Oct 31st

Happy Halloween!

Grad School - 1st day

Man, this sucks already. I just received the syllabus for the first two classes. I forgot that grad schools (most) have a different grading scale. Poop!!
A 95-100
A- 92-94
B+ 90-91
B 87-89
B- 84-86
C+ 80-83

This whole experience is going to be so strange. I really didn't have any courses that utilized the internet (in terms of coursework) for my BS, but damn....there's a lot online now. All kinds of class discussions, blah blah blah. According to the class roster, there are 8 other peeps getting their M.Ed. with me (and we're all starting at the same point and stay together throughout). Hope I like them...heheeh. Out of nine of us, there are at least three men and two generic names that I'm not sure about.

Whew. Deep breaths....deep breaths.

Dangerous Cities

Today Yahoo.com featured a link to the most and least dangerous cities in the US. The low numbers are the safest, high are the most dangerous. The list goes from 1-371.

I won't keep you in suspense STL folks, but ya'll ranked the absolute most dangerous, # 371. hmmmm.

Check out the entire list: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061030/ap_on_re_us/city_crime_list_glance

He's Got Spirit

October marked the 6th birthday of a special Shiba Inu. I know, most of you have never heard of a specific dog breed called the Shiba Inu. (pronounced she-bah e-new). Shiba Inus originated from Japan, they're related to the Akita (which used to be called an Akita Inu, but the Inu was dropped). The first documented litter of U.S. Shiba pups was in 1979 and they didn't become part of the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Non-Sporting Group until 1993. My Shiba Inu is named Spirit (his given name by the original owners). This is his story.

I was living in St. Louis, MO at the time. I was a volunteer foster parent for Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue (MSIR). I had just recovered from two dog bites to my face from the last foster dog, who unfortunately, was mistrusting of humans due to being in a puppymill. "Akina" was released of her pain and I mourned the loss. She was my first foster dog, and I blamed myself for what happened (while on a walk, she jumped my dog and attacked her, I pulled Akina off of my Wendy and Akina bit my face). Now was not the time for a foster dog. Not at all.

I was contacted by the city pound that they thought they had a purebred Shiba Inu. I definitely doubted it, as Shibas aren't too common - but went to make sure he was because MSIR would only accept a purebred. Yup - he was indeed. I asked one of the employees to let him out of his tiny cage so I could see his behavior. Spirit was sweet the first minute. There was a problem, however. He limped - a lot. He was a cutie, but "defective." No one would adopt him, and with the pound overflowing, he wouldn't last in his "defective" state. The pound had no veterinary services, so no one had any idea why he limped, nor did they really care.

After several days, the pound released Spirit to MSIR (with me as his foster momma). My rescue friend Laura went with me to pick him up and helped me give him a bath (he stank and had tons of matted hair). We took him to the vet for all of his shots and an evaluation. He was sedated for hip xrays (thinking he possibly had hip dysplasia), but those came out ok. The vet had no idea why he limped and referred us to an orthopedic vet.

The ortho vet had no idea either. She suggested a procedure called a Myleogram that would cost the rescue over $1200 but would determine if he had spinal cord damage. Even if the procedure revealed damage, there wouldn't be any treatment. I remembered that another rescue friend knew a holistic doggie doc (doggie chiro!). I called her up and scheduled an appointment for Spirit. I wanted to know if there was anything else to help him before making the rescue foot such a large bill. I didn't tell anyone about the doggie chiro - I thought the whole idea was hooky, but the last opinion. No one would adopt a dog that had unknown medical problems.

That was the best $75 I ever spent. She felt Spirit's spine and hit a spot that made him SCREAM. Long story short, there was something wrong with his spine. I took him back to the regular vet (had to admit that I took him to a doggie chiro - LOL) and his back was x-rayed. Bingo. There, staring me in the eyes, was the answer. Spirit had SIX, yes, SIX surgical pins in his back. No wonder he limped but nothing showed up on his hip xrays. The next answer was why in the world he had pins in his back??

I spent hours trying to track down answers. The pound refused to give any info about the previous owners. He was found as a stray and although he had microchip, when they were contacted, they didn't want him back. I knew his microchip # and called the company. I begged them to tell me his previous vet's name so I could find out what happened to see if he could be helped. I got the records from the vet and the truth was unraveled.

