Fifth Anniversairy Nov 29th

November 29th was the fifth anniversairy of my Aunt's passing.

It is hard to believe that she has been gone for five years now.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I visit her memorial bench at least twice a year. I visit it more during the summer months when I take some of my dog customers there but I make a point of visiting "her' on May 25th (her birthday) and on November 29th (the anniversairy of her passing).

It was bit cold and overcast but at least it was'nt windy or drizzily which made my "visit" doable.

I placed a small bouquet of flowers on her bench and sat there enjoying the view over the Merrimack river. It was sort a meditative moment for me where I just emptied my mind and took in the smell of the leaves and pines. I thought to myself what a nice painting this would make of the reflection of the 95 bridge over the river with it's fall colours.

As I sat there, I heard something that sounded like wind chimes. I thought that was odd because it wasn't particularly windy and there isn't a house nearby for about a half a mile.

As I sat there, the chimes got louder and louder. I am not a superstitious person but I was starting think my Aunt was "sending me a message" of some sort.

I turned around and there was my cousin and her three dogs coming up the hill.

The chimes were the dogs mini cow-bells on their collars. She looked as surprised as I was to see me sitting there.

She was on her way along with her two brothers to commemorate their mother's passing.

"Don" brought a wreath for her bench and had a copy of a special poem he had prepared to recite in her honor. After he said his serious piece, we joked around a bit afterwards repeating verbatim some of our ribald childhood "poetry" such as the infamous "Paul Revere's poop wagon ride".

We joked around quoting some of the things my Aunt would've said when we placed the wreath and flowers on her bench, "oh you should'nt have." Save your money." "What did you do that for?"

I do believe she was with us at that moment enjoying our get together and revelling at being "the star of the show".

Yes, I do believe her spirit was with us.

This guy needs a beating

Julian Assange, founder of wikileaks.

All I can say is that he needs a serious beating.

TSA

Tough Sh*t A$$holes.

That is what TSA stands for. (Not for Transportation Security Administration.)

What a joke.

You know, I am all for upping security to keep our country safe but these new "regulations" that validate a "free for all" pass to grope and xray private citizens (without a radiologists license) really REALLY bothers me. It was bad enough having to take off your shoes to go through security. I get the shivers just thinking about walking on those dirty nasty floors with my stocking feet. Yuck.

Seriously, has taken off your shoes standing in a check-in line made the skies any safer?

It's all just "window dressing" to make it look like security is doing something. The terrorists and other assorted whack jobs are always thinking of new schemes to blow up airliners. What needs to be done is luggage needs to be checked more closely, cargo holds to need to be checked more closely and electronic devices from cell phones, computors, clocks and watches really need to be checked. Our "instinctive profiling radars" need to be on alert especially.

Never mind this silly "politically correct" crap.

Never mind this invasive naked scan nonsense.

I knew from day one there would be abuses, especially geared towards women, in regards to these so called "security checks".

I just read in the paper how one woman was singled out in the Orlando airport because she had large breasts.

It was a "random" security check.

Right.

As always women are victimized and abused and told to shut up. Meanwhile, suspicious looking middle-eastern type males yell discrimination and threaten to sue if they are "profiled".

It's digusting.

And stupid.

John Pistole, the joke administrator of the TSA offers no apologies to those (women) in particular who are violated under the guise of airport security . The only crime these women committed was that they wanted to go to Disney.

"It's all for the sake of national security!"

Pistole is a total wanker.

It wouldn't surprise me that you find out later that he's been bagged in some sort of weirdo sex scandal.

Obama should be a ashamed of himself allowing this clown to be in charge.

But then again, Obama did nothing to get help to stop that disastrous 3 month oil leak either.

I think this is the last time that I'll be traveling by plane.

It's just not worth it anymore.

It's expensive, sickening, dirty and I don't feel safe anymore.

It's a disgrace and a bloody joke.

Thanksgiving "specials"

I got a couple of store sale flyers in my newspaper this morning advertising sales on Thanksgiving Day.

