Pet Pride: Bad Fur Days

Hello. Mia here. Siren is letting me do a post this week because he thinks it's going to get me into trouble. He's a dolt.

I have a complaint. I don't really want to talk about the Mom person ...



... but I need to get this off my chest. I am very happy here. The Mom person takes really good care of me. The outside world and then the shelter were not easy. Here I have everything I need and lots of extras too.

It's just that the Mom person has a thing about grooming. Look at her instruments of torture ...



Siren thinks it's all very interesting, especially that awful muzzle thing. Mom person says she hates to use it but she doesn't have any more blood to donate. Ha! That's cause I bite her when she clips my claws. Siren just cries. Pussy.



At least the claw clipping is only now and then, usually when I start sticking to everything. Then I scream. Since I'm deaf I forget that others can hear me. How do I know what Mom person is saying? I'm a cat! We are psychic and intuitive and empathetic. You people really need to go back to worshipping us.

Anyway - it's the brushing. Oh dear lord, the brushing.



She says she needs to work on the clumps before they become mats - how the hell am I going to get mats? that makes no sense. Mats are to throw up on. And to leave clumps on ...



Mom person really could make better use of her time by vacuuming, look at all the litter around my perfectly placed clump.

But No! She has to groom me. And I hunker down ...



There are no pictures of the flailing and wailing and the biting and hissing. Let's just say I do realize the scene I'm making. I don't enjoy making a scene except it does scare Siren.



I enjoy that part.

When it's over I sulk for a long time. Mom person tries to pet me and give me treats but I ignore her. They need to learn ya know.



Mom person cleans up. She's always making jokes about having enough fur to make another cat.



Isn't she hilarious? Not!

I bet my pal Bozo over at PET PRIDE doesn't mind grooming, dogs are like that. That's why they're not cats.

Stress ... and the best Stress Buster.

I am scheduled for an evaluation as part of my disability claim. The disability insurance company has set up an all day "evaluation process" for September 10. They even point out in their letter that this will be at their expense. That made me laugh. I'm supposed to be grateful or relieved that I don't have to pay for it? Blood sucking cretins.

Today is the 1 year anniversary of ...



Little did I know then that Siren would quickly become the only medical attention I could afford.

I could go on now to rant about the state of healthcare but instead I just want to give a bit of advice.

NEVER believe or trust an insurance broker. NEVER. Repeat after me ... NEVER.

And then, even after you grill them about the policy they're selling you, GRILL them some more.

When I started my own buiness I was innundated by offers from insurance cos. The moment I got my business license they came out of the dark like the insects they are. I did my homework. I am very good at research. I chose insurance carriers for life, for the office, for employee healthcare, for my own healthcare, plus all the taxes a small business pays.

And I chose a disability carrier. Why? So I'd never need to rely upon anyone if I got hurt. So that what is now happening would NEVER happen.

My research made me ask what would happen if my working conditions changed. What if my revenue dropped - after all my industry is volatile. I was told I could be covered for that. For an extra charge each month of course. I have been paying that extra charge while being accused of claiming I'm disabled because my business is struggling.

When costs started to kill the small profits I was making and my rent on both the office and my apartment were about to increase I decided to look into buying a house that a>could be converted into a 2 family and b>would allow me to work from home. I asked the insurance vultures if this change in working condition would harm my coverage. No, No, No - my policy was not contingent upon my location or the size of my staff. Now they tell me they don't see why I can't keep working since I work from home. They don't see why I can't maintain revenue even though I don't have staff because I can't afford staff.

I really don't want to talk about how the sharing of the house has worked out. Today is already a hurtful day. I can't believe a year of this crap has gone by.

And yet I am in better shape than many. People die waiting for medical care or lose their homes waiting for insurance claims.

The insurance industry is far too powerful. Far too corrupt. Far too greedy.
They need to be investigated and regulated. I volunteer to serve on the panel.

And now for the happy portion of our program.

Hope has a swing that she enjoys ...



But the swing is inside ...



... and that has been bugging her.

So she went to the park with her Mom ...

Three Brothers ...

dedicated to public service. flawed. human. compassionate. passionate. brilliant.



now reunited in another place and time.



The baby brother ...



... became a Lion




“I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion's roar.” - Churchill

“Fear an ignorant man more than a lion” - a Turkish proverb

and the Senator fought ignorance and let out his roar for decades.

How I wish his dream for real healthcare reform could have come to be in his lifetime.

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die - Senator Edward Kennedy



Peaceful Journey Teddy

Ahhh, Love To Link You Baby ...

