you.
C. Thinking of the best way to get me into bed.

9. I need half an hour of quiet alone time. You are...
A. All for giving me some space.
B. Angry that I don't want to spend every free second with you.
C. Take the opportunityy to do something you enjoy.

10. Sex is
A. Always the same.
B. Fun and spontaneouss.
C. A little on the freaky deakey side.

Just some of the questions I should have asked before I made a commitmentt.


Sandman where are you?

Sleep is my elusive mistress, she stands there teasing me and taunting me like a wanton whore, but never getting close enough for me to touch. Just when I think I have seduced her into my bed she jumps up and runs from me so I have to chase her. I stumble around blinded from her beauty, but never knowing the sweet taste of her lips.

Sleep deprived and feeling Randy

I crept off to bed about 1ish in the am, and because I have not gotten my own bedroom as I have asked for many time, I have to slip into bed as quiet as I possible can. I start to get in and Steve is taking up the whole damn bed, and I don't need a whole lot of room a quarter of the bed works for me, but I don't even find an eighth. I wiggle in trying not to touch him just mentally willing him to move over, no luck he threw his leg on top on me and proceeded to snore in my ear for the next hour. I know what makes women go insane and kill their husbands and it has nothing to do with PMS! I lay there wishing he would stop snoring, because I was tired and we had to get up early. The next hour was spent praying for death his or mine I didn't care just so long as the snoring in my ear stopped. Then thank God his alarm went off, oh good he is going to get up and I can finally sleep and have some peace, oh no he hits the snooze, and whoever invented the snooze button needs to be kicking in the nuts, not once but twice he does this, and not even scooting over to do it.

So now it's almost 2:45 and he is finally getting out of bed. I stretch out and get all comfy and stuff, and fell asleep... for a whole 3 hours then I hear "mama" in a soft whisper then it gets a little louder "MAMA, mama, mom, mother, mom, mama until finally Jennifer this is your kid and I need you to get up now I have hockey camp!" I pry my eyelids apart look at him thinking there is no way I gave birth to this creature, glance toward the clock and see I have another hour and 15 minutes of sleep coming to me. I tell D that it isn't time yet and I think I said something like "go away or I will beat you." He did because he is a wise child, he gets that from me! So I lay there for about 15 minutes and think well I might as well get up. So I get out of bed and we get all ready for camp today. He had a great time, but got a little bored at times he said. They have video/lecture time and no 7 year old wants to sit that long!

So tonight I got the kids all snuggled into their beds and I cranked up the tunes, and I am attempting to blog on little sleep. I get the bed all to myself tonight WOOOHOOO sleep sweet sleep! I will probably crawl into bed and lay there wide awake!

Cleaning up a bit

I was going through all the stuff I have in drafts that I have never finished, but meant to get to soon. I have had a lot going on around here. I will share a few of the story, but I have no hope of ever finishing them so I will just share the best parts.

Granny panics.

Mom and dad where have been here working on the house with us, and they have to stay in a motel while they are here, because our house is to freaking small, but that is another story, for another time. Anyway mom and I decide call it a night and take the boys swimming at the motel pool. We get there and I am finishing a cigarette, funny thing about smoking they say the second hand smoke is what will kill your children. "They" would be so wrong in their thinking. I am standing at the gate and I look at mom, she is wide eye and saying something I can't make out, but I think she is talking to the boys. I look in the direction she is looking and I see Cam go under, surface, and go under again. OH SHIT I think. I drop my cigarette, kicked off my shoes, threw my purse, and in I went after him clothes and all. My mom works at a rec center, and is certified to save lives, but apparently they never tested her in a real situtation, because she fails miserablely at life saving skills! I grabbed Cam, and he was fine. He just didn't know it dropped off that quickly. He knows how to hold his breath, so I wasn't to worried.


Nice ride dude.

My neighbors got a new old car, and Colton walks past them the other day and says "Nice Ride Dude." He's four where the hell does he come up with this stuff?

Aluminim house.

You know those people who think that if they were tinfoil hats the aliens won't be able to read their thoughts, or something like that. Well I would bet that every UFO within 3000 miles has had thier radar thrown off by our house. It is a lovely shiny foil, and there is no hope of it ever getting siding on. This whole 19 days is going to be a big freaking waste of energy, but I am safe for any alien invasion so that does make me feel better.

