And the Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down

Finally. It’s been ages since Mother Nature’s had a drink around here. Not that the lawns are turning brown already or anything – but the brush fire danger is high. In fact, we had some IDIOT flick a cig out his or her window between exits 4 and 3 westbound on the Pike and voila – brush fire extraordinaire!  The day started off overcast, then cleared up with sunny skies. Late this afternoon it got that dark charcoal look. Downpour imminent.  No thunderboomer though. Just a cataclysmic waterfall from the sky – and right when I was leaving work for the day. I had to crank up the defogger to the max, as well as peg out the windshield wipers.

Didja ever notice that the road gets kind of greasy during the first rain after a long dry spell?  Believe me, I could see miniature rainbows in the runoff on the pavement. Not that it slowed me down any on the Mass Pike.    Speed Demon – that’s me.  AKA Masshole Driver.  Muahahahaha!  Despite the flood I drove faster than I probably needed to. Strangely I don’t usually listen to music on the way to and from work. I’m too busy inside my head figuring out my day, and on the way back – my evening.

Anyhoo-I decided to be a good wife and pick up The Viking at work. Normally he rides his mountain bike back and forth every day (its a 2 mile trip one way). We’ve downsized to one car for the two of us and so far its working out OK. Those days where its bad weather I always try to make sure I offer to bring him to work or pick him up. 9/10 times he’s already got a ride – but I always offer.  I have the (much) longer commute so kind of got the vehicle privileges by default.  I had texted him as I left work, but he was unable to respond, nor did he pick up when  I called so I just figured to swing by on the way home. Good thing I did. The downpour followed me from Chicopee. And The Viking was glad to see me!   I made sure to park right next to the bike.

He got the bike loaded and we  took off towards home. Traffic wasn’t too bad – considering.  Clay Hill was awash with runoff and there was minor flooding at the bottom at the corner of Notre Dame by Mestek. The rain lasted till about an hour after we got home, and has subsided for the moment. Its still overcast, but” pink and grey” -ly so. The light is ethereal right now, and the grass has a neon green glow to it.  The mockingbird is kicking up a fuss down the street and the air smells of petrichor.  That wonderful, strangely melancholic, fresh after the rain smell that means green; and growing.

I’m thinking Mayhem will have a  date with the lawnmower this weekend, as she wants to earn some spending money for Anime Boston at the end of the month. Chaos’ cat – Guy Walworth aka Sir aka Sir Guy  – is hanging out with me in the porch window. So far, I have no allergic or asthmatic complaints – and I fully own up to the fact that I am a complete SAP and can’t say no when an animal needs rescuing. (Long story – but suffice to say that I do not recommend getting a pet with one’s boyfriend – pets are for long term, live together, stable relationships)  Anyway,  I’m hoping we get some more of the wet stuff tonight. The sound of rain on my roof will be lovely as I drift off to la-la land. But, I hope it clears up in time for the weekend.  I want to get out and about with my camera.

I also strangely feel the need to find our old VHS copy of “Winnie the Pooh and The Blustery Day”  The kids used to love watching that.  Mayhem’s favorite toy when she was very little was “Heppa”.  It was a Puff-a-Lump that she renamed after the song  “Heffalumps and Woozles”  I’m very confu-zzled…. .   Anyway, it still smells awesome outside, and I am so grateful to be able  to smell it. (normally I have no sense of smell due to chronic sinus problems). I’m enjoying my second glass of moscato white wine, and trying to decide what to have for dinner.  Here’s hoping for a pleasantly relaxing evening – listening to the rain on the roof.   Hugs to all.

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• What Makes Rain Smell So Good? (blogs.smithsonianmag.com)
• Petrichor (shainalane.wordpress.com)
• Brush fire on Mass Pike put out quickly (wwlp.com)
• Gifting words (retetapentruimposibil.wordpress.com)
• Rain is (finally) here (wwlp.com)

 

The Baby and The Bathwater

I should be used to it by now. The knee jerk reactions that make it so difficult to really affect and effect change.  Somehow, we always end up throwing out the baby with the bathwater – despite our best intentions to do otherwise. And yet I find myself getting more and more irritated with stupidity.  Two great examples of this are the current hot button issues of gun control and dog ownership (particularly pit bull ownership).  Owning a gun and owning a dog carry many of the same responsibilities if you think about it.   You have to make sure your guns are well maintained (cleaned, oiled and stored properly), and you have to do the same for your dog (vet visits, shots, grooming etc) .  You have to make sure your dog is properly leashed or fenced in your yard, and you have to be sure your gun is stored safely and properly and the safety left on when not in use.

