Sunday, July 31, 2011

Advocating for animals

I advocate animals on this webpage Pet Pardons to bring awareness that perfectly good pets are being killed every day. So if any of them wish to get a pet, please get one out of their nearby shelters and rescues. Save a life.

Today, I notice the Pet Pardons comments section isn't available. I wonder b/c readers leave nasty messages calling owners who surrender their pets at high kill shelters pieces of garbage, etc. How do we know these people aren't jobless, foreclosed, evicted, and now homeless? Or their home was burned, their owners died, or paycheck cut so can't afford to take of them. Would it better for the animal to be left in a ditch to be hit by a car or abandoned in their empty foreclosed house to starve to death? These people care enough about their beloved pets to take them to the shelter nearest to them (high kill or low kill).

If these people are so passionate to write nasty messages, then help find new owners or rescues for the pets on death row instead cursing the former owners. Start you own rescue group like Pet Pardons founder did.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Time w/niece

Suggested bowling as a fun activity for out of state teen niece staying at my sister's house. Sister wasn't sure, niece is very lukewarm about an activity available (granted there are not a lot of things to do here in the first place). I make her ask her anyway. Niece would like do that. Younger niece and nephew never been to a bowling alley before, but have enjoyed kid multi-colored pins w/plastic ball at my place.

Ok, first problem is little kids don't want to change their shoes. They must otherwise the floor gets scratched up. They don't care if the whole floor is scratched up by their sneakers. Yes I know that, but the bowling alley people do care so take the shoes off. Next, they cry cause shoelaces are tied together and have knots along the laces (Untied the laces and don't worry about the knots). Niece's shoelace is broken so one is longer than the other (I tie her shoes and double tie when she whines she will trip on the long lace). Ok, next problem. Niece wants a pink ball. The kid balls are orange, pink ones are way too heavy. Orange ball too heavy so want pink ball that is 4 pounds heavier. Both complain the ball is too heavy, but brother-in-law shows them how to toss it. (We are not playing volleyball here so ball can be a little heavy). I show how to toss it holding w/both hands and swing between straddled legs (the kid way). Well, brother-in-law didn't want to teach that way. OK. But when their arm got tired, we told them to use both hands. I haven't had lunch so I get a drink and cheesesticks w/fries. Nephew is thirsty and hungry. He just ate so his Daddy will have to pay for it (I'm not their Genie who grants all wishes). Daddy isn't buying anything cause they just ate. At the end when my refill needed to disappear I let the kids finish it.

Ok, so we start to bowl and the kids have so much fun bowling w/bumpers (wish they had bumpers when I was young). When kids were pooped, we took turns bowling for them. I even grabbed the kids ball and bowled the kids way described above making the kids laugh. Sometimes we just need a laugh. So when 2 games were over, kids got over being tired. Too late, game over.

Next, we go home so brother-in-law can mow the lawn before it rains. So we sit and talk to my sick sister. Kids have to cuddle with her. Brother-in-law got out popicles and niece wanted to eat hers while laying on top of Mommy. Sister didn't want a popicle dripping on her so had to eat it in the kitchen. Niece doesn't feel well so stays home while the rest of us go to the amusement. If it was up to nephew, we would stay on one ride all day. But we make him get off after 2 turns. Ride things until park closed and went home soaking wet. I had to go grocery shopping afterwards so walked through the store very cold and wet. Then went to bed so could get up early for work today. Tomorrow is family reunion.   

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Harry Potter

Saw the very last Harry Potter and better than I expected. Though the special effect of destroying the horcruxes and Voldemort/Harry reaction to that event were not in the prior film. Continuity is nice to have or it confuses the audience.

Then I come home and get on my computer to become seriously PO'ed. A cat I have been advocating on a rescue site had died from her her illness in her cage. $400 had been raised by the site for her treatment the animal shelter she was in refused to give her. A rescue group was readying to take posession of her and another cat with a broken jaw and she was minutes away from seeing a vet, when she was found dead. Poor cat died in pain and alone.

