tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58353207347367081752024-03-13T23:27:25.947-05:00A Borderline Momhamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-15569597429766343222023-05-19T12:46:00.003-05:002023-05-19T12:46:25.383-05:00Is cereal for dinner okay? I have to make dinner AGAIN??<p> You know how every day around a certain time, this thing rolls around where everyone in your house expects to be fed? They've already had a snack after school (or if it's summer, they've been eating every hour since they woke up) and now they are hovering, wanting to ask, but knowing they are not supposed to ask,</p><p><b>"What's for dinner?"</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHK-2GRbEL3GsA7-iK6TPo78maEG-lV-AzuS3jKs3lmDAFefSfdTYnIiCtNKa_1XScksZoHWL4kEuZu_jFFX1R9-NLr0yExTR8j3wUp_2IuUCdqwAN88qD9TDYONnq5NpXx6oHJ54F1lv4p_xHE73KUvGRuBeYgHDm6uKVHyUNpaDE0Nm8XFcQwwgx" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="836" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHK-2GRbEL3GsA7-iK6TPo78maEG-lV-AzuS3jKs3lmDAFefSfdTYnIiCtNKa_1XScksZoHWL4kEuZu_jFFX1R9-NLr0yExTR8j3wUp_2IuUCdqwAN88qD9TDYONnq5NpXx6oHJ54F1lv4p_xHE73KUvGRuBeYgHDm6uKVHyUNpaDE0Nm8XFcQwwgx" width="320" /></a></div><br />Ugh, it's that time again. Why does this have to happen every. single. day? As a stereotypical American mom, it's been ingrained in my mind that I'm supposed to make my family a meal every day. Now, that's not exactly how I was raised, however. My dad was the mealmaker, but there was still a meal- and boy, was it a meal! My dad always had a meat, potato and vegetable every night. Sure, we occasionally had pasta or on the rare occasion pizza, but we were pretty well-fed and my dad was an amazing cook. We even lived out in the country and grew our own vegetables. But my dad worked full-time and prepared a meal every night- and he seemed to enjoy it.<p></p><p>I sure as $hit did not inherit that gene. I would say that I'm a decent cook, but in no way do I enjoy cooking. And I've unfortunately raised some picky eaters. I don't make a separate meal for everyone, if they don't like something, they just eat more of the thing they do like. But in the last year or so, my husband has taken over the dinner making, and unfortunately his repertoire is extremely limited. He's a bit of a grilled cheese, ramen noodle and frozen food kind of guy. In fact, he knows how to use our air fryer WAY better than I do.</p><p>So here is my personal conundrum. What is considered a "quality" meal? I once met a fellow baseball mom in Little League that had like seven kids and they seemed really great and she homeschooled them through high school. I asked her what she did for dinner when they were so busy and she said they had a lot of frozen pizza. I was shocked and it made me realize that maybe it was okay to feed my kids frozen pizza on a regular basis. But I keep coming back to this question about cereal. Shouldn't cereal be an okay replacement for dinner sometimes?</p><p>My husband doesn't think so, but I beg to differ. They load cereal up with vitamins these days it seems like, so as long as I'm not just feeding them pure sugar flakes, wouldn't it be a better choice than ramen noodles? I was doing some research and according to the <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/is-cereal-healthy" target="_blank">Food Network</a>, "Many cereals deliver whole grain, fiber, vitamins, and minerals all in one bowl..." (2022). Even the cereals that have marshmallows or frosting have found a way to hide some sort of nutrients in them. Plus if you add milk, whether it is dairy, almond, soy, etc., you're getting that added nutrition there as well.</p><p>What do you think? In a country where many others see us as eating to excess and meat, potato and vegetable might be out of the question for some, am I wrong to think eating cereal for dinner is okay? What are some other options you might have for a parent that struggles with ideas every day? I also have a daughter that's vegetarian, but dislikes most vegetables and many fruits, so that's always fun. Perhaps my third husband will be a personal chef. 😆</p>hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-18830839706191877172021-04-04T20:28:00.000-05:002021-04-04T20:28:29.428-05:00Untold Stories of the Bible: The Easter BunnyEvery year since I've been a parent, I've asked myself, "what does the Easter Bunny have to do with Jesus?" Here's what I know about Easter. It's a very very dumbed down interpretation, so don't come at me with the actual verses because I'm not 100% accurate. Jesus was crucified and his body was placed in a cave. Three days after that his body rose to Heaven.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So where does the Easter Bunny come into play? Why have we somehow decided a rabbit, candy, and eggs correlate to this very un-Disney-like scripture? Upon some surface level research, I only found some general correlations to the idea of rabbits and eggs representing new life, but frankly my dear, that's pretty lame.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, I have come up with my own story of why the Easter Bunny is a representation of one of the Holiest of Holidays (see what I did there, etymologists). I'm not presenting this so that you can present it to your children as if it's a fact. You shouldn't tell such ridiculous stories to your children. You should share this story with your friends... and social media... like I am. Mark your calendars that I'm copyrighting this story as of today, April 4, 2021.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UrtPDCml4Ps/YGpmx8kF9-I/AAAAAAAAFCc/YyQ_GrUcehEqZPLgl_eMOnkgLbN4zZDMACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Animal-Easter-Fur-Grass-Rabbit-Cute-Bunny-Pet-4813172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UrtPDCml4Ps/YGpmx8kF9-I/AAAAAAAAFCc/YyQ_GrUcehEqZPLgl_eMOnkgLbN4zZDMACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h133/Animal-Easter-Fur-Grass-Rabbit-Cute-Bunny-Pet-4813172.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Jesus and the Empowered Bunny"</div><div><br /></div><div>Three days post-crucifixion, Jesus arose from the dead. He was ready to climb the Stairway to Heaven, but found himself barricaded in a cave. The cave was blocked by a giant boulder. Worn out from his days of being nailed to the cross, Jesus looked around the cave for help. The only other living being was a rabbit. Apparently when Jesus' body was placed in the cave, the rabbit had darted in and been trapped. Jesus looked the rabbit in the eyes and the rabbit showed no fear. He came over and sat at Jesus' wrapped feet. Jesus explained the situation to the rabbit and that for them both to be free they needed to move the boulder. Jesus held the bunny's paw and together they prayed for strength. Suddenly, the rabbit stood on its two hind legs and drop kicked the boulder right out of the cave. They were both free! Jesus and the bunny hugged it out. Jesus told the Bunny he would be rewarded in Heaven upon his death. As a reward for his bravery, all rabbits from then on would not have rancid gross poops, they would have small round brown poops... that over the years have been misconstrued as ovals, then eggs, brown eggs... chocolate eggs... candy... eggs...</div><div><br /></div><div>There you have it.</div><div><br /></div><div>You're welcome.</div>hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-57879169494094459202020-08-03T15:06:00.000-05:002020-08-03T15:06:52.956-05:00The Outsider is now available on DVD and Blu-ray!I've been a fan of Stephen King since I first discovered his books in middle school. My parents wouldn't let me watch his movies, but they didn't stop me from having them play out in my mind as I read the fascinating, enrapturing words on the pages. Over the years, I've had less and less time to read, but still enjoy keeping up with any of the Horror/Suspense Master's work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNBvM6d3dws/XyhuGmxnocI/AAAAAAAAE_8/HyzQEklpJEoOk0EUSffGnl4VUVVC9yc4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="196" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNBvM6d3dws/XyhuGmxnocI/AAAAAAAAE_8/HyzQEklpJEoOk0EUSffGnl4VUVVC9yc4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
I have been fortunate enough to be able to review The Outsider (first season- not sure if there will be more), but I had already watched it all on my own as it aired. Each Sunday I was anxious to find out what happened next. Okay, I'll be honest, I looked up the book before the series was over to try and get some spoilers. By the time the series ended, I was disappointed it was over, but definitely not disappointed in the time that I had invested watching it.<br />
<br />
From the first episode, I was hooked. Terry Maitland, a loving husband and father, little league coach, well-liked in the town, is arrested publicly in the middle of one of the games. He is being charged with murdering a local child in an extremely gruesome and sadistic way. No one is more shocked about the accusations than Terry himself. He insists he has nothing to do with it and wasn't there. He provides an alibi, but the police believe they have undeniable proof... and they do... but Terry has undeniable proof he DIDN'T do it. Make sense? How can one man be in two places at once? The series continues with one tragedy after the next, one mystery after the next. Just when you think you understand, you're given new information that throws all the previous theories out the window.<br />
<br />
Not only is the story great, but so is the acting. Justin Bateman plays Maitland, but my favorite by far was Cynthia Erivo playing Holly Gibney. Her scenes were intense and fascinating. The plot itself gave me a slight "It" feeling, but without the clown. A town trying to solve impossible events and experiencing random deaths.<br />
<br />
Don't just take my word for how good it is, buy it for yourself! It originally aired on HBO.hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-40512771888670121252020-05-25T19:59:00.000-05:002020-05-25T19:59:12.396-05:00The Plight of the Adjunct<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_WJiQfOBs8/Xsxo4lS7D6I/AAAAAAAAE-s/X8BJYeI7jggQ3dzgjqbGoWlD9ErBPRH5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/adjunctfacts.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_WJiQfOBs8/Xsxo4lS7D6I/AAAAAAAAE-s/X8BJYeI7jggQ3dzgjqbGoWlD9ErBPRH5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/adjunctfacts.png" width="400" /></a></div>
I love my job. I LOVE my job. I'm an adjunct instructor for two different schools. I also have a third job of substitute teaching. I have three jobs because being an adjunct instructor means that you are only allowed to teach 2-3 classes per semester. Full-time faculty teaches 5 classes per semester (4 for grad professors.)<br /><br />
<br />
I would love to teach full-time at either of the schools I work for- moreso the community college in my current city. However, as any employed adjunct would tell you, getting a full-time gig is almost as likely as winning the lottery or getting struck by lightning. In 2011, I got my first adjunct job at a very small community college and the dean that hired me specifically told me that the job didn't pay well and I wasn't likely to get full-time.<br />
<br />
Why is full-time such an out-of-reach option: because the schools don't want to pay benefits. Most states have laws about teaching and even specifically at the post-secondary level. Adjuncts are not allowed to teach more than 5 classes in an academic year and that can only be 2 fall, 3 spring, or 3 fall and 2 spring. (Summer doesn't count for some reason, but those classes are always snagged by full-timers.) If the school wants an adjunct to work more than that, they have to hire them full-time... and pay benefits. So if you understand economics, it is more lucrative to have 80 adjuncts and 5 full-time than 20 full-time. And those numbers are pretty accurate. At the college I work for, full-time openings only happen when someone retires. No one gets fired, no matter how much students complain or how poor their performance is. When that person retires, an internal transfer notice is posted. If no one takes it, the opening goes public. That's when the school gets inundated with applications from all those people with PhDs and Masters in subjects other than business. People whose "fall back" option is to teach because the jobs they want don't exist. <br />