For some reason, we cannot seem to figure out a way to hold offenders accountable for their actions. For some reason, its easier to restrict the activities of the population at large than it is to arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate criminal offenders.  I’ll use an example from the workplace.  Most workplaces have a dress code. Enforcing said code presents its own particular set of challenges that may or may not be quite humorous on occasion.  Like dealing with an employee who showed up to work in their jammies and couldn’t for the life of them figure out why they were being sent home – because they dress that way to go to the mall….. sigh.  Or, banning everyone from wearing sleeveless dresses, shirts or tops in the summertime because some of the men decided to cut off the sleeves of their t shirts and the gaping holes gave everyone a glimpse of nasty pit hair…. Instead of telling these guys they had to classy it up they just tell everyone – NO SLEEVELESS.  Baby. Bathwater…. and gone…..

So many people are negiligent when it comes to pet ownership and gun ownership.  Letting their dogs roam free to chase and bite people; leaving their guns out where children, toddlers, and flat out  crazy people can access them (with tragic results).  So what do we do?  Can I get a “Harrumph?” from you all? Because thats what we do. We get on our sanctimonious soapboxes and engage in inefficient hand-wringing – then we make ridiculous blanket laws that restrict and penalize mature,  RESPONSIBLE dog and firearm owners.  Look what just happened in Maryland with regard to pit bull ownership.  Look whats happening within the Gun Control Debate.  You only have to witness the political posturing to become really really annoyed. And I am. Annoyed. To the Max. I’m a centrist, basically. Common sense dictates we need reform -not blanket all or nothing restriction.  Nor do we need to jump into the Way Back Machine and head for the Wild Wild West.  Because we’re doing it again – throwing the baby out with the bathwater; instead of engaging in thoughtful dialogue and compromise to come up with solutions that work for the majority of responsible hard working Americans. Let me list a few ideas:

Brindle pit bull (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dogs -

1. If you want to own a pit bull you must register them for obedience classes and give a copy of the certificate to City Hall in addition to the rabies tag number when you get the dog licensed.  You must demonstrate re-certification of obedience training every 3-5 years. You must be a homeowner to own a pit bull, or have sufficient assets to cover a lawsuit if the dog injures someone. This goes for other breeds like Rottweilers, Pinschers, German Shepherds, Chows, Dalmatians, and Akitas too – since all these breeds have aggressiveness bred into them. There may be a few breeds I missed here feel free to add…

2. Dog owners already pay increased  homeowners premiums, (depending on the breed, and they may not even cover you if you have a banned breed)  but all dog owners should be required to submit proof of vaccination and licensing to their policy carriers.

3. All dogs should be required to be on leash or in a fenced in yard  when outdoors- subject to fine and/or seizure of the dog if non-compliant. Not all communities have leash laws, and those that do may only sporadically enforce them – doing so only after there is a problem.

4. Dog owners should be required to notify the public that there is a dog on their premises.

There’s probably more but that’s all I can think of right now. It comes down to common sense , really – Which ain’t quite as common as it should be, sadly enough.

                                             (photo credit: Wikipedia)

Guns -

1. I’ve listed several things in other posts so I’ll just summarize here: Background checks for all sales.  Private sales should be illegal.  No actual possession of said  firearm by the buyer until a training course is completed and certification of the ability to use and store said firearm safely is on file with the gun seller, and the new gun owner’s insurance carrier. Yes I do think you should have to insure your guns. No sale to anyone with a history of mental illness ( improve those background checks) Your right to be bat-guano ga-ga does not supersede my right to keep breathing safely.  No sale to anyone who lives with a family member with mental illness. PERIOD. No sale to anyone under the age of 16.. Proof of age required to purchase. Possession of a firearm by anyone not carrying an FID card and proof of ownership should invite criminal charges for both the possessor and the registered owner. Magazine clip size should be limited. Modification kits – illegal.  If a tragedy does occur and the investigation reveals that the gun owner stored the firearm unsafely or improperly or knowingly allowed  someone other than themselves to use the firearm – then the gun owner should be held civilly and criminally responsible.

