Dreams

I had a dream the other night. I was sitting in the back of a car in the middle between my boyfriend and my college sweetheart. There was no jealousy or discomfort at the arrangement. Everyone was getting along just fine as we went down the road to I don't know where. The car was driven by one of my female cousins with her husband in the front passenger seat. I am not in daily or even yearly contact with her, though I did recently visit her mother, my Aunt, to say hello.

I wondered what the dream was telling me. I used to keep a dream journal years ago, but have since misplaced it as well as the interpretation book. I do believe there is no one book that covers dream interpretation for everyone. Like if a person dreams of an apple: To a minister or someone who is very religious, it would probably stand for temptation, while a person who owns an orchard would see the apple as money. I did have a book I bought on dream interpretation, but I went through it and any meaning that didn't fit me was covered in white-out and my own idea of what I felt it meant was put in it's place. By doing this ahead of time I was giving my mind the codes to follow in talking to me in my dreams. It was a long process, but at the time worth it.

I had been mulling over the dream for several days, and last night as I was drifting off to sleep the meaning popped in my head:

1. The car represents the physical world and body, which is 'driven' by my DNA (I.E. my cousin driving the car). That comes from the fact that I have been studying my DNA results pretty much on a daily basis. This says we aren't 'in control' (driving) what happens to our bodies.We can't 'decide' not to be 50.
2. Sitting between my past and present boyfriends was me: Past me was young, carefree and only had to worry about passing tests and what bar or party to go to Friday and Saturday nights. (She was also a size six!) Present me is coming to terms with being in my 50's with a child and a committed relationship in tow. She has to deal with bills, what to fix for dinner almost EVERY SINGLE NIGHT (hate that), dishes (hate that too), or basically the daily life of an average, definitely not rich or even close to it 21st century woman. 
3. The fact that these two sides were getting along just fine and I was okay with being the middle of a big-boy sandwich tells me I'm FINALLY coming to terms with the "Big 5-0"!

And THAT is very good news!



What did I learn:

Maybe being in my 50's is okay! At least today.

Pets

Bear 2012

While I was locked out of my blog last fall my son's dog, Bear, died. He was 15 years old and had lost his hearing and site and was starting to have trouble getting to his feet. Being an outside dog (he'd cry if we brought him in) meant I had to go out if he barked and also on a set schedule to lead him to his water, make sure he ate something, and give him love so he would know he wasn't alone. He was a sweet dog who loved children, which is why Damien said he was his dog when he was just a toddler. (he was his dad's dog before) I think Damien was from Jersey in a past life, because he called him 'Bee-ah' back then.

It was a sad time, but I told him when he was ready we could find him a puppy. Time for children is different than for adults. Whenever I lost a pet I had to mourn for at least 6 months before I would even consider a new 'family member'. So, within a month we were into the hunt. I didn't want a pure breed. I wanted a pup who truly needed a home. Finally we found a listing on Craig's list. Someone had dumped a pregnant dog in the country about an hour away in Crane, Missouri and they had five pups needing homes. They said the mom looked like a basset-beagle mix and the dad was unknown. Done.

I had a beagle mix when I was Damien's age and she, Ginger, was the most awesome dog in the world to me. She would let me dress her in my clothes and walk her around the block. She was protective of us children, and slept beside my bed so I could hang my right arm off the bed and touch her when I was drifting off to sleep.

Comet

We drove down and he picked a little boy and soon named him Comet. While Bear was a calm laid-back dog, Comet is a burst of pure energy. He had ringworms when we got him and was covered in fleas and ticks, so to the vet we went for first shots, and worm medicine. The vet recommended jock itch cream for a topical for the ringworms.The vet took one look at him that first time he was at her office and said "His dad is defiantly Jack Russell." Then she laughed and said, "Jack Russell, Beagle and Bassett? You have some interesting times ahead!" and laughed again. Boy! She hit that on the head!

