Thursday, May 31, 2012
Music Videos That "Do It" for Me
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
How To Give A Rat Medicine
Monday, May 28, 2012
Photo Album Memories
US Army
World War II
1923- Feb 19 1984
Saturday, May 26, 2012
A New Scrapbook Page- Hamsters
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Memories of My Mother
Friday, May 18, 2012
Ocean Beauty- Danger of Leaving Seller Feedback On Amazon
I was fine with that. It took about 5 days and my credit card was refunded. I thought that was the end of it. I was wrong.
A New Dish
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
RIP Jasper
Jasper was my laid back, cuddly boy who loved to be cuddled and kissed on the face. Jasper loved to sit next to us on the couch where he would lay on us and eye boggle and give kisses. He would just stay close, clean himself or brux and boggle, or look around. Because he was so laid back and gentle, I would usually take him out to show to new people and he loved the attention. It didn't take much behind the ear petting to get him boggling. A few days ago, Jasper started slowing down for no apparent reason.
On his last day he was snuggling with his brothers, because that's where he seemed most comfortable and happy. As I was watching him in the cage he started to seem restless and his breathing became more labored. All of a sudden, Jasper ran down the ladder and to the cage door, making a line straight for me. I saw the urgency in him and picked him up and sat down. I was sitting there with him, just petting him gently and talking to him. I found "the spot" behind his little ear and I got a short, sweet boggle out of my boy... our last one together. I feel so fortunate that I was able to be home with him when he passed and it's obvious to me that he knew how much he was loved since he wanted to be held.
I had him on antibiotics for the past week, but the upper respiratory infection it seems got the better of him.
Jasper was my big boy, the biggest rat I've ever had or seen. He was always ready to come out for a snuggle and I am really going to miss our snuggle time together.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Memories of My Mom
We really didn't think much of it or pay attention to the dog for the first couple of nights. My uncle Jack was too busy sending my brother and I on snipe hunts. They both got me good one night by taking me out in a field late one night with a plastic bag and spoon and telling me to take the spoon and try to catch the snipes in the bag. I bent down to do that and they turned the flashlights off and stood out there giggling at me freaking out.
When we got back to the cabin, my mom was outside feeding the dog again and I went inside the cabin for a minute.
My mom called me outside and was petting the dog and it came and sat down next to us on the stairs. My dad and uncle came out and stopped really suddenly and told my mom and I to get back in the cabin. My mom looked at them like they were crazy until my uncle said, Peggy...that's a wolf.
My mom and I were sitting on the stairs petting a wolf, or at the very least a wolf/dog mix. He was friendly though. We got up and walked back in the cabin where my dad and uncle freaked out. But my mom was laughing and fed the wolf/dog every night while we were there. We just didn't sit with him on the stairs again.
This is my mom and my hubby Ken, outside our apartment complex from just a couple of years ago.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Winner!
Thursday, May 03, 2012
I'm A Very Happy Girl Today
I've been a member of the Yahoo Contributor Network (Formerly known as Associated Content) since 2006 and this is the first time I've received this badge, so you can imagine my surprise, shock and excitement. And yes, I took a screen shot of it on my profile page. lol The badges are given out each month so I might not have it next month, but I have it right now! Look at my pretty red badge.
I mostly write articles about small exotic animals such as gerbils, hamsters, rats and mice but have other articles about rabbits, dogs, whales and pigs. I have also written an informative article about what Wicca is and my thoughts on ebooks vs Traditional books. I was also interviewed a while back on SOS Aloha about my articles.
If you read my articles, let me know what you think and if you have any questions about small animals and their care just ask. I'll do my best to answer your questions.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
New Necklace I made
—A member of @NescafeUSA Tasters
Monday, April 30, 2012
Giveaway: $10 Starbucks Gift Card!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
This Seems Legit
"hello I call CHRISTELLE VALBERG married born April 24, 1968 and I am a French national. You can contact him because I want to do something very important. This will seem a little suspect it true that you do not know me and you do not know. I have a cancer that is terminally ill, my doctor is telling me that my days are numbered because of my range of health. From what the Dr. I was justified, a bullet is currently installed in my brain cage, I have this disease for over 4 years. I made you to accept my award. I have the sum of $ 5,000,000 as a grant. Please accept this sum as it may well be very useful and it asks nothing in return. It is necessary to accept my offer if you directly answer my email: christellevalberg@yahoo.fr I feel very bad and I'm afraid, almost did not sleep at night and day. I can not die without having done all this grant money if I do not think it would be a copy gasto.Quiere my email address to write to my lame: God remains with you."
Oh yeah, that seems legit...
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Do You Tip?
I was watching a show on tv a while back and it showed this server in a restaurant ranting about not getting an 18% tip on all the people who ate at the place she works. Now while I do understand that servers/wait staff don't make big bucks, they know what they are going to be making when they apply for or take the job, no one forces them to be a server and a tip is not mandatory of customers.
This lady said if you expect to get good service that they expect to get a good tip of at least 18% but in my opinion she is wrong. Good service is what they are paid to do, it's not mandatory for customers to give them a tip for a service that's already being paid for. That's their job!
Expecting a tip from everyone or bitching about a small tip is rude and ridiculous. If someone thinks their waitperson was nice/helpful enough to leave them any sort of tip, even a couple of bucks change, then that person should remember they didn't have to and be thankful for it.
Tips are for good service rendered. Not just because you brought out the food and never came back and did your job of asking if anyone needed a refill, something else or if I have to hound the other servers to get my check because you never come back to my table after bringing the food.
