Our Pet Manual

 With the addition of our sweet Meeka comes a whole other level of crazy pet owner.  In the rare event that we ever leave our home and our animals in the hands of someone we trust (which is very few!), they will be greeted with the biggest manual imaginable with all the idiosyncrasies our little lovelies require.   Grab yourself a cup of coffee to read just a few of the cautionary blurbs for caring for our three spoiled cats and one dog who is actually a Princess.  

Keep your coffee cup out of reach as Scully seems to be a coffee addict and will eagerly lap out of your cup.  Oh yeah, your toothbrush is even more alluring for her. 

Keep a small puddle of water in the bathtub for both Scully and Franklin to drink out of.  Their lovely water fountain is not good enough for either of them. 

Keep all felt materials out of reach.  Meeka likes to include felt as part of her regular diet.  

Cat turds are also the tastiest treat Meeka can find so keep a tidy litter box lest you want to play a game of "catch-me-if-you-can" while she gnaws on some tasty turds. The fresher and smellier, the better!

For some reason, the dog won't eat food out of her bowl...so you must make mealtimes into a game.  Hide her kibble in any kind of dog toy or snuffle mat to ensure she is getting adequate nutrition.  Cat turds won't cut it. 

Also, the dog won't sleep unless she is laying on your lap.  If this occurs, you are stuck in one spot until she decides she has slept long enough.  Actually, this is true for all the pets.

Franklin doesn't eat food.  Though is the heaviest of all of our animals.  He prefers plastic anyway.  Never leave plastic bags of any kind laying around.  Franklin has the sniffiest sniffer for plastic and will bust into locked drawers to swallow some of that slippery goodness.

Margie has an affinity for rubbing her poopy butt on her toilet paper, which doubles as our carpeting.  To minimize this, take a warm, wet washcloth and give her bottom a nice bath.  Don't worry, she will howl for hours on end in the bathroom until this is accomplished.  Oh yeah, this is her private time so make sure no other animal is nearby.  

Speaking of Margie, she has intense rage sometimes. Just give her her "kicking burrito" or banana so she can take her aggressions out on that.  It helps.

Meeka likes to eat anything that she isn't supposed to have.  Her favorites are hair ties and rubber mats.  Each night, allow Meeka to take your hair tie out of your hair and hold it in her mouth.  Pretend like she isn't supposed to do that, though.  Then, try to take it out of her mouth while giving her far more authority than she deserves.  Wiggle the hair tie free and then give her smooches.  As for the rubber mats, your solution is as good as ours.  

Every evening after dark, it is "red light time".  Don't worry if you forget this...Meeka will be sure to let you know when it is time to take her outside and have her chase the red laser light that she will never be able to catch or touch.  

Feeding time is a whole book in and of itself.  In the mornings, feed dog first in her kennel so that the cats can eat in peace.  Dish Franklin up some food even though he won't eat it.  After cats are fed, let Meeka out of her kennel so that she can run around and lick all the bowls.  On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, put a capsule of glucosamine in both Margie's and Scully's food.  

Before bed, fill the cat crunchies up while making sure Meeka gets some "accidentally dropped" cat foods.  Keep crunchy cat food on table.  Then, bring dog to bed.  Then, exit the bedroom to find Margie sitting with a panicked look on her face thinking you forgot to feed her.  Then, quietly put previously filled crunchy bowl on the floor so Margie can eat her carefully measured out portion (even though she eats at will throughout the day). Now you may reenter the bedroom where dog is and finally go to sleep.  Unless you are startled awake by the sound of honking geese or cats trying to bust their way into the bedroom.  See below: 

Use the sound machine to drown out the sounds of incredibly loud geese and minor cat scratchings on the door.  If cats scratch excessively, put in place the spikey moat while using caution so you don't get impaled by stepping on it when you have to use the bathroom while half asleep.  

Scully can pretty much do whatever she wants.  It is wasted energy to try to get her to comply.

This sums up the gist of how we rearrange our life to make our furry critters happy and comfortable.