It infuriates me that animal shelters that adopt to the public are allowed to refuse treatment of animals in their care and rather just kill them when people are bending over backwards trying to save them. Oh yes, got a message how a couple kittens were killed at another shelter b/c their shelter didn't treat respiratory infections. 2 other messages stated how 2 separate litters of kittens were killed b/c the rescuer was a hour late both times. Why do animal shelters not have to follow the same rules as livestock owners, zoos, chicken and egg producers, and now, puppy mills? And why are so many shelter workers eager to kill helpless animals.   

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Car fixed

Picked up the car today. Wires fixed, gas cap replaced. Yeah, the missing gas cap was allowing air in the gas tank and lessening the pressure that set off the check engine light. That will teach me not to get gas when having a busy day leading me to drive off with gas cap on the trunk.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Check engine light

Take car in from "Check engine light" being on. Wire is out so can't do the diagnostic required to find out why light is in. Must check wires in dashboard to find bad wire. After 2 hours, they give me a loaner car and they will continue tomorrow figuring out my car. I liked cars better w/out microship sensors and diagnostic checks.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Amusement of the day

Today at my retail store, a young boy (about 7) in the Intimates section was rubbing the bosoms of a mannequin. His mother made him stop to our amusement at his reaction suddenly pulling his hands off the mannequin.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Working my day off

Worked my day off again (3rd time this week so getting a good paycheck). Talked to an intern again as he was bored with nothing to do. He asked what music I like to listen to. My reply: Classic rock, you know stuff that was written before you born. I just aged myself in that statement.

Heard a story of a 20ish girl stealing a pair of shoes (among other things). She set off the alarm at the door, ran outside, and jumped into a waiting car. Bet the driver was her mother. A coworker ran out after her, but too late. Nothing we can do about it now.

New girl never counted a register before and asked if she should since I was counting my register. Well, she had 4 minutes left on her shift and didn't know what to do. I did it instead. 4 minutes was not enough time to train her on that. It is unnecessary to stay after her shift for that (managers also count down registers if not done by closing cashier).

Nothing else to talk about.  

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Another day, another dollar

Customer: Why did I bring these kids shopping with me? (preteen girl and preteen boy)
Me: So they don't burn the house down.

Another day, another dollar in my pocket (well, at the end of the week). The heat here is so intense streets are buckling. Minnesota, Louisana, and here in Iowa. The asphalt explodes suddenly and causes traffic jams of people slowly rolling over the raised asphalt like a speed bump.

Tomorrow another work contest ends. I'm the frontrunner so hope I don't get bumped out of place. I need the money. I even volunteered to work 7 days in a row out of need for money (and even with this money I will still beg Mom for more money). I need another job but nobody hires full time anymore. I need a huge raise but that won't be happening. I know, be grateful I have a job at all. I am grateful, I just can't survive on what they are willing to pay me and then they hire more people instead of giving the present workers more hours. That's all.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Catsitting

Visited sister's cat today. Sister left an email for me to do this at 2 AM on the day they left. I didn't read this message until 5 PM. Excuse me? What if I said no? Of course I always say, I'm so easy to take for granted.

SO went over today and pulled the garbage cans from the driveway. I would like to park in it someday. A lady comes up the sidewalk and asks me for help w/her car. She wants me to lift the hood for her so she can change the car battery (old lady can change a car battery but not lift the hood?) Of course I say yes, this is Iowa not New York. I figure her house is across the street so why not. NO, it is a block and half down. I asked if she walked all this way to find me (stranger moving garbage cans). Yes, she said. My new shoes are cutting into my ankle at this point. Can't figure out how to lift the hood. Sorry, I tried, I explain and leave. Neighbor said lady had trouble opening her garage door and she helped her with that. I explain she needed more help with her hood. Neighbor rolls her eyes.

So walked back to sister's house. Pet sister's cat hiding under the coffee table. Tried to play but cat laid down and stare at me. Changed water, more food, and scooped the poop. Then go home. Ah, air conditioning. Then check messages and sister left one asking to water her plants too. I think the plants can handle a couple days w/out watering.

