Pets are officially gone...

Zorro and LeLu are now owned by Doggy Doodles until they are adopted into wonderful, loving permanent homes. While 1 person disagreed with my choice, everyone on the whole has been very supportive. It was a very hard decision to make, but at least they will stay fostered in someone's home until a forever-home is found. I realized that Cheyenne was my 'one true love' in terms of pets, but I think perhaps she was found and whoever found her never bothered to check the microchip :( For now, Cosetta will be my loving kitty, and that is enough for me.

While I miss them, I know it was the right thing to do.

Skeet League is starting, which means I'm probably 'out' for a bit

Well today was a very strange day at the range. It will probably be one of the last times I visit the Maple Leaf Gun Club until another type of league begins. No more will there be the Thursday night ritual. :( My Dad of course invited me to come Thursday since they will most likely need an alternate, they say I shoot better than this other person, which is not saying much. I have definitely improved, but today I felt like I was almost starting from scratch. I needed a bit of coaching from my Dad, and then, bam I was back on track again. Wierd how that works, but I guess these people have been doing this since they were 10 and I'm still very much 'wet behind the ears.'

Unfortunately it means I'll probably lose a bit of what I learned, but maybe it'll give my brain some time to sink it all in. League is actually based on averages, so if I beat my average it would actually help the team, which is why I think they wouldn't mind having me on here and there. Besides, my Dad shoots on a team which goes for fun mostly, so they're usually around last place according to him. Anyway it means I won't be able to see my two favorite people as much, and give me time to de-stress, but there is always TKB class!

These next couple weeks will be an adjustment for me for various reasons. I can't wait to go to Camp again with the kids this year, it's definitely something I'm looking forward to. I need a little break from the routine, I can feel it. Well anyway, it's late. I was up doing chores, and felt like writing before bed. 'Night.

Really Busy

Wow I didn't realize that I was so busy! I didn't realize that all of my friends have written all these posts on their blogs and I didn't even have time to notice. Normally I'm almost 'waiting' to hear about how they are doing. Crazy! I like being busy, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Shayna's blog (see link under "links") hit home for me. Luckily God is doing good things in my life right now, I just hope it stays that way. I don't know how many more crushes to my heart that I can take. I feel that I am a resilient person, but with each blow, with each failure I become more sensitive and less confident in who I am to the core. I would say more things on this blog, but I'm worried I'll jinx myself. I'll just say thank God for my Dad being who he is!

Pets are going going gone....

I'm gearing for change and two of my pets have to go. They will be offered up for adoption at PetSmart in Ballwin (doggy doodles are taking them as of Saturday) if you want to offer them a home, great. If not I hope they can find them one. I have too many pets and I have no time to take care of them. I will be down to one after this.

Here's their info, email for pics:

LeLu: 4 year old Himalayan cat, spayed, microchipped, UTD until Dec. Friendly, but likes things on her own terms, used to other animals, fur requires grooming.

Zorro: 4 year old ChiMix, 20 lbs, neutered, microchipped, UTD until Aug. 2006. SUPER friendly, active, and loves to cuddle, knows tricks, and is kennel trained.

Animals have to go, my roommate as a problem with them, and I just don't have the time anymore that they deserve. I will miss them, but this has to be done. Regardless, my roomie moving out by end of Oct. I am also considering moving, and will be able to tell you more later as time passes.

Barely Oct, and I'm wearing down fast!

I can't believe it's almost October, says my brain, however my body is totally feeling it. I'm finally over the stomach thing and I have reason to believe my voice will be back to completely normal (sounds normal now, just tires easily) by the end of this week. I've been going to bed early and drinking tons of water, you'd think that would mean I'd feel more energized, yet I'm exhausted. It's only 530 and I'm forcing myself to stay up to even write this. I refuse to take a nap! Maybe I'm tired because my appetite left me these last few days. Maybe the kids are wearing me down (today was just madness!). I'm not sure, but I'd like to know where my energy is going.

Sometimes I feel like I'm running around in circles with no end in site. I think a good part of this is because I'm stressed with a particular situation I was not planning for until March 1. I don't want to go into it here, but needless to say it has me quite worried. Wheareas my part-time job was to help me pay off my bills finally, now it will be to 'just get by' again, and that scares me to no end. I'm going so far as to consider selling my house in the Spring. I've been feeling a need for change for a while, I just don't know what to do with it, or why exactly I'm feeling it.

