The "What's on your mind?" Thread -2016

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artiemom

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Hello, my darlings.  In the way of all moves, things are lost or misplaced.  My one big "WHERE IS IT" is the power cord for the computer.  I'll be back regularly as soon as it is found or replaced,  That will be soon, but till then I have to save battery in case I have to order one online,  I'm thinking of you all and missing being here more than any of you can know.

Took a hard fall yesterday but other than being sore, I'm ok.  Will restart unpacking tomorrow when I can walk a bit better,

HUGS TO ALL!
Oh No!!! BE CAREFUL!!! ~~~~~ Please!! 

We love and need you too much for you to be hurt.....

Please let others help you.... ((Hugs)))

***********************************************

In other news, I went to the fundraiser for the Humane Society. It was a bit tacky to charge volunteers an admission fee (pricey also); but I wanted to attend in order to meet people and to put some faces with names. I also need some time away.. 

There was a silent auction.. tons of good stuff. Not many people attended; mostly volunteers (not all of them) and their friends.. 

Since I am on a limited income, the price of the ticket was really enough for me but I took some extra money.. I did bid on a couple of huge 'cat' baskets, and a coach bag. Turns out I was out bid... one by 5 dollars, but I really put myself at a limit. I had to be strict because I have spent a lot of money on 'stuff' the past couple of weeks...

I did buy a pillow/bed for Artie.. yes, another one.. This one is made out of fleece with some nice soft stuffing.. I am hoping he will sleep in it, if I place it near my bed...

I have been home an hour and a half, and he has not gone near it!! That makes me so mad!!! He loves anything fleece! He goes crazy for fleece...

Perhaps he is purposely ignoring it because I left him alone for 5 hours today?????  

Wait until Saturday. I have a Christening to attend. Because of travel, I will be out of the house for about 6-7 hours!! He will go crazy....

What can I do.. nothing.. He is lucky I am not working...

Right now he is patiently waiting for food.. Have to feed him.. 
 
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LTS3

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There are the family you were born into, and the family you choose.

I think it's fair to say that everyone on TCS counts as part of our chosen family.
I honestly don't care much for the family I was born into. Too dysfunctional and way too much domestic violence
It's actually better for my stress and anxiety if I associate as little as possible with them. I'm not close at all to any of my cousins and relatives.

I guess because of the environment I grew up in, I'm very wary of people and don't let many people into my life. I like my current "work family". We get along really well and actually have fun and help each other out and we actually do things together as a team. I have a few people outside of my team at work that I'm good friends with and can rely on for work advice. Outside of work I have my one good crazy cat friend who sends me gifts and of course there's TCS


Both cats go to the vet later this week for their annual check up. It's a bit late this year. Usually I schedule them for around Labor Day but the vet had put in a lot of vacation time for the month so his appointments filled up quicker than usual. Leroy needs two sets of vaccinations this year, rabies and FVRCP. He'll be super sleepy afterwards which means I get a break from his zoomies for a good day
Emma just needs rabies and bloodwork for her upcoming dental.

I'm keeping an eye on one of the cats' geriatric "roommates". One has developed minor dermatitis and keeps scratching. It's scabby at the moment which is fine. I'll see if I can find the vet at work and see what she recommends, most likely some triple antibiotic ointment.
 

Margret

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Hello, my darlings.  In the way of all moves, things are lost or misplaced.  My one big "WHERE IS IT" is the power cord for the computer.  I'll be back regularly as soon as it is found or replaced,  That will be soon, but till then I have to save battery in case I have to order one online,  I'm thinking of you all and missing being here more than any of you can know.

Took a hard fall yesterday but other than being sore, I'm ok.  Will restart unpacking tomorrow when I can walk a bit better,

HUGS TO ALL!
 
Good news that you're finally moved! I hope the process wasn't too nerve wracking. Well, except for the fall - yikes!  Are you okay?   It's a shame about the computer cable- hopefully you can find it before you have to order one.  Those things are not cheap.

