Getting to the shop yesterday morning, me and Dummy stopped by the front door and talked about Jezzy, how much we miss her and how we hope she made it throu the snow and rain we had the past two days. When, as we're talking, I see a fuzzy black head and spooky yellow eyes peek out from the side of the building. It was Jezzabelle! And she's in fine health, surprisingly clean, considering it'd been snowing not 2 days before. I think someone took her in.

She was sans collar, so I went to the pet store and bought her another one, one that wasn't the break-a-way kind she had before. I also had a tag made with her name, our address, and our phone number on it. Let's hope next time she goes walk-a-bout, she won't stay gone too long.

Business has been good, booming in fact. Dummy had to hire a mechanic to help him get all the work done. It's working out nicely. The kid (I say kid, he's in his late 20's) is eager to work, and can't stand standing still. I don't think the shop's been this clean since opening day.

Happy St. Pat's day to everyone. I'll be working both shops today, so no green beer or corned beef n cabbage for me. =(

I kinda knew this day might come... but still... didn't really believe it.

We got Jezzabell last year, right before it got REALLY cold. It was perfect timing. Someone had just dropped off an ATV, and had kindly left the mouse nest in the airbox. And one of my co-workers was looking for a home for a stray kitten she knew about from her other job, worried about the cold weather. We took Jezzy in to serve two purposes', Dum's need to get rid of the mouse/mice, and my need for a feline companion.

It's hard to believe she was a stray, as affectionate as she is.. she even charmed Dum. I'd come into the shop from the bakery and she'd be in his lap, getting lovings and having him "get sthum" (she head-butted and nipped chins to show looooove). She loves my chair, and if I happen to be in it, even better, she climbs on my back between me and the chair and purrs happily. When she's especially affectionate, she'll climb onto my back and DEMAND lubbins.


I've been worrying about spring, for the only reason that, well....we open our doors, and the bay door, to allow the lovely weather inside. =/ She's deathly afraid of cars and trucks, but... we can't KEEP her inside, being a shop cat. Today's the 4th day we've kept the doors open... and come closing time... No Jezzabell. =(

I was at the bakery when Dum closed shop, and he called me, asking what to do. "I can't find her, should I close up and go home, or wait for her to show up?"

...

Damn. I told him to go home. She'll show up if she wants to. I stopped by on my way home from the bakery, and still a no show.

Here's to hoping I see her meowing at the door when I stop by TOR in the morning, but I'm not hopeful. *sighs* A goodbye would have been nice.....

Trying a new sleep aid tonight, I'll let ya know tomorrow how it works out. I need more than a few hours sleep. Course, I'd prolly get a bit more if I didn't keep waking Dum up to have my way wif him.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Ima be working....a lot. =(



Oh! and I'm on top of DC! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

With all the drama going on at the bakery, and TOR getting busier and busier, my stress levels have been reaching dangerous levels.

So, what to do? I'm cutting back on drinking, so that leaves out THAT option. The chat rooms are hit and miss, sometimes I laugh and have great times, others I get pissed off at the stupidity and pure asshat-edness..

I've been thinking about picking up my cross stitch again a lot lately. So while out running errands today, I stopped at a craft store, and picked up one of those complete deals. The pattern, the threads, the fabric, and a needle. Got the prep work started today, getting the pattern set and folded, the fabric stretched on a hoop, and when I get home tonight, the threads on cards and labeled. I can prolly start tomorrow night after the bakery, which, will be a wonderful stress relief. I may need glasses after it's all done, but here's a pic of what it's supposed to look like when it's done:


The kanji (Japanese characters) are "supposed" to mean: Bliss, Well-Being, Serenity, Tranquility, Spriituality, Calmness, Harmony, Leisure, Peace, Health, and Happiness. I say "supposed" because I've seen too many people get kanji tattoos that they THOUGHT meant one thing, then turned out to mean another. *snorts* Ignorance is bliss, right?

I go to log into NN this morning...when...OMG! Ma e-bestie is on THE FRONT PAGE! I take a quick screenie, and am about to call her ass to wake her up... luckily... she woke up without my assistance.

So congrats peach!

Yea, I was a lil... sniffly. But was still quite happy for ma dear friend. Then SHE got to surprise ME!



YES!!! That's my happy ass on the FRONT PAGE TOO!!!

THANKS NN!!!!

/struts out to go preen with Peach

What a way to end a work-week. I'm literally and physically exhausted. Business is picking up @ TOR, which is a good thing. We've been staying late almost every night this week. 10-11pm.

I'm a bit sore, actually. After we left the shop last night, we drove home in a hella thunderstorm and sat in the car for a bit, talking and listening to the rain pound the roof. One thing lead to another, and A. The drivers seat of a Honda Accord does NOT lend itself well to.. "adult activities". and B. I'm getting too old to try to contort myself to make full use of said front seat.

I got a great surprise when I checked my PM's this morning and had one from a friend here. Seems he was gonna be in the area, and was stopping by the shop today. Whoohoooo!! I won't mention names, as I forgot to ask him if I could tell ya'll who it was. But suffice it to say, he's great fun and a fantastic hugger. =)

Things at the bakery are drama filled as usual. So I make up for the drama by working even harder, and doing things that haven't been asked of me (organizing the cake toys/images and such, going throu the shop computers and updating them). Of course, I make sure the boss ladies are informed of everything that get's done. =D

So, yea. A busy, but highly satisfying week.

Hi!


Had a fantastic day yesterday, spring cleaning the bike shop, having several customers stop by (and spend MONEY!!!) and hang out.

Ending with a delicious home cooked meal made for me by my Dummy. I had to use Superhero type restraint from going back for seconds. Damn diet. =( But it was sooooooooooooooo good!!!

