Feature Friday

Have you ever thought of living in another country?  Have you wondered what it would be like?  Or maybe you have dreamed of starting life over some place where no one knows you?  

Today, I’d like to draw your attention over to Scomerican Tales- An American Girl in Scotland. Here Scomerican Girl, a fellow Oregonian, discusses life and love while living abroad.  Learn about a culture different than ours, find out if haggis is even worth trying and enjoy some photos of local scenery.  Find out how moving to a foreign country on her own shaped one young woman’s life.

I’ve been lurking on Scomerican Tales for almost the past year.  I found her after she left a comment on the Corporate Prince’s now defunct blog and followed to her own blog because her name intrigued me.  I de-lurked a couple weeks ago on National De-Lurking Day and I’m glad I did.

I find Scomerican Tales to be refreshing and entertaining.  I hope you all do to.

School Absense

Hello My Lovlies!

I know I’ve been conspicuously absent lately.  Dude is having some school issues and we’re trying to figure out how to resolve them.  His current school isn’t a good fit.  They can’t or won’t deal with his ADHD and it seems that the right placement by the district is extremely slow in coming.

I hope to be back soon and start the changes I’ve discussed!  In the mean time, I just might be lurking on your blog.

Monday Morning Meme

January 26th Questions:

1. What was your favorite subject in grade school? Why did you enjoy this subject so much? What was your favorite part about this subject?

I loved Language Arts.  Then again, I love to read.  I remember reading ahead in the lesson while the teacher was talking, but also reading pages ahead.  I absolutely loved the stories.  I don’t think I could get enough!

2. Tell me about your best friend in grade school. Do you still keep in touch? If not, why did the friendship dissolve?

My best friend was Lisa Rumsey.  We became friends on the last day of kindergarten when we first met.  The last day meant that both afternoon and morning kindergartens were combined for the whole day, which is how we met.  Lisa and I stayed friends until 11th grade when we just seemed to drift apart.  I miss her and I’ve thought of her off and on over the years.

Where ever you are Lisa, I wish you well!

3. Do you remember your first day of school? If not your very first day, then please tell us about the earliest memory of your first day of school – how did you feel? What did you wear? Did it take long for you to make new friends? Do you remember anything about the classroom or the teacher?

On my first day of school, my dad took the day off work and drove me to school.  My biological mother had passed away just a couple weeks before.  I don’t remember what I was wearing and the classroom was a bit familiar to me as I had seen it when my mother registered me for school that last time she was home from the hospital.  My teacher was Miss Kennedy, who after the end of the year got married and moved away.  I didn’t say much of anything that year in class unless directly spoken to by the teacher.  She apparently thought I was so traumatized by my mother’s passing that I didn’t talk much.  It wasn’t until she saw me playing on the playground with my friends towards the end of the year that she understood otherwise.  My father had raised me to not speak unless spoken to in the presence of adults.  I’ve been making up for that ever since!

4. Let’s jump to middle school. What were your middle school years like? Did you have a lot of friends? Did you adjust quickly or slowly to the change from grade school? What was your favorite subject in middle school?

In middle school, I had a new peer group that I didn’t exactly fit in with.  We were from different socio-economical backgrounds.  We came from different elementary schools.  And suddenly I was in the honors program.  So while I had a lot of friends, I didn’t ever totally fit in and I never fully felt accepted.  It wasn’t a hard transition, but not a really easy one either.

My favorite subject in middle school was history.  In 7th grade, Mr. Cheney taught mainly via lecture.  Try, college level lecture.  I loved it as he walked us through the big bang and the bible and all the way up through the civil war.  He used to diagram the hoplite formations of Leonidas 1 and Xerses 1 at the Battle of Thermopylae, the movement and expansion of other great civilizations.  He made history come alive.  Most history that I know and remember came from his teachings.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda, Oregon

Movie Deprived

I didn’t watch a lot of tv growing up.  Then, while married to The Marine, we lived without cable or bunny ears more often than not, but we still managed to go see a movie at least every couple weeks.  After my divorce and before the move to Alaska, I still saw movies with friends, but I lived without tv.

In Alaska, I saw a few movies before Dude was born, not so many afterwards.  I had cable, but was rarely home to watch it.  Rather, I was much too busy working.  I can’t call work a dreary drudgery because it wasn’t.  I loved my job.  It was fulfilling.

But, as a single mom, movies just weren’t in the cards unless I pulled A LOT of overtime.  Then, I’d buy a movie or two on dvd.

As I write this, I am watching The Notebook on tv.  I recorded it on the dvr over the weekend.  Most everyone I know is amazed that I haven’t seen The Notebook before now.

Well, I’m movie deprived!  What can I say?  I was once too busy to watch a movie and maybe a little to ADD to sit through one.  

But now, I have time.  I don’t have a whole lot better to do.  

So, what movies do you guys recommend I see?  Have any favorites?  Suggestions?