Speaking of computer equipment, I ordered a printer awhile back and never used it because I couldn't figure out how to load the paper cassettes.
   I finally got tired of feeling like an idiot so attacked the thing today.  At last it is up and running and talking to my computer and the paper is loaded. Everything is theoretically fine.  Except the 
 paper keeps jamming.  
  I am completely stumped.   At least it provides lots of entertainment for Paul and Chula as it practically shakes itself off the table as it jumps around trying to print.  
   
Very glad the move is over, and rather concerned about the fall.  I very much hope it's nothing worse than bruises.

As for new computer cables, you might be surprised.  I got a new one for the Dell a while back, and it wasn't really pricey at all.  Targus makes a sort of universal computer cable, with multiple jacks for different computers.  It also has a USB port on it into which you can plug a USB to Micro USB cable and charge your cell phone or tablet from the same power supply.

Jasmine is the same way with my printer.  It "jumps" a little every time it turns off or on, and Jasmine has discovered that by walking on top of it she can press the power button and make it move.  While she's on top of it!  "OMG, it's so much fun!  It's like going to Disney Land!  Meow!  More!  Menow!  And then the paper moves!  And more paper comes out!  Meoow!"



You may need to adjust the quantity of paper in the cassette?  I'm not familiar with paper cassettes, so I can't say.  And be absolutely certain there isn't a scrap of paper trapped inside which could be causing the jams.

Margret
 

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I went to the pet store to pick up a few things and  came home with a new foster kitty.  His current foster was having trouble socializing him.  He hisses at you when you first walk in the room.  they had him in a cage in the bathroom of the store and he did hiss at the first person to walk in.  It was kind of like a greeting.   It wasn't loud or long and the ears didn't go back.  He is very friendly and he and DD hit it off.  We have been in and out of his room a few times and there has been no hissing.  The cat rescue thought it might have had something to do with his sister who he was fostered with.  There was talk of finding a feral colony for him to join.  There is no way this kitten is feral.

Meet Jerry (Garcia) named by DH


 

handsome kitty

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No.  I can't afford the vet bills for a 3rd cat.  I can help with fostering though.  He really is a sweet kitten.  About 4 months old.
 

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@Mamanyt1953  getting hurt is against the rules.  You're grounded.  Sit down, put your feet up, and drink some hot tea.

@Handsome Kitty  what a cute little baby!!!

@Artiemom  Connor is beyond obsessed with fleece.  I got my future step daughter a pink Minion fleece blanket the last time she was here and Connor stole it while she was at her mom's.  He gets on it and just kneads it for ages.  I'm gonna have to get him his own blankie cuz I'm pretty sure Aislyn wants hers back.

And, speaking of Aislyn, I am so dang annoyed at her mother!  She keeps cutting Aislyn's hair to her shoulders and the last time she picked Aislyn up, John very politely asked her if she would let her hair grow out.  So she comes back from her mom's with ALL of her hair gone.  Practically a buzz cut.  Was that really necessary?  Shortly before she went back to her mom's the last time, I was combing her hair and without any kind of coaxing or coaching, she pipes up, "my mom cuts my hair.  I don't want my hair cut."  Of course it isn't my place to say anything because I'm just the future step mom, but if she wants long hair, why not let her have long hair?  I put my hair in ponytails and sometimes braids and Aislyn asks me to do her hair like mine.  So I bought a package of those tiny rubber bands so I could and it made her so happy.  And now I don't even think she had enough hair to hold a barrette!

Anyway, that's my gripe for the day.  I'm gonna snuggle my kitties for a bit because they won't be sleeping with me all night tonight.  When Aislyn is here, they guard her in shifts.  One of them sleeps with her for half the night and then they switch for the other half.  It's precious.
 
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Margret

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@Mamanyt1953  getting hurt is against the rules.  You're grounded.  Sit down, put your feet up, and drink some hot tea.

@Handsome Kitty  what a cute little baby!!!

@Artiemom  Connor is beyond obsessed with fleece.  I got my future step daughter a pink Minion fleece blanket the last time she was here and Connor stole it while she was at her mom's.  He gets on it and just kneads it for ages.  I'm gonna have to get him his own blankie cuz I'm pretty sure Aislyn wants hers back.

