Oh the weather outside is...

Well, that depends on who you ask.

Up until last week, most of the people in the area were complaining about how cold and rainy it is. How much they want summer to start. How miserable they are because there hasn't been any sun. In watching this several week long interchange with fellow residents of Maryland, I discover how spoiled we really are.

The weather had been above fifty and usually sixty degrees. It would rain once or twice a week and there would nearly always be sunshine sometime during the day. Last year in northern New York, we had still been struggling with snow and I once counted 123 days without a bit of sunshine.

I still remember fighting with the animals for the little patches of sunlight. Of shivering and refusing to turn on the heat because, "It's June!" I remember the times I stayed in bed with sinus infections and headaches because yet another storm was coming in and think, "How can anyone complain about this weather? It's beautiful!" Of course, I do not say this to their shivering, dampened faces, but I do think it

It turned warm this week. Very warm. While not quite hot yet, Zach and I are still used to Northern New York summers, where there is only one week where you want to melt, and are now fighting with ourselves whether or not to turn on the AC or stick it out for a while because, "It's not even June!" and I noticed a few people talking about how hot it is and how they want fall to hurry up and get here.

Oh how quickly perspectives change....

And how often in life must I remember that. Especially when the topic of conversation is something less trivial than the weather.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle

Short is Funny!

I want people to laugh when they read my work.

But Shakespeare once wrote "brevity is the soul of wit."

Since he is famous and I am not, I can only assume he is correct.

Therefore I have worked hard to construct this. My funniest blog post ever.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle

Pet Parent Ponderings

I am not a parent. While I love children and have worked with them since I was a child, Zach and I have decided that we're not ready to be parents. While we know we'll never really be "ready" to be parents, and we're not going to be brokenhearted if I do get pregnant, we're not trying to have kids right now either.

But we do have animals. While being a pet parent is not the same as having a child of your own, I have realized- especially with Monty- that pet parenting does have many similarities to having children and it might even help me know what it will be like to have children, in a small manner at least.

Here are my five favorite parenting training techniques that my animals are determined to teach me before I have children.

1. Time-

With Charlie and Misty, I spent about three hours a day caring for the animals. When we got Monty, I discovered that he needs at least six hours a day all to himself. Between keeping him brushed, making sure what he's chewing on is acceptable, potty training, and general time keeping him out of trouble, I have had very little time to myself lately. Not as much as an infant, of course, but more than I thought I was going to have to give.

2. Space- 

Personal space in particular. I used to be able to go to the bathroom alone. To go outside by myself. To open the windows or clean the kitchen without tripping over someone. Now, no matter where I'm going or what I'm doing, he HAS to be there. There have been times he's fallen into the bathtub, he's tripped me on a wet floor, he's sat on top of my kitchen table to be closer to me. I have no privacy anymore!

3. Cleaning- 

I like my house to be clean. I'm not a super neat freak, but things I used to do often, I am having a hard time doing anymore- mostly for the two reasons above. Here's a short list of chores comparing them to how I used to clean, and how I clean now.

Countertops- Every time they're used- When I can't make a sandwich on them they're so icky

Dishes- 3-4 times a day- 3-4 times a week

Vacuuming- about every day- once a week... Maybe

Sweeping- once a week (except when we had ant problems)- once a month

Windows- Once a week- Windows?

Dusting- Dust?- Cough cough. A little foggy in here, isn't it? Oh...

4. Sibling rivalry- 

Monty! Leave Charlie alone while he's chewing on that!

Charlie, if you don't eat your breakfast, Monty will.

Three minutes later- "Arrooroff!"

Told you!

Misty, if you rub all over Monty he's going to think you like him. Stop smacking him around when he gets excited. He only thinks you're playing.

Monty, you're never going to endear yourself to Misty's heart if you keep squeaking at her.

Here, these rawhides are exactly the same as each other. Now stop fighting over the same one.

NO ROUGHHOUSING ON THE SOFA!

NO ROUGHHOUSING ON THE BED!

NO ROUGHHOUSING ON MY LAP!

ENOUGH!! EVERYONE, go to your own beds and leave each other alone!

5. Love- 

The other day, instead of sitting on the sofa, I decided I wanted to lie down. Monty was managing to take up two thirds of the sofa all by his little self, so I had to move him. Ninety nine times out of a hundred, I don't move my animals and am known for sitting on the floor rather than making a pet move, but today, I decided I was going to move him, so I psyched myself up and shifted him around to lie behind him. Instead of getting annoyed and getting up, he rolled onto his back and looked at me like he was saying, "Oh good. You're here. Now I can snuggle and love you and you can pet me."