<br />
I have worked with my current community college for five years. In that time, there's been one opening for full-time in the subject I teach. I applied (and nailed that application IMO) and received an email a month later saying that they had "more qualified" applicants. Wait, what? What makes them more qualified? I already teach for you! My friend, a fellow adjunct with the same plights, made this analogy: telling you that you're good enough to teach for them, just not full-time is like telling someone they're good enough to sleep with, but not marry. It stings just the same! Both scenarios equate us to cows giving away our milk for free.<br />
<br />
Another friend of mine went to City College in San Francisco. She said that one of her favorite professors was an adjunct. The professor had a PhD that was bankrolled by NASA. She couldn't get hired on full-time and because she needed benefits, she eventually had to leave the school and find work elsewhere. How is THAT woman not qualified enough for full-time?? It seems like she'd be someone that the school could highlight as a selling point. I ain't got no fancy NASA edumacation, but I have great rapport with students, love what I do, have enthusiasm in the subjects I teach, and get like 99% positive feedback from students (you can't please everyone all the time)! I actually went to school with the intention of being a community college instructor! It's not a fall back career. <br />
<br />
Now I want to address the "plight" aspect of being an adjunct. Based solely on being an adjunct for one school, a single person qualifies for government assistance. In order to make a living, we have to teach at multiple schools at the same time or have another part-time job or two on the side. There have been a couple excellent articles written about this same topic for decades. One such was written in the NY Times in 2007. I'd like to quote a response/opinion that someone wrote in for this article. She said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"In my experience, teaching college in New York City, 70 to 80 percent of professors teach on an adjunct basis — with no health care, retirement benefits or job security. I have taught six courses at three colleges in one semester. I have been scheduled to teach courses that were taken from me the night before a class was to begin, because a tenured faculty member’s class failed to fill. I have developed courses, only to see a tenured person teach my course" (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/opinion/l25tenure.html" target="_blank">Goldin 2007</a>).</blockquote>
I absolutely feel her pain. I have had classes taken away from me a week before the semester starts. Last year I was offered my first summer class. I have four kids, so had made arrangements for the younger two for those 8 weeks. It was a lot of stress, but I wanted the income and to show my flexibility. The WEEK before class started, they gave it to a full-time instructor because her class didn't meet minimum enrollment. This has happened to me about four times in the past five years, but this was particularly frustrating because I had made childcare arrangements and was counting on the income during the summer months.<br />
<br />
Lastly, I would like to mention something that I'm sure is less common amongst adjuncts and is very personal in nature (thankfully this blog is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvWxsckzPws" target="_blank">hip hop anonymous</a>). Two years ago I was sexually harassed by a student in one of my classes. There were only three weeks left of the semester. Without getting into details, he sent me a series of text messages over two days that made me extremely uncomfortable and were highly inappropriate. I only shared these with my husband and a fellow adjunct (mentioned above). They both thought I should turn the student in to SOMEONE. I knew that it was completely unacceptable student conduct and that he deserved some type of consequence... but then reality sunk in. I'm just an adjunct. I'm replaceable by anyone with a pulse and the right diploma. I don't even know my boss. No one there has any personal connection to me. What if the student is always right? His tuition is probably worth more to them than someone that can be easily replaced by 100 other people. So I didn't tell anyone. I made it clear he wasn't allowed to speak to me about anything other than classwork. I avoided being near him. Since that class ended, I never stay in the classroom if there is only one person left. I have seen that student in the hall once since and I jumped into the nearest bathroom and froze. Thankfully, since most students are only there for two years, he won't be there this fall. I shouldn't have to have "let it slide." I shouldn't have to feel like I'm the bad person in this scenario... but that's how I feel. As an adjunct, NO ONE CARES.<br />
<br />
I LOVE my job. I deserve to be treated better, but because I love my job, I have to suck it up and continue on the same path. I am more fortunate than many of my coworkers because I'm married to someone that can put me on his health insurance- otherwise, I would have to give up on a job I love or spend half my income on my monthly doctor visits and prescriptions. I am also fortunate that my kids are now old enough not to need childcare because they are all in school all day. So who picks up the slack for adjuncts that want to teach for a living? If you're single, the government can/will pick up the slack. If you're not, hopefully you're lucky enough that your significant other can throw you a bone. But hey, maybe one day I'll win the lottery and being a lowly adjunct won't be so hard.<br />
<br />
If you'd like to read more on this topic, I've got two articles to share that are fantastic!<br />
<b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/it-keeps-you-nice-and-disposable-the-plight-of-adjunct-professors/2019/02/14/6cd5cbe4-024d-11e9-b5df-5d3874f1ac36_story.html" target="_blank">‘It keeps you nice and disposable’: The plight of adjunct professors</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/education/20adjunct.html" target="_blank">Decline of the Tenure Track Raises Concerns</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-10599251237954032582020-04-03T14:51:00.000-05:002020-04-03T14:51:42.839-05:00Impractical Jokers: The Movie available on DIGITAL NOW!!!Impractical Jokers is a favorite in my family! My husband, myself and all the kids enjoy watching it, which is a rarity. I've seen every episode of every season and oftentimes use the reruns to fall asleep at night! Needless to say, I'm a fan. I once thought it would be fun to go on their cruise... now cruises don't sound as fun...<br />
<br />
Anyway! When we found out the Impractical Jokers were putting out a feature length movie, the question became how would the oldest four of us go since we wouldn't be taking the younger two. The solution was that my husband took my 12 year old son and I took my 14 year old daughter at a separate time. It did not disappoint. It was like a bonus length episode of the show, but with a storyline as a backdrop.<br />
<br />
The concept is that the Jokers are offered free tickets to a Paula Abdul concert in Miami. In an effort to relive their high school days and correct a previous Abdul experience-gone-wrong, they decide to make the trip. Unfortunately that darn Casey Jost (playing Abdul's assistant) only gives them three tickets and there are four Jokers! They compete in challenges along the way to Miami and the loser's punishment is not getting to go.<br />
<br />
My favorite part were the little individual challenges that the boys must do that aren't actually part of the competition. (Sal gets trapped in a hotel room with a live tiger!) If you're a fan of the show, you'll appreciate all the hidden gems that reference previous challenges or memorable lines. There is also a quick glimpse of Funny or Die founder Will Ferrell that you should watch for. If you've never seen the show, but can appreciate silliness, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like the movie! Can I also say that it was hilarious that they put zero effort into making themselves actually look like high schoolers during their high school flashback?<br />
<br />
Moral of this review: Stay Home. Watch Impractical Jokers: The Movie.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Impractical Jokers: The Movie: Watch Impractical Jokers: The Movie ..." src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
***I was provided a digital code for free in exchange for my review, however all the opinions are definitely my own!!</div>
hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-64652078120320957832019-09-18T11:29:00.000-05:002019-09-18T11:39:38.104-05:00The Lifetime Movie FormulaIf you don't watch <a href="https://www.mylifetime.com/lifetime-movies" target="_blank">Lifetime movies</a>, this post is going to interest you zero.<br />
<br />
Recently <a href="https://www.mylifetime.com/" target="_blank">Lifetime</a> unveiled a cheerleader-themed batch of movies. There were five. Off the top of my head, I believe they were called <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10065726/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Undercover Cheerleader</a>, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10082950/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Identity Theft of a Cheerleader</a> (Maiara Walsh is AMAZING), The <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10437220/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Wrong Cheerleader</a> and two others that I will look up at the end of this post*. I watched three of these with my 13-year-old daughter as we bond over horror movies at the theater or ridiculous Lifetime movies at home.<br />
<br />
ALL FIVE of these movies had these things in common:<br />
<br />
1) They were about cheerleaders.<br />
2) Each girl was new to a school after moving.<br />
3) Each girl was being raised by a single mom (some were widows, some were divorced), and can we say daddy issues??<br />
4) Being a cheerleader equated to instant popularity.<br />
<br />
I think most of the girls ended up dating football players except one where the girl dated an older alumni guy... <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10234048/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Cheerleader Escort</a>, maybe?<br />
<br />
Lifetime notoriously follows patterns with their movies. I make fun of Hallmark movies that follow the same formula: successful woman moves back to her hometown to help out with something and ends up falling in love with a guy who she went to high school with. I can't tolerate Hallmark movies. The level of cheese and gag-worthiness is too much.<br />
<br />
I think those fans probably feel the same about my dear Lifetime movies. I once had the thought that people at the Lifetime headquarters have three bingo rolling machines. The first machine contains adjectives. The second machine contains nouns and the third machine contains a conflict. Every month someone runs the bingo machines and they assemble the regular casts (shout out to Josie David, Leslie Hope, Gail O'Grady, Josie Bissett, and Ashley Scott) to crank out the next "psycho" or "wrong" or "killer" or "babysitter" or "dad" or "mommy" movie.<br />
<br />
The upcoming string of movies actually has a unique spin as they were all "ripped from the headlines." The only way I can convince my husband to watch Lifetime movies with me is if they are based on true events, so this is a big score for people like myself that are fascinated by kidnappings and "real" happenings. I definitely will NOT be watching the College Scandal one because that's just dumb.<br />
<br />
In closing, as a highly educated woman that finds romance to be gross and cliche, I have no idea why I am so drawn in by the idea of a man that is stalking his new neighbor and has a dead ex-girlfriend in his backyard... or a couple that moves to suburbia because their daughter got in trouble at her last high school and develops a relationship with an abusive jock. I am captivated and my DVR will constantly be filled with these time-wasters.<br />
<br />
*The last movie was <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10091932/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_12" target="_blank">The Secret Life of Cheerleaders</a>- that memorable, huh?hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-48321898455305537992018-11-14T11:33:00.000-06:002018-11-14T11:33:02.757-06:00The things they don't tell you about child support that you should know!I decided to write this in blog form because I feel it will be easier to comprehend in writing. So here is the back story: when I initially filed for divorce from my first husband, child support was calculated based on our incomes at the time. I wanna say that I was getting like $181/mo for two kids. Fast forward a couple years and my ex filed to have the support lowered based on an income of him not having a job. In Iowa, the state minimum for two children is $48/month. I *think* it's $35/month for one child. For the past three years, I have been frustrated, thinking that it was yet another reason why our government was broken. How is it fair that I work two jobs and pay for everything while he skates by with only being obligated to pay $48/month?? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.womansdivorce.com/images/child-support-helps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for child support" border="0" height="320" src="https://www.womansdivorce.com/images/child-support-helps.jpg" width="224" /></a>If you are a parent who has their kids full-time, you know they aren't cheap. Child support is supposed to cover the necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, utilities. Plus think about the extras: birthday party gifts, field trips, sports fees, club fees, school fundraisers, medicine, toiletries... the list goes on and on. <br />
<br />
And God forbid you complain about it on social media- I've heard every response in the book (mostly from men) about why I'm a horrible person for expecting a dad to help support his children financially. But that's not what this post is about. It isn't about who is right and who is wrong because I think that the majority of decent human beings know. And this also isn't a post to bash on my ex. I am writing this for women who thought they were getting screwed over because the biological dad didn't work (or worked under the table) and they had no choice but to accept getting nothing in child support.<br />
<br />
<b>THE GOOD NEWS</b>: So for three years I stewed about this. I tweeted law-makers and complained on FB posts. I vented on social media. Then about six months ago I decided to start doing some research. I found the<a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/08-30-2018.9.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> child support laws for Iowa</a>. It was updated in January of 2018, so I don't know how far back this section goes, but I came across this:<br />
<br />
<i>Rule 9.11 Variance from guidelines. The court shall not vary from the amount of child support that
would result from application of the guidelines without a written finding that the guidelines would be
unjust or inappropriate as determined under the following criteria: </i><br />
<i>9.11(1) Substantial injustice would result to the payor, payee, or child(ren). </i><br />
<i>9.11(2) Adjustments are necessary to provide for the needs of the child(ren) or to do justice
between the parties, payor, or payee under the special circumstances of the case. </i><br />
<i>9.11(3) Circumstances contemplated in Iowa Code section 234.39. </i><br />
<i>9.11(4) <b>The court may impute income in appropriate cases subject to the requirements of rule
9.5. If the court finds that a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed without just cause,
child support may be calculated based on a determination of earning capacity. A determination of
earning capacity may be made by determining employment potential and probable earnings level
based on work history, occupational qualifications, prevailing job opportunities, earning levels in the
community, and other relevant factors. The court shall not use earning capacity rather than actual
earnings or otherwise impute income unless a written determination is made that, if actual earnings
were used, substantial injustice would occur or adjustments would be necessary to provide for the
needs of the child(ren) or to do justice between the parties.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
Now that I had this information, what do I do with it? I went to the Child Support Recovery Unit website (in your state it would be whomever is responsible for collection and distributing payments.) I filed for a review since it had been more than the required two years. Of course their review came back as no change because he still had no income. I felt a bit disheartened, but when you receive your report, it says that you can request in writing a court hearing for review if you disagree with the findings. You have to send back a letter stating that you want a review and why. I wrote that my reasoning for why was based on the above court rules for variance from guidelines. I was still a bit worried that it was a pointless venture, but I commented on a local FB mom support group asking if anyone had gone to court over child support and what the outcome was. I got soooo many responses from moms in the same position I was in, but only one response from someone who had actually gone. Her ex had taken HER to court for a reduction because she was voluntarily unemployed so she could be a SAHM. The court imputed earnings on her based on her prior work experience and education. This was not good news for her, but good news for me if that was going to be how it went for me.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to the court hearing. I had all my necessary documents, pages of notes, print-outs, everything I thought I would need to plead my case. I didn't use any of it. We sat down with a public attorney for the state who had all our information on record. She presented what she thought would be fair based on his "earning potential" at the time, based on an income of $24,500 a year with me making more on my end. The total amount of monthly support for two children based on that income was $522! However, her job is to try and get it so that you don't have to go in front of a judge. In order for that to happen, the two parties must agree to an amount. Of course my ex was opposed to that amount and he tried to argue HIS side about why he shouldn't have to pay that much. The lawyer made it clear that the judge would impute earnings on him whether he had a job or not and that it was likely the judge would impute a similar amount. So after a couple hours of listening to him argue, we settled on a lesser amount. I won't give the amount, but it was a lot more than $48/month and even more than the original $181/month in our divorce decree.<br />
<br />
Justice was served... for me anyway. Now it is your turn to try and get what you and your children deserve. If you find yourself in the same position I was in, do not just accept it. Iowa is definitely not leading the way for anything when it comes to fair laws, so unless you live in an even shittier state, I'm sure the law is on your side. It just takes a bit of digging and some paperwork. If you have any questions or need help, please contact me! <a href="mailto:aborderlinemom@gmail.com">aborderlinemom@gmail.com</a> You deserve what is fair.hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-44360818790625225252018-05-09T14:25:00.000-05:002018-05-09T14:25:01.612-05:00Book Review: My Magic Breath by Nick Ortner and Alison TaylorShort, but impactful, My Magic Breath is a children's book that teaches the importance of mindful breathing. Using beautiful, sprawling illustrations (by Michelle Polizzi), the book gives kids the instructions needed to change their thoughts into deep, magic breaths and exhale them to create something amazing. <br />
<br />
Since my kindergartner is rather sensitive when it comes to his emotions, I was excited to be able to try this book with him. He loves reading and being read to and this book was able to keep his attention as it wasn't too wordy, but he also enjoyed the breathing exercises that went along with it. At the time, he was in a good mood, but I definitely think reading this when he is upset would be a great way to redirect his negative emotions.<br />
<br />
When he outgrows the book itself, I intend to donate it to his elementary school, as I think that it would be a great book to have in a classroom with younger students. I was given a gratis copy for review.<br />
<br />
This is a great book to keep at home or take along on trips, as it helps kids process their emotions and turn them into something beautiful. With the author's permission, I have created a video of a reading of the book. Definitely get your own copy as this video doesn't replace the great bond you can share by reading it aloud with your child. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Magic-Breath-Finding-Breathing/dp/006268776X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525893129&sr=8-1&keywords=my+magic+breath" target="_blank">My Magic Breath is available for purchase on May 15</a>!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/12g4Twayl3Q?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-41963374332708251452018-03-28T11:11:00.000-05:002018-03-28T11:11:06.601-05:00The Dirty Glass by the Sink<iframe data-name="pb-iframe-player" frameborder="0" height="100" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/3jynu-7db396?from=yiiadmin&skin=11&btn-skin=113&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&auto=0&download=0&rtl=0" width="100%"></iframe>hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-50191684680534493452017-09-20T13:17:00.000-05:002017-09-20T13:17:37.506-05:00The things I'm gonna do...A couple therapy sessions ago, I was talking about how I used to be passionate about so many things and I used to ENJOY doing so many things. Then last week (or so) a memory popped up on Facebook that said I had just finished a 10 mile bike ride with no breaks. It brought up the therapy session again.<br />
<br />
My therapist suggested that I should try something that I used to like doing and force myself to do it five times before I give up. The sad part is that these are things I used to do because I loved doing them! But she's right, and here are the three things that are most prevalent on this list:<br />
<br />
1) Read books. Growing up and all through my K-12 life, I loved to read and read thousands of books. I'd read different genres, both fiction and non-fiction. I continued to read off and on as I started college, but as the years progressed, I found that having so much to read for school made reading for fun seem a bit off-putting. I got through the first four Harry Potter books, made it through all the Twilight books, started the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, read a James Patterson novel here and there, got about 14 books deep on the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum novels... then crickets. I told myself that as soon as I finished my Masters that I would read a book for fun. So, I picked up a suspense novel from the shelf at Goodwill and I read it. I liked it. I fell in love with Gone Girl, so I read a couple Gillian Flynn books. I liked them. But then I stopped again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8dCtxPumCI/WcKvwVHbN1I/AAAAAAAAEW8/A3ekUbReqCgNVvnwpakOpDm_2QaKtAstwCLcBGAs/s1600/bike%2Bride.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8dCtxPumCI/WcKvwVHbN1I/AAAAAAAAEW8/A3ekUbReqCgNVvnwpakOpDm_2QaKtAstwCLcBGAs/s200/bike%2Bride.png" width="200" /></a></div>
2) Ride my bike. In the summer of 2010, I started riding my bike at least four days a week. It was peaceful. I would leave the kids at home with their dad, put my headphones in and just enjoy the ride. I got to the point where I was regularly riding 6 miles at a time. It felt good and definitely did NOT feel like a chore. After moving in January 2011, I stopped riding and have never been able to get back into the stride. And boy is my waistline angry!<br />
<br />
3) Create. I am simply saying "create" because there are several creative outlets I used to have, whether it was crafting, drawing, writing, blogging, etc. I just need to let my mind kick back and do something to work on my focus and inspiration.<br />
<br />
Of course, just like a list of NYE Resolutions, I'm not getting my hopes up. When it comes to the bike riding, I don't like humidity, so that is slightly weather-permitting right now. I perused the clearance bookshelves at a local thrift store yesterday and found about 3 books that I liked that didn't seem like they would be part of a series- I can't commit to that right now.<br />
<br />
So wish me some silent luck in any way that you can. I have no idea what my motivation would be, but I do know that joy is something that is severely lacking in my life and has been for years. I figure that if I can get to the point where I ENJOY something, that counts as joy, and I will take what I can get!<br />
<br />
What is something that you have lost your passion or drive for? Let me know in a comment or as always, hit me up on <a href="http://facebook.com/aborderlinemom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/hamsterkitten" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-61361868830351472732017-06-04T09:49:00.000-05:002017-08-08T14:18:21.503-05:00I might have conquered Walmart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8cE9lwd7caE/U48xqsPMDkI/AAAAAAAAClI/7WBm2QOfX4Q/s1600/walmart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8cE9lwd7caE/U48xqsPMDkI/AAAAAAAAClI/7WBm2QOfX4Q/s1600/walmart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I'm sure everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) who shops at Walmart has run into this problem before: you go in to buy one thing and end up coming out having spent $100. It happens to the best of us. And if you're like the other 99% of the country, you're not rich, so that $100 would probably have been better spent elsewhere. Dang Walmart for having so much stuff that we think we need, but we actually want (don't we always need neon colored socks)!<br />
<br />
Well, I have found myself a solution, and perhaps it will work for you as well. Every pay day, I make a list of the necessities I have that are cheapest from Walmart. This could be things like laundry detergent, baby wipes, diapers, dish washing detergent, etc. Then there might be things I wanted to look for at Walmart, but can get online from them, such as my son's birthday is coming up and I wanted to see what Monsters University things they had, so I ended up ordering him a blanket. By ordering these things online, I avoid going in the actual store. I save time, don't have to encounter the dreaded "people of Walmart," and avoid being tempted by the non-essentials on the end caps that always seem to catch my eye. (Sure, a bottle of soap refill for $2.88 sounds like something I should buy today!)<br />
<br />
And I know you have some questions. What about the cost of shipping? Oh, ho ho, My Friend. If I spend over $50, the shipping is free. And many of those necessities come in bigger sizes online. For instance, I can buy bigger boxes of diaper than what they sell in the store, which means they are less cents per diaper and last me longer. And spending over $50 on those things would have happened anyway, but now I have stocked up until the next paycheck (and much longer on some items.)<br />
<br />
Of course, there are some things here and there that aren't available online, but I can usually get just as cheap, if not cheaper at the grocery store a block from my house. Generally pet food and litter are cheaper at chain grocery stores anyway.<br />
<br />
Oh, another good point for me is that I don't have a Walmart in my town, but there is one where my ex and my parents live, so I am usually there every two weeks anyway.<br />
<br />
And for those who are afraid to put their credit cards on Walmart's website, I pay with Paypal, which to me adds another layer of security as I'm not putting any info directly on Walmart's website and Paypal has a lot of security.<br />
<br />
Well, there you have it! Try it and see if it helps you. But if you're one of those few people who can actually go to Walmart with a list and no temptation, congratulations! I don't have that kind of willpower. <br />
<br />
7857f8e1edd7f4b1b039feb68d7e244c5ff2e5f5b370df9eadhamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-64138070551434581972017-05-06T13:47:00.000-05:002017-05-11T11:24:25.325-05:00Too many Boos: A Pet Name RuminationI was thinking today... because it's a nice pastime. <br />
<br />
I don't know if I'm the only one in the world who has these thoughts... the ONLY ONE... but I like feeling special. I like feeling unique, one of a kind, perhaps... the cat's pajamas. So, I don't want to think of myself as being someone who gets to have a recycled pet name. I know there are cliches like Boo, Hon, Sweetie, Dear, Mama, Baby, Lovie Wuvvie Schnoodle Bug... but if that's what you called your ex, count me out! I don't wanna be any of those things!<br />
<br />
I'm not saying this anecdote is about me... let's say it's about my friend. Her name is... ShmansterMitten. We'll call her Sammy for short. Well, one day Sammy's boyfriend was having his wisdom teeth pulled and he was doped to the gills. While Sammy was caring for him, his phone kept blowing up and as Sammy was a snoopy little B, she checked. Previously Sammy's boyfriend had been referring to her as "Hon", which although not unique, was something she hadn't been called before and it felt nice. Well, on this occasion, Sammy looked at her boyfriend's phone and saw that his ex and he had been exchanging texts about how he was doing and in one he had called her "Hon." Well, add that to the fact that he had claimed to have deleted her number and had in fact just put it in under a guy's name, and Sammy went into a blind rage. (Which reminds me, my next blog post should be about me being a hypocrite.) Long story short, Sammy is now endearingly referred to as "babe." (Feminists calm down- she's okay with it.) This is not a recent occurrence, just the only example I had in this scenario that wasn't an obvious reference to those who know me and lurk.<br />
<br />
Anywho, so am I wrong in believing that recycling a pet name from a previous relationship is a no-no? If you called your last boyfriend "Boo," perhaps call this one "Shoe" (they are both equally ridiculous). If you called your last boyfriend "Daddy," how about calling this one "Sugar t*ts?" I mean, if you like the pet name so much, maybe you shoulda stayed with the previous pet, just saying. <br />
<br />
625f28d69cd9b69b0194fc8dcdff4c10ccbed95a24bb336c72hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-54572188861528361762017-05-04T16:39:00.000-05:002017-05-03T10:49:18.397-05:00I wore my bathing suit in public... and no one pointed and laughed!How many of us are 100% happy with our bodies? Don't all raise your hands at once... anyone... anyone... Bueller... Bueller...?<br />
<br />
Last year I don't think I got in a swimming pool one time. I can't remember, but I don't think I did. The summer before, I went to the public pool in our small town a couple times, but grudgingly. I only went so that my kids could go and enjoy it. Oh how I wished I could be one of those parents who swam with their kids, jumped off the diving boards, went down slides... when I was younger I LOVED that kind of stuff and I was willing to wear a two-piece-- with no cover-up! I just feel so much body shame that I only feel comfortable in a swimsuit around my kids- and that's only because they think I'm pretty no matter what (they're young.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, two summers ago when I was at our small town public pool, a woman in her late 20s was there with at least one child. She was having fun, jumping in the water, enjoying the beautiful day. This is what I saw: she was wearing a two piece, she had that mommy apron that we all hate, stretch marks on her stomach and was very pale. She was not very heavy-looking, it was just the stomach region that surprised me that she would be comfortable wearing a two-piece in public. My first thought was, "I can't believe someone would wear a two-piece when their stomach looks like that!" Then immediately my thought turned to how I wish I could be more like that woman! She clearly did not worry about what she was wearing or what other people might think- she was there to have fun and enjoy herself, time with her kids, get a good tan... so why should she feel bad about that? Why should she care that there are judgmental people (like I was initially being) who know nothing about her, but will think poorly of her because she chooses to accept her body for the way it is? We should be using her as a role model!<br />
<br />
So yesterday was a huge step for me. My daughter earned a trip to the pool for having a great report card, and I couldn't back out on her. So to avoid a hassle with the younger two (and some nasty sunburns,) my husband decided he would stay home with the younger two and I would take the older two. So I reluctantly put on my swimsuit that I don't believe had been worn yet. It was a tankini, but the bottoms were a skirt. The top was made in a way that the midsection didn't cling an there was plenty of coverage up to my armpits. I tossed a dress over the top and out the door we went.<br />
<br />
The whole drive to the pool I argued with myself in my head. We now live in the second biggest city in our state, and it is one of the better pools in the city, so I knew it would be packed. This made me feel really nervous that so many people would be seeing me in a swimsuit, but I wanted to lay out and work on a tan while the kids played in the pool. The place WAS packed. As we walked out of the changing rooms into the pool area, I began seeing people of all sizes, ethnicities, heights, weights, builds, complexions, you name it! Sure there were skinny women in bikinis, but there were heavier women in bikinis too. And most of them weren't wearing skirted bottoms that attempted to hide cellulite like I was.<br />
<br />
My kids begged me to go with them down the slide the first time because they were shy and a bit nervous. I decided to suck it up, took the dress off and walked up the steps to the slide area, where I took my turn and went down a big, twisting blue slide- and it was FUN. I tried not to think about what the young lifeguards thought as I approached in my bathing suit. I instead tried to think about how excited my kids were that I went down the slide.<br />
<br />