Spirit was hit by a car when he was 11 months old. He was taken to the University of Missouri-Columbia's vet hospital for treatment (a two hour drive!) He spent a month recovering from a broken back, broken ribs and a big gash on his head. When he was discharged back to his owners, he was just beginning to walk again.

Three years passed. He was then found wandering the streets and brought to the pound. And thats the story. No one knows why his owners spent thousands of dollars on major surgery and then didn't want him.

During this diagnostic time, Spirit lived with me and my dog Wendy. They got along great - they didn't exactly snuggle together, but they tolerated each other and he seemed to fit well in my home. Before I knew it, he was mine - forever. I adopted Spirit at age 4 1/2 or so.

I spent the next few months getting him well - still wobbly, but much better. His nasty fur was replaced with nice healthy hair. He went to a doggie physical therapist (yes, they exist!) and walked on an underwater treadmill to help him learn to walk better. I even acquired an electric treadmill for work at home (he LOVES loves LOVES the treadmill). I saw the human treadmill in a free ad and called - of course there were lots of calls but who could deny a gimpy dog the use of a treadmill?

Spirit has been part of our lives ever since. Wendy watches out for him at the dogpark - if she hears him bark, she's there in a flash to kick the butt of whoever is messing with her bro. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPIRIT!

Profile: Spirit
Nicknames: Spiro, Spiro Dinero, Spear boy, Buddy, Snarky
DOB: October 2000
Color: Black and tan
Weight: 25 pounds
Height: 17"
Favorite toy: balls, plush toys with squeakers
Favorite Food: absolutely anything
Favorite Non-Food Items: q tips, underwear, cork drink coasters, the wall (only once),
Commands: come, stay, sit, down
Best Trick: shake (more like a swat so he doesn't fall over)
Funniest Trait: "crazies" - a fun game of "momma's gonna getcha!"
I like: chasing around a remote control car with a treat taped to the top
I dislike: mom dressing me up

A Letter from Cactus

Dear Apartment Complex Manager,

Thank you for the newly constructed carports outside. They're simple, yet elegant and serve their purpose well. Sure, the workers have started at 5am for the last month or so. Sure, it was outside my bedroom window and I'm not a morning person. Sure, the endless hours of jackhammering got irritating. Sure, the Hispanic rap music at loud levels grated my nerves.

Even though I didn't park in the area marked with yellow tape, you took it upon yourselves to tow my car (twice) to the other side of the parking lot. That was a fun game of hide and seek! The first time it happened I thought I was crazy, the second time I just laughed and looked around. What fun! It was so thoughtful of you to move it so it didn't get dirty with the mounds of dust everywhere.

Finally, Thank You for selecting fluorescent lights for the inside of the carports. My once dark bedroom is now lit up like the inside of a refrigerator when I'm trying to fall sleep. This saves money on electricity - I no longer need that night light to help me find the potty during the night. How convenient!

Thanks! It is nice to live in such a great community!

Yours Truly,
S. Cactus

The Philosophy of Velveeta "Cheese"

I love Velveeta. Always have, always will.

Did you know? Velveeta first hit the market in 1928 (packaged in 1/4 lb. only).

Me and Velveeta: A History

-My family makes fun of my love for V. One year for Christmas, they bought me a giant Sam's Club size box of V.
-I am the proud owner of promo-only 22" Ertl 18 wheeler bearing the V name (from my dad)
-My bud Amanda gave me a Velveeta cookbook
-I really only like V. Light or Mexican V. Original is too rich. I don't like the pre-sliced kind or shredded kind. It doesn't taste the same. I swear.
-When I'm sick, my comfort meal is a grilled cheese sandwich (with V!) and Chef Boyardee's canned ABC's and 123's with meatballs.

Links:
V. Homepage (recipes!): http://www.kraftfoods.com/velveeta
Newspaper Article Dissing a V. Commercial: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/intucson/history_culture/012706b5_offbeatallen

Thanks for your attention. Go eat some Velveeta!!