I was stunned by the amount of affection I felt for him. He's a pain in the butt, takes up far too much time, and makes sure my house stays pretty much a total disaster. And yet, I knew at that point that I loved him despite all this. This little, orange ball of fluff is one of the most important things in the world, and I am an enormous part of his world. He relies on me totally, trusts me implicitly, and loves me unconditionally. It nearly broke my heart just sitting there looking at him and knowing how much I mean to him. This happens quite often with all my animals and I am always surprised how strongly I feel.

I also know that when I have a child of my own, this love I feel for may animals will be like a molehill next to a mountain. It will be heartbreaking and wonderful to an extreme I have never known before. No, I am definitely not ready to be a parent.

I don't think I ever will be.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle

I'm A Believer!

I've never been a superstitious person. I pick up pennies on the street, no matter which side is facing up. I love black cats, If going around the ladder is difficult... Well, I probably still would go around it. They're not the most trustworthy things in the world. So I've never been afraid of Friday the Thirteenth. This Friday was going to come and go with the minor hiccups that every day possesses in this household.

I got up in the morning, woke up the dogs, and the three of us trotted to the door to go out. Monty, who is almost/very nearly/just about/this close to being completely potty trained, stood at the top of the bar room, raised his little leg, and started emptying his bladder. This was no "Oh boy, Oh boy! I get to go out now!" excited dribbling, as often happens in the morning. This was much more, "I'm going to the bathroom here and you can't stop me!"

I snapped at him and he stopped. We continued with our day and not an hour after breakfast, the little monster does it again! I cleaned up both times and shook my head in chagrin.... He was getting much better... Now it seems that there's some backtracking going on... Oh well.

I got onto my blog to post about something, and received a message, "Blogger is temporarily unavailable." I'm not sure how long it was down for maintenance, but I supposed it was ok, as I wanted to talk about something that wasn't actually reflected accurately yesterday anyway (No, it wasn't about Monty's training). Oh well...

Zach came home is a not so great mood. Life isn't always easy. Oh well......

I burnt my leg rather badly cooking supper.  Don't ask how I burnt it while pouring soup from a pot into the blender... I'm not sure how I did it either... Oh well...

While Zach and I were in varying parts of the house, our younger, smarter, more agile animal decides he wants to open the screen door to let himself out. In doing so, he let Misty out.

A thorough(ish in the dark) investigation of our backyard, asking our neighbors if they noticed her, and the backyard of the home opposite us, I give up.

Ok, FINE! I scream to the cosmos. I believe in Friday the Thirteenth and its bad luck! I BELIEVE, ok! Now give me back my cat!

An hour later, she prances back into the house. Happy as you please, and throws up a massive hairball with the grass she probably left to get in the first place. Lovely.

We went to bed and I couldn't manage to get warm all night.

Am I superstitious now? No, not really. Am I ever going to look at Friday the thirteenth the same again? I don't think so. It wasn't a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, but it wasn't as nice as most days are either.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle

That's the Mongrel Med-eeeee- leeeeeeey!

This magic moment.
So different and so few.
Was like any other.
Until I handed the rawhide to you.


And then it happened.
It took me by surprise.
I knew you'd leave Charlie alone.
By the look in your eyes.


You with a rawhide.
Charlie on your other side.
Everything you both wanted you had.
For once we would have a still night.


This magic moment.
While you're chewing side by side.
Won't last forever.
Enjoy this beautiful time.


Magic
Woah Woah
Magic
Woah Woah
Magic
Woaaaah


Monty the pound puppy
Lives in our home.
And frolics around everyone,
Unless he has a bone.
Charlie the old basset
Loves that rascal pup.
And lets him do most anything.
Just to shut him up!


Oh! Monty the pound puppy
Lives in our home.
And frolics around everyone
Unless he has a bone!
Monty the pound puppy
Lives in our home.
And frolics around everyone
Unless he has a bone.


Together they love playing
And tales we do regale,
How Monty keeps the spirit up
By biting Charlie's tail!
The backyard is a playground
Where everything's a toy.
And Charlie, though confusedly,
Still guards his little boy!


