tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60430097852310481672024-03-05T09:55:33.884-08:00Beautifully Unique You know what I still don't get? Why are you trying so hard to fit in... when you were born to stand out? --Ian WallaceMary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.comBlogger414125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-62050985797287279412014-12-24T08:57:00.000-08:002014-12-24T08:59:10.553-08:00Merry Christmas, Baby!!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... I have posted some {Hopefully!!} fun
Christmas-themed Blog posts throughout this month. But I saved the best for the
last. A meditation of Christ's Birth in poetry!! Love you later.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Written by Raelyn!!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An angel came to Mary;<br />
Said you're having a baby!<br />
And she was shocked by his news;<br />
But God's found favor in you.<br />
Joseph had lots of doubts;<br />
Now their plans won't work out;<br />
Then an angel came in his sleep;<br />
This wonderful wife you should keep!<br />
Soon they had to move away;<br />
Since the couple couldn't stay;<br />
They left their old town;<br />
For Bethlehem renown.<br />
Suddenly, a feeling;<br />
Our Baby is coming;<br />
But every room was full;<br />
Except for this stable!<br />
Some poor shepherds watched sheep nearby;<br />
When an angel flew from the skies;<br />
While scaring them badly;<br />
He told of the Baby!<br />
And a host came, announcing;<br />
Glory to God, Newborn King!!</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-71100943469538235342014-12-20T23:58:00.000-08:002014-12-20T23:58:24.565-08:00Gingerbread Men/Women Treats<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Well, now this just feels strange. I have yet
to post the Halloween and Thanksgiving dog treat recipes that I baked for Rosey
on Beautifully Unique.... And yet, here we are {Five days until Christmas!!
Gasp!!} and I am posting the dog treat recipe that I'm planning on giving Rosey
for Christmas?! Ugh. Love you later.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I <i>own </i>a dog treat
cookbook which features <i>four </i>different
Christmas-themed recipes. <i>Cool, right?</i>
However. The recipe that I <i>initially</i>
planned to bake, we <i>lacked the
ingredients for!!</i> So.... I <i>logged
Online</i> the other night and did a <i>lengthy</i>
Google-search which lasted until about <i>11:30!!</i>
The winner?</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gingerbread Dog Biscuits!!</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
We have <i>all </i>the ingredients in our
kitchen. <i>Check!!</i> I happen to be a <i>sucker</i> for gingerbread men this time of
year. <i>Check!! </i>And perhaps the <i>best</i> reason of all? <i>They taste like Christmas!! </i>Why, yes. I <i>did</i> taste-test one!! <i>To give
credit to whom credit is due? I found this recipe on
http://dukesandduchesses.com . </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Rosey would rate this recipe <i>four
'paws' way, way up!! </i>{Yes, she got a pre-Christmas Day sample!!} </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gingerbread Dog Biscuits</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3 cups whole wheat flour </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{I am a
rebel.... So I used <i>2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour</i> and <i>2 1/2 cups white flour!!</i>
This way--in my experience--the dough is not crumbly!! But I <i>did</i> need to add <i>a
little more water</i> off and on!!} <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1/2 teaspoon ground ginger<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1/2 cup molasses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1/2 cup water </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{She put this little <i>much needed ingredient</i> down <i>below, </i>so I <i>neglected</i> to even <i>see</i> it.... <i>At first.</i> So I
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. In a
large bowl, sift together the flour, ginger and cinnamon. </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{I repeat.... I am a rebel!! So I just <i>poured </i>those ingredients into
my bowl!! <i>Who needs a sifter?!</i>} <b>Mix in
the oil, molasses, and let rest for 15 minutes. </b>{If memory serves me
right--and it <i>seldom </i>ever does!!--I <i>hip swayed</i> to Elvis Presley's version of
"Here Comes Santa Claus" as it <i>played
on our radio</i> while <i>waiting!!</i> My <i>body </i>will most likely <i>hate</i> me <i>tomorrow!!</i>}<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/4-inch thick. </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{You know what? I do not <i>care</i>
about measuring dough thickness!! I just <i>roll
it out</i> and <i>hope </i>for the <i>best!!</i> Anyhoo....} <b>Cut out the cookies with bone-shaped cookie cutters <i>[I
also used a dog house cookie cutter]</i>. </b>{Wait. <i>What?!</i> These are <i>gingerbread</i> dog cookies!! <i>Oh for
Heaven's sake!!</i> I used my <i>gingerbread
man and woman cutter!!</i>} <b>Transfer to
the prepared sheet. Bake until firm, about 20 minutes. </b>{Um.... I baked them for <i>25
minutes!!</i> I made <i>15</i> gingerbread men
and women treats!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Did you know that I introduced my nearly three-year old niece,
"Amethyst" to Bruce Springsteen's rockin' live performance of "Santa
Claus is Coming to Town"? {Which, by the way, occurred in 1975!! That was
before I was ever even born!! Cool!!} She--who calls Bruce Springsteen "Buce"--will stop playing and dance to "Santa Claus is Coming to
Town" alongside me!! {Yes, as though nobody is watching!!} I love how Bruce
Springsteen feels like a longtime family friend somehow--his singing,
performances and music--expanding generations.... My parents.... Me.... "Amethyst".... And did you know that Bruce
Springsteen makes an awesome dog treat baking partner? {Or more like a blessed
distraction!!} Because after several failed vibes sent toward our local "Christmas"
radio station to play Bruce Springsteen, they finally did!! Honestly? As I sang
and danced around the house, I haven't a clue how much work I got done!! Aw,
Bruce.... <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-17091528877065526772014-12-13T23:12:00.000-08:002014-12-13T23:12:14.627-08:00The Beagle Ornament<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blogging Friends.... This post is "an oldie but a goodie",
as that phrase goes, for I first "published" it in 2011!! Wow....
That was three years ago!! I have made changes to it, as per usual!! Love you
later. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grief.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It is an <i>interesting</i> concept. <i>Complex,</i>
even. Depending on the individual <i>walking</i>
that path, <i>grief </i>is as <i>unique</i> as a
<i>Zebra's</i> stripe pattern. <i>Or the human
fingerprint.</i> Or a <i>Giraffe's</i>
markings. <i>Or a snowflake. </i>Some people
are seemingly <i>so very emotional </i>that
their <i>loss and grief</i> overcomes them. <i>Which is absolutely okay.</i> Others are
seemingly <i>mentally strong,</i> with <i>few</i>
tears streaming down their faces. <i>Which
is absolutely okay, as well.</i> There's <i>no
</i>right or wrong way to grieve. In <i>my </i>experience,
once you <i>think</i> grief has passed, {No
pun intended!!} <i>every single thought/feeling/emotion
resurfaces</i> <i>itself</i> like some <i>fish</i>
bobbing his <i>head</i> in water. Because once
you <i>consider</i> grief "dealt
with", and <i>progress</i> is made,
your <i>complicated</i> thoughts/feelings/emotions
take command. Then? It feels like <i>zero</i>
progress was <i>ever</i> been made, and as
though you have "relapsed". <i>Yes,
I know this experience far too well.</i> I <i>always</i>
think about and miss Shadow Sunshine, my <i>Beautifully
Unique </i>"blond"-furred German Shepherd/Golden Retriever cross at
Christmastime. <i>She was euthanized on June
15th, 2010. I have an entire decade's worth of Christmas memories spent with
Shadow. Of filling her soft velvet-like red and white stocking. Of purchasing
treats, plus dog toys. Of celebrating December 25th with my mutt.</i> I recall
as though it was <i>yesterday</i> mine and
Shadow's <i>final </i>Christmas together.
