I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

bluedahlia

E.......a drink to boring!

I feel Virgil jump on the couch beside me all the time.  As he was passing, I whispered in his ear, that there was room for his soul in my heart, and he's been with me ever since.

River_Rat

Enjoyful, riding along in your purse. I brought chocolate (pretend there's a lovely picture of chocolate here). 

I don't know if anybody's "visited" me. I've had some vivid dreams but then I wake up. They're nice dreams to have but I haven't spent any time trying to figure out if they're real or not. Anyway, I say Hi to my Dad all the time. He was very crippled up by arthritis but if he saw a coin on the ground he would still painfully stoop to pick it up - even a penny. So every time I see a coin on the ground I stoop to pick it up and say, "Hi Dad."

Bren, the weather is finally nice here too. Only 30 degrees this morning but sunny and it's supposed to get up close to 50 this afternoon.

Anonymous

Blue, riverrat, you've both made me cry. Thank you.

I find myself drawn to people who acknowledge and honor living with these experiences, often friends with no "formal" religious training, but an understanding of the numinous, the transcendent, and find healing living with the mystery.

E - hope you're flying to Bawsthan.  Mass Pike has been reduced to 40 mph because of ice.  Yes, ice, Happy March 31, and some more snow, not much, but it will be in the 50's tomorrow, still E, wear woolies.

All trees around me are coated with ice, another lovely day at home, being retired is delicious, and a huge supply of soft pastels, a new easel, and good health.  Thankful for all.

Thinking of chickadee, hoping she is pain free, and know she is at peace with her decisions. But still SUCH a difficult time, especially for all those around her.  Thinking of her son.

thanks for the hugs, yorkie, they feel wonderful

Bren-2007

Hey Guys ... a bit of great news this morning.  My sis just got the results back from her brain scan.  The aneurysm is unchanged from six months ago!!  Yay!  It's located at the MCA junction of the brain.  Going to have to look that one up.  The carotid in the brain is still tortuous, so the coiling procedure is off the table, but it's wonderful news that the aneurysm has not changed.

Thanks everyone for keeping her in your thoughts.

hugs,

Bren

PS .. Morning Sunnyflowers!  Sounds like you have a fine day ahead of you in your cabin.  I think it's neat that you can work with pastels.  I've never been able to control them ... and I end up with a huge mess!

River and Blue ... so nice to see you this morning!

208sandy

((((((((((((((((((Sooz))))))))))))))))))

River_Rat

Blue, carrying Virgil in your heart is a beautiful way to put it.

Bren, I'm so glad that your sister's aneurysm is stable. My Mom has had one that has been stable for years. I hope your sister's stays that way too.

Sunflowers - ice!!! Geez. I'm glad you have plenty to keep you happily engaged inside.

QuinnCat

It's snowing here!  The first time since November.  Figures, it snows in Fall and in Spring, but not once in Winter.  Too late for our ski area, but just in time for my planted kale and collards (though I hear they love a good freeze).

E - only good scans for you.  Your change in pain level, downward, has to be good news only!!

crazy4carrots

E-- So happy to hear pain levels are decreasing.  Fingers crossed for happy results tomorrow!

Bren -- great news about your sis.

Kam -- wonderful to hear your kitties are co-existing nicely -- hah, told you they would!!!

Been reading about the happy results of the ACA insurance sign-ups, now close to expectations.  Funny how the Repubs are now saying the numbers are false, and the government is "cooking the books".  I just read an article which spells out some facts the ACA has actually produced:

~129M now cannot be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions

~3M young adults are now able to stay on their parents' plan

~9M+ are now covered for the FIRST TIME

~And (old news, but still...)  insurers MUST spend 80% of premiums collected on actual healthcare.  Of course, with single-payer, that percentage could easily be reduced to 3%.

pupmom

Kam, happy kitties = happy mommy!  But how weird that you have snow now! I think we're all in for a wild ride with global climate change! 

I know there are still kinks to work out with ACA, but just so happy that many people are getting the coverage they desperately need.

QuinnCat

Emma is tolerant of Quinn, but she is going through something new for her.  Asthma.  Between both cats, was at Vet 3 times last week.  Asthma can't be cured, only managed, and the first level treatment (antihistimines) seems to be not enough as of Friday.  Will check with my regular Vet on Thursday about next strategy after these recently added steroids (and a couple of puffs of Flovent) by the alternate Vet.  Apparently, Flovent  is $$$$.  Hundreds of dollars a month.  Sheesh.  I can't catch a break when it comes to cats.

Quinn is a love. He is such an easy guy.  He knows all the right things to do and he's only a kitten.

IllinoisLady

Kam --- love, love, love the avatar.  Scrumptious to feast the eyes upon.

