Orphaned . . .

In a way, I am now an orphan. My mom passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2012. It wasn't as sudden as my Daddy's death, but I expected my Mama to be around at least a few days longer. I know that none of it is what I hoped, but in a way, I had been expecting her to not be well, too. I had seen her sick and suffering for many months. Sometimes I feel bad because I have no written here for a few days. However, I then look and see that I am dealing with a lot of stuff. Before my mom passed, it was taking care of her, taking care of Briana, doing the jobs I had, looking for a better job, taking care of the dogs, taking care of the car, and many more things. Now, I still have to take care of things including Briana. I am trying to let her be as independent as she can be. I want her to learn tasks and chores so that if she wants, she can learn to live on her own. She talks to me about dreams she has and I want her to be able to pursue them. However, she can't pursue them if she doesn't have the skills she needs to live. Obviously, I am also dealing with Mama's memorial service and getting that all planned now. My mom never wanted a viewing of her body or a funeral. She wanted to be cremated, have a memorial service, and not have people wear black. It still hurts that she's gone. It doesn't seem real sometimes. I drive home and think that maybe I'd find her in the bedroom. Perhaps I'd visit her in the nursing home. There are plenty of times that I just don't know what to feel.

Poetry, Prose, and Popcorn Recommends

I know that I have not written a blog in a long time. My life has become increasingly difficult and I have not had the time to write a blog. I can't write much at the moment, either. However, I did want to let people know that this blog has a store where you can look to buy stuff. This blog will also have products recommended at times. You should try to buy them if you are interested in the products. It will include a link where to buy the product. For now, you can see the basic store at Poetry, Prose, and Popcorn Recommendations.

Why can't she be an introvert?

Of course, my sister has to be one of the stranger people with Asperger's.  Instead of being an introvert like many of them are, she is an extrovert.  She seems to think I should be like her, too.  I'm not an extrovert.  I'm an introvert.  She drains my energy by always buzzing around me, doing things that I don't want her to be doing.

I was hoping to have a good night of late writing tonight.  I got myself energized to do this by sitting up in the McNeese library and reading.

I came home and cuddling with Woofles for a little bit.  I was then ready to go to my computer once my phone told me that it needed more battery power, so I should connect my charger.

The minute I planned on doing work, my sister decides that she has to go into what is usually my mom's bedroom.  Then she decides to start looking at things.  Sure, I'm happy that she found the battery charger to the fancy camera that my mom bought, which is now mine (mom can't handle having a fancy camera like that because she falls, she'll drop it, and she can't even keep it OFF when not in use).

So, then we had to go through getting that all set and getting the pictures off of it.

What I realized is that my mom always takes TERRIBLE pictures of me.  Why can't she take a picture with me SMILING?  Every picture that I am in that she took, I look like I'm making an awful face of some sort.  I look terrible in those pictures.  Of course, not having a flattering hair cut did not help, either.  I like my hair longer, like about shoulder length, usually.  It can look okay tied back, but I usually don't wear it that way, either.

Anyway, this got off track. It's all about being an introvert and how being alone and doing things alone or in small groups (often with other introverts) is what is energizing.  The constant buzzing and movement of an extrovert is NOT comforting in any way.

I wrote what it is like to be an INFP.  However, all the times that it says "shy" in the article should read "introverted."

And a Pirate without a Treasure Is Like a Monkey without a Spatula

I'll spin you a yarn - or at least some juicy information.  I was being silly with that because of "Blackbeard, Bluebeard, & Redbeard" by Eric Herman.

Anyway, most of you know that I make my money by writing and monetizing websites and such.

So, I write for Yahoo! Voices, which is in the Yahoo! Contributor Network.

If you'd like to write for them, you can do that by clicking here.

I also write for Bukisa, but something seems to be wrong with the site.  It says that I don't have any articles there.  Then, I write for List My Five, TextBroker, oDesk, and ContentCurrent.

If these have referral links, I will update with them later.  I am trying to relax tonight and looking at the computer screen all the time and searching for links is not exactly relaxing.

Cash Crate

My mom is not doing well.  I am trying to get my life, for me, started more right now.  Of course I worry about my mother and want her to have the best care she can get.  However, this is not the time or the place to write about it at the moment.  It can be the place later, but not now.

Anyway, with trying to get my life started and get money, I joined Cash Crate.

It would be good for both me and you for you to join Cash Crate, too!

You can join Cash Crate by clicking on the link in this sentence.

Art and Entertainment

Ricci Milan, one of the founders of Feet Don't Fail Me Now, has me thinking today. This required a serious blog post. He asked, "What is the difference between art and entertainment?"

I can take this at face value.

If I go to Merriam-Webster, art, as a noun, has six distinct definitions.

1) skill acquired by experience, study, or observation
2) a branch of learning; one of the humanities
3) an occupation requiring knowledge or skill
4) the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also works so produced; ibe of the fine arts; a graphic art
5) a skillful plan; the quality or state of being artful
6) decorative or illustrative elements in printed manner


Then, entertainment has three distinct definitions.

1) The act of entertaining
2) maintenance; provision; employment
3) amusement or diversion provided especially by performers; something diverting or engaging as a public performance or a usually light comic or adventure novel.

It seems that, if trying to take the question literally, it only causes more confusion.

Ricci is a tap dancer. Is tap dancing an art? Is tap dancing entertainment?

I love tap dancing. I don't know how to do it, but I love it. I love watching tappers perform, what I consider, to be an art. Is is entertainment? The fact that I enjoy watching it would make it entertainment to me. However, it is not entertainment to somebody that does not enjoy tap dancing.

I still haven't answered the original question and I don't know if I'd ever be able to answer the original question.
v I enjoy writing. Writing is known as an art. It is somebody creating something for an enjoyment and usually for others to enjoy. However, is writing entertainment? The fact that I enjoy writing does make it entertainment for myself. Sure, it is not fun for people to sit and watch me write. However, my writing is an art. Is my writing "a performance?"

My first answer would be that it is not. Then, I could expand my thinking to the fact that people read my writing. If I included the act of reading in my writing, perhaps it could be a performance because my work was created for others to enjoy.

So, overall, I guess art is the action of creating and entertainment is the result of art. Yet, it still leaves large gaping hole of confusion because it may not be exactly those things. The definitions seem to overlap. How do we decided what is art and what is entertainment?

Discuss.

Medical and Finanacial Problems

I'm sorry about this, but this blog is going to have to be on a hiatus until my sister and I can work out the financial and medical problems with our mother.  She is still being obstinate and she NEEDS help and we NEED financial help!  I'm at my wits end with her, so if you know ANYTHING, any help is appreciated!

This Blog is Still Alive

This blog is still alive.  However, due to having a few family emergencies this week, I need to focus on writing for profit.  Hopefully by next Monday this blog will be back in normal function to have entries appearing no more than with two days between them and preferably entries every day.

I need to make money, though, and this blog doesn't do it.  Therefore, hopefully, a week on hiatus.

For Want of a Fridge

Our refrigerator badly needed replacing.  This might not have been an issue if the electricity had not gone out while we were in the hotels waiting for our air conditioner to be fixed.  It may have been an issue, but I don't know.

The old refrigerator currently has maggots and gnats in it.  Of course, it is not plugged in right now.  However, we had those when it was plugged in, too.

My sister and I suspect that gnats were flying up the ice maker and water dispenser.  It was a more expensive fridge and we got it when we had a bit of money that we had to spend from my Daddy's insurance as some of it was supposed to be spent to take care of us right off and then the rest needed to be invested.

Anyway, now, we didn't have the money for a fancy fridge, but we didn't really want one, either.

My mother insisted on first trying to go to C and C Audio, Video, and Appliance.  It was not open an dis not open on Sundays.  She then went to Home Depot.  I said that it was a place that might have refrigerators.  They reneged on their promise of delivery and haul away service if a fridge was bought in store.