Shadow had been showing <i>inevitable</i>
signs of aging. <i>Deafness, stiff joints,
senile behavior.</i> I somehow <i>knew</i>
deep, deep, <i>deep</i> down within my heart
that this would be our <i>last </i>Christmas
together. <i>Was it Mama's Intuition? I do not know. </i>I could just <i>feel</i> that <i>December 25th, 2009</i> would be our <i>last </i>Christmas together. So I <i>made
it count.</i> Every single second. <i>And
boy, did I create an amazing last
Christmas memory!! For it is one that will remain within my psych forever. Forever.</i>
Shadow no longer <i>played....</i> Thus
spending money on <i>tennis balls</i> seemed
<i>irrelevant</i> this year. <i>Instead,</i> I filled her Christmas stocking
with <i>treats, treats, treats and more
treats.</i> Nothing else. Because, although Shadow was <i>never</i> a <i>"food-lovin'" girl</i> like Rose,
throughout her <i>final</i> years on Earth,
she <i>loved </i>treats. If memory serves
me--and it <i>seldom</i> ever does!!--I
purchased <i>pizza-flavored Canine Carry
Outs, Snawsomes twists, and salmon Yummy Chummies. </i>Nothing <i>healthy,</i> I'm afraid!! But to quote Tony Stark from <i>Iron
Man 3</i>? <b>"Screw it, it's
Christmas</b><b>!"</b> Well!! It
turned out that my <i>Mama's Intuition</i>
was <i>absolutely</i> <i>correct.</i> Because less
than six months later? <i>Shadow died.</i>
And we would <i>never</i> enjoy <i>another</i> December 25th together again. <i>Fast forward.</i> During <i>Christmas 2010,</i> three months after <i>adopting </i>Rose--surprise, surprise!!--I
was <i>still </i>struggling with grief. It
came upon me <i>suddenly,</i> like some
explosive ambush. <i>See, 2010 was a Christmas of firsts. Cosmic
firsts. In more ways than one!! 2010 was my first Christmas with Rose. And....
It was also my first December 25th sans Shadow.</i> I bought Rose a <i>matching soft velvet-like red and white
Christmas stocking.</i> I <i>purchased</i>
her gifts. Yet somehow, the <i>memory</i> of
Shadow's <i>last Christmas</i> on Earth
seemingly <i>haunted</i> me that year. <i>Like some ghost or demon.</i> I just <i>missed</i>
Shadow <i>so much!! </i>Complicated, twisted thoughts/feelings/emotions <i>seared</i> through me. It felt <i>selfish</i> and <i>wrong</i> to be experiencing <i>such</i>
a palpable longing for Shadow.... <i>When I
have Rose!!</i> But, nonetheless, there were <i>tears, sorrow, and heartache.</i> All expressed <i>privately,</i> as I am <i>known</i> for <i>keeping thoughts/feelings/emotions</i> from those who I'm in <i>close proximity</i> to. <i>Which, I will admit, is a fault of mine.</i> One Saturday, we drove
downtown to do some <i>Christmas shopping.</i>
And I was feeling <i>really </i>emotional. I
<i>wept</i> in an <i>antique shop</i> while <i>halfheartedly</i>
looking at merchandise. <i>Yes, wept.</i>
And, although I <i>tried</i> to hold those
tears <i>within</i> me, they <i>flowed anyway</i>
like some <i>mighty</i> <i>waterfall.</i> For
lunch, we ate <i>fast-food</i> at <i>Jack-In-The-Box. </i>I ordered my <i>usual</i>
favorite. <i>The Ultimate Cheeseburger. </i>{Minus
ketchup and mustard.} <i>Which, they have
since ruined--in my opinion--by adding spices. Yuck!! Why couldn't
Jack-In-The-Box just leave well enough alone?! </i>While <i>awaiting </i>our meal, my
<i>tears</i> forced me toward their <i>ladies room</i> to <i>compose
</i>myself. I then <i>stared</i> in their
<i>mirror</i> and <i>attempted </i>bravery. <i>I'll be
okay. I'll be okay. I'll be okay,</i> I chanted to myself, as though it were a
<i>mantra.</i> Then later, we discovered this <i>quaint</i> little store. <i>It was decorated for Christmas!!</i> <i>Everything looked so lovely!!</i> On
display, there was this <i>small artificial
tree.</i> It looked <i>so very</i> <i>festive!!</i> Hanging on its branches were <i>various glass dog breed ornaments.</i>
Naturally, I felt <i>drawn</i> to the <i>Golden Retriever,</i> which is
"half" of Shadow. <i>No, </i>I
coached myself, <i>Move on. Time to move
on.... Be in the "now". Walk away from that tree!! </i>And <i>walk away</i>
I did. Then suddenly, I felt God <i>softly
whisper</i> <i>something</i> to my heart and soul. He said this. <i>Go back. Go back. Look for the Beagle. </i>So, I <i>walked over</i> to that artificial Christmas tree once more. And.... <i>There it was!!</i> A glass, glittery brown,
black and white Beagle!! <i>Oh, it was
absolutely flawless!! And the
ornament may as well have been custom-made!! Black on its back, a white
chest, this adorable brown-colored furrowed forehead.... Just like Rose!! </i>So, I <i>purchased</i>
the ornament. <i>Because how could I
possibly resist?! </i>Its tag read this. <b>Beagle:
Dogs selflessly give humans their unconditional love and loyalty. Beagles are
one of the most popular scent hounds because of their energy, willingness to
work and sweet dispositions. They make great family pets and truly enjoy their
status as "man's best friend."</b> <i>Wow. Minus the "energy {and} willingness to work" part,
that describes Rose spot-on!! Loyal. A
sweet disposition. Loving. </i>I will <i>treasure
forever</i> that sparkly glass Beagle ornament!! <i>Because one glance at it reminds me of so much.</i> <i>That first Christmas sans Shadow. My tearful mood
swing-infused pity party. Healing. </i>Not to mention. <i>Everything</i> that Rose <i>blesses</i>
me with!! <i>She is an incredible
one-of-a-kind friend!! My four-legged "kindred spirit". Because, as a
mutt, Rose was born different, like me. She's
amiable, submissive, and easy to train. Rose is sneaky, strong-willed, plus
sometimes naughty. And I love it all!!
Rose truly is a Beautifully
Unique creature!!</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-69074377168003329812014-12-10T15:25:00.000-08:002014-12-10T21:51:56.534-08:00Flyin' My Christmas Freak Flag!!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Fun games. I rather enjoy them!! Bridal shower
games. Baby shower games. Ellen DeGeneres' talk show games. Especially when
such games are Christmas-y!! Well, on her Blog today, Kelle Hampton partook in
something festive and fun!! "The best of the best for December". So I
thought I'd play along!! We were supposed to leave our answers in the comment
box. However. I am a rebel!! Besides. My answers are far too long for a little
comment box!! I also made several changes, as per usual!! Enjoy!! Love you later.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Favorite Christmas film. <i>Prancer</i>.