I understand this may not curb criminal activity or criminal’s access to firearms, but it will damn sure make it less likely that a toddler can pick up his fathers gun and kill a Tennessee Sherriff’s wife with it. And it will make it extremely difficult – if not impossible – for idiots like Nancy Lanza to provide their mentally ill child with access to firepower.  I am in no way saying people should not have guns if they want them. But they need to assure those of us that don’t  they can own and use them responsibly.  SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY. And,  SAFETY.

It is a great privilege to own a firearm, and be a pet owner. Both carry great responsibility with them .  If we enforce the laws we already have on the books, that will help also. But if people start understanding that they are responsible for the safety of themselves and others and will be held ACCOUNTABLE by laws that make sense for the majority of people  – then perhaps that baby I’ve been talking about can go get toweled off, powdered, and re-diapered instead of floundering around in the mud. Rant concluded. Thank you, that is all  (for now)

Give Me The Simple Life

On Father’s Day it was quite sunny and humid here in the wilds of western Massachusetts. We took the dogs for a walk down to the river in the afternoon. Senor Fluffy Pants (aka Chewbacca) immediately bolted for the water when let off lead; then promptly sat down in the river, grinning from ear to ear. Ahhh a dog’s life! If only such simple things could make me happy (I’m workin on it)…. But  that’s one happy dog!    Photo by: Brent Erickson

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Wine

This, my friends, is what I was doing last evening before my lack of coordination reared its ugly head.  I repotted some of my herbs, then sat on my deck steps enjoying a glass of Pinot Grigio, whilst my family buzzed around like the busy bees they are. Jocelyn gets the photo cred for the picture of me. OMG  I definitely need to see my hair stylist soon….., and what the heck happened to my eyebrows?? Typical female, always over critical of any pictures I’m in.  The composition of the photo ….great, the subject…..  mehhhh.   And yes unfortunately that IS Sophie’s butt…. *sigh 

Photo By: Jocelyn Erickson

The weather’s been thundery and showery all week.  We are hoping it dries out for the 3 day weekend.  It made for some dramatic skyscapes though -  that I will be posting soon.

Of Rosebuds, Herbs, Puppy Dogs, and Saturday Chores

Today was my day to play catch up – with my usual Saturday chores – like the laundry and cleaning the bathroom.  And, also all the little chores I just didn’t get around to doing this week as I’ve been just plain too tired to tackle.  I’ve said this before – but it’s flippin difficult to work a 40 hour week, then also be the taxi driver, chief cook, bottle washer, and nurse (if necessary) – among other things.   It’s been a long week, and I was so glad to see the lovely sunshine this morning.

The Viking has to work this weekend, and he was up at 4:30 – which of course meant I also woke up at 4:30.  Didn’t go back to sleep really, just dozed on and off till about 8:30.  On these bright sunny weekend mornings I love to go outside and sit on my deck steps with my homemade “dunkaccino” ( coffee mocha, basically) . The puppies love to accompany me and lie on the sun-warmed deck (before it gets too hot). Of course they have to get their daily doses of petting and puppy cuddles.

Sophie Margaret

This morning the “McGootch”  (Chewy) got a little over zealous and nudged my coffee hand – my dunkaccino went flying all over the patio – which was a good thing because it was smoking  hot at the time and either the dogs or I would’ve gotten a wicked burn.  For a good picture of Senor Fluffy Pants (Chewy), visit my “About Me” page. So my first cup went to the sugar ants….oh well.  My trusty Keurig brewed up another cup in no time flat.   Once I “caffeined up”  I was ready to tackle some heavy duty cleaning chores.