Back when I took down my blog roll because it became so impossible to keep up to date I said I was going to give shout-outs to fellow bloggers instead. Sexy helmeted hottie JAY did and promised the same thing. Each time I go to read Jay he’s wishing Happy Birthdays and he’s guest posting and he’s just plain doing what he said.

Me – not so much.

I tell myself I’m not a lazy thoughtless bitch because ‘followers’ is there. But ‘followers’ sucks. As I recently mentioned to the sweet super carpentry talented MICKY-T, my freakin’ followers thingie appears and disappears as much as my ex-husband used to.

Now I could make excuses. First of all there is my brand new grand baby Hope …



Her AUNTIE DARYL sent her a spiffy fashionista worthy outfit and I haven’t even taken a photo of her in it yet. Actually my photography is suffering a bit overall. I have been skipping photo projects (I hate the word meme) over at the THE PHOTO BLOG. I haven’t posted for ROBIN’S project or HEY HARRIET’S project in weeks. Same with CAMERA CRITTERS.

Then there’s all the family psycho drama. I’m thinking the less said about that the better. I do appreciate all the support and hugs I got from that post. CHERIE gives great hug, as does THOM. New friends like DUST BUNNY HOSTAGE and STITCH took the time to leave a kind word. I met Dust and Stitch during Positive Day, which I learned about from dancing and sports maven TRAVIS. My photo friend in Scotland JACKIE was really concerned. Her comments made me smile, just the way her amazing photos do.

The endless to and fro with the disability folks continues. As my friend BOND, VIN BOND said recently – “insurance companies suck”. I did however manage a small victory. After an initial denial I organized all my doctors and several of my clients for whom I can no longer work into a letter faxing campaign. I was told that my case has been sent back for re-review. RAVEN and AKELAMALU have been especially supportive on this front.

The heat wave hasn’t helped to energize me. As BOBBIE mentioned just the other day, the hot weather makes it difficult to focus on blogging or much of anything. RAMBLING WOODS, not to be confused with RAMBLING VILLAS GIRL, agrees. I hate hot weather and I despise humidity. I can’t even be funny about it the way RON can.

I’ve been trying to write. I have Finola’s story to finish and tons of stories about Nana. I have several other outlines too. I have also been looking into financial aid for online classes. I’d love to learn more about web design and graphic design and of course photography – it would be so wonderful to start a new home based business that I could actually do without the physical demands and travel of my current business. I don’t want to live on disability; it is never going to give me enough to get the hell out of this house – oops! I’m going there again. Plus how cool it would be to be as tech savvy as MOJO or as good a photographer as CG and HILARY and NICOLE B. The wonderful HAPPILY RETIRED GAL has taken some classes and it really shows in each new post.

I don’t know how it happens but somehow I end up playing online games. They calm me, especially when the leg throbs and the back muscle pulls and I don’t want to take another pill (or make another cocktail).

This keeps me from replying to all comments the way my sweet MATT-MAN does. I used to reply to every comment but I just can’t right now. I do read every single one plus I read all the comments on other blogs. That how I found SCOTT. He’s clever and quick and very funny. I think comments is how PATTI and GRAYQUILL found me. I’m glad they did, I enjoy their stories a lot. Plus I love to tease Grayquill a bit cause I think he likes it too. He’s Roadquill to me but that too is another story.

Well I need to go see if I have any worthy entries for PIC A THEME or WORLD IN B&W or any of MARY’S projects. How does she do it? I guess that’s why she’s a professor and I’m playing online poker.

I really do hope I can do a post with some linky love soon but I can’t promise.

Pet Pride: Siren Is Exhausted

Hi everyone, Siren here. I missed being part of PET PRIDE last week because I'm very very tired.

Exhausted even ...


Seems like every time I settle down for one of my rejuvenating naps I am disturbed.

The Mom person thinks that Mia (ugh!) needs more exercise. Out comes a blankie and toys and worst of all - out comes Mia. It's very disruptive ...


Then there's the neighbor. I'm telling you, never live next to one of these furless creatures. They make the most awful sounds ...


And they get all these really cool things to sleep in and play in. This one comes with hanging toys and it swings!! And I am not allowed to use it.

Every time I settle in for a snooze ...



Mia or Hope starts something...



Oy!

I Am Ready For Some Football

I’m watching the first NY Jets pre-season game and I’m so happy.

I love football. I have loved it as a sport since my son played Pee Wee league 30+ years ago. I love the strategy. I love the power. I love the grace.