There were more drafts, but I am tired and David has to be to hockey camp at an ungodly hour so I won't be posting those. I am off to bed, so we can get up at the butt crack of dawn, thank god I will have one child that is wore out at the end of the day. Maybe I will run the other 2 in front of the car on the way home so we can all get to bed earily. OH and no the siding is not up we still have a shiney house and I don't give a shit it isn't my house and I won't be here long enough to die here that is for sure!

Happy Birthday

I am sitting here sadly writing this post. My oldest baby turns 7 today. To him that means he is having a birthday and getting presents and having cake and all the fun stuff that goes with being a child and having a birthday. To me it means he is one step closer to leaving me, and there is nothing I can do to stop the fact that my kids will out grow me. They already need me less and less the older they get, but one day they will only call on me when they need something. They won't want to hang out and play with me, and they won't want to snuggle up on the couch and watch movies with me, and they won't want to go places with me, and, and, and... and then one day they will spread their wings and fly out in this world by themselves, leaving me behind with only memories of the times they were little and mom was their best friend.

I often wonder what I will do then without my children. What did I do before I had kids? All I can remember is them being in my life they are my soul purpose for living. I adjust around their needs, and nothing about me is important, there is no point where they stop and I begin. I will learn to let them go, because that is what a good parent does, they let them go so they can make their way in the world, and with any luck find love, happiness, achieve all their hearts desires. I am just at the starting point of letting go. I still have many skinned knees to kiss and hurt feeling to mend, but everyday they pull harder and harder at those strings just waiting for their chance to break free.

Happy birthday little man I love you so much.

I wanna talk about me

The sweetness that is Jack requested this, and how can I refuse him anything? Well I can't, and that is apparent because I am doing it, and it was harder than it looks!

Turn-offs:

1. Hatefullness
2. indecisiveness
3. piss poor attitudes
4. moodiness
5. stupidity (so agree on that!)
6. lack of humor
7. lack of trust
8. lies
9. people who talk to much
10. uncleanlyness

Turn-ons:

1. Honesty
2. foreplay
3. humor
4. smiles
5. trust
6. freedom
7. love
8. good sportsmanship
9. kisses on the back of my neck
10. self confidence (even though I lack that)

UPDATES

Just talked to Tricia girl. She said they are doing good so far! They got Zach all hooked up to the stuff he is suppose to be hooked up to and they are now proceeding to get his heart into the irregular rhythm so they can zap him with the laser!

Wow what a relief! Tricia called and said that Zach is heading to recoverary, and they will be heading home this evening! Everything went much smoother than it did last year.

Mending broken hearts

I know this post was suppose to be about rodoe's and cowboys and all that, but something much more important came up.

Most of you know my very good friend http://Tricia girl. If you have been reading awhile then you know that her baby boy Zack had to have surgery on his heart last year and it didn't work because his heart was to little. Well the 20th of this month they are going to try it all again. When you read Tricia's page she sounds like a rock, because that is what mom's do they are strong and supportive on the outside, but on the inside she is a wreak, and I wish I could be there for her. I know everything is going to work this time, and Zach won't ever have to do this again! I am asking all of you to keep Zach and his family in your thoughts and prayers this Wednesday


Tricia girl I am so sorry I have been so hard to get ahold of this past week when you have needed me, but know that I love you very much and am thinking of you. I wish that I could hop on a plane to be there with you. I know there isn't really anything I could do, but worry with you and I will be doing that from here.

8 seconds

It is fair and rodeo week, and with all the work going on around our house I didn't think we would get a chance to go this year. The boys were really disappointed when I told them we probably wouldn't make it this year, especially David, but he didn't whine or pout he cowboyed up and accepted the fact that he wouldn't get to ride that mechanical bull like he has talked about since last year. Last night I got them all showered and dressed and David put his boots on his little feet and it was off to the rodeo.

We arrived early so that we could touch every animal within a 20 mile radius, because the fair just isn't the fair unless my eyes swell darn near shut from algeries. Our first stop was the petting farm. They had goats, llamas, chickens, ducks, sheep, cows, pigs, but my very favorite was a little brauma bull. I say little cause it wasn't very old, but it was still huge compared to every other animal in there. He was so cute though. He followed me around licking me with his giraffe like tongue my arm was slobbered up from the elbow to the tips of my fingers and then he would rub his head against my leg, and ram into me if I tried to pet anyone else. I really wanted to bring him home with me, but I don't think I could pass him off as a large dog and city laws don't allow keeping a bull in your yard! The boys touched everything and Colton got to kiss a few goats and a couple of calves the calves kissed him right back. Cows are very licky animals, but they drool like mad.