After getting out of the pool, I found a chair to lay out on, put my towel on it, put my headphones in, laid back, made sure my swimsuit was all in place, then just enjoyed the peace. Was I feeling self-conscious? Of course. Was I letting it ruin my time there? Not at all! My psychiatrist once told me that if I'm afraid to be out in public for fear that people are judging me, that I should realize that 99% of those people "don't give a shit" about me. I can tell you that at the pool yesterday, I did not know ONE person besides my kids. So why should I care if one of them thinks that I'm chubby, that I have cellulite, that I've got a floppy mommy apron for a tummy... whatevs. There were so many people that were heavier and didn't seem to care AT ALL. They were enjoying themselves.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sPpBxzLv7T4/VXdcqDF5AtI/AAAAAAAADC4/ulXhnGDALFE/s1600/bikinis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sPpBxzLv7T4/VXdcqDF5AtI/AAAAAAAADC4/ulXhnGDALFE/s400/bikinis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These lovely ladies have no body shame- color me jealous! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I feel like it was a huge obstacle to overcome and I'm nowhere near as confident as the woman in my old town in the bikini, but I just hope one day to get to the point where I can have fun enough in my full coverage swimsuit and not be worrying about what other people are thinking.hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-35167242882206784272017-05-03T08:18:00.000-05:002017-05-03T10:46:46.561-05:00Best friends and boyfriends? Let's check the high school vernacular. "Best friend" and "boyfriend" are two labels that as an adult, throw me off. I have found that since high school, the connotation of these words have changed. And to be honest, as an adult, their meanings are a bit confusing to me.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Boyfriend</b></u>: Remember in high school when a guy would say, "you wanna be my girlfriend" or "wanna go out with me?" Cause, you know... everyone was "going out." And for you older folks, the phrase "going steady." Or for the even older folks, "let me invent the wheel, then we will go to my cave and cook up this saber tooth tiger I hunted.<br />
<br />
Then there was the wearing of the class ring or the letterman jacket (which predated me, I believe) or wearing his away jersey to a football game. Or if you didn't date a football player (congrats), I think it might have just been the class ring. Or if you were like this uber-skank I went to high school with, your boyfriend would make the first letter of his name out in hickies on you.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-J7vlbZuTU/VHXg05b0YkI/AAAAAAAAC3A/GcXKGVrUN98/s1600/boyfriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-J7vlbZuTU/VHXg05b0YkI/AAAAAAAAC3A/GcXKGVrUN98/s1600/boyfriend.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No seriously... are you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So how do we KNOW that someone is our boyfriend in 2017? No really, how? In high school, it was "cool" to have a boyfriend. When I was single after separating from my husband, I can 100% say I did NOT want whatever a "boyfriend" was. Ain't nobody got time for that! Now, I believe the actual definition of boyfriend means the same now as it has for decades, possibly centuries (again, ain't nobody got time to look the history of the word up). It means a guy who you are "exclusive" with. That's it. Boyfriends provide different things to different people. Some provide comfort when sad, some provide a seat filler next to you at the movies, some buy you food, some annoy you to no end and you can't figure out why you're with them, some are just arm candy, and some are a good standby until Gerard Butler comes to his senses and hunts you down.<br />
<br />
But as adults, how do we KNOW someone is our boyfriend? I recently had someone in her early 30s tell me that the guy she was seeing straight up asked her to be his girlfriend. Well, that made it easy. But that seems to be an exception among adults, right? Then there's the obvious: Facebook tells you that it is so. We always say that nothing is real until it becomes "Facebook Official." You're not really engaged, single, married or in a relationship until your status has been changed on Facebook. But we're still not there yet, Folks. How do you KNOW to put it on Facebook? Inevitably, the assumption of exclusivity will fall apart. Either someone will want some realistic form of commitment or someone will find out that the exclusivity was one-sided. So... how do you KNOW??<br />
<br />
<u><b>Best friend</b></u>: In high school, determining who your best friend(s) was/were was as easy as reading the bottom of their note to you that said, "BFF, Nicole" or "LYLAS, Melissa." You could have a slew of best friends and no one batted an eyelash. And you could have that one frenemy named Erin like I did. (Shhh, don't tell... but she knows.) But as an adult, for some reason "best friend" has a very very heavy connotation that I often fear using. This is mostly for fear of being shunned. What if I think someone is my best friend, but they wouldn't use that label on me? I'd feel like such a loser. So what does it take to call someone a best friend? Does it require years of knowing someone, a special chemistry that isn't determined by time? Or just someone that knows too much, so you want to make sure you think they are special so that they don't divulge all your secrets? When it comes to friends, I often find myself using this terminology:<br />
<br />
<b>Facebook Friend</b>: someone I've never met in person, but due to mutual interests, we have become Facebook friends. We enjoy witty banter or the liking of each other's statuses or pictures, but there is no expectation of physically meeting them.<br />
<br />
"<b>Friend</b>": someone you know in person, but you could live without them. Often this is someone who I know I will see in public at some point and am afraid to unfriend them on Facebook for fear of an awkward meet-up. They are people who I might grab lunch with if they asked, but I'd rather not put forth that kind of effort. These tend to be the people who get upset if you unfriend them, but won't lift a finger if you are in need. Air quotes are always necessary when referring to these people as "friends."<br />
<br />
<b>Friend</b>: someone you look forward to spending time with and that you have their phone number and actually use it sometimes (for texting of course- my friends know better than to call me. Again, ain't nobody got time for that!) Someone who would hopefully help you out if you were in need, or otherwise come up with an excuse why they can't other than just ignoring your plight.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XIJ5DbkXoQ0/VHXhDM58UWI/AAAAAAAAC3I/HKkm7SRuUYE/s1600/sucking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XIJ5DbkXoQ0/VHXhDM58UWI/AAAAAAAAC3I/HKkm7SRuUYE/s1600/sucking.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To anyone who claims me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Best Friend</b>: someone you are so willing to spend time with that you would even spend time with them when there were children involved! Someone who would give you all the money in their savings if you were in need. Someone who tells you their deep dark secrets and knows that they would be murdered if they told people yours. Someone who gets your sarcasm and twisted humor and thinks it's funny. I don't think that "best friend" can be correlated with time. It's okay to let go of someone who once was your best friend now that you no longer share any common interests and make no attempts to spend time together. Let it go, let it go... (were you singing the Frozen song there with me?) Just like it's okay to have new best friends.<br />
<br />
Wow, this was long. Anyone want to add to my definitions? Anyone want to help me? Why is it that these terms are so complicated when they are just basic English?<br />
<br />
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-73866791740575274792017-01-25T13:43:00.003-06:002017-01-25T13:43:38.865-06:00My Movie Reviews: Manchester by the SeaI have started a very relaxing habit of going to a movie by myself a couple times a month. It is very therapeutic and I LOVE it. I've had some Facebook friends say that they appreciate my reviews on my own page, so I figured I would share them here as well. I'm not giving a summary on here cause you can find that on IMDB. If you want more details of the movie, go to IMDB. I will let you know the rating I gave it. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qfOVRFQqAlU/WIj_xKRdiBI/AAAAAAAADZU/y1tJqPnOH8o5DHSSydw__xiAEHvKgHCcwCLcB/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qfOVRFQqAlU/WIj_xKRdiBI/AAAAAAAADZU/y1tJqPnOH8o5DHSSydw__xiAEHvKgHCcwCLcB/s400/index.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Manchester by the Sea</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">My IMDB rating: 6/10 Overall IMDB rating: 8.4/10 </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> So I was in Chili's taking my daughter and "daughter" to eat before we went to see Moana (which I gave an 8/10). While we were waiting for a table, there was a group of women that I'm guessing were over 60, that were standing in front of me. They were discussing the movie they had just seen and other ones they may go to next. They had seen Manchester by the Sea, which I planned to go to. I asked what they thought of it. They said they couldn't recommend it because it was too depressing. I chalked it up to the women being too fragile.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Nope, they were right. It was SO FACKING DEPRESSING. It was a good movie, very well-written, actors did amazing jobs, but man... I don't know how to erase the sad stuff from my mind. I know it's just a movie, but damn...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The reason I gave it a 6/10 may seem foolish, but I feel like the story could have easily been told without this specific event. A different tragic event could have replaced it, but this one was horrid.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you want any spoilers, send me a message. </span><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span>hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-33536137294754719752017-01-25T12:54:00.000-06:002017-01-25T13:10:33.331-06:00Mom Blogs Have Become Obsolete(Originally posted 10.14.15) <br />
<br />
If you're a mom blogger and you're reading this, you may be in denial. If you are just someone happening by reading this, you're probably nodding in agreement.<br />
<br />
Back in 2008 when I started my blog and social media presence, Mom Blogging was huge! Companies scrambled to get their name and products out to moms with blogs in order to get brand recognition. Search engine optimization was a newer concept and everyone wanted their name to come up high on the search engine sites. Moms were blogging... more moms were blogging... and eventually moms that shouldn't be blogging were blogging.<br />
<br />
That's when it started to become ridiculous. Although I think the idea of blogging in general is a dying art, there are a few great ones out there that still get mass readers- and hooray for them! They have found their niche in a dying art. Generally those bloggers who rose to greatness have found themselves published in some format that has gained them more notoriety. However, the vast majority were mom blogs that were inundated with reviews. And to make things worse, they were flowery reviews on products that shouldn't even be given the time of day. It started to make the reviews lose their authenticity and people were no longer looking to mom blogs to determine whether to make a purchase or not.<br />
<br />
Here we are today: the mom blog is dead... and bad bloggers killed it. Okay, and blogs in general are being read less and less. People just don't have the time (or make the time for them.) We need our attention to be caught in 140 characters or less... be in Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. If a headline or a picture catches our eye, we click. Otherwise, most people don't spend time bookmarking or seeking out the blogs that they once read.<br />
<br />