I <i>grew up</i> with this film because its <i>main character, Jessica,</i> reminds <i>everybody</i> of <i>little girl me!!</i> And as soon as the Christmas season <i>begins? </i>I <i>quote lines</i> from <i>Prancer </i>in
my <i>crazy never-shuts-down head!!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Runners up. The <i>Santa Clause</i>
trilogy. {With Tim Allen!! <i>Love</i> him!!}
<i>Miracle on 34th Street</i> {Both the <i>old </i>and <i>new</i> versions!!} <i>It's a
Wonderful Life</i>. <i>The Nativity Story. </i>....
There are <i>so</i> <i>many</i> good holiday films out there!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Favorite Christmas song. Bruce Springsteen's rockin' live
version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"!! <i>Because.... Bruce!! Hello? Need I say more?! I do not think so!! For
me, it just is not Christmas until I hear this song!! Because when Bruce
Springsteen calls out </i></span><span class="spoken1"><b><i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"You guys know what time it is?
What time, huh? What? What? Oh, Christmas time!" </span></i></b></span><span class="spoken1"><i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">he not only catches my
attention. He awakens my Christmas Spirit like nobody--and I mean nobody--can!!<b>
</b></span></i></span><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Rudolph The
Red-Nosed Reindeer". Why? <i>Because we
are Kindred Spirits, Rudolph and I. I was born different. My birth defects were
craniosynostosis. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. And Wolff-Parkinson White
syndrome. Rudolph? He was born with a bright red nose!! I have been made fun
of, called nasty names and--yes--left out of "reindeer games". As has
he!! I am a misfit in this world. As is he!! Simply put? Rudolph and I
"get" each other!! </i>{I <i>don't</i>
have a specific <i>favorite version</i> of
that song.... <i>Although I do love it whenever
the radio plays</i> <i>Harry Connick Jr.'s!!</i>
Martina MacBride's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little
Christmas". <i>Because that song has
been there for me on more than one occasion!! </i>"Little Saint Nick"
by The Beach Boys. <i>I call it "Run,
Run Reindeer", because I love renaming songs!! During Christmas 2005, I
was afflicted with pneumonia. An illness which I would never wish upon
anybody!! Whenever the radio played "Little Saint Nick", it made my entire
Christmas!! I love it!! </i>And to keep Christ in Christmas?
"Hark! The Herald Angel Sing". <i>Because
of its timeless, beautiful doctrinally sound lyrics!! </i>Oh, I could go on and
on and on....</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Favorite Christmas tradition. </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Well....</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
Now that I am </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">an adult,</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> many of my
<i>fondest Christmas traditions </i>have </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">sadly</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
stopped. </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So I will be nostalgic!!</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> One.
We enjoyed </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">annual cookie exchanges</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
at my Aunt and Uncle's house. </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Yum!!</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
</span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">always </i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">sat at the table where my
Grandmother's "old" friends--</span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">who
are now mostly all gone</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">--were. We </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">ate
cookies</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> while I </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">charmed </i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">them!! </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For some reason they loved little
pain-in-the-ass me!!</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Two. My oldest brother </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">played</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> his </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">acoustic guitar</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
as we sang </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">various Christmas songs</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> at
my grandparents' house </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">every</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Christmas Eve!!</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> I </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">especially</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> loved it when he played "We Three Kings"!!
Because at the <b>"O, star of wonder, star of bright, star of royal beauty
bright"</b> my oldest brother </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">got silly</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
and </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">really </i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">strummed that guitar!! </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ah, memories!!</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Every year, we drove to a
</span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">tree farm</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> with my Grandparents, Aunt,
Uncle and cousins. Once there? My Dad chopped down our "perfect"
tree as we all yelled "Timber!!" Later, my Grandparents handed out </span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">various
</i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Hallmark Christmas ornaments. <i>We have collected so many over the years!!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear Blogging Friends.... You may play along too!! Your turn!! </span></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-79251736966301827792014-12-06T11:14:00.000-08:002014-12-06T11:45:47.585-08:00Christmas Magic <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends..... So I am planning on posting Christmas-themed posts twice a week this month. Well!! I guess when you possess a poor concept of
time, are indecisive on what, exactly, to post, and watching your beautiful
nieces three days a week? It does not happen!! Anyhoo. This was a
Christmas-themed journal entry!! Some changes were made, as per usual!! Love
you later.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Look for my Christmas-themed fictional story to be posted on
Minuscule is good! { </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">http://writing--projects.blogspot.com/ } </span></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">today!! </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">{Lord willing!!}</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;"> </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do not
listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.</span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This has always been a
"law" in our house. Which was <i>established</i>
by my <i>Dad!!</i> Because he is the
"Christmas Police". Listening to our <i>ever-growing</i> <i>collection</i>
of holiday C.D.s <i>before</i> Thanksgiving
is simply "prohibited" around here. If Dad the "Christmas
Police" {Yes, he <i>has </i>been called
Mr. Grinch!! And, as soon as Thanksgiving is <i>over,</i> Dad the "Christmas Police" truly <i>loves</i> this time of year!! I'm just
sayin'!!} <i>ever </i>finds out, then Dad the
"Christmas Police" will "arrest" and throw us <i>all</i> in "prison"!!
<i>Just kidding!!</i> However. <i>Nobody </i>follows that "law" in
this house!! Not my Mom. Or Michael. Not my sister. Or me. We begin
listening to Christmas music as early as November 1st!! <i>Happily, thank-you very much!! </i>Because while Dad the "Christmas
Police" is <i>away at work</i> all day?
<i>That </i>is when we <i>push play </i>on our <i>pre-Thanksgiving</i>
holiday music!! <i>Dad's gone!! Bring it!!
He will never know!!</i> This is a <i>cosmic
secret</i>--because it's <i>"illegal",</i>
remember?!--and we are <i>hush-hush</i>
about our behind Dad the "Christmas Police's" back <i>pre-Thanksgiving</i> holiday music!! <i>Comically so!!</i> However, Dad the "Christmas
Police" <i>does</i> always eventually <i>find our cosmic secret out,</i> as <i>small piles</i> of holiday C.D.'s lying
around--I'm afraid--<i>gives</i> us away!! <i>Whoops. Do we look like we care?!</i> Dad
the "Christmas Police" hasn't "arrested" us!! <i>Not yet!!</i> On <i>November 10th,</i> my Mom, Michael and I drove
to the mall for some Christmas shopping. <i>Target
was also one of our stops!! </i>It <i>turned
out</i> to be a <i>good day</i> {For <i>me!!</i>} to score some <i>Christmas presents!!</i>
Well. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... <i>Everywhere</i> we go!! While Michael and I were walking the mall, we
saw <i>a bright flash of light</i> from its
lower floor level. Santa Claus' <i>photographer</i>
was <i>downstairs</i> snapping pictures of children!! <i>Yes, Santa Claus!! Before
Thanksgiving!!</i> Michael and I <i>immediately</i>
weaved through <i>throngs of shoppers</i> to
<i>look down.</i> We <i>missed</i> the children.... But....
<i>Santa looked up and waved his white-gloved hand at us!!</i> <i>It.
