Animal Wednesday

HAW ya'll. It's a mishmash from my photo stash.

Here is a monkey in my front flower bed. He's a wise old ape.






















This little goosey had a mishap, but was doing fine.















Guinea fowl are at first glance, plain. But look at the texture on those feathers-not everyone has to be flashy.















This little kitty is feeling catty-believing that SHE should be on the catwalk.
















Little Rusty is such a cutie.

Updates

Remember the shoes bought last week because I bled on them? I was skeptical, but my feet (both) and ankle have been giving me so much trouble I was willing to try anything. So, I tried some MBT's , and I have to say, there is something to it. I'm walking more, I have more energy and less pain. Of course, it may have something to do with the Celebrex I started the same day.

Anyway-yay for less pain.

Cactus Monday-a Fairy Tale

Once upon a time Slim Cadiddlesnake was out for a slither. He sloooooowly looked up and he saw


a very tall cactus. He thought the cactus looked regal, but plain, and wished that it could be a little less long and a little less lonely.



That night, a friendly goddess paid the cactus a little visit and the next morning when Slim was out for his stroll he saw....
Happy Cactus Monday Cactuteers. I hope your wishes are granted this week.

Father's Day

We had our dinner on Friday (Jake's ribs) and Mom bought a waffle maker for us to have breakfast today. Daddy really enjoyed the waffle maker in Louisiana, and I was touched (and so was he I think) that Mom went right out and bought one.

But, it didn't go well-new things don't work well for Mom and I got a better understanding of why she's so adamanet about the "way she's always done it" because it really is the only way she can. But what would have been a completely miserable time last year, was an OK time this year. She let me help and we all muscled through and we had our waffles.

Next up is a visit to see Uncle John, and honestly, after the waffle fiasco this morning, I'm dreading it and hoping he'll be asleep. The Mom/John combo is heart wrenching, just as the Mom/Dad combo can be. I can see now why I only had one child-I just can't cope with two, and that's really odd because I am the multitasking diva.

Unlike children, as people age, they get clingier and more time consuming. Is that an awful thing to say? Well it's true. Now I struggle with wanting to delete the last lines, because what if this is my last father's day? But, I also want to share the truth of what happens when parent's age so that maybe someone who has the same feelings will read it and know they are not alone.

One flash of insight as I was helping Mom was how agitated I felt wanting HER not to be agitatted. I realized this is where some of their agitation comes from as well-when I go off and do things that they can't help with (which is most things I do now). If I had realized that earlier, I probably would have had a nicer summer last summer-but even this old dog can learn a new trick or two.

Dirt

A couple of graphics I made for a t-shirt design contest (mountain bike camp) I entered.

Honda Shadow Spirit

That's what my new motorcycle is-750 CC-a small(ish) cruiser. Small enough for me to manage, but big enough to manage highway if I so choose.

I knew, from looking at scooters, that if I got a scooter I'd also want to go on the road-so this time I didn't even pretend-I just got what would do both jobs-in town and out.

Lots of 40 sumthins and 50 sumthins and 60 sumthins are cruising now-but honestly, I've never liked riding behind someone-for one thing, not being able to see what is in front of you is maddening to me. And the people I've rode behind were idiots, let's face facts.

My balance used to be pretty good though-I could ride behind with a full bag of grocieries in each hand and one between my legs. The highway was no challenge at all, even the speed made it smoother. Dirt roads were a little dicey but I never fell off or broke an egg.

Stopping on the way home from Jakes (I saw a pink motorcycle and had to look) with my folks-the strangest thing happened. They didn't complain about stopping, they didn't complain about my looking.

Even stranger, after I reported what I saw and thought, we all dropped it-I didn't keep fishing for approval. I did bring up a memory-my first Honda 50 CC and I mentioned that I didn't know now how Daddy rode that thing-it was sooooo short. I said I didn't think I could do it as an adult.

We fell silent and something hit me that I never really got before. Daddy couldn't afford to pay for a pasture bill, no one had time to take me out to feed, but he did buy me mini bike and I was the only kid that I knew that had one.

In other words, they compromised and bought something that fit into our lives that I enjoyed and could ride-but as a child I didn't see that-only the horse I didn't have.

I got taller and the 50 turned into a trail 70-but it was street legal. I started getting boobs and my brother got a learner's permit and HE started going out on the road-so the bike was sold. And I grieved and moaned. But not too loud, cause truth be told, I had gone out on the road too-and not just any road. The HIGHWAY. Just to see how fast the bike could go.....70 I think.

A few years ago I wanted a Harley-shared that with a friend who jumped all over my case-saying "That's such a damn dykey thing-NO man would want a woman who rides a motorcycle and you always go off on these tangents..." I didn't care about the man or the dyke, but the tangent thing really hurt and I really didn't have the money anyway.

I mean, HONESTLY-man or woman who cared about whether or not I rode a motorcycle is not the person for me. They'd never make it past the snakes for one thing. They'd probably fuss about the mountain bike too, and that baby aint going no where.

I've been looking at horses again, but for me, paying someone to take care of MY horse just won't work. It's the caring for my animals that I enjoy the most. I like cleaning cages and clipping nails and stuff. Why I like that and despise doing the dishes, I cannot say and don't really care.

I've been thinking about the trailer too-gas prices pretty much wrecked that notion, as well as illnesses that keep me nearby. But you know what, it's paid for, lot rent paid up till next spring-it isn't hurting a thing. But, it gives me a strange sense of comfort that it's there, waiting; a little piece of me that isn't bound to a town or responsibilities.

Now, the red flames thing I could have done without, but it was a showroom new 07, red is ok and I'm going to have roses or something painted in the flames to girl things up a bit. The hardest part has been locating a helmet that will look cool with a red bike......coordination is key.

The Pare-Wolf

Oliver heard the documentary "A man among wolves" and fell in love with the sounds of the wolf howl. So now I have the sounds of wolves and cubs most of the day. Honestly, he never howled or made puppy noises (only barked) before the show.

I know he had dogs in his life before, so I wonder if there weren't puppies involved, because he really really loves the wolf sounds.

He has not forsaken the farts however,only now he laughs, then howls, THEN farts. Variety is the spice of life.

I'm going to try and record some of his funnier moments-because I wish you all had a playback of it that you could play whenever you get stressed or grumpy. It's truly better than drugs.