Memorial Day weekend

I showed up to help my Mom with her garage sale and she put me to work right away. What she really needed help with was labeling whose is whose. My sister and I give Mom our junk instead of throwing it in the garbage since she desires to help us get rid of it. She hates us throwing away good stuff. I labeled items until Mom started to sweat too much and quit. Even though she is past menopause she still has hot flashes. Precious had to investigate ever corner and ended up covered in dust. Mom laughed how we need her to visit more often to clean under the furniture. Once I found a dead bug on her tail.

Next came supper. I took the cat outside to keep her off the supper table as Mom asked me to do. Yeah, try keeping a curious cat from being curious. We were outside for almost an hour when I desired to go back in. She got away once when she climbed into some bushes and I had to let go of the leash. After calling her several times, she peeked her head out from around the shed and I told her she was a bad kitty, as if it had any effect.

The next day we went to the cemeteries and left flowers. One cemetery has so many relatives I joke we need a flower shop to cover all the people. We place flowers at the more direct ancestors and let the distant cousins cover the brothers and sisters of our ancestors. I insisted so many times to place a flower on the baby graves that Mom does it automatically. I say babies deserve flowers too. Dad actually went with us to his side of the family cemeteries. He never came before. Mom said since Grandma died, he puts out more effort. I asked if they decided on any burial plans. Yes and no. They decided to be buried where Grandpa bought spaces when he got his and Grandma's grave spot. The tombstone itself is still in dispute, Mom wants hearts and Dad wants trains and barns etched on. Mom doesn't want anyone to know she grew up on a farm, that part of her life does not exist anymore. Dad has said Mom played a trick on him when they got married: He thought he was getting a down to earth farmer's daughter, but what he got was Eva Gabor in Green Acres. Dad doesn't want hearts because people will think he is a sissy.

After supper, the cat fell in the toliet. Dad said not to worry about the cat drowning, she jumped right out when her paws got wet. She likes to lay on the windowsill by the toliet.

We had a visitor to the house and Mom tried to not let the cat out. We happily explained the cat was mine, not theirs.

Now we are back home again and Precious took a nap. I watched Dr. Phil on superficial people. I met many of those people. It made me think if I'm ugly cause I don't get a lot of attention or eye contact from people, unless I'm the sales clerk and they are the customer. I noticed one guy I met through online dating never spoke to me after I posted my photo. Then guys at bars completely ignore me, but notice my friends. I also get a lot of weird stares from women when I wear make-up that make me wonder what they are thinking. People at work assure me that I'm not ugly, I'm just not Pamela Anderson or Paris Hilton. Oh well, I'm accustomed to being alone. That's why I have a cat to love and cuddle. Post later. Bye!

Cleaning

This morning I cleaned my floors before work. My Precious hated the vaccum and even hissed at it. She also attacked the broom. I used my quick drying Swiffer mop on my kitchen and bathroom floors. Precious stayed off the slick surface fairly well until it dried. There was no pet warning on the label like my Mr. Clean floor wipes that came with the shower cleaning wipes. Mr. Clean shower wipes are dry and require water to use, then require rinsing off. That should keep Precious from licking the cleaner. Does anyone make pet safe cleaners? With open air rooms without doorways, it is very hard to put up gates to keep pets from entering, plus cats can jump over them or squeeze throguh the bars too. Just a thought.

Tomorrow I visit my Mom's house to help her get ready for the town-wide garage sale she organizes every year. I can forget relazing at her house. I hope Precious is safe there, it is not exactly cat-proofed. Plus they have a bad habit of forgetting to put down the toliet lid to keep a cat from drinking out of it. I don't want my kitty to drown either. Then my parents don't always flush after each use. Old people can be so strange sometimes. Post later. Bye!

Cat puke

My kitty had her 1st puke today, in 6 places so far. Post later. Bye!