And companies have started to realize this too. Less product samples are being made available. And the PR firms representing these brands are not all keeping up with these trends. For instance, many of the old mom blogging experts that were big names in representing brands and passing along product or review opportunities are still hung up on the idea of UVMs- unique monthly visitors. How many people are clicking on links to your blog? How many people just stumble upon your blog? How many searches are coming up with your blog near the top? Brands want people to click on links that lead them to their product page or a place to buy it. They don't care if people go by way of your blog first.<br />
<br />
So, I guess what I'm saying is not so much good-bye... I'm sure I will throw out a blog post here or there, but I hate being told what to blog about. That makes it crap... you know, cause it's forced. I am fairly active on my <a href="http://twitter.com/hamsterkitten" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://facebook.com/momontherandom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> accounts and mildly active on <a href="http://instagram.com/hamsterkitten" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> , <a href="http://plus.google.com/+caraleigh444" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google+ </a>and <a href="http://pinterest.com/hamsterkitten" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. I encourage you to follow me on those as I feel like I do contribute at least one piece of interest each day, but I make no promises.<br />
<br />
I am only human and I do enjoy reviewing products, so you may see RARE posts on my social media sites from time to time that highlight a product, but don't worry, I've scaled so far back that I'm almost invisible. I'll see you on the other sites!hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-26656938733403590022016-04-08T16:35:00.001-05:002016-04-08T16:35:46.953-05:00I lost my how-to book on parenting kids who are bullied.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vrt_xNh62y0/Vwgj2njPZmI/AAAAAAAADUc/6gebiLnCb4oQzpJWDCE2vh9eZ097W6ycQ/s1600/bullying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vrt_xNh62y0/Vwgj2njPZmI/AAAAAAAADUc/6gebiLnCb4oQzpJWDCE2vh9eZ097W6ycQ/s320/bullying.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I don't read books on how to parent. I parent. I parent based on what feels natural, and also from experiences that seemed to work or sounded like good ideas. But right now I feel a bit lost. Bullies will exist until the end of time because there is no perfect solution and schools can't fix everything. I think kids being bullies is something they learn at home. They witness how their parents treat people and also can turn to bullying based on how their parents treat them. Schools don't know what to do and even schools with strict "zero bullying tolerance" don't follow through. It's hard for teachers to know where to distinguish between tattling and bullying. Some teachers honestly don't care, cause some teachers are actually assholes themselves. I'm allowed to say this because I am a teacher and I've witnessed this lack of empathy before.<br />
<br />
My experiences being bullied are actually very small, which is surprising if you look back at my school pictures before high school. I dressed like a cat lady, hated jeans and my mom chose my hair style until I was in 6th grade. That's when a well-known girl bully stated in front of the entire classroom that my hair looked like a wig. She was right, but that was not nice. Wanna know what the teacher did? Nothing.<br />
<br />
Other than that, the only bullying done to me was fat shaming. I had never thought I was overweight until I was like 19 or 20. But in 8th grade, two friends and I were walking down the hall and we had our cheerleading uniforms on. He called us Thunder Thighs. I didn't even know what that meant until years later. Another fat shaming incident happened in 8th grade. We had a student-teacher in science. She was not one of those people who just let the popular kids get away with being a-holes, and that day one of the popular boys was being annoying (as usual) and she made him sit at the empty spot next to me. He was mad, so he walked behind me and said, "scoot your fat ass up." VER BATIM. I was pretty embarrassed because 1) I didn't know I was fat 2) the whole class heard him and 3) we'd been "friends" since kindergarten! Well the teacher (kudos to her) didn't let it fly and sent him to the office. He had to apologize to me at school and as if that wasn't mortifying enough, his dad BROUGHT HIM TO MY HOUSE to apologize- thank God I was at a sporting event and didn't have to suffer through it. Aside from that, my dad would tell me I shouldn't eat so much, then when I lost weight accuse me of having an eating disorder, then when I gained tons of weight, he said people would respect me more if I lost weight. <br />
<br />
So, fat shaming is the only form of bullying I really have any experience with that I can try to give advice about. I've had to do that a couple times with my daughter. A lot of times the bullying talk prefaces with why kids feel the need to bully and how sometimes they say things that aren't even true, but they just want to hurt someone's feelings.<br />
<br />
Both my children have encountered some bullying this year that kind of leaves me in a quandary about what to say or do. Of course, depending on what it is, my first advice is for them to tell their teachers. That's easier said than done, because kids don't like to narc and oftentimes the teachers don't do anything about it. I think that although bullying is not a new concept in any way, I think as times change, it gets harder for kids to just be kids. They are learning about adult concepts earlier and earlier and are wanting to be older at younger ages. It's a sad state of the world that kids can't be as carefree as they should be able to be and that all this peer pressure is pushing them into caring about things that no child their age should have to.<br />
<br />
My son is in second grade and is very sensitive to being made fun of. One day he wanted to go to school with spiked hair, so he did, got made fun of, and didn't want to do it again. Then, despite cleaning his ears all the time, a girl made fun of him for having earwax. He was mortified.<br />
<br />
My daughter (fourth grade) just came to me in tears two days ago because of something that happened. She was ambushed by two girls that she had never had an issue with. They told her that they were tired of her "hogging their friend" J, who is one of A's best friends. They said that they had been her friend since before A had moved to Cedar Rapids and she needed to stop monopolizing all of J's time and being her partner in math, etc. A explained to me that generally these girls don't even play with J at recess and that J is the one who always asks her to be her partner. <br />
<br />
What do I say to my kids about these things? My son's issues were easier, but with my daughter, I really didn't know what to say. I suggested that she just continue to do what she was doing and that those girls were probably having an issue that one day for some bizarre reason. What did she do instead? She wrote them apology notes. WHAT?!?! I told her that they did not deserve apology notes from her as she had nothing to apologize for, but at least she handled it in a nice way. Some parents suggest standing up to bullies with fists... and that is just Grade A Stupid. Some parents want to go talk to the kids themselves- I don't think that works either. So here I am, at a loss. What should I tell my kids to do about bullying that is usually a one-time thing and not a recurring offense?<br />
<br />
PS I do have this story of when I was in 7th grade and waiting for my ride to pick me up after a track meet. These two girls thought it would be funny to chase me around the school and try to spit on me. They thought it was funny and we were actually kind of friends, but they were a year older and obviously born in barns. One has since become super Christian and has been denying that it happened since I brought it up in 11th grade creative writing. But she's in denial. It happened.hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-51284411786945912112016-04-05T13:08:00.001-05:002016-04-05T13:08:57.649-05:00The iPhone Takeover in My HouseWho knew a few months or so ago that a broken iphone would snowball into a house full of iphones and more reasons for my nerves to be shot?<br />
<br />
So probably about 8 months ago my iphone 4 died. It was the free one I got when I had signed up for my phone plan. Nothing fancy, not a new model, I'm not into that stuff. Well, anyway, it died. I needed a short term replacement until my new one would arrive, so I bout a cheap, cracked iphone 4s off a buy/sell/trade Facebook page for $20 and used it for the couple days until my replacement phone arrived. The question arose of what I should do with the cracked one.<br />
<br />
The decision I made will forever haunt me.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KycwyqjZcL8/VwP-1IaICYI/AAAAAAAADT4/UwsBwBaYxfojbBK8IkOx0v1HfBsvi4QlA/s1600/autzenholden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KycwyqjZcL8/VwP-1IaICYI/AAAAAAAADT4/UwsBwBaYxfojbBK8IkOx0v1HfBsvi4QlA/s320/autzenholden.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My youngest two when we had a small tablet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I decided to let my kids use it as a tablet. I deleted every app except YouTube Kids, Nick Jr and Disney Channel. The phone works with Wifi, but has no ability to call or text. Well, my oldest started utilizing the phone the most and began to treat it like it was "hers." This led to fighting and arguing, so I decided to find another used iphone that would serve the same purpose. I refused to spend more than $30, so I watched and waited on eBay until I got one. This phone was then mostly used by my two older sons for YouTube Kids. My 3 year old got in the habit of watching YouTube Kids on his dad's phone until he fell asleep, so this second phone would free up that "necessity." But then the three year old started labeling it as HIS phone and refused to let my 8 year old use it. He would have meltdowns and the works. Shortly after Christmas, my daughter asked me if she could use some of her Christmas money to add the Minecraft app to her phone. I researched Minecraft for appropriateness and then decided she could. Then she became addicted. Then my 8 year old asked me to put Minecraft on the other phone.... and I did. And then he and my daughter realized they could play together on separate phones. They both became obsessed... the "need" arose for another iphone so that the 8 and 3 year old wouldn't have to share. I turned to eBay again and started a quest for an iphone under $30.<br />
<br />
Now the oldest 3 all have iphones with the same four apps. Enter the 2 year old. He LOVES Paw Patrol and figured out that you can watch random videos involving Paw Patrol on YouTube Kids. The annoying thing is that he does not want to scroll through the available videos, he wants you to find a video and make sure he wants to watch it. Needless to say, I try to avoid him ending up with a phone because looking for the EXACT Rocky video he wants to watch is extremely annoying. And as of now, I am refusing to get another iphone! And if you're asking yourself why I am using iphones, it's because I have never had luck with tablets of any kind. They always crap out. I've had some that were just for me to use and I've bought a couple before that were built for kids... they all die or malfunction in some way. I'm familiar with the way the iphone works and it is user friendly, so that's why I'm sticking with it.<br />
<br />