I looked online at some of their stuff in their store and there was nothing that was as good as the fridge we had found.  I was ready to pay, even for a warranty, if they would deliver and haul away the fridge.

They had promised to do this, but the guy who had "placed" the order was an idiot.  He wasn't supposed to even "place" the order on their website.  Then, they said that the model was discontinued!  I finally got them to cancel the order.

I suggested going to Lowe's, but my mother refused to go there.  I told her that I just wanted to go home.  I have no idea what her problem was, but she wanted to stay out longer (she had been gone since 8:45am and it was now past 3pm).  She finally dropped me off at home and Briana came in the house with me to look at refrigerators.

I later checked on the Internet to find prices and a lot were not great.

I finally found one that said it was at Lowe's.  It turns out that this model was not at Lowe's, but the guy on the phone was extremely helpful.  He said that he didn't have that type of refrigerator, but he had a similar model. I asked the price, and he told me.   I asked if they would still do the delivery and haul away service, and he said that he had to check.  However, he came back, and in a reasonable amount of time, and told me they would do it.

Briana and I headed off to Lowe's and we bought that model fridge.  I even got the four year extended warranty that starts after one year warranty.  I know that American Home Shield is supposed to cover refrigerators (as far as I know), but why bother taking the chance that they won't when we can have good coverage from Whirlpool and Lowe's?

I think the fridge was a 9.7 cubic feet and is considered "an apartment fridge,"  However, being we are all 5r' or under, we needed a smaller fridge.  We can easily reach the top of this fridge by standing on a step stool.

It also doesn't have any external ice dispenser or water dispenser. This means that no gnats or other bugs can fly into the fridge or freezer unless the door has been opened.  There may be some bugs, but there shouldn't be that many  bugs.  They should be easily cleaned from the fridge if it they get into it.

I have no idea what my mom and Briana refused to go to Lowe's in the first place.  I told them that Lowe's was nice.

I am happy that the fridge will come on Thursday afternoon.

Trivia Answer

Yesterday I asked, "In the 1970s, a certain type of shoe was a fad.   Consumer Reports rated them as a health hazard, but that did not keep them from being a fad and being worn by people who were young during the 1970s.  What was the type of shoe?"

Nobody answered.

The correct answer is "Platform" or "Platform Shoes."

Trivia

In the 1970s, a certain type of shoe was a fad.   Consumer Reports rated them as a health hazard, but that did not keep them from being a fad and being worn by people who were young during the 1970s.  What was the type of shoe?

The Future

I am 30 years old. I did not think this is where I would be when I was 30.  For a bit, I thought maybe I didn't belong in Lake Charles. I love Youth Ministry and did tons of interviews where they flew me to different places.  None of them were much to my liking, other than Edmond, OK.  It seemed a lot like Lake Charles, minus the really good food.  However, there were still the main restaurant chains there.

I really do like Lake Charles.  I don't like the heat in the summers and I don't like when the winters are gray, but the cooking and the friendly people can't be beat.  If I went anywhere else, I'd definitely want to be in the south or up in Minneapolis where there are tons of Lutherans.  However, I think I'll take the south as I couldn't handle shoveling snow.

I am a freelance writer, and I know there is nothing wrong with that.  However, I would definitely like to do more with my life.  There's a few things that I can do now by bracing down and writing enough to have time to work on my children's books that I want to write myself and write with Briana - and then create my webpage to sell them.  I also need to make designs to put on my SpreadShirt shop so I can try to sell T-shirts.

Anyway, there are a few things I'd really like to do.

1) The MFA at McNeese. 
2) Teach English (at Sowela is fine and at McNeese would be awesome).
3) Write for Coastal Living (they are lacking in the area where I want to write).

Of course, I could never completely give up writing for Yahoo! Voices.  I do like putting writing there, having people be able to find my writing on the web, and then also the community of people that I've found from there.  I wouldn't know a lot of my friends if it wasn't for Voices (formerly Associated Content).  I know some people look at it as a "content mill," but I've seen ones that really are content mills, and they never were truly one since the time I found them.

Teaching English doesn't have to be completely an "English" class, either.  I'm not an SEO expert, but with my degree in Mass Communications from McNeese and writing for Yahoo! Voices (AC) for years, I've certainly learned about formatting, fonts, SEO, and web writing.

I'd love to teach a beginner class on that stuff.  I'm definitely not versed enough for anything advanced, but it would be really cool to teach that type of stuff at Sowela or McNeese.  My HTML class at McNeese was a joke.  The only thing I did in that class that I didn't know how to do was make a stupid pop up window, and really, who wants those?

So, I'm sure that my class would not be a joke.  I'd want people to learn and learn what tools are available to be used.

Trivia Answers

Yesterday I asked, "I am not a fan of soap operas.  However, I do like the show Hot in Cleveland.  Because of this, I know about Susan Lucci.  What was the name of the character Susan Lucci played on All My Children?"

Nobody answered.

The correct answer is, "Erica Kane."

Trivia

I am not a fan of soap operas.  However, I do like the show Hot in Cleveland.  Because of this, I know about Susan Lucci.  What was the name of the character Susan Lucci played on All My Children?

Hamburgers

I was trying to think of a topic for my next blog post, so I was also looking on the Internet for ideas.  I saw one that said "hamburgers."  I'm pretty sure that it meant for a whole blog, but why not write a post about hamburgers?  Specifically, I think I'll write about the hamburgers I can get at restaurants in Lake Charles.

Of course, there's always the fast food hamburgers.  There's McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Checker's, and more.  My favorite fast food hamburger is from Checker's.  I like the Cheese Champ, plain.   However, the best part of going to Checker's is the french fries.

I love Cotten's Famous Hamburgers.  When I want a good, thin, hamburger, I'll go get a cheeseburger, plain, from there.  Sometimes I'll get the bacon cheeseburger or an eggburger, but just the cheeseburger is good, though I like to put salt on it.

Of course, there's the hamburger at MacFarlane's Celtic Pub.  I like to get just a plain cheeseburger with the provolone.  Sometimes I'll get the Swiss (I think that's one of the other two cheese they have) when I want a hamburger.  That burger is very good and it is difficult for me to eat in one sitting!  I often have to bring half of it home or I'll bring part of it home for my mom to eat.   I love to get it on the sourdough bun.

There's a restaurant that is actually in Sulphur called "You Don't Know Jack" and the cheeseburger there is delicious.  Once again, I get it plain.

I get everything plain because I have an issue with cellulose intolerance and I'll admit that I can be picky.  However, lettuce is definitely one thing that I wish my stomach would tolerate.  I feel really bad and am running for the bathroom after I eat it, so it's better not to eat it.

The best places to get a hamburger in Lake Charles have changed since this article was written, but all of these places still have good hamburgers and good food.   That is, except for Backyard Burgers, because that place no longer exists in Lake Charles.  However, we now have a Five Guys.

The Best Places to Get a Hamburger in Lake Charles.

Trivia Answer

Yesterday I asked, "Jim Morrison was the front man for which band?"

Nobody answered the question.

The answer to this question is "The Doors."

Then, I also wrote, "Extra trivia: When this band performed on the Ed Sullivan show, what song was performed and what word were they not supposed to sing but sang anyway?"

I'll break it down.

When The Doors performed on the Ed Sullivan show, what song did they perform?

The Doors performed, "Light My Fire."

So , when The Doors performed "Light My Fire" on the Ed Sullivan show, they were not supposed to sing one of the words in the song.  Jim Morrison promised that he would not sing the word, but he sang it anyway.  What was the word?

That word was "higher."

The reason he was not supposed to sing "higher" is because the producers said that it referenced drug use.