Huh?

Are you serious?

Shopping on Thanksgiving day?

Isn't this a "day off' day?

Isn't this one of those few days you get off to solely spend with friends or family?

Does Walmart really have to be open on Thanksgiving day?

WTF!

The first thing that enters my mind is what sucky bosses they must have at Walmart to make their employers work. I mean, really, that is just plain f*&^ing mean.

I had pet sitting customers this morning but it is a necessity job for me to give people a little freedom for those who want to travel to see friends and family. I charge a little more on the holidays for this service. Pets need to be cared for. There is no day off in taking care of your pets. Period.

I work around my schedule so that I do have 'family time" so it is not that big of a deal. Pets have to be taken care of. They can't be left alone for an extended period of time. There is a difference between working on a holiday that differentiates between what is a necessary job and what isnt.

Working on Thanksgiving day in Walmart is just plain stupid.

I remember working all day on big holidays and it sucked big time.

I was working in a nursing home while I was in high school. Unfortunately I had to work. I didn't want to but I was threatened with being fired if I didn't work two of the big holidays. Nursing homes needed staff to care for the residents there. My father always had to work Christmas too since he was a cop.

I think this is what irritates me about Walmart being open on Thanksgiving is that I somewhat doubt workers volunteered to work on Thanksgiving. And it isn't one of those life or death type of jobs like being a nurse, fireman or policeman.

I know I am going to sound like an old fart but I think this is one of the reasons why there is so much problems with broken families and lack of unity is because family time is not encouraged in this country. It seems like making a buck is more important.

Shopping on Black Friday? Yeah..go for it. It's a contact sport.

Shopping on Thanksgiving? Boycott. No way would I ever go shopping on this day.

Thanksgiving

I think Thanksgiving is a decent holiday.

It is definitely one of those family get together holidays.

The best part is that I do not have to cook or clean up.

I have to admire those who take over the cooking, shopping, preparation and cleaning chores of the day.

My mother actually likes doing it. Matter-of-fact she insists of doing it. I can't even bring anything over unless it is something I didn't cook like coffee, wine or a fruit basket.

She is the domestic reina of the day.

She is in charge.

She is the boss of the day.

When I suggested one year that we all just go out for dinner instead figuring it would be easier for her I thought her laser stare of ' that-would-be-a-sin-not-to-cook-dinner" would almost fry me on the spot.

I already know she is making preparations for the day, and it's two days away.

I don't, however, eat turkey.

I stopped eating turkey years ago.

Just before Thanksgiving, I was in a shopping mall many years ago. There was this grand turkey on display in an enclosure. I saw kids poking fingers at him, laughing and teasing him mocking that they were going to be eating him soon. I walked over and saw this large beautiful bird being disrespected and I was disgusted. At least when native Americans eat what they have hunted they show a sign of respect by saying a prayer of thanks to the creature.

I felt sick to my stomach seeing those little shits tease that bird.

I never ate turkey again.

I've seen turkey "farms" depicted on TV awaiting 'the big day'. All these white turkeys mass produced are crammed into a industrial enclosure awaiting their fate. The grocery stores advertise 59 cents a pound for these mass bred turkeys.

If I had to buy a turkey for Thanksgiving, I would buy one from a local farm where at least, the turkeys are walking around outside enjoying the sunshine. They advertise $2.89 a pound but at least these turkeys aren't those sad white ones squished in a cement enclosure for their entire sad lives.

Thanksfully, my Mother doesn't push turkey on me. She makes me a pile of veggies and her famous apple pie. (Yes, I will have one slice!)

While everyone lays around afterwards like snakes that swallowed a giant rat they will be watching the football game. I will sneak into the bedroom to watch the Westminister dog show instead.

Yes, I am looking forward to Thanksgiving.

curve ball

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you have to step up to the plate.

You just hope you don't get hit in the head by the ball.

This morning I was lining up and confirming my Thanksgiving holiday customers.