Oh! Monty the pound puppy
Lives in our home
And frolics around everyone
Unless he has a bone!
Monty the pound puppy
Lives in our home.
And frolics around everyone
Unless he has a bone.


I want to play with MyCharLie
I want to play right now.
I want to play with MyCHARLie
Why won't he come and play with me?


You ain't nothin' but a toy dog
Squeakin' all the time.
You ain't nothin but a toy dog.
Squeakin' all the time.
You ain't never gonna get me.
I'm sleeping you out this time!


Weeeeeeeeell,


You know you make me wanna
SQUEEK!
Kick my paws up
SQUEAK!
Throw my head back
SQUEAK!
dart around you!
SQUEEK!
Tug your ears up!
SQUEAK!


Climb down, Pussy cat!
Woaaaah!
Climb down, Pussy cat!
Woaaaah, woah!


Pussy cat, Pussy cat
I've got chewies and lots of new things to share with you.
So come off that uncomfortable bar.


Pussy cat, Pussy cat,
I love you!
Yes, I do!
Can't we at least be friends?
Well, acquaintances?
Distant relatives?
I'll still admire you.


This is dedicated to the dogs I love.
This is dedicated to the dogs I love.
Dedicated to the dogs I love!




God bless and see you soon,


Joelle

The Sweetest Place on Earth

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of going to Hersheypark with my family and their church's youth group. It's quite funny, because I wasn't supposed to go at all. Zach and I had other plans. But plans change, as they are liable to do and Saturday evening, I found myself with plans for nothing, alone on Sunday afternoon. Zach didn't want me to resent him for making me be home alone when I could have gone to Hersheypark, so he snuck behind my back and got ahold of my parents to ask if it was to late to buy a ticket. We managed to get me a ticket and a way to get to the caravan up.

When we got there, we split into groups. John and I were the ones that didn't fit in any groups, so I grabbed his arm and said, "You'll be my escort today." He straightened himself up, crooked his arm and looked down his nose at me. "Yes," he said, "I shall be."

I spent the whole day with my younger sibling. Among the myriad of rides we took were six of the eleven roller coasters. From the Sooperdooperlooper, the East Coast's first ever inverted roller coaster, to the hydraulically launched instant 72 mph Storm Runner- we rode the last car of each. We discovered that the front of a coaster is awesome- but if you really want scared out of your wits (and your fillings rattled out of your teeth), ride the back!

We probably should have had someone with more sense go with us because we ended up walking the length of the park several times, "Oh, Let's ride this one! Ooh! Let's do that one! Hey, This one is right where we were last time... Let's go do it anyway!" but we enjoyed our time together, just little brother and big sister, immensely. Plus, he bought my lunch.

Whether or not you like the chocolate, if you're on the East Coast US, I recommend the park. It does not have the glamor about it that Disneyworld does, but there is something much more welcoming and open about it. Milton Hershey started the park as a picnic area for his factory workers. Since then, it has been opened up, built up, and expanded out, but it still manages to maintain a familial feeling most parks leave in the dust long before hitting the "theme park" name. When you go, there will be very little trash, you will see more children and fewer groups of teenagers, there will not be sexual or racial slurs written in the wood or on the queue for even the wildest rides and the ride operators are smiling and happy. No matter what your age or background, it's a wonderful place to spend a day; and we all need that every once in a while.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle

P.S. If you DO like their candy, they often try out their new stuff at the park first. There are some things, like fire (cinnamon) Twizzlers, you can only get at the park. It is a lot of fun to see their new stuff whenever you go.

I have a confession to make

If you aren't seated you might want to be. You sitting down? On something with a back? This is going to be a big shock to many of you. You ready? Here goes...

I can't read.

You read that right. I am incapable of picking up a book and deciphering symbols into words in the English Language.

I've tried, Lord knows I have tried. I've spent almost six months painstakingly working my way through a single book. Whenever I open it I am very quickly forced to abandon my efforts due to the words jumping sporadically, or perhaps they become blurry in with gray, red or tri-color.

I have the same problems when I use a computer. It's not as often, but it happens enough that I feel uncomfortable trying to process a lot of information from it.

Maybe I should just close the door and make the animals stay in a separate room when I have a book in my hands. Or perhaps read standing up. Or I might just use recorded books.

One way or another, Charlie, Monty and Misty are not going to stop me from finishing the Wheel of Time book I am working on.

But they have hindered my speed a bit.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle