Ghost Cat!

I swear this is not a "woo woo" post! I've actually had this little visitor on my porch several times, and in my backyard. He has a collar and tag so when he first showed up, I called the number on the tag to see if someone has lost this cat... turned out to "belong" to a neighbor across the street, however, they had only just adopted it, as it followed them home one night.....

At the same time, someone on our Neighborhood website posted they were looking for a lost tuxedo cat, and I thought, well, it might be this cat. So I messaged the person and told them we had a similar cat found in our neighborhood and I would try to get a photo of him the next time he showed up.

Which was the other night. So I went into the house to get my camera and darn it, if that cat didn't waltz right in after me. I picked him up and put him back on the porch, retrieved my camera, took the above photo, and as I'm taking my camera back into the house, this cat tried to follow me in. I caught him, at the doorway and nudged him back, gently, with my foot onto the porch and shut the door.

Coming out of my office, I see this cat sitting in the middle of the living room! I have no clue how he got in, I'm positive I shut the door. I'm positive he didn't sneak past me. I saw his head as I shut the door. I say (to the cat) "How the hell did you get in here?" and he quickly dashes under my sofa.

I look under the sofa, so I can grab him, but he's disappeared. Not there. In fact, I don't see him anywhere -- didn't see him run out from the under the sofa --- am I losing my mind??  I walk around house and finally find him in my office, with Ripley (our cat) and the two cats are just sitting quietly staring at each other.  Which is also very weird.  Not like Ripley at all, to act this way....

Well, I scooped up the black cat and took him back outside.  I tell you, a few nights ago, he was in my back yard which is totally fenced in with 6 foot privacy fence and I couldn't figure out how he got back there, but I picked him up (he's very friendly) and took him into the front yard, set him down, and before I turned around, I saw him go into the neighbor's yard and he simply vanished between the fence and their house.... at the time, I looked for him, I mean where did he go so fast? Did he jump the neighbor's 6 foot fence into their backyard? It was the only conclusion I could come up with, and I thought man, that cat can jump and he's fast.  Now I wonder...

This cat is either a ghost cat who can walk through walls and fences and doors or he has magical powers. He certainly had Ripley hypnotized.

Also, he doesn't seem to have a care in the world, Kona barks her head off at him when he comes into our yard, and the cat just walks right by her. Fearless, this cat. And very strange....  though, I must admit, he is a handsome devil....

PS: He wasn't the "lost" cat in the ad.

The Fence, The Latch, The Drill & Me

So the other day, I went to open my side gate, a gate that separates the front and back yard, and the darn latch will not open. I try, and try, and try, and the damn lever thing will not lift over the damn  bracket thing (those are technical terms, by the way. ha!) and I thinking, what the heck?

The G-D Latch!

I don't use this gate often, but use it when I need to fill the pool as the hose is on the side of the house. So maybe the thing is just rusted.

I search the house for WD40, finally find the can, can't find the darn top, search for that, find that and go out and spray the crap out of the latch -- but the thing still will not budge.  I spray it again and jiggle and wiggle it and finally pushing down with all might, I get the darn gate open. But when I try to close it, it will not close.... as now the lever will not go into the bracket.

I'm looking at it and thinking, maybe the wood on the gate has warped a bit and that's why it won't latch like it used to -- so how to fix this? Perhaps, I can move the bracket down a tad so that the lever can easily maneuver into the bracket. The bracket has two screws, so should be easy --- right?

Wrong.

 Meanwhile, since the gate is open, I run the hose to the pool to fill it. Then I go into the house to find a Phillips screw driver and my cordless drill, go back to the gate, try to unscrew the screws, first by hand, no luck, then by using my cordless drill which has screw bits.  This works slightly, getting the first screw halfway out, but then shreds the head of the screw so there are no longer any slats in it, just a large hole.  Oh-kay.

I go back into the house digging through the toolbox for some tool that will help me remove the broken screw and decide on a claw hammer and figure I'll pull it out as one would a nail. Go back outside, after several attempts, manage to yank that sucker out, but split the wood on the fence post in the process....

By now I'm ready to pull my hair out.

But I proceed, go into the house, get a smaller screw bit and manage to get the second screw out without stripping it. So far, too good. Now it's time to drill pilot holes for the new screws a tad lower than the old holes. So I switch the screw bit out for a regular drill bit and begin drilling a new hole, not realizing that the drill is on reverse and wondering why it's smoking like hell....

Figured that out, reversed the drill, drilled again, then tried to screw in a new screw, and the darn screw goes halfway in and stops and refuses to budge.  AAAARGH!  So I unscrew it, get a bigger drill bit, re-drill the hole, try again and finally, whoopee -- The first screw is in! Yay, me.

Onto the second screw. While I'm drilling the hole, the drill bit jams and gets stuck and simply detaches itself from the drill. Now I have a drill bit, stuck half in and hanging half out of the fence post. And I can't seem to get the damn thing out, each time I fit the end of the bit into the drill, clamp  the drill shut around it, turn on the drill, the drill just slides off.

By now I'm ready to get god damn sledge hammer and knock the whole fence down, I'm so frustrated. I'm yelling in my head, "God damn it Bob, where are you when I need you? How could you leave me alone like this!!! Give me some help here, hey!!!!" Because, damn, he could've (pre-stroke) gotten this job done in 5 minutes and so far it's taken me 45 minutes and I'm dripping with sweat and still screwing around, literally.

Deep breath.

Try again, fit the bit into the drill, clamp it shut, turn it on, and the bit comes out like magic. I screw in that last screw without any trouble and when I shut the gate, the latch slides into the bracket perfectly. Ta da!

Then I look at the pool and wonder why hasn't it filled up? The hose has been in there for 45 minutes, for crying out loud. I check the hose and only a dribble is coming out of the nozzle and I follow the hose and find a kink in it.

I tell you, doesn't this sound like an episode from I Love Lucy?

Tornado Warnings, Storms, High Winds...

Stressful day, today  --  big storm, thunder, lightening, wind gusts 49 miles/hour, tornado warnings    ---spent the day on the couch cuddled up with Kona. (Ripley hiding in closet.)

Funny, I used to enjoy storms...

Bob loved a good storm.  Used to feel safe, during a storm, when inside hearing the rain and wind outside, safe and warm inside.

Not anymore... freaked me out. Shaking, stressed, crying...

What is wrong with me?

Thankfully, all is calm now.

Warning: Another "woo-woo" post -- don't read, if you don't believe

I signed up for another webinar with a local medium, Jennifer Farmer, and it was called "meditations and connections with the spirit world" or something like that -- cost $19.99 -- so I'm thinking that's not much, and signed up...

Problem, when my desktop computer monitor died  -- I got a new one and didn't realize (I am frugal) that the cheap one I bought doesn't have a camera in it, so can't do a webinar from my desk computer, BUT I have an I-pad which does have camera so have to transfer from the desktop to the I-Pad on a ZOOM app...  anyway... not the first time I did this, but often problematic, so I wanted to make sure I could join the webinar and transferred the "code" to my I-Pad and found the "meeting" about 45 minutes before the webinar was to take place.  Left my I-Pad on a charger, with the Webinar meeting on Zoom, figuring I'd just punch "join" at 7:00 p.m. when the webinar started.

So there I am, getting ready for the webinar, in my living room, I light some candles, light some incense (sage), turning off lights, setting the mood for the meditation and as I'm doing this, in my living room, I hear this disembodied voice -- out of no where, saying "DIANE, ARE YOU THERE?"

OMG, I stop in my tracks.

Freaked out --  is someone in my house? I freeze, look around, nothing.

And then I think, oh, it's probably my answering machine. So I go to the phone but there's no call on my phone.. and ... I hear again, same voice, "DIANE? CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

WTF? I'll looking around, totally freaked out - but finally figure out the voice is coming from my I-Pad in the other room -- and I go there and see Jennifer Farmer's face on my I-Pad, saying again "Diane, are you there?"

Oh-kay, I pick it up and manage to type in "yes, I'm here."

Evidently, I was the first one to "log in" on that webinar and she saw me logged in -- said she was doing "sound check" and asked to me to help her with it, first tell me if heard her (yup) and then speak back to her (tried, but had to do some unmute thing) and then asked me click the "chat" box see if that worked, then the Q & A box, see if that worked, and then even asked me what "background" I preferred for her webcast.  At one point, I wrote on the chat (when she asked me check it) "You scared me to death." and she got the message said, "What did you think? I was ghost?" And I reply "yes!" Anyway -- Wow

So the Webinar started, she did a power point presentation about "signs" from the afterlife, and then did some questions and answers and did a beautiful mediation -- which left me in tears --- then did some readings for participants, and while she was doing readings -- I'm asking Bob, Hey, tap her on her shoulder, get her attention! I want to hear from you!

And near the very end, I see Jennifer looking at her shoulder, then saying, "Diane? Sound-check girl? Are you still with me?"

And I can't seem to find how to "unmute" myself, and she's saying"Diane, soundcheck girl? You still here? Someone here wants to talk to you."

 So I'm frantically trying to "unmute" myself --  And then she says, "Guess not, guess she's gone."

While I'm frustratedly trying to "unmute" myself and can't --- so tapped onto chat and wrote "I'm here!"

And she says, "Good!" and finally I managed to "unmute" myself, and she says, "There's someone here who keeps bugging me, a bossy guy, saying 'You're not getting past me' -- a man whose saying "I'm getting to talk to her no matter what! She helped you with the soundcheck."  And then she says, "I think this is your husband? Is your husband on the other side?"

I say, "yes"

She says, "Man, he's stubborn. He's like poking me in the shoulder saying, 'hey sister, she did your sound check, least you can do is let me say a few words.'" And she laughs, and says, "Okay, do you understand -- he says there was a recent passing, someone in his family, this year?"

I say, "Yes." Bob's uncle Dick died this year.

She says, he's acknowledging this --- and then she says, "Your husband was a smoker? yes?"

I say, "yes"

She says, "And he was ill for a long time and you took care of him."

I say, "Yes." (though I didn't think of him as 'ill' but disabled.)

She says, "He thanks you for taking care of him."

And she sort of cocks her head, like listening or seeing something, then she says, "He's showing me dogs for some reason, but all big dogs. Lots of big dogs." She actually looks a little confused, then she says, "Do you have a big dog? Or a big dog on other other side?'

I say, "Well, both."

She says, "He keeps showing big dogs, and he's talking about dogs, big dogs -- a lot of dogs, dogs and dogs and dogs..." she drifts off listening, then she says, "He's telling me to tell you to forget about boyfriends, he's telling me dogs are safe for her, she's happier with dogs, especially big dogs. He's telling me, you just need a big dog in your life. OK?"

"OK" -- and it's true, I love a Big dog, the bigger the better. In fact, when I got Kona, I kept looking at her (labarador retriever) and thinking, god, you are sooo short.  I was used to Boomer, who was taller, bigger.

Then she says, "He's showing me he was cremated. Right?"

"Yes"

"He says it's okay to spread some of his ashes about."

I'm like oh-kay -- but his ashes are in the Philco radio (I didn't say that) she continues and says:

"Now he is talking about how some people treated you after he passed and he is apologizing for his family members on how bad some of them treated you and, he says, you didn't deserve that and he's sorry that happened. Does that make sense?"

I say, "Oh yes."

She says, "Again, he says you didn't deserve that. They disrespected you."

I say, with tears in my eyes, "He didn't deserve it either."

She says, "He says he knows, he apologies for their behavior, says isn't wasn't right, you never deserved it  --  and now he says, 'I love you.' and he says "I'll always be with you" and he sends you a kiss."

And then she ended the webinar.

And all you non-believers, (if you are reading this and didn't heed my warning) OK, husband? yeah could be a guess, smoker, that too. That he was "ill" and I took care of him, well, maybe applies to many people. Cremation? yeah, that could apply to lots of people.

But, BIG dogs? Not everyone likes big dogs, in fact I have a friends who prefer small dogs and know people who prefers cats  I know people who don't even like dogs.  I love BIG dogs, always have had big dogs, you'll never find me with small dog, though I do like small cars!

OK, if (IF that is a big IF she ever saw my blog, or my Facebook page, she might know I have Kona) --

But his family treating me like shit after he died?  That's not a normal situation.  Hey, that couldn't have come from anyone but someone who knows me very well. Or Bob (watching from the other side)-- I didn't blog about that ... I was in so much shock when he died, so lost,  -- but they did -- some of Bob's family --- treat me like shit: calling me a BITCH on social media, saying they were glad they didn't have deal with me anymore --  calling my tribute to Bob a "15 minute joke" -- and jeepers, punching someone (me) whose already drowning --

And then, she (the medium)  actually didn't have to say anything to me -- I was just the "soundcheck girl" and one of many who paid $19.99 for the webinar.