Jim Morrison gave the excuse that they had performed the song that way so many times that it slipped his mind.  However, he and The Doors still got in trouble and were banned from the Ed Sullivan show and told that they would never perform on the show again.  At that, he said, "So, we've already performed on The Ed Sullivan Show."

Trivia

Jim Morrison was the front man for which band?

Extra trivia: When this band performed on the Ed Sullivan show, what song was performed and what word were they not supposed to sing but sang anyway?

I'd only expect people to know the answer to the first question, but if you know the answer to the second, go ahead and put it - or even take a guess!

Messy Muffins

For years, I have been looking for a recipe called "Messy Muffins."  I know that there are plenty of recipes called "Messy Muffins."  However, this is a special recipe.  It is not one of the many found online (though it may be online somewhere).

When I was in third grade (I'm pretty sure it was third grade), I was sent home with a math worksheet about fractions.  In order to answer the questions, we had to figure out the things from the recipe.   The recipe was called "Messy Muffins."

We were not sure if the recipe would work, but in order to finish the worksheet, my mom and I made the muffins just like the recipe on the worksheet.

The muffin recipe worked.  In fact, the muffins were delicious!  I loved them.  My mom loved them.  My sister loved them.  My Daddy really loved them.  These muffins were gone very quickly.

I don't remember why at the time we didn't copy the recipe.  We probably thought that it would be easy to find in a math book or a recipe book later.  It turns out that we were wrong.

I know the math book was an orange Addison Wesley math book.   However, I don't think the recipe was actually in the book.  It was on a worksheet that went with the book.  I have not been able to find the recipe and I would love to make and taste those muffins again.

Do any teachers out there have this worksheet or recipe?

The book is the one that is at this Amazon link.

It looks like this:

If you can find the Messy Muffins recipe, I'll be forever thankful!

Trivia Answer

Yesterday I asked, "Here is hopefully an easy trivia question.

What is the only mammal that cannot jump?  It is also the only mammal that truly has four knees."

Rick answered correctly with "an elephant!"

Sorry that I don't have any prizes, but Rick can feel good about knowing the answer!

Trivia

Here is hopefully an easy trivia question.

What is the only mammal that cannot jump?  It is also the only mammal that truly has four knees.

Tough Noogies

This morning, Briana put Woofles on the bed where I have been sleeping in the hotel.  I was still tired because I couldn't get to sleep last night.  However, I did not want to be under any blankets, so I was just laying there.

Woofles started pawing at me because he was not under any blanket.  I told him that I was not going under a blanket, and then I told him "tough noogies!"

I know that I noogie is when a person makes a fist and rubs it on the head of another person or at least another being.  I started giving Woofles "tough noogies."

Of course, he enjoyed them.  He liked being "pet" in that way.  It was cute.  He'd put his head against my leg and want me to give him more noogies.  I think my knuckles would've wore down before Woofles got tired of getting "tough noogies."

I think I'll try to remember to use the phrase "tough noogies" more often with people.  I like that phrase.

Trivia Answer

Yesterday I asked, "Who voices Bart Simpson?  She also voiced Todd Darling in the cartoon 'The Replacements' and Rufus (the naked mole rat) in the cartoon 'Kim Possible.'"

Nobody tried to answer.

The correct answer is "Nancy Cartwright."

Trivia

Who voices Bart Simpson?  She also voiced Todd Darling in the cartoon "The Replacements" and Rufus (the naked mole rat) in the cartoon "Kim Possible."

Sticker Head

It is something I know my parents started when I was young.  They may have started it before I was born.    The reason that I know these things is that I don't remember when it started.

However, today, I played "Sticker Head" with Woofles. The game sounds exactly like what it is.  I put a sticker on Woofles' head.  Then I called him "Sticker Head."

Woofles didn't seem to care.

We used to do this to Cinder and she would sometimes give us a nasty look.

We also did it with Marbles and it would depend on his mood if he cared or not.

Of course, we also did it with Micron.  Then we do it with Niblet and Woofles.

It's not the first time I played "Sticker Head" with Woofles, but I hadn't played it for quite a long time.

We don't use a new sticker for this game.  The sticker usually comes from junk mail (that's the case of when it is "new") or from fruit.  The sticker can also be a price from a garage sale item.  The only time a sticker has been "new" is when it is one of those stickers for writing prices to put on garage sale items that happens to be coming off of a label.  Oh, and of course, sometimes the address labels, especially when they have the wrong information - yes, we've even gotten address labels with the wrong information sent to the correct address!

It is always fun to see a dog's reaction to "Sticker Head."   Some dogs love it.  Some dogs don't mind at all.  Some dogs hate it.  Some dogs act like they can't tolerate, but they know it is a fun game that the owners play.

Trivia Answer

Yesterday I asked, "Today's trivia is classic movie lines.   From what movie does the line, 'Stella!' come?"

Nobody tried to answer.

The answer is  "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Trivia

Today's trivia is classic movie lines.   From what movie does the line, "Stella!" come?

Sandy, the Hotel Dog

This week, we've been staying at the Days Inn in Sulphur off exit 23.  There is a dog at this hotel that is the hotel dog.  Briana had met her when we were staying at the Studio 6 because the hotels are in the same area.   It's like a huge parking lot with a gas station and a truckers area.

Anyway, when I checked into the hotel, I saw her in the lobby and asked if that was Sandy.  The gal working at the front desk asked if I knew Sandy and I told her that Briana had seen her when she took Toggle for a walk.  It took a few times to explain that we did not have Toggle as he was at the vet, but that was not a huge deal.

Sandy has decided that she likes us.  She likes to come to our door at the morning when we're awake and come visit us, including Niblet and Woofles.   She likes to come say good night to us, too.  She'll come in the room, visit Briana, visit me, and then visit our mom.  Then she'll ask to be let of the room.

Sometimes she'll want to play with Woofles.  Those two love to play together.   Sandy is not a small dog. However, she is a huge sweetheart and she behaves.  She is extremely gentle with Woofles.   They will wrestle, but in general, Woofles will roll around on the floor and she'll nose him and he'll roll around and then she'll nose him around some more.  Sandy will even let Woofles act like he wrestled her into submission.  Woofles climbs over her back when she's laying down and then she turns over so her belly is in the air.

It's adorable to have the hotel dog come visit us.  I would always love to have a hotel dog that visits.

Trivia Answer

The last time I asked a trivia question, it was "What was the best selling single 1998 and who was the artist that recorded it?   I wouldn't know this without the clue, so you also get a clue.  The song was the theme song from the 1997 movie, Titanic."

Nobody tried to answer it.  The answer was "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion.

Trivia

What was the best selling single 1998 and who was the artist that recorded it?   I wouldn't know this without the clue, so you also get a clue.  The song was the theme song from the 1997 movie, Titanic.

Toggle the Doggle

Since my sister's dog is named Toggle, we often call him Toggle the Doggle.  I'll even say to her that her doggle needs something.  It seems to fit him perfectly as he is silly but sweet.  This whole late week while we were staying at the Studio 6 Extended Stay, Toggle would wake me up by jumping up on the bed and giving me tons of kisses.  

However, at this time, while we are now at the Days Inn (all of a few feet from the Studio 6), we don't have Toggle with us.  He is kenneled and at the vet because he needs to be neutered and then after that, he is supposed to rest.  He won't rest at home or in a hotel (which is where we are).

It's not like it would've cost less to not have him, but it is easier and he needed to be neutered.

We are still in a hotel because our air conditioner part has not come in YET.  We are extremely irritated with Maratherm.

If they don't get the part in, we will HAVE to go buy fans to put in the house, but I don't know HOW we will set them up since my mom and sister have made such a huge mess in the house.  

Yes, at very first, when we first moved in, the movers did not help.  My room is not great, but admittedly, I've been lazy about cleaning up the mess the movers made, though I did put a few things away.