The Bitch That Changed My Life (a poem by Cactus)

Read Live at The Paper Heart - October 17th, 2006







The Bitch That Changed By Life

The whole thing was spontaneous
I’d been browsing through dozens of photos on the internet
You caught my eye

Your name: Wendy
You had beautiful light brown hair and seductive eyes
You had some of the prettiest eyelashes I’d even seen
Your profile told me you enjoy long walks, gentle touches and love to kiss
You’re a shy girl who is seeking that special person to complete her

I left work early to meet you
Told no one where I was going
The conditions weren’t fancy
The air damp, the lights dim and noisy as ever

Wendy, you didn’t say a word
But I knew it was you, exactly like your picture
When our eyes met, I knew you were the one.
We left together that night
I awoke to your warm kisses on my cheek
Your body against mine

Wendy, we’ve seen each other through some tough times
My life is better because of you
You tell me you feel the same, maybe not with words
But by the way your eyes light up and your tail wags when I fill your bowl with kibble

Thanks for being a girl’s best friend
You truly are The Bitch That Changed My Life
I love you Wendy

Cactus Wants a Tattoo

One of my favorite TV shows is Miami Ink on TLC. I used to think that tattoos were only for the wild girls, but since watching MI, I now realize the beauty and meaning behind a tattoo.

I think I've decided on what my first tattoo will be. Some of my ideas in the past were:
-a fish
-something in japanese characters (like success or hope)
-an arch (since my roots will always be St. Louis)

Now I have it. I want a small butterfly. Why? Moving to AZ made me spread my wings. Since I've been here, I've seen a new world, a colorful one, new scenery....stuff like that. I know, this blog is deeeeep.

Where do I want my tattoo? Somewhere where no one would see it unless i chose to show them. My ankle is out due to wearing skirts and being professional. I'm down to two options. First is between my breasts (I like this idea the most, but I'm told that is a very painful place to get a tattoo and I'm far from brave). The second is on one of my breasts. I don't like this idea because as I gain and lose weight throughout life, the tattoo will change.

So, what do you guys think of the placement and tattoo choice? I wouldn't do it for a while (and yes, I'd plan ahead and pick a reputable place). There are zillions of butterfly species, so I'd research a long time to decide what I wanted....

Cactus

Higher Education - a pain in my a$$

This whole grad school thing is really starting to frustrate me. First, I have a hyperactive academic advisor who says different things every time I talk to him. He gives me little help, and what help he does give is pathetic and inaccurate. I receive a list of 7 school districts to apply to. I have the name of the district, the HR person's name and their email address. Thanks, you little terd (did i just say that?) for the address to each district. Is it THAT hard? Why should every student have to Google to get this info??? Why am I paying over 18K to this university again?

So I send out emails with my cover and resume attached. Now the school districts are emailing asking if I've filled out the application online. Uh..no. So today I begin to fill one of the apps out. This school district wants every job I've had in the last 10 years. @*(@#(%*&. Fine. I can do that.

At the end of the app, I'm supposed to write up a testimonial. Like "I want to be a teacher because...blah blah blah." Okay, I may teach for a while, but I really like admin stuff better. But hey, I'll play the game. What the heck do I write? I seriously need to get on this since I need a job ASAP. What a pain.

I HATE HATE HATE writing fakey testimonial crap. And they ALL want my refs up front. I don't really want 7 districts calling each ref!! I don't have that many good refs, you know? AHHHHH. This is such a pain. It would be easier if the univ would just place me somewhere rather than going through all this bullcrap.

Today hasn't been the greatest. I'm frustrated. Can you tell??

Cactus, not feeling Sweet at all

Get to Know Cactus

1. Do you still talk with the person you LAST kissed?~ yes

2. Have you ever seen your best friend naked?~ nope

3. Do you like more than one person right now?~ yep

4. What was the last thing you ate?~ tacos

5. Did you get any compliments today?~ haven't seen anyone yet

6. Where are you going on your next vacation?~ California

7. Are most of your friends guys or girls?~ girls

8. Do you own any furniture from Ikea?~ hell yess!

9. Do you own any pets?~ 2 dogs. woof.

10. If you could have one superpower what would it be?~ healing the sick

11. Where have you lived most of your life? St. Louis County

12. Why is the sky blue?~ because a book told me so

13. When was the last time you took a long drive?~ in may - stl to phx

14. What is your least favorite sound?~ the ebs testing on tv. gets on my frickin nerves.

15. Are you moody?~ yes

16. What is your most favorite movie of all time?~ Nine to Five

17. Have you ever done anything hurtful to a classmate?~ Not a classmate, but to a chick i didn't like in college. I put a tiny bit of milk into a condom and hung it over her door. It was damn funny! Wonder what she thought of THAT....