Next we were off to the mechanical bull. I gave David his 5 bucks, signed the release, and off he went with the biggest smile I have even seen. He got on slipped his hand under the rope and held that little arm up in the air ready to ride. He rode for about a minute and then the guy increased the speed and he stayed with it for about 5 seconds before he got bucked off. He was still grinning from ear to ear when he jumped up, and on the way out he gave the guy a high five and told him "that was awesome dude!" the guy got a big kick out of him. David is now sure he is a real cowboy, and I wish I had the money for him to be, but horses cost to much to feed and board, and my god they are just so much work.

More rodeo adventures tomorrow. I have to go work now this stupid house sucks!

Windows, siding, and doors oh my!

I have brand spanking new windows and 2 new doors, and one whole strip of new siding! I am just so happy we are not going to have that ugly yellow house anymore! There will still be a lot of painting to do when all the siding is finished, and the windows will need stained on the inside, but that isn't a big deal I can do that without Steve. We are going to have to get busy really fast now cause there are only 8 more days of Steves vacation, and there is still a lot of work to do.

Sorry it took so long!

Ashley's questions

1. Is there some place that you want to travel to that you have not been yet?

2. After college are you planning on staying in your hometown to work or moving somewhere else?

3. What is one great thing you want to accomplish in your life time?

4. Would you rather have fame and fortune or love and happiness?

5. and David wants to know if you have any good hockey camps this summer? and he wants me to tell you he is going to hockey camp at the end of the month and he will be 7 then... he has a lot he wants to tell you.


Miss Vicki

1. How was the baseball game yesterday?

2. Why don't you have some 25 year old love slave? You are young, beautiful, and single you should!

3. What is the most embarassing moment so far in your life?

4. Do you ever wish you had kids?

5. How did you wind up in Oregan?

Man you guys are quick

Shara's Questions

1. Are you feeling like your normal self yet?

2. Where do you see yourself in 10 years.

3. Have you got all the glass cleaned up or are you still finding it in odd places?

4. How do you make web design look so easy? Everytime I go to your page or Dawn's you have added something else that is awesome cool.

5. What is your favorite place to eat out?



Jamie's Questions

1. Have you been sleeping much lately with a new baby in the house.

2. Do you workout to keep those great legs or are you one of those lucky people who are just naturally blessed with them?

3. Do you still ride motorcycles after your near death experience with them?

4. How did you and Mel meet and was it love at first sight?

5. Boxers or Briefs?

and on to our furture president.

1. When your elected president will you be letting the vice president make most of the major decisions like how things are in this adminastration? I don't know if I can handle all that pressure so I need to know now so I can prepare.

2. How did you sucker Jen into staying around all these years?

3. How is your mom doing?

4. In light of all your health issues have you been trying to take better care of yourself?

5. If you could change one thing that has happened in your past what would it be?

Steve needs me on the ladder now, so I will get back at this in a little while!

Jack has a lot of questions!

Wanna play a game? Volunteer have me ask you five questions. But you HAVE to answer them, blog them and make yourself available to ask five questions of other volunteers. And then they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends...

1. If you could build your life from scratch, where would you be now?

If I knew then what I know now... I would have finished college and gotten a real job. This is a hard question, because everything I would change involves doing something that results in me not having the boys. If I would have stayed in Denver and finished college I wouldn't have met Steve, and I wouldn't have the boys, and the thought of not having them in my life is horrifying. If I didn't know now what I didn't know then... I would probably be right where I am now, because I wouldn't have the knowledge about the mistakes I have made, so I would more than likely make them again. Tough question Jack and one I often think about myself. I am not sure I am willing to change everything and not have my kids.

2. Is evil something one is, or something one does?

Oh boy there is no black and white answer to this question. I think it depends on what your idea of evil is. I think there are people who do evil things and have no remorse for their actions and that makes them just as evil as their actions. Then there are people who do evil things and suffer for the rest of their lifes with regrets over those actions so there act was evil, but they are not evil themselves.

3. Who's your favorite Bond?

Sean Connery is Bond. You mean there were others? I can watch Roger Moore, but even he doesn't compare to Sir Sean Connery. He was hot then and he is hotter now.

