Cat Thursday

From The True Book Addict

A few funnies and a few of my little furbabies

Now for my kitties

Update

In case you didn't know, Dad's in the hospital, so things are more than a little bit crazy around the house, or perhaps I should say crazier.

I really need a vacation from my life.

I know I've said it before, but I really need time to do absolutely nothing but sit and stare at the walls like a blob.

He may come home tomorrow, so that might easy some of my stress.

Note I said some.

Bad Dad Day

No trips to the ER necessary, but it wasn't a good day.

It was mentally exhausting for all of us.

Dad is depressed and it is understandable. His health is such that he can't do much anymore, and he thrived on activity.

He said he wished he were dead.

That makes me sad, because we still love and need him.

That is all....

Losing My Religion

I'm Catholic. I think most of you know that, but my faith is pretty much shaken these days, not because of anything the Pope has done or anything a priest has done, more what priests and other people in our parish haven't done.

My mom and dad have been shut ins now for years, mom longer than dad.

Does the priest call or check on her or my father?

No!

Does anyone else in our parish?

NO!

They are only busy with people that can bring the parish more money.

Gotta get out of debt you know.

Well I'm sorry, until I'm out of debt, I'm not helping the church with extra funds, especially when they don't do anything or even try to do anything to make our family feel like they are part of the church community, and my mother was a CCD instructor for years and a lector and eucharistic minister. If there was a bake sale, she was in charge of it.

There was a time when I felt the church helped the less fortunate..

Oh wait, there's a food donation box in the back of our church.

So there's that.

But if you are a shut in, they don't care about you unless you are in the hospital or a nursing home, then they may come and minister to you.

Otherwise, screw you and give them more money.

I may sound bitter, but that's because I am.

My parents did a lot of work for the church, and I feel our parish has let them both down.

Now there was one time when I hadn't been to mass in several weeks, that our parish priest called to check on me.

It has been months...and no one has checked to make sure any of us were alive.

I don't go to mass because Sunday mornings are hectic and my dad is often disoriented in the morning, plus I don't like to be places where I have to keep my cell phone off and our Saturday night mass is too early.

I still have a belief in god, but my church has let me down.

This About Sums It Up

Somedays it would be better if I didn't make it far from the bed.

Today started out with my nephew and I trying to wake up his mother for work. My sister can sleep through any alarm clock, so she gets a wake up call every morning for work. 51 years old and she can't get herself up in the am!

Sheesh.

After that all went pretty well.

I got to the YMCA and to Giant Eagle.

That's when things started to go amok.

My dad's vitamin D prescription didn't make it to the pharmacy!

I had to call with an old one for a refill.

I made yummy cookies after I sorted that out, and started dinner.

I had my enchiladas ready to go in the oven, preheated at 350 and I made a quick trip to Rite Aid to get cough drops for said nephew.

I come back and the oven is on 380.

WTF

Dropped the temp down and put my dinner in the oven

Flash forward 30 minutes.

I remove the foil to find my dinner isn't even warm!

My oven that is only about a year and 3 months old is broke!

ARGH!

Always on a Saturday!

Thank god tomorrow's dinner is a'la crock pot.

And thank god I bought the extended protection plan on the stove.

Cat Thursday!

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!

From The True Book Addict

Some random kitty silliness

And since Michelle brought up Cat's with thumbs, I had to post my favorite milk ad from the UK

New Phone Happiness

I finally gave up on Verizon Wireless.

Last Friday I made the switch to a contract free plan with Virgin Mobile.

So far so good.

Unlike the US Govt, I've found ways to cut corners.

I've got a new smartphone, a Samsung Reverb and a plan that is saving me 18.00 a month over what I was currently paying with Verizon Wireless. If I had upgraded with them, my contract probably would have cost me another $30.00 on top of what I was paying them.

So far the phone is well behaved, but I don't trust smartphones much. They are truly evil. However, I do get a lot of enjoyment out of it, and the app for Goodreads works on this phone.

That is a plus.

Let me tell you about the Goodreads app.

If you use the site to track your reading etc, this is the greatest thing.

Why?

It has a barcode scanner.

Scan the code and it adds the books to your to be read shelf etc.