This morning that meant taking on the entire bathroom from ceiling to floor.  I  have to be careful what chemicals I use because of my asthma; but I discovered a great cleaning product called Mr Clean Magic Eraser.  Gets rid of soap scum, mildew etc etc in the sink and shower literally like magic.  I was done with the heavy cleaning by noon- ish, which isn’t too bad.  The girls cleaned their rooms and we also straightened out the mudroom.  Then it was off to Six Flags New England for my oldest, and the Holyoke Mall for me and Jill. Got a great deal at Williams Sonoma on some all purpose wine glasses at less than $5.00 a glass.  I broke the last of my utility wine glasses a few weeks ago and I’ve been drinking my pinot grigio out of a Ball Mason Jar.  Anyway we got back about 4, and I was ready for a glass of wine and some deck time.  I also wanted to play with my camera and check on my herb garden.

One of my two Kitchen Herb Garden Containers, containing thyme, oregano, basil (unseen) and rosemary.

The Viking is tackling a larger garden project, but I am working on a much smaller scale.  Aside from my perennials, I always plant a couple of small containers of cooking herbs that I can leave on my deck steps.  When I need fresh herbs I can meander outside and clip off what I need.  My little system works well, and my fabled black thumb (I’m an infamous plant killer, jsyk) doesn’t come into play.  I love my herbs – particularly my rosemary and thyme.

Rosemary

Thyme, with flowers

I also planted basil and chives this year.  I’m hoping to make some fresh pesto – but as you can see from the photo my basil leaves are getting some yellow and brown spots on them. I have no idea what it is or what to do about it (if anything can even be done)

My poor basil, and chives

My Chives. The flowers are edible, faintly spicy and REALLY good in cold potato salad!

As I said, I have no real head for horticulture whatsoever. I plant it, water it, and cross my fingers…… unlike my mother – who could probably grow orchids in the desert.     My roses are just starting to bud, they seem to love the new trellis we put in  a few weeks ago.

Rosebuds, trellis and spiderweb….

“Rosebud” (Citizen Kane?)

The siberian irises are starting to bud too, but it’ll be at least another week or two before we see any blooms from them.  Between 4 and 7pm  is the best time to enjoy my backyard, the intense sun is off the deck and patio by that time, it’s started to cool down, and the mosquitoes and mayflies are not yet out in force.

We grilled balsamic vinegar-marinated steaks for dinner -with garlic mashed potatoes and mixed veggies in a bechamel cheese sauce.  We also added cheddar cheese crumbles to the steak and splashed on some more balsamic vinegar.  I caught up on the season finale of Hawaii 5-O. Just gotta run downstairs and check on the laundry in the dryer. And, check on the teenager and her friends who are enjoying a fire in the outdoor fireplace this lovely evening. It’s 10:50pm here on the East Coast. Time for me to say Goodnight!   Love and Hugs!

Bless the Beasts….

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Bless the Beasts and the Children, for in this world they have no voice – They have no choice.

Bless the Beasts and the Children for the world can never be the world they see.

Light their way when the darkness surrounds them. Give them Love – let it shine all around them.

Bless the Beasts and the Children, give them shelter from the storm. Keep them safe, keep them warm. “

~ music and lyrics by: Perry Botkin Jr. & Barry DeVorzon

performed by: The Carpenters

Those of you who know me – or who have gotten to know me on my blog – know that I have a few hot button issues – not least of which are personal responsibility and accountability. I also am passionate about advocating for children, folks with special needs, and animal rescue. So let me tell you about Jack. Jack is a lab mix who came to be adopted by my co-worker and her husband via the local animal shelter. Jack has a horrific back story and was SEVERELY abused throughout his short life. He came to my friends a few months ago, skeletal, and scared to death. Jack is a lovely, beautiful dog who has filled out nicely since going home with his new Mom and Dad. They love him to pieces. However Jack suffers from severe PTSD due to what he has endured. – I wonder if hell is hot enough for those “people” who abused him to burn in?- and I’m thinking there’s no way it can be after what they did to Jack. (and there I go with responsibility and accountability again…)

My friends are working closely with their vet and an animal behaviorist, but Jack has had a setback. He got startled the other day and all the great strides he’s been making – like being able to be leashed to go outside (his former owners beat him with one); accepting being petted, etc have gone by the wayside. He’s a hot mess and I feel so terribly for him and for my friends, who can barely get near him. She actually has to leave the room so Jack will go to his dish and eat his food. He’s absolutely petrified of the world now, and I think they are wondering if they can help him. They’re not giving up on him, and they’re certainly not blaming him. His behavior issues are not his fault by any stretch.  And that my friends, is the difference between responsible caring HUMAN BEINGS and slimy pieces of filth that should be rotting away in prison somewhere.

