OK, it's not such a "nation" as a twosome... and a pissy twosome at that! We *finally* took lil Stella in to the vet for her first visit with Dr. Whitworth today! Oh joy. (and the period instead of exclamation was intentional.) Although, I must say, she took it WAY better than Leia did a few months ago. Stella clawed at me, climbed up me, shook like crazy, and tried to escape, but once the Doc and his assistant Jonathan snagged her, there was NO getting away. Jonathan has largely a vestigial role, really only petting and scratching the animal, then holding down when Doc does his magic. We got a couple shots, the goo in the nose, temperature taken and a poo sample to check for nasty bugs. But even thru the obvious discomfort, she was a Itty Bitty Kitty trooper... sticking it out and not putting up much of a fight. Unhappy to the last, we got her home, let her out of the box, and she ran off, trying to escape the possibility (in her mind) of more of that treatment, and escape Sydney. Sydney means well, only love and her comfort, but Sydney tends to be bigger than life, especially to a 6 month old kitten. Stella will calm down, of course, then she'll be right as rain, cuddle up to me during the premier of Numb3rs, and all will be right with the world.
And the cool part is, not only is she the CUTEST kitten, she managed to charm the pants of Doc and Jon. I think we'll keep her! :)
OK, this is an update to the earlier post... She did NOT fare as well as we thought....shortly after I wrote this, she ralphed, thrice. THEN, I confined her to my master bathroom, which was a GOOD thing... she had a little water poo... on my bathmat. OK, so a bath for the kitten was DEFINITELY in the cards... Now, she's a cuddly, feeling better, SILKY FUR kitten...
28 September 2007
21 September 2007
Family is a Four Letter Word
I have a large family. They are insane. Yet, we work. Not well all the time, but for the most part. I'm sure largely in part to the distance between us. Now, I know I have family all over the freakin' planet, but I'm talking my immediate family, my sisters, dad and Doris (dad's 2nd wife). I'll start with Doris... she joined our motley group a short 3 years ago. After Mom died, it was hard to see Daddy so damn sad, but he was understandably, they were married for 44 years. Despite their rocks, they did love each other, and all bridges burned over the years were mended before her passing. Or at least patched enough to cross and forgive. Daddy was sad-until Doris came along. He had met her YEARS ago when he was in grade school. He went to school with her late husband, had known her vaguely-they did both grow up in the same small Texas town of Galveston after all-but got to know her better as a widower, and grew to love her. She is an easy person to love, I have learned, and I'm glad that he has her.
Daddy is a dork sometimes, ok most of the time, but if you've read my previous entry, you'll know just how much he has come to mean to me in the past 7 years. Losing Dub recently has only made it more vivid that Daddy won't be here indefinitely. He's been feeling much better, and back to his dorky self, which is good. Losing Daddy will crush me, I think. But we won't dwell on that.
The main reason for this ramble-on is my sisters. There are six of us... all girls, no brothers of blood relation. In birth order, Jerilyn, Laura, Marcia, Monica, Patti and me. I love each of them respectfully, and all of them as a whole. I love the fact that I have sisters and that we are so close. Some closer than others, and I'll get to that...
Jerilyn is 17 years older than me, and acts every bit of it. She has assumed (very much of her own accord) the matriarchal position, which is both a little annoying and really characteristic of her. She has this first-born people-pleaser I-must-be-in-control-of-every-situation thing. While there are times when it's nice to have that type around, many times we just want her to sit down and CUT IT OUT. She is not much of a sentimental person, she's the anti-pack rat, successful in her personal and professional lives. She married, but they never had any children-I was never privvy to the reason. But she is content to be the proverbial Aunt to the entire family. A good person, but very dry personality, not a wallflower, but not the cut up that many of us are. She's got the type-A personality control issues, but not SUCH the achiever that people want to shoot her.