Was. Magical!!</i> I do not know <i>what</i>
occurred next. <i>Suddenly, I was transformed
into a little girl!!</i> <i>Santa Claus has
an amazing way of doing that!! How....? I haven't a clue!!</i> "Hi
Santa!!" I <i>shamelessly called out</i> for <i>all
the world to hear.</i> Michael was <i>no
worse</i> than me. <i>He, too, transformed
into a little boy!!</i> "Merry Christmas!!" Michael said. And then,
to make this experience <i>all</i> the more magical?
<i>Santa let out a hearty, jolly "Ho,
ho, ho!!"</i> Wow.... This man was <i>born</i>
to be Santa Claus!! <i>Or perhaps....? He
really is Santa!! It felt so very magical--as though I was in Miracle on 34th
Street--and I'm Susan Walker!! </i>Shortly thereafter? Michael and I stepped
into <i>Hallmark. </i>Before I even <i>purchased </i>a Christmas present? I heard an <i>all-too-familiar voice</i> call out: </span></b><span class="spoken1"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"You guys know what time it is? What time, huh? What?
What? Oh, Christmas time!" And I knew. <i>It was
Bruce Springsteen's</i></span></b></span><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> rockin' version of
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"</span></i></b><span class="spoken1"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">!!</span></i></b></span><span class="spoken1"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <i>On the radio. Before
Thanksgiving!! </i></span></b></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The moment I <i>heard</i> Bruce Springsteen's
voice, he <i>instantaneously</i> called me
into <i>a Christmas spirit!!</i> And I became
very, very, <i>very</i> excited!! "It's
Bruce!!" I called to Michael. <i>In a
tiny Hallmark store. Where the clerks know me by name. At the mall. Because
during one fleeting second? I forgot that I was in public!! It is Bruce
Springsteen's fault!! What? It is!!</i> A woman <i>purchasing something </i>at Hallmark's checkout desk <i>looked at me quizzically</i> as if
wondering, <i>Who is Bruce?</i> "Sorry,"
I <i>sheepishly</i> said, "Not
really!!" <i>I break for Bruce
Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"!! </i>So I <i>stopped</i> my <i>potential </i>Christmas shopping!! I <i>danced</i> as though <i>nobody</i>
was watching. <i>Because Bruce Springsteen
has far better moves than I do!! Trust me on that one!!</i> I <i>lip synched</i> the lyrics. <i>And i</i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t was
official. Christmas had arrived!! Because when Santa Claus and Clarence </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Clemons</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> both "ho, ho, ho"
me in one day? I fly my Christmas freak flag high!! And I fly it openly!! "Law"?
What "law"?! Dad the "Christmas Police" cannot "arrest"
and throw me into "jail" now!! Why? Because The Boss
said so!! </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-67228348134839391762014-11-29T09:34:00.000-08:002014-11-29T10:02:25.252-08:00Toxic "People Food" For Dogs<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Dear sweet Blogging
Friends.... So I've been "missing in action" for, like, nearly one
month, haven't I? Sorry about that!! Here is my very valid, completely honest
explanation--er, excuse--as to why I have not posted on Beautifully Unique in
so long!! Ready....? I have seemingly had a ton of deep, profound, soul
searching issues weighing in my crazy never-shuts-down head this month. Three, actually!! {More shall be revealed!! Eventually!!} And, well, writing/journaling--not Blogging--has apparently taken first
priority lately!! Whew!! My lame, completely honest explanation--er--excuse is
over!! But take heart!! All of my sporadic Blogging is about to change shortly!! Why?
Because the Christmas season is now fully upon us!! {Time to </span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">officially</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> wave my Holiday Freak Flag proudly!!} And if I
don't write Christmas-themed Blog posts twice a week in December, then my elf name is not
Spunky Twinkletoes!! Love you later.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Taken from PetSmart Charities<sup>® </sup>and an old HealthyPets<sup>
</sup>e-mail!! I combined the two!! My apologies if I repeated any facts!!</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Keep "People Food" Off Your Pet's
Holiday Menu<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep your pet safe and healthy this holiday season by saying
"no" to the following holiday foods:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Holiday table scraps. Pets love rich scraps such as drippings, gravy
and poultry skin; however, they can cause pets to suffer from severe
indigestion, diarrhea and even pancreatitis, which is not only terribly
painful, but can be fatal. Never offer fatty foods to your pets and advise
guests not to feed them either. </span></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Confession. Rose does receive a little bit of plump white boneless
turkey meat {Because Life is short and it's Thanksgiving, after all!!} but I
make certain that she does not eat too much!! </span></i><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep items such as mashed potatoes and gravy away from the ends of
the table and counter tops so "counter surfing" pets can't reach
them. Also, secure trash and keep it out of reach, such as under the sink.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chocolate is very dangerous to pets. It contains high levels
theobromine, which can over-stimulate the heart</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and is a diuretic</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> After</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>their pet has eaten a large quantity of<br />
chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs
of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within
twenty-four hours. Symptoms include staggering, labored breathing, vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia,
seizures, coma, death.</b> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just a few ounces of chocolate can be fatal for a small dog. Keep
all types of chocolate out of reach of dogs and cats, especially baker's
chocolate, which is seven times more toxic than milk chocolate.</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Cocoa powder</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>and
cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously
affected if "he" eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or
half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain
ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake
could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of
the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell. Semi-sweet</b> <b>chocolate
and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being
the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk
chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to
eat.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Poultry bones can splinter and form sharp points, and can get stuck
in the gastrointestinal tract causing dangerous perforations. They might also
become lodged in the throat, gums or the roof of the mouth. Pets can't resist a
juicy bone, so make sure they can't steal one! Also, remove skewers and string
from the turkey, as well as that delicious roasting bag that a pet would love
to devour. Your pet could end up having surgery to remove such items from his
digestive tract. </span></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I empty our tall kitchen garbage immediately as soon as my Mom
finishes pulling the turkey meat off its bones!!</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in gum, mints, candy, baked
goods. Even 1/8 teaspoon can cause dangerously low blood sugar in dogs and ½
teaspoon can cause liver damage.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Uncooked yeast dough raises major health issues. Hard to believe
there's a downside to homemade bread, but uncooked yeast dough can cause
abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, disorientation and depression in pets. The
product of rising dough is alcohol, which can be poisonous.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alcohol and pets do not mix. Place alcoholic drinks safely out of
reach, and patrol the party to be sure your guests do the same. Alcohol
poisoning is serious and can be fatal. Never give alcohol to a pet.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No coffee please! That means anything with coffee in it, from
gourmet, chocolate-covered espresso beans to your morning latte. Caffeine creates
symptoms in pets such as restlessness, tremors and seizures depending on the
amount that is ingested.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Macadamia nuts cause severe reactions, including muscular weakness,
disorientation, depression, tremors and abdominal pain in dogs.</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal
muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often
unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have
swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Symptoms can last from one to three days.</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Their high phosphorus content is said to
possibly lead to bladder stones. </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No grapes or raisins! Dogs have suffered poisoning after consuming
between 9 ounces and 2 pounds of grapes or raisins. </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As few as a handful of</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>raisins or grapes</b> <b>can
make a dog ill. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, </b></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">severe gastrointestinal
upset to kidney failure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mushroom toxicity does occur in dogs and it can be fatal if certain
species of mushrooms are eaten. Amanita phalloides is the most commonly
reported severely toxic species of mushroom in the U.S. but other Amanita
species are toxic. Symptoms include abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage,
kidney damage, vomiting diarrhea, convulsions, coma, death.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baby foods</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>can
contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. Can also result in
nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts. </b><i>I have baked Rose twain different dog treat recipes which call for baby
food. {One of which I have yet to post on Beautifully Unique.} I always pre-read
the baby food's ingredients before mixing it into Rose's treat batter!! So far
so good!!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bones from fish can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive
system. </span></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The same goes for chicken, as well!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cat food</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>is
generally too high in protein and fats.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fat trimmings can cause pancreatitis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Milk & dairy food: Some adult dogs do not have sufficient
amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>Rose has zero issues with
dairy products!! Are you kidding me?! Rose love, love, loves cheese!!</i> <b>This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free
milk products are available for pets.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Raw Eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the
absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat
problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Raw Fish can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading
to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw
fish is fed regularly. </span></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I read this in one of my dog books. Raw, or undercooked salmon, steelhead
and trout from the Northwest carries flukes that can cause Salmon Poisoning.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>"It is not the fish
itself that causes canine salmon poisoning but the presence of a
bacteria--Neorickettsia helminthoeca--that lives in one of the salmon's
internal parasites. This parasite, a fluke, travels throughout the fish's
circulatory system, invading its muscles as well. When a dog eats uncooked
fish, he ingests these flukes--and the pathogenic bacteria they contain. The
flukes pass through the dog's intestinal tract, but the lethal bacteria remains
behind, causing disease and often death." </b><i>Eating small amounts of raw or undercooked salmon, steelhead and trout
can kill your dog.<b> </b>Symptoms are
slight fever, followed by a loss of appetite. Then higher fever, often reaching
dangerous levels. Above 107 is considered a lethal temperature for canines.