4. When are women going to unite and take over??

Women already rule it is our plan to make men think they are safe and secure, but every night while you men are sleeping we plant subconscious ideas in your heads, that's the reason we always get our way.

5. How do you read so incredibly fast? Have you always?

I had a lot of trouble learning to read when I was little, then when I finally got it there was no stopping me. I went from little kids books to grown up books almost over night. I guess I just wanted to hurry and get through one book so I could get to the next. I was reading my mom's romance novels by 4th grade, and by sixth grade I was reading Shakespeare, which probably isn't that big of a deal for someone who didn't struggle with reading, but to me it was. I am not sure that romance novels are the best material for a 10 year old, but I couldn't get enough, and books geared to my age level didn't hold my interest. If something is boring it takes me a long time to read it, but if it a good piece of work, like your book, I hate to walk away from it until I am finished with it.

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

Steve finally starts his vacation tomorrow, and the siding is going up and the windows are going to be installed. Hopefully anyway, there may be a killing before it's all done. I am not looking forward to this project. It will be hot out! When I get hot I get hateful.


More people should read Jamie's blog. He is funny, and has really nice legs! Go dig through his archives and find the pictures. He is a new daddy too.

Me and the boys rode our bikes to the park last night, and ran into our pre school teacher, and her family. She had David for kindergarten, and Cam for 2 years of preschool, and next year she will have Colton. Then her youngest son is in hockey with David. I am so lucky to have her, because she made the transition into school life so much easier. I know that she loves my kids, and they are in good motherly hands when they are in her class. She has 5 kids of her own and then fosters other kids a lot.

I actaully broke down and got a cell phone or as Colton calls it "technology". "Is that your technology mom?" he asks me. Lets just hope I don't become one of those women that anger me, you know the ones that drive around talking on the phone causing car accidents.

Baddest Boots

Toby Keith
Baddest Boots

I got the baddest boots on the boulevard
Yeah the baddest boots on the boulevard

They make a man proud walking through a crowd
Whoa nothin' else can stand beside em
When I pull em on I start singin' a song
Make me wanna tuck my britches' legs inside em






D man talked grandpa into getting these! He won't take them off his feet.


I had a quiet week without the boys around. Steve ended up going to Utah, came home at 2am friday, tore the sliding glass door out Sat, put plastic up so he could put the new door in today, and ended up having to go back to Utah this morning until wednesday. My horoscope said I would be more in tune with nature, but I didn't think they meant this freaking close.

Time for me to fly

I am going into hidding for awhile not sure when I will return.

googlie goo

I stole this from Wendy girl. It is amazing all the things you can borrow from other people when you are are just not posting orginal stuff! Thanks Wendy girl!

Googlism's for Jenn.
jenn is an atheist- yes I am kinda sorta I guess.

jenn is awesome dot com- who didn't know that one.

jenn is not here yet- but with any luck she will show up soon!

jenn is cooler- but cooler than what?

jenn is my ex- yeah get over it already I have.

jenn is a person who loves jesus deeply ? it's very apparent-- yeah real apparent especially since I just said I was an atheist.

jenn is singing-usually

jenn is listening- So you better watch out I am just like that Santa Clause guy or the federal government whichever.

jenn is not a doctor or nurse- and I don't play one on TV.

jenn is unashamedly flirting with bill- sadly I don't know Bill, but I am always game for flirting so give me a shout Bill!

jenn is the founder of auroramud- What the hell is auroramud?

jenn is older then glen they apparently didn't have colour photography at that point- I deny ever posing with glen in those pictures, you can't prove nothing!

jenn is the best thing

jenn is responsible for the project finances-well yes and no, I am an unvested signer on the loan, which means that is Steve dies they hold me responsible for paying it off, but if he divorces me it all on him!

jenn is a wonderful person

jenn is doing all of the hard work- well that is just a given.

jenn is waiting for a response-you people alway keep me waiting!

jenn is no help-stop making me wait for a response and I might be more helpful

jenn is going to put the hurt to them-I might

jenn is soft-yeah and fleshy and squishy

jenn is concerned that jack is slipping away from her- Sadly he is I find him lurking about every now and then, but he seldoms states his love for me anymore! I think he is cheating on me.

jenn is a reject 59- 59 what bottles of beer on the wall?

jenn is one of the few females on the boards that i like-Thanks I like you too!

jenn is up on the bridge- and if Jack slips away I may jump.

