It's time...

I've put it off long enough. The pain in my hip finally drove me to go see a doctor and the anticipated "you need a new hip" diagnosis ended up being "your hip looks fine". WHAT??? I saw the x-ray myself. My hip looks fine. WTF??? So WHY does it hurt so bad???

Anyway, after an MRI and a diagnosis of a torn labrum (yes, what A-Rod had), I'm now scheduled for a relatively non-invasive arthroscopic surgery tomorrow to fix the problem. Lil sis is going to come get me and take me home with her (because her house is all one level) to recover for a few days.

I could kick myself for postponing this for so long, but I had myself convinced my hip was a knarly knot of corroded bone and was going to need replacing. It's what I get for procrastinating.

Merle

My little man kittie.

Watercolor losing Arden yesterday made me miss my Merle so much. He was such a good cat.

I adopted Merle after I started commuting to Dallas. Ringo got to where he was SO clingy (literally under my feet BEGGING for attention) on the weekends when I got home, that I decided he needed a companion. There was a girl at work (I'm sorry to say I don't remember her name) that had some kittens needing homes so I went over to her house and immediately fell in love with this little, tiny, orange tabby with a big M on his forehead. (I wish to goodness I had some pics of him, but he was pre-digital so I've got to do some digging).

Because of the "M", I knew his name was supposed to begin with it, but just wasn't "feeling" a name for him. Generally, as soon as I meet a cat I know what the name is supposed to be. Not with Merle. At the time, I was reading a novel where the lead character's name was Max. That didn't feel right. I was living in a little two story cabin up on the reservoir and my lil sis was staying with me a couple of times a week. She knew I was trying to "feel" the name for my new baby. One night, I remember it well, she walked in and proclaimed "I've got it!" "Merle!" I knew immediately that was the name. No, not Merle Haggard, no, not anything remotely resembling an association with anybody. The name "Merle" just felt right.

I'm one of those that believes that a cat's name cannot sound anything like any other cat you may have. Yes, I do believe cat's recognize and understand their names (unlike some people). But I knew, as soon as she said it, that was his name. Merle. Perfect.

Merle ended up being THE solution to my problem with my clingy cat, Ringo. I left EARLY on Monday mornings and wouldn't get back till Friday night commuting to Dallas. Lil sis was there a couple of times a week to feed, and at the time, I had a screened porch with an automatic litter box that took care of "personal" stuff.

I'd get home on Friday evenings and Merle and Ringo would just have the BEST time! I took pictures and would enjoy them all weekend. Then came the move. I moved to a house outside of Raymond, proceeded to get laid off and ended up moving to my shop. Of course, Merle and Ringo moved with me.

I'll have you know that when I finally got a little cottage 3 blocks from my shop (which had then closed due to the economy and running out of funds), he went EVERY day to "work". I knew he left every morning at daylight and didn't return until the sun was going down, but I wasn't sure where he went during the day. Then, one day I found him inside the shop (lots of access through the metal walls) and realized that he was going and spending his days "tending shop". Bless his heart. It was like he was responsible to make sure everything was okay there while I had gone back to work in the real world. I'm talking EVERY day. He left in the morning and would come home in the evening just like it was his job.

Then, a year ago at Thanksgiving, I came home after a couple of days with my parents and found him on the hassock, lying in a typical "Merle" position, but he was dead. I have no idea why. There didn't appear to be any trauma. He was only 5 years old, which is young for a cat. I called my friends in Crystal Springs and they offered me a place to bury him. They took a backhoe and dug a grave. Friend and a guy that worked for him reverently carried his box to the place and placed him in the grave. Friend's wife read a poem and we all cried. I will never forget that, ever.

Oh, and we had stopped by the former shop and got a stepping stone that Friend's wife had done a mosiac in. Friend had carved "Meryl" in the stone. I didn't have the heart to tell him that it wasn't spelled right. It doesn't matter. My baby boy Merle has a fabulous place to rest in peace. This is a pic I took while sitting next to his grave.

And right now he's doing his "job" and showing Watercolor's baby, Arden, the ropes in heaven.

The tree he is buried under...

Rest In Peace my darling Merle.

I just have one question...

what's so freakin fancy about it???


That's one of those questions that's poked at me for years.


"Fancy" ketchup. WTF??? Ok, so is it made at a "fancy" factory? Is it made by a girl named "Fancy"? What makes it "fancier" than other ketchup?

It's not like it's dressed up or anything. It's a freakin packet of ketchup!!


But, hey, it's FANCY...

Coop and Cooper

I was tickled to death to discover that Jen (choclablover within the MRBA) had actually named her little frog creations Coop (girl) and Cooper (boy).


I just placed an order on her Etsy to get me a Coop!

She is a very talented young lady and has made some absolutely darling aprons, pin cushion, ironing board covers, etc. Here is the link to her store:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6342903

Check it out!

Peep-Eye

Ok, so my landlord needs to powerwash the side of my house.

That said, I wanted to share what I see pretty much every morning as I'm leaving. My Scooter baby lays on the table inside and props her head on the catdoor and looks out. She starts this usually as I'm finishing getting ready for work and is still doing it when I leave.

Yes, when it's 30 degrees outside and she's laying there with the window propped open on her head, she's letting heat out and cold in. Do I stop her? No. Is she spoiled? What do you think?!?


I showed this picture to my co-workers and one of them commented "Looks like, oh boy, she’s gone, now we can rumble." That may very well be what she's thinking. Maybe she's the designated lookout to make sure I'm gone. This morning I had to ride down to my landlord's place to drop off my rent check. When I drove back past my house, she was still laying there. I guess to make sure I was for real leaving.


After looking at this picture I decided that this spring, after it warms up, I want to paint some kind of mural on the board that their door is mounted in. I don't know what it will be yet, but I think it would be fun to have something painted there. Maybe some greenery or something.


Any suggestions?

Help some deserving children with their ballfield!

My friend MsBlondie requested that the MRBA vote to help get the softball fields in Star, MS rebuilt. They were destroyed by a tornado last year.

They are trying to become a finalist in the Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Plant A Seed program.

Click on the link below to vote: Thanks!!

http://www.frostedflakes.com/PLANT-A-SEED/FIELD/74321/FIELD.ASPX

Give it a Minute...

That's what they say about the weather in Mississippi. If you don't like it, give it a minute, it will change

On Friday I was taking pictures of a lizard in 78 degree temps. This morning (Sunday) I'm taking pictures of snow.

Typical weather in Mississippi in February/March. Hot one day and freezing the next.

Well, I am doubting the accuracy of J's thermometer. It's saying 38, but it feels colder.

I can remember one time, years ago, maybe 1986 or so, that my daughter and her best friend were swimming in a pond, it was either in January or February, and 3 days later, I have pictures (somewhere) of them picking ice off of the shrubs.

I took these pics about 3:30 this morning and I'm thinking I need to go back out now that it's daylight and see if I can get a cute picture of Ghost in the snow.