Please submit your resume complete with cover letter and 10 references, and give thanks that you don't have to puff Tino with an inhaler twice a day everyday.  

Bookend Year

 Year 2023 was, what I am calling, a "bookend year".  In January of 2023, I got myself a new job.  It was a huge leap for me, and a leap I wasn't sure I wanted to take.  Now having been in my job for a little over a year, I can surely state that I have no regrets in leaving my old job.  My new job, working in hospice, has been wonderful.  Sure, I still get anxious.  Sure, I sometimes feel as though I am inadequate on what I do (after all I am still learning the job).  And, sure, sometimes I hate having to go to work.  However, my new job allows me to work at home most days, and the people I am providing support for seem to really appreciate even a 5 minute check in.  Learning something new and challenging myself outside of my comfort zone is proving to build parts of my self esteem that had been lost...or maybe forgotten.  My work environment is filled with positvity, love, and genuine concerns for the well-being of our clients as well as for each other.  My old job had that, too, but in hospice it feels a little less toxic, and a lot more patient centered.  The folks who work there seem to operate on a spiritual level that is above my own, which helps to elevate me as well.  Some days I feel that more than others. 

Then, in December of 2023, we got ourselves a PUPPY!  

Something that also brought with it some trepidation:  We've done this before and had a horrible experience from start to finish, Will the puppy bond with me?  Can I even take care of a helpless creature when I struggle to properly care for myself all the time?  A puppy is a lot of responsibility that affects spontaneity and freedom.  The dirt!  The smell!  The potty training!  All that and so much more.

However, getting Meeka happens to be just about the best thing that has happened to me since falling in love with my best friend 10 years ago.  She brings joy to me on a daily basis, is my co worker on days I work from home, my motivation to get out for walks, and a tremendous emotional support.  She keeps me out of the world of my head and into the world of the living. 

Though I have had to make a few personal adjustments.  For example, she won't let me wear headbands or hair ties as she removes them from my head just about as fast as I put them on.  She has left me about an inch of a king sized bed to sleep on, and I am forced to share just about all of my food that I eat.  Oh, and the cat box has to be kept extra extra clean because she reaaaalllllly likes cat turds.  But somehow, even her naughty behavior is cute and charming (except the cat turd thing....that is just awful).  

So, yeah, the year 2023 started out with a positive change and ended with a positive change.   And as I am sitting here writing this blog during my work day, with my dog sleeping in a sun spot, and my lady love downstairs, my heart is filled with gratitude.  

Healing Through Love

This quote spoke to me on a level that gave me reason to pause, and in a way that provoked some motivation to do better.  It dawned on me.  I have a living, breathing entity inside of me that deserves to be taken care of.  Much the same way I take care of my beloved cats.  Much the same way I take care of a baby or child.  Much the same way I take care of drowning worms after a rainfall.   Not to say I haven't killed my fair share of insects and other such critters, but even then, I try my best to free the spider in the house rather than smush it dead.  So if worms and spiders are worthy of such care, how come the entity in my body is not?   Whatever this soul is, it chose to reside in this body.  I will admit that I haven't always been welcoming to it, but have, hopefully, come to realize it needs a welcoming and nurturing environment that only I can provide it.  

Not sure why this quote got me thinking, but once I realized I had a living, breathing being inside this shell, I figured I had better take care of it.  Not sure why I haven't thought of it like this in the past.  Its almost a no-brainer, really.  I've devised self care plans for myself in the past, and have been able to stick to them for a short amount of time.  But they say,  if at first you can't succeed, try try again.  So here I am trying again.   I have a plan in place to take care of whatever is taking up residence inside my skin and bones.  It chose "me", and it deserves better than I have been providing.  Basic self care needs of water, exercise and connection to the world in which I am existing is all it is, but it isn't always easy to achieve.  Life gets muddled and focus falls on things beyond my control.  My only real job in this life is to love this entity.   Once I start nourishing this soul, I can provide better for the other souls who are floating around beside this one, something I have not been very good at lately.  