You pay for your food and anything extra should not be 'expected and bitched about if you don't get it'. If I felt like giving a tip, I will. If the service was bad and the server had a bad attitude, I'm not leaving a tip. You took that job knowing full well that you would be having to wait on customers and be friendly. I worked in a bakery/deli and never got a tip and I made sandwiches, donuts, sliced people's cold cuts and cheese and made party platters all day, but I did it with a smile because that's what I got paid to do.
Not everyone who works with the public gets a tip. The people in the bakery/deli who slice your cold cuts and cheese don't get tips, doctors who make sure you are alright don't get tips, the cashier at the grocery store doesn't get a tip.
And don't even get me started on those places that put out a tip jar right by the cash register and expect a tip like Starbucks, port of subs, subway and other fast food places that seem to be doing it. They get paid for doing their job and I expect to pay the price on the wall, next to what I am getting. I don't tip at those places.
The one thing I will say is if I order food and have it delivered, I usually tip the person who brings it to me. I do tip when going out to eat, although I really don't go out to eat all that often anymore. I just don't think the servers should be getting all ranty and indignant if they don't get the 18% tip they are looking for. If I throw a couple of bucks on the table after a meal, smile and be happy you got anything at all, because believe me if I hear a snarky remark about a small tip...you'll never get another tip from me.
I was being nice one time when I went to Port of subs and left $2 in the tip jar after the ladies made our two sandwiches. They had been nice and I was feeling generous and so when she gave me my change, I put it in the tip jar and on my way out I heard her say to the other lady, "Two bucks? Can you believe this shit?"
There was no one else in the store at the time and she didn't even have the common courtesy to wait until we were completely out the door before she took the money out and said that. so whenever we wanted sandwiches again from port of subs, I made sure to go on days I knew they were working and got them then. I never gave another tip. Oh and yeah, I called the 1-800 number and complained about them too. It pissed me off just that much. I wasn't worried about retribution since you watch them through the glass making the sandwiches..they couldn't spit in my food in the back like I'm sure they would have given the chance.
Yeah I'm pessimistic/negative and irritated with the whole tip thing. It's probably a good thing I don't go out much..because I'm not a good tipper.
Monday, April 23, 2012
I really need to get out of this frame of mind, but I'm not sure how to right now. But I guess that's what life is..cycles of time where the water is calm and everything is moving smoothly with the occasional wave, storm or shark floating along the surface ready to bite you in the ass if you get too close.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Operation Smile
About Operation Smile:
Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity that heals children's smiles, forever changing their lives.
Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft — often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places these children are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can't afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a normal life.
Since 1982, Operation Smile — through the help of dedicated medical volunteers — has provided more than 2 million patient evaluations and over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
With your help, how many lives can we change tomorrow?
*I may receive compensation as a result of this blog post from Smiley 360 in the form of free samples and/or points*
Articles Published, Movies Watched and Books Read..
I write when I have the time and find an idea for an article. Well, this month I had the time to write uninterrupted because Ken was in California dog/house sitting for his sister and my daughter was out with her friends or her boyfriend. So I had the house all to myself. I was able to get in a few movies including the remake of Nightmare on Elm Street, which was less than satisfying. I really like the original much better. I also watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Hostel 3, both of which I really enjoyed.
I read a couple of books including a new one by Shelley Munro called Cat Burglar in Training, which I really loved. This book is Previously published as The Shadow *that I wrote a review for*, and is newly refreshed by the author, It's a great story and I like the changes that were done. Shelley was nice enough to send it to me after I won an ecopy on a blog contest and when I finally had a few minutes to myself I knew it would be one of the books I read. I love Shelley's writing, her books are always so good and she is such a sweet person. Shelley has a blog Taste of Kiwi, that she regularly updates and chats with commenter's. If you haven't read a book by Shelley Munro yet, I highly recommend her, all of her books have been keeper's.

I also read Wild Cat By Jennifer Ashley, this is part of a series that I am really enjoying and am looking forward to the next book coming out which the author said on fb should be next year. I'm very much looking forward to that. If you like Shifter romances, I recommend this book.
I still have a few other books to get to, I just haven't had the time yet.
I did however find the time to write two more articles.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Good Bye Tk

I found out earlier today that a good friend of mine passed away from a heart attack. Although we never met in person, we'd know each other through several yahoo groups and fb for many years. I was so shocked and saddened to hear of his passing, I'm still so sad about this.
William Watts or Tk as he was known to us was one of the nicest people I've even had the privilege of knowing. I met him during a time in my life when I had all but given up on there being people like he and his wife out there to meet. He renewed my faith in humanity and made me see there were still people in the world that would help another for no other reason than they wanted to.
I've received many holiday cards from he and his wife and sent many in return. He was proud of Canada where he lived and sent me Maple Leaf cookies to try because he wanted me to experience something he loved. I sent him something from Vegas so he would always have a little part of where I lived with him.
When I found out he loved spongebob square pants, I sent him a few spongebob stickers that he took pictures of after he put them on his riding mower.
I'll never get to meet Tk in person but we talked like we had lived next door to one another for years. He was like a member of my family and after my mom died last year I made it a point to let him know how much he meant to me. I told him since my mom passed away so suddenly, I wanted the people I loved to know how much they meant to me and how much I cared for him because we never know when we'll go to sleep and not wake up.
I'm so happy that I wrote that letter to him and let him know how much he had influenced my life for the better. Don't waste time never telling those you love how much they mean to you, because they can be taken away at any minute and then you'll never have the chance to.
Be happy and free, Tk. You'll be missed my friend.









