Animal Neglect

I'm writing today about something I've seen. If you know me very well you know that I love watching Animal Planet and that I love animals. Today I went with my friend to a kennel to pick up a miniature Dachshund that was being given away. If you have ever been to a kennel, you know that they can be deplorable places.

What I saw today, absolutely broke my heart. Dogs matted, some with eye infections, some with insufficient shelter. I seriously shed a few tears, as did my mother and friend. When we went, we knew they had the miniature dachshund and a blind Boston terrier to give away. The Boston terriers eyes were filled with the "green goop" sign of an eye infection. The dogs in surrounding pens were matted so severely that you could barely tell what kind of dog it was.

I called the county sheriff's office to have them check into it (like PETA suggested). They called back and said that the dogs had water and food. The deputy then told me that the pens all had shelter in them (which is true, but it isn't sufficient shelter for the number of dogs in each pen). The owner of the kennel took the deputy out to see the Boston terrier and said they have medicine and are doctoring the eyes (the deputy didn't ask to see any medicine). He said that because they have food, water, and shelter there was nothing they can do about it. I think it's horrendous that the police didn't look into all of my complaint and that they didn't think that the neglect was anything to worry about.

I was able to take a few pictures on my phone while I was in the yard alone, but they aren't the best pictures and you can't see the severity of the matting. I just hope that PETA will do something on their part to insure that these dogs will have a good life. Attached are a couple of pictures that kind of show the matting, but since they are phone pictures they aren't the best.

Cleaning

The wedding is off. We got a call on Monday morning from my brother saying that he and his girlfriend had broken up and are not getting married. We were all happy about that, but then had to make the 2 hour drive to pick him up from her mom's house.

On another note, I was told (by the principal) when I resigned from teaching because of health problems and no real answers that my business with the school was over. I got a call from the superintendent and he said that the school had a couple of checks for me that I can pick up whenever I'm in town. Since we never go to that town for shopping or anything, we'll probably make a trip there today to pick up those checks. They couldn't have really come at a better time so, I'm thankful for that. God really does provide!

On Friday we are supposed to meet a lady from our local Freecycle. She is giving us some cosmos and four o'clocks and Mom is really excited about that. This lady is meeting us before her chemo treatment so we'll probably be talking to her for a while. Mom will want to add her to the church prayer list.

I have been cleaning my room, just a little at a time. Isn't it amazing how much "stuff" we accumulate?! They say teachers are destined packrats, and my mom is a packrat...I guess I was just meant to be this way. I threw away so much stuff and donated so much stuff to a thrift shop and still have stuff to go through. I see now how big my supply of baby clothes is! I had them for my niece and a little girl I was keeping but now that they are too big for them, it's just hard to get rid of them. Some are too small for my great niece and others would fit, but are the wrong season. I'm sure I'll find someone to loan them to though. Oh, and I have a Johnny JumpUp...my niece is nearly 3 and my great niece is only here maybe a couple of days a month. I'd rather this thing be used than sitting in my bedroom. Luckily, I know a family (grandparents) that has had around 4 babies since January, so they may be able to use it.

Anyway, I'm going to try to start writing more regularly again. Once I start slacking on something, it's so easy to keep slacking and even kind of forget about it. Memorial Day weekend is nearly here....do you know where your swimsuit is? haha

Marriage

Ok...so my younger brother is planning to get married. He's not just getting married, he's getting married to a girl none of the family likes...a girl that has 3 children but doesn't take care of any of them...a girl that has always been on my list of people I don't like or want to be around.

It's not just that they're getting married. They're getting married 2 hours away from here because that's where her mom lives (even though the rest of her family lives around here). They want all of us to drive 2 hours there so they can get married in a gazebo...by the justice of the peace. After the wedding, they want everyone to drive the 2 hours BACK here so that they can have a party (I guess in place of a reception). AND we don't know what time any of this is on the 22nd of this month because we have to wait for out invitation to come in the mail. And their reason for rushing this....because my brother wants to leave. They're planning on living in a trailer like 2 miles down the road.