My mom's room used to be clean, but my mom and sister have made the entire room a mess.  I'm tired of seeing them throw their trash, and I really do SEE it happen.  My mom has thrown soda cans and other trash clear across the room.

My Daddy used to do this and it drove me crazy.  It drives me crazy that my mom does it, too.

Why do they think that's acceptable behavior?

Yes, this does go back to Toggle the Doggle.  Since there is trash all over the place, Toggle thinks everything is his.   I don't mind Toggle playing with trash.  However, it should stay outside for him and then be thrown away. If a dog is given trash to play with while inside, the people need to pick it up and then throw it away!

I used to let Marbles play with trash, but yeah, I THREW IT AWAY!

At least we know that Toggle is scheduled to be neutered tomorrow and that he should get rest as he is kenneled at the vet.

Trivia Answer

My last trivia question was, "This TV show was a short show run between cartoons. It was also a cartoon. It feature songs such as "Conjunction Junction," "Three is a Magic Number," and "I'm Just A Bill."  What was the name of the  show?"

Nobody answered.  The answer is School House Rock.

Trivia

This TV show was a short show run between cartoons. It was also a cartoon. It feature songs such as "Conjunction Junction," "Three is a Magic Number," and "I'm Just A Bill."  What was the name of the  show?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday I asked, "I In the 1980s, a game show aired that featured creatures called "Whammies."  What was the name of this game show?"

Nobody left any answers.

The answer is "Press Your Luck."

Taking the Dogs for a Walk

I would love to be able to walk all over, but my back gets sore and my legs get sore.   Back and leg problems are both genetic.  My Daddy didn't have leg problems until he was a bit older, but I didn't have leg problems when I was 19, either.  I was pretty good at walking everywhere until I was about     22 or 23.  My  Daddy walked more than that, but it was soon that he would have to sit or get up to walk.

As most people know, I have scoliosis and had to wear a brace for three years to keep it from progressing.  It can hurt lots just like it did when I wore the brace.

Briana was upset because at this hotel, she didn't think there was a large area to walk the dogs.  She loves taking Toggles for walks and sometimes she likes to take Niblet or Woofles along with her.  Sometimes she likes to go alone and sometimes she likes to take my or our mom to go walking.

I showed her that she can walk along Dennis Ave. all the way to the Comfort Inn and around the gas station.  She can get water from the gas station for free if she brings her own container.  The cup costs 25 cents.  They gave her one today, though.

We took Woofles and Toggle for a walk and now they are worn out and sleepy.  That is good for the dogs and for us.  It is especially good for Toggle.  He loves his mom, but he is not a mama's dog like Woofles.

Maybe after the air conditioner part comes, I'll have journal prompts or subjects.  I'm thinking perhaps things that I miss from my childhood or food.  The 80s and 90s and food are always popular things.

Trivia

I In the 1980s, a game show aired that featured creatures called "Whammies."  What was the name of this game show?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday I asked, "What children's television show had the theme song, "Every Time I Turn Around?"

This one even had a few hints!

The song starts, "Maybe the world is blind."

The star of the show was Soleil Moon Frye.

The answer is "Punky Brewster."

Naming Dog Anatomy Parts

I name dog anatomy parts.  Why?  There's no real reason to do such a thing other than the fact that it is cute.  However, it is cute, so why not name dog anatomy parts?   It's obviously a common thing since picture of dog anatomy and cat anatomy can be found on the Internet.   There's a picture that has an arrow pointing to a cat's tail that calls it a "dandle."  It says that it is short for "da handle."  I think that works well for dogs, too.  At least, it works for Toggle and Woofles.

The dog anatomy that comes to mind today is a snout.  Woofles was the first dog to have special name for his snout.  I wrote about this earlier.  We decided that it was too cute to not have its own name so we called it a "Schnufle" or a "Schnoofle."   (It's said the same way, the spelling just sometimes changes.  The second one is obviously spelled closer to how it is said.)

Toggle doesn't have a special name for his snout.  We call it a snout.  However, sometimes, I called it a snoggle.  This could get him confused with his command, "no swoggling," though.

Niblet's snout is so little that the other day my mom decided that his also needed a special name.  Because of this,  his snout is a snoutette.

Do you call any of your dog's anatomy or cat's anatomy special things?  Let me know!

Trivia

What children's television show had the theme song, "Every Time I Turn Around?"

This one even has a few hints!

The song starts, "Maybe the world is blind."

The star of the show was Soleil Moon Frye.

Trivia Answer

The last trivia question asked was, "What was the very first song played by MTV and can you name the artist?"


The answer to this question is "Television Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.

Hotels

Hotels can be nice at times, but it does get tiring staying in them if you are not in them for a vacation.  Of course, the one (Crossland in Sulphur, LA) before the Studio 6 in Sulphur was horrible.

However, the part that was supposed to be in yesterday to fix our air conditioner was still not in today when I called the air conditioner repair company.  I'm not angry with the repair company.  I am angry with  Maratherm as this is taking too long.  We would stay at home if  it weren't too bad to stay there, but it is too hot in the house to stay there.

Yes, when I manage to save up some money for things other than general expenses and we have the rooms switched, I'd want to get some window air conditioners as long as a power source is near them and some of the tower fans, too.

Of course, our house needs to be clean for that.  I'm thinking about when it is cooler, if I have money for general expenses, that I am going to have a "lazy relative sale" like I saw a person online having an "ex husband sale."

Maybe that will get their butts in gear and if they don't get in gear, I get the money for general expenses, bills, or whatever.  Those two really don't understand what it is to HAVE to work to get money.  SSI comes no matter how active or how lazy they are.

I am the one doing the budgeting and I have to keep telling them that they can't tell me what they can and can't get now.  That's MY job.  We're not going to go out to eat all the time like they always want when we're at home (and I get sick of doing).

Thankfully, at this hotel, Briana has actually wanted to cook!  I'd cook, too, but she actually WANTS to cook.

I'd cook at home if Briana cleaned the kitchen and if I didn't have to take time to work, clean up  after my mom and my sister, take care of other things around the house, run my sister to school and pick her up, and a lot of other things.

If you are wondering, my dog actually gives me relaxation!

It looks like we'll need another week in this hotel. Hopefully they won't make us pay the dog fee again, though. That's what is so bad.

Trivia Question

I thought I'd go with some pop culture/music trivia today!

What was the very first song played by MTV and can you name the artist?

Trivia Answer

The last trivia question I asked was, "What is a shark's keenest sense?"


A shark's keenest sense is its sense of smell!

Dealing wioth a Possessive Dog

Today, we found out that Toggle is both friendly and possessive.  He's protective of his whole family, but he is also easily accepting of people when we are comfortable around them.  However, I'm not sure how to deal with a dog that is possessive of people when trying to work.

Yes, Toggle, if he is near me while I am working, is extremely possessive of me.

Thankfully, I was actually finished writing and submitting the current article and was looking for something else that had to do with Briana registering for school for the summer session when he started acting possessive.

I would try to type, and he would come up and snoot my arm away from my keyboard.  I would try to move my mouse and he would come up and snoot my hand away from my mouse.

I love that he protects us, but I don't need to be protected from my own computer or my own laptop. 

(Right now, I'm using  a computer up in Sowela's computer lab as we wait for registration for my sister to begin - which was supposed to start 21 minutes ago).

However, up in the hotel, I have a laptop and a USB keyboard (because my laptop's keyboard has gone all wonky) and a USB mouse (both because the touch pad is a bit odd and it is a bit difficult to use the touch pad wit the USB keyboard).

So, Toggle is a bit possessive.  I already knew Toggle sometimes tried to be possessive of Woofles (though Niblet is more possessive of Woofles).  Niblet is the alpha dog.  Woofles is the "beta dog."  Toggle is the "gamma dog."   They all get along with each other, though.