1st walk

We had our 1st walk today. I received my Petco package today. I got some cat milk for all age of cat to keep her out of my milk. This milk doesn't go into the fridge unitl opened and has 98% of the lactose removed for better cat digestion.

I wrestled with the Precious to get the harness on her. I had to loosen it to slip it over her head so when we went outside, it was loose. I tried to tighten it up with her biting me. Got it in a ok position and she loves rolling it the grass and chewing on her new toy. Finally her paw was tangled in the strap, when tightening it overlaps and her paw went through the overlap, and so I took her inside to take it off her. Then she meows by the door. 1/2 hour is enough walk for me. I gave her treats for her good behavior outdoors. Post later. Bye!

Bad kitty

I was listening to music late tonight with my headphones so I don't disturb my neighbor's sleep. Kitty thought the wires were a toy and chewed through them and knocked out my music enjoyment. Bad kitty. Post later. Bye!

What a day!!!!

Today I started volunteering at an animal shelter, yesterday was training day. I plan to volunteer from 2 to 6 P.M., stop over at my apartment, grab laundry and my kitty, and off to my sister's house for our play date. Sounds easy, right?

Here's what actually happened. My sister calls an hour before I leave from her cell phone, so I naturally I don't recognize the # on the caller ID. She begs me in the answering machine to pick up the phone because of an emergency. I need to pick up her kid from the babysitter, if her husband hasn't the time to. She calls back saying her husband can pick up my niece, but I need to babysit so she can stay late at work. Sure, I say, no problem.

Get ready for the animal shelter and make it about 1:30. Play with the sleepy cats and hold a greyhound's leash so his kennel can be cleaned. Jumping up on his hind leags, this dog is bigger than me. I take him around and he goes back in the kennel. Back to the docile cats. One is a bit more dominant of my atention, even hissing at others trying to approach me for petting. They lose interest or hide under a box.
I go to the kittens. They are all sleeping. One is out of the cat condo so I pet him as he sleeps. I want this cat so badly for Precious to play with. But I must see if I can afford Precious first.

Cats in sleep mode, I separate newspapers for the kennels. I have to remember to tell my sister to save her newspapers. Time for me to go apparoaches. I finish the paper load and leave at 3:05. I get home, change clothes, and realize the shelter keys are in my pocket. Grab laundry and Precious to rush back to the shelter. No one is present so I leave the keys visible on the desk and hope no passer-by steals them. Precious is panting in the hot car, I thought only dogs did that. We are on our way.

Get to my sister's house and my brother-in-law comments how cute and little she is. He gets my niece and I start laundry. No hug for Daddy as he leaves for work from my niece, she wants to toss balls for Precious. We give the cats treats, but Precious doesn't want any. We play, change a diaper, eat graham crackers, and cook supper. Folding laundry downstairs, the hamburgers burn and set off the smoke alarm. Open window to stop alarm. My niece doesn't want to eat anything, but drinks all her juice. We decide to go for a walk.

We look for her shoes to find all the hallway doors are shut. Opening them, we find Precious trapped in the bathroom. I have no idea how long she was in there. She is shaking and cuddling up to me. My niece says she is sorry to Precious. We finally go in our walk. Chase Precious twice because my niece refuses to walk out the door with Precious so close to her, she must be carried outside. Chase Precious a third time and decide to exit out of the screen door. Precious voices her objection to be left behind inside loudly. We walk down the street and watch for my sister arriving any minute. Wave to a neighbor.

Sister comes home to a delighted girl. She waters her plants and I chase Precious a fourth time while returning back inside to quiet the kitty. My niece and sister are still outside so she continues to meow. Finish laundry. Play with niece, change diaper again, play with Precious, and read books. 9:00 comes so we say our good-byes. Precious is pooped. She slept while I hung up my clohtes and frantically looking for my museum shirt. I recall washing it and folding it, but now can't find it. I email sister to see if I left it there. I have to buy a new one if I she can't find it.

