I just had the most extraordinary dream.

In it, I was led into a room by my parents (who in reality live six hours away in Mass). The room was filled with Great Cats. There were tigers, leopards, lynxes, ocelots, and I don't know what else. There were lots of black ones. But no pumas, because I was asking for the pumas. It was all for my birthday, even though that was in April!

We had to be careful, because scratching at them, even behind the ears, made them over excited, and they could turn on us. I was scratching and stroking them anyway, and the handlers had to intervene. Some of the cats went under the furniture (so it sure wasn't my tiny little house).

The reason I'm posting this silly little dream is this: When I told my husband about it, he said it wasn't a dream, it was a premonition. That's what he's getting me next year.

Just to get it on record. I'm going to hold him to it.

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Little Pond

Trapped!

It's 80 in the shade (26.66 C)! Even the birds are getting quiet.

Can't go out, even to drop a letter in the mailbox. I had wanted to put the cats in the Kitty Walk today, but won't because, I can't be out there with them. No HuggaMutt to protect them: Ellie's home with Mamma and Poppa Dog, having a full week of poolside vacation. I can't even go there to visit, because there's no air conditioning.

This spring has been such a bad one for the MS, I won't take any chances in the hot weather.

I can remember when I wasn't such a wimp, and I miss it.

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Little Pond

Again!

For the third time in 25 years, I have been summoned for jury duty.

The first time, before the MS diagnosis, I was simply dismissed due to plea bargaining.

The second time I was very sick with MS and excused.

This time, I don't know. I will once again go to my Neuro and present the papers. He will likely give me another document. I am hard of hearing--but they offer signers and listening devices!--and tire easily, within two or three hours at best, and am unpredictably incontinent. My guess is that the last one will probably convince them.

The fact that I work nights isn't any sort of factor. It makes me available to serve days, and as far as Gannett is concerned, I can also work that night, too. No compensation offered. That is the policy for night workers.

It gets really old really fast.

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Little Pond

Living with a smoker who lives with a forgetful jerk.

I was sweeping the carpet (yes, sweeping, with a carpetsweeper, so as not to frighten the cats) when I found a huge pile of ashes, and two--two!--new burns. Good thing it's a dark carpet.

I was thinking, "If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have married him."

Then I thought, "I am a liar. Of course I would still marry him. For the very same reasons that have kept us married despite the smoking, and other things."

You married people understand: I have my own shortcomings. I'm very forgetful, and just terrible with dates.

Earlier today, before he left for work, I found an envelope for me.

Inside he had written:

"What would I have done without you these past 27 years? Love you very much."

Happy Anniversary, Husband RJ, from the forgetful jerk.

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Little Pond

First in a Series

Called Ellie Visits.

Boring videos by an adoring GrammaDog. This is what happens when we don't have grandchildren.

Ellie wends her way through the underbrush of the Strand along the Chemung River.

This is the best we can do for now. It's raw footage. I haven't even installed the editing software yet!

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Little Pond

We are just not well

... here in Little Pond.

Tuesday afternoon my younger daughter called to tell me she was being taken to the hospital with stomach pain, vomiting and cramps. She'd been violently ill for the last four hours, unable to even sip water.

At the hospital she was in a bay within a few minutes. It took two hours before they began to stabilize her. The place was preparing for an influx of ambulances, due to a crash on the highway.

Once she'd been stabilized, I left it in the hands of Husband RJ and went to work. Turned out that our other daughter, and our son-in-law, also were violently ill, as was one of their friends.

We still don't know for sure if it was a virus (I didn't get sick like that) or food poisoning. Naturally they wonder if they got tainted food, with leftover taco sauce being the primary suspect.

Yesterday I wasn't feeling well, and later turned up at the doctors' offices with the worst UTI ever in my life. Better today, but it will probably take the weekend before I am fully recovered. We are all back to work today.

Update: other picnickers were also taken ill. NOT ALL had eaten the supected food. Probably a virus.

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Little Pond

I'm still here.

Just outdoors more while I still can. Off and on this Spring, we have already had days when I really had to hide from the heat. There is no air conditioning at work, so I go out early in the mornings to enjoy what sun I can. Then I rest, as usual, in the middle of the day. Finally I get ready to go to work. In the heat.

We have threatened to arrive in a bathing suit, but I fear I would suffer throes of conscience as soon as they started screaming, "MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!" just as they are struck blind. Or turned to stone, or whatever. Did I mention that we are working in the heat?

The Little Pond is being recorded on video at this point, but I have truly put the "rank" in "Rank Amateur." Never fear, though, soon you will be (forced to) able to watch boring videos of HuggaMutt wading in the mighty River Chemung!

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Little Pond

Silent Summer

at the paper. We had our little meeting and we know what will happen.

This isn't to say that we know what's going on. Only that the place is getting quieter and quieter as the meetings are convened in the different departments.

Looks like the supervisors are all quite happy. Guess they will keep their positions. We grunts will just have to take it as it comes.

Like I said. The place is very quiet these days.

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Little Pond

This is a picture of my pets getting their Advantage

There is nothing wrong with your computer or Blogger.

Ellie is the only one to stick around. The cats especially are underfoot all the time, except when we take out the flea treatment.

Didi is first, because the last time, she went missing for two days as soon as the first treatment went on Bubba. Got her by surprise. She's under the bed, sulking.

Patches won't hide, but she won't let me do it. I'm covered in her fur now, and she is sauntering to the basement. Sweet little Patches turns into Hell Cat Horrific each time I approach.

Bubba is still too stupid to evade or elude. Got him. He's not happy, but he's treated.

When Husband RJ gets home we do the Kitty Taco thing with the towel. And she will be treated, come Hell or high water. And here in Elmira, high water is no joke.

Then RJ can mow the lawn, and we can set up the Kitty Walk. So it's not all bad.

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Little Pond