A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart. -Opening scene of "Faust"

I had the above quote in my email signature. Everytime I see it on a return email I forget that it was from a previous email from me. I found a new signature for my email, but took another second to reflect on this one before cutting it. As I was reading I thought, how true, a person does see the world based on what they are carring in their hearts. Despite the fact that I feel sick and worn down (already, I know), I am happy. I am very grateful for all the wonderful people that I have in my life, and grateful for all those who may someday be in my life. A particular person whom I've known only for a couple months has been showing me what happiness is simply by being in existence. I find myself being more patient at work, being on the whole more smiley, and I'd even say more outgoing and less shy with people I don't know as well. Yeah, me shy you say? Yes, I can be shy in certain situations. I'm not sure if it's because I'm more confident of myself at work or because I am more confident because of this person, but either way I find myself being someone I didn't even know existed and I'm loving it! I pray that I am able to recover from this evil bout of stomach upsets because it's really affecting my voice with acid reflux and all. But I pray even more that I continue on this path. I am so happy it's crazy! Thank you God, I love you!

I'd lose my head if it weren't attached :)

This past week and weekend were very very busy, but it was all fabulous. I am finding myself worn out, but in tremendously good spirits because of my close friends and family. I've had some somewhat bad news come my way, but I chose to be calm and compromise with the individual from whom the bad news came. All in all, I think we had a good discussion.

Friday I worked a few hours and purchased these screens to hide the litter box locations. I took Saturday and Sunday off for my various activities as follows, and what a GORGEOUS weekend it was! Saturday I went to finally pick up my contacts which had been at the Dr.'s for about 2 months. As I went to also finally get my tire fixed (it had a leak) from a camping trip two months ago, I did a bit of shopping. Unfortunately my car needed more than just a leak fixed, but I could see and hear the problems so I knew it wasn't just mindless additions. I then caught up with my roomie, and by that time I hurried to get ready for dinner and for ColdPlay. (I saw Rebecca on my way out of the concert, but she didn't recognize me with my hair, oh well.) I hadn't been to a concert at UMB, it was really nice to be there. The weather was gorgeous, the music fabulous, and a big full moon shone down on us to keep us company. Today I went to Dennis' surprise 30th b-day party, visited my parents and went to see 40 Year Old Virgin, which I recommend if you need a laugh.

I managed to get food poisoning or stomach flu Friday and really haven't recovered. Eating has not been fun so I'm going to the Dr. tommorow. I've had so much acid reflux that my voice is hoarse, and when things mess with my voice, I start to get paranoid. Wish me luck!

Kitty has a home

No one ever claimed poor kitty as posted below despite my internet posts and St. Louis Post ad, however, someone from school came by today to give her a loving home. I am sure my roommate will be pleased. I guess she thought I was planning to keep the young cat, but quite the opposite. I heard her murming to a friend on the phone when she came in and I was still working on being awake. I'm sorry but I'm not about to let a poor animal starve and die of dehydration from the heat. Either way my limit was tommorow in terms of finding her a home, and it happened just in time.

On the other hand, I had a really nice past week and weekend. Everything is just flying by and I'm loving it. I hope to improve my skeet shooting skills, as my high house shots have been just the pits. My goal is to attempt to get some time in Thursday once everyone is done with their games, but we'll see. I finally got rid of some things my parents wanted me to sell, but still have a couple others that are driving me nuts just 'being around.' I also had about 6 inches cut from my hair and got rid of the highlights. I just decided I needed a change. You should go to Regis in NW Plaza and see Danielle (the manager) she did an excellent job! Ok so that's it for random news. I could say more, but who wants to listen to me blab.

Found Kitten

Found kitten (young cat)

I found this kitten (very young cat) around my house today. If you know the owner, or want to give it a home, let me know. It was very friendly, but I'm sure will need to be checked by a vet.

Skeet, skeet, skeet, skeet... What?

