Indelible rain cascading

The rain was pouring and gusts of wind lashed the trees outside. I was pensive as I heard the first few drops inside the house. "Was it leaking", I thought while tapping my tooth with my nail. Surely not. Later that evening, rowing my inflatable raft in the basement I reflected on the price of my new beach front rental. $1600 for a leaking swamp; far too much.

where the ghost of green fades in...

Time has a way of galloping ahead of me these days. I am preparing to move yet again, the baby is sick and I am tired.

Interview with a Pig

The Three Little Pigs of Kansas

After writing a ground breaking book on building sturdy houses, the eldest surviving pig, Suey, is on a national book signing tour. We have been graciously granted an interview:

Moi: In the news recently, we have heard much about inclement weather. Can you share your opinion about building on flood plains and marshlands? What is your feeling about living in Kansas? Is that wolf outside waiting to have a book signed?

Pig: Oink!

OK, well enough said about that topic. Let is suffice that Americans are surely some of the most trusting slobs on the planet.

I found a jewel of a blog.

Well, if you can handle the humor...
I for one think its great.

Verdi by Janell Cannon

Along with the miscellaneous texts from school I have been reading a fascinating children's book called Verdi. In fact I have read it over and over, and each time my child is spell bound. It is a thin picture book looking into the fast paced life of a green island snake named Verdi. It is full of adventure, humor and lots of vivid color. He is a featured link into the book itself.

Blast! Another hurricane/earthquake!

Another good title: Why do I keep getting hit by tornadoes?

There is a shadow of doubt creeping across homeowners in the south. "Should I have bought this house?" They might be saying to themselves. "I never did figure out why the last tenants practically gave the place away. I bet it was the smell from the fried chitlins place next door. " No, my friends, it was something far more troubling than greasy, angry fry cooks. It was tornado alley and the gate was open.
I have been thinking much lately on Florida, and other places that are supposed to be marsh and wetland areas. Places where "tornaders" drop by unexpected (well, not that unexpected lets face it) . What person in their right mind would build a home in such a place? What sort of person does it take to be able to sleep restfully after committing such folly? I know you are out there, lurking in the barracks of my blog. Gnashing your crazed little teeth. Explain it to us.

The de-sensitization of the modern child

Its all about toys these days. Poison toys, dangerous toys, toys that light up, toys that blare a tune. In a recent conversation with a close personal friend, we discussed the impact of these newer creations. The toys that do everything but tie the tourniquet and inject a drug. What possible impact do these childhood play things have on learning and processing? I theorize that they have an adverse reaction on the development of the brain. Too much stimulation, I call it bombardment, and this is what I believe is happening all over the world. Probably in your own home if you think on it. All these toys that light up, sing two minute versions of classical masterpieces, and swing open and shut. Total garbage. Its like elevator music for babies. A quick fix of stimuli, replacing human touch and interaction. The basis for human development, broken up by toy companies. Dark and sinister plans for the children of the future. Beware.

My final paper for summer session.

Title: I can never hang up the phone.

Thesis: Why I pontificate on every subject.

Supporting statement: My @$%@** phone bill.

More expounding: My husband is always rolling his eyes at me. ( what does it mean?)

Conclusion: Wait a minute I wasn't done yet...

Grade: -c

Disgusting Beasts

Top three most disgusting pests in your house:

1. Black Widow spiders
2. Ants
3. Large, slavering, drooling mice

Chinese toys and lead paint.

My son has anemia. You may think to yourself, "well thats too bad!" Allow me to elaborate... He's 9 months old, pale listless, feeling like crap. What causes anemia, the truth is that a lot of things factor in. Diet, illness, the ability to absorb iron, those sorts of things. I have been feeling really sorry for my baby, who wouldn't feel sorry for someone so tiny and innocent. It is natural to be a parent and suffer along with your child.
So now comes the the whole lead paint issue. What does lead paint do? Well it can cause anemia. Thats right, the toys your baby puts in its mouth may have lead based paint on it. Lead based paint lasts longer, probably works better when painting plastic I imagine. I can't begin to tell you how mad I am. Thank you very much China for almost making my child almost have to get a transfusion. I am enraged. I urge you to really inspect your toys if they come from China. Don't believe the non-toxic labels, they can do whatever they want over there.

Wordless Wednsday

"Uh, Hello. The dog food bowl is empty out here, and my babies are hungry..."

Time keeps slipping by me...

It seems like I haven't had a second to myself in months now.
I realize I don't post here much anymore, and I'm surprised that people even stop by to say hello anymore! I've started my summer college class, and its keeping me very busy on top of caring for the baby. I do think about everyone still and I wish I had more free time to goof off.

Here is a picture of the baby eating the cat!

Fun in the sun

Up the volcano

What am I?

rescue mission

I was in the kitchen and I heard screaming. At first I thought it was just the regular stuff, but it continued for too long and I knew something was wrong. I thought to myself "What poor animal do the cats have now?" When I went outside I didn't see anything right away. I walked further out towards my pumpkin patch and I saw two of my more benign cats trying to stare something to death. I crept up behind them and shooed them off.
At my feet was a baby mocking bird, crouched against the wood stairs that led up the hillside. Its little beak was tangled in a dense spider web, and its mouth was opened wide in an attempt to scare me off. Poor little bugger.
Its mama was on the fence next to the stairs, shrieking and scolding me. Her flashy white and grey feathers were a blur as she hopped back and forth, trying to redirect my attention away from her chick. Here was the screaming I had heard.
I gently disentangled the baby, with extra care for her tiny bitsy little feet and legs. She chirped in terror but I was working as quickly as I could. I carried her up the hillside hoping I wouldn't fall on my head; its pretty steep. I picked a tree and reached up as high as I could and placed the chick. To my surprise the chick jumped up higher into the pine tree and mama came swooping down. I was so pleased that the scent of my hands on the baby didn't make the mama bird reject her.
The outcome was good, and the only downfall is that that they have taken up permanent residence and mama now shrieks bloody hell at my cats all day.

Raccoon and her baby kits

I was folding laundry this evening, staring off into my garden patch. There is a large West facing glass door in the family room, and I get to enjoy the garden through it. So there I am, folding a million tiny socks and onesies when I catch a movement up on the hill. I see mama raccoon amble in, squeezing in through a lose wood plank in the fence, followed by three adorable babies. I just about died!
I realize that most people see Raccoons as pests, but I never have. I live out near a wide expanse of open fields, and the territory is full of hawks and buzzards, snakes and mice. Raccoons fit right in.
Mama, has been an associate of ours for several years now, I admit to leaving dog food out for her. I also leave a bowl of water for her to wash it in, she seems to like to wash everything she eats before she eats it. Occasionally I leave her an egg, they eat bird eggs as part of their diet; it has made them a unwelcome guest on many a farm. There are no farms around here, and she has never once smashed over my garbage can or anything uncouth like that. In fact, last summer her and her last batch of babies nicely rid my lawn of root eating grubs; I could see them in the moonlight snacking on the hideous white things. I enjoyed that.

You smell marvelous darling...

You know you are tough when...

1. You come home with your ear ripped to shreds
2. You make your owner curse at you.
3. You get to pick where you sleep in the house and everyone moves out of your way.
4. No one can tell you when to take a bath.
5. You can lick between your toes.
6. You growl at the reflection of yourself in the mirror.

Happy Birthday Me!