Later it was neutering and more shots. A few months later it was back to the vet for a skin yeast infection, and yet again for the yeast infection. Now, I bet you think I thought we had gotten a 'lemon'. But that little monster fits our family like a glove! We finally figured out he's allergic to dairy, and I was giving him the pills for his itching and yeast infection wrapped in cheese!! So finally no more rash!



Shady and Comet enjoying the snow

My dog Shady hated him for about 24 hours. He had been raised in a home full of senior citizen dogs, so it didn't take long for him to discover this little newbie wanted to play! From then on they were best buds. Running and tumbling inside and out. On the floor and on the bed (usually at bedtime). As a matter of fact Shady lost 5 pounds! He went from 52 lbs. to 47 lbs.. They even sleep side-by-side.



Comet has two speeds: Full-out and stop or sleep. No in between yet. Maybe when he's older, but what I've read about Jack Russell's... He has the Beagle 'Bay' when he sees a rabbit or squirrel. His nose is down on the ground as soon as he goes outside. Once I heard him really making a commotion. I went out and he had is head in the bushes. And then he'd jump back and bay. When I looked I found a snakeskin. About a four and a half to five foot snakeskin! I hope it's the blacksnake we saw once and not a new visitor!

But in the end I have to say he is loved by everyone in this house. Especially Shady.



What I already knew:

Spay and neuter people! And NEVER dump a dog or cat to fend for it's self or think someone will take it in. Comet's mom was very lucky! There are people who will shoot a stray. Just. Plain. Stupid.

P.S.

I Just read the above "Spay and neuter people!" I guess it should have been: "Spay and neuter, people" or "Spay and neuter your pets, people!" But sometimes I think, with some people, it should really be a call to "Spay and neuter people"!






Me (2.8%) Cavewoman

Recently I was perusing this group I joined at 23 and Me that talks about the fact that a lot of people have Neanderthal DNA. We don't know if it's good or bad, but we all agree it's pretty cool. It has become a bit of a status symbol for our little clique as to who has the most and is, thus, king caveman or queen cavewoman. I believe 4% is the highest found so far (haven't checked in a few days). I have 2.8% and my son has 3.1%. His dad is a paltry 2.7%. That in itself caused a stir and some talk in the group, that our son had more caveman than his parents. (He's ours. I checked and the DNA shows he wasn't switched at the hospital) It was decided that I had partial strands that added with some of Paul's partial strands and made a whole strand.

 

The group started with the question: 'Can we increase the amount of Neanderthal DNA in people and get a person who is 100% Neanderthal.' My son proves you can get more in the next generation, but it was by chance. Since Paul has less than me I wasn't attracted to his caveman musk. yuck!

 

You can even buy t-shirts that proudly show the amount of Neanderthal you have. It looked like you can buy one that 'proudly' shows down to .1%, which is sad to me, but the study shows Europeans have the highest, while it is absent in most people of African descent. Asians have a DNA 'cousin' of Neanderthal called Denisova.

Some of the people in the group are REALLY informed on the subject and know a LOT more than I do. Some of what they write is just 'blah, blah, blah' to my mushy brain. Sometimes I find myself wondering if they really know what they are saying or just copying what some scientist said, but either way it's above me, and that's just fine! I'm 51 now, and I would have to give up the words to songs or commercial jingles to make room for all that, and I like knowing the words to the Oscar Mayer jingle:

My baloney has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R. My baloney has a second name it's M-A-Y-E-R. Oh I love to eat it every day and if you ask me why I'll sayyyyyyyyy. 'Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A!

Back In Black (Ink)

For quite a while I got locked out of my own blog! It had something to do with a change they made to the site and my inability to figure out what they did. I could only stare at what I had written but never add. Big bummer! I enjoyed writing to you. I never got to finish the list I was doing, but I found my way back to you now these many months later, so I will add new with time.