Kitty woke up While I was cleaning her litterbox and stepped outside onto the balcony. We played with her new toy mice and now she is back to sleeping behind my computer, that is after walking across the keyboard and erasing everything just I typed so I have to type this entry again. Good night, Precious. Post later. Bye!

It's a miracle

Today my parents came over to drop off an old free chair they got from somebody they knew for my dining room table. It is an office chair. While we were talking and kitty sniffing the intruders, Mom actually wanted to pet my kitty. She hates all animals, big and small. Miracles do happened after all. I don't recall her petting my sister's cats much. She petted Precious several times, as did Dad. I was so happy. My sister and I are breaking her down. Post later. Bye!

Surprises

We received free strawberries today. A gal from the car rental next door
bought some pineapple and strawberries on sale, and then gets canker sores.
I don't really care for strawberries, too many seeds.

Next came a former coworker with jewelry he and his mother had made. I bought a necklace for Mama's birthday in July for $20. I asked if he had a ebay account. No, he said. He really should. It is very nice. We caught up to each other.

Another surprise I received today was the bossman walking in to bring me
keys while I was watching the original Nutty Professor with Jerry Lewis on
my DVD player. He said he only had seen the remake. If he didn't know we
were watching movies while working before, he knows now. I was under the
impression he did give permission a while ago, but then my coworkers
instruct me to keep it a secret from him. They said the less the boss knows
the better (though a company is paid to read our company emails). He said he
would leave me and Jerry alone now when he said good-bye for the night. He
is so funny. Post later. Bye!

Wet paint

We have people painting the trim on the apartment buildings today. I can't let kitty go out onto the balcony today. That's ok. She's having fun watching the wasps between the glass doors. For a while she was watching the painters. Post later. Bye!

Another coworker gone

We lost another coworker this week. He left in the middle of his shift because he was sick and tired of a certain guy talking on his cell phone all day. The manager had to call him to ask if he quit. Yeah, he quit. He spoke to the bossman in his office the next day. He had a few things to get off his chest. The bossman was not too pleased at him leaving his staff hanging. It was an immature way of handling things.

A mature person leaves a 2 week notice before leaving for another job. This kid doesn't even have another job lined up. His mom said he doesn't know what he wants to do. She told him to complain to the bossman about their mean jokes and 4-hour disappearances, but he didn't want to ruffle any feathers since he was the new kid.

I had my share of upsets with coworkers and pretty much ruffled a lot of feathers on lazy coworkers. I discovered "Don't make me call the boss" only needs to be said once. Whatever, I don't care if I'm not Miss Popular with people who want to get paid for doing nothing while I do all the work. They aren't doing me any favors. Post later. Bye!

Vet visit

We had another round of shots today. Another distemper and a new leukemia shot. My kitty gave a new vet assistant her 1st bite, a playful bite. This one shot made a loud pop causing my Precious to jump. They warned me she would slow down today. She has been sleeping since we came back. It is amazing how little she meows now in the car. I mentioned our play dates with my sister's cats and yesterday she didn't make a peep on the ride home. Strange kitty. Though on a better note, my niece petted Precious for the 1st time. She was napping and I was petting her asleep. My niece cautiously came up and started to pet her. It was so adorable. Though my niece's yogurt snack was ruined by Precious jumping on her lap and helping her eat her food. I tried to hold her back, but she just kept jumping up on the couch. On the way home from the vet, there was a traffic hold up at a 4-way stop sign because an ambulance was busy carrying someone out of a house. I doubt it made the news, but then I was watching a movie when the news came on tonight. Some nights I just don't want to hear about more bombs exploding and more dozens killed. Is there anything else happening in the world tonight? Post later. Bye!