The other day I opened up a Bible to a random page and read it.  It was all about coming to know God through Jesus.  I'm not religious; I don't know much about God or Jesus really. I can't tell you the chapter or book of which I read.   But I do know that it was a message from beyond myself, and I also know that Jesus is love.  So by loving myself,  I can come to know God on a deeper level.  

It is through love that heals.   

Facing Fears for Birthdays

 This year for our Birthdays, we opted for having an experience rather than giving gifts.  Inadvertently we ended up choosing activities that challenged us to face a fear of ours.  OK, so maybe not those life altering fears that get songs and movies, but fears nonetheless.  

Amy wanted a quiet, low key experience for her big 4-0 and she opted for a petting zoo!  So fun!  

How is this facing fears you might ask?  Well, see that llama there (or maybe that's an alpaca.... I don't really know the difference between the two)?   Llamas are notorious for spitting on people, and that is just not something either one of us want to encounter.  We have both been too afraid to approach llamas at zoos until this day.  The lady at the petting zoo ensured us that her llamas did not spit.  True to her word, we remained dry and got to pet and feed this furry little guy.  

When it was time for me to pick my Birthday experience, I opted to do an instructional art activity.   I have always had this belief that I am not creative nor can I do art.  These instructional art classes are kind of trendy right now, and I have been curious by people's finished projects they have posted on social media.  Certainly, I could not make a beautiful picture like they did...or could I? 

By Golly, I can!!  This is my painting.   It was a class of about 20 people all making this same picture so it was easy to look at the progress of neighboring painters, which is dangerous for me since I have a tendency to compare and criticize my own work.  Alas, I suspended my own self judgement and just let my own picture develop from my own brain and hands (and the guidance of our instructor).  

Side by side of my picture (left) and Amy's picture (right).  Of course, there are a few places in my picture that are not perfect or exactly how I imagined it.  However, it is a piece I am quite proud of.  A symbol to face fears, to allow imperfection, and to focus on what is beautiful rather than what is wrong.  This painting has so much beauty AND imperfection.  

And I created it!   

Another Bucket List Check Mark

 One of my bucket list items has been to be on a game show.  About a month ago, I decided to apply  to  be on Wheel of Fortune!  I didn't really think much would come from it.  After all, I hear that over 1 million people apply to be on the show.  But just a week ago I received confirmation I was selected for round one of auditions!  

Amy made it home just in time to watch me audition and snapped this picture:

It was literally a 5 minute audition with 4 other people.  Though brief, the experience was interesting and I am so grateful I got to be a part of it.  It was a brief  get to know you session, much like how people introduce themselves on the show itself.  I mentioned my two jobs (crisis mental health and hospice), My adventures with Amy, and of course I mentioned how I like to take my cats for stroller rides.  The interview ended and now I just wait.  Wait to hear if I have been selected for Round 2.  

Every day I put the energy out in the world to be selected to be a contestant.  I want this.  Bad!  I'm hoping this blog post will help the energy flow into the Universe.  This is Pat Sajak's final year as host so I'm extra hoping that I get chosen to be on this season of the show!  

Wheel of Fortune, Here I Come!  

Vacation Time!

 Normally I take an extended vacation each year, and this year was no exception.  I was uncertain of my vacation status since I just started a new job at the start of the year, but I was able to squeeze out 16 consecutive days off.

Day one started with an ice cream date with my lady love at Gordy's in Cloquet.  They have some tasty and delicious ice cream.  What a perfect way to start out days of rest and relaxation.

An unexpected event took place when we had a giant tree fall in our yard after a brief, but powerful, storm blew through.  Jim volunteered to help us out so we had a day of watching him chainsaw.   

The meat of my vacation was our Anniversary trip to Marquette, MI.  Neither of us had ever been and we were excited to see all the sights!  It was about 5 hour drive so road trip here we come!  Our first sight was the World's Tallest Indian, "Hiawatha", in Ironwood. 

This was a surprisingly fun stop with a heritage mining park nearby, and some teeter totters!  After asking the spirits for a fun and safe trip, we went back on the road where we stopped at every. single. rest stop on the way.  It was fun to get out, stretch our legs, grab a bite to eat, and see the beautiful surroundings that exist just beyond the lush trees.  