Toggle is also very possessive of his toys.  A few weeks ago, Niblet started playing with one of Toggle's toys that is in our backyard (it's a toy that's soft, looks like half a lime, and squeaks.)  Niblet loves toys that are like "balls" or flattened balls, so the lime was something he'd love.  Even though Toggle had two more of those, three toys squeaky bananas, three toy pineapples and other toys, he whined about Niblet playing with the toys!

Thankfully, the possessiveness isn't that bad.  It's whining and snooting. 

Trivia

What is a shark's keenest sense?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday's trivia question was, "The movie, Cruel Intentions, was based on a book.  What is the book?"


The book is Les Liaisons Dangereuses (I would accept "Dangereux," too, as I've made that mistake).   However, nobody gave an answer.  The book is by Choderlos de Laclos.

Overqualified

Overqualified is a word that I hate.  Ever since I started applying for jobs, I've been told that I was overqualified.  I didn't apply for a job directly after high school.  That's because I spent the end of my senior year and my summer applying for and getting ready for college.

I started applying for jobs when I was in college because I wanted to make more than I was making in my work-study job.  This is when I started hearing the word "overqualified."

How could I possibly overqualified if I had no work experience, but they were supposed to count schooling?   I could never understand the employers.  When I was in college, I was obviously younger and I could even get up to go faster and some further distances than I can now.  My back wasn't feeling as bad as it does on some days that it does now.  I didn't use a transport wheelchair at all  (I still prefer NOT using it when I don't need it, but sometimes my back is so sore that I need it.  Also, my legs aren't great - genetics - so I can't do anything about it).  Anyway,  things were more like employers would have wanted them.

The restaurants would tell me that I was overqualified to work at them.  I went to temp job places and took the tests at them. They never said anything, but they'd tell me that I didn't qualify for their type of work.

My mom says it is the "Conchis Curse."  (Her maiden last name is Conchis.)  I may be her daughter, but I am NOT a Conchis and I DO NOT believe in curses.  Believing in them only furthers them and makes things worse.

I know that overqualified is a real word.  Merriam-Webster even defines it as, "having more education, training, or experience than a job calls for."


Their example sentence is even, "They didn't hire her because she was overqualified for the job."


It says that the first known usage of "overqualified" is from 1954.


However, I don't think there should be a word such as "overqualified."  At least, if the word exists, it shouldn't be allowed for hiring people.  


If a person is overqualified for a job, the person is obviously qualified!  They have the qualifications and more!  It shouldn't be a penalty!


I'm sure that sometimes the word is used to mean, "You don't have the physical qualities that we want for our workers, so you can't work here."  I know it is stupid and it truly isn't legal, but I'm sure that is what some of the people who are hiring are really  basing a decision on when they use the word "overqualified."


I know that others use it in the way that it is meant because the first interview was over the phone.


I hate the word overqualified.  It's been a bane in my life ever since I started hearing it. 


What are some words that you hate?

Trivia

Inspired by a friend's status update:
The movie, Cruel Intentions, was based on a book.  What is the book?

(Sorry that I've got no prizes for correct answers, but you win the prize of feeling good that knew the correct answer!)

Riddle Answer

Last time I asked a riddle.  It was, "Who makes it, has no need of it.

Who buys it, has no use for it.
Who uses it, can neither see it nor feel it.
What is it?"

Nobody answered.  The answer is "A coffin."

Obviously, the person who makes the coffin doesn't need it (okay, unless that person is planning on dying and being buried in it, but in general, that isn't the case).

Coffins are usually bought for the body of a dead person after they have died, so the buyer is usually not the person who is going to be using the coffin.

Since coffins are usually bought after the person died, the "person" who uses it usually does not see or feel the coffin.

Of course, there are rare exceptions to these conditions, but in general, they are true.

Love and Supoort

People wonder why I don't just move out of the house.

I have thought about that, but I don't have a job that pays enough money to actually pay bills.  I can't even afford rent with what I make from freelancing.   I know it's pathetic, but people just don't respect writers unless they are in a huge market area and can get into television or something like that.

I've tried to find jobs, too.  I've put in so many applications at the mall.

There is a huge problem when people are biased against anybody with any disability.  I have scoliosis and  only now are they finding out the later problems a Boston brace can have on a person.  That's what I had to wear.  I can't walk for long distances or stand for a long time.  Because of this, I sometimes use a transport wheelchair.

People look at me like I'm helpless a lot of times when I use it when that is the furthest thing from the truth.  It's an aid to help me.  I could technically move without it, but not as well.  I'd be sore and out of breath.  I'd have to stop after a little bit of walking, the slow down, and it would probably be about after every three steps.

People don't hire me.  Even before I had my transport wheelchair, people didn't hire me because they said I was "overqualified" (which is a stupid word and gives me a blog topic for tomorrow.

So, I do freelance work.

I'd like to find the time for a few days to stop writing for a bit so I can take some time to writer and gather information and prepare an application for a magazine.  I really want to do two things:  work for that magazine and be in the MFA program at McNeese.  (I tried poetry at first - program was full - things came up with my Daddy's health - more stuff came up - I've been writing more fiction lately, so I'd like to try to get an application for the fiction - then if I don't get that, I'd try for poetry again.)

Anyway, my sister, my mom, and I all help each other in ways, too.  Since I don't make enough money to pay for a place on my own, I can easily live at home (which we all own outright - no payments need to be made on the house at all).

My mom gets SSI and payments from  my Daddy's life insurance policy.  My sister gets SSI.  My mom pays most of the bills.  Briana pays for the "at  home entertainment," meaning cable, internet, phone (ours is a bundle) and the cell phone.   (She has been paying my credit card bills as instead of me because then I pay other weekly expenses she used to pay like groceries).

My mom's money cover utilities.

I do all the budgets because I found out that my mom can't handle hers as she was always overdrawn and Briana and I were always scrambling to help her find how to make it so her bank account wasn't overdrawn.

Briana was already horrible with money and I've been trying to teach her.

Yes, my mom did make it some years before me, but honestly, not much.  She lived with her parents.  She got married to my Daddy (never lived on her own).  My Daddy did the bills and things were fine.  When my Daddy got sick and she started doing the bills, we had tons of problems.

Then, she got worse and we found out just recently that it was the Paxil.

However, she still doesn't make much sense.  She can't drive because it is dangerous because of her low blood pressure.  She's passed out at the steering wheel of the car at least three times.  My sister can't drive.

With my mom's low blood pressure, she would not make it on her own.  She'd fall and she'd hurt herself and that would be it.

Riddle

Today, I thought I'd post a riddle.  Here it is:

Who makes it, has no need of it.
Who buys it, has no use for it.
Who uses it, can neither see it nor feel it.
What is it?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday's trivia question was, "How many knees does a spider have?"  The answer is 48.

Yes, a spider has 48 knees!  That's six knees per leg!

No more words . . .

I need to think of another topic or get some journaliing questions or topics in general, but right now, I don't have much time to journal because I need to write to try to make some money.  I hate to beg.  I hate to ask for help.  I'm the one that likes to help how she can.  However, lately, it seems that I have needed help.  Just quickly, right now, I HATE to ask or beg for help.  It seems it is all I can do lately to take care of my mom, my sister, our dogs, and myself.  However, our air went out and the stupid company hasn't gotten the part in YET.  We can't get window air  conditioners installed because they need an electrical source and the house is way too messy.  Can anybody help out monetarily in any way?  My paypal e-mail is fuzzyguy1982@hotmail.com


I thank anybody and everybody so much.  You have no idea how much it means to me!

Trivia

Today's trivia question is, "How many knees does a spider have?"

Trivia Answer

The last trivia question asked was "If a piece of music instructs you to play it "adagio," how should you play the music?"