PS. Precious says Meow to you.

freaky email

I just received an email from my sister explaining a new way to rob people. I wonder who invented this way; no gun, no knife, nor stun gun used? People wait for women in parking lots and ask you about perfume. They say they have perfume samples on paper and offer name brand scents at reasonable prices. The perfume samples are really ether samples. If you have seen in movies where a villian puts a rag up against a guard's mouth and the guard falls over unconscious, that is what is happening here. When the women (or even men with cologne samples) pass out, everything in their pockets and purse are removed and the thieves magically disappear into another parking lot. So please be careful when offered name brand perfume at cheap prices. Post later. Bye!

One size fit all?

I went shopping for shorts earlier and now it is finally warm enough to wear them. I must ask if designers presume we women are the same height. Now, there are 2 styles of shorts available: Daisy Dukes and Capri Pants. Forgive me for not wearing Daisy Dukes to answer the question: panties or thong.

My point is: When I buy jeans at certain discount stores they are 6 inches too long so I must shop at the more expensive department stores to find jeans that meet my ankle exactly. Furthermore, when I buy Capri Pants anywhere they meet my ankle instead of just below the knee. Finally, the one style of knee-length shorts I can manage to find meets where Capri Pants are suppose to land. Does that make any sense to you? I noticed when inspecting jeans that as the size goes up the waist gets bigger, but the inseam fails to get longer. Post later. Bye!

Free food denied

I don't believe this. I brought to work food from my niece's graduation
party and hardly anyone is hungry. At least I'm down to 4 pieces of cake
from 9 and got rid of the Kool-Aid packets. I tell people to feel free to
spread the word, but apparently they are not unless they are holding cake in
their hand. Even the guys I work with don't want a speck of food and they
never pass up on free food. What is wrong with them? Post later. Bye!

Graduation Day

Yesterday was my niece's graduation day from high school. She made a little speech
about the consolidation of her old school and new school, so she had 2 1st days of school. Her message for her classmates was, Believe in yourself. She won several scholarships and awards for college. Afterwards, we went to her father's classroom on the 3rd floor. K-12 is all in one building, several grades to each floor. Her class was 28 students. My baby niece sat in a chair and I said, Looks like she's is ready for school to start. Wehn we came back down the receiving line for the graduates was shorter so we shook hands with all the graduates and hugged my niece. When I came home, my kitty badly needed attention before I could take off mycoat. Poor thing by herself for so long. My friend left a note stating they had fun playing with the kitty and the 1st day took her outside, but not the 2nd day. Now I have to get ready for work. Post later. Bye!

Oh my

Today I saw an obituary for a stillborn baby, complete with photo. it was so sad so look at a photo of a dead baby with its eyes closed wearing overalls and shirt outfit. Why would anyone put that in a paper? Post later. Bye!

In the news

Today I read about a Connect Four Tournament taking place here in Des
Moines. I asked my coworkers if they knew that. No, they did not. I was
asked if I knew a car rental agent won the a Rock, Paper, Scissors Contest
and will be going to Las Vegas to play in the Nationals. No, I did not know
that. Post later. Bye!

Interesting wake up call

This morning I wake up and here comes kitty in my face. This time when she licked the Blistex off my lips, she starts sucking my upper lip, like she is sucking a nipple. Perhaps she was dreaming of mama cat. She kneaded her paws on my cheeks. Again, when I take out the grabage, she won't get back in the apartment. I toss her back in to have her run out before I reach the door. Bad kitty. She jumped up on my keyboard and messed everything up. She is napping behind it right now. I can't open the balcony door because it is too cold. Poor kitty wants to go out. better go before kitty jumps on the keyboard again. 3 keys are ready to come off from her claws resisting being removed from the keyboard. Post later. Bye!

!st day

Today was my 1st day at voulunteering at the musuem. They were excited to meet me, someone with college education in Native American studies and capable of talking to people. I explained my sales clerk and car rental jobs where I have to talk to people. My strategy is, Keep Talking. I guess few who volunteer know their history.