We arrived in Marquette and decided to explore that area instead of going further East like our original plan.  Weather was absolutely perfect for us to adventure on our bikes along the Michigan shore of Lake Superior.  The night we arrived, there was a rare Super Moon which also happened to be a Blue Moon!  We had the privilege of watching it rise over Lake Superior right from our pool.  Another visitor happened to question our interest in the moon rise and asked us if the moon was going to do tricks for us.  Yes, yes it does do tricks!  I am so fortunate to have a partner who appreciates the simple miracles of moon rises, sunsets, and all kinds of nature.  Having a Blue Super Moon on our Anniversary was full circle for us after a full Blood Moon was a major player the night Amy was brave enough to tell me she loved me eight years prior. 

Though the outdoor temperature was perfect, it was still a little chilly to actually swim in Lake Superior, but that didn't stop us from taking a quick dip anyway.  Our hotel was right on the shore of Lake Superior so knowing we had the security of warming up in our hotel hot tub, we decided to take a dip in the frigid waters.  No regrets there!  Naturally we played all sorts of water Olympics in our pool before celebrating further in our hotel room.  

The next day was a gorgeous hike above the Lake around Presque Isle where the big water was calling our name inviting us to kayak.  We were a little nervous since the water was not very calm and our kayaks are not made for big water.  However, the rock formations were just so inviting so in we went with a lot of caution.  It was brief, beautiful, and very worth it.  Crystal clear waters showed off the magnificent boulders below.  It was "ocean-esque", with the major difference being the temperature of the water.

We bid adieu to Marquette to make our way back home.  We were eager to return to our cats and the comfort of our own home, but one final stop to ride our bikes around Sunday Lake finished out our trip.  Our trip began with Hiawatha and ended with Nee Gaw Nee Gaw Bow.  I managed to sprain my knee after jumping down right after this picture was taken.  I think he was punishing me because I was disrespectfully picking his nose.   I profusely apologized for my faux pas.  Mercy was granted, but not after a few days of using some crutches. 

Still, this did not mar the beauty of the trip one bit. Marquette left us wanting more so we intend to go back to spend more than just one night with an adventure further East to Munising next time.  

I love Michigan, Lake Superior, hiking, biking, kayaking, and all kinds of full moons.  Sharing all of that with the love of my life was really the highlight of this vacation for me.  Spending time in her company is my most favorite memory.  

Bucket List Check Mark

 Last week we accomplished something on both of our bucket lists.  Something simple.  Free.  And Fun!

Concerts at our outdoor venue of Bayfront are always inviting.   Since neither one of us enjoy crowds of people, we tend to avoid these kinds of activities.  Plus, it gets expensive.  Of course, the right act would be worth both the crowd and the money.  

When we heard that Bon Iver was playing at Bayfront, we took this opportunity to satisfy a bucket list item of both of ours: attending a Bayfront concert from the vantage point of being on the water in our kayaks!  The weather cooperated beautifully and perfectly so we loaded up our boats and headed for the big water.

Upon arrival, the water looked choppy and a little intimidating.  We were apprehensive until we spoke to another lady who convinced us we could paddle across the bay since she had our same kayak.  Though the winds were quiet, the water was wavy.   We weren't the only people who had the idea to attend a concert from the water so there were big, fast boats a plenty.  This added to our anxiety, which almost prevented us from being brave enough to paddle across the big water.  

However, as we saw caravans of others in kayaks and stand up paddle boarders, our confidence came and we made it across the Bay in anticipation of hearing the concert.  It was perfect.  We were right there by the Aerial Lift Bridge and the William A. Irvin.  Naturally I  had to make my way to the Irvin to give it a love tap.

It was a fun atmosphere to be among the crowds of boats anchored in the Bay for the same reason we were there.  Many people were playing in water, which was not numbingly freezing.   We paddled between all the boaters while listening to lovely music under a clear, warm sky.   No better way to enjoy time with my love!  A perfect Duluth day.