 

I poured out the three two liter bottles of water I had stored for Doomsday. We tore our garage and attached shed or lean-to down before it fell down. A lot of stuff got thrown away because it was ruined or trash. The whole area was a soggy mess with snow and rain and big trucks from the people who tore it down and the roofers who followed. It was SUCH a mess here! But we have a new roof and front porch and a new place to use my 30 year old metal detector. Paul found metal salt and pepper shakers that are shaped like pot belly stoves. Pretty cool! He also found a literal bucket full of rusty nails, most in one giant pile. I found a pile of those weights that make old windows go up and down. I also dug up an ice cream bucket of broken glass and I'm not done. People used to just dump trash I guess! The house was built in about 1915. Before all I had found with the metal detector was a 1976 half dollar, an 1888 penny and TONS of nails and some bottle caps. We decided to keep all the metal and take it in for cash. We might just make 1 dollar! Never know...


What I've learned:

How to get back into my blog, kind of. Actually I really don't know how I got locked out or even how I got back in!

Power Of The Universe

I decided to put a major thought out there: "I want to get one hundred dollars." ... With the thought verbally said to my car and the air around me I smiled, truly hoping my wish was heard...It was heard! While at work my friend came up to me and asked me to run to the bank across the street and break a hundred dollar bill for the cash drawer. I was glad to help, but as I put the $5's and $10's in my pocket I started laughing, because I 'got' a hundred dollars...I just forgot to tell the Universe I wanted to KEEP it!

Nap Time

There are times when I have that beautiful moment when I can fit a nap into a day. It used to be that sometimes I would have trouble getting to sleep, but never again! I discovered The History Channel! Now, don't get all upset! I love the History channel, and I only discovered this secret by wanting to watch a show on something I found interesting. But as I sat there listening, the announcer's calm steady voice put me out. I remember being a bit upset the first few times, but then the light bulb went off and I knew I had discovered the perfect bedtime stories for nap time. Not all the shows work, but the ones that do are saved and ready.

Flick Him In The Forehead

I get annoyed when Paul starts blathering that he thinks he has a fever. I know what he wants, and if I try to ignore him he'll keep it up until I give in and get up and feel his forehead. Almost every time he's never even warm. If I try to just hand him the thermometer he'll say he can't read it on his own so I still have to get off my butt. I've had to stop myself from flicking him in the forehead for bothering me more than once. I really ought to start that. Every time I have to stop what I'm doing to feel his forehead and he's NOT at least moderately warm, I'm going to flick him in the forehead! If I have to pour the Pepto Bismol into the cup for him because he's 'too weak' or too dizzy to stand up and do it himself I'm going to flick him in the forehead! If I have to run to the store because he wants something he knows we don't have I'm tipping myself from his pants pocket...and flicking him in the forehead!

My DOOOOMSSSDAY DRAWERRRR

It's been a while, I know. I'm a bad blogger.


A while back I mentioned all the shows now about doomsday. All the people who have spent thousands and THOUSANDS of dollars preparing for solar flares, another ice age, mass hysteria from the economy going into the crapper, or many other horrible things that may happen. I have to confess I watch the shows. I find some of the people odd and quirky, and I wish some of the others were my best friends that I could run to and be protected from all the zombies or starving masses.


My own preparedness has...well...improved? I still only have the four two-liter bottles of water I stuck in the shed. But I have actually added some food...of sorts. What I've been doing is taking things I bought on some impulse and/or out of a markdown bin, decided I didn't like it and stuck it in a drawer and called it my Doomsday Drawer. (Here you should add a thunderous echo in your head when you say: "DOOOOMSSSDAY DRAWERRRR") That's just to make me feel like I've done something! What I have in my drawer is a package of some sort of soy food that has dried veggies mixed in it and a package of I think chicken bullion. I got that free. Hard to believe hu? I also have a package of black corn microwave popcorn. It smells and taste like saw dust, so I added the last pack and if times are scarce I can pop it in a pan over a fire, or I can suck the imitation butter off the kernels and plant them to grow more saw dust corn. I also have two packages of dried plums. Now, one would assume that's just a nice way of saying prunes, but there is a difference. I like prunes. These are tasteless. Prunes are sweet. These are not. Prunes are soft. These are hard. Difference that puts them in my DOOOOMSSSDAY DRAWERRRR. I want to put salt in there because I bet it will be valuable in Missouri since the ocean is so far away and gas will become scarce to get there yourself. Salt used to be more valuable than gold, and if people have to eat saw dust and hard plums I bet I can trade salt for some dead animal after the "end" happens. I haven't done it yet, but I'm going to one of these days! I also have a package of instant brown gravy mix. I figure gravy could make something taste better. But that's it. That's all I've got right now. Long way to go, but at least I won't starve for a week...that's how long it will take for me to get hungry enough to eat that crap!