Nobody replied.  The correct answer is "slowly."

What?

I know that I haven't written for two days. There is a good reason for this. Our air conditioning went out on Friday afternoon, and of course, it was after everything closed. We were able to get a hotel room thanks to our Grandpa. We were able to get a nice room at the Candlewood Suites.


When we went again because we came home on Monday after our scheduled stay and to meet the air conditioning guys, we found out that it is a leak in a tube and we won't have air conditioning until that part comes from the company. We are irritated because we know that we don't have the money to keep spending on hotels (the Candlewood was booked on Monday when we called again, so now were at Crosslands and it is not as nice . . . the beds are hard and we have no internet, so I'm at the Sulphur library).

[I absolutely HATE HATE HATE begging for help, but, obviously, when I, my sister, and our mom can't be in the heat as it is 90+F in the house without air, we need help. Anything that you can donate is great. We are more than appreciative and believe me, I cry every time a person gives a donation.]

At least we now have food for the week as I did go grocery shopping with Briana today.

Walmart was not fun to say the least, though.

After that, I also spend most of the day chasing the dogs.

Anyway, onto my word - what.

"What" is one of those words that I sometimes say at the end of sentences. I use it more with my mother and my sister. My sister would use it a lot, so I'm sure I picked it up from her.

I'll end a sentence and ask, "What?"

I'm pretty sure it stands for, "What did you expect?" or "What did you think I was doing?" or "What did you want me to do?"

After all, my mother and my sister can be confusing. I also say just "What?" alone a lot of times because I don't know what my mother or my sister is saying. This is many times my mother, but it can be my sister, too.

I don't understand my mother because she tends to mumble and she also has dentures. She's never learned to talk properly with them. She mumbled for a long time before that, too. It seems like she is losing, like, really losing, the ABILITY to speak. She seems to have forgotten how to form sounds.

My sister is just confusing and sometimes talks under her breath. Sometimes it is a mumble, but as loud as she is, she'll get quieter and quiter and quieter as she talks to me. This is especially true if she reads something. She'll also laugh while reading if she finds that something is funny.

So, there's the word for the day - "What?"

Trivia

If a piece of music instructs you to play it "adagio," how should you play the music?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday's trivia question was, "What is the name of the novel that was written that never contains the letter E?"

Ruth Cox said that she knows the answer, but didn't answer the question.  This means I'll have to assume that she knows the answer.

The answer to the question is "Gadsby" which was written by Ernest Vincent Wright.  The novel should not be confused with "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.    After all, there is an E in the title.  "Gadsby" does not contain the letter E in any of the words.

Wright said the hardest challenge for him was avoiding the "ed" suffix for past tense verbs.  The novel is a favorite for fans of constrained writing (a literary technique in which the writer is bound by some conditions or bound by a certain pattern).

My sister just issued me the challenge of writing a poem where every stanza is a pangram.  That is a form of constrained writing and feel free to join me in this writing challenge.  There's no time limit for it, so just give it a try!  Share you poems in the blog!

Stay tuned for today's trivia question!

Definitely

It's a word that I use fairly often, but not all time.  I prefer saying "definitely" rather than saying "yes."  I know in the south it is considered "polite," to say, "yes, ma'am" and "yes sir," but I had teachers that didn't like that and parents from California, so I never really said "yes, ma'am" or "yes sir."  I also never said "no ma'am" and "no sir" for the same reasons.

Sometimes saying "ma'am" or "sir" made people feel old. Other times, the teachers or parents didn't like the way it sounded because it would sound like other words or just sound strange to that person.

Anyway, with my mom and sister having Asperger's and having it difficult at other times for people to catch a one syllable word, "definitely" works better than "yes" because then the word "no" is the only one syllable word. 

Sometimes I say "negatory," but I usually don't.  At least it would still be easily distinguishable from "definitely."

Of course, sometimes I still say "yes."  The word "yes" isn't banned from my vocabulary.  I've simply found that a word that is longer than "yes" usually works better for people to understand. I still say "yes" when a short or quick answer is needed.

I also use "definitely" with the correct usage unlike how many people use "literally."  After all, if a person "literally dies" that means the person is dead. 

The Oatmeal has a great cartoon about the usage of the word "literally."

See The Oatmeal's literally cartoon.

Trivia

What is the name of the novel that was written that never contains the letter E?

Trivia answer

Yesterday's trivia question was, "What is considered to be the most haunted place (plantation) in Louisiana?"

The answer is "The Myrtles."  "The Myrtles" is in St. Francisville.  I'd write more if I had the time, but our air conditioning has gone out and it is getting hot.  We want to get Toggle to a kennel and bring the little puppies to a hotel with us.

So, instead, here is a link to the website about The Myrtles.

Swoggling

Swoggling is a new word to my vocabulary.  It's not truly a word as in the sense that it is in the dictionary.  It's like Schnuffles (or sometimes Schnoofles - I spell it whichever way I feel like it when I write it, really).

Swoggle means "to steal" or "to swipe."

My sister has a dog named Toggle.  He got his name because he tended to toggle the switches and button in cars and on remotes.  In fact, his middle name is Switch.

Anyway, she was trying to figure out how to tell him to not "steal" food off of plates and from people.  He would try to take the food off of plates and you'd have to be quick and pull it away before he could grab at the food.

She tried telling him not to steal.  She tried telling him not to grab the food.  It didn't seem to work.  She turned to using the phrase "Swiper no swiping!" from Dora the Explorer.  It still didn't work too well.

The next time he tried to take food, since she used that, I said, "Toggle, no swoggling!"  It seemed to work.  Briana used it and my mom used it and it seemed to work.  So, "swoggling" has become a word that mean "stealing."

After all, "hornswoggling," means "bamboozling" or "hoaxing."  So, why not have "swoggling" mean stealing?"  It seems to make sense!

Trivia

I thought that I'd ask a trivia question today.

What is considered to be the most haunted place (plantation) in Louisiana?

Riddle Answer

Yesterday I asked, "What can go up a chimney down but not down a chimney up?"

Briana the Magnifi-can't seems to have answered correctly, though her answer was not completely correct. She wrote, "t's bmbrsht..."

Her answer seems to be missing the vowels. "Bumbershoot" would be a correct answer as it is another word for "umbrella."

Don't get it? Think about it. If an umbrella is "down," that means it is closed. A closed umbrella could easily go up a chimney. However, if an umbrella is "up," that means it is open. An open umbrella cannot go down a chimney.

Woofles Schnufles

"Woofles Schufles" (Schuffles rhymes with Woofles, even though I spell it differently). is not a phrase I've said a lot of times in my entire life. However, it is a phrase that I have said a lot since early 2009. That's when I got my dog, Woofles.

My mom, my sister, and I all decided that his snout was just too cute to be called a snout. Since I named him Woofles, we decided that a perfect name for his snout would be a Schnuffle. We already said that the dogs "schnuffed" (which started as "snuff," but we didn't like that because it mean to "die" or to "expire" or "extinguish") at things. We'd say that they "snooted." I know that "snoot" is a real word. However, we don't use the verb like Merriam-Webster defines the verb. That is as, "to treat with disdain : look down one's nose at."

"Snoot" is also a noun for "nose," and that is where we get our meaning of "snoot" for the dogs. They "snoot" as in "nudge with the nose." I'm not sure, but this may also be a correct usage of the verb "snoot." Merriam-Webster doesn't have it, though.

"Schnuff" means to sniff or snoot around at the floor or in blankets or at anything. Basically, the dog is sniffing all over. The dog may be tracking something or just sniffing out of curiosity.

Now that I have Woofles and he has the Schnuffle, one of his nicknames has become "Woofles Schnuffles." Sometimes when he is schnuffing, I'll say that he is "Schnuffling."