Here comes the biggest headache: the obsession. My oldest two are OBSESSED with being on their phones. Generally it is playing Minecraft, but occasionally it is watching YouTube Kids. If it were up to them, they would be on their phone from sun up to sun down. We had to start new house rules just because of the phones... then add to those rules, then amend those rules, and so on. Currently, they are not allowed to get on them in the morning until they are completely ready for school, they can't have them from 5-7 on school days, 3-7 on no school days, not at all on Wednesdays and not after 5 on Sundays. <br />
<br />
It had gotten to the point where they would CRY if they got the phone taken away. They wouldn't eat breakfast in the morning because they didn't want to lose time on their phones. My 8 year old has literally walked into the walls while on his phone. It is ridiculous.<br />
<br />
Call me a pushover, judge me how you will, but I don't think that this is any level of bad parenting. And I'm sure a lot of you reading this are probably thinking my complaint is pretty mild compared to video game and phone obsession among many many kids today. I have told my older two that they don't get their own working "real" phones until they are 15. I plan to stick to that. <br />
<br />
What about your kids- do they have phones, tablets, etc? How do you feel about the amount of time they spend using this technology? <br />
<br />
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-64455097767916999482016-03-26T11:49:00.001-05:002016-03-26T11:49:16.657-05:00Reasons to Rescue: KellerI previously posted my first installment of <a href="http://www.aborderlinemom.com/2014/10/reasons-to-rescue-angel.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reasons to Rescue</a> awhile back and of course I intend to include all my current rescues, but I just had to post one about my most recent rescue, Keller. As some of you know, I am involved with <a href="http://pncmidwest.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PNC Midwest Rescue</a>. We are most involved with the rescuing, fostering and adoptions of the Pekingese and Japanese Chin breeds (Tibetan Spaniels when they come around), but also rescue the small fluffy breeds when needed. Many of the dogs that come into our group come from kill shelters, owner surrenders, hoarding situations and puppy mills. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_LosfvojLc/Vva8cqtcxyI/AAAAAAAADTY/By9n7W6Rp7IZT1BHdSfQLhH2gLV_DiAdg/s1600/keller%2Badopt%2Bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_LosfvojLc/Vva8cqtcxyI/AAAAAAAADTY/By9n7W6Rp7IZT1BHdSfQLhH2gLV_DiAdg/s200/keller%2Badopt%2Bday.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keller, Dec. 7, 2016- the day he was sprung!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Keller came to the group when someone alerted us to a Pekingese at an <a href="http://www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/animal-control/pages/default.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iowa no-kill shelter</a> that was blind and a senior- neither are a combination that made him likely to get adopted from a shelter. He was found as a stray wandering the streets in a large town- BLIND. His owner never came forward and he had been at the shelter for about a month. I was recruited to pick this guy up and we were supposed to have an immediate foster lined up for him, but she backed out. After having him for only 24 hours, I offered to foster him (I have a soft spot for seniors and special needs dogs). He quickly started to grow on me and was not receiving interest from our available dogs lists. I soon started to realize that I wasn't sure I would be able to part with him when the time came for him to be adopted. I decided to keep him. And here's why he's so great:<br />
<br />
Despite being blind, Keller is extremely capable of having a great life. It only took him about two days to feel out the layout of our house and yard. He can do steps in our house with ease and has figured out to adjust when he senses that something has been moved to a different position. One of the most impressive things is when he is hanging out in the kitchen and hears the sound of the steam mop and/or smells the cleaner being applied to the floor, he will hop up on a step in order to be out of the way and not step in the cleaner. None of my other dogs seem to understand how to do this. They either stand right in my way or walk through the cleaner. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gcuAjfsLK4w/Vva8c_0_dSI/AAAAAAAADTc/4v_edOD-YDElRgnyScy_s5vwfEanNlVTQ/s1600/keller%2Bchewie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gcuAjfsLK4w/Vva8c_0_dSI/AAAAAAAADTc/4v_edOD-YDElRgnyScy_s5vwfEanNlVTQ/s320/keller%2Bchewie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's soooo intimidating, no?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another thing that astounds me and makes me love Keller is that he is protective. Even though he often has no idea what he is barking at, when he's outside and smells someone or something unfamiliar he will run towards it and stand at the fence barking. Although he a small dog, his bark can sound pretty intimidating. I've had to let a few delivery people and neighbors know that he is blind and very protective. They are amazed because you'd think most blind dogs would hide from the unknown. There have been a couple times when a "stranger" has come to the house and he will stand between me and them and bark. I pick him up and let him know that I'm safe. <br />
<br />
Lastly (although there are so many things) is that he seems to sense when I am leaving. He will follow me to the door and try to dart out and run to the gate where I leave. Of course it breaks my heart to seem him stand there when I leave, so I make sure not to let him go out when I go. However, when I am going out the door for some other reason, like to go downstairs or just go into the backyard, he doesn't follow me. He will just lie in his bed or mosey about in his usual Keller fashion. You might be telling yourself that this is merely a coincidence, but it isn't. How he knows, I have no idea- maybe he can smell my shoes, maybe he senses my excitement about the possibility of freedom from my children... no clue.<br />
<br />
Keller is amazing. How he ended up in a shelter with no owner to be found, I will never understand. I know it is hard for some people to want to go to a shelter and adopt the "less adoptable" dogs, but Keller is a great example of why people need to consider it. Older dogs, special needs dogs, deserve to live their lives in a loving and comfortable home. Imagine if you ever get to the age where you need to be cared for or even enter assisted living- how would you want to live out your remaining years? Exactly. And dogs like Keller deserve that too. But you must go find your own Keller, cause I'm keeping this one!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mWLsAeByWA/Vva8csE9sJI/AAAAAAAADTU/ZR8uMkoueO4ryxEac75UqXO9FtWuE8qsQ/s1600/keller%2Bbuddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mWLsAeByWA/Vva8csE9sJI/AAAAAAAADTU/ZR8uMkoueO4ryxEac75UqXO9FtWuE8qsQ/s320/keller%2Bbuddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Keller, one month ago, sharing a pillow with Buddy, another rescue. I've had Buddy about two years and have never seen him attempt to share a bed with any other dog! Keller is truly amazing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-43585309967378702522016-03-24T11:00:00.002-05:002016-03-24T11:01:03.509-05:00March 28 is National Respect Your Cat Day! (Twitter Party!!)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="372">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you have a cat, you know they DEMAND respect daily- otherwise they'd let you know how unappreciated they feel by clawing your favorite shirt or leaving dead mice on your pillow. As an avid cat lady, I know all about this demand. With my love for kitties in mine, I'm paw-tnering with Morris the Cat for the most important day of the year: Respect Your Cat
Day!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Morris is throwing the first #RespectYourCat
Twitter Party to celebrate this most impurrtant holiday. Come and join in on
the fun and furry festivities -- we'll be sharing informative tips on how to
treat your cat like royalty, all the cute Internet cat photos you can handle
and fun surprises galore!" </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter
Parties, they are really fun and oftentimes, huge, live chats on Twitter that
use specific hashtags to connect participants to the conversation stream. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5vrSB-v3Eso/VvQO2HQgHRI/AAAAAAAADTE/5o9mXZgGuxIK20qbOCArARmiE4muQ5DMQ/s1600/9lives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5vrSB-v3Eso/VvQO2HQgHRI/AAAAAAAADTE/5o9mXZgGuxIK20qbOCArARmiE4muQ5DMQ/s400/9lives.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I will be joining Morris and all the <strike>cats</strike> humans at <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">#RespectYourCat
Night on </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Monday, March 28</span></b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">,
from 8-10 pm ET (5-7 pm PT). </span></b></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Please RSVP here to join the fun: <a href="http://tweetvite.com/event/respectyourcatnight" style="cursor: pointer !important;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1a74ba;">http://tweetvite.com/event/</span></a><a href="http://tweetvite.com/event/respectyourcatnight" style="cursor: pointer !important;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1a74ba;">respectyourcatnight</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #1a74ba;"><span style="color: black;">or via Facebook</span>: </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1707890296161301/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1a74ba;">https://www.facebook.com/events/1707890296161301/</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #1a74ba;"><span style="color: black;">Feel free to Tweet me, let me know on Facebook or comment below on the things you do for your cat to show it respect OR the things IT will do when you don't! My story to share is that my ex-husband didn't respect my cats and when he was especially rude to them, they would occasionally pee on his pillow or his spot of the bed. I took the hint!</span></span></span></div>
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-47196510712358877552016-03-24T09:49:00.001-05:002016-03-24T09:49:26.826-05:00I don't own MOMONTHERANDOM.COM anymore!If you go to the website directly, you will be in for a surprise! So as many websites do, they will buy expired websites that previously had a lot of traffic and will buy those domains to get their "product" out. So anyway, go there at your own risk, but I'm not affiliated with it anymore!hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-65285447856139887112016-03-22T13:58:00.001-05:002016-03-22T13:58:17.878-05:00You Can't Take It With YouNo, I'm not talking about the AMAZING <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030993/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1938 movie</a> starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur (although it is definitely worth the watch!!) I'm talking about THINGS, material things. If you haven't heard the euphemism "you can't take it with you," it is referring to the things you can't take with you when you die. Whether you believe in heaven, hell, reincarnation, or no after-life at all, you can't take THINGS with you. Can you take memories? Maybe. I have no idea. I like to think that heaven is a place where when you die any person or pet that you ever loved will be there waiting for you. Now, I said that you loved, not that they loved you. So your crazy stalker Brad wouldn't be there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGKpdye7w3c/VvGVrUmH3cI/AAAAAAAADSs/745y5i_P_zM_PIJOh-Ibni5ym0QpyoqqA/s1600/let%2Bit%2Bgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGKpdye7w3c/VvGVrUmH3cI/AAAAAAAADSs/745y5i_P_zM_PIJOh-Ibni5ym0QpyoqqA/s200/let%2Bit%2Bgo.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