Even if they survive the 107
degree fever, worst, oft deadly symptoms include this. Severe
diarrhea and dehydration. Few dogs
survive untreated.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep contact information for your veterinarian and the nearest
emergency veterinary clinic readily available.</span></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Call or visit the veterinarian immediately at the first signs of
injury or illness. You can use a pet first-aid kit to treat minor injuries, so
be sure you have one on hand.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, dear Blogging Friends. Please keep this information in
mind if you're like me and own a "food-lovin'" dog as you celebrate the Christmas season!! Or Hanukkah.
Or Kwanza. Or Solstice. Or New Years....</span></i><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-53778893491724270082014-11-05T11:49:00.000-08:002014-11-05T12:29:41.099-08:00Avri Roel Downey <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Blogging Friends.... I am in the
process of working on a Blog post {And I really need to "publish" the
Halloween dog cookie recipe that I baked for Rose!!} but I awoke this morning to exciting news!! Robert Downey Jr. and his wife welcomed their beautiful baby
girl into the world yesterday!! Congrats, congrats, congrats!! I cannot wait to
"meet" her!! Love you later.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Check out my
Thanksgiving-themed November fictional children's book on Minuscule is good! !! And leave
comments!! <i>Molly, I know you already did!!</i> Thank-you!! I <i>live </i>for comments!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It's just the
uncertainty of how nowadays you have all these things where you think you have
much more of an understanding of what you're going to get. And then this little
soul lets herself be known to you, and it's just like: You don't know anything.
It's great! </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 115%;">--Robert Downey Jr.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">An official announcement on Robert Downey
Jr.'s Facebook page!! Written by the proud Daddy himself, of course!!</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After 9 months of intensive development, Team Downey is pleased to
announce our 2014 fall/winter project.</span></b></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Principal photography commenced 11-14 and will continue until she
says, "Dad! You are embarrassing me...I'm 30, this has gotta stop."</span></b></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yep...Avri Roel Downey joined the party @ 3:22 a.m. on November
4th...she's 7lbs even, spans 20 inches, and is accompanied by a variety of
Susan's traits that have seemingly overwritten my "junk DNA."</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I'll post pics here + there when I'm not too busy staring...</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>"Junk DNA"?! Ah, come on, Robert Downey Jr.!! Avri could be just like you and {I promise!!} she will still grow up to be a wonderful person!! Just. Like. You....</i></span></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-87303430312750621412014-10-20T20:14:00.000-07:002014-10-20T20:14:51.691-07:00"Drop"<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Behold!! A story about Rose!! For the
first time in.... Well.... Forever.... Love you later. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">History, in my own <i>personal</i>
experience, can have a way of <i>repeating </i>itself.
<i>Like déjà vu all over again.</i> Growing
up, I owned this <i>female cat</i> with
snow-white fur and an itty bitty "kiss" of black on her head. She was
{According to my Mom} "the sweetest cat we've ever had". Just <i>four years old,</i> I was <i>indecisive </i>on <i>what to name</i> my new kitten. Eventually? I named her Sugar. <i>Thank Heavens I did not choose
"Whitey", because that was a close runners-up!! </i>I recall Sugar as
being <i>loyal</i>--like her <i>half-brother Goldie</i>--she <i>never</i> wandered away or left home. But
then <i>one </i>July in 1991, we travelled
to <i>Bakersfield, California</i> for a <i>family reunion.</i> Neighbors <i>frequently</i> looked in on Sugar and
Goldie--both outdoor/indoor cats--as they gave them some <i>attention</i> while <i>also</i> inspecting
their <i>food/water situation.</i> Sadly, we <i>returned home</i> from <i>scorching hot Bakersfield temperatures</i> to only <i>one</i> feline. <i>Sugar was gone. </i>Fast forward. In June of 1997, my Mom was "gifted" with a <i>male cat</i> from her <i>brother</i> and <i>twain nieces. </i>They
had previously named this yellow-eyed, white, tan and black striped feline Yoda.
Since giving pets to <i>unsuspecting people</i>
is <i>not recommended </i>for <i>valid reasons,</i> he was <i>unwanted</i> by my Mom. So I took him!!
Unlike Sugar, Yoda was prone to wander. He would <i>frequently </i>disappear on "adventures" but <i>always </i>return home. <i>Always.</i> But then <i>one</i>
February day in 1999, Yoda <i>never came
home.</i> Like <i>Sugar</i> all those years
before, he was gone. <i>History had just
repeat itself. </i>As a <i>Lifelong</i>
lover of <i>dogs,</i> I then spent some time
<i>researching</i> breeds {And their <i>mixes,</i> of course!! I love, love, <i>love</i> mutts!!} that <i>follow their noses "to China" </i>if allowed. Such as Border
Collies. {As well as their mixes!!} <i>And....