I had a weird dream on this subject. This guy had cut his arm real bad on something and I was chasing him with a piece of moldy bread  and duct tape in my hands yelling "Stop! Stop! I just want to tape this bread to your arm!" For some reason he was terrified of me and was screaming as he tried to get away from me. I wouldn't give up either. I was bound and determined to duct tape that bread to his wound...As you know penicillin is made from mold found on bread and stuff. I don't really know how to use it in real life, though I found out blue cheese has penicillin mold in it, so it would be better to just eat a chunk of blue cheese if you ask me...which you SHOULD NOT because I'm and idiot at survival. Obviously!




What YOU should have learned this month is DO NOT count on me. I'll probably maim myself trying to set a rabbit trap in my back yard.


What I learned is I really need to make friends with someone who can keep me from killing myself with a rabbit trap or moldy bread.

End Of Weekly Talks

I was having a little problem with the blog site. It wouldn't let me type and just kept loading. I decided to take that as a sign to end my weekly 'talks' with you and move into a 'when the mood hits me'. It may be twice a month or it may end up six times a month...when I have something to say I'll say it and hope you find it amusing or helpful.


The other day I was having a down kind of day. We all have them from time to time and I wasn't in the mood to grocery shop which is where I found myself at that moment. I just hate dealing with all the isle blockers and all the thinking involved with thinking ahead to what I will want to eat four days from now.


My son, Damien, was beside me and out of the blue he said; "You know, we're safe from zombies in here."


I looked at him and said, "Why?"


A smile pulled at his mouth and he said, "Cause they would come in the door saying 'Brains. Brains!' and then they'd look around at the people in here and say, 'Oh. Never mind.' and leave. Cause these people in here must have brains too small to waste their time on."


That boy cracks me up! I can't stay in a bad mood with him around! I'll admit I nourished that part of his personality because I can't stand people who can't see the humor in life. Yes, we all have our moments when we need to feel sorry for ourselves, but once you've rolled around in self pity for a while you need to stand back up and move forward. It's not good for you physically or mentally. It makes the days long and hard. Even if you have to force yourself at first, in the long run you'll get yourself back in control. That's one reason I promised never to have a pity party on these pages. Yes, I sometimes burden my friends with all my wah, wah, but never you!


Maybe this is my 'Happy Place'? Hum...pretty cool lesson learned!

Week Thirteen (2/2-8)

Lucky 13...

 

 

 

There isn't much I can write about the past week. I watched TV and fed my family over and over... I did see this new show called Doomsday Preppers. It follows different people who are preparing for Armageddon or different horrors that might happen. It did remind me I was going to do something like that. I did fill three or four 2 liter bottles with water and stuck them in the shed for such an emergency. I was going to put at least one 2 liter bottle of water up every week, but I guess something shiny must have distracted me. It happens sometimes!

 

 

 

I did learn if you coat eggs with mineral oil and store them in a cool place they'll keep for 8-12 months. That kind of scares me though! It showed them feeding them to friends, and it didn't show anyone throwing up afterwards, but I just don't know if I would risk it. I'd have to feed one to someone I don't like first before I'd feed it to my family. I think I would stick to freeze dried or vacuum sealed things. You can supplement with seasonal wild things like persimmons, paw-paws, greens and things. Paul can shoot a gun (something else we'd have to buy though!) so we would have meat even if it's pigeon or rabbit. It's expensive to fend for yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

What I learned this week:

 

 

 

I learned.....what's that shiny thing over there? ..........