jenn is the glue of the operation-Well someone has to hold it all together

jenn is shy and contemplative-sometimes

jenn is a lifeguard and swim instructor-I did once have my lifeguard certificate, but I was never a lifeguard or swim instructor.

jenn is not responsible for any injury- this is ture it isn't my fault and I don't have enough for you to actually sue me so go hassle someone else.

jenn is a woman named rosario-No really I am Jenn, I don't even know anyone named Rosario

one of those days

Today I woke up and didn't have any coffee, I was out. I thought there was another canister on top of the cabinet, but it was empty! I have a caffine withdrawl headache something awful. Then my computer crashed, I really need to learn to say out of the registery files, but no I have to go and delete them making it impossible for my XP to run properly. The boys made a mud hole in the back yard and covered themselves in mud, and despite all of that I am in a relatively happy mood. I think I am learning how to hold the little things close to my heart and be happy with that, after all the little things are special. Little things like a hug from the boys, a phone call from someone I love, a few quiet moments in my day, time to myself at night to read a book or blog, the little things are what get me through. There are lots of little things that I treasure. Even with being in said really good mood I desperately want to rewind my day and relive about 15 minutes of it. There were so many things I should have said and didn't, and I am a dork! So now I am thinking what a total idiot I am. Can I get those few minutes back please, I am begging here! I want a redo damn it!! The momorns have been patroling the neighborhood today they are crazy people. I politly told them I was not interested, why do I feel the need to be so freaking nice to them? This is the second time this week! If I would have only told them off maybe they wouldn't come back! Something I am working on, maybe one day I will finish it.


Can you?

Can you touch my soul,
Make me believe in fairy tales with happy ending?
Can you show me who I am again?
And understand that’s just me?
Can you make it real,
Instead of just a fantasy?
Can you be everything to me,
Without taking away who you need to be?
Can you hold me
And let me fly?
Can you sit with me quietly
and know everything is ok?
Can you be my strength
when I am weak?
Can you believe in my
when I don't believe in myself?
Can you touch my soul
and love me?

Alone Again

I lay awake staring at the blackness surrounding me, the ceiling fan softly swirling round and round above me, and I know I will not sleep tonight. Like so many nights I lay here and wonder if you really love me or if it is just something you say to appease me. I want to be able to see it in your eyes when you say those words and know that you mean them. I desperately want to feel it when you touch me, and hear it in your voice when you say you love me. I yearn to be the first thought you have each morning, and the last thought you have each night before you drift off to peaceful slumber. I long to be your everything, your rain, your shine, the snow storm that keeps you inside, your days, your nights. I need to be wrapped up in your arms and feel safe from the world knowing you would protect me from myself. There are fleeting moments when I think maybe it is true, just maybe you really do love me, but in a blaze there gone, and I am left feeling alone again.

History

My mom got a copy of a letter written by my granddaddy's grandmother, Annie Devriee, after she got married she became Annie Olree, making her something like my great great grandmother. Granny Annie, that's just fun to say, has been dead for a long time now, and the letter was written in Oct. of 1907, almost 98 years ago. She was writing to one of her son's, she had 7 son's and one daughter. She wanted to get together at Christmas with all her kids. They hadn't sold the cotton yet so there wouldn't be any money for presents, but they sold the scrip so there should be enough for a nice dinner with everyone. Wow talk about poor, but I guess most people back then were poor, it was a different world, and money wasn't what make it go round.

Anyway the letter talked about how Granny Annie was worried about his soul and wanted to be sure he was following God's will. Her husband, my great great grandfather, was a preacher and they ended up in Texas. She also mentioned selling some books, which we don't know if she wrote books or was selling them for other people, but when her kids were small she would make them put on passion plays so we think she may have written books as well, probably religious books.

After her husband died at the rip old age of 45, Granny Annie moved all her kids back to Missouri, and that is where they all stayed except my great grandaddy who made his way back to Texas.

It's funny how one letter can bring on so many question. Like where are these books she was selling, what were they, how come great grandaddy went back to Texas, apparently he hoboed his way back there. What I am really wondering is how many shirt tail relations do I have out there wondering the same things!

Mom has a picture of them that I will post one of these days.

Swimming in a sea of rocks

Things I have been thinking about lately.

If I died could Steve raise my boys the way I think is best? I don't think he could so I better not die until they are raised.

Are we going to get the siding and windows up without killing each other? Doing any home improvement project will make you take a second look at your spouse!