Beagles. {As well as their mixes!!} </i>I then made a <i>mental note</i> to never--<i>ever</i>--adopt
or rescue <i>any</i> mutt with a breed
within her D.N.A. that wanders. This was a <i>strict
</i>rule. Because my poor thoughts, feelings, emotions, and heart <i>could not deal</i> if history repeated
itself again. <i>Fast forward once more.</i>
On <i>September 21st, 2010,</i> I <i>broke this rule</i> when I saw Rose. <i>A sign on her kennel read "Beagle X".</i>
And, although admittedly, I <i>did </i>have
my <i>initial reservations</i> about
adopting Rose <i>because</i> of her very apparent
D.N.A., it was love at first.... Uh.... Bay!! <i>Yes, she was excited, friendly, and belting out her "happy
sound" from day one!! </i>Then, suddenly? My <i>heart melted,</i> and <i>every</i>
mental list or rule that I had <i>previously</i>
made was <i>virtually </i>erased!! I could <i>feel</i> it. Rose was "the one"!! <i>And I am so very thankful that she is!!</i> One <i>heart pounding,
adrenaline-rushed, panic producing dash</i> down the cul-de-sac after my escape
artist Rose <i>years</i> ago in November was <i>far</i> more than <i>I</i> could handle!! If our backyard gate is wide open? <i>I watch Rose like a hawk.</i> If our front
door is wide open? <i>I watch Rose like a
hawk.</i> If our garage doors are wide open? <i>I watch Rose like a hawk.</i> In <i>other
</i>words? <i>I leash Rose up!! </i>One <i>very</i> busy Saturday--my oldest brother <i>surprised</i> us by <i>stopping by </i>with his little girls, "Amethyst" and Opal"!!--we
had firewood delivered to our house. <i>Although.
The weather has been so very unseasonably warm with clear skies and sunshine
around here, we have yet to burn any firewood!! As a matter of fact. I sit here
at this very flat screened desktop computer wearing shorts!! Where is our
"normal" brisk, rainy Autumn weather?! Weird. </i>After my oldest brother
left with "Amethyst" and "Opal", the dump truck dropped our
firewood off!! <i>I love watching him
maneuver his vehicle!! I was a bit bummed that either "Amethyst",
"Opal", or Rose distracted me from seeing</i> <i>how the dump truck works!! Oh well. </i>I then emptied/refilled our
dishwasher, ate lunch, wolfed down a homemade frozen s'mores cupcake, picked up
kid toys, then stepped outside to help fill the wheelbarrow with firewood!! <i>Whew!!</i> Our gate was <i>wide open,</i> as we needed to haul that firewood
around back from the driveway. Before stepping outside, I <i>nervously</i> asked my sister {Who stayed in her bedroom} "Can you
just.... Make sure that Rose doesn't go outside? The gate's open. I'm gonna go
help bring wood around." Our next door neighbor had <i>graciously volunteered</i> to help us. So this task moved along <i>surprisingly</i> quickly!! <i>Despite my Dad getting called into work, and
therefore losing twain strong arms!! </i>I piled firewood into the wheelbarrow.
As did my youngest brother, Michael. And our next door neighbor. <i>He insisted on pushing the heavy wheelbarrow
every single time!! I offered repeatedly. But he insisted!! </i>At one point, I
<i>emptied</i> my rubber Crocks {<i>Definitely</i> <i>not good shoes for this job!!</i>} of <i>sawdust chippings.</i> I sat on our wooden sun-stained yellow front
porch bench to <i>empty</i> them. When--from
the living room window--I could hear Rose <i>desperately</i>
baying for me!! <i>Oh, I who can resist?! </i><i>I then allowed myself a short break, and
stepped inside to stroke Rose's velvet-soft fur!! I spoke sweetly to her. I
calmed down Rose's hyperactive energy. </i>Then I stepped back outside and returned
to work. Shortly thereafter, Michael <i>surprised</i>
me with a bottle of water. <i>Which was just
what I needed!!</i> And--<i>cosmic</i>
oops--apparently Michael did not <i>close </i>our
<i>white magnetic bedroom door </i>{Which
leads to the backyard!!} very well. It happened <i>so</i> very fast. Seemingly one
second. I turned around and saw her. <i>Rose!!
Loose, leash-less and unprotected!!</i> Her tail was <i>wagging </i>as she felt <i>so very
happy</i> to see me!! But what occurred after that? It was a <i>complete</i> blur. <i>Did my heart momentarily stop? I do not know. Did I mentally panic? I
do not know. Did I wonder "How on earth could she have escaped?" ? I do
not know. </i>However. I <i>do </i>know <i>this</i> much. <i>I gasped. I said "Whoa!!"</i> <i>Strangely, I did not overreact. And then I gave Rose an unconventional
command that I've made up. "Drop." </i>I <i>believe</i> I coined it one day when Rose was <i>hyperactive,</i> and I needed to <i>link
her red leash</i> in a <i>timely </i>fashion.
<i>I point downward. I firmly yet patiently
command "drop". And she does just that. Rose drops down on her back,
as though awaiting a belly rub. Which--for the most part--she is given!! </i>Truth
be told? Rose--<i>who has never been very
obedient</i>--listens to <i>this </i>unconventional
made-up command even better than the more traditional "sit",
"come", or "stay"!! <i>Go figure!!</i> "Drop," I calmly commanded
her on our driveway that Saturday afternoon. <i>Which she immediately did!!</i> I <i>quickly</i>
grabbed a hold of Rose's red collar, pulled her up, and--while
bending over--I walked my little girl back inside. <i>Where she could be safe!! </i>"You just wanted to see me," I
recall sweetly telling her, "You just wanted to see Mama so bad!!" Back
inside, I decided that I was <i>finished</i>
hauling firewood. <i>For I could not
possibly go back outside!! I now felt as though I needed to stay in and protect my baby
girl.</i> <i>The pile of firewood had nearly all
been hauled around, anyway.</i> I sat on my bedroom bed next to Rose, <i>exhausted </i>and <i>physically achy</i> from <i>such</i>
a <i>busy</i> Saturday. Then I "went there", as I <i>always </i>do after the <i>rare
occasions</i> when she escapes. I let my mind race toward the <i>depressing scenario</i> of if <i>something bad</i> were to <i>suddenly</i> occur. <i>Rose gets killed by a car? Ingests something
poisonous? Escapes from our home and disappears.... Forever? </i>Then I always think
this. <i>I'm not ready to lose Rose!! Not
now. Not this way!! I have far too many memories to make!! I have far too many
Gotcha Days to celebrate!! I have far too many stories to write about her!! I
have far too many pictures to take of her!! I have far too many Christmases to celebrate!! I have far too many dog biscuits to
bake for her!! I have far too many hikes to take her on!! I have far too many
Life adventures to share with her.... </i>Then once my mind stopped spinning
like the rotator blades of a helicopter that Saturday? I silently thanked God.... For such a thing as an unconventional made-up command like "drop".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-70927734934464412072014-10-13T10:25:00.000-07:002014-10-13T10:25:07.068-07:00The "Breakdown"<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Remember when I wrote that I had experienced a
minor mood swing-infused pity party and I'll write about it later, because I'm
still processing everything? Well. It is later!! And I am definitely finished
processing complex thoughts/feelings/emotions now.... This is me being real. Love
you later.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Look for my October fictional
children's book on Minuscule is good! as it <i>strangely
</i>has yet to have any <i>comments</i> or <i>pageview counts!!</i></span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gasoline. Exhaust. Oil.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> I <i>grew up</i> as a girl <i>frequently inhaling</i> all of these smells and then some because <i>my Dad</i> was an<i> </i>amateur<i> </i>mechanic. <i>As odd as this may sound? Today, I love these
"car smells"!!</i> See. My Dad would purchase <i>various</i> rusty old cars. <i>Pop
open</i> their hoods. Take <i>tools</i> to <i>engines and such.</i> And then he would <i>fix</i> these rusty old cars' <i>mechanical issues!! </i>I recall my Dad
pulling out <i>entire engines</i> and <i>setting them</i> on our <i>backyard patio.</i> Then? He would put them back in <i>completely repaired!!</i> And I have some <i>fond childhood memories</i> of my Dad's
cars!! <i>Many, I'm afraid, I do not recall!!<b> </b></i>But there was a baby blue Ford
pickup truck. <i>If memory serves me? My Dad
used to take me for drives in that old baby blue-painted Ford pickup truck!! Just him
and I!! </i>There was a green Datsun 510 wagon with an orange door. <i>If memory serves me? That</i> <i>Datsun 510 wagon broke down on my Mom in a
Safeway parking lot once!!</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i><span style="color: red;">Whoops. Then, like an apologetic knight in
shining armor, my Dad rescued us, alongside a tow truck driver!!</span></i> <i><span style="color: red;">He later repaired
its issues at home!! </span></i><span style="color: red;">My Dad was also a <i>mechanic</i> by</span> <i><span style="color: red;">necessity. </span></i><span style="color: red;">See.