And, speaking of Aislyn, I am so dang annoyed at her mother!  She keeps cutting Aislyn's hair to her shoulders and the last time she picked Aislyn up, John very politely asked her if she would let her hair grow out.  So she comes back from her mom's with ALL of her hair gone.  Practically a buzz cut.  Was that really necessary?  Shortly before she went back to her mom's the last time, I was combing her hair and without any kind of coaxing or coaching, she pipes up, "my mom cuts my hair.  I don't want my hair cut."  Of course it isn't my place to say anything because I'm just the future step mom, but if she wants long hair, why not let her have long hair?  I put my hair in ponytails and sometimes braids and Aislyn asks me to do her hair like mine.  So I bought a package of those tiny rubber bands so I could and it made her so happy.  And now I don't even think she had enough hair to hold a barrette!

Anyway, that's my gripe for the day.  I'm gonna snuggle my kitties for a bit because they won't be sleeping with me all night tonight.  When Aislyn is here, they guard her in shifts.  One of them sleeps with her for half the night and then they switch for the other half.  It's precious.
It's always sad when a parent turns their child into the battleground on which to fight with the other parent.  I'm glad your cats are giving Aislyn sweet dreams while she's with you.

Margret
 

Alicia88

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It's always sad when a parent turns their child into the battleground on which to fight with the other parent.  I'm glad your cats are giving Aislyn sweet dreams while she's with you.

Margret
They adore her.  Right after we got them, I clipped their nails because we didn't want to chance her getting a scratch and giving her mother an excuse to throw a tantrum.  We quickly learned that it wasn't necessary.  Even as 12 week old kittens, they seemed to instinctively know to sheath their claws with her.

I don't understand what is wrong with her mother.  She left John, not the other way around.  She cheated on him while they were together and she's had countless girlfriends since.  I'm the first one John has dated since they split up.  Before I was able to move back home from California, John was planning to fly out to see me (we were friends for 10 years before we were a couple) and her mother threw a tantrum and said if he did, she wouldn't let him see Aislyn anymore.

I'm proud of John, though.  He'll mouth Aislyn's mother at times, but never within her earshot.  I hope her mother shows him the same courtesy, but its hard telling.  And he bends over backwards to keep her happy.  The first time he stood up to her was about dating me.  He could easily get full custody - that's a long story - but he doesn't want to take her away from her mother.  We have her half the time for now.  He's probably going for custody in a couple of years, though.  Her mother has been talking about home schooling her and he doesn't like that idea - neither do I, but not my place to put in an opinion - so he will probably go for custody when it's time for her to start school.

I'd love to have the little booger full time so you won't hear me complaining.  I wish she was mine.
 

Margret

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It's always sad when a parent turns their child into the battleground on which to fight with the other parent.  I'm glad your cats are giving Aislyn sweet dreams while she's with you.

Margret
They adore her.  Right after we got them, I clipped their nails because we didn't want to chance her getting a scratch and giving her mother an excuse to throw a tantrum.  We quickly learned that it wasn't necessary.  Even as 12 week old kittens, they seemed to instinctively know to sheath their claws with her.

I don't understand what is wrong with her mother.  She left John, not the other way around.  She cheated on him while they were together and she's had countless girlfriends since.  I'm the first one John has dated since they split up.  Before I was able to move back home from California, John was planning to fly out to see me (we were friends for 10 years before we were a couple) and her mother threw a tantrum and said if he did, she wouldn't let him see Aislyn anymore.

I'm proud of John, though.  He'll mouth Aislyn's mother at times, but never within her earshot.  I hope her mother shows him the same courtesy, but its hard telling.  And he bends over backwards to keep her happy.  The first time he stood up to her was about dating me.  He could easily get full custody - that's a long story - but he doesn't want to take her away from her mother.  We have her half the time for now.  He's probably going for custody in a couple of years, though.  Her mother has been talking about home schooling her and he doesn't like that idea - neither do I, but not my place to put in an opinion - so he will probably go for custody when it's time for her to start school.