Now when I go to the book store and want to remember titles for purchase later, all I have to do is scan them!

Woot!

Its the little joys in life that matter, right?

Oh and the camera kicks butt too.

Downton Frustrations

Whovians bitch about Steven Moffat killing off characters (and things) in Doctor Who, but in a few short episodes (Ok not short episodes) Julian Fellowes kills off two main characters.

Yowzas!

I have to admit in the first case it was some excellent writing, because I knew what was going to happen, and I still ended up crying my eyes out.

Now when it came to the Christmas Special that was another story. The ending hurt, but it didn't do anything for me.

I felt numb.

I realize this character was written off because the actor wanted out of the show to do other things, but crikey they really come up with cruel things in this show.

The other thing that bugs me, is that time moves rapidly in Downton. At the end of the regular season they were just starting to convince Robert that Downton needed to make changes in order to survive, fast forward to the special and Downton is doing well?

WTF.

I love this show, but it drives me nuts.

I Need Caffeine!

I have given up soda for Lent. I tried going soda free this fall, but failed after 2 weeks.

I'm on my 4th day now and no cravings for Coke or Pepsi but I have noticed one thing.

I'm tired, really damn tired.

Last night I fell asleep at 11:30 and slept til 8:30 this morning. I never sleep that long. It just doesn't happen.

The night before, I fell asleep during Big Bang Theory and though I obviously woke up a few times between then and 10:00, I don't remember it at all.

It is now 8 o'clock and I feel dead to the world again.

I need caffeine!

Because I just can't get anything done if I'm falling asleep before 10:00 PM.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 singles that you currently love

1. Blake Shelton - Sure Be Cool If You Did

2. The Band Perry - Better Dig Two
3. The Lumineers - Hey Ho 4. Mika - Underwater 5. Hunter Hayes - Somebody's Heartbreak

Cat Thursday

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats. Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Brownies

I saw the recipe in the Sunday paper along with a coupon for Nestle morsels

1 package family size brownie mix and the ingredients needed to make it (eggs, water, oil)
1 carton of strawberry whipped icing
1 package of Valentine's Day morsel's.


Instructions:

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions.

2. Sprinkle half the bag of morsels on top of the brownies and bake as directed

When they are finished the brownies should look like this:

Let the brownies cool and then frost with the strawberry frosting and decorate with remaining morsels

CD Player? What's That!

 I was talking to my mother about a beautiful album of lullabies that I had received to review this month.


The album is called Dusk Is Drawn and it is by Jennifer Thyssen and Darrel Mayers. It is quite possibly one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in recent months.

The lullabies come from all over the world and Jennifer's voice is stunning. She rivals some of the best female singers in the industry.

I told her she would love it, and I'd love to play it for her, but the only CD players I have now are in my car and on my computer.

I haven't owned a stereo for years.

Its all mp3.

That's kind of sad, considering I'm drowning in CDs.

So I'm thinking of investing in something again. It would be nice for my mother to hear music, and it would be nice to listen to music somewhere other than in front of the computer screen or through headphones at the gym.

Anyone have some recommendations for a nice portable unit that fairly reasonably priced?

Oh and you want to click on the image so you can hear the clips from the album. It really is fantastic.

On The Pope & The Catholic Church

So Pope Benedict is stepping down.

I can't say I'll miss him, because I won't, but this is something historic.

This is the first time that I pope has abdicated etc since the 1400's, shortly before Henry VIII sat on the throne of England.

That's a long time.

What really pisses me off about this announcement is how much hatred is spewed over the internet.

Yeah.

Nothing like a little talk about religion or politics to bring out the worst in people.

First let me say, I'm Catholic, not the best Catholic, but that's the religion I associate with. I don't agree with everything the church teaches nor do I listen to and take as fact some of the BS handed down by the hierarchy.

That said, it doesn't take away the sense of peace I feel when I'm sitting in my church, until the choir begins to sing and ruins it all.

But back to this.

Yes, there's a lot of scandal in the church.

However, I really hate when people make the ignorant assumption that all priests are pedophiles. That would be like saying all republicans are jackasses...I'm sure there are one or two that aren't. But you get what I'm saying.