On another note, my dachshund puppy, Molly is growing pretty fast. She's such a cutie! My niece, Madison will tell you "This puppy's name is Miss Molly Mae." Things have been pretty dreary around here. It has rained for about the last week (maybe over a week). Yesterday it just sprinkled some and today i think i actually saw the sun a little. It's supposed to start raining again tonight and rain at least through the 12th. I'm SO tired of rain!

baking...

I'm pleased to say that my gluten intolerance has not had much of an effect on my baking and cooking. Sure, I'm more careful and have to watch what I use and everything, but I've been baking and cooking just like before.

This morning I woke up wanting cereal, but when I saw we were out, it didn't take any time at all for me to find my copy of Gluten Free Girl's Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies . I mixed them up really fast, rolled them into balls, rolled the balls in sugar, put them on the cookie sheet, made the criss cross with fork prongs and stuck them in the oven. In about 10 minutes I had warm peanut butter cookies that I could eat. I had two for breakfast!

When I first was told I have Celiac disease and would have to read every food label, avoid cross contamination, and follow a strictly gluten free diet, I thought my world would end. I love biscuits...I found a gluten free biscuit mix. I wanted cookies...found recipes for those (even a mix for chocolate chip cookies). Then I had my birthday. What in the world would someone gluten free have for their birthday?! I found a gluten free cake mix that I did not like. It was too dense, thick and I could taste the eggs (for those of you who don't know, I have a pretty keen sense of taste...tasting eggs when you're eating cake is disgusting). I think next year it will be ice cream for my birthday...we'll see.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my baking success with you guys. I'm hoping that I'll be able to find some more great recipes for gluten free foods soon.

That's the Way it is...

This past week has been ok, but wasn't exactly the best week ever.

I did get my replacement phone about a week ago, but am having trouble getting all of the numbers that I had. Part of this is because some of the people don't get online very often and I can't find their numbers on past phone bills. It's hard to go through all of the phone numbers that you called, have called you, you've sent a text to, or that have sent one to you...after a while they all seem to be the same.

Our school had Lip Sync on Friday. My nephew, Alex, was in it with a few of his friends. They did some song I've never heard before..."Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills"...it was cute, but they didn't win. I like going, but because the auditorium gets so crowded, I kind of hate it. I don't like being around so many people at once....especially packed into a crowded room with them.

I am still taking the "medicine" from that herbalist that I had went to. So far, it isn't helping. In fact, this morning my stomach hurts worse than usual.

On another note, I had a great supper last night. Of course, mom didn't like it because I used Italian Seasoning and she doesn't like it. I mixed Italian Seasoning, garlic, salt, pepper, a little cumin, and some crushed red pepper in an empty bottle. I then rubbed that mixture onto some boneless pork loin chops. I heated a little oil in a pan and just pan fried them for about 4 minutes on each side. I then removed the meat and used the grease in a corn starch gravy (gluten free). I made mashed potatoes and broccoli with cheese. After I had everything cooked, Anthony fixed a can of biscuits for them. I thought it was all good. Mom doesn't like anything with Italian Seasoning and Anthony usually just fills up on potatoes and biscuits if they're made. So I guess I have leftovers for lunch today.

I'm thinking it's about time for me to go back to the doctor (a real doctor) about this abdominal pain. It's not getting any better and I'm tired of running a low-grade fever. I'm tired of being sick...and I'm tired of being tired all the time. My cousin (a nurse) said it sounds like mono and chronic appendicitis, but she wasn't sure. She asked the doctor she works with and he said he hadn't heard of anything like this before. One of my friends asked me the other day if all of the run around I get from the doctors has me nervous...I'm not nervous, in fact, I'm glad they aren't saying it's something serious. You would think that since it isn't serious, they'd figure it out quicker though. It has baffled at least 3 doctors that none of the CT scans, ultrasounds, xrays, or anything else showed gall stones even though my gall bladder was near rupturing. I think I should get an award for baffling so many doctors, nurses, friends and family. haha

Anyway, I think we're about to go somewhere. We got behind this week in our errands because I wasn't feeling well. It's not like we can get many errands taken care of on a Sunday around here, but some of them we will be able to...and places won't be to crowded.