Speaking of diets, I stepped on the scale yesterday, it being a week since I started.. *drumroll please*
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I lost four pounds!!! In one week! WHoooohooooooo!!! Which, for those of you keeping track, means a measly lil 12 pounds to lose!!

Muwah!

*Happy dances her ass outta blogland*

It goes on. Marching forward weather we want it to or not. So it's time to lock up the Col, and put him down deep in my heart, and carry him with me throu my days.

We kinda took over the pit last night, Nauty, Peachy, R, and myself. Nailing down details for the wedding. I decided that my tax refund would be better spent on things like a divorce, and my dress, and *hopefully* have enough for a deposit on the ceremony sight.

Since we'll be married at the Japanese gardens, after much discussion, we settled on the bridesmaids (Digoree (my sister), Nauty, Peachy, and ma girl K) will be carrying Japanese fans, simply decorated with a few flowers.

My bouquet will be a mixture of silver brunia, black cosmos, and hot pink dahlias.

At the reception, carrying on with the tranquility of the Japanese theme (and considering a shoe-string budget) centerpieces will consist of fishbowls filled with river rocks, and floating candles.

I've several friends who DJ so I'll have to be mean and only pick one. >.< A photographer needs to be found...

I'd been putting off any planning, as just trying to wrap my head around all the decisions needed to be made gives me headaches. Or as Nauty put it, makes the vein on ma forehead throb. But having ma girls with me, hashing it out, made it rather simple.

I'm still in mourning, I guess. Can't shake the dark cloud that's been hanging over my head since last night. I won't be able to make it down to Florida to go to the funeral. My mom and dad have agreed to go in my stead.

It should be telling of NN as a community, that this is the place I come to vent, to cry on shoulders, and to try to take my mind off the pain in my heart.

Thank you all, for being such wonderful friends.

I lost someone important to me, tonight. I'm usually at a loss in times of stress, don't want to talk. Don't want to chat, or watch t.v. or anything else. So I write. I wrote this, kinda a history of mine and the Col.'s time together, and kind of a letter for his wife, Major.

Figured I'd share it. Let this be a lesson. I lost a man who I loved dearly tonight, and I never once... in 17 years, told him that I loved him. Because, well... I don't know why. Call it stupidity.... Anyway, here it is (scrubbed clean for NN)...


I don't remember the exact day I met Col. G*****, nor do I remember the moment I knew he was someone who would change my life. I just know that when I cast my frayed, holey net of memory back to those days, I get impressions more than images.

Oh, there are images. Snapshots in my mind. Col. G***** looking stern as he told me I COULD lead our squadron in drill. I COULD lead the weekly discussions. I COULD make officer. Col. G***** laughing at something one of us said, not meanly, just enjoying watching young minds reach out to grasp things they'd not touched before. The Col.'s eyes lighting up as he explained how something worked, when he knew he had 10-15 kids held rapt by whatever knowledge he was imparting.

But I remember more how he made me feel. Like I could climb into a Cessna and take off on my own, if that's what I wanted, become the first woman President of the U.S., or learn the damn silhouettes of those stupid airplanes I kept screwing up on the tests. He made me proud to be a part of C.A.P, despite what my friends thought or said. He had a hundred times more faith in me than I ever had in myself, and made me see that the world did as well.

In 1995, Hurricane Opal had her eye on the Florida Panhandle. I don't remember how the offer was extended, but the G*****'s opened their house to me and my entire family, knowing we were in a zone that was to be evacuated. I was fascinated by the Hurricane Net Col. G***** was a participant of, short wave radio style. I watched as he ran thorough each person, getting weather information from people all over Florida, on the hour. I forgot to be afraid of the storm, and fell in love with the operation, and the organization of it all. At one point, Col. G***** informed me, I'd be taking the next shift. !!!! While I was terrified, I knew I could do it, with him by my side. It was nothing more than opening the lines, calling to each person and letting them talk. I faltered at times, stuttered, but I did it. At the end, when I'd finished the official business, he made a point of (rather proudly, I thought) getting back on the air and letting the ladies and gentleman know the Net was just ran by a 16 year old cadet. The hoots and hollers and congratulations coming over those shortwave airways were nothing compared to the look in the Colonel's eyes. I carry that look with me forever.

The morning after, a curfew was in place, mandating no one but emergency personnel be on the roads. Col. G***** slapped the magnetic C.A.P. stickers on the side of his vehicle, and official papers designating us as "search and rescue" in hand, he drove us out to our property, to survey the damage.

From bivouacs to banquets, drills to political discussions, Colonel G***** WAS C.A.P. to me. He was also the driving force behind me wanting to get my degree in Communications. I gave up C.A.P after a while. Too cool, I guess, too much pressure to do the wrong things, and eagerly, I went...

A few more years down the road, and Col. G***** happens to walk past me where I was working at. We connect again, and he's every bit as excited about what I'm going to do with my life as he was when I was 14, 15, 16. He was always infectious.. making you just as excited as he was. I moved again, and lost touch.

Thanks to Facebook, we found each other again. We talked often, and he mailed me something I'll cherish for the rest of my life... He sent me the Commanders Commendation Award I was supposed to be given, before I left C.A.P. and with it, he sent the recommendation that Major G****** (his wife) sent in. I tried to tell him how much that recommendation meant to me, and how disgustingly sorry I was that I left before they both could have given it to me in person. He brushed that aside. Said how it was mine then, as it was now.

He kept that award, for me, for 10 years.

I know most of the guys from my squadron back then, Florida Composite Squadron #####, now call him and the Major, by their first names, but the names just felt foreign on my tongue. He will forever be the Col., or Col. G*****, or Colonel. And she will always be Major G*****, and that's just the way it is.

I'm sorry to admit, I never told Colonel G****** that I loved him, but....I hope he knew. And, Major? I've loved you all this time too.