Number of times you search the laundry room and family room for your sister’s cat? 1,395
Number of times you panic that she’s hurt, dead, or somehow got out? 351
Number of ways you think of how you’ll tell your sister about her cat? 23
Laughing at yourself when you discover the cat’s been sitting in the bay window the whole time? Priceless
John sold 5 RVs this weekend! That is so fantastic! Last year, campground shows were lucky if they sold 1! I’m so happy for him!
On the other hand, I’m rusty after a few months with no trips. I forgot a bunch of things like our camera and my laptop, so no writing!!!, but even though that was disappointing, I still got to relax and read. Since John was working, I did all the cooking and straightening up — which he, of course, inspected and pronounced whether it was good enough (the campfire failed inspection). The dogs also tore the screen in the door, Elphie taking all the blame. Even so, we had a nice weekend and collapsed last night.
I’m kitty-sitting this week for my sister Cathi’s kitten, Tatiyanna! So Elphie is thrilled to have “Cousin” to play with again! And she’s such a sweet kitty, I love her. She’s so petite and loving, and enjoys Elphie’s company so much. I love watching them play and how close they are. Here’s a picture from last year when I watched Tatiyanna while Cathi attended a conference. They had finally taken a break from playing and had fallen asleep, their heads curled around each other. Unfortunately, the camera woke them up, causing that bleary expression on their faces:
It’s going to be a fun week! I already “lost” Tatiyanna once yesterday when I came home and Cathi had already dropped her off. It took me forever to find the spot where she had snuggled in, trying to figure out what was going on: her “mom” dumping her in an empty house. Elphie could tell me what room she was in – she kept leading me to it — but it took me forever to look up into the right spot where she was gazing. You know they had a long gossip about what an idiot I am afterwards. But all I could think of was: how do I tell my sister I lost her kitty? I didn’t even have her for five minutes!
And the clock is ticking very slowly! I so want to get out of here and start relaxing!
It’s a working weekend for John though; he’s doing a RV trade show with his company, Driftwood RV Center, at the Mays Landing Jellystone campground. We’re both really hoping it’s a good show where he gets at least 3 deals from it.
He said he had one couple who wanted to see our camper. I asked him if I was going to pull up with the pups in the car and see a big SOLD sign on ours! He says he won’t sell it….
By the way, here’s a little bit of its interior. The dogs and I will be “chillin” here all weekend.
I’m hoping to relax and get some writing down. My muse didn’t stick around after all, so we’ll see if I can jump start it into working. 
I can’t wait to have a campfire tonight and hopefully tomorrow. It’s one of my favorite scents in the world, and one of the most peaceful, relaxing things ever. John and I have some of our best talks when we sit together, dogs spread out around us, at a campfire. 
So please keep your fingers crossed for John that all the people who said they were coming to talk to him about upgrading the “vacation home” large RVs really will do so. As for me…
This is so cute, my brain froze for a second! My favorite is the little guy who keeps time even though his brother/sister is sitting on him! And when the Siamese puts his arm around his sibling…. let’s face it, it’s all cute!
I just sent my registration for the Red Cross’ Pet First Aid and CPR training course on May 5th. I first found out about it when I took the regular class and saw it listed under additional training. I figure, I not only have pets and would like to be able to help them if they got hurt or ill — even that 7 minutes to the vet can be too much in an emergency situation, so my being able to help them can make all the difference between getting there in time and being too late — but now I’m helping with the animal shelter too. I’ve heard the stories from our volunteers about pets thrown from car windows or stuck in kennels or outside; so again, being able to help them means all the difference, to their injuries and showing someone in the whole world gives a damn.
Finally, a real dog photo – this one is from the Star-Tribune archives. This is Lassie, Minneapolis version. She was chasing a rabbit and fell through the ice; after some time in the water, she was saved. She’s not happy but she’s home and she’s warm, and everyone loves her.
— From James Lileks: Dateline Kennel, Institute of Official Cheer
Some of the other volunteers are going to be there too. I’m looking forward to it, but it’s like my other training. If I ever had to use it, I’d be scared to death. But I’d do it. They deserve it. Human or other animal. 