Of course, his middle name is really Syrup. Sometimes he gets called "Woofles Syrup," too. More often, it is yelled when I want him to behave. After all, you have o have that middle name so he knows that when it is yelled, he is in trouble.

There are times that I also say it excitedly or sweetly. However, he usually gets called "Woofles Schnuffles" when he's being sweet and cuddling.

Woofles is featured in the picture for the following articles: How to Give Your Dog a Bath Top 5 Foods that Are Dangerous for Dogs

Briana made this for me to post.

 X             Uncaught exception: (Forgot my net.)

 OK    Cancel    Call Ghostbusters.    PANIC! 

Riddle Me This . . .

What can go up a chimney down but not down a chimney up?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday's trivia question was, "What is the shape of the Washington Monument?"

  aikakone got the answer correct.

 The shape of the Washington Monument is an obelisk.

 Merriam-Webster defines it as, "an upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid."

 This would basically be a really thin trapezoidal prism (or however many make up the long pillar) and then a rectangular pyramid on the top.

Honestly

Honestly is one of those words that I know a say quite often.  However, it is not one of the words that I don't tend to realize that I say.  I know I say it.

I think the reason that I say it is because I want people to know that I am going to be honest.  I don't believe in telling somebody that their clothes look great or that they have done a wonderful job if those things aren't true.

I know that my hair is usually a mess.  I don't mind people telling me that.  I say "I know."  It's usually a mess because I rarely have time to take care of it these days.  I never LIKED having to take care of it, either.  I'm not one of those people that likes to spend time on her "beauty," which really isn't beauty because it's not me.  It's makeup if time is spent applying it.

I do need to find my aloe acne prevention pads because those help with my dermatitis and I realized I didn't know where they are the other day, so my face has been getting redder and itchier.  However, that's not the same thing.

Even when I am writing about the word "honestly, I have used the word "however."

I don't like when people assume that I have said something that I have never said.  There is one person who is a writer online.  The thing about her writing is that it's not very good.  At times, she has some good ideas, but even then, her writing is bad.  It's good that it's not Stephanie Meyer's bad, but it's still bad.

She wonders why certain places won't publish her stuff.  The reason is because her writing is bad.  She won't look at herself and her writing.

I've never once told her that she is a good writer or that her writing is good.

When I've come across her writings, I've only said I've visited or put a smiley face.  Sometimes I may have left a message letting her know what is happening with me.

She has never asked me what I think of her writing and I've never told her.  If she asked me, I'd ask her, "Honestly?"  If she said yes, then I would answer honestly.  If she said no, I'd let her know that I'm only saying this to flatter her and that it's not true.

I tend to try to mark my sarcasm with at the end if not also at the beginning with .  Some people just don't get it, no matter how obvious it is that a person is being sarcastic.

If you want to know what I think of your, well, your anything, remember that I will be completely honest while trying to be as nice as possible.  If you want me to be harsh about it, I will.

Empire Avenue

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I don't understand a lot of Empire Avenue, but it told me to copy the key into the next blog post that I do.  I'm on Empire Avenue, so you can add me there if you understand it or are on it.  It says adding this as a blog requires that code.  So, there's the code, I guess.

Trivia Question

I didn't say it would always be difficult trivia.  I'm sure lots of people know the answer to this.

What is the shape of the Washington Monument?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday's trivia question was "The name of the sailor on the product Cracker Jack is obviously Jack.  However, there is a dog that sits next to him.  What is the name of the dog?"

The name of the dog on the Cracker Jack box is "Bingo."  You can find it on the Internet.  Just search, "Sailor Jack and Bingo."

However

One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to find a good transition to a next part of a story or article.  There are many transition words, but not all of them work.

Sometimes no transition word is needed due to how the story is written.  A space can be put between paragraphs to show the change of time or the change of day.  Sometimes all that is needed is a phrase like "a few years later . . ."

However (see how I used it there), sometimes a transition word is needed.  I know that it is not good to always use the same transition word.  When I write, though, I find I have to keep myself from always writing "however."

I know that I say it quite a few times as well.  Yet, it seems that it is not needed as much in speech because the transition of time is obvious to everybody when speaking.

I try to keep "however" as not being my "go to transition word."  The problem is that "however" only has a few words and phrases that are synonymous with it.  Changing the line of reasoning can be difficult without using "however."  The only other words that seem to truly work are "on the other hand," "but," "yet," "nevertheless," and "on the contrary."   I forget to use "on the contrary."  When it fits, that is a good one to use.  However (there it is again), "on the contrary" doesn't always fit when wanting to use "however."

If using vernacular in your writing, you can change up how people say transition words.  Instead of "however," there is saying "howe'er."

On that note, it brings me back to a poem I've loved since I was little.  It's called "Eletelephony." I don't know the author and I think it may be anonymous.  If it's not, apologies to the author if it is not wanted online.

Eletelephony

Once there was an elephant

Who tried to use the telephant.

No, no, I mean an elephone

Who tried to use the telephone.

Dear me, I'm not certain quite

That even now I've got this right.

Howe'er it was he got his trunk

Entangled in the telephunk.

The more he tried to get it free,

The louder buzzed the telephee.

I fear I'd better drop the song

Of elephop and telephong.

Trivia

The name of the sailor on the product Cracker Jack is obviously Jack.  However, there is a dog that sits next to him.  What is the name of the dog?

Trivia Answer

Yesterday's trivia question was "Who was the first athlete to appear on a box of  Wheaties?"  Perhaps I should have written "Who was the first athlete depicted on a box of Wheaties?"

The answer?

Lou Gehrig

Y'know

I don't think about it, but I know that when I talk I tend to say "Y'know," after a lot of my sentences.  It's not that people really do know.  It's just how I tend to talk like how many Canadians follow their sentences with "Eh?"

My family didn't talk like this.  My mom, which bothers me, says, "Yeah, right" meaning, "yes."  I don't know when she picked up that habit, but I always told her that, "Yeah, right" is a sarcastic way of DISAGREEING.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that I picked up the "y'know" habit from growing up and being around Lutherans.  I'm definitely Lutheran when it is a cultural thing.  I have the habits, mannerisms, and humor of Lutherans.

Many Lutherans grew up in Minnesota where they say, "Doncha know?"  I think some have shortened it to "y' know?"  I've also seen some people online put "yanno?"

I know I've heard other Lutherans say "y'know."  The guitar player in Lost And Found says it a lot.

While I know that I say "y'know," I say it without even realizing it.  I think this is the case for a lot of people.

Trivia

Today, it's a trivia question:

Who was the first athlete to appear on a box of  Wheaties?

Riddle Me This Answer

The last riddle asked was "Riddle me this:

What type of food do you get if you put Fluorine in the middle of Kansas City?"

The answer is "fried chicken."

If you still don't understand, the common abbreviation for Kansas City is KC.  The chemical symbol for Fluorine is F.  So, you put F in between K and C to get KFC.  KFC is Kentucky Fried Chicken.

G'nite

I can remember that when I was younger, I always wanted a "cool" way to sign off of a chat.  I tried different phrases from different cartoons.  There was one cartoon that I watched where the phrase used was "Later days."  I tried that for a little while.  I also tried "Laters" for a few days.  Neither stuck.

I stopped trying and just went with whatever I would end up typing.

I don't know exactly when it happened, but I found that when I would chat at night or early into the mornings, that if the chat was a pleasant one with a friend, I started typing "G'nite" at the end.

I know what makes it this way personally for me.  Sure, it is "good night," but I've found that even when I have said "Good night," out loud that I tend to almost swallow the "ood" of "good," so it is more just the hard G sound followed by the word "night."

I started typing it the way it sounded when I said it.  That would be "g'night," but "nite" if often accepted in chat, and it is quicker when you are tired, so I went with "g'nite."

However, it is not night right now, so I guess I should tell everybody "g'morning!"