I'd love to have the little booger full time so you won't hear me complaining.  I wish she was mine.
Some people just have toxic personalities.  It's especially unfortunate for their children.  And it's always hard to tell whether it's better to remove a child entirely from even a toxic parent.

For what it's worth, every once in a while the child of an abusive parent really does turn into a functional adult eventually.  The chances are increased when the child's other parent loves them and gives them the kind of support they need.  And even if Aislyn can't be with you full time right now, at least she can see how a proper mother behaves when she is there.  She is loved.  Unless her mother is physically violent (she's not, is she?) Aislyn will be okay.  If her mother is physically abusive and it can be proven, John needs to get the terms of the divorce changed so that the mother only sees Aislyn under supervision.

Margret
 

Alicia88

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Some people just have toxic personalities.  It's especially unfortunate for their children.  And it's always hard to tell whether it's better to remove a child entirely from even a toxic parent.

For what it's worth, every once in a while the child of an abusive parent really does turn into a functional adult eventually.  The chances are increased when the child's other parent loves them and gives them the kind of support they need.  And even if Aislyn can't be with you full time right now, at least she can see how a proper mother behaves when she is there.  She is loved.  Unless her mother is physically violent (she's not, is she?) Aislyn will be okay.  If her mother is physically abusive and it can be proven, John needs to get the terms of the divorce changed so that the mother only sees Aislyn under supervision.

Margret
No, she isn't physically abusive.  Aislyn occasionally has a bruise here or there but she's 3 so that's to be expected.  Still, she's always dirty and wearing dirty clothes when she comes from her mother's.  Once I had to take her with me to a doctor's appointment because she got dropped off later than expected and I didn't have time to clean her up.  I was so embarrassed because of course people are going to assume she's mine and that I let her get that dirty and took her out in public.  Normally I'm thrilled if people assume she's mine but I don't want it to look like I don't know enough to clean a child up before going out.  She's the sweetest little girl, though.  Very well behaved.  She tantrums, but what 3 year old doesn't?  And she only does it when she's tired.
 

Margret

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Some people just have toxic personalities.  It's especially unfortunate for their children.  And it's always hard to tell whether it's better to remove a child entirely from even a toxic parent.

For what it's worth, every once in a while the child of an abusive parent really does turn into a functional adult eventually.  The chances are increased when the child's other parent loves them and gives them the kind of support they need.  And even if Aislyn can't be with you full time right now, at least she can see how a proper mother behaves when she is there.  She is loved.  Unless her mother is physically violent (she's not, is she?) Aislyn will be okay.  If her mother is physically abusive and it can be proven, John needs to get the terms of the divorce changed so that the mother only sees Aislyn under supervision.

Margret
No, she isn't physically abusive.  Aislyn occasionally has a bruise here or there but she's 3 so that's to be expected.  Still, she's always dirty and wearing dirty clothes when she comes from her mother's.  Once I had to take her with me to a doctor's appointment because she got dropped off later than expected and I didn't have time to clean her up.  I was so embarrassed because of course people are going to assume she's mine and that I let her get that dirty and took her out in public.  Normally I'm thrilled if people assume she's mine but I don't want it to look like I don't know enough to clean a child up before going out.  She's the sweetest little girl, though.  Very well behaved.  She tantrums, but what 3 year old doesn't?  And she only does it when she's tired.
Oh, good.  As I recall, my mother never referred to those as "tantrums."  She always said, "I can tell that it's time you took a nap.  You're getting cranky."  And she was right.  I still get cranky when I need a nap. 


I just spoke with @Mamanyt1953.  She fell down because the super neglected to tell the maintenance man to put in a ramp, so she tripped over the doorstep.  Bruised and with a pulled muscle, but no broken bones.  The guys from the Baptist church helped with the move and refused to accept any payment at all.  Hekitty was not happy with the whole affair, until she discovered that the back door has a glass panel and Mamanyt1953 raised the blind 18 inches so that she can look out.  Now she's happy.  Maybe the presence of "kitty television" will let Mamanyt1953 rest from constantly swinging DaBird for her.

