You mean a lot to me.................

When I starting this blog, I never realized how much it would come to mean to me.  Not so much what I write, but the comments.  Yes, I use this as my kind-of journal because arthritis in my hands has kept me from writing anything with pen and paper--that is legible.  Typing is still fairly easy.

I let it all out here because it is almost like having a conversation with friends.  I have to say, I think most of you know me as well or better than a lot of my "real life" friends.  In a real life conversation, a friend might say, "Oh, stop being such a baby."  or "Why would you think something dumb like that?"  Here, the comments might say the same, but I can't see your facial expressions, so any negative comments wouldn't hurt as much.  LOL

To say that on this blog, I bare my soul, would be an understatement.  Sometimes (I have been told), I am TOO open.  There are things I should just keep to myself.  That has been preached to me since I was young.  Consequently, I have kept things to myself that were screaming to come out.  I have a permanent line of sores around the edges of my tongue from biting it.  

I know that I have strange ponderings and thoughts.  I can't really put some of them out there to "audible" friends.  I do have a reputation to uphold after all.  A perception that "they" have of me.

Here is my safe place.  Well, it is safe now that my kids don''t know how to find it.  Remember a few years back when someone in the family told my daughter Jennifer of something I had posted about something she had said?  She quit speaking to me and forbade me to see her children?  Remember that fiasco?  The person who told her loves to spread hurtful gossip.  Jennifer had quite misunderstood what I had posted.  Well. anyway.  I feel a bit safer here now that this blog is no longer findable on ANY search engine.  Anyone who finds me, finds me from another blog where I have commented.

That being said--or written, I get such help from your comments!!!  It could be an affirmation or it could be a different way to think on something.  Sometimes an "I disagree", or an "I know just how you feel."  Either and all of your comments just make my day.

I know that sounds trite, but it is the truth!

Guess what?  My Bestie, who doesn't comment, but sends me comments via e-mail, my Bestie, Bethie, is also have a colonoscopy on March 30th.  She's an old hand at it--getting one every 5 years like she is supposed to.  Too bad we aren't having it done at the same place.  We could ride together and commiserate with each other.  LOL   Misery loves company and all that.
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I woke up this morning to my big cat Buddy, kneading my left shoulder.  He was right on the spot that aches and his kneading felt sooooooooooo good.  Of course, the minute I moved and he sensed I was awake, he stopped and came around to nose my cheek with his cold, wet nose.  I had over slept and he was hungry!  It was a nice massage for a moment anyway.

I love that animal more than I should allow myself.  Growing up on a farm, I learned early on, it was not wise to love an animal too much.  Just about the time I became used to a pet, it either died or got run over by a piece of farm equipment.  I never became attached to a calf or lamb, because they were sent off to market.  So, I never had an inside pet.

Then---in my 50's, I got an inside cat.  I didn't want her, but she was going to be sent to the pound, so I grabbed her and she was mine for 13 years.  When I had to have her killed, it tore me up for weeks.  I swore that would never happen again.

Then I met Fred and in he came with his 12 year old dog, Tootz.  She was a love!  Then a few years later, Fred was in hospital, I woke up one morning and the dog couldn't move.  I couldn't get her in the car so I called the vet.  They came out and while Fred was on the other end of the phone talking to her in her ear, the technicians put her down.  Right there, in front of me.

I swore.  "No more pets!"

Six months later Fred suggested we get a cat.  or rather, "Two cats.  One for each lap."  I wasn't about to deny him anything, so off we went to animal control.  I got Buddy and he got Maggie.  Six months after that, Fred died and left me with one lap and two cats.  I've never quite forgiven him for that.  LOL.

Buddy has always been my favorite because he is so gentle and calm.  He sleeps right by my head every night.  Maggie was a frantic cat--hissing, clawing, biting.  She now has turned into a lovable cat.  She sits on my lap and pats my face with her paw until I pet and cuddle her.  She sleeps by my feet.  I have become so attached and in love with both of them now.

ARGGH!  I'm sunk.
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I bought a brand new black inkjet at Staples.  $49.95.  Can you believe that?  It's because my printer twins are old and the ink isn't manufactured every much.  It worked perfectly in my printer so up to the refill place I went to turn in the ones that didn't work.  We had a long, informative conversation.

The cartridges can get old, of course, and although they test them before they sell them, if not used soon, the sponge can dry up and the ink won't come through.  Probably not too many people buy that kind anymore, so who knows how long they hang on the shelf.

I asked if I could get my new cartridge filled when needed.  Yes.  It might take them a few extra minutes to refill it, but at least I would know it was fairly new and had only been used once before.  That is the way I am going to go from now on.

I got store credit for the black ones that didn't work.

They also have a March Special on an HP Envy printer and flat bed scanner, copier, fax, all in one for $99.99.  The ink refills on that one coast $18.00 for the color and $13.00 for the black.

My refills cost, $29.00 for the color and $22.00 for the black.  Plus I have that $25.00 store credit.  

Hm-mm.  
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Theresa--thanks for finding me!!  Where are you from?