Where am I going to put my tomatoes this year? I need to get them in the ground soon or it will be to late, but with all the work going on around here makes it hard to grow anything.


I think I need to get out of the house, I need a vacation.

This house is way to small! We need to get the basement finished!

Should I have a yard sale or should I just pack up all this junk and give it to good will? I think it would be much easier to just give it to good will.

I like Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. Dreams is one of my favorite songs.

What would I be doing right now if I didn't have kids? My life would be pretty meaningless without them. I can live without a lot of things but not the boys they make me who I am.

When the boys grow up and move out what will Steve and I do? They are the one thing that we have together, will we even like each other after they are gone?

I will be 47 when the baby graduates from high school, Steve will be 55.

Will the boys go to college? I hope they do and I hope they finish.

more fun with numbers

There are 23 letters in your name.
Those 23 letters total to 113
There are 9 vowels and 14 consonants in your name.

Your number is: 5

The characteristics of #5 are: Expansiveness, visionary, adventure, the constructive use of freedom.

The expression or destiny for #5:
The number 5 Expression endows with the wonderful characteristic of multi-talents and versatility. You can do so many things well. The tone of the number 5 is constructive freedom, and in your drive to attain this freedom, you will likely be the master of adaptability and change. You are good at presenting ideas and knowing how to approach people to get what you want. Naturally, this gives you an edge in any sort of selling game and spells easy success when it comes to working with people in most jobs. Your popularity may lead you toward some form of entertainment or amusement. Whatever you do, you are clever, analytical, and a very quick thinker.

If there is too much of the 5 energy in your makeup, you may express some the negative attitudes of the number. Your restless and impatient attitude may keep you from staying with any project for too long. Sometimes you can be rather erratic and scatter yourself and your energies. You have a hard time keeping regular office hours and maintaining any sort of a routine. You tend to react strongly if you sense that your freedom of speech or action is being impaired or restricted in any way. As clever as you are, you may have a tendency to make the same mistakes over and over again because much of your response is glib reaction rather that thoughtful application. You are in a continuous state of flux brought by constantly changing interests.

Your Soul Urge number is: 11

A Soul Urge number of 11 means:
With the 11 Soul Urge, much of your thinking and interests relate to the abstract, the spiritual, and utopian dreams. You are motivated toward idealistic concepts, and the sharing of your ideas and concepts with humanity. This number is not one that is giving in a material or a practical sense, but rather one who desires to help mankind with a more abstract commodity such as religion, spiritualism, occult studies, or even psychic abilities.

If you possess the positive 11 Soul Urge traits, you have a dream of the perfect world; you are highly idealistic and inspirational. Your inner strength and devotion to your beliefs are extremely strong. You have a very good mind that is especially well equipped to handle the higher, more abstract forms of thought.

If there is an excess of 11 energy in your makeup, you may possess some the negative 11 traits. There is a tendency for the 11 to produce considerable amounts of nervous tension which is bought on by a very high level of awareness. You may be too sensitive and overly emotional. In some cases, these sensitivities and emotions are quite repressed, and this tends to add even more to the sense of nervousness in the makeup.

The strong 11 is not a very practical person because of the extreme idealism; often, there is a degree of self-deception present. There is usually a rather fixed idea of right and wrong held by those showing strong 11 traits, and with this very often is a resulting attitude of inflexibility.

Your Inner Dream number is: 4

An Inner Dream number of 4 means:
You dream of being a very solid citizen that people can depend upon. You strive for organization and predictable order. You want to be recognized as a person with a plan and the discipline to make that plan work like clockwork.

Sleeplessness

I was in bed over an hour ago,and look I am back up again. I hopped around some blog and found this site over at Jennifer's house and decided to steal it from her, because really I lack anything better to post!

You were born on a Sunday
under the astrological sign Libra.
Your Life path number is 8.

The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2441220.5.
The golden number for 1971 is 15.
The epact number for 1971 is 3.
The year 1971 was not a leap year.

As of 6/9/2005 4:18:52 AM CDT
You are 33 years old.
You are 405 months old.
You are 1,758 weeks old.
You are 12,310 days old.
You are 295,444 hours old.
You are 17,726,658 minutes old.
You are 1,063,599,532 seconds old.

There are 109 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 34 candles on it.

Those 34 candles produce 34 BTU's,
or 8,568 calories of heat (that's only 8.5680 food Calories!) .
You can boil 3.89 US ounces of water with that many candles.