Laura... 14 years older, 2 grown sons, 4 grandkids, and one amazingly devoted husband who just passed (see prev blogs from early-mid Sept). Laura was the first official child of my parents marriage, Jerilyn being the product of Mom's first marriage-he died when she was pregnant and Mom and Daddy married 3 yrs later. Though she was first biologically for Daddy, she was the 2nd child officially, and due to Jerilyn missing her bio-dad completely, was overlooked for that reason. Laura suffered from severely low self esteem issues, and had psychological help as a child. She is now a better-rounded person, many friends, sharp smartass tongue, but a great person, much in part due to CW's influence. Tough, smart, and self sufficient. She and I roomed together when I was a baby and until she left after graduation, and in the last 12 years have become very close. We need each other, and we'll jump... as fast as we can.
Then there's Marcia. Born in '59, so 12 years older. Here's our Type A. She's a super-over-achiever, having graduated college with a degree in PHYSICS and later getting her MBA. She's smart, driven, and the bacon-bringer-homer. Married, also with 2 boys, they are 11 and nearly 8. She is "Marcia Marcia Marcia!" to a tee, always the prettiest, the smallest, the most successful... Jan Brady REALLY would have hated her... We get along well, I enjoy her wit, she likes the toilet humor like I do, and we have a some things in common, but watching her with her husband and her kids, she makes me want to slap the both of them. Kerry, too, is a great guy, dependable, a good brother-in-law, but, well, lets say their parenting skills are somewhat lacking. The boys, we like to call them Frasier and Niles as they are weenies just the same, start gnawing at eachother like siblings do, but Marcia and Kerry throw empty threats their way and the boys know it. So, nothing is resolved except those guys KNOW that they can get away with a lot-and they do. Growl.
Note: today is Oct 9. I meant to finish this before and just didn't and the growl got away from the grizzly before I could finish...I'll revisit family again, after Thanksgiving, I'm sure!!
Daddy is a dork sometimes, ok most of the time, but if you've read my previous entry, you'll know just how much he has come to mean to me in the past 7 years. Losing Dub recently has only made it more vivid that Daddy won't be here indefinitely. He's been feeling much better, and back to his dorky self, which is good. Losing Daddy will crush me, I think. But we won't dwell on that.
The main reason for this ramble-on is my sisters. There are six of us... all girls, no brothers of blood relation. In birth order, Jerilyn, Laura, Marcia, Monica, Patti and me. I love each of them respectfully, and all of them as a whole. I love the fact that I have sisters and that we are so close. Some closer than others, and I'll get to that...
Jerilyn is 17 years older than me, and acts every bit of it. She has assumed (very much of her own accord) the matriarchal position, which is both a little annoying and really characteristic of her. She has this first-born people-pleaser I-must-be-in-control-of-every-situation thing. While there are times when it's nice to have that type around, many times we just want her to sit down and CUT IT OUT. She is not much of a sentimental person, she's the anti-pack rat, successful in her personal and professional lives. She married, but they never had any children-I was never privvy to the reason. But she is content to be the proverbial Aunt to the entire family. A good person, but very dry personality, not a wallflower, but not the cut up that many of us are. She's got the type-A personality control issues, but not SUCH the achiever that people want to shoot her.
Laura... 14 years older, 2 grown sons, 4 grandkids, and one amazingly devoted husband who just passed (see prev blogs from early-mid Sept). Laura was the first official child of my parents marriage, Jerilyn being the product of Mom's first marriage-he died when she was pregnant and Mom and Daddy married 3 yrs later. Though she was first biologically for Daddy, she was the 2nd child officially, and due to Jerilyn missing her bio-dad completely, was overlooked for that reason. Laura suffered from severely low self esteem issues, and had psychological help as a child. She is now a better-rounded person, many friends, sharp smartass tongue, but a great person, much in part due to CW's influence. Tough, smart, and self sufficient. She and I roomed together when I was a baby and until she left after graduation, and in the last 12 years have become very close. We need each other, and we'll jump... as fast as we can.