As a single Mom I listened to everything my son’s coaches said. I studied his play book. I asked a million questions.

Now to be honest – my love for football really started with a crush on Joe Namath. Lordy Lordy that man was so sexy. I met him once. I had been sneaking into the bar he owned and finally one evening he was there. Much to my horror he asked me how old I was. I said I was 19. He laughed and asked me what year I was born. I was so star struck that I forgot and told the truth. I was 14, not 19. He gave me a lecture. Can you believe it. NY’s #1 playboy gave me a lecture about how dangerous it was to be bar hopping at my age.

Ahhhh Joe - I love ya …



This year I’m excited about our new QB Mark Sanchez. He’s only 22 but I just watched him lead a really good drive.

Plus he’s a cutie.



Welcome to NY kid. Try not to let us kill you.



I can’t do a post about football without mentioning how much I love defense. It’s so cathartic to stand in the stadium and scream “get him” – “stop him” – and of course “fucking kill him now, right now”

I think I was a defensive player in another life. I can so relate to this face.



And of course where would Jets be without a Flight Crew. Yep, the NY Jets cheer leading squad is called the Flight Crew.



Isn’t that adorable?

Well we’re down by 6 so I gotta go scream at the TV now.

Oh how I love football.

Assumptions Are Hurtful

My Daughter-In-Law’s church has a blessing ceremony for new babies. It takes place on the first Sunday after the child is 40 days old.

This past Sunday I was sleeping in when I heard the front door open and close several times. My part of the house is in the back and separated from Jeffrey and Connie’s area by the wall that supports the staircase. In addition the kitchen is between us. We loved this when we bought the house since it gave us more of a 2 family set-up without having to pay the price of a 2 family or the added taxes. The side door off the kitchen leads to the carport and serves as my entrance. I hear very little and pay attention to even less.

A couple of hours pass and I’m beginning to feel awake and alive. The 2 cups of coffee helped and I went into the kitchen to get the 3rd that would make me wired enough to tackle the day.

And I discover my DIL's Mom and her brother’s girlfriend getting ready to leave. Everyone is dressed up – Connie looks like she’s going to a Sunday wedding. As I stand in the doorway between my place and the kitchen I take in the scene – there are pretty pink gifts all over the dining room table and Hope is dressed in a frilly pink striped dress with a white lacy bib.

They have just returned from Hope’s blessing ceremony. A ceremony I was not invited to.

There is history between me and my DIL’s family and I’m always very careful what I say to them and around them – especially since Hope arrived – so I waited until they left. To be honest I was shocked and I felt tears welling up.

I asked my DIL why I hadn’t been included in Hope’s blessing ceremony. She feigned surprise and said “I assumed you weren’t interested since it had to do with church”. I asked how she could assume I wasn’t interested in anything that had to do with Hope. Then she described the ceremony as “just a little 15 minute thing” that “wasn’t a big deal”. Well people got all dressed up early on a Sunday morning and came to NJ from Brooklyn – seems important to me.

It has become impossible to have a genuine disagreement with my DIL. The past is revised and presented and my son is dragged in. That last part frustrates the hell out of me since it’s usually the MIL who is accused of getting between her son and his wife.

Since Sunday I have received steely looks and defiant shoulders. Yesterday I was told that I was responsible for “creating so much stress that I had to go to the doctor”.

This always happens when I speak up. Along with being told I’m “opinionated” – which is Greek for not holding to her family’s party line and I’m “passive aggressive” – which stands for they’re not bright enough to get sarcasm.

Although sick with stress my DIL had enough energy to call me a hypocrite for wanting to attend Hope’s blessing ceremony. She thinks my opinions about religion somehow preclude my ability to simply enjoy a moment in my grand daughter’s life. Most everyone in my family attends church and observes traditions. I share in them all – with love. This accusation took place while smirking and shouting at me with Hope in her arms. I walked away saying I will never fight with her in front of Hope.

Where was my son in all this? He did not attend the ceremony. I don’t know how he felt about it since I contort myself into a pretzel to stay away from their decisions. I do know he should have told me it was happening and should have either invited me himself or asked his wife to. Of course that would have most likely started a different round of drama.

I doubt my political or social opinions had anything to do with Sunday’s decision, I fear it was far more personal and intentional, but it does shine a light on how assumptions are hurtful and go far to divide people.

Hey, How You Doin' ...

... I loved when Billy Crystal said that during his 'You Look Marvelous' skits on SNL.