18. Have you ever played Spin the Bottle?~ no

19. Have you ever toilet papered someone's house?~ no, i was the one that got TP'd

20. Have you ever had a crush on your sister's friend?~ no, she's 7 1/2 yrs older

21. Have you ever gone to a nude beach?~ yes, my dad and i stumbled upon one in Hawaii in 1986. I don't remember it, he told me the story.

22. Have you ever gone streaking?~ no, who the hell would want to see THAT?

23. Have you ever had a stalker?~ Nah.

24. Have you ever gone skinny dipping?~ nope, but hottubbing topless

25. How many hours a day do you watch TV?~ too many

26. Have you ever gone to a party?~ yes

27. Have you ever been in love?~ i said it, but didn't mean it. so probably not.

28. Have you ever been betrayed by your best friend(s)?~ no

29. Have you ever been out of the U.S.?~ yes, canada and mexico

30. Have you ever thrown up from working out?~working out? whats THAT?

31. Have you ever gotten a haircut so bad that you wore a hat?~ yes

32. Have you ever eaten 3 meals from 3 different fast food in one day?~ Probably while traveling

33. What was the last song you listened to?~ I'll Stand By You - Pretenders

34. Whats one item you never leave home without?~ my post surgical big ass sunglasses so the sun doesn't screw up my Lasik.

35. Last resturant you ate at?~ Burgers with K and L in Scottsdale, don't remember the name

36. Who was the last person who called you?~ Dad, we talk daily.

37. Who was the last person who texted you?~ Andrew

38. When was the last time you slept?~ like an hour ago? i like naps.

39. What are your plans for tonight?~ Texas Hold 'em at Jason's house

40. Who will repost this survey?~ no clue

Wild Weekend ?

Yes, it really is 3:15am as I'm writing this. Sheesh. I can't get to sleep.

My friend K. came to visit for the weekend. On Friday night, we didn't have too much time, but managed dinner at an awesome Mexican restaurant in downtown Tempe. It wasn't a crazy margarita filled evening, in fact, just the opposite. We ate our dinner outside on the patio on a GORGEOUS evening while listening to live guitar. She drank water. I drank Diet Coke. I like to live on the edge, you know? Exhausted, but not ready to call it a night, we drove to my place and got out the old boardgame "Payday." We both used to love to play Payday. However, we discovered that at the ages of 28 & 29, the "fun" of Payday just isn't the same. The whole bill paying aspect really sucked. The excitement just isn't there anymore. We're grown-ups now, we have real bills. Paying bills is not fun. We poo-pooed Payday.

Saturday evening we hit the outdoor mini-putt putt course. 18 holes of true fun. We hit balls into the water and had to recover them, hit them off the course completely and laughed our butts off. The building nearby housed a nifty arcade and offered one hour of all-you-can-play video games for a $4 wristband.

K. danced her fanny off at some funky machine while I set the new record for Frogger. They had more of my old Atari favorites: Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Centipede, etc. No Pole Position though. Drat. I still have my old Atari console and like 30 games for it. I found myself stomping my foot and muttering "fuckers!!" when I got killed. Don't remember saying that kind of stuff in the 80's. :) Together we played air hockey and a few "shoot 'em up" games. Me and K holding red and blue plastic guns. Scary. We cashed in some tickets and gathered our prizes: K. got Silly Putty. I got cheap stickers that turned out to be so old they didn't even stick and two pair of stick on earrings. I haven't tried those yet.

The most amusing part was that we were some of the oldest chicks there. We were surrounded by girls with "JUICY!" written on their shirts with glitter and boys with chicken pictures on their shirts with the words "Chick Magnet." We weren't embarrased though. It was fun! At 12:00am on the dot, there was a loud click and poof! all of the games turned off and there was a mass exodus for the door. Outside there was a caravan of SUV's with dreary eyed parents waiting for their precious teenager to stop flirting and get into the car. Ahhhh....those were the days.

Amazing how much we enjoyed mini golf and a bunch of arcade games on a Saturday night in Mesa. Thanks, K. :)