Annie and Her Dogs

I have a dear family friend who lives alone across the river and I try to call her once a week or so to check on her. Annie lost her husband several years in a freak accident, and now she just has the family dog to keep her company. Without going too far into her personal life, I don’t think she will mind if I share this story with you.Annie needs assistance with mobility. She has a chair lift to help her with stair at home and when she goes out of the house she uses an electric scooter. Over the summer she decided to start talking her dear dog for a walk around the block, although that means that the dog is doing the walking by trotting alongside her scooter on the sidewalk.

Although she knows everyone on her own street, by walking around the block she was venturing into uncharted territory, and unfortunately as she rounded a corner with her dog, one of the neighbors from the other street has just chosen to let her dogs run outside without benefit of a leash. Of course, as soon as the neighbor’s dogs saw Annie and her little pooch on the sidewalk they ran over to protect their territory. Poor Annie was frantically trying to rescue her dog and fend off two large rottweilers running full speed at her.

Now that had to be a terrifying moment for both Annie and her little dog. She had no idea how to defend herself and her dog against a vicious dog attack, although she now has read an article about using pepper spray against an animal and knows what to do in the future. She told us later that night that her screams for help were heard throughout the neighborhood and several people did come running. The owner of the rotties as able to drag them back into the house so Annie could safely head back home. However, the owner was not the least bit apologetic and threatened her with obscenities to stay off her street. Now, that is ridiculous – the street is public and the dog owner has the obligation to keep her dogs on a leash or safely contained on her own property.

So Annie has bought several pepper sprays that come on a keyring to carry with her and defend herself in case those same dogs or any strays might come down the street while she is walking her dog. But she will staying on her own street now and we worry that she will be safe.

My Bucket List Just Keeps Growing

One of the many things on my current “Bucket List” is to go on a Galapagos Cruise. I swear if I ever win the Lottery or find a check in the mail from Ed McMahon telling me that I’ve won the sweepstakes for the direct marketing company of American Family Publishers that we all wish we would win, I wouldn’t waste a minute booking myself and my BFF on the biggest and best of the Galapagos Cruises that I could find.

For those of you that don’t know about the Galapagos they are located about 600 miles in the Pacific Ocean, off of the west coast part of South America and there are over 60 islets and islands that have kept people entertained and scientists busy as ever with all of the native species that this wonderland has to offer. I have a second cousin who just recently returned from her adventure on a Galapagos Cruise Ship and listening to her stories and looking at all the pictures that she has posted on Facebook from that trip just really sparked my curiosity about that area. I sure hope I get the chance to see and do all the things that my cousin did and more!

Get It Together Dude

A former boy friend got pulled over for drunk driving a few weeks ago. It wasn’t the first time, I’m sad to say, that was one reason that I stopped seeing him, the drinking would get the best of him much of the time, sigh… This time I believe that if he doesn’t get a good Criminal Defense Lawyers to represent him, he may be spending some time behind bars. I’m sure he was driving on a suspended license so I’m sure that this whole episode will cost him a chunk of change as well.

He moved out to California shortly after our break up, which ended pretty badly. His sister and I became fast friends and keep in touch via email on occasion. His latest misfortune has the whole family pretty well shook up, I wish him the best of luck in getting his life in order once and for all.

Easier Communication

The Author of this post is Velma Baird

I’ve never had an interest in living in the city. I grew up in the country and plan to live here until I die. Sometimes I do wish I had a little more contact with the outside world. My sister told me about www.wildbluedeals.com and next time I am in town visiting the local library I’m going to check it out. I’m thinking that maybe what I need to better stay in touch is internet service at home. I have e-mail and a facebook account but don’t check them regularly. I’d love to be able to use them more to keep up with family and friends! It seems like no one writes letters anymore and I get tired of talking on the phone. There are only so many hours in the day and I feel like I’m just saying the same thing over and over again to different people. How much easier would it be if I could just type up one update and e-mail it out or post it? Same for sharing pictures. No more printing and mailing them to share.

A Galapagos Cruise For Two BFFs

My best friend really has me worried these past couple of months, her two grown sons are making her life totally miserable, so much that she had to go to the E.R. three nights ago thinking she was having a heart attack. Thank goodness it wasn’t a heart attack, but her stress level is so bad that she is physically sick from it all. And that really jerks my chain.