Then there's Marcia. Born in '59, so 12 years older. Here's our Type A. She's a super-over-achiever, having graduated college with a degree in PHYSICS and later getting her MBA. She's smart, driven, and the bacon-bringer-homer. Married, also with 2 boys, they are 11 and nearly 8. She is "Marcia Marcia Marcia!" to a tee, always the prettiest, the smallest, the most successful... Jan Brady REALLY would have hated her... We get along well, I enjoy her wit, she likes the toilet humor like I do, and we have a some things in common, but watching her with her husband and her kids, she makes me want to slap the both of them. Kerry, too, is a great guy, dependable, a good brother-in-law, but, well, lets say their parenting skills are somewhat lacking. The boys, we like to call them Frasier and Niles as they are weenies just the same, start gnawing at eachother like siblings do, but Marcia and Kerry throw empty threats their way and the boys know it. So, nothing is resolved except those guys KNOW that they can get away with a lot-and they do. Growl.
Note: today is Oct 9. I meant to finish this before and just didn't and the growl got away from the grizzly before I could finish...I'll revisit family again, after Thanksgiving, I'm sure!!
10 September 2007
Misery gets company
It's been nearly a week since Dub left this world, and there's so much more to do. He's left us with some great memories, and some great clutter! The man was the worst pack rat I've seen! I went to see Laura and Jared this weekend, to help them out a bit, and just be there for her. Got the awesome pleasure of dealing with Jared's brother, John, who never fails to piss off at least one person. He was merely irritating to me and just in the way a bit.
You would never think to look at her (with the exception of her coke-bottle glasses) that she'd just been thru such a life-altering experience, she's just THAT strong a person. She broke down once at the restaurant Friday night. After that it was just minor misty moments that came, and went just as fast. She has a very large mountain to scale in the next few months, and once she gets over that hump, I think she will be fine. Talking to her last night, I told her to make a list-a very detailed one-of things she wants to do with the house, and things she must deal with (rooms chock full o' stuff), then whatever Jared has to leave behind, I'll come and help with, as much as she needs. Her garage is full, as are every closet in the house. There's clothes, shoes, office supplies (I think as good a guy as CW was, he was a closet office-clepto...She found a box of nothing but staplers!), etc. There's way more than she needs in the way of junk around the house, and she wants to have a garage sale. I would like to see her be able to put her car IN the garage for once in her adult life! LOL
The memorial service is this weekend, so not much in the way of cleaning has been done, but what did get done was finding the things she needed to make the memorial photo boards, getting the obituary done and out of the way, cleaned out the fridge and did some laundry. We had a good time, chatted, laughed, cried, had chocolate... all the things that sisters should be able to do together. I'm just not looking forward to this weekend. I'm a cryer anyway, and as much as I loved CW, I know I won't be able to keep from being all puffy and red and snotty for long. But he's worth the puffy red snotty tears. (I know you're laughing up there and rolling your eyes at me for that one)
You would never think to look at her (with the exception of her coke-bottle glasses) that she'd just been thru such a life-altering experience, she's just THAT strong a person. She broke down once at the restaurant Friday night. After that it was just minor misty moments that came, and went just as fast. She has a very large mountain to scale in the next few months, and once she gets over that hump, I think she will be fine. Talking to her last night, I told her to make a list-a very detailed one-of things she wants to do with the house, and things she must deal with (rooms chock full o' stuff), then whatever Jared has to leave behind, I'll come and help with, as much as she needs. Her garage is full, as are every closet in the house. There's clothes, shoes, office supplies (I think as good a guy as CW was, he was a closet office-clepto...She found a box of nothing but staplers!), etc. There's way more than she needs in the way of junk around the house, and she wants to have a garage sale. I would like to see her be able to put her car IN the garage for once in her adult life! LOL
The memorial service is this weekend, so not much in the way of cleaning has been done, but what did get done was finding the things she needed to make the memorial photo boards, getting the obituary done and out of the way, cleaned out the fridge and did some laundry. We had a good time, chatted, laughed, cried, had chocolate... all the things that sisters should be able to do together. I'm just not looking forward to this weekend. I'm a cryer anyway, and as much as I loved CW, I know I won't be able to keep from being all puffy and red and snotty for long. But he's worth the puffy red snotty tears. (I know you're laughing up there and rolling your eyes at me for that one)
05 September 2007
Zool is sad...
