The raccoon and the kittens

Saturday night, I went out for a cigarette. Tiger was on the Rubbermaid container I have on my back deck staring into the back yard and didn't even acknowledge me being there. This was unusual. Even more unusual was that Ralph didn't come running and meowing like he always does. I looked over the back rail and saw Ralph also staring into the back yard. I started talking to him and eventually he came up on the deck. His tail was really poufed out. I heard some leaves rustle and thought it was another cat. I was going to chase it away, but thought it might be a skunk and went inside to get a flashlight. Was I surprised to see a raccoon in my back yard and glad that I just didn't go try to chase it away. I have lived here all my life and have never seen a raccoon in my yard. I went back inside and called my friend Barb. We were talking and the raccoon waddled over to the corn cobs I had out there. The kittens were very intent of this intruder in the yard, but didn't wander over. I guess with me talking and having the flashlight shining on him, he waddled over to the holly tree. He climbed about a quarter of the way up the tree. I was getting eye shine and said to Barb "to bad it isn't Halloween. It is pretty eerie looking with this eye shine." I came in, as did Ralph for a little while. Here is a picture of Ralph either annoyed at me for taking yet another picture of him, because of the intruder in the yard or just chillin from the experience.

A little bit later we went out and the raccoon is under my dogwood tree munching on the corn not 20 feet from me. I tried to get a picture, but it didn't turn out. My friend Deb on the street behind me had come home and yelled over to see what I was doing. I told her I was trying to get a picture of this raccoon. She said "raccoon. I haven't seen one around here is ages." I guess from us talking the raccoon started for the holly tree again. Ralph went over to where the raccoon was eating the corn. Well this pissed the raccoon off and he comes waddling toward Ralph. I was yelling for Ralph to get away, but he stood his ground. Tail poufed, back arched, Ralphy boy stood there. I don't know if he was hissing or not because I was yelling and trying to take a picture of this raccoon. The raccoon finally gave up and started waddling to the other corner. I did get this picture, but it isn't very good.

Ralph is in the bottom right of the picture with his back to the camera. On the left upper portion is a birdbath. If you go up from where Ralph is and right of the birdbath is you can kind of make out the back and tail of the raccoon exiting the yard. I was very proud of Ralph, yet very afraid for him. All the while this is happening, I am still on the phone with Barb. I went to get a bag to put the corn in. Not because I don't want the raccoon coming back, but because I don't want the raccoon coming back and hurting the kittens. With flashlight in hand and Barb still on the phone, I gathered my courage and went for the corn. I was under the tree when Tiger jumped out. I let out a yell and some cuss words. I gathered up the corn and came back inside. What an adventure in my back yard that night.

"I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us...if we shut out all the noise and clutter from our lives and listen to that voice, it will tell us the right thing to do.

"Christopher Reeve"

Reminiscing - Part 1

I was talking with my boss Friday morning and somehow I brought up about the cars today that have VCR's and DVD players in them to keep the kids occupied. And that I was stopped behind a car that had a monitor on the back of each seat. And yes there was a car seat on each side, to make the viewing pleasure even better. I was saying what a shame this was. What happened to the days when the family talked, listened to the radio or just took in the scenery. I started reminiscing about family vacations and outings and my own vacations and outings and decided that I would do a "reminiscing" series on as many as I could remember.

Just about every year in March or April, we, my dad, mom, brother Danny and I went to Florida. Or should I say, a drive to Florida. We could have flown, but where was the fun in that. We also drove because Danny was afraid of flying. We would always take the ferry. To tell the truth, this was probably my favorite part of the vacation. I love being on the water. We didn't have VCR's in the car so my mom thought it would be good to get Danny and me a whole week's worth of homework. I don't think she understood the concept of vacation, just kidding. We tried to get it done before we got to Florida. I remember the first time we took the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. I was scared out of my mind. I was afraid that we would get into an accident in the tunnel or a boat or ship would hit the tunnel and we would all drown. My family thought this amusing, but I think Danny felt the same, but being the big brother, he couldn't show his fear. Finally I saw light at the end of the tunnel. I was very happy to see the light of day until I saw where we were and realized we weren't completely done with the tunnel. After awhile I think my mom and dad thought I was calm enough to handle the second half. What was I going to do, swim or grin and bear it. I chose the latter.