Even better, sister calls to make sure I got all my messages and tells me she watered the plants the day before they left. So please explain why she called me to water her plants if she already did it. I have a weird sister.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Terror in the store

Shoppers got terrorized in my store by 3 boys running amok. Lady had a 4th child in a baby backpack. Displays knocked over and shoppers crashed into. 1 or more screamed so loud the whole store could hear him. 1 customer commented how it sounded like someone being murdered. 1 boy ran w/stroller and tripped. Coworker told him to slow down b/c she didn't want him to hurt. He replied he was looking for his shoes. Another boy stood in front of the automatic door watching it open and close. When closed, he pounded his hands on it. I just hoped he wouldn't run outside when my back was turned helping a customer. After 2 1/2 hrs, lady buys 1 dress w/coupon and paid in change my coworker counted for her. Then lady returns b/c boys took candy bars and she didn't have enough change to pay for them ($3 each). We forgave her. We were just happy they were gone.

New furniture is here

New furniture arrived today when I was drying off from my shower. At least I was not in the middle of it w/shampoo in my hair. Went for a 15 minute jog this morning, well half walking in a brisk manner. Trying to lose weight but back keeps hurting me.

Color of furniture was darker brown than the beige version I saw in the store. But that's okay, dark color will make family happier. They weren't too happy I picked a light beige color w/black and gray cats. They say I want their hair to blend in w/furniture. Whatever. Cat hair is all over the place, no point in hiding it. And I will never throw away my cats cause their fur don't match the furniture.

New stuff makes me itch so have a blanket over furniture. Give it a few days and smell will go away. Cats unsure about the new smell. Give them time and they rub their fur all over it to make it smell like them. I'm happy.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Waiting for new furniture

A day and half I will have new furniture. Tonight moved cat toys out of the way for movers.

At work, didn't get a chance to tell hardly anybody about my "new furniture" cause we were busy helping people. No big sale was going on so don't know what prompted that. They had to call people on their day off to come work from the high traffic we had. Brought in candy to work my sister gave me and most of it is gone. She bought it to toss at some parade and didn't go to it so she just wanted to get rid of it. She lets her kids each have 1 piece of candy per day, so the 4th of July candy is going down tummies slowly.

We noticed some new summer styles out and wondered why put those out when we have Autumn stuff coming in. Where were these dresses and shirts and shorts last month or even May? Maybe it was stuffed in the back and manager decided to bring it out before Winter shows up. I have enough clothes, I don't need more no matter how prety they are.

One gal finally got the ok to allow the fire department to burn her flooded house down. One year after the flood and dealing with insurance and FEMA (both turned her request for help down). Insurance did cover her lost belongings she had to replace, but not rebuilding the house even though it is a total loss. FEMA rejected any assistance whatsoever. City council had to ok the burning her house down and she had to pay the fire department to do it for her. But she got the fee to burn it from somewhere so she can finally get rid of it and sell the land w/out a house the new owners have to tear down. She plans to live in another city when she can afford to buy a new house.

Well, not much else to say.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Moving furniture

Today I moved my current furniture around to make room for the new. Got someone to take my chair. No takers on the loveseat. Think I'll keep my sofa. My visitors will have more room to sit. Cats know something is up with a huge space in the living room. When I moved my couch over, I found 2 doll diapers stuffed behind it. Wonder how those got there?

Discovered chipmunks have finally figured out where crumbs on the ground came from. Saw them climbing the tree limbs to the balcony like the squirrels do and stuff their cheeks full before scampering back into the tree. One sat on the railing and Frodo reached up to pet it. But he couldn't reach it (and he tried) and then it jumped back into the tree. Poor cats, their toys keep running away from them.

Tomorrow back to work. I actually don't like 3 days in a row off work a day, and another 3 days off. My brain falls asleep and I can't get much done. 

Monday, July 11, 2011

Picking out new furniture

Sister told me she had a coupon for a mystery amount off, like 50-90% off. Hey 90% off, I'll take a new couch. I'm tired of not being able to lie down all the way, especially with my bad back. So off we go and it is 5% off. Ok, not exactly what I was hoping for. We can just look. Find a clerk to show us the "cheap" sofas. I pick one out (so much for just looking). I think, I need matching chair (my couch and chair colors clash badly). So we look at accent and rocking chairs. Pick out a rocking chair. Ok, I'm done. Pay for my purchase and set up delivery (people I know refuse help whenever I need it most so I learn not to ask for it). Then visit the chiropractor again cause my hips are out of place again. Hope somebody I know wants a free couch and /or chair. It is a long walk to the dumpster. Maybe charity will take it.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

New reporter discovers us

The local paper has a new reporter from Florida. Oh, yeah she will love our Iowa winters. Naturally she writes a Hello article for us to read. Always good to know what weirdoes people think we are, think we live in the late 1800's Wild West, and then they meet us and guess what, we are normal people. For the record, Iowa was never part of the Wild West and sure we had neverending praire grass here, 160 years ago.