And that's about how I'm doin' - I'd really rather know how you're doing cause I'm so freakin' sick of me.

I've been thinking I might be able to sell a reality show of my life - I just can't decide what crappy cable network would be most receptive. We're regular folks, down to earth, so perhaps CMT. But my politics are far too left for the country fans and my taste in music is just too good. For all the crap about how liberal the media is I can't come up with a left like network.

Anyway -- before I get all over the place. The past couple of days have been a pain the ass. My poor yet sweet old car is losing its mind. The wiring in a VW is, at best, the psychotic weaves of a mad engineer; in a 15 year old car it becomes a real problem.

When I start the car the window opens and then won't close. This is always fun when it's raining - and absolute bliss if coupled with the windshield wipers not working.

The alarm won't arm itself - see now I can get behind that - and that would be fine with me if not for the fact that it then feels the need to go off - randomly - I'll be driving along and suddenly the horn will start blaring in a really awful beat and the flashers will flash - off beat of course. It's amazing how your mind can just shut down when sitting in a small confined space with deafening horns blaring.

The only way to stop it is to pull over, get out and lock and unlock the driver door with the key. VW doesn't "believe" in keyless entry. I long ago learned that meant they don't understand keyless entry.

With the help of my son and a neighbor - both good with cars - I think we found the source of the problem. I have managed to make two short trips without the horn going off - I really miss all the middle finger salutes I was getting.

I have decided the car is not reliable enough to tote Hope around in. And I really don't want to spend the rest of my days avoiding highways. Limits a person.

So I have begun the process of looking to use it to trade in for a newer car. I'll let you know about that adventure later.

Meanwhile I need to go see why the sump pump isn't pumping, then I have to figure out what's happening with my desktop - it likes to turn itself off. And my DVR won't fast forward - dear lord I'll have to watch Chris Christie ads!! More about him soon - fat fucking fraud that he is.

I wonder if the Sci-Fi Channel wants a reality show called 'When Bad Machines Attack Good People'

You can stop reading now. We have concluded my actual post. What follows is a post I was going to publish a few days ago - it was to be titled 'Kiss My Ass and Tolerate It' and was inspired by my dealing with big ass corporations who find it "intolerable" that I am having trouble paying my bills. I decided against posting it because I'm trying to stay perky - without the aid of drugs.

But I really do like it - hehehehehehe

So I sneak it in here...

I have discovered a trend. Large corporations, in efforts to stay afloat long enough to pay huge bonuses to half a dozen people at the top, are finding the real world “intolerable”

A collections agent from CitiGroup/CitiCorp/CitiBank – whatever their name is this week – calls me. I look at Caller ID and then decide what the hell.

Me: “Hello”
Collections Dick: “Mrs ---, this is --- from …
Me (interrupting): “Yes I know who you’re calling for”
CD: “We need to discuss your account”
Me: “You can review it if you want but I have already told you what I can pay and when”
CD: “But you do not answer our calls”
Me: “I have nothing new to tell you. And I did answer today, aren’t we talking right now?”
CD: “We need to know that you are committed to resolving this situation”
Me: “I am committed to resolving this situation”
CD: Dead silence
Me: “Anything else?”
CD: “This is an intolerable situation Mrs ---“
Me: “I feel for CitiWhatever, really I do – what with your sudden downturn followed by bailout money and huge profits - but you will just have to tolerate it – have a good night”
I hung up

I am struggling with the mortgage payments. I have been playing catch up and fall behind most of this year. I have filled out “hardship forms” which seem to exist solely in order to give the bank a reason to create a new department; I have answered every question asked of me and I pay all the late fees.

I recently got a letter that used the word “intolerable” 4 times in 2 paragraphs.

It is “intolerable” that I don’t return their calls
It is an “intolerable” situation that my payments are consistently late
They “can not tolerate” this sustained situation – way to change it up!
They are certain that I see the need to resolve this “intolerable” situation – well now they’re redundant again

I’ve been calling various service providers to change plans and cut back services in order to cut expenses.

The lawn guy – Yes!! The lawn guy – tells me my lawn won’t “tolerate” the lack of service
Verizon hopes I understand that my contract with them doesn’t “tolerate” the changes I’m requesting
One of the utility companies informs me that revising my budget plan is “intolerable”
My wireless carrier finds it “intolerable” that the credit card my service is billed to is often declined

So – I have come to the conclusion that the recession/really a depression has become an “intolerable” situation for many, many large multi billion dollar corporations. Even my lawn guy is but a pawn for a giant franchise.

