…in front of our house saying, “opossums welcome”? We must, because we have just trapped for release the fifth or sixth one we have had in the past year or so. It was in the garage. They have all been juveniles. On two separate occasions, one made it all the way into the back part of the house far from any of the entrances. The first was in our closet about a year ago. We figure he came in a bathroom window we opened to air out the house after a week of rain. About two months ago, CPI found one in his bedroom while he was home from A&M. No clue how it got in that far. The bedroom opossum was a bit skinny and dehydrated, so we kept him for about two weeks to be sure he was stable. Then, CPI took him up to the country and released him. That is where the one we trapped last night is going today. I hope this is the end. I have nothing against opossums, but they do not belong in my house.~~TSG
Posts Tagged ‘children
do we have a sign…
soda for days
About once a month, one of the dumpsters on my route turns out some sort of new-in-package food that has “expired”. The dumpster is behind a strip mall with both a dollar store and a grocery store. Since the grocery store has its own dumpster on another side of the center, I assume the food is from the dollar store.
This month’s bonanza is, mostly, Coke products; cherry coke, diet coke, coke zero, minute maid lemonade, minute maid fruit punch, fanta orange and fanta strawberry. There is also a single tampico citrus punch. All were at the top of the dumpster; one of those that are only open at the top and are chest-high. All are full and still sealed. The only thing they need is a bit of a wash to get off the dust that seems to be from sitting in storage.
At work every morning, I go to the machine and buy a coke. I don’t drink coffee, so this is how I get my caffeine. The machine charges me $1.50 per soda. The coke haul is a mix of 20-ounce and 2-liter bottles. Given this and the number of bottles recovered, I estimate that I have just saved about $50-75. CPI is in from A&M and will take some back with him.
Given the way I found the sodas, I believe they were left for me. I go by this particular center every Friday. I make no secret of what I am doing if asked. I met the security guard the first time I was there and explained what I was doing. I have read in blogs or seen in YouTube videos, other divers who have people leave them things. If that is the case, thank you to the kind person who did this! Every penny I save this way makes it easier to put the boy through university. Also, thank you to God, Who made sure I found them.~~TSG
…this morning’s events at the Gaudy house:
I woke at 6:30 to discover that one of us had tipped over my contact lens cleaning system during the night, leaving my contacts still in a soup of hydrogen peroxide. I had no idea how long they had been this way, but the process takes at least 2 hours. I set up the bottle, hoping it would finish before I had to leave. Meanwhile, I washed my hair. I can’t see anything and also can’t find my emergency glasses. I wake up CPI so he can begin getting ready. He puts my pants on the couch so I can find them easily. The dog decides that they will make a lovely bed in the front hall. I put on a skirt I wore earlier in the week instead. This means that I need to clean off the shoes I wore Monday when the parking lot was full of mud. CPI says he will clean off the mud (now caked dirt) while I fix my hair.
I put sticky stuff in my hair and begin blow-drying and styling it. This consists of blowing for a bit and then leaning as close to the mirror as possible to look at the results. This entire time, we are both trying to figure out where the bottle of plain saline solution that is usually in my purse is so I can rinse the contacts and wear them. It is inexplicably missing. Finally, we decide to buy some on the way to work. CPI begins to throw up (a combination of his seasonal allergies and whatever was in the mud, we think). New plan; CPI will drive me to the store, buy the saline solution and bring it out. I will rinse my contacts, put them in and take him back to the house. Partway to the store, I remember that the contact case in my purse may have solution in it. It does. I rinse the contacts, put them in and take CPI back to the house.
At work, I decide that I deserve a coke. I get this from the fancy machine in the cafeteria where you can mix your own. Returning to my office, I hang up my sweater (a new one) to discover that I have been wandering the campus with a tag attached to an extra button dangling from the back of my sleeve.
The worst/best part of the whole thing? I like my hair better today than I have in some time.
off we went…
Today, CPI and I went with Papaw, Aunt J, ES and LS to the zoo. No, we do not want to comment on why it took five adults to take 2-year-old LS to the zoo. We all had a grand old time. We saw lions, bears, giraffes and even baby elephants. The biggest hit was the sea lions. We watched them for some time while Papaw took a phone call from a friend. They put on quite a show! The two young ones chased one another up and down the slide. Then, dad came out and took a ringside seat on a platform. Finally, mom came out and swam about watching the fun. The water looked really cool and inviting. LS suggested jumping in. ES (typical ‘mom spoils it all’) said that he couldn’t. When Papaw’s phone call was over, we had to practically peel LS off the fence between us and the sea lions. We only saw about 1/2 of the zoo before LS got sleepy. We’ll have to go back another day and take in the rest.~~TSG
Well, today’s news confirms my original thought; the kidnappers of the Nigerian school girls are not men. Please, guys, save yourselves further embarrassment and let the remaining captives go. I am quite sure they can find their way back. Four of their comrades just did so.
Besides, your position in untenable. Western education is not the problem. No education is. If someone has to be forced to believe something, they will give it up at the first opportunity. Try persuasion. Well, after you get out of jail, assuming you do. If Nigerian prisons are anything like ours, you will be lucky to survive the first night. Those who prey on children are the lowest of the low.
#Send Back Our Girls!
How dare you call yourselves men?!
I know many men. They are fathers, brothers, husbands, sons, friends, co-workers and employers. Did you notice the word missing here, “kidnappers”? I will give you some more words; protectors, providers, supporters, teachers. Again, not kidnappers.
I know you believe that there are things wrong with the world, but real men don’t threaten children. Real men don’t traffic in human beings. Real men do not shoot random civilians.
I have provided this definition of “men” in the hope that you might read it and be ashamed of your behavior. Now, I am going to make an exception to my no-hashtag rule:
#BRING BACK OUR GIRLS!!
april 25
This is the date of (we hope and pray) the final surgery for IRP. The temporary ileostomy will be reversed and, after a few days of liquid and soft diets, she will have normal bowel function for the first time in her life. Please pray that all will go to plan. Thank you!~~TSG
note to self:
People who take two days off from work for “goofing-off purposes” should first make sure the college-aged children have transport.
travelin’ man
This morning at about 5:45, we dropped CPI off at the airport. This is his first time to fly and he was dressed for the occasion. As I may have mentioned, CPI has decided to bring elegance back to daily life. Accordingly, he was fully kitted out in a suit and tie. As he walked into the terminal, I was so proud that I was the mother of such a good-looking traveler.
He is on his way to Seattle to visit RTA and MFA. I am sure they will show him a good time. Judging from Facebook pictures, they have been practicing with MFA’s folks, who were in last week. Most of all, though, he is excited to be going somewhere by himself. If he runs true to form for our family, he will not want to stop going to new and exciting places EVER. My grandmother made her last trip in her late 80s to take a river cruise in New England. I have a picture of her taken the day she ate her first lobster.
Have a great time, CPI, as you run towards your wonderful future!
Love,
Mom (aka TSG)
a prayer is answered
RTA called yesterday to tell me some very exciting news. As I mentioned a few posts ago, he and AVB are starting a company together and also want to help other veterans. Last week, AVB met with a potential investor to show him the business plan and talk about the non-profit they want to start. This gentleman was very impressed and is going to invest a large amount to help RTA and AVB get started. I am so happy! I hope their business will really take off so that they can help many people.
Thank you, God!
TSG
In the Ensuing Panic 
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