I came home to an eager cat ready to go outside and watch the rush hour traffic. Then the rain clouds came in and we went back inside. Better go, kitty wants to play. Post later. Bye!

Separation issues

My Precious is having separation issues with me. Yesterday as I prepred to leave for my sister's house with my laundry, the kitty will not say good-bye. She jumps onto the laundry basket, and then runs out into the hallway. She came back for treats, sniffed them, and ran back out. And I had to get going. Well I tried to threaten her by getiing out the cat carrier she hates from our trip to the vet. If she wanted to come with me she had to get int it.contrary to normal cat behavior (thye travel badly), that bugger jumps into the carrier. So away we go.

My sister's 2 adult cats sniffed the visitor in her carrier. I didn't dare take her out until I felt the other cats accepted her presence. I took her downstairs to the guestroom and let her out. My niece had to follow her around the basement calling her name. She didn't wish to pet her though.

We took a trip outside and Preciosu ran away. I got her back, she is attached to me you know. She played a little with the larger cat who was more curious than trheatened, Precious got a bop in the head by the cat. But the smaller cat hissed and I jumped in to take Precious downstairs again. The larger cat is usually the agressive one. My sister thinks her is more secure about being the dominate cat. I could Precious felt intimidated by her. My sister her a couple times and my niece threw a ball Precious loved to bat around. She was less scared of the older cats by now since I was there to rescue her if they should attack (I read you should never leave strange cats alone with each other, anything can happen when you step away). My niece wanted me to read books to her, but I had to watch the cat. We did play with Play-Doh while the kitty was shut up in the guestroom after a near cat fight.

Finally we said our good-byes and went home. Poor Precious was hungry, thoguh she did some litterbox business at the house once I cleaned out the other cats' poop. Now I leave for my volunteering and Precious wants to play. I may have to give up my volunteering to spend more time with Precious. Post later. Bye!

Friends with Money

I went to see the new Jennifer Aniston movie Friends with Money. I struggled so hard to stay awake and pay attention. I do have to ask what exactly is the plot of the story. A lot of things made no sense. Let's see: Olivia, a gal who apparently loves money, has friends with money, drops a job at a wealthy high school to become a maid cleaning rich people's homes, becomes so poor she travels store to store to get free samples of expensive face cream, smokes pot (this teacher must have missed the DARE program), dates bums, then wants to make more money by training to be a personal trainer (whom rich people hire), and steals a jar of her precious face cream from a customer to use on her feet. Is that the plot? At the end, one of her bum customers asks her out and they go to a charity fundraiser with her friends and POW!, he is an heir to a fortune. I could tell her interest sparked up after he said he is rich, but what if he was lying since she loves money. Though I do have to ask that if Olivia loves money so much, why doesn't she get a job that pays a lot of money or try to marry a millionaire? This "Woe Is Me" attitude she has lacks an intriquing nature to stay on the end of my seat wondering what will happen next. The Nanny Diaries was better than this (that is a book). The End. Post later. Bye!

Adventure for the day

My coworker came into work and asked What's Up. I replied, My kitty pooped on the floor and it smelled really bad. At least she did it on the linoleum instead of the carpet. Guess she thought the litterbox as full. That will teach me not to sleep in. Post later. Bye!

Wrestling with kitty

I had to give some medicine to my kitten today. It was in a syringe (not a needle syringe, but large opening). I wrestled with the cat for 5 minutes trying to get it in in her mouth. I got the medicine on my pants and her fur, but after 5 minutes of trying to hold her down I opened her jaw and squirted it in. She made an awful face and smacked her lips as if saying, My what awful stuff. I gave her some tuna to wash it down with, but she wouldn't come near me. She arched her back and hairs stuck staright up. I left it on the floor and eventually she came around to eat it up. Poor kitty. Post later. Bye!