One of my customers is an elderly lady with two kitties. She had called a few weeks ago to book a Thanksgiving weekend pet sitting appointment. When I called my senior customer's phone number, the operator recording came on and said,"I'm sorry this number is no longer in service".

I called again to make sure I dialed the right number and the same recording came on.

I searched the numbers on my cell phone around the time she called to make an appointment but I couldn't find her number or a number that was unfamilar that could possibly a 'new' number, if she had changed her phone number for some reason.

Needless to say, I got a little nervous wondering if something happened to her.

My first thought was to go over to her apartment right now to check on her.

I opt to call the person in charge of her elderly housing complex instead.

I told her who I was and that I was concerned since the phone number I had for "Mrs. C"was out of order.

The superintendent of the complex said that number I had given her of this tenant was the same number she had. I asked her if she could check on her and call me right back.

Thankfully, this turned out to be a happy ending.

"Mrs. C" called me back within 20 minutes, apologetic, explaining that she had changed her number because she was being hounded by unwanted phone solicitors.

I told her I was glad she was OK and that I was a bit worried when I found her number out of order. She had given me her daughter's phone number this time as well for an emergency contact.

This story might not have had a happy ending.

I have heard from one pet sitter a few years ago that had this one job to take care of a dog when the owner was out of town. When she arrived at the house she saw smoke coming out of a window.

She called 911.

She managed to rescue the dog but the apartment was engulfed in flames by time the fire engines arrived.

Two years ago, I had this client with three beautiful high-end breeder dogs. They were regular customers. One morning, I found one of the dogs dead in the living room.

It was awful.

I was in full blown panic mode. I tried as calmly as I could call the owner to inform her of what I found. (I was a mess) I rushed the dog (with the help of my husband) to the vet. The dog had just died of a sudden heart attack. It was a freak thing.

I no longer have this client as customers anymore and it is not because the lady "fired me". I continued to care for her two dogs for another year or so until they had puppies. I was too nervous around these dogs and the dogs could sense it so I had to quit.

Nothing can prepare you for some of the things that are thrown at you.

You just have to stop, breath, think calmly and hope for the best.

Christmas favs

During this time of year, I will occasionally hear a few people declare, "I hate Christmas!" "Bah humbug" "It's just a hallmark holiday!' etc...

Yeah, all the preparation can be kind of a pain.

TV commercials do bombard you with a 'buy buy buy!" in-your-face hard sell to the point of being obnoxious.

And there are some folks that reminisce sad events that has happened to during the Christmas season. Maybe a close friend or family passed away during that time. Perhaps there was an illness in the family or a layoff at the company. Maybe it was a relative that got obnoxiously drunk and selfishly ruined the holidays. It could be just the pressure of having to buy gifts, visit relatives or whatever.

It's kind of sad.

For the most part, I have had nice Christmases. The very few that were a bit of a bummer I blot out of my mind. It's pointless, at least it is for me to dwell on the 'nasties".

Hey, every once in a while you are going to step in shit. That's the way life is sometimes.

Here are some of the things I really like about Christmas:

1) Christmas parties. The kind of parties that you can 'doll up" for.

2) Christmas breakfast at my brother's house. It's the best!

3) Christmas eve dinner at my Mother's house.

4) Having "mini" Christmas parties with close friends and cousins.

5) Christmas cards. I love sending out "special" cards and I love getting cards.

I'm talking about real cards via snail mail (not those lame e-cards.)

6) Religious Christmas music. Church choir music or classics on the radio.

(oh God, nothing is worse than rap "holiday music" or anything by Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Elvis, the Chipmunks or Paul McCartney. GAG!)

7) Fireplaces

8) Christmas specials on TV.

9) Decorations (so long as they are taken down soon after New Years Day. Nothing is grosser than seeing "raunchy Claus" in a dirty pee-stained snow bank in February)

10) The smell of evergreen trees and wreaths

Yup, this can be a nice time of year!