Blue and R R  - Bren or anyone who has had pets.  Yes, they do spend time with us as well.  Often they are much more in tune than we are since our life often creates conditions that diminishes spiritual strengths.  I don't see the pets I have loved, but tend to dream of them more. 

R R -- good for you saying hi to your Dad when you find a coin on the ground.  He is putting them there.  Just like my Mom called all the time.  I think I had already told all of you how she visited me in my kitchen a few months after she has passed on.  I was making a cake ( one of the last things we did together ) and needed to cut the layers into four.  It wasn't going well and in my total frustration I just had a feeling that I simply had to turn around.......and there was Mom, with the corner of her mouth turned up in the half grins she always had when she had to help with something not going right.  The frustration turned to instant peace.  I finished my cake and took it to a family potluck the next day. 

For a long time after my Dad passed on I smelled cigarette smoke.  In houses and places where no one smoked at all.  It was the only time I can say I actually enjoyed the smell. 

E....wishing for outstanding results.  Do stay warm.  Won't you be glad when the winter is out of here. 

We had a really nice day today.  Had Dh up at Marion V.A. to have a scope of the G.I. track.  Dilated the esophagus at the same time.  it is an all day thing.  We treat ourselves to Steak & Shake when we go.  They have a great Garlic Burger now.  Very tasty. 

Hope you all had a good day.

Jackie

QuinnCat

Jackie - my avatar is about the only picture I can post these days   Ooh - it worked at 5:44, but not at 1:44 pm today.

 

IllinoisLady

What a gorgeous picture...swoon.  I have a black cat that is quite small and when she comes to be petted she has a purr that nearly sounds as loud as a "Harley" motor and her little pink tongue sticks out.  Not nearly as far out as Quinn's, but it sure reminded me of Sassy.  This behavior happens every time you pet her.  I'm sure she was just a 'chance' mating at some time or other.  She found her way to our deck one blustery, snowy day.  I scooped her up and took her inside to give her something to eat. 

Apparently she had been out for a long time.....she was timid about being inside, but it was so very cold I just wouldn't let her go back out.  A few weeks later and a little plumbing work and she has been ours to love ever since. 

Had two wild turkeys checking out our back yard this morning.  Dogs inside were going crazy to get out and go "play".  Well, that wasn't and didn't happen.  One of the things we love about living here.....we are never for sure what might turn up.  There are red foxes, and from time to time a bobcat comes.  They have a 25 mile radius for territory.  Always makes me a bit nervous.....but they run from people.  Always something interesting out here though.

Jackie

QuinnCat

Jackie- you do keep your cats inside with that menagerie outside?

I feel like I need to hurry up and learn to use this Nikon with this kitten. They grow so fast though he seems the same size as the day I got him.

Bren-2007

Morning Friends,

Going to be a lovely day today.  The temps are rising!  And with them, my spirits.

I completely forgot until today that yesterday was my 7 year cancer-free anniversary.  That was the day of my lumpectomy.  I didn't finish treatment until early July.  It amazes me that 7 years have gone by so fast.

Kam .. Your little kitty is so adorable.  It took me awhile to figure out my digital camera too.  Still haven't mastered the camera on my phone.

Jackie .. Your property sounds just like the cabin I had in So. Utah.  We had bobcats, turkeys, bears and all kinds of wild life.  The sounds the bobcats made were kind of scary.  They sounded so ferocious.  I didn't have cats when I lived there and the cats we had in San Diego were indoor cats. 

Blue ... Know you still miss Virgil.  He was one of a kind ... I loved that guy!

Time to get dressed and run a few errands.

hugs,

Bren

IllinoisLady

Pretty day here.  It will bring storms in the next couple of days, but they will be Spring storms.  We are starting to see the "first" greens of the year which are leafy bushes around our property.  Who'd have thought weedy bushes could make a person so happy....but it means Spring is really here.

Kam, we have some indoor only cats, and a couple of outdoor ones.  We also have a huge screen-room at the front of our house and lots of cats in there.  We have tons of wildlife outside as around the lake is a pretty safe place -- no hunting allowed and eventually the animals seem to  come to the realization and spend lots of time here.  It brings us so much pleasure to experience wild-life in peace and security ( no-hunting ) for all of us.  We are cautious though of not intruding in the wrong areas ( baby deer ) at the wrong time.  We always saw it as a blessing that we get to live here.  Came upon the house by a chance stroll one day and the rest is history as they say. 

Hope you all have a gorgeous day. 

Jackie

crazy4carrots

There's a lovely little video about Devon Rex cats at Cats 101 - Devon Rex on You-Tube, for anyone who wants to see Quinn's relatives in action.  In fact, there's one who looks a lot like Quinn.  Absolutely adorable!

Kam, I've had lots of pet cats and never encountered asthma.  Hoping Miss Emma can cope well with much cheaper medication.

Temps going up to the 60's here in Niagara today and I have some daffodils that are ready to bloom!  Also have the yearly mammo scheduled for this afternoon, but trying not to think about it........you all know what I mean.

