Friday, December 4, 2015
This and That
Well, at least I've calmed down a bit from the craziness in California. I was so upset that I ground my teeth together so hard that I dislocated my right jaw for the second time, but other than that, I'm OK. After my diatribe the other evening, please let me make one thing clear: I am not in favor of total gun control. I believe that we Americans should be able to own hand guns and rifles. If I lived by myself in a rural area, I would, personally, want to own both. My problem is allowing the regular population to own assault-style weapons. One doesn't need an automatic machine gun for hunting game, or scaring varmints away from the house or farm. I believe that assault-type weapons should only be in the hands of SWAT teams and members of the Armed Forces of the United States. I don't think there is any reason for a member of the general public or population to have an assault-style weapon.
The coop seems lonely without Gladys. Alcy, Io and Copper are not as friendly or gregarious as Gladys was. Gladys and Vega were quite a pair - but Vega decided to wander away from the house one day and didn't return. Gladys, thankfully, was a "home body."
There is still snow on the ground, and it was 25 degrees when I left home at 7:15 this morning. The street in front of Rosie's house is still heavily iced, as are parts of Emerald Road. Some sidewalks are still under a coating of compacted snow, but the majority are clear. Beatrice and I are going to take the grocery basket out and do our heavy-duty shopping today. Kitty litter, canned cat food, toilet tissue, cereal, oatmeal, soup, crackers, nuts, juice, soda, and our Christmas turkey are all on the list to buy. She'll continue on into work, and I'll bring the groceries home and put them away.
I just scheduled my annual check-up for the 16th - my medications will run out on the 20th, so I was lucky to get an appointment. Have to go in fasting, for the blood draw, but other than that, it's no problem. My Medicare will pay for the annual visit and most of the lab-work.
The coop seems lonely without Gladys. Alcy, Io and Copper are not as friendly or gregarious as Gladys was. Gladys and Vega were quite a pair - but Vega decided to wander away from the house one day and didn't return. Gladys, thankfully, was a "home body."
There is still snow on the ground, and it was 25 degrees when I left home at 7:15 this morning. The street in front of Rosie's house is still heavily iced, as are parts of Emerald Road. Some sidewalks are still under a coating of compacted snow, but the majority are clear. Beatrice and I are going to take the grocery basket out and do our heavy-duty shopping today. Kitty litter, canned cat food, toilet tissue, cereal, oatmeal, soup, crackers, nuts, juice, soda, and our Christmas turkey are all on the list to buy. She'll continue on into work, and I'll bring the groceries home and put them away.
I just scheduled my annual check-up for the 16th - my medications will run out on the 20th, so I was lucky to get an appointment. Have to go in fasting, for the blood draw, but other than that, it's no problem. My Medicare will pay for the annual visit and most of the lab-work.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Colorado Springs & San Bernardino
I have always been extremely happy that I am a native-born American - a born and bred citizen of the United States of America. America is my country, right or wrong. As a voting citizen, I must follow our laws and rules of conduct. I have always been proud to state that I am an American. After the shootings last week in Colorado Springs, and the shootings today in San Bernardino, California, I am not sure if I want to claim to be "proud" any more.
Today is the 334th day of 2015. The San Bernardino shooting was the second mass shooting of the day in the United States. It was the 355th mass shooting incident of this year - and the day is not yet over. What has become of our great nation? Why are these stupid shootings happening? When did "the normal thing to do" become loading up one's assault-style rifles, adding hand guns, and then bombs to deal with something or someone who upsets you?
This reeks of sheer terrorism by the individual, to me. Our movies, television shows, and computer games seem to make the majority of the public believe that it is fine to go out and kill anyone who makes you angry....
I am very sorry, and disgusted, that our country has fallen to this level of depravity.
Today is the 334th day of 2015. The San Bernardino shooting was the second mass shooting of the day in the United States. It was the 355th mass shooting incident of this year - and the day is not yet over. What has become of our great nation? Why are these stupid shootings happening? When did "the normal thing to do" become loading up one's assault-style rifles, adding hand guns, and then bombs to deal with something or someone who upsets you?
This reeks of sheer terrorism by the individual, to me. Our movies, television shows, and computer games seem to make the majority of the public believe that it is fine to go out and kill anyone who makes you angry....
I am very sorry, and disgusted, that our country has fallen to this level of depravity.
Winter in the Everglades - Photos
Egret with cypress trees
Water and marsh grass as far as the eye can see
Alligator
Barred owl
Purple gallinule
Manatee
Rare, young Florida panther
Missing Gladys
I am bummed out, blue, depressed, dis-spirited, and teary. I've had to say "good-bye" to a lot of beloved pets and buddies in my almost 60 years of life - but yesterday's good-bye was very hard. Gladys was a pretty girl. She came when called, and ate out of my hand. She was soft and silky to the touch. If you wanted company, she was happy to stay nearby; and if you didn't want to be bothered, she'd go her own way. She was happy to sit in your lap, if wanted, or to go explore the garden, if not. I've been taking care of Gladys for the past five years, and she was an adult at my first visit. I really don't know quite how old she was.
I guess the real reasons I'm sad are two-fold: she is the first critter that has passed away while in my care as a pet-sitter, and, since she was always happy to see me, I will miss her greetings. This past week, she was the first to go inside each evening and the last to come outside and stretch in the morning. She didn't have much of an appetite, and even when I brought her some of her favorite things to eat, she wasn't very interested. She seemed to be moving a bit slower than usual. Monday evening she had already put herself to bed when I arrived to close up for the day - I looked at her and told her I hoped she'd feel better in the morning. When I arrived yesterday morning, the other girls came running out, but not Gladys. I called her name - but got no response. So I hesitantly opened Gladys' favorite nesting box, and found her body.
She produced a heck of a lot of eggs over the years. She was the oldest chicken in the flock. She loved her humans - especially those of us who gave her special treats. She was comfortable in your arms, or sitting in you lap. She was a good companion. I buried her deep in the garden yesterday - had to get the pick-ax out to break up the ground so I could bury her. She will make good compost, and I'm sure the tomatoes next year will be excellent....
But I still miss Gladys, the Rhode Island Red.
I guess the real reasons I'm sad are two-fold: she is the first critter that has passed away while in my care as a pet-sitter, and, since she was always happy to see me, I will miss her greetings. This past week, she was the first to go inside each evening and the last to come outside and stretch in the morning. She didn't have much of an appetite, and even when I brought her some of her favorite things to eat, she wasn't very interested. She seemed to be moving a bit slower than usual. Monday evening she had already put herself to bed when I arrived to close up for the day - I looked at her and told her I hoped she'd feel better in the morning. When I arrived yesterday morning, the other girls came running out, but not Gladys. I called her name - but got no response. So I hesitantly opened Gladys' favorite nesting box, and found her body.
She produced a heck of a lot of eggs over the years. She was the oldest chicken in the flock. She loved her humans - especially those of us who gave her special treats. She was comfortable in your arms, or sitting in you lap. She was a good companion. I buried her deep in the garden yesterday - had to get the pick-ax out to break up the ground so I could bury her. She will make good compost, and I'm sure the tomatoes next year will be excellent....
But I still miss Gladys, the Rhode Island Red.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
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