Weirdo blog things...

What is with that blog thing? My 'Complete Profile' keeps saying I am an ACCOUNTANT! I have selected NOT SPECIFIED several times for that field and every time I look it says I'm an ACCOUNTANT. As I've not excelled at numbers, I find this a bit humorous. Strangely, Healthcare is not an option, so I keep selecting NOT SPECIFIED.

I wonder what if it was that easy to have a new occupation? I could try out being an accountant one week, business manager another week, lawyer, educator...whatever strikes my mood. Or, I could just be me.

The other thing I find irritating is that if I format my paragraph a certain way, I like how it looks, when I save it it does all kinds of things...like add lines, remove lines, change the alignment...stupid thing! I have looked at all the settings and have decided, it's just quirky. =)

Christmas Ornament Swap - the end result

Back in August I signed up for a Christmas ornament swap with some fellow quilters. Something kept needling my thoughts that "didn’t I hear something about a Christmas spider once?" It wouldn’t leave, so I headed off to the internet in search of the Christmas Spider.

At last, the legend was found, but I could not find a single project worthy enough to demonstrate the Christmas spider. So...I made my own. First I started to make felted spiders, but found that too painful on the fingers after a couple of good jabs, so having only one yo-yo maker, I finally came up with a yo-yo spider. The legend is old, and from what I have learned it is German. The ornament is all original and was the result of listening to that little voice that kept needling me to find the Christmas Spider. I wish I could recall the site I obtained the spider web embroidery so I could give credit, but, nevertheless, I hope the recipients will all enjoy this little guy.

The legend of the Christmas Spider

A long time ago, a mother prepared for Christmas Eve. She cleaned and scrubbed her home, chasing the spiders from the living room with her broom. The spiders fled to the attic and listened to the excitement below as the Christmas tree was put up and decorated. When all was quiet again, the little spiders crept back downstairs to see the beautiful tree. They were filled with happiness as they crawled along every branch, admiring the glittering beauty of each ornament. But alas, by the time they had finished climbing through the tree, it was completely draped with their dusty, gray cobwebs. When the Christ child came, He smiled as He looked upon the happy little spiders; however, He knew the mother would be heartbroken when she saw the shrouded tree. So He reached out and touched the webs and, blessing them, turned them into silver and gold. Now the Christmas tree sparkled and shimmered and was even more beautiful than before. Thus the custom to have tinsel of silver and gold and a spider ornament amongst the other decorations on the Christmas tree was born.

~Author Unknown

Class Reunion a brief recap...

I planned to update my blog a while ago, but with recent critter events and busy work life, I have been pretty busy lately. Finally, I have a moment and want to just say I am always amazed at these most endearing friends and classmates. Wow! Another reunion has come and gone and I find myself thinking about time again.

Our reunion events went like this:

• Friday night - the last FHC home football game (we were soaking wet with the rain, but the Rangers won of course) and since we were drenched and frozen, we hit the local grill for socializing, followed by drinks at a local bar. Phil and I skipped the bar.
• Saturday brunch - a pig roast from a local chef at the Cascade Township Park. This was a chance for folks with children to allow their families to be a part of the activities. Another success!
• Saturday evening - what can I say? The laughter, hugs, tears, music, food, pictures, shot luge ice sculpture (my class still likes to party, though I usually pass out on anything more than one drink, so O'Doul's was my friend) the energy was incredible! I had decided to donate the St. Paddy's Day Mystery Quilt from Quiltaholics...the author named it Motion. The quilt was won by one of my classmates whom I've known since elementary school. A very kind hearted person Marc VW. Let me just say there are pictures 'out there' of me wrapped (I mean trapped) in the quilt w/Marc being forced to dance. Ugh! How embarrassing! Anyway, it was all in good fun!
• Sunday morning - brunch was perfect! Held at a little restaurant in Ada that opened its doors just for us.
• Sunday afternoon golf - I don't golf, but I saw pictures of the course. The fall leaves were stunning!

I suspect that I'm not the only one that appreciates these gatherings of old FHC Rangers, class of 1982! So here it is, the day before Thanksgiving and this Friday night is another gathering to listen to our favorite band Trilogy! Yeah! It has been suggested that we have an unofficial 27-1/2 year cruise! Count me in! Even Phil is thinking he could have fun! We need to start saving our change now.

I will always believe that our class is special and blessed. If I were asked to describe them in one word, I would have to say they are 'beautiful' people. Why? Because they just are. Every one of them has a personality that just shines. It doesn't matter if you have the most or the least, have had hard times or easy, fat or thin, short or tall, kids or none, or are married or not. What matters, quite simply is that we are all part of each other. We have all touched one another's lives and as we have grown and matured we recognize a certain kinship.

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, I find myself counting in my blessings, this big bunch of beautiful people that I am thankful for. I also wish happiness, peace, and love for all of my family and friends...those with us and not.

Eliana...

I just wanted to take a moment to share that we had to put sweet Eliana down yesterday afternoon. She was an Applehead Lynx Point Siamese and was most definitely the matriarch of our little household.

A month ago we had to take Eliana to the Animal Emergency Hospital, then a few days later we had to put our senior dog Molly to sleep. After Eliana was doing fairly well and I will maintain she still got excited to eat, enjoyed being groomed, was fastidious about her appearance, and still jumped, ran, and occasionally would even play. I am sad to report that about 1:00 pm yesterday afternoon Eliana had a seizure, then about 2:00 pm had another and didn't stop seizing until we got her to the vet and she had to put her down. The vet suspected she may have had a brain tumor. She was nearly 18 years old, 15 of them I was blessed to have her in my life.

The logical part of me recognizes that having a pet includes the gift of letting them go, but the emotional part of me is saying she was my last original cat (meaning before Phil entered my life), and I just wasn't ready to say goodbye. I knew her time was nearing the end, but wasn't prepared for the trauma of these seizures. I had prayed that she would go in her sleep. The vet said she was scared and confused at not being able to control her body's movements. But, I actually believe that it was just that, her body was experiencing that, but her spirit wasn't suffering and was somehow already beginning her journey. My beliefs are that we do meet up again and I found this poem that is kind of soothing to me.

Poem For Cats

And God asked the feline spirit

Are you ready to come home?

Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul

And, as a cat, you know I am most able

To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.

Soon, replied the whiskered angel

But I must come slowly

For my human friends are troubled

For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God

That you'll never leave them?

That your souls are intertwined.

For all eternity?

That nothing is created or destroyed?

It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,

Replied the glorious cat

For I will whisper into their hearts

That I am always with them

I just am....forever and ever and ever.

Author Unknown

Signs -- I had a very hard time getting out the door yesterday morning. My hair dryer plug was pinched and I couldn't straighten it out easily, then my hair didn't work and I needed to rewash it and start all over, and I even said to my co-worker, I just don't understand why I had a hard time getting out the door. Well, now I know and maybe should have listened or recognized the signs. I wouldn't have had to travel and had I been here, we could have been able to get her to the vet more rapidly. That is my only regret, that she did suffer some and was scared as she had those seizures.

The Gang -- So, the evening and day today is spent w/the four footed gang glued to my side. First they searched for Eliana, but then I think they tried to comfort Phil and I as we try to comfort them.