A Texas angel was called back to heaven today. We said farewell to Charles Wallace "CW" Swofford this morning at 2:30. He was on this earth from 3/8/52 until 9/5/07. A short 55 years, but he filled it with love and laughter and "good ol' boy" country charm. I don't know a single person who could say any negative thing about Dub. He was everyone's friend, had plenty of family who loved him, and was the most loyal and loving guy you could ever know. He would do anything at all for anyone, all they had to do was ask. He was fiercely loyal and protective of his family, especially his wife, my sister Laura, and their 2 boys, John and Jared, including brothers and a sister, inlaws and cousins and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention. He will be greatly missed, and very well remembered. I was so lucky and very proud to call him family. I love you always, and will miss you, ya big lug.
04 September 2007
Journal Entry?
I WANT to write... I like it, it gets things off my chestal area, and it makes me feel as though I've shared deep shit with my friends. The problem is, I don't have a whole lot to say lately. Maybe it's being around family so much, and going and being occupied with THAT time... Their recent visit a couple of weeks ago, then the happenings of the last week have been (and still are) taxing. Not in the "you're family but you drive me crazy" sort of way, but the "Whoa, that may be the last time that Dub is with us" kinda way. It feels so strange that life should be going on while he is at the end of his journey. I know that "life goes on" is a widely used phrase, especially when in deference to post-funeral life, but it's just one of those odd, mildly irritating things that people like to say. Similar to "s/he would have wanted it that way." That one gets me steaming. Makes me think, well, how the fuck to YOU know what he would have wanted? It just makes me want to slap the issuer of the idiotic phrase. And yes, some people may know what he or she would want, I understand. But it just seems so weak and trite, and well, annoying as hell. In this case, he KNOWS what he wants, and he's getting exactly that. My point had nothing to do with that, really. It's just that every so often, I'd be sitting at work today, laughing about something that someone said, and then a thought would pop into my head that I have no reason to be laughing right now. Why should I have fun when someone I love is taking is last few breaths... just doesn't seem fair at all. And again, I know, life isn't fair, I repeat that at least once a day to either a customer (in my head while I type my pc message), or to my 8 year old. I guess a better term is that it doesn't seem RIGHT. And it isn't. As many difficulties that we may have developed if we didn't have death ever, it just really sucks to lose the people you care about. I know, I'm brooding... it's been 3 entries so far and this is the 4th, but, you know, when you see at age 9 that the people around you will NOT be in your life forever.... when you realize that there's a reason you have only one grandparent left.. and all fingers point to Mr. Death..... well, let's just say I remember going to my uncle's funeral when I was 5 and thinking, "Wow, this stinks. I didn't know him very well, but everyone's all sad and a little grumpy, and crying. Is this REALLY part of life?" Uncle Skippy was the first of so many that I can no longer a) count on one hand or b) count at all and who wants to do that anyway. Heck, I may have been to one before that, I just happen to remember that one. It was the first time I ever remember seeing Mom cry, and it was very few and far between incidents. She just wasn't that kind of person. I, on the other hand, can be counted on to tear up at the beginning of Finding Nemo, at the end of COUNTLESS other movies, and some straight thru without stopping. Not to mention remembering times when Sydney was especially cute, and plenty of other times. I'm a sensitive soul that way, an 'empath' if you'll excuse my Star Trek geek poking thru, in that I can feel other's pain and react. It's just my way.
I think I have come to the end of my express train of thought... now that the thought of picking up the munchkin and going to the grocery store have been added to the daily schedule... that and the distraction of a kitty belly. Yes, though we may miss those loved ones, we can go on. All we are is dust in the wind, dude.
I think I have come to the end of my express train of thought... now that the thought of picking up the munchkin and going to the grocery store have been added to the daily schedule... that and the distraction of a kitty belly. Yes, though we may miss those loved ones, we can go on. All we are is dust in the wind, dude.
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