Change is good.

Earlier today, I had a short conversation with my daughter's friend... He was wondering where she was, as he had texted her, and she didn't reply, immediately. Of course, my daughter was getting ready to catch the school bus, and was already late since she had difficulty lifting herself from the mattress. Not to mention, she had to squeeze in several minutes worth of trying on every article of clothing she owns, and doing a quick scroll of her Facebook page, before leaving the front door to face the world. I would roll my eyes at this, but I realize, I do it too... Sometimes I have to drag my behind out of bed in the middle of the night to visit the commode, and I check the time on my phone... my hand subconsciously flips the screen across and opens Facebook... it's become automatic... my brain has rewired itself. Most of the time, there's nothing there of importance, so I can drift off back to sleep. However, I have had a few instances where I've left comments ...

I was having a conversation with a friend earlier today, and mentioned a new show I've been watching... "Revolution". For those who haven't heard of it, it's set in a post-apocalyptic-type world, where electricity is no more, and society has crumbled... Basically, the "Walking Dead" without the zombies. Here, the "good guys" have to deal with a modern day Civil War that's a-brewin', and try to survive the harsh reality that is a world without Hot Pockets and Wi-Fi. And this got me thinking ... We'll overlook, temporarily, that governments and societies would crumble, that nuclear power plants would explode and radiation would seep into everything, that ninety percent of people you have ever known would probably die from starvation, disease and murder. In my household, in the first 10 - 15 minutes of a power outage (and take my word for this, as it has  actually happened) my daughter is the first person to go completely insane....

Almost a year ago, I began working at my local animal shelter. I wasn't exactly sure how well I would be able to handle this kind of job; I took it knowing that the dogs and cats I would be caring for may have to be euthanized. "Don't get attached", they told me. Yeah. Right. Impossible... well, for me, anyhow. Knowing how much of a pushover I am, when it comes to animals, my family knew it would only be a matter of time before I took one or two home. As much as I hate to admit it, they were right. A month previous to my employment, my boyfriend and I adopted Delaney, a brown and white American Pit Bull Terrier, and from the beginning she was his dog. Yes, my name is on her paperwork as her legal owner, but I know in my heart that these two are made for each other. If one should leave, the other would be completely lost. Don't get me wrong... Delaney loves me, but she really adores Derek. I genuinely hadn't given much thought to adopting another dog, d...

This coming holiday season, we have a bit more traffic at the shelter. A lot of folks stop in to see the dogs and cats, and some even take one home, which is fantastic. However, some of them come right back again, because the adopters didn't get what they expected.... So, here's a list I've compiled to help those who want to bring home a new, fuzzy family member, and what they should look for BEFORE making a commitment. Adopting an animal is a lifetime commitment , and should be a carefully thought out procedure. 1. Make your own list of what YOU want in your home . Ask yourself : Am I ready to have my belongings peed on, pooped on, chewed up and covered with hair? How much time am I willing to commit on a daily basis to caring for this animal? Will this pet be a strictly indoor pet, or do I have the means to allow this dog or cat to roam freely/in a fenced in area for a little while? Do I have the financial funding to properly care for this furry creature? What is the ...

Death is not something I really want to think about, but eventually I'm going to have to make some sort of arrangement... After all, there are three things certain in life: Death, taxes, and Taco Bell winning the restaurant wars. As I've mentioned in a previous blog, I'd like to be 187 years old when I die... However, I'm a tad concerned with what happens after I die. Not when it comes to my soul... no... with my physical being. Sure, I could have all the last wishes in the world, but I'll be dead... Who's to say my body won't be stuffed with straw and piked in the garden to keep crows and small children away? In the good 'ol days in this country, the family would dig a trench, stuff you in a pine box, and throw some dirt on you... perhaps in the family plot, so while Ma's washing dishes, she can look out the kitchen window and remember you fondly. In some countries, your body would be tossed onto a burning pire, and your wife would throw herself...

"I am my father's daughter".  Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (1998) Those five words, I find, are quite powerful. Whether or not they were actually spoken by the Queen, herself, or cooked up by a group of writers huddled around a small table in the wee hours of the night, they certainly make a bold statement. Elizabeth the First, being challenged from every angle by those who would dispose of her simply because she was a woman, was not about to skulk away because of fear or intimidation. She was the child of Henry VIII - a man of great power, and as the old adage goes, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree".  This makes me think about my own family tree. My sister has delved into the genealogical history, and found lots of neat things. For instance, I am related to Robert Dudley (who was Queen Elizabeth's favorite - for a while), and somewhere down the line there's Robert E. Lee and Dwight Eisenhower. I must say, I'm proud of my lineage. W...

**** This was the first "review" from my other blog, which I've decided to move to a single blog page, rather than having to try to manage two... I posted this one in May of 2011... **** First, I'd like to put the spotlight on a fairly new product - Johnsonville Original Bratwurst Patties. I have just noticed these in the "burger" section of my grocery store, and had to give them a try. I've always liked J-ville Bratwurst - they're about as close to the real thing I've tasted since I was in Germany, many moons ago. They cost about eight dollars for six patties - the very same amount as the Angus beef burger patties that I usually buy - but I find that they are much larger. My husband started them out on the grill, but we ran out of propane, so they were finished on the stove. They tasted fantastic, but I found the texture a little off-putting... those of you who've had the pleasure of eating both hamburgers and bratwurst will know the di...