Funny people

Naturally as a proud aunt I had to share at work my niece's graduation news,
thus informing why I will be missing next week. A few asked which school she
attends, so I brought in the invitation to show-and-tell because her school
name is 6 words long and hard to remember. A couple guys misinterpreted my
proud aunt news and were ready to party hard at her reception (They were
thinking she lives in Des Moines and having a keg party at their house all
day and night). I replied, Why would I invite you to my niece's graduation,
in another state? At least everybody else got that I was just sharing good
news. Besides, her reception takes place in a nearby church so there will be
no rowdy drunken graduation party for my niece. Post later. Bye!

Silent rebellion

I noticed ever since the state legislature made English the official language for Iowa's government documents a few years ago that more public signs and labels appear in Spanish. Kitchen towels, shoe cleaner, bank signs stating their check cashing policy, and directions on my Sudoku puzzle book all have Spanish translations next to the English words. Is this a silent rebellion against conformity? The news anchor on TV even wished everyone a Happy Cinco de Mayo today. I live in an amazing world. Post later. Bye!

Jealous aunt

I am trying very hard not to be the jealous aunt of my oldest niece graduating high school next week and be a mature adult. She is having dinner at her boyfriend's house the day I arrive and is her class's Salutorian. Lucky girl. And I just got a new kitten since I can't find a man willing to go out with me and can't afford to adopt a child on my own. Plus I have been trying for a year and a half to get a book published. My life really sucks sometimes.

But then my niece gets jealous of me because I can do whatever I want with the money I earn and answer to no one, and I have a new kitten. Post later. Bye!

Odd happenings

I received a strange letter from my bank. I have been given as a gift for my
longstanding account with the bank, Overdraft Protection for free. It was
explained that it is not a line of credit, but a privilege where I can
overdraft a check and they will refill my account up to $1000 to pay off the
bounced check. Each overdraft transaction costs a fee charged to my account.

I guess I should explain that my account earns interest so I am charged a
fee if I go under a certain amount in my account. Taken that into
consideration, What do I need overdraft protection for, to get charged 2
fees for bouncing a check instead of the normal 3 fees?! Post later. Bye!

My cat is a dog

My cat in some ways behaves like a dog. She chews on my shoes and has chased her tail a couple times. Today she meowed to go outside onto the balcony. Other than those things, she is a normal cat. Post later. Bye!

Flying kitten

My kitten has learned to fly. She flies off her perch, the sofa, the chair, and when she is chasing the mouse on a string. She often somsersaults while attacking the mouse on a string too. I heard my neighbors today underneath me, unless it was the cleaning crew. Hopefully her scampering across the floor won't disturb them. If it does, it will be really hard to explain to my kitten that she must stop being a cat because the neighbor below can't stand any noise. That's apartment life. I paid part of my pet deposit today when I renewed my lease for another year. They allow me to pay it over 3 months, $100 each month. On a better note, my Precious is getting more affectionate. This morning I got a fur coat up my nose and she let me scratch her ears. Her nose has changed color from black to brown. Post later. Bye!

Gift cetificate

Secretaries Day is a day of appreciation for bosses to acknowledge their
office workers. Now calendars call it Administration Professionals Day, but
to us workers it is still Secretaries Day. The car rental next door received
a small bouquet of yellow lilies in a tiny vase from their city manager for
the holiday gift. My boss used to only give presents to the counter agents,
excluding the car cleaners, but in the past few years changed it to Employee
Appreciation Day and everybody gets a gift certificate. I don't think any of
the other car rentals receive gifts from their bosses. What a pity. Post
later. Bye!

Adventure

I had adventure this morning. My kitty got up on the lamp sitting on my nightstand and it fell over. I caught the glass lamp and the kitty hit the floor. She was shaken but not injured. I petted her and she calmed down. Then as my kitty slept on my pillow, she rolled over and plopped onto the bed. Good thing I was right next to it and she snuggled against me. She is learning furniture and pillows have edges. She constantly falls off the couch when she is playing. Post later. Bye!