Good Heavens. How they are suffering.

One of my many 2nd or 3rd extra part time jobs over the years was calling parents to renew their subscriptions to a well know children’s publication. We were coached on how to present the terms of the new subscription in as confusing a manner as possible. We were coached on how to make a resistant parent feel guilty for “not spending pennies on your child’s education”.

I was called out many times for clearly stating what the payments would be. I was called out for telling distraught, frustrated parents that it was OK not to renew. Yes – food is more important.

I organized a revolt in the break room. Over 80% of the staff spent an entire weekend telling parents it was OK.
Then I quit and sent a letter to the NY Dept of Consumer Affairs and the NY State Board of Education. I never checked to see what happened – new evils took priority.

If any of you collection dicks – or dickesses – are reading this. Stage a revolt in the break room. OK - maybe you need the job. Then at least accept that you’re a whore for a company that doesn’t care any more about you then it does about me. Find that “intolerable”. Think about how your CEO is most likely sniffing cocaine off his girl friend’s ass while his wife and kids summer in the Hamptons. On our dimes – that are worth a penny. Bonuses are back. They have learned nothing and until they are properly and fairly regulated they never will.

If any of you reading this are being hounded by collections or haunted by debts – buck up and fuck them! Don’t be intimidated. Don’t be made to feel a failure. Don’t panic. That’s what they count on.

If the average working person can tolerate killing themselves to fall behind while trying to keep their home, pay enormous insurance premiums and feed their kids well then …

These bastards can tolerate the real world as well.

There are all these “birthers” and “healthcare town hall meeting disruptors” roaming about hollering their crazy ass heads off while the bulk of us just go about our business.

I keep hoping for a revolution in this country but I keep finding evidence that the wrong people are revolting.

One Month With Hope

Hope celebrated her one month birthday yesterday. It was a free for all of spit up and poop and breast sucking. Just like a party at Bret Michaels' place.

I'd like to share some of the things I have learned from/about Hope in the past month.

Many good things start out in a dramatic, scary manner. Hope did not feel like traveling out the standard way and so an emergency C-Section was needed. She had to spend a few hours in recovery to make sure all was well ...



She immediately let us know what she thought of that ...



She may be sassy, but she's sentimental too ...



Hope insists that I appreciate the color pink ...



Yet she is down to earth enough to sport the drunken sailor look ...



She maintains a view of wide eyed wonder ...



Even though she has already starred in her own TV show ...



Hope exhibits a talent for impressions ...

Elvis ...



Churchill in a pissy mood ...



the more subtle impression of a pile of laundry ...



She really is in there ...



Although she's not a diva Hope does require a small entourage ...




She appreciates Nana's shoulder ...



And shares Nana's dedication to Power To The Babies ...



As she conquers all the new things she'll learn in Month Two.

Pet Pride: Siren & Mia Discuss Territory

Hi everyone! Siren here, Mia says she needs to chime in at some point but I'm ignoring that right now.

I have an issue. I am being mocked. In my own home. By Mom!

She's been winking at me and singing ...

All he wants is a place somewhere
Far away from Mia and her hair
With one enormous bed
Meow, wouldn't it be loverly
loverly
loverly

And this goes on and on. Trust me - Mom is no Julie Andrews.

This horror started when I found my way to the top of the curio ...



This week it has been further compounded by the arrival of boxes in the hall, my hall. These boxes are fantastic. My claws poke holes in the cardboard. The handles are open enough for bits of bubble wrap to peek out. Bubble Wrap! It is delicious.

Then the curio top was blocked ...



And Mom says she's unpacking the boxes. Bye Bye Wonderland ...



So in my grief I sought out Mia's crinkle blankie. I didn't even sit on it. I just leaned ...



After all, she was hogging the bed again, in another one of her coma states ...



Excuse Me! Mia here. Hogging? The bed? It is my bed. My bed. Me, Mia, Mine.

I have a question. How many spots does Siren need?




Look! The Mom person creates nooks and crannies and cozy corners all over the house. Give me a break Siren. You're like the Donald Trump of cats. You claim ownership all over the place. Granted - you have better hair but really. Get over it.

I stick to the bedroom. I rarely come out during the day - no more coma comments please - and at night all I do is walk around a bit sniffing at all the places you've been luxuriating on all day long!

I could say more but the Mom person is coming. And she's singing Siren's song. That's one thing we agree on ...

She's no Julie Andrews.

Drop by BOZO’S PLACE and check out more pets and their places.