I digress. In the last couple months, I have been a clutter cleaning machine in my house (thanks, New Meds!) I have been rearranging cabinets, closets, drawers, boxes and totes in my house. The amount of time spent could have lasted an entire Law & Order Netflix binge-a-thon- of all three spin-offs! Often I found myself reiterating the lyric, "let it go" as I stood frozen (pun!) between where I was standing and the trash can/recycling bin. When it comes to kitchens and closets, it's more of an inner struggle with the thought that I know I don't NEED it and perhaps haven't used/worn it in years (if ever), but what if I DO need it. Example: grapefruit spoon. You know how many times in my adult life that I've bought a grapefruit? ZERO. You know how many times my husband or children have requested a grapefruit? ZERO. Can you eat a grapefruit without a grapefruit spoon? I don't know, I never have, but I'm like 95% sure you can (may have to check out YouTube to see how it's done.) I've gotten a lot better about clothes over the past few years. There's always that idea that maybe some day I will wear that dress or maybe one day I will fit into the jeans ago. No, you won't. Get rid of it. Of course, you can't throw it in the trash, there's homeless people out there! I either donate or consign clothes in my house that no one wears anymore.<br />
<br />
Then we come down to the more difficult things- memorabilia. I've carried around a tote for about 10 years that contains items from my life that span <strike>34</strike> 25 years (literally have the hospital bracelet from the day I was born.) I have everything from pictures, childhood awards, 6th place medals (ha), report cards, high school writing assignments, and so forth. I know that there have been a select few people that have suffered through me showing them some of those things. And you can tell when someone doesn't care what you're saying (I'm married.) So this past weekend it was time to go through the tote- the MEMORY TOTE. I went through every folder, binder, envelope, photo album and loose bauble. And I recycled... A LOT. I went through every photo and tossed ones that were pointless and meant nothing to anyone. I took pictures of the pictures that might be fun to share on Facebook. And I kept a very select few pictures that PERHAPS my children will want to see some day.<br />
<br />
So when does a memory become obsolete? Here's how I see it. If I am hanging onto something, the only real purpose should be to pass these things onto my children or perhaps at least show them once they are adults. My mom hung on to some of these things. I'm sure in her mind all this stuff she collected through the years would be of great significance... sorry, Mom, most of it went in the recycling bin. Do I need my first quarter report card from 6th grade? Not so much. Will my kids wanna see it when they are 40? Pretty positive they won't. So that's what I did. I cleared out almost my ENTIRE tote. I put anything I wanted to keep into manilla envelopes and categorized them. Other than that, I had a few pictures in frames and a couple medals that I kept out of the folders. I was able to clear out the tote so much that I fit two smaller shoe box size totes inside of it!<br />
<br />
Life feels so much better without clutter- both metaphorically and literally. Now I have so much less that I will have to move whenever I leave my current digs. I've made some sweet coin over the past two months since consigning bags and bags of non-necessities. And yet I still find more and more every day that I don't understand why it is still lingering in my house.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do I need two unopened air pumps for when a football deflates? Nope.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you? </span></b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9dAwUePRLc/VvGVHFC5V8I/AAAAAAAADSo/sJYGhxxwb2k_JkyDkANdMD2FDcbFzp8UA/s1600/no.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9dAwUePRLc/VvGVHFC5V8I/AAAAAAAADSo/sJYGhxxwb2k_JkyDkANdMD2FDcbFzp8UA/s200/no.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-44722794730199329962016-01-18T17:47:00.000-06:002016-01-18T17:47:48.004-06:00New Year, New Blog- sortaAs I said in my last post, mom blogs are dead and are becoming obsolete. I enjoy maintaining a social media presence and at times need to use my blog for PR posts, so I have decided to revamp my "identity" in keeping with my own life and what interests me. Plus, I do enjoy being able to occasionally blog as an outlet, although I don't generally have something mind-blowing to say. I started Mom on the Random in November 2008 with just this blog and a Twitter account. I now use Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+ and Facebook for my online persona. I am now changing them all to "A Borderline Mom." For those of you who may be new to reading my blog, I have been in treatment of various capacities since 1999ish. I have a primary diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and a secondary diagnosis of bipolar disorder, along with mild PTSD.<br />
<br />
I think that in an effort to relate to others like myself and to let other moms know that sometimes the reality of the word "mom" is waaaaaaay different than the fantasy, this change is necessary. I appreciate those of you who have stuck with me for any number of days, months, or years.<br />
<br />
As I said, I will occasionally have PR-related posts, such as reviews, etc. because getting free stuff is almost as awesome as finding a bargain at Goodwill- and I'm a thrifty lady! Plus, I have four kids and live on a college adjunct's wages and my husband is a correctional officer- so it's not like I'm made of money!<br />
<br />
Thanks again for visiting and hopefully you can find something that interests you on one of my social media accounts. You can find me as @hamsterkitten on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube and as A Borderline Mom on Google+ and Facebook.<br />
<br />
Here's to a new year and new beginnings!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5RnlDxJOqo/Vp15UXyz42I/AAAAAAAADLs/ncbphVeT87Q/s1600/bpd-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5RnlDxJOqo/Vp15UXyz42I/AAAAAAAADLs/ncbphVeT87Q/s640/bpd-02.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-58379990041436350332015-08-11T17:45:00.002-05:002015-08-11T17:45:42.158-05:00Call me Bitter Betty but...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCRXpHuWgmw/Vcp62hgVZBI/AAAAAAAADFU/AOiXAhnTytk/s1600/shitty%2Bfriends.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCRXpHuWgmw/Vcp62hgVZBI/AAAAAAAADFU/AOiXAhnTytk/s1600/shitty%2Bfriends.jpeg" /></a></div>
I want to post a Facebook message that I sent to a "friend" on May 26, 2014. She never responded, yet we were still "friends." Then when I moved away, which she knew was happening, I never heard from her. I was bitter about that, so I unfriended her. Since then, I've wondered if she needed someone to talk to and I felt bad and tried to friend her back... but she wouldn't add me. I think this is something that will always bug me until I get some form of closure. Maybe she doesn't like being around responsible adult friends.<br />
<br />
Here is the copy/paste of the Facebook post (with names omitted):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="_38 direction_ltr">
<i><span class="null">I don't want you to read this in an animosity driven way, because that is not my intent. I have had this on my chest for years and if I don't ever tell you it will lead me to more years of regret.<br />
<br />
I know you won't respond to this and that's okay. I just needed to say it.<br />
<br />
It hurts me... HURTS ME to see you post pictures of you and all of your "friends" hanging out and yet you are never interested in doing anything with me.<br />
<br />
Out of all the times you left **** after we met, I was always there to help you! I found you apartments, talked a landlord into letting you move in without a deposit, moved you twice, including once by myself!! I didn't have two nickels to rub together one of the times and yet I bought you cleaning supplies and some food for your kids. I was so good to you and them, yet now you couldn't give a shit less about me. I don't know at what point you decided I sucked at life, but I am a good person and I was soooo good to you and expected nothing in return. When I left **** I neither asked for your help or received it and I'm okay with that.<br />
<br />
What gets me is that ONE time did I stop talking to you because of **** and it was because you stopped at the house to confront him with me in the car and he called me a piece of shit and tried to smash your window. I couldn't be around him after that and you went back to him, so I had to step back, but I was there for you again the next time you left.<br />
<br />
And I don't know your friends well enough to even say anything as they've all been nice to me. I know ****** told me she quit being your friend in high school when you dropped out.<br />
<br />
I just don't understand. I wish you would just express it to me that you don't want to be my friend. I'm a great mom, a great friend and it just blows my mind that we were so close and then nothing. I miss seeing your kids and being a happy, positive influence in their lives.<br />
<br />
So, take this how you will. I'm not mad in the least and I do understand if you don't respond. I just wanted to express the hurt I've felt for a long time now.<br />
<br />
Happy Memorial Day to you and yours!</span></i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835320734736708175.post-42660157883330101062015-05-03T18:27:00.000-05:002015-05-03T18:27:45.699-05:00The Pee in Post Partum (TMI Alert!) #parentingI debated writing this post because it's a bit TMI, but I figured it's something other moms can empathize with and it's just a nice heads up for the moms-to-be out there.<br />
<br />
I don't recall having this problem after my first two children are born. Sure, when you're pregnant you have to worry about peeing your pants because you've got an 8lb baby pushing on your bladder. But what about when that baby has been born and is about to get its driver's license??<br />
<br />
Well, none of my kids are quite there yet, but I'm sure I'll have the same issue by the time they do get to be that age. <br />
<br />
Since my last two children were born only 18 months apart, I couldn't say for sure which one pushed my bladder over the edge. But I've developed an all-too familiar problem that some moms have the pleasure of dealing with once their children have exited the womb and their bodies have started returning to somewhat normal. Sometimes when I sneeze, I pee a little. Yep, there's your TMI. My most recent bout was a hellacious cold I just recovered from. I would occasionally go through a coughing fit or let out a big sneeze and if I didn't cross my legs fast enough... I snuck upstairs in hopes no one would notice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNrqRCOq2xc/VUauiB3EGLI/AAAAAAAADBo/Rdt4-7H3_6w/s1600/pee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNrqRCOq2xc/VUauiB3EGLI/AAAAAAAADBo/Rdt4-7H3_6w/s1600/pee.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
If you have this problem and haven't figured it out yet- cross your legs when you sneeze or cough! Like I said, I never had this problem until after babies #3 and #4, so I know not all moms go through with this. And I know there's a scientific explanation, that some day I will google, but that day is not today, therefore you will remain uninformed until you google it yourself.<br />
<br />
There you have it! So to those who may see me out and about and watch me cough or sneeze, pay no attention to me crossing my legs as I do so and especially don't think twice about it if I get a panicked look on my face and run for the bathroom.<br />
<br />
Moms, can I get an Amen??hamsterkittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05216300157534802197noreply@blogger.com0