I'm getting cranky.  Good night, all.

Margret
 

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I'm very glad that you can foster this little sweetie.

Margret
Thanks!  I did that before I posted them but the pictures always post in the original direction.  His tail is very long.

@Alicia88   Eclipse really likes fleece too, and the sherpa.  I get baby blankets for him.

The shift key on one side of my computer is not working.  It is annoying me.  Maybe my son can fix it.
 

Margret

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Originally Posted by Handsome Kitty  
 

---SNIP---

The shift key on one side of my computer is not working.  It is annoying me.  Maybe my son can fix it.
If you have a vacuum with a hose attachment, try vacuuming the keyboard.  Something may have gotten under the key and be keeping it from moving properly.

Margret
 

handsome kitty

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If you have a vacuum with a hose attachment, try vacuuming the keyboard.  Something may have gotten under the key and be keeping it from moving properly.

Margret
Thanks, I'll try that. 

I just spent some time upstairs with Jerry.  He is a total love bug. I was holding him and he was kneading, rubbing his head on me and purring.  Of course we played a little and I sat on the floor and read a book for a few minutes.  He was rubbing against me and jumping away if I moved my hand too fast to pet him.  So he needs a little socialization but he is totally adoptable.

DH reported good cat sounds on either side of the screen door this morning.  It's blocked w/posters taped to the bottom half and a towel blocking the opening at the bottom.  When I went up to check part of the towel had been pulled under the door and Fluffy had her paws under it, now there is a pillow there.  Eclipse was growling and hissing at the door, then he was hissing at Fluffy.  Guess he caught the scent of the not yet neutered kitten.   I'm off to shower than take Eclipse outside for a bit so he knows he isn't being forgotten or ignored.
 

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I absolutely adore my grandma, but she is the hardest person in the world to get off the phone with.  Of course, she did more than even my mom to raise me so the least I can do is talk as long as she wants.  But it really cut into my sleep today.  I like my sleep.  A lot.  And she needs to stop forcing money on me!  Her car has been acting up a bit so I've been taking her to the grocery and whatnot.  She made me take $5 even though I told her I would have going anyway so it really didn't cost me any more gas.  She's on a tighter budget than I am.  Social security isn't gonna make anyone rich and she's putting every extra cent she has into grandpa's funeral costs.  So she really needs the money more than I do, but arguing with my grandma is like talking to a brick wall.

Kinda funny.  I guess the other day someone asked her how she lived so long and stayed so healthy.  She's 85 and she doesn't take any medications and doesn't have any health problems.  She has arthritis, false teeth, and glasses but other than that, she's perfectly healthy.  Her response:  "I stay away from doctors."  She hasn't been to a doctor in 40 years.  She says she doesn't need to see a doctor because there's nothing wrong with her.  Can't argue with that logic.
 

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I just got an email from @Mamanyt1953.  She's very glad to have her computer up and running, but the task chair is digging into the pulled leg muscle so she's going back to bed.  She says she'll post tonight.

Unfortunately, the temperature on the water heater in her new apartment is set so low that, while she can manage a shower, a hot bath to relax that muscle is out of the question.  She's requested that the maintenance man fix this problem, but it hasn't happened yet.

Margret
 

Alicia88

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I just got an email from @Mamanyt1953.  She's very glad to have her computer up and running, but the task chair is digging into the pulled leg muscle so she's going back to bed.  She says she'll post tonight.

Unfortunately, the temperature on the water heater in her new apartment is set so low that, while she can manage a shower, a hot bath to relax that muscle is out of the question.  She's requested that the maintenance man fix this problem, but it hasn't happened yet.

Margret
If she knows where the hot water heater is, she can easily fix it herself.  There will probably be a panel.  Just remove the screws, take the panel off, and turn up knob.  I need to get around to doing that myself because I always run out of hot water before I can fill up the tub and I like an occasional soak.
 
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