It really bites that she lives so far away. I would love nothing more than to drive down there and shake some sense into both of my god sons, but a seven hour drive is a bit more than I can handle right now, although I would do it in a heartbeat if I thought she really needed me to.

Anyway she is talking about the two of us getting away on one of the Galapagos Cruises that we have always talking about wanting to do since way back in the day. She is getting a good chunk of change back from Uncle Sam this year and would love nothing more than taking a trip on a Galapagos Cruise Ship with me – her BFF and have been since the fourth grade. Who would have ever thought that we would take a Galapagos Cruise together so many decades later.

Trade Show Assistance Needed Next Week

Something that has become very popular these days are the trade show. I usually end up attending several of them through-out the year and for the most part enjoy the social aspect of it all, I have met many folks and have made contacts that have proven to be of value, business and personal wise.

One of the lady’s that I enjoy keeping company with has asked me to go with her one day next week to a trade show, over in the next county and help her with the setting up of her company’s booth and their newly purchased trade show carpet that is needed, as well as keeping her company during the day and assist with the breakdown at the end of the day and load up everything into her van. Sounds like it will be a long and busy day for the two of us, along with the booth and carpet she has new logo mats and a logo canopy that she needs help with too. And they have just recently also purchased a ton of new give-a-ways and promotional items  that she found online, I’m good at giving things away. I should be interesting.

A Biker’s Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the pad, There was nada happenin’, now that’s pretty bad.

The woodstove was hung up in that stocking routine, In hopes that the Fat Boy would soon make the scene.

With our stomachs packed with tacos and beer, My girl and I crashed on the couch for some cheer.

When out in the yard there arose such a racket, I ran for the door and pulled on my jacket.

I saw a large bro’ on a ’56 Pan Wearin’ black leathers, a cap, and boots (cool biker, man).

He hauled up the bars on that bikeful of sacks, And that Pan hit the roof like it was running on tracks.

I couldn’t help gawking, the old guy had class. But I had to go in — I was freezing my ass.

Down through the stovepipe he fell with a crash, And out of the stove he came dragging his stash.

With a smile and some glee he passed out the loot, A new jacket for her and some parts for my scoot.

He patted her fanny and shook my right hand, spun on his heel and up the stovepipe he ran.

From up on the roof came a great deal of thunder, As that massive V-twin ripped the silence asunder.

With beard in the wind, he roared off in the night, Shouting, “Have a cool Yule, and to all a good ride!”

Christmas Entertaining

Good thing that I took the last couple of days off of work to get ready for the family dinner that is being held at my parent’s house in just a few short days from now. There is always so much to get done for big events such as this with such a large family to try and accommodate and cater to every one’s needs and wants. It is a good thing that we live in the south and don’t have to worry about cold weather for Christmas and we can entertain outside if we want to and believe me we really want to with this many people attending and the number always rising with each year that passes.

My folks have a great yard with plenty of Picnic Tables for people to utilize come meal time so no one has to worry about not having a place to sit and eat at. Nothing worse than having to balance and plate and a drink on your lap, been there done that, no thank you.

There are plenty of Adirondack chairs on the front porch for folks that just want to kick back and watch the kids playing on the wonderful playground equipment that the folks take so much pride in having for all their grandchildren to enjoy all year round. I wish that I had a front porch as grand as my folks, but at least I get to enjoy theirs when I go over there for visits and family festivities.

My Name & Photo

Well who hasn’t dreamed of seeing their picture and their name in the lights and on a billboard some where. Yep that is yours truly on that billboard. With this new Picjoke.com website that I’ve been playing around on it can become a reality. I think that I would have picked a better location, but beggers can’t be too choosy can they. Now how cool is that? I’m having a ball with this and plan on passing the word to some of my friends in my email address book.

loriinlights

Sweet Tea made the correct way

I was reading a blog authored by a woman, Elena Redmond, that I turn to once in a while and enjoy reading and found was so excited to find the recipe to the correct way to make Sweet Tea, I heard about this recipe on T.V. a few months back but could not remember it to save me soul. So I was certainly tickled to find it today.

To read the blog’s post on this subject, try this site at Elenaredmond.com