Disillusionment

Last week, as I was surfing CL in Portland for the hell of it, I came across a posting for an alexandrite ring.  A ring that looks a lot like a ring that came up “missing” from my house a couple years ago.  More, it was not a common ring and in a more uncommon size.  (I have big hands and fat fingers, what can I say?  Really?  How many women wear a size 9 ring?)

I bought an alexandrite ring myself for my birthday 4 years ago this past December.  It was my present to me, pre-CP.  It was also the first “good” piece of jewelry I owned since my divorce years before.  In fact, the Christmas bonus I received from work that year funded the purchase. 

When it came up missing, I assumed I had misplaced it.  When I moved in with CP a few months later and it was still missing, I knew it had wandered off.  I talked this over with a good friend of mine who had moved to the Portland area right before I was transferred to Seattle from Alaska.  A guy friend.  

I saw a ring that looked just like my ring in the correct size on CL in a Portland suburb.  I feel disillusioned.  The said Alaska/Portland friend still lives in the Portland area.  In the same suburb.  The said friend had been up visiting for a weekend about the time my ring came up missing.  He knew how much it meant to me.  

 

Just one of the photos from the CL ad

When CP and I got involved, said friend distanced himself for a while, then tried to push himself back into my life later on, in a fucktastically innapropriate way that pushed at my boundaries and morals.  I didn’t relent on either.  After all, said friend had the opportunity to date me before and chose to let that chance pass him by.  For the last several months, I’ve really distanced myself from the said friend as the friendship became uncomfortable.

Coincidence that a ring that looks just like mine, in the same size, would show up in the same Portland suburb area said friend lives?  I’m not making an accusation here.  I’m just feeling disillusioned.

Monday Morning Meme

 

January 19th Questions:

1. You have just been hired to clean your own home, what is your first complaint?

Man!  That’s one hairy dog!  This place needs to be vacuumed more during shedding season!  That, or just shave all the pets!

2. Are you able to ignore a ringing telephone? How often do you allow a ringing phone to go to voice mail? Do you answer your cell phone, out in public, every time it rings? Or do you silence it and get back to it when you’re in a more private area? How often would you say you’re on your home phone? Your cell phone? Do you like talking on the phone or do you view it as a necessary communication tool?

I answer when I feel like it, I don’t when I don’t.  I like talking on the phone, but there are times I don’t feel like it or I’m busy trying to get something done.  The two exceptions to this is when Dude’s school or Tasha from the barn calls.  They have a ring tone all their own so that I won’t ignore that call.  You never know when it’ll be an emergency.

3. When did you last go for a bike ride? Do you own a bike? Do you encourage your children to ride bikes? Given the most popular New Year’s resolution of losing weight, would you consider putting bicycle riding as one of your exercise options? Why or why not?

The last time I went for a bike ride was when I was 14.  I haven’t owned a bike since and horses were more fun to ride anyways.  CP’s ex, the Disney Princess, has a bike stored in our garage (long story, part of the divorce agreement) that she’s apparently forgotten about.  It needs new tires and tubes.  I could consider it “mine” now, but I find bicycle rides uncomfortable with my hip/spinal arthritis.  The seat just puts pressure on the wrong spots!

All three kids have bikes.  Dude seems to be the only one who truly loves riding his though.

4. If you had to name a smell that always makes you nostalgic, what would it be? What sorts of memories does the smell evoke?

Motor oil reminds me of hanging out with my dad in the garage while he worked on vehicles when I was little.  It’s one of the few happy memories I have of him.

Something Old Made New Again: The Farmer In The Dell

 

Dude, CP and Doodle at the beach '07

(originally, this post was wrote in June of ‘07) 

My step-daughter, Doodle, is a kindergartener at a private Adventist school locally. My husband is a former Adventist and Doodle’s mother is a practicing Adventist.

For those of you who don’t know, 7th Day Adventists tend to be pacifistic. They are vegetarian as well. The church and schools teach conflict avoidance versus conflict resolution.

I frequently pick Doodle up from school. And recently, we had an interesting time on our way home. Doodle decided to sing to me. She sang me “The Farmer In The Dell” as they had just sang that in class.

(In my best Doodle impersonation)

“The famer in the dell,

The farmer in the dell,

Hi-ho the merry-o!

the farmer in the dell!

The farmer CHOKES his wife,

The farmer CHOKES his wife!”…

(me) “Wait! What did you say, Doodle?”

(Doodle) “The farmer CHOKES his wife!”

(me) “Don’t you mean, the farmer takes a wife?”

(Doodle) “No, the farmer chokes his wife. That’s what my school taught me.”

(me) “Honey, the farmer takes a wife. We don’t choke people. It’s not nice. You see, the farmer TAKES a wife. He didn’t have one before. And the cat TAKES the rat, the rat TAKES the cheese…”

(Doodle) “Oh, well, I just want to sing it the way my school taught me!”