Your birth tree is


Hazelnut Tree, the Extraordinary
Charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody and capricious lover, honest and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgement.



There are 199 days till Christmas 2005!

The moon's phase on the day you were
born was waxing crescent.

The baby wanted to look like his guys! 

Don't get to close to mom when she has the clippers out! 

another list

I filled out the list Tricia girl sent me and it got me thinking about all the things I want to do.

I want to visit my sister in St. Louis this summer.

I want to spend more time with my grandparents, before it's to late.

I want to skydive.

I want to take my boys to an AV's game and have tickets behind the bench.

I want to lose weight.

I want to meet some of my friends that live in this box.

I want to actually finish one of the many novels that I have started over the years.

I want to see the great wall of China, Tibet, and a few other far away places.

I want to experience the whole Florida adventure through the eyes of my boys, disney world, sea world, universal studios, all of that.

I want to fall in love again.

I want to see my boys grow up to be happy, and have all their dreams come true.

I want to be more than just content with my life. I want to reach that point where I can actually be happy.

I want to buy Colton an Alice snake for a pet, but he has to be old enough to take care of it. He is to little and would love it to death at this point.


I am sure there are other things, but that is all I can think of in the 10 minutes I has taken me to do this.

2 hours and counting

There are only 2 hours of school left for this year. I am so happy! I hate that they have to go off to school and leave me every fall.

It is getting closer to the time when we are going to start doing the siding on our house. My next husband is going to be wealthy so I don't ever get stuck doing remolding work. I hate it.

Colton asked the checker lady at the store yesterday if she was "The fancy dancer." I don't know where he came up with that, but then he suckered her out of balloons for him and his brothers.

OK Dammit but only because I love you!

Tricia girl got me!



Have you ever................


(x) snuck out of the house
( ) gotten lost in your city
(x) seen a shooting star
(x) been to any other countries besides Canada
(x ) had a serious surgery
(x) gone out in public in your pajamas
(x) kissed a stranger
(x) hugged a stranger
(x) been in a fist fight
(x )been arrested
(x) laughed and had milk/coke come out of your nose
(x) pushed all the buttons on an elevator
(x) swore at your parents
(x) been in love
(x) been close to love
(x) been to a casino
( ) been sky diving (It on my to do list)
(x) skinny dipped
(x) skipped school
(x) seen a therapist
(x) done the splits
(x) played spin the bottle
(x ) gotten stitches
( )drank a whole gallon of milk in an hour
(x) bitten someone
( ) been to Nigria falls
(x) gotten the chicken pox
(x) kissed a member of the opposite sex
( ) crashed into a friends car
( ) been to Japan
(x) ridden in a taxi
(x) been dumped
( ) shoplifted
(x) been fired
(x) had a crush on someone of the same sex
(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
( ) gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend
(x) had a crush on a teacher
( ) celebrated Mardi-Gras in new Orleans
( ) been to Europe
(x ) slept with a co worker
(x) been married
( ) gotten divorced
(x) had children
(x ) seen someone die
(x) had a close friend die
( ) been to Africa
(x) driven over 400 miles in one day
(x) been to US
(x ) been to Mexico
( ) been to India
(x) been on a plane
(x) seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) thrown up in a bar
( ) purposely set a part of myself on fire
(x) eaten sushi
(x)been sking/snowboarding
( ) met someone in person from the internet
( ) lost a child
(x) gone to college/university
( ) graduated college/university
(x) fired a gun
( ) purposely hurt yourself
(x) taken painkillers
(x) been intimate with someone of the same gender

Dead man running

I read this article this morning. I am a little distressed that anyone would try to turn over this man death sentence. He deserves much worse than a lethal injection.

I was 17 years old in 1988. I remember like it was yesterday. Lisa Marie Kimmell was an 18 year old girl driving from Colorado back to Montana, and she turned up missing. They found her body thrown off government bridge about 15 miles outside of Casper, but they never found her car, a Honda civic with personalized plates saying "lil miss". An autopsy reveled that she had been raped and tortured before her death. I don't think any of my friends ever went anywhere alone after that, and I know my and my sister didn't. We were scared, there was a viscous murderer in our town. It took them 16 years to find this sicko, and now they want to turn over his death sentences. NO FREAKING WAY. I honestly think that we should tie him to a pole and let everyone throw rocks at him for a few days before his death. He is an evil man who deserves the death penality. I wish the freaking do gooders would find some other cause besides this vile man!