It’s funny though. I keep thinking of this TV show from the 80s. I can’t remember it’s name, it didn’t last too long, but it was a sitcom about firemen. One started off being a hero because a family thanked him for saving their pet, even giving CPR. The newspapers started off making a big deal about it until they found out the pet he saved wasn’t a dog or cat, but a little hamster. He was turned into a laughingstock for giving mouth to mouth to a hamster. One of his fellow firemen raged against such shallow values in town, how you start off a hero, but “you suck on one hamster…!” and he broke down into angry tears. LOL!
It’s no wonder I can’t learn new things; my mind is too full with tv shows. 
Just clearing that up from the previous post.
I did 2 small updates to the blog. I changed my avatar for warmer weather, and picked the Madrid background in honor of my friend, Mariá. She doesn’t live in Madrid, she’s lives more north, but she sent me a picture of the same area when she was visiting her grandmother. So having that background makes me feel a little bit of her presence, especially with her birthday coming up on May 5th.
I also added a link to the place where I get a lot of my smilies, in case anyone was interested.
It’s bad enough my muse has deserted me this whole year. It’s so frustrating to want to write and almost writing, but the words won’t come because your muse is looking through the want ads to find a new place to work; or they bet on the Patriots in the Superbowl and has been p’d off ever since.
This is your brain. 
This is your brain without your muse. 
This is how impressed my muse is with me. 
Then I got 2 reviews this week for my fanfic novel, The Race of Cain. The first is from an another amateur writer whose review is so impressively written, I can’t imagine what her stories are like. And it picked up my spirits so much to read things such as:
I must admit I was reluctant to open the story – not because of anything specific, I just prefer a different genre. This time, however, I couldn’t resist for some reason and now I’m happy, I did read it. I won’t impose by any sort of praise, I do not feel I’m the right person to make rulings. I can only say this, when I read novels like that, I cannot help but feel dreadfully inferior. Not because of the language, though it is undeniably nice to read something written with such high technical quality. Not because of the plot, though numerous words can be said about its ingenuity. But because of the uncanny way of getting under my skin when I read this. I mean I do not even like this genre-era, yet I feel unable to go away, until I’ve finished to the very last word. It is a rare and most valuable gift to get people so transfixed, especially when they do not want to be. The tiny psychological details are very plausible and catchy. Saavik-Valeris conversation is incredibly well done, top spot, in my opinion. Anyway, I can see you loved writing it. It’s only fair people loved reading it.
No wonder I was blown away, right? Anyone would be. Then I got the other review. It had less to say, but what it did say was equally powerful or even more because it was a professional writer with a number of successful books. She called it: “a good story”, “extremely strong”, and a novel that deserves to be on the shelves in every bookstore. Even the warning about the near impossible odds of actually getting printed didn’t bring me down. I already knew the odds, especially for the one genre that had a regime change in the last couple of years that gives no publishing contract unless they came up with the story and you’re already in their stable of writers. The days when I was sure you’d see my book or books in print are long gone. But to be told by a real writer that I had what it takes…. priceless.
It got my muse’s attention. All the creative juices came back and I had all these ideas for my 2 rough novels. There’s a lot of garbage writing out there that has too many fans when it shouldn’t see the light of day; that gets really discouraging. Add to it an industry that says they’ll never print me…. but these reviews made my spirit think, they may never print me….
Then along came the one who shall be called The Burgermeister because I don’t know who reads this blog, so I’m doing some CYA just in case. BG who was having a bad day, decided to take the snit fit out on me and made my life miserable. And this after I did the Burgermeister a few favors! It was frustrating and p’d me off all over again! And my muse is deciding to leave again, take the vicious road with the Burgermeister, or take the high road.
I’m leaning towards the vicious path. 
While I beg my muse to please stay and speak to me.
My sister Terry forwarded this to me in an email:
Ten Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner as dictated by the pet.
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments. But I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, and yet I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You, too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me, please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there. Because I love you so.
Take a moment today to be thankful for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful thing without them.
We do not have to wait for heaven to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It’s right here with us now and has four feet.
You’re excited this webcam is back up.
You’re fascinated by this Grand Floridian video. This was a guest’s webcam that he set up during his vacation. Then Hurricane Frances hit and his viewers got an eyeful:
Posted in Disney
Laughs and Rants from My Inner Child 