He is still with me, and I believe.

This Blog has been quiet again....

AARGH!  Sorry, about this quiet blog.

Just two quick frustrating things:

 First we got "killer dogs" in our neighborhood. Three weeks ago, a neighbor, five houses away, was in her front yard with her little dog, weighs about 3 lbs, when two loose dogs knocked her over (she is elderly) grabbed hold of her dog and tore it to pieces in front of her.  A neighbor heard her screams, came out, yelled, chased the dogs away, but too late for the little dog, it died.  Animal Control and police were called, but no one found the dogs. Or the owners of the dogs. They are not strays, one has a collar...

Other incidences in the neighborhood of dog attacks -- two dogs, same description.  Attacking both people and other dogs.  I've bought pepper spray (had to hunt for it) and now walking Kona (holding onto pepper spray) is not a relaxing walk to do -- it's poop, pee, go home, quickly, anxiously looking down every street, alley, corner...  I honestly don't know if Kona is a fighter -- what she would do if attacked?-- especially by two dogs.  My old Boomer, well, he would be the last dog standing. But Kona, she's a more mild tempered dog...  worry worry worry

Then, I've been trying to draw up a new "estate plan" as Bob is gone and things have changed, so paperwork needs to be changed, and wanted to set up a new Will or as my financial advisor said to set up a Living Trust -- and I want especially to set up something for my pets -- because if I die I don't want Kona and Ripley sent to a shelter or worse, want them to be cared for and the money there to care for them -- anyway I got some references, picked an attorney, had a consult, and another one, then gave them money to set up said Trust, that was at the end of January -- but seems like I'm just getting the run-around -- back and forth e-mails, sending me documents that look like a Will not a Trust and questions not answered, or only partially answered,  phone calls not returned, changing lawyers on me (same firm, but different lawyer with differing opinions), and me -- just confused totally about the whole thing, aargh, legalese and what does it all mean hereto, whereas, blah blah etc., you know what mean ... anyway, have an appointment tomorrow to meet with attorney again, had to get almost aggressive to get an appointment with the initial attorney I met with ---  wish I'd never gave them any money or would just switch attorneys, feel like an idiot for doing so, but hopefully get it figured out tomorrow  Been preparing -- got to be a bitch, if I have too, and get it done.  Wish me luck.

Meantime, been writing on the book..  plus Kona got bit by (we think) a spider, got an infection, so meds, vet visits, etc.  -- so busy busy busy.

Oh, guess that's four things, not just two.

More later.  Frustrated.

And wish they'd catch these damn loose dogs.  What's wrong with people?

Blooming Surprise!

Years ago, and I mean years ago, Chris gave me a Christmas Cactus and also bought one for herself.

Her's died, shortly afterward, but mine kept on going.

She'd often comment on it, (i.e. "That thing is still alive?") and it bloomed every single year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Until Bob died. Then Chris died. And it hasn't bloomed since, until -- wow, this week!

Two blooms, just two, but that's good enough for me. One for Chris and one for Bob.

Sorry, this blog has been so quiet, believe me I have a lot stories to tell and have been meaning to blog, but my book seems to be taking up most all of my free time....

The other day, I went to lunch with a widow friend, and we happened to have lunch next door to an antique mall where Bob & I used to have a booth, and I mentioned that to my friend, and wistfully said, "I still miss him."

And she said, "Wouldn't Bob want you to be happy?"

Which caught me off-guard, I mean, I didn't say I was unhappy. I wasn't crying or sobbing, just said that I "miss him." And you know, I'm writing now, and happier than I've been in a long time, because writing makes me happy, it's been my lifelong dream to be a full-time writer, and especially "happy" on a good day when the writing just seems to flow.

What is this "happy" I'm supposed to be? Jumping for joy? Dancing the night away? Laughing like a maniac? Drinking wine in bars? Dating? I don't get it, I really don't know....

I tell you, this blooming cactus makes me very happy. Two blooms, just two, but that's all I need.