There are plenty of priests and nuns that are good people that are bringing peace to people in need. Yes, there's a lot of corruption too, but that's found in all churches. That does make a good case against organized religion, but still don't say the whole basket is spoiled because there's one bad apple. I know I was made a better person because of men like Father Pierre Sodini and Father John Marcucci.

Cell Phones Suck

I'm trying to decide which no contract wireless carrier to go with. Right now it looks like Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile.

I'm sick of paying $80.00 for my cell phone and getting nothing to show for it.

I have been researching phones for months.

My price range for a phone is about $150. I'd rather spend $150 on just about anything else, but since my smartphone died back in July, I've been stuck with an ancient LG enV that can only be used for email and phone.

I liked my smartphone. OK, I didn't, but I liked some of the stuff it could do.

I'm a sucker for apps! Especially the Goodreads app, that allows you to scan the barcodes of books so I can wishlist them to my site.

Both have Galaxy phones I like...the Rush on Boost and the Reverb on Virgin and both seem to get pretty good reviews as far as the device is concerned.

I'm just not sure which one to go with.

I do know that if I stay with Verizon..the exact same plan with 2.5 MB of Data costs $90 before taxes. Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile give you 2.5 GB of Data for $55 before tax.

I've also looked at Straight Talk from Walmart..which is only $45 but they don't have any decent phones and I'm sick of always having a crap phone.

So anyone have some suggestions?

I Need To Clean Up My Life

Ok, my house is broken.

Literally.

I won't go into it, but there is so much that doesn't work here that it is disgusting and there is no money to get things fixed.

I'm trying to dejunk as much as I can. We are packrats here. No not hoarders, but we like stuff. Books and music mostly. Mom loves cookbooks and I love all books. Now that I've started cooking, I like the cookbooks too.

This is a problem.

I've been trying to go through stuff for Goodwill. Last week, I took 5 bags of clothes up to the store. I was going through mom's clothes. She's homebound now, so she doesn't need the dressy clothes anymore. House dresses and nighties are basically all she needs and a one or two things to wear when she goes to the doctor 2 or 3 times a year.

I've gone through my stuff multiple times. I have a bag of clothes to go and I'm working at getting some books to donate to the lending library at the YMCA that I belong to.

However, each time I take something out of the house, more seems to come in.

I used to trade concert CDs with people online. I have a huge collection of burned CDs, and I used to listen to them a lot.

I don't listen to anything a lot these days.

I don't want to get rid of them, but I don't really want to keep them either. (Oh and I have tossed a bunch of them..not Moody Blues shows or Elvis Costello shows...but some other artists I don't listen to much anymore)

I just want to get things sorted, but I reach that point where it just seems so overwhelming that I just don't bother, and that's bad.

I don't want to be around people and I really want to get away from my family because I'm starting to not like anyone.

I'm sick of cooking for people. I'm sick of not being able to go anywhere...I'm just sick of it all. I hate bitching and moaning, but aside from waking up in the morning and being alive, there's nothing good about my life at all.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 lyric videos

Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up



Owl City - Good Time



Katy Perry - Firework (I love to hate this song)



Adele - Skyfall



Lady Antebellum - Downtown

Cat Thursday

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!

Here's my Gizmo and Blinky

Why The Music Industry Sucks

There was a story one one of the local news stations today about local bars being sued by BMI.

Basically it seems that bars that allow cover bands to play at their locales must pay a licensing fee to the songwriters for allowing the musicians etc to perform their songs. It is also more money if dancing is involved.

Pardon me, if I say WHAT THE FUCK!

Is there no end to the greed?

How can new artists emerge if bars etc can't allow them to play. $3000.00 is a lot of money a year for some small businesses, but those businesses can help launch a career.

Imagine if the clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg wouldn't have been able to let a certain group of lads play in their nightspots back in the 50s and 60s. At that time The Beatles were playing a good deal of cover tunes.

Most people don't want to hear songs by unknowns for a whole show, especially in smaller towns.

Of course, this is something to be expected from an industry that turns out more crap than quality these days.

Music doesn't mean much anymore and that's a sad sorry shame.

It is more about image than anything. If you can put out one good song an album, well, la di da! And of course, if you aren't between the ages of 16 and 35...well then your music doesn't matter anymore. As long as the fat cats stay fat it is all good.