Here we go now what? No, I'm not talking about THAT skeet. I'm talking about skeet shooting. While I seem to have reached a plateau (getting better at some points, worse in others), I think skeet shooting is FUN! I have two friends already who want to come with me. [Julie and Kate, my Dad said he would teach you on a 'slow' day we just have to arrange it (probably a Tuesday about 600p.)] Anyway, this Thursday my Dad is out of town so I'm on my own. I'm a little nervous, but the guys will help me (they never fail to give pointers :) and are patient with my faults because they know I'm new. I've only shot a gun 5 times in my life now, and I'm only up to about 15 rounds or so. It takes about 50k rounds to get good, if that tells you anything, so they all think I'm doing pretty well. I don't understand why I can no longer hit the easiest station, and I'm getting better at the others. Oh well what can you do?

I think I have several things to work on (which could probably be anyone): figuring out the lead with the timing at each station, swinging all the way through the shot (instead of stopping when I shoot), and making sure I'm not bring the gun's aim down to the target, but up to it (for some reason I kept doing that Monday). Lots to work on, what a fun new hobby. Wish I were better at it, sometimes it can be frustrating, but hey it's all guys so they don't care if I throw out a few explicatives because they do the same thing ahahahah!

Craziness everywhere!

I HAD to buy gas today. Guess how much to fill a 13 gallon tank? $40! This is ridiculous! I'm scared to even go anywhere far now just because I'm hearing of gas shortages, and now it's $40 just for a tank of gas. This is at least 2x what I have prepared in my already tight budget. On top of that we have this craziness happening with the disaster in the southern states. I was talking to someone last night while on "The Walk" and they said that if you applied the catastrophe here, basically the entire city of St. Louis, east St. Louis, and it's nearby counties would be flooded with water! WOW! Here's a letter if you are interested in helping. Unfortunately I have to work so I can't help, but maybe you can. Who's making fun of me now for choosing to live close to my work? I am just in shock that gas went up literally .40 in 2 days (I knew it was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier:(

From Habitat for Humanity:

Hello All,

I am a St. Louis Habitat Volunteer and am organizing a Health Kit and Flood Bucket drive to be held this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3 and 4th, 9:00am-9:00pm each day, at the Deer Creek Shopping Center parking lot, between Big Bend and Laclede Station Rd, in Maplewood, MO. (Across the street from Maple Days.) We'll be collecting kitsand items for kits that meet the guidelines set by United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) (www.umcor.org) or see below. These kits have the essentials needed to take a small step towards recovery after a disaster.

*Volunteers are needed at the collection site, and may have to assemble the kits from donated materials.

*One or two hour shifts would likely be the ideal arrangement, but if you can stay longer it would be great!

* Time is of the essence.

*Can't volunteer? Stop by the collection site and say "hi" in any case.

Please pass this information along to anyone you know. If you know of any business willing to donate materials or other supplies, please pass this on. There is much still to do.

Below are the lists for Flood Buckets and Health Kits.

Health Kits are a PRIORITY.

Please respond if available to volunteer.

Thank you,

Dale Chambers

c. 314-724-1905

Guidelines for Health Kit

A Health Kit contains specific items:

1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27")
1 wash cloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz and up)
1 toothbrush (single brush only in original wrapper; no child-sized brushes)
1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer in advance of the date of shipment to Sager Brown)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

All items should be placed inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. No money, notes, religious or political literature, or other items should be placed in the kits.

From the Humane Society:

Emergency Foster Homes Needed
Cats, dogs, horses and farm animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina need temporary homes

The Humane Society of Missouri has received numerous calls from people who have fled the Hurricane Katrina disaster area and have arrived in St. Louis needing temporary boarding for their pets. To aid these storm victims, we have set up an Emergency Foster Animal Clearinghouse to help match persons with animals needing boarding with persons who have available space.

If you are willing to help people with pets, horses or farm animals in need and have facilities to provide for them, please sign up as a foster home via our web site. We will contact you as we have requests for the service you are able to provide.

Thank you very much for your generosity in this time of great need. Please forward this email to others who might be interested in providing foster animal care.

If you would like to donate to help support the eight-person Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team currently rescuing animals in the hurricane stricken area, please call 314-951-1542 or make a contribution on our secure website. Read more>>

PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an emergency situation, the Humane Society of Missouri is acting merely as a clearinghouse and makes no guarantee about the health or suitability of animals or suitability of foster homes.