*whispers* I started to look at Christmas-related stuff today, and I’m very, very tempted to put on a Christmas CD (send help!) :oP
*whispers back* I learned a Christmas song on my guitar and bought my students’ to-make Christmas ornaments at Michaels this weekend. Also I bought outdoor Christmas ornaments. (I am no help) *<|:-)D
@incognito-princess is my “Christmas pusher” and I am now sitting at work, listening to children sing (amazingly in tune) “Angels We Have Heard on High”
GLOOOROOOoooOrOooooOOOoooRoooOOOOOooiaaaaaa, in excelsis deo
…I regret nothing
*whispers* I started to look at Christmas-related stuff today, and I’m very, very tempted to put on a Christmas CD (send help!) :oP
the illustrated definition between “regular” and “decaf”
Now I want a children’s book, in the spirit of Ferdinand, about gator/croc who would rather sit in the sun all day and feel the butterflies flutter and crawl across its head and snout, rather than hunt with the other gators/crocs, who all think “butterfly lover” is weird and “not a real gator/croc” because he/she acts differently, but the butterflies love them and become the gator/croc’s best friend.
So this past Saturday, I moved all my furniture to my new place (yay!) but right away, some issues were discovered
I have a futon, but the screws that put said-futon together are lost, and the hardware stores don’t have the right size! And the futon served as my couch, so right now I don’t have anything to sit on in my place, other than my kitchen chairs
Also, the previous tenant before me never stopped his cable/internet service, which means until he does, I can’t get cable/internet service (I’m writing this while at work). I’ve spoken to the landlord, and she’s going to call him today and tell him the story, but…it’s annoying to say the least ;oP
And finally, this move has pretty much wiped my bank account for next few weeks; and naturally, after you move you realize there’s all this stuff you need (like lampshades! I have lamps but no lampshades) so I’m going to have to do some really careful budgeting for the next few weeks/months as I get settled and figure out what I need, as well as making sure to have enough to pay the utilities :oP Gosh, it’s been a while since I lived on my own, I think I’ve gotten out of practice! Ahhhh!
But anyway, I know, I know, lots of moaning and whining, but at the end of the day, while these things are annoying, I’m well aware that they are definition of “first-world problems” and will get resolved in some way in the relative future.
I’m grateful for the new place, grateful for the furniture I do have that’s together and working (at least we didn’t lose the screws for the bed!) and grateful for the job that pays me the opportunity to live on my own once again. I’m also grateful for my family who have been very supportive, and for all of you lovely people who have also been encouraging and supportive and a wonderful respite from the craziness of starting a new job and getting settled in a new place. I hope to be more active soon, both on tumblr as well as with writing again–looking forward to November for NaNoWriMo and resurrecting my dead stories.
Ok, I’ve babbled long enough :oP thanks for sticking with me if you’ve read this far!
As the raging California wildfires encroached upon Roland Handel’s home, he had to make a split-second decision — try to force his dog Odin into the car, or leave him behind.
Odin is one of two great Pyrenees who take turns guarding the family’s eight goats from coyotes and mountain lions, and he was on duty the night the fires broke out.
“I had my 14-year-old daughter and we had to get out,”
Handel
said between sobs.
So he opened the gates so the animals could flee, then drove off with his daughter, their three other dogs and two cats all packed into the family car.
“By the time we were going down the road, you could hear the twisting metal of transmission towers falling and propane tanks exploding,” he said. “I’ll never forget it.”
He returned the next day, circumventing roadblocks to get there.
He discovered that his home and everything else on his property was completely destroyed.
Except for Odin, who was there waiting for him — with all eight goats.
The dogs paw pads were burnt and his bright white fur was singed orange.
“He looked small and he was limping. He was lying down a lot. He was clearly exhausted.”
A group of deer had gathered with Odin and the goats, Handel said, perhaps also taking advantage of the brave pooch’s protection. The deer scattered when Handel approached.
He believes the dog led the other animals to a clearing at the center of a high outcropping of rocks to avoid contact with the flames.
“Its amazing he’s in such good spirits. He doesn’t show signs of being traumatized at all. He’s just really happy,” Handel said.
“He’ll make a full recovery. He’s going to be back with his goats.”
Well now I’m crying at my dining room table over a dog and his goats
A very good boy
I heard this story on the radio yesterday and even though the announcer assured everyone listening that the story had a happy ending, I still bawled my eyes out; the poor girl at the Starbucks drive thru thought something was wrong, but I told her “no, I just heard a really beautiful story about a dog who protected his flock of goats during a wildfire” :oP
Musings of a Yankee Countess 