There's no creativity anymore.

Let's pick our favorite artist on stupid TV shows like American Idol and The Voice.

This makes me very sad as well as disturbed.

TV Ramblings

I don't watch a lot of telly, but the shows I do watch I love passionately. This year's telly has had some really high highs for me and some pretty low lows.

Here are my feelings on my favorite shows:

1. Doctor Who: Steve Moffat loves to torture his viewers, a lot. Not all of the scripts for the mini half season were good, but he really pulled out all the stops on Angels Take Manhattan. If you didn't cry at the end of that one, you have no heart, obviously like Mr. Moffat. It is hard to believe this is the guy that was responsible for Coupling, on the funniest shows I've ever watched.

2. Downton Abbey: I'm a newcomer to this one, however, it is freaking brilliant, and other than the story line involving Mr. Bates, it isn't hard to follow if you've never watched an episode before. I've got a soft spot for any period drama set in England.

3. 2 Broke Girls: AH this is just raunchy fun stuff. This is part of my Monday Night laughfest..or what used to be my Monday Night Laughfest.

4. Mike and Molly: Ok, I think they married these two off too quickly. The show is not funny anymore. Plus when they got rid of Carl's girlfriend, the story lines with him took a downward spiral. This was such a good show. It is a shame its sinking in my estimation.

5. Big Bang Theory: I love and hate this show. Someone said this show was becoming a nerd soap opera, and I agree. It isn't quite as fun now that everyone ...well almost everyone has hooked up. Plus the girls are more funny than most of the guys...well except for Sheldon, who is the real star of the show.

6. Ripper Street: Period cop drama, set in Whitechapel. 'nuff said. This one is a must watch show.

7. Happily Divorced: Great guest stars and it isn't quite as ridiculous as Hot In Cleveland. Plus I love Fran Drescher!

8. The Neighbors: This show is just spectacular. Aliens and humans living in a posh area. Everything is fab. Plus if they ever start looking for the 12th Doctor, I think the guy playing Larry Bird should be considered!

Snow Snow & More Snow

I'm really getting sick of winter. It seems like it is one clipper system after another.

I need some unseasonably warm.

I also need some sleep and for something good to happen soon.

I am the little black cat with the cloud following it around.

Not fun, my friends, not fun at all.

The groundhog didn't see his shadow, so I want spring and I want it now!

Anyone else with me on this one?

Caregiving..Its A Hard Job

I'm not sure if many of you know that I take care of my two parents. I know most of you know my dad has many health issues, COPD, from years of smoking and working in coal mines, steel mills etc..and all his fun digestive issues that really started a few years ago when they found a tumor, non-cancerous, thank god, on his colon.

My mom has had multiple heart attacks, is diabetic and as a result is now blind.

Both stay in the downstairs level of our home.

I'm responsible for meds, potty chair cleanings..and in mom's case bum cleanings. I do all the cooking and cleaning.

I'm essentially mom, to my parents now.

I don't get to leave the house much, except to go to work and do the grocery shopping.

Because my father's condition can be fine one minute and bad the next, I seldom go anywhere that is more than a 10 minute drive from my house.

It has been over 6 months since I last ate in a restaurant and about 6 months since I was near a mall.

I'm crabby. I'm frustrated and I hate the world.

Mostly because I never get much in the way of help from anyone else in my family, aside from my nephew.

I need a break before I break.

It is not easy seeing people that you love, that were once strong and able to do anything, so fragile.

It hurts and it takes a lot out of you.

I've joked that I have a choice of getting fat or becoming an alcoholic because of my caregiving. I'm not lying. Since my dad got sick, I've put on more weight then I care to admit. I'm a stress eater, and there's been a lot of stress and very little me time. And you know what? Sometimes when I get me time, I don't want to exercise.

Weekends are more work then weekdays.

It never gets any better and sometimes, I don't think anyone cares.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 Super Bowl performances

1. Paul McCartney - Hey Jude   (Back when he still sounded ok)

2. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

3. U2  (the whole fantastic thing)

4. The Who - Pinball Wizard

5. Rolling Stones - Start Me Up  (Even though they had to change the lyrics for the show)