R.I.P., Oreo, 2005 -2007

The memorial and burial will be later in the day. She was a very fun and cute pet and will be missed. Julia was a good pet owner; meticulous in keeping her cage clean, and providing the best nutrition (Ms. Virgo, Jr.). Oreo was an escape artist. Her favorite hiding place was in the underbelly of our sofa.

Carrot cake as a birthday present

My nephew, Jackson, wanted a carrot cake for his 9th birthday, so I baked him one. My sweet tooth husband was put out that he wasn't getting any, so I baked him one yesterday. I am through with carrot cakes for a while. We had one last month, and one the month before that too. I do have other cakes in my repertoire.

I am rehearsing a characterization of Florence Nightingale for a performance at the Unitarian church in Lacombe on the 29th. What a trailblazer she was. A Taurus, of course, with that dogged determination of hers. I like playing a strong woman.

In other news, salesmen are jumping ship (we still don't know when/if the sale of the stores will go through) so I have been promoted to one of those positions. I don't say "yay" or "boo" to that.

I am doing some figure-crunching, thinking of opening another retail store in the Riverwalk - on the fringe of the French Quarter. Waiting for a call from the leasing agent.

This guy was just sitting there yesterday. Mosquitoes were on his back. One flew right by his mouth. I think it kissed him. I was willing it to eat the mosquito.

Can't wait

I am going to fire up the grid in a few minutes.

Since you may have missed it, I recommend reading "Living On Love" It is an excellent read, and has great exercises that resonate to the same principles espoused in the article about firing up the grid.

Peace,
Janine

The woods this morn - July 8 2007

If you get poison ivy, you can take some plantago leaves, shown above, and scrunch 'em up until they produce juice and then apply the juice to it. It is the best stuff for hives.

Do you see him?

It could be a "her".

Another Dog Story

Once, I was out for a walk in my woods. My dog, Chip, was way ahead of me on the path when a BIG German Shephard appeared out of nowhere. I had never seen the dog before and didn't know where it came from. I was afraid, and realized how vulnerable I was. I told it, "I come in peace." I felt calm after that. If it meant harm, it would just have to go ahead and do it then. I wasn't standing still for it.

Chip got wind of the dog, or came back to be nearer to me, and immediately got his hackles raised. There was a terrible snarling, growling, and teeth-baring fight that ensued. Chip wouldn'd listen to any of my commands that would end the fight. I don't even think he could hear me with his dog-nature at the helm of his behavior.

That other dog was much bigger than Chip and almost seemed confident and not trying very hard to squelch the upstart which was my dwarfed black lab.

My instincts took over and I just high-tailed it home yelling for him to c'mon. The other dog never followed us. Chip's nature was still in control, but it is programmed to defend and protect me from harm, thus, he ran after me.

I had to withdraw my attention from the fight. Yelling at Chip, getting upset about a potential outcome of a win/lose event, and feeling desperately helpless was feeding the fracas.

Good dog, Chip. He's a lover, not a fighter. Me too.

I consider that a metaphor for all issues. My mind is programmed to find a right and wrong when perceiving a conflict. There are some things I'd fight about, but mostly, I think it is the little self, or the ego (mind), that likes to do battle, and the mind will always find what it is looking for.

Peace.