Later that evening after my husband, the Corporate Prince, got home I told him about Doodle’s version of the song. He said, “But that’s how it goes!” I quickly straightened him out and informed him of the correct words. However,that’s how he learned the song when he went to a private Adventist School growing up. My reaction was of disbelief. What are they teaching her? Actually, I believe my exact words were, “What are you people teaching her!! That it’s ok for farmers to choke their wives??” We laughed over the mistake. More, we laughed over the image of quiet, gentle 5 yr old Doodle belting out the tune her way.

A few days later at a school function, we ran into Doodle’s mom, Disney Princess. Once again the story was repeated. To my horror, Disney Princess said, “But those are the words!” and started singing it. Disney Princess had attended private Adventist school as well. Once again, I asked, “What are you people teaching her!” CP corrected the words for her and we all had a good laugh over the mistake.

Doodle has since started singing the song with the correct words. I’m happy to report that the farmer no longer chokes his wife. That is, unless, we need a good laugh!

Kids… Gotta love ‘em!

 

Cha-cha-changes!

You may have noticed, I’ve made a few changes here to my blog.  I’ve added a few things, new links and am working on snazzy-ing it up.

As you may have also noticed, I’m now renting out my blog to anyone about anything who can’t post it to their own blog for whatever reason or maybe doesn’t have a blog to post it to.  Or, maybe you need to get things off your chest or talk about deep subjects without fear of reprisal.  Well, you can do that here.  Anonymously too, if you like.  No one has to know it was you, ever.  Your secret is safe with me.  These blogs will be titled “This Space for Rent”.  If you’re interested in this, please contact me at oregonsunshine21@gmail.com.

While you’re at it, you can always contact me there for anything else too!

I’m hoping to have guest bloggers from time to time.  I might decide to go on a trip.  I might not have anything to talk about.  I might have run out of unpublished posts.  One never knows.  Besides, we all need a break from time to time!  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please contact me at the above email.

Starting next Friday, I plan on blogging about other blogs and bloggers from around  the Blogoverse.  Yep!  That’s right!  You could be featured on my Friday blog!   I plan on searching out new, informative and entertaining blogs for us all to sample!   After all, there really is more to life than just horses.  (Gasp!  Did I really just say that?!)

I’ve also been considering writing about a subject near and dear to my heart.  Pet training and animal behavior.  It’s always been my life’s goal to teach responsible pet ownership.  I started towards this goal as an in-home obedience trainer in Alaska.  I also worked with a couple rescues to help insure successful placements of adopted pets.  I have dreams of becoming a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers in the next couple years.  Basically, it’s like having a college degree.  Not exactly necessary to have one, but you garner more respect from people if you do.  I’d love to share my knowledge and learn from you guys as well.  What do you think?

I have a few other things up my sleeve as well.  So stay tuned!

 

P.S.  Did you know that I usually respond to comments left for me?  I reply to the comment in it’s comment box in bold.

What Really Happens At the Pound

 

My beloved Shayla, who came from the pound herself. Unfortunately, due to joblessness and a couple months of homelessness, Shayla had to be rehomed through Australian Shepherd Rescue and Placement Helpline. She now lives in the Ketchikan with a new family. Yes, she is 3-legged.

 

 

What really happens at the pound…from the Bend Craigslist.

Reply to: see below

Date: 2007-05-18, 12:29PM PDT

I am posting this (and it is long) because I think our society needs a huge wake-up call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all – a view from the inside, if you will.

Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know – that puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore. How would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at – purebred or not!

About 50% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays” that come into my shelter are purebred dogs. The most common excuses I hear are:

We are moving and we can’t take our dog (or cat). Really? Where are you moving to that doesn’t allow pets? The dog got bigger than we thought it would. How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? We don’t have time for her. Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! She’s tearing up our yard. How about bringing her inside, making her a part of your family?

They always tell me, “We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her. We know she’ll get adopted – she’s a good dog”. Odds are your pet won’t get adopted, and how stressful do you think being in a shelter is?

Your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off, sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run / kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers that day to take him / her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.

If your dog is big, black or any of the “bully” breeds (pit bull, rottweiler, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don’t get adopted. If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed.

If the shelter isn’t full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed, it may get a stay of execution, though not for long.

Most pets get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles, chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don’t have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”. First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk – happy, wagging their tails. That is, until they get to “The Room”, when every one of them freaks out and puts on the breaks when we get to the door. It must smell like death, or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there. It’s strange, but it happens with every one of them.

Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs (depending on their size and how freaked out they are). A euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the “pink stuff”.

Hopefully your pet doesn’t panic from being restrained and jerk it’s leg. I’ve seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood, and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don’t just “go to sleep” – sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pet’s corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back, with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You’ll never know, and it probably won’t even cross your mind. It was just an animal, and you can always buy another one, right?I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can’t get the pictures out of your head. I do everyday on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists and I hate that it will always be there unless people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this is DON’T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE! Hate me if you want to – the truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one person’s mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say “I saw this thing on craigslist and it made me want to adopt”. That would make it all worth it. I will add to this: If you think you might not want to keep your pet for it’s ENTIRE LIFE, then, for heaven’s sake, DON’T GET ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE