Webigail

After the loss of Maximus Von Hellion, the wonder pet and best bud to our rascal, we knew we had to get a new pup and FAST!

Well, it turns out that our rascal was in for an extra surprise. We just didn’t know it. After picking out a new male pup, turns out my mother not only picked out a new pup too, but this pup was coming by airplane and sooner than anyone expected.

So, we picked Penny up at 11:15pm and it was love at first site. She actually looks like Maxi when he was a puppy. However, Penny turns 6 months old today and only weighs about 3lbs. She’ll probably be no more than 4 lbs, full-grown.

As we sipped on Starbucks coffee, chit-chatting about the children, the laundry and what we’re making for dinner, the subject of credit cards came up. We were all trading “war stories,” when I noticed on thing in particular. Chase was ripping off the public. There is nothing worse than a bunch of women, hopped up on caffeine stewing over the injustices done to their purse-strings.

The worst anecdote made me rush home to reassess my own credit card. One friend mentioned that she has always used her card mainly like a charge card. She uses it as protection during online transactions and as a form of security for purchases that she’s uncertain of. She mentioned that she always pays in full, but noticed that each month there was a finance charge or late charge, despite having paid in full. Even more alarming were the late fees. Not only did she pay the charges in full, but she always paid early and in person, not relying on the “We didn’t get the payment yet,” excuse.

Each month, she had to call Chase’s customer service to ask why there were fees and late charges. Each time she called she was told, “We’ll remove it this time…” as if they were doing her a favor by eliminating bogus charges. Now my friend, is pretty laid back. It takes quite a bit to get her riled up, but after the third month of dealing with the arduous phone calls, she decided to go into the branch.

Get this. Chase tells her that although she pays in full, in person, in the branch, they have no control over when the payment actually reaches the payment center. Um…WHAT?! The next month, she noticed that there was a hidden charge. She added up all of her activities and discovered that there was a $30 charge that was unaccounted for. There was no answer for this mistake, other than…”we’ll remove this fee.”

Ultimately, she ended up closing her account, but even then Chase got the last word. They insisted that, despite her paying off the balance in full, she still owed a small balance. Then they even had the audacity to imply that they were dropping her as a customer. Um…WHAT?!

So, if you are considering opening up a Chase account, or already have one, watch your bills very, very carefully and be thee warned that there is nothing “free” about Chase Bank.”

It’s been a few months since Quiver was hit by a car. We buried him under a crimson, baby azalea plant. We placed him in his favorite spot in the yard; there was this one little spot that he claimed as his own, personal hunting ground.

I have been trying to adjust to not having Shang, or Quiver greet us in the mornings, when all of the pups go out for potty-time. I never imagined that a routine visit with family would result in us reclaiming Shanghai’s bloodline.

When I shared with my niece that Shang had kittens, she was so excited, as this would be her first pet. Naturally, I let her have pick of the litter and being a girl, after my own heart, she selected the very baby that I’d secretly picked for myself. I said nothing, but gave her the kitten, as either choice was a good choice.

Academics, being all too important, prevented my niece from caring for her cat adequately and she shyly asked if I would be interested in reclaiming “Shang’s last baby.” I feel terrible admitting this, but I nearly jumped out of my seat, could hardly contain my glee. What a terrible aunt! How could I be so callous? I wanted to share my niece’s pain, but I was just happy beyond belief that I would once again, have a part of Shanghai.

When I finally reclaimed my senses, I was able to console my brother’s daughter, assuring her that I would take good care of her kitten and she assured me that she knew I would.

So, we have returned home and we’re all trying to adjust to our new girl. It is as if we have been blessed with a combination of both of the cats we lost. A female bobtail, who happens to be the twin of her deceased brother. The only thing that would make us happier, is if we had never lost our kitties to begin with.

No more outdoor, yard cats for us.This cat will receive the red carpet treatment.

I’m working on my first afghan, but I could not resist ordering some scrumptious lace wool from handpaintedyarn.com.

Their prices are phenomenal. They have an incredible color and weight selection. Alas, they have superb customer service. They make it difficult to not purchase from them.

Don’t panic. Animal Planet is not going off the air; I’m just not allowing it my house anymore.

I find myself watching shows about animals and crying, because one is injured, abused or suffers,  as a result of environmental unbalance.  I’ve decided to quit torturing myself by not watching animal shows.

I love animals and find it utterly painful to witness them in agony.

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where this child developed a love for, of all things, GOLF!

He’s not even 3-years-old, but he has been obsessed with golf since last year.

We had been looking for Shanghai Surprise for over a week. The weather started getting nice, we thought she may have been off frolicking with the neighbors or perhaps her son, Quiver, just annoyed her and she needed space.

I thought for sure she’d be back, as she’s never run off before. She’s independent, but she depends on the love of the family, I thought to myself. Surely, she’ll be back.

The first warm, glorious day in March my boys, hubby and son, went out to toss a ball. I had a great day, went to meet the girls for some knitting-time. What could go wrong?

Well, as I prepared dinner, got the table set, the phone rings. It’s the hubby,

“I know where Shang is.”

He didn’t need to say another word. I knew…my Shang was gone. As hubby and junior were playing, the ball rolled under the truck and there she laid, black, small and lifeless. My beloved Japanese bobtail was gone and my poor son was asking daddy why Mommy was crying.

It’s only been a couple of days since we found her, but I’m still in pain and shock. She was a special cat and I’ll not be able to replace her, ever.

Thanks to everyone, who said prayers for her safe return. She came home, after all.

This book ROCKS!

It’s as simple as that.

Who is this book for? It’s for anyone who knows the essential techniques of knitting: casting on, binding off, knit, purl. I am a beginning knitter and find that the patterns are well written. Each pattern is detailed row-by-row.

What’s in the book? You get 500 hundred…yep, I said five-hundred patterns. There are 400 pages and not enough time to tell how marvelous each pattern is, even the simple knit-purl combos. It’s hard to imagine anyone would ever bore of this book as it includes: ribbings, color-changing patterns, twist stitch, lace and much more.

Comments: The fact that this book was first published in the 1960’s and has been re-published, says something about it’s contributions to knitting and the author, Barbara G. Walker. I personally, own some older knitting books, and although there is still much to be gained, the patterns actually look outdated, out of season. A Treasury of Knitting Patterns can be used for years to come. The only thing that shows as proof that it’s an older publication is the use of the original black and white photos.

Had I known about A Treasury of Knitting Patterns series, I would never have purchased some of the other books that I  have, as this book contains just about every thing I’d every need, as far as stitch references go.

Although, I don’t tune in much, just wait for the results, on any given week, I’m still curious. I find that some of the contestants really make me stop and take a listen. There’s an abundant of untapped talent in the world and I’m happy when someone, who may not have gotten an chance, gets some exposure.

What I don’t like is the fact that some producer, some strategist is pushing the chess pieces and blatantly insulting the intelligence of anyone with ears. There is no way I believe that Sanjaya Malakar received enough votes to keep him in a singing competition. He may be eligible to win the hair show, but not American Idol. I believe that America voted for Sanjaya Malakar, like I believe Anna Nicole Smith loved her husband and not his money *cough-cough…I have a $100 bill stuck in my throat*

But, I digress. Getting back to the point. If it isn’t enough that someone is playing a cruel joke on my tympanic-membranes by allowing little Sanjaya to continue singing in the competition, getting his hopes up, and causing my inner ears to bleed, but now they’re charging money for downloading the video clips?! What, are they NUTS?!

Really now. Give us some credit.

American Idol started off by sucking the life, the very souls out of contestants by offering them a Sopranos-esque contract, one in which, “they can’t refuse.” Now, they are packaging and selling videos and mp3’s before the stage is mopped. Next week they’ll be selling sweat beads from the armpit of the lady in the audience, who smiled at this year’s winning contestant, just before they won and flashed a cheesy smile.

Rant over.

Staring is rude. Ask any New Yorker, who will give you a detailed map of where you can go, should they catch your eyes giving them the once-over, longer than the alloted 5 seconds.

However, I find myself doing just that, staring. I do not stare because I’m sizing someone up, but because I am enthralled by the distinct bone-structure of people from various places. Given the opportunity, I would jump at the chance to take a few archeology classes, just to pursue my need to know…”where did she get those glorious cheek bones?”

I am pretty good at narrowing a region, merely by looking at the person’s facial features. The placement of their eyes; the pigment of their skin; the shape of their nose and lips. They are not just of Asian decent, but I can usually determine if they are from the Philippines, or if they are perhaps, from Tibet. I am most recently intrigued by those of Mongolian decent, as they remind me so much of their Native American offspring. The distance between the two groups, often seems such a small gap.

I also marvel at the difference in the bone structure of those from Ethiopia, and let’s say, someone from the Ivory Coast. Of course, many people travel, marry those from other villages, towns, and countries, creating a new wonderful look.

So, next time you feel someone starting at you, please take heart. It could simply be a look of adoration…better yet, it could be me, trying to determine what exotic land you came from.