Our <i>family vehicle</i> was an old yellow
and white Chevrolet suburban. <i>Talk about years
of memories we have with that car!! Its breaks went out on our way home from a
park. That was an incredibly terrifying experience!! Yikes!! Our nerves were
the only things that became wrecked, as Mom somehow managed to safely park it a
few short blocks from home and we all walked back!! No injuries or collisions!!
Thanks be to God!! </i>Speaking of injuries. I <i>slammed</i> my <i>right hand thumb</i>
in this Chevy suburban's middle seat door. <i>Ouch!!</i>
Because I'm <i>insane</i> or <i>stupid</i> or <i>both,</i> I <i>yanked</i> my thumb
out of that door, which was <i>not closed
tight.</i> Blood <i>freely</i> gushed
through its nail. So I <i>sucked</i> on my
thumb like a <i>sleepy</i> toddler!! <i>Yum? I actually like the taste of my own
blood!!</i> I <i>never</i> fractured the
thumb, though!! However. My thumb nail <i>did</i>
turn <i>various</i> hues of <i>blue, purple</i> and <i>yellow</i> before about <i>1/3</i>
of it fell off. <i>Which greatly fascinated
me, because I am an oddball!!</i> I also <i>fell
out</i> of this old Chevy suburban while on roller skates. <i>Ouch!!</i> See, its spare seat <i>folded
down</i> which caused a <i>smooth</i> <i>surface.</i> As resulted, I <i>hit </i>the back of my <i>freakishly hard skull</i> and <i>sustained
a head injury,</i> while blood <i>freely</i>
gushed out!!<i> Is that why I am so crazy?! </i>This
yellow and white Chevy suburban also <i>broke
down</i> on our way to <i>camping</i> one <i>August </i>day. We <i>slept</i> in a <i>hotel</i>
overnight so that my Dad could <i>fix</i>
its <i>mechanical issues.</i> Yes, old cars are
<i>prone</i> to breakdown. <i>Even if they have a good mechanic who
performs routine maintenance work on them, and an incredibly reliable engine underneath
the hood. Breakdown happens.</i> Metaphorically speaking? Throughout my journey
with </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">folliculitis decalvans, I am an old car. <i>Can
I be a baby blue-painted Ford pickup truck?!</i> <i>Wait. Then I am not a car
after all.... But this old truck can carry around "loads" such as her
nieces, "Amethyst" and "Opal"!! I'm alright with that!! </i>So</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> metaphorically speaking, I am an <i>old truck!!</i> I'm <i>"rusty"</i>
in <i>some areas</i>--I <i>do</i> have occasionally visible <i>bald
spots</i>--but "underneath the hood"? My "engine"--sanity,
mind, heart and soul--have been running strong!! <i>For the most part.</i> With seemingly <i>a lot</i> of routine maintenance work done--<i>sorting through negative thoughts/feelings/emotions</i> regarding <i>having </i></span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">folliculitis decalvans</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">--there were <i>no</i> "breakdowns"!! <i>Not yet. </i>But rusty
old trucks are <i>still</i> prone to "breakdown". <i>Right?</i> And precisely
<i>one month ago yesterday,</i> on <i>September 12th, 2014?</i> This rusty old baby
blue-painted Ford pickup truck--<i>me!!</i>--"broke down". <i>Hello,
minor mood swing-infused pity party!! </i>On September 12th, 2014? I was <i>scheduled</i>
for a <i>follow-up appointment</i> with my <i>dermatologist,</i> Dr. E. <i>Which had been changed twice!! Ugh.</i> For
reasons <i>beyond</i> my comprehension? I was <i>nervous </i>during our
appointment. <i>Despite the fact that Dr. E. feels more like an amazing friend
than a dermatologist!! </i>Was it <i>perhaps</i> because I had been <i>awake </i>since
<i>5AM?</i> Yes, I felt <i>tired.</i> Yet, I had been <i>running on adrenaline</i>
during this <i>entire</i> appointment!! Was it perhaps because I'd <i>already </i>felt
<i>uncharacteristically tearful</i> for <i>twain </i>days? <i>I do not know.
But I was nervous.</i> Dr. E. and I <i>talked</i> while I showed off Baldy's <i>next
door neighbor.</i> I asked her some <i>prepared questions</i> about
folliculitis decalvans, as I had <i>Google-searched it. </i>She <i>answered </i>them
to the <i>best</i> of her <i>knowledge,</i> since there truly is <i>very little
information available</i> on this <i>rare disease. </i>Dr. Erin <i>examined my
scalp,</i> then administered <i>several</i> steroid injections. <i>Which do not
even hurt!! Because I possess a freakishly hard head.... Remember?!</i> I expressed
my <i>thoughts/feelings/emotions</i> about swallowing <i>ineffective medication</i>
to Dr. E., as "Plan C" {Our third prescribed antibiotic that I cannot
remember the name of!!} was <i>obviously ineffective.</i> "It <i>wreaks
havoc</i> on my <i>emotions,"</i> I told her, "To take something
that's <i>supposed</i> to be <i>working....</i> But <i>still</i> lose my
hair." <i>I drove this point home. Yes, I repeated myself, because I'm obsessive
compulsive like that!!</i> But
ultimately? Dr. E. gave me several <i>sample bottles</i> of "Plan B",
which, we had <i>barely tried</i> before <i>quitting</i> it's prescription for
non-side effects reasons!! <i>Well. Technically, since Plan B is a</i></span><span class="st"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></i></span><span class="st"><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">contraception, I should not call it that!!
So how about this? It is "Experiment B"!! </span></i></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Erin <i>also</i> gave me <i>several </i>sample bottles of a <i>topical
steroid spray....</i> Because <i>my </i>form of folliculitis decalvans is <i>now
</i>considered "severe". <i>Wait. What?!</i> This was <i>not </i>how I <i>planned </i>my appointment with Dr. E. would go!! <i>Uh-uh. </i>I<i> </i>was <i>planning</i>
to let it go!! <i>Is the song from "Frozen" in your heads yet?!
Good!! </i>I was <i>planning</i> to <i>finally</i> accept folliculitis
decalvans' fate and <i>lose</i> my <i>beautiful, straight, brunette hair.</i>
That's right. I was <i>planning</i> on <i>saying goodbye</i> to Dr. E. .... <i>Forever.