Sadly, we have all too often seen that animal abuse does not carry anywhere near the penalties deserved. They have no voice, and cannot defend themselves against the monstrous cruelties inflicted on them. It is our duty to create that safe, warm and loving environment where our pets, our children – all those we are responsible for – can flourish and grow. In Jack’s case – I sincerely hope and pray its not too late. So before you go to sleep tonight – say a little prayer for Jack, and for all the voiceless who are enduring the unendurable right now. May they all find loving homes and caring Moms and Dads to put them back together again.

Related articles

• Reasons to Adopt from Animal Shelters (theconstantscribbler.wordpress.com)

Pepe le Pew

It’s that time of year again. Came a bit early due to the mild winter but inevitable nonetheless. The local skunks have come out of hibernation. Ahhh the telltale scent wafting on the night air: Putrid -with top notes of sulfur/rotten egg, and undertones of burnt rubber, acid vomit,and musk. “Le pant, Le heave, Le gasp!” Spring in New England is now officially here. (and OMG I heard peepers at sunset last night too!!)

Images via Photobucket

Sophie found out the hard way about the season change at 4:30 this morning. Pepe was on the other side of the fence, minding his own business… “Casey did waltz with zee blonde strawberree and zee band on played..”. When suddenly his nocturnal ramble was disturbed by Doofus “I will love him and squeeze him and call him George.” McSniff. Clearly Pepe/George was not on the same page with those plans. He was probably searching for either a snack, or “la belle femme skunk of zee female spee-shees.” Sophie, while adorable, is still not the brightest bulb in the chandelier- la belle femme chien, mas oui! Le skunk de pew- non! . Note to dog: skunks are NOT ferrets. So – No canine/weasel bonding. Bad idea, Soph, very bad! Aaand some spraying ensued. . . (like we didn’t see that one coming)
Thank goodness for the fence, Soph caught only a glancing blow, as it were. She still stinks to high heaven, and even I – with my chronic sinus problems- am catching much more of a whiff than I care to. It smells SOOO much worse outside though, I hesitate to open the door. I should try and dig up the gas mask we had as a Halloween prop; but I have no idea where it might be. Gotta go out soon for some Febreze- it really works to get rid of strong odors. Or, I get to go to the booksigning/presentation in Boston today smelling faintly skunky. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends…”. “Le pant, Le heave, Le gasp!”

A Do Nothing Day

Today’s been one of those days. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and it’s caught up with me. So today’s been a do nothing day. Recharging my batteries, as it were. I spent my day cocooned in my blankets; on my couch watching Netflix. Monday morning is fast approaching. I slept in this morning, too. I need all the rest I can get. And the picture below illustrates what happens when the girls stay up past my bedtime… Like last night. Poor Sophie!!!

Photo by: Jocelyn Erickson

Heard at my House Last Night….

The following takes place between 12:00 am and 1:00 am…

24:15 – Awake to a godawful crash/thud right above head.

24:15:02 – Then, the dulcet tones of oldest child wafting through the air vent – “q[weruefggrfwq?? asdfghjkllkj;’;?!?!!   WTF!!!

24:16-24:18 – Stomp . . . Stomp. Thud. . . Clang. . . Crash….

24:18 – mumble…. Grumble.. grumble…

24:18:30 – Quiet again Reigns Supreme.

Ninja Ferret Stealth Night Ops…. Low Altitude Low Opening (LALO) – Mission Failure…

Roger. Copy that. Over and Out.

Photo by: Jocelyn Erickson

Rescues

This one’s been sitting in my brain for a few days now; I originally just wanted to share about our pets – both living and those that have gone on to wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge – but every time I tried to write something I got verklempt and had to stop immediately. Couldn’t even think of a catchy title. But I’ve been getting signs all over the place today that tell me I need to write NOW, TODAY. Emails, conversations, pictures I ran across – so I’m gonna go about it another way and try not to get too emotional. (Unfortunately it didn’t work and I’m a hot mess right now.) But I will continue because this issue (pet adoption and rescue) is important to me. There will be more stories from the Pet Chronicles coming soon to a website near you…. but this is what started me down a slightly different path than I had first planned on: WARNING: Have Kleenex within reach.