So reporter tells us all she knew of Iowa came from Little House on the Prairie and wondered where all the Prairie grass was. The book series and TV series didn't take place in Iowa. Yes, Laura Ingalls Wilder's parents ran a hotel in Iowa for 2 years and now a historic site, but the adventure didn't make it into the books nor the TV series. Her Walnut Grove was in Minnesota where most of the TV series takes place.

Reporter was shocked at all the trees and hills we had (praire grassland is now cornfields). And then what nice litter free streets we had. They must toss garbage everywhere where she came from. Culture is centered around bars and non-chain restaurants owned by the family who also make the food. She is a vegetarian and yes, there are veggie choices on the menu of many restaurants. She loves our farmer's markets and getting fresh produce. And that was about all for the new reporter to say.

Can't wait for the "I'm outta here and back to civilization of Chicago or Kansas City so I won't miss you people" article outsider reporters write when they leave. A friend says the newspaper can't understand why circulation is down, they have a multiculural staff. Do they really think readers want to read what weirdoes we are with the outsider point of view all the time?

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Piece of Advice

Please do not allow your infants to suck or chew on store hangers. Today a baby got a cut inside her mouth and screamed like hell from chewing on a store hanger.

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Happy Independence Day

‎For being illegal, there are an awful lot of firecrackers popping tonight. Scares the cats to pieces. Guess some don't care about police's zero-tolerance on illegal fireworks. We are a nation of rebels after all.

Happy 4th of July everybody. I will spend mine w/Mom, sister's family, and at work. My nephew from China's first Independence Day. Hope he is ready to have fun and fire up some sparklers. Niece was terrified of them last year and pointed them at people to take it from her. Nobody got seriously burned.

We saw a local parade and niece and nephew got a bucket of candy each. Then went to local park for some rides for kids and then went home for lunch. Sister and Mom didn't want to spend the money on food. I bought a funnel cake. I'm bad. Niece and nephew never had one before. Later we will go see the fireworks at a local school.

Watching Independence Day while waiting to go to work. Very appropriate for today. I like the line "A lot of people died today. How many didn't have to?" Well put.

Cats happy

I think I work too many day shifts b/c I wake up today at 7:30, on my day off. Alarm clock cat paws my face begging me to get my butt up and feed him. Nah, pet cats for a while since I moved and I can't pretend to be asleep (I do that sometimes when trying to get to sleep and don't feel like petting them at the moment). Then I get up and feed the cats, pet them til they start watching squirrels on the balcony. I should be in bed enjoying my sleep, but no, I'm on my computer. Alarm cat is taking a nap now. Should I disturb him? Nope, he moved his head so he is just resting curled up in a ball. Cats are happy.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

What a day

Today I helped load a car. Big step w/chronic pain chiropractor is fixing the past month. Hey, I figure if I go out in the heat, coming back into the A/C would feel great. Had a bug fly up my nose. And box wasn't too heavy.

Complained about not having a fan, again. I expressed that I don't want to die from a heatsroke inside a air conditioned building. Funny, half the store is 10 degrees cooler than the other. And I keep ending up on the hot side fanning myself with whatever sign I can find.

Had to hold back from asking a customer if she was wearing a wig or had a bad dye job. Gray hairs stuck out in the back so I guess wig (ugly bad one).

Took Precious for a walk and petted him until he got behind me. Ok, he had his fill of love. Now off to bed. Hope the neighbor vacuuming quits soon. It's almost 11 PM.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Today's events

Today Precious plopped near the vent. Are you saying you want the A/C on? So turn it on and next his left side is on the vent. One hot kitty.

I go to work to find my gas tank cover open and cap mising. Great, after beach, bank, shopping, and getting gas I leave my gas cap on the trunk and drive off.

Hot day at work. Turned a sales flier into a fan.Showed off my sunburn from the beach. Met new girl. And finally, one hour before I leave I change registers and get a fan. Then home to have cats veto turning the A/C off.

How's your day?