My Wonderful Fid Babies

 
 
 
 

I can't believe it. I wrote out this great story about how Bonita came into my home and Blogger ate it. Ugh!!!! Anyway, as requested, here are some pictures of two of my fids, Bonita and Dumplin. Bonita is a green cheek conure and Dumplin is a Dutch Blue lovebird.

I have to get going for the day, so I will come back and tell Bonita's story later. (Don't worry, you'll get Dumplin's too.) 

Quote of the week 2

I am ready for a new quote, so here's the old one.

The Constitution has too often been misused for personal gain. Individual desires have been palmed off as scholarship. Politicians have pandered to the public by compounding misunderstandings of Supreme Court decisions, not correcting them. Constitutional pronouncements appear everywhere, from bumper stickers to talk shows. Too many people appear in classrooms, pulpits, campaign platforms, and mass circulation magazines, telling us not what they believe the Constitution means, but what they insist it says, giving every appearance that they are the sole heirs of James Madison's wisdom. - Paul Martin Wolff

Talking to Myself

So, am I just talking to myself or does anyone actually read my blog. I've been trying to post more, incase anyone is really interested in my ramblings. So, if anyone actually reading my blog or am I talking to myself? :O)

Why I Love Digi Scrapping

I just finished a two-page layout and was reminded why I love digi scrapping. This layout has been in the works for two or three weeks. Yet it did not create even the smallest mess on my table. lol

I wish I had started digi scrapping long ago. Doing so was one of the smarter things I have ever done. It combines two of my favorite things, computers and scrapbooking, but without the mess. :O)

Loopholes

Why are some people so interested in using loopholes to get around rules? It happens all the time. In fact, I saw it happen at work yesterday. About a week ago, I specifically told a customer they could not make a specific type of post in our website forum. What was she doing exactly a week later. Trying to use a loophole she came up with to get around the rule. Well it didn't work. I saw the post and now it's gone. But I really think she could not believe that the post was not violating the forum rules. I really can't. So why did she do it? Was it a test, to see if the post would be deleted. I don't know. But it was very annoying and very disappointing. To me, if something is wrong, then it's wrong even if you think you've found a loophole that will allow you to get buy with something. Am I wrong? Is that just an outdated concept? I don't know, but I hope not.

Coup in Thailand

I've been reading about the coup in Thailand. The Thai military claims they are trying to protect democracy. I don't know, I have my doubts. But it has caused me to think about what we have really been blessed with here in the United States. We don't make our will known through military coups, we make it known through democratic elections. We exercise our right to vote. We vote in (or our) those men and women who we feel best represent an ideal government. And then if we don't like what is happening, we have the right to express our displeasure and work to change it. That is what is really great about the United States.

If you are grateful that military coups are not a normal way of life in this country, then show it. Show it by voting in November and making your will known.

Life Ain't Alway Beautiful - Gary Allan

By tomorrow, this song will no longer be the song available on my blog, so I wanted to add the lyrics to my blog.

Life ain't always beautifu.l
Sometimes it's just plain hard.
Life can knock you down,
It can break your heart.

Life ain't always beautiful:
You think you're on your way.
And it's just a dead end road,
At the end of the day.

But the struggles make you stronger,
And the changes make you wise.
And happiness has it's own way,
Of takin' it's sweet time.

No, life aint always beautiful.
Tears will fall sometimes.
Life aint always beautiful,
But it's a beautiful ride.

Life aint always beautiful:
Some days, I miss your smile.
I get tired of walkin' all,
These lonely miles.

And I wish for just one minute,
I could see your pretty face.
Guess I can dream,
But life dont work that way.

But the struggles make me stronger,
And the changes make me wise.
And happiness has it's own way,
Of takin' it's sweet time.

No, life aint always beautiful.
But I know I'll be fine.
Hey, life ain't always beautiful,
But it's a beautiful ride.
What a beautiful ride.

LIfestyle Changes

I tend to get discouraged about my attempt to lose weight. It has not gone as fast as I would like. But then yesterday I got to thinking and realized that while I might not be losing weight like I would like, I am still so much better off than I was just a few months ago. I am exercising on a regular basis and I am much more cognizant of what I am eating. I try very hard to drink 8 glasses of water a day, eat fruit and veggies daily and get enough fiber. I am also taking Viactiv multivitamins and a calcium chew. I'm trying very hard to be healthier, not just lose weight. So, while the scale might not be moving down as fast as I would like, I know I am improving my health.

My Dog Sanosuke

Would someone please tell my dog Sanosuke, that eveything is not about him. He wants all the toys, all the food, all the everything. Just now, I had to take my skirt away from him. He just turned 7 months old on Wednesday and I think he is trying to drive me nuts. I really, really do. And guess what, it's working. Sanosuke can be so sweet and I really love him, but he would try the patience of a Saint. I know he tries the patience of my other two dogs, Sazume and Smokey. But it is fun to see Smokey, the toy poodle, tell Sanosuke how it is. Sanosuke weighs close to 60 pounds, so it's pretty funny. Sazume is just a sweetheart who puts up with way too much from Sanosuke and never complains. She just has such a loving heart. I love all three of them tons.

September 11th

It's hard to believe that we are marking the 5th Anniversary of September 11th. I still remember that day so vividly. I had been married less than a month and in Florida for less than two weeks. Back then my hubby didn't have cable TV and only dialup Internet access. So, once online, I had no phone service.

I got online after my hubby left for work. That is when a friend of my told me that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. I misunderstood at first. I thought that two planes had collided above the World Trade Center. I was wrong. I turned on the radio and then when I couldn't take the lack of pictures anymore, I ran to Kmart to get bunny ears. I got there about the time the first tower collapsed. I stayed there for awhile watching their TVs and then headed home. I could now watch one channel and it wasn't great. However, it was better than nothing. I was glued to the TV for the rest of the day.

My hubby, for some odd reason, tried to get me to go with his best friends' wife to be with his friends' mother who was hysterical. I did not want to go be with a hysterical person. I actually did really well dealing with it until my sweetie and I had gone to bed for the evening. That is when I cried my heart out.

We did go over to his friends' house after work, so we could see the cable news. I was glad for the chance, even if I was driven a little nuts. They are pretty liberal, so some of their ideas were off the wall.

I remember the smoke and the people running. I remember the people they showed jumping from the buildings. I remember the day in such vivid detail. It is so odd, because I usually have a horrible memory.

Today, my prayers are with those who lost loved ones on 9/11. What a horrible tragedy for those families. The tragedy of 9/11 has affected everyone in this country who remembers that day. However, it is even a greater tragedy for those families.

Alan Jackson wrote a song about 9/11 and I think the words are perfect for the end of my entry.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

Changing Cat/Dog Quiz

I am about to change my quiz, so I wanted to make it a permanent part of my blog.

You Are: 50% Dog, 50% Cat

You are a nice blend of cat and dog. You're playful but not too needy. And you're friendly but careful. And while you have your moody moments, you're too happy to stay upset for long.

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Exercise Goals

Yesterday, while driving around with my hubby, I set my first goals for exercise. Here they are:

1. Ride my street bike to the end of Becker and back. (Round trip of about 10 miles.)
2. Bench press 40 pounds.
3. Leg lifts of 80 pounds.

I have more goals once I've reached these, but these are my first goals.