Riddle Me This . . . .

Riddle me this:

What type of food do you get if you put Fluorine in the middle of Kansas City?

Gaybois

I don't really have an exact reason as to "why" I use this word.  However, I once saw somebody refer to the males that were homosexual as "gaybois."  I thought it was a great way to refer to those people, especially being that I like "gaybois."  I love them.  They can be the best friends for a straight girl!

After all, they tend to like to talk fashion (though I'm not much of a fashion person), and cute boys.  Then, there's no real competition between a straight female and a gay male.

Then, "gaybois" always seem to be so nice and cute!  The word just seems to fit how nice and cute they are!  I don't understand people who are against homosexuality.

I didn't CHOOSE to be straight.  I just know that I am.  I also find women pretty or attractive, but I just don't have sexual desire towards them.  I've no drive that way.  I don't care about homosexual women, either.  It's great that people are different and everybody should be able to love who they want to love!

If anything, government should not be involved.  Either all marriage should be legal or all marriage should be illegal.  If people are so concerned about gay marriage, they really just need to go join a church that doesn't allow it and stick with that church.  The government really shouldn't have a say.  Then, the homosexual people can join churches that let them marry.

Yeah, I love all my "gaybois," whether I am close to them or not.  They are all awesome.  At least, I've never met one that isn't awesome!

Decision!

I've decided that I will start posting on words or phrases I tend to use, either out loud or in writing.  Also, I will post riddles or trivia each day.  That should keep things interesting!

Mom's Discharged . . . but No Diagnosis :(

Valerie is now at home.  I just got home. Briana and I needed a break from all the stress, so we stayed the night in a local hotel.  Unfortunately, they (either hospital or the doctors) have not come up with any diagnosis and she is still very bad.  She goes into these "episodes" where she has no idea what she does and other times she does things and remembers part of them, but not much of them at all.  Like, now, just when we got home, Briana was in the back yard and our mom opened the door.  All our mom did was yell "Niblet!" and then Briana told her that Niblet couldn't be out back because the dog door had been closed.  Her response was something like, "I know, but I just wanted to see if he was out back."  She is pretty hard to understand.  

They did a CT Scan and an EEG, but the neurologist saw nothing.  

She needs care, but the hospital discharged her on a Friday night and only gave us papers that said there were referrals for home health care and social services.  They didn't give us any numbers.

The moment we got her home, she fell when she got out of the car!  She said she needed to use the bathroom which was an improvement over the general situation.  When she fell, I told her to crawl up the stairs, into the house, and to the bathroom.  Briana was going in afterwards and our mom was on the floor writhing around like a fish.

My mom is much heavier than me and much taller than Briana.  Then, with my scoliosis and Briana's scoliosis and other problems resulting from her surgery to make it better, we can't take our mom falling on us like she does.  It's been happening every day.  

My back and my legs hurt so much right now and Briana's ankle hurts - and this is all from our mom falling and not helping to get herself up off the ground.

Yes, she has been declining rapidly.  There used to be a few times these weird "episodes" happened, but it wasn't much.  However, they've increased in frequency.  We need to get help to switch our rooms, too.  There's lots of heavy furniture that we can't move on our own.  The house is also a mess and this is mostly because of our mom, now.  She thinks she is "cleaning" when she throws things around.  Briana and I worked so hard to get rooms clean before, and our work is now seems like useless.  Sure, sometimes Briana made and makes it difficult, but she KNOWS that!  Her making it difficult does not help, but it helps that she understands what happens.  Our mom doesn't seem to understand it at all.

Still no diagnosis?

The doctors and hospital staff still have no diagnosis.  We really want to know what is going on with my mom.

The "seizure" type things are apparently not seizures.  However, I don't know to explain her being completely unresponsive, shaking, and even sometimes drooling or foaming at the mouth.  Briana and I were very scared when we saw that happening on Tuesday.

Thankfully, she will have orders for physical therapy, home health care, and a bed side commode.  However, I don't think even all those things are going to help.

I just don't like this "possible discharge" without them finding anything.

We were looking at withdrawal symptoms of Paxil (Paroxetine), and while my mom is taking it, the things that make her complain seem to be the same as the symptoms for withdrawal and addiction to Paxil.  She gets hot and cold.  She gets headaches.  She has panic attacks.  She sometimes has sharp pains suddenly in places of her body.  At times, she has had suicidal thoughts. She gets nauseous.

Paxil says that you should not take any other antidepressant medications with it.  The trochees that she has been taking, Clonazepam, are also used as antidepressant medication and that means that they and Paxil should not be used together.

Then, things got worse when she switched from Detrol L.A. to Oxybutynin, too.  I really wish they could just find something and make it all better.

I miss my mom that made sense.  Even if it were just my mom that fell about once a week and was dizzy the rest of the days, but made sense - I miss that mom.  She's not been around for months.

The one thing this has definitely made me decide is that I am NOT going to take any antidepressants unless they are going to save my life!  I don't want to have any of the horrible addiction that they can cause.

I'm not one of those people who insists on things being natural and I am glad for doctors and medicines that help us.  I understand that some people really need antidepressants to function, but it is better if they don't.

On a not so serious note, maybe my mom should smoke marijuana!  She'd not be so depressed and she'd eat!  Heck, maybe we just need to put her in a room filled with marijuana smoke - just put her in a room where others are smoking marijuana.

Z is for Zonk

Last night, I eventually and finally got to zonk out so I was not so overwhelmingly tired and stressed.  I got to sleep and relax and cuddle with Woofles.  He slept with me all night and he's been wanting to cuddle or be near me when I am home which is very cute.

Zonking was good for me with all of this stress.

I've been so stressed with my mother. She says that her health is not bad, but it has been getting worse and worse, and worse.

I know that talking about her urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence may not seem like giving her dignity, but she can't take care of herself with it.  Briana and I have had to clean up after her so much that it's become our burden and she doesn't care one bit.

A huge problem is that she'll have these accidents in public and then she'll just turn to us and say, "I had an accident."  We'll have to bring her home and then she'll go in the bathroom (after falling all over and making huge messes in places) and then make a mess in the bathroom and be uncooperative about letting anybody help her get clean.

Briana and I have tried and it never works.  She has a fit when we try to help her.  She insists that she is okay.  We've learned that she's not.

I'm concerned that some of this has to do with her switching to oxybutynin from the Detrol L.A.  She was having problems before that, too.  However, I think it has gotten worse since she did that.  She won't admit it, though.

I'm also concerned about the long term effects of the Paroxetine (Paxil) and the doctor just keep increasing the does at her insistence because she is getting depressed.

I'd honestly like to see how she is off of all these medications that she is taking.  If she's only depressed but she can actually function, I'd rather see her be depressed and functioning because then we'd at least know that the medications are the problem and it's not more serious than that.

However, I don't know if that's the case because of her orthostatic blood pressure and how many times she has hit her head.

People say that it takes a long time to get off of Paxil, too.

Anyway, I hope I can get more nights sleep like that because I really need sleep.  Zonking feels great.

I also thought of writing Z is for Zeus.  That's what the vet office was first calling Woofles before I adopted him.  However, he is definitely not a Zeus and is definitely a Woofles!

I need help switching my room with my mom's room.  It would be great to have help to do this while she is in the hospital so that she is not in the way of the work.  She's ALWAYS in the way of work being done in the house.  She doesn't help at all.

She won't admit it, but she is a hoarder.  She doens't throw out any of her trash!  Instead, she throws it on the ground.  She throws her dirty clothes on the ground.  She then wears the dirty clothes for days afterwards!

I need more nights of zonking.  I need to have times when I can just sleep and zonk out so peacefully.  However, I also need to work and write articles to make money.

Now that I'm at the end of the alphabet challenge, I need other blogging ideas to keep me writing!