</i>Yes, I was <i>planning</i> for this to be my <i>last</i> follow-up appointment
with Dr. E. <i>Which may have been why
I felt so freakin' nervous that day!! Hmmm....</i> I was even <i>planning</i>
to <i>voluntarily</i> go hat shopping!! <i>Yes, I was planning.... </i>Perhaps
I should have been <i>more assertive</i> with Dr. E., as I'm <i>now </i>beginning
to feel like a <i>human medical experiment.</i> I mean, come on. <i>This drug
is proving itself ineffective? Alright. Try this one, instead. </i></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I even wrote a <i>fictional children's book</i> in <i>August</i>
expressing how I was <i>planning</i> this
appointment with Dr. Erin. Guess what? My character, <i>Victorya,</i> was <i>not</i>
nervous. <i>Quite the contrary!!</i>
Victorya was <i>definitely assertive!!</i>
And she even <i>donated</i> her <i>hair</i> to <i>Locks of Love!!</i> Remember?! <i>Writing
this story was both emotionally difficult and therapeutic for me at once!! </i>I
even wrote Dr. E. a <i>goodbye</i> letter. <i>Which I was never planning on giving her!!</i>
<i>Doing so simply proved itself touching,
emotional and therapeutic. </i>As my nurse {Not Dr. E.'s <i>usual </i>"sidekick".
I'm afraid I <i>do not recall</i> this nurse's name!!} looked through my <i>thick</i>
medical file, and discussed "Experiment B"? I could <i>sense</i> that
<i>something </i>was "mechanically" wrong "under the hood".
And sure enough. This rusty old baby blue-painted Ford pickup truck--<i>me!!</i>--"broke
down".<i> Enter my first--and most likely not the last!!--folliculitis
decalvans-related</i> <i>minor mood swing-infused pity party!! </i>I <i>wept</i>
uncontrollably <i>all </i>day. Afternoon. Evening. And night. <i>I could not
even hold back my tears in a darkened, deserted movie theater while watching
"Dolphin Tale 2"!! Which, I felt terrible about!! </i>This rusty old
baby blue-painted Ford pickup truck--<i>me!!</i>--was seemingly <i>not</i>
showing <i>any</i> signs <i>none whatsoever </i>of starting its "engine"--</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">sanity, mind, heart and soul</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">--again.
As per usual? I <i>did not expect</i> this "breakdown". No, I
<i>never saw it coming.</i> Because my "engine" had <i>truly </i>been <i>running
strong </i>throughout this <i>entire </i>folliculitis decalvans journey {With <i>humor,
gratitude</i> and <i>perspective</i> gained along the way!!} I have <i>never</i>
even <i>allowed myself</i> to <i>cry </i>over having folliculitis decalvans or
hair loss issues. However. I <i>do</i> invite negative
thoughts/feelings/emotions in. <i>Because they are perfectly "normal" and always
fleeting. </i>I have been putting on a continual "brave act". <i>This
rusty old baby blue-painted Ford pickup truck--me!!--was bound to "break
down" at some point!!</i> I then journeyed through a <i>period of confusion.</i>
I was <i>bombarded</i> with queries. <i>What on earth has God been teaching me
all this time?! I thought.... That He had been teaching me lessons against
vanity. I thought.... That He had been teaching me the truth in--to quote our
dear, dear, dear friend and breast cancer survivor--"Hair is highly
overrated". I thought.... That He had been finally teaching me a profound sense
of gratitude for my twain Frankenstein-like</i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">surgically-created</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">craniosynostosis scars. I thought....
that He had been teaching me self-acceptance. I thought.... That He had been
teaching me how bald is beautiful and physical differences are indeed alright.
I thought.... That He had been teaching me the strong, unmistakable, impossible-to-ignore
message of letting go. What on earth has God been teaching me all this time?! </span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Honestly? I did not have <i>any </i>answers during my
"breakdown". <i>Is God teaching
me.... To trust His Plans--whether or not I lose my beautiful hair while
swallowing "Experiment B"--throughout this entire folliculitis decalvans journey? Is God
teaching me.... Gratitude for how Dr. E. has so very graciously leapt through
hoops to help save my hair from the progression of folliculitis decalvans? </i>I suppose I should
have been <i>thrilled, excited, relieved</i> and <i>jumping for joy</i> after
my appointment on September 12th. <i>But I was not.</i> Instead, I felt <i>so
very lost, </i>like <i>a hiker</i> in <i>unfamiliar </i>woods <i>sans</i> her
compass. <i>Do I want to lose my beautiful hair and go bald? Of course not!!
Who would?! But the difference in my thoughts/feelings/emotions now as opposed
to one year ago? I am no longer Drama Queen desperate about embarrassing hair
loss issues!! Because I don't give a damn!! </i>But truth be told? I would <i>never</i>
wish folliculitis decalvans on an enemy. <i>Ever. </i>Perhaps <i>my</i> plans
did not unfold <i>quite</i> like I had <i>imagined</i> they would that
September day. But <i>God's </i>did!! Because, perhaps this rusty old baby blue-painted
Ford pickup truck--<i>me!!</i>--"broke down". But God? He is
my "Mechanic", if you will, Who took His "tools" then <i>fixed</i> this "engine"--</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">sanity, mind, heart and soul</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">--so that I can <i>run strong</i> once more!! Because, ever since I "broke down" last month? God has reminded me that we are <i>all</i> students <i>during our Lifetimes.</i> What on earth did I think....? That He was
finished teaching me folliculitis decalvans-related lessons?! Quite the contrary!! <i>Because
aside from God teaching me lessons against vanity? Aside from Him whispering that
hair is highly overrated? Aside from God instilling in me a profound sense of
gratitude for my twain Frankenstein-like </i><i>surgically-created</i></span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">craniosynostosis scars? {Because, after all. Without them, I would
be dead!!} Aside from God gradually working in me self-acceptance issues? Aside
from Him whispering that bald is beautiful? Aside from God broadening my
perspective about visible physical differences being absolutely alright? Aside
from God encouraging me to trust His Plans {Whether or not I lose my hair and
go bald despite swallowing "Experiment B"} throughout this entire folliculitis
decalvans journey? Aside from Him teaching me humble gratitude toward Dr. E.
for so very graciously leaping through hoops to save my hair? Aside from God's
strong, unmistakable, message of letting go?</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> God is <i>also</i> teaching me.... That Hollywood actor <i>Vin Diesel</i>
can <i>turn me on</i> with his <i>boyish</i> <i>smile</i> and <i>charm</i>
alone--<i>despite</i> being <i>bald-headed!!</i>--so I do not even <i>need</i>
to notice guys with <i>long, flowing hair</i> anymore!! God is <i>also</i>
teaching me.... To never, ever, <i>ever </i>lose hope.... And that I <i>must</i>
place it in <i>Him,</i> not <i>medications or treatment.</i> God is <i>also</i>
teaching me.... That this folliculitis decalvans journey is <i>an adventure....</i>
Not <i>a trial and tribulation.</i> God <i>continues</i> to teach me....<i> </i>So
<i>metaphorically speaking,</i> I am <i>an old baby blue-painted Ford pickup
