How Do They Do That??

I was staring out my bedroom window and this squirrel was just FROZEN, with a pecan in his mouth, from the big tree. I had to wonder; how do they do that?? And why, on Earth, was he just frozen there like that?? Did he smell a cat?? Just too cool. Who taught him how to do that? Where was he going?

Anyway, just thought I'd post that because it struck me as funny. *grin*

Kitty Cat Games

I'm sitting at my computer, waiting for Baby Girl to wake up. She crawled into bed with me this morning, around 4:30. I think she's getting cold in her bed and so she comes in here. Most nights, when she does it, I'll get up and take her back into her bed and just put the blankets back on her (she wiggles them all onto the floor), but I was just too sleepy last night to do it, so here she stayed. She's so sweet. It's also the only time of day that she's quiet. *grin*

In my room, I have three large windows that look out onto my big backyard. This morning, my "yard" cats are out there. I have these two cats that don't really belong to me, but they've chosen my yard in which to live. It's a big yard and has lots of great hiding places.

At the beginning of the summer, when I first saw them in the yard, they were SO scrawny that I started leaving food out. They wouldn't let me anywhere near them at first but I just waited, and watched. As they became accustomed to me, they would allow me to sit outside and, as long as I was very still, they would come up onto the porch to eat. About a month ago, the male very tentatively walked up to me and sniffed my hand and let me touch him on the head. VICTORY!

So, I've named them - Fred and Ginger. They are a couple, you see. They will walk down the sidewalk with their tails entwined.

This morning, Fred and Ginger are playing chase. Ginger will hide on one side of Baby Girl's playhouse and Fred will sneak up from the other side, behind her, pounce on her and dart away. She then, in turn, will chase him down and "tag" him. And then it starts all over. They've been doing it for about 15 minutes now. Ah, youth... *grin*

Ah - Baby Girl awakes. I'm off to feed the child.

Battlefields and Painted Pumpkins

"Sometimes I just don't understand human behavior" - C3PO (Empire Strikes Back)

I so know how he feels. There are days when I just shake my head at the world and say, "why do people act that way??"

Everywhere we turn these days there are grim reminders that people just don't care about anybody else anymore unless they can profit from it. I don't know if the "good old days" really ever existed or they are just some romanticized version that we've created in our minds but these days are just sad.

I was accused today of being a surface Christian. Instead of respond to them, I just decided to let it go. Because, at the root of their accusation was defensiveness about a TOTALLY unrelated subject. The comment itself didn't hurt me at all; I know it to be false. What hurt me is that I am unable to go to that person and say, "hey, that hurt me." because they will use it to try and manipulate me and gain power over me. What it boils down to is that they don't care that it hurt me unless it can be used to their advantage. It's all about power and control.

I am the kind of person that absolutely hates conflict but sees things in life as very black and white. This is quite often a weakness and I wish I could see those many shades of gray but I just don't. This seems to lead to the inevitable and constant conflict with those who seem to live their lives in nothing but the gray areas.

I just wish that life could be simple. I don't wish for it all of the time; that's just fantasy. But, to be able to ask a question without having words, agendas, insinuations or hidden accusations FORCED by another onto a simple question to make it anything BUT simple.... *sigh* But, I guess that's not going to happen, is it?

Life is war and I just have to get it through my head that there are some things in this life that will always be a battle.

On another, much happier note; we went to our first Halloween party of the year. Baby Girl had a BLAST. She bobbed for apples, painted a pumpkin (she is such a talented artist!), played games and watched the all-time classic Halloween movie, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Who doesn't love that movie?? (Can I just say that Lucy never fails to disturb me??) It was a lot of fun to be with other single parents and give the kids a chance to play and the grown-ups a chance to stand back and watch them have fun in a safe place. I knew she had a good time because she was asleep FIVE minutes after I turned the lights out in her room. What a blast.

I'm pretty tired tonight too; not even the coffee is keeping the yawns away. Think I'll sign off for the night, kids.

SSSHHHH!! He'll Hear You!

So, the ex calls this morning and says that he likes my blog. No, I don't make a habit of publicizing my blog, but a while back I was teaching myself about feeds and all of that techno-garble and updated my yahoo profile to pick up feeds from here. Well, I forgot all about it until this morning. Nice reminder, huh?? *grin* Oh well.

I re-read the posts and am anticipating a few catty remarks. Nobody likes to hear/read things about them that aren't very flattering, albeit true.

On the subject of my ex, he's actually been pretty nice lately. With the exception of yesterday, which was every bit as much my fault because I have been rather stressed out lately about this whole lack of a job thing, we've gotten along pretty well.

He's stepped up and picked up a few things for Baby Girl's school that, all together, probably would have stretched me a little thin. I thought that was very kind of him, and I've told him that, too.. (see, I'm not a total man-hater)

Anyway, enough about that. Wouldn't want anybody to get any ideas that I might be playing nice. Can't have that. *laugh*

Ok, so I didn't have to stay for jury duty. They excused me on account that I have a three year old and don't always have somebody readily available to see to her. I was a little disappointed that I didn't stay, but reality is reality. I'll have more chances, I'm sure.

On another note, I've just started a new book. Well, two if you consider that I'm also reading another book at the same time. Kooky, huh? Well, I'm reading Son of a Witch by Gregory McGuire; it's the sequel to Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. WONDERFUL stuff, folks. Really entertaining. Can't wait to really get into it.

The other book I'm reading is an inspirational book. It's called, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands. It's about how EVERY Christian is called into ministry. Every few paragraphs, I have a "WOW" moment. That's where you put the book down and go, "WOW!!" because you've just read something so prolific that it turns your brain inside out. Consequently, I can only read a few pages at a time because there is so much to absorb.

Anyway, I'm going by the hospital to apply for yet another job. I'll get their attention ONE of these days. *sigh* But I'm not going to let myself get into a case of the "pout, pouts", as Big H calls it. *giggle* That's what he puts on his voicemail because that's what his church kids call him. Isn't that cute?? What a great friend. I was in such a horrible mood last night, when he came by, but he really helped cheer me up. That's what a friend is. I'm so lucky to have him around.

Well, the coffee pot is calling my name in the kitchen. I am helpless to resist it. Later y'all.