Baby chicks

This one is called Phyllis (after Phyllis Diller, not my mom!)

Crazy Animals

Poor Darla! This is downright embarrassing! Her puppies are all gone and this cat moved right in and started nursing on her.

None of my animals seem to know what they truly are. The dog thinks she's everbodys mother, including the cow (that thinks she's a 500 lb dog). Hendini (the chicken) thinks she's the Great Goddess of the coop now that all the baby chicks and ducks are settled in with her for the winter. What else would she think being the biggest out of them all and can do the Great Magic Trick of creating eggs when none others can.

It's a strange world out here....

Have a great day!
Sandy

My Baby off to Boot Camp

My Baby


Monday I dropped off my youngest daughter Cassie at the recruiter's office. She went from there to a hotel in Oklahoma City to be officially sworn into the Navy, stay the night, then fly to Illinois for boot camp.

Goodbyes were said quickly with hugs, but she said I broke the rules by crying. Through tears I informed her as the mom I completely have the right. As well as the right to take pictures in the parking lot, whether the recruiter was looking on through the office doors or not. A mom has the right to hold onto every tangible memory possible, no matter what means it takes. (She even came back and gave me a few extra, unplanned, but necessary.)

She was tough. She wanted it to be that way. Keeping her composure knowing it's going to be hard but proving from the start how tough she can be. Just one more hug and kiss and off I went leaving her to be on her way. A short text the next day...she was in Chicago waiting for a bus. (I texted back for her not to talk to strangers) A five second phone call a few hours later, her things were getting packed up to be shipped back home, including the cell phone, she'd give an address to write as soon as she could, an I love you and a goodbye.

Phew...

She's always been a headstrong one. Just like my ex-mother-inlaw. We called her "Little Rosie" since she was old enough to let that feisty temper show through (which was VERY early on!) She spent the weekend at my mom's house one time when she was very little. Something was said, Cassie didn't get her way so with her bags packed she stomped to the end of the driveway to wait for mom and dad to come pick her up. My mom said she stayed there for a couple of hours until she finally coaxed her back into the house.

I really pity the drill sargent that pisses her off. She just might be one of the more stubborn soldiers they've ever had! But then again, that would give her the drive to succeed and keep going. After boot camp is the schooling for "Aviation Avionics" that she chose after scoring a 90 out of 100 on the Azvab test. Women recruitments are low, let alone smart ones. That's when she gets to go to Florida. Imagine, turning 21 and being in Florida during Spring Break? She's going to have an awesome time once that hard crap is done.

And I think she'll be absolutely bad ass! It's just a few days past her leaving but she's going to be just fine. Better in the long run for sure!

And her mom is going to make out just fine too...

:)

Homeless Tent Cities

The myth that the economy is getting better is just that, a myth, or perhaps wishful thinking. City officials make very convincing commercials in public relations campaigns saying how strong their local banks are, how layoffs are much lower here than anywhere else in the nation. All are attempts to hide their heads in the sand, like ostriches, asses up in the air, feathers fluffed.


The truth is everyone I know has had a layoff affect someone they know or an immediate family member. Most often it is the primary wage earner (men still get paid more so companies cut out the jobs that cost them the most.) It is much safer to be a woman with a job these days than a white male, or any male for that matter. Going back to college has increased attendance, giving the financial aid offices more work than they've ever seen. No doubt each semester will only increase in numbers.


The tent city in Sacramento is just one. I used to see that skyline of buildings on my way through the city to school everyday. The river was a nice place to jog, a few homeless dotted around, mostly from the ones who fell through the mental illness cracks in the system. If you notice in the video, these tents aren't shoddy shacks built from cardboard or scraps of what's laying around. They're just people that don't have anywhere else to go.


There's a tent city in Merced, Ca, along the river that I used to drive past. I'm told that area is now filled with tent cities, nice tents, families, just needing a place to stay. The local police round them up every few days, make them move, doing the homeless shuffle only to do it again the next week.


The local newspaper is four pages long in lists of forclosures, daily! Homes that working families were buying, their children went to school, 2 car garages, kept well enough up with the "Jones's". When two incomes barely make ends meet, then one or both are lost, it doesn't take long for a house payment to get behind, or a car payment to get behind. Then the vehicle needed to go to work, or find a job is reposessed. Then the house payment falls so far behind there's no hope for catching up.. Then comes a forclosure and a notice of eviction. The children need a street address to be enrolled in school. Those lucky enough to have family to help are fortunate. The rest have no alternative. Families that live in these places are normal, everyday people that in a very short amount of time became what they never thought they'd be.


Whether this is the tail end of a coming back economy, or the very beginning of the worst that is yet to come, we shall see. I have seen many new people in Oklahoma that have moved from the west coast, starting over. (You can buy a house for a fraction of the price here compared to California.) I think the trickling down affect isn't over. But we shall see....

This is Bambi and Darla