“Before humans die, they leave behind their last will and testament – giving all they had to the loved ones they leave behind. If with my paws I could do the same thing- this is what I would ask…

To the poor and lonely stray… I’d give

• My Happy Home
• My bowl and cozy bed, and all my toys
• The lap that I loved to sit in so much
• The hands that stroked my fur and the sweet voices that spoke my name.

I’d will to the sad, scared shelter animal the place I had in my loving humans heart. A place that seemed to have no boundaries.

So when I die, please do not say ‘I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand’.

Instead, go find an unloved pet – one whose life has held no joy or hope – and give MY place to THEM.

For this is the only thing I can give – the love I leave behind.”

~Author Unknown

I guess it kinda goes without saying I needed that Kleenex just to proofread that one. All of our pets have been rescues of one kind or another. Cats we agreed to take care of temporarily and whose owners wouldn’t take them back, the puppy whose nose was scarred (we named him Capone) and who again nobody else wanted. Our lady greyhound Miss Nellie (aka Miss Boo), – with her scarred hindquarters from a gate injury in her racing days. Our epileptic lab Sophie – Doofus McSniff The Chocolate Moose; and Chewbacca – who wasn’t getting along so well with his 1st mama’s younger dogs. (but was in no danger of being left on his own or put in a shelter) Chewy came into our lives literally right before Nellie passed on -via my older daughter’s boyfriend. Chewy was his dog when he lived at home. That’s the Chewch with me on my “About Me” page. Mr. Snuggles. Senor Fluffy Pants. We rarely call our pets by their actual names here at Casa Del Chaos – in case you didn’t notice.

I have funny stories about each of them – too many to share them all now. I’ll save the ferrets (the little devils!) for another time. Capone – who loved my oldest baby so much that he would take her diapers out of the trash, pile them up and just lie on them. ( Eww I know, right? But he never did anything other than lie down on them) Sophie our resident medicine puppy. She always knows when we’re sick and lies down on our feet. And Nellie – I really want to talk about her. Deep breath – here goes…

We adopted her through a greyhound rescue organization when she was 3 and we had her the longest of any of our pets. Our graceful, sweet brindle girl. Greys aren’t normally barkers, but Nellie took her guard duties seriously. And, she could still make it to the fence in under 3 seconds even when she was older. Faster than a “speeding anything except a cheetah” – you betcha! That dog was a beautiful sight when she ran. The girls had rabbits at one point and Nellie kind of reverse imprinted on them. She thought she was their mama and whenever they were in the back yard she would try to herd them. A greyhound who herds rabbits?? Only at my crazy house. She also made a great reindeer with some fake antlers at Christmastime. Nellie flew solo as the family pet for several years and then we got the Soph to keep her company. One winter evening we let the dogs out only to see them stopped dead at the fence. When we went a little closer we saw a very large (read: wolf size) lone coyote on the other side of the fence. And there were Tweedle-Dumb and Tweedle-Dumber – happily clueless, tails wagging as if to say ” Hey wanna come in and play?” I about had a heart attack, and certainly had a conniption – as we frantically yelled and gestured to get them back safely inside – and shoo Wile E. away from a potential meal or three.

We had Nell up till last November. She was 15 -ancient for a greyhound (so our vet says). It happened fast. It seemed like one day she was elderly but OK, & the next she couldn’t get up even with support. My husband had to carry her outside to do her business and it was obvious she was in pain. There was no “decision” to make as a responsible pet owner. It was time. It really really sucks being responsible sometimes. The worst part for me was actually Sophie. She was literally screaming as we brought Miss Boo to the car. I think she knew, and I never want to hear a sound like that again -ever. Please and thank you Lord. Painful and heartbreaking – yes without a doubt. But no one in my family would trade even a minute of the time we had with Nellie (or any of the others who wait at that Bridge) for all the tea in China. Great stories and memories made -bringing laughter and unconditional love. All because we rescued a pet. I highly recommend it -despite the tears (or maybe because of them).

"Nellie Hugs"