Finally in Florida we stayed at "Days Inn", this was down the road from Disney. We went to "Magic Kingdom". The only ride I can remember is "It's a Small World". That was my mom's favorite and we went on it several times. I remember we went to have lunch and the place had the talking and singing bears on the wall, (I can't remember what they were called, but Bernstein Bears rings a bell.) We went to Sea World. How awesome, especially for me because of my love of animals. We went to Alligator Land. When you walked into the lobby there was a bird. There was a whole list of words that this bird was supposed to say. Notice I said supposed to. The only words we heard him say was "SHUT UP". This was around my birthday and my dad teased that he was going to get me a rattlesnake for my birthday present. (Yes. I was daddy's little girl. He was just as afraid of snakes as me.) We went to Cape Canaveral. That was a great place. I remember a pen that had a rocket in it and when turned over the rocket would move. I don't remember if we took the Bay Bridge Tunnel home. I must have blocked that out. I do remember that we ended up on Sky Line Drive. That was beautiful, but after awhile boring to a little kid. I can't remember the name, but we stopped at a place that had caverns, I think it began with an "L" and possibly in Virginia. My dad and I walked through this. Another awesome experience.

Back then we didn't have TV's, VCR's or DVD's in cars. Nor did we have all these hand held games. We talked as a family. We played games. We listened to the radio and played "Name That Tune". We took in the world around, without saying "are we there yet?" or "I'm bored." This is what memories are made from.

Funny E-mail

"I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.
One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up and she eventually says 'I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me.' I said "WHAT??!! What was that?!' So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear... 'You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man.' She responded to my puzzled look by saying, 'Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?' Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep. The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take, so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said, 'Lets get a pair for each outfit.' We went on to the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey.' She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, 'I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier.' I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey I don't feel like it." Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled, 'WHAT?' I then said, 'Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a women.' And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, 'Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?' Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either...but at lest that bitch knows I'm smarter than her!"

Happy New Year - Again

Yes. Happy New Year again. I couldn't find any photo's that I liked to add to my blog for New Years. Today in work when opening the mail, my boss got this New Year's card. I loved it and put a note on if asking if I could borrow it so I could scan it. He brought it to me and said yes. So HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN.

Later this afternoon when everyone in the office was gone except my boss, I checked my e-mail. I had one from my friend Barb with the subject being blog. I thought that she had came across another interesting blog and was letting me know to check it out. When I clicked on the link, I saw her picture. I realized then that she started her own blog. I actually let out a scream and said finally. Luckily, my boss did not come up to see what was happening. Come to think of it what a coward. There could have been someone there with a gun and trying to rob the place (they can have whatever they want, including the people I work with - PLEASE). Okay, back on subject. I couldn't wait to come home and read it. The name of her blog is Almost There (I have added her link). I have known Barb for 14 years. When I started working at the Township, she trained me. Over the years we have become very good friends. She now lives up the street from me. That is kind of funny because her daughter was living in a very seedy, bug infected place. Her daughter works at our local library and doesn't drive. She basically lived across the street from the library and it was convenient for her to get to work. I used to tell Barb that the house on my street would be prefect for Rita. It is small and a short walking distance to work. When Barb was thinking about retiring, she offered to sell her house to Rita, which Rita did buy and Barb moved up the street from me. Funny how things work out. Anyway back on subject again (see this is one of my rambles). I often said to Barb that she should start a blog. She has a lot of interesting stories which I hope she shares and she takes beautiful pictures. Her profile is so her. She often had her camera with her at work and on weekends would go exploring and take more beautiful pictures. She is the reason I bought my first digital camera (I used the disposable one) and now have a Flickr site. Barb is special to me in so many ways. In one of my previous posts I had explained that my immediate family has pasted away, so I have adopted Barb as my mom. I call or e-mail her just about everyday just to check in, but more often then not anymore, to rant about the happenings in work. (Another story that I may get into one of these days). So I hope that you will take the time and visit her site.

Until next time, I hope that everyone is enjoying their New Year so far.

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Lisa