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

Enjoyful

True dat, Blue!

Bren-2007

Blue .. love the peacock.  Glad to see you back posting.  I hope you're feeling okay.  Know you've been busy with the grandsons.  Can't wait to see my boys in 1 1/2 weeks!

hugs,

Bren

Anonymous

THE SUN IS SHINING and it's not snowing.  Almost 50 outside, feels like a different world.

bren - re:soft pastels, if you like more control, there are harder pastels like Faber Castell polychromos, they are much harder than the softer ones (even harder than Rembrandt) and gorgeous colors.

Hope all are well.  Thinking of E, and hope it's sunny in Bawstan. 

QuinnCat

Ah Sunny - so glad you have sun.  We've just had 2 days of wet snow after 4 months of nothing and I already abhor it!!  I wonder how I'll ever survive another normal winter after the glorious one we've just had.

Hilarious - Ted Cruz asks his Facebook friends about Obamacare, get's an earful

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-t...  

(and if that doesn't work, maybe someone can do the link for me, as I have to type - search on Obamacare, Cruz, Facebook LA Times)

His quick poll: Obamacare was signed into law four years ago yesterday.  Are you better off now than you were then.  YES or NO?

He got a tsumnami of "YES" votes.

Hmm, will he change his mind based on HIS poll?  YES or NO?

Bren-2007

Sunnyflowers ... thanks for the tip on the polychromos.  I've been doing some checking on them at the sites you recommended.  Need to save up a little so I can buy a set.  Glad the sun is shining where you are.  It's 79 degrees right now!  And tomorrow is going to be over 80.  We have totally skipped spring.

The Bradford pears, weeping cherry and weeping willow are all blooming now.  My allergies are in full swing.  Had a really bad allergy headache earlier today.  Benadryl works great for me and doesn't make me sleepy.

I read an article this morning that Glenn Beck is being sued for defamation of character by a guy who was in the marathon bombing attack.  Beck repeatedly said this guy was responsible for the bombing ... and he was not.  I hope the guy takes Beck to the cleaners.  Beck and those guys just like him think they can slander anyone and get away with it.

Wanted to let Enjoyful know that we're all ready to travel to Boston with her for her checkup and scans.  Hoping for regression!!

hugs,

Bren

IllinoisLady

Kam - that opened for me, though it took a bit.  Was about to give up when it popped in.  I think Cruz, Beck, Bachmann, and even Rubio often get over-inspired with themselves.  There are others as well who do.  I think of that saying if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull-****    I will be viewing with interest just how the two factions....Repugs and Tehadists do.  I don't see too much that is substantial there since so much has been done  to be upsetting.  Of course, there is always good old voter suppression.....but that is also another part of a large faction to upset. 

Warm today, but that rain is definitely coming.  I'll have to hang in there and wait for the sunshiny days to return.

Jackie

QuinnCat

Six of One - Obamacare vs The Affordable Care Act

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx2scvIFGjE

LOL - this is how uninformed people are about the ACA and Obamacare - uniformed period!

IllinoisLady

Funny and very pathetic at the same time Kam.    Reminds me of my brother-in-law who assures me  of what a sweet, down to earth, wonderful guy Ted Cruz is but I don't dare ask him if he is ready to give up his Medicare, Social Security and a host of things that this same wonderful human would work his heart out to take away from good ole' brother-in-law.  He tells us we should go to the local T. Party meeting place where everyone is so nice.  I've learned to say no thank you in a wonderfully kind but terrifically firm voice. 

Jackie

IllinoisLady

Pip....you left such a beautiful story on Chickadee's thread.  It is the 'younger' souls that can still be on a strong enough spiritual level to communicate with any animal.  Most of my spiritual study seems to point to ( or it is at least the way I understand it ) that often souls that come here can evolve quite quickly through what  their soul needs to experience while here and then they can go back "home". 

That has always been a comfort to me for those who are here and don't stay long.  We are all where we are supposed to be and all on slightly different levels so one thing is not necessarily more desirable than another -- our soul will always GET the experience it needs so we need only be willing to recognize it and work with it.  Lots of tears in my eyes and thinking that you found your peace in the birds.

Jackie

Enjoyful

Sitting in the Mass General cafeteria waiting for my 10:45 bone scan.  You would not believe the fun I am having. 

Anonymous

oooohhhh....E, all digits crossed....hope you're getting some of the sun we're getting in western MA. SUNSHINE thoughts heading your way.

Such a sweet post from Chickadee on her thread...what a generous human being she is....awesome.

Bren: go to the Dakota Pastel web site, an check out their Chart for the different pastels, Soft to Hard.  Fascinating. A good "middle" is Rembrandt, and the sets on DB are well priced.  Jealous of your temps.  Know I won't be in the summer, but am now