Stolen Phone Rant

Ok, so I know it's not the weekend but I'm a little mad and want to write. Today my little brother stole my phone. Yeah...I know, why would he steal my phone?! He has his own and it's not like mine is anything special. Of course, when mo asked him about it, he lied and said he didn't.

I got a message from a friend on myspace (we'll call him George) earlier saying that he got a text from some guy. Anyway, my brother had given George's phone number to some guy (I'm guessing Blake) and he texted George saying that I'm not who I say I am and all this mess. Anyway...it could have just been my brother pretending to be someone else so that George wouldn't be texting him on my phone. I don't know.

Just irritating that my little brother is a thief. I mean, honestly, it doesn't even make sense to steal someone's cell phone if you're going to be giving out the numbers that they have...especially since my brother has never met George.

Oh well....maybe he'll learn sooner or later.

Tom's Balloons, Groomer and a Witch Doctor

This past week has been pretty boring.

Thursday was Tom's birthday...the first one since he died. I made Lemon Icebox Pies to celebrate his birthday. Penny and her kids had the great idea of us all signing a birthday balloon and letting it go. Of course, if you know me or my family, you also know things don't usually go as planned. We all signed the balloon and Penny started writing what seemed to be a novel on it (ok, so it was really a few sentences) and the balloon popped before something fell and hit her on the head.

We decided to try again on Friday. Penny got two balloons this time and her sons tied them together. After we all signed (without a long message from Penny) they let the balloons go and they wrapped around an electric wire. Needless to say, we decided not to try again.

I've been a little sick lately...sinus infection and it's now bronchitis. It's nasty and I won't go into details right now.

My birthday is tomorrow. I have no idea what we'll do. Since I'm on this gluten-free diet because of Celiac, if we did a cake it would have to be gluten-free. Mom hasn't cooked gluten-free and I don't feel like baking a cake from scratch...so we may just do ice cream or something.

Oh, another thing that happened was on Tuesday of this past week I took Chandler to the groomer for the first time. I got him from a lady that owns a kennel and it's taken a lot of work to get him as trusting as he is right now (he likes ladies more than guys, but will growl at anyone except for me and mom). Anyway, I was told that he is one of the best dogs with kennel syndrome that this groomer has seen, especially for being 2 years old...and a male. The groomer didn't get to do a lot because he was just trying to build trust, so after a bath (only his back and top of head), blow dry, and brushing, we left (with no charge since he didn't get to do everything). We go back today and the groomer is getting the clippers out this time. I'm hoping that he'll be able to give Chandler a cut, because he is scraggly looking with this long hair (at least an inch and a half long all over).

We also went to Rose Bud to see the "witch doctor." Barry Joneshill is an herbalist...natural healer...whatever you want to call him. Our trip there was interesting. I went in (his "office" is a few chairs just inside a health food store) and we looked around while he finished up with some other "patients." Anyway, I noticed that a lot of the things there were more expensive than the health food store I go to for gluten-free, casein-free foods, soymilk, vitamins, and spices.

When it was my turn, I had my mom go with me and talk to him first. We st about 5 feet in front of him (no tables or anything between us) and told him what was wrong with us. After a few minutes of silence and him scribbling (the way doctors do), he got some papers and stapled them to the cards he wrote on and came over.

He told my mom that she was too much like her father (who has been dead since around '83) and had a hole in her gut, along with a hiatal hernia which causes her coughing, shortness of breath and a few other things.

When he came to me, he said that most of my medical problems are because I have 6 kidney stones, gout, and my body doesn't produce hydrochloric acid. He gave me a list of herbal things to get (pineapple juice, cherry juice, some pills, and hydrochloric acid pills). I got them to try and we'll see how I'm feeling in a few weeks. He didn't address my sinus infections, bronchitis, or my constant wheezing though. Also, he told me that for me to lose weight, I'd need to stop drinking so much during meal times (limit myself to 8 ounces while I'm eating but can drink as much as I want before or after). I don't believe that though because I don't drink anything while I'm eating, only after...I don't even drink anything for like 30 minutes or so before I eat. Anyway...I'll give it all a try and see I guess.

It's a whole new week and hopefully it will be more interesting than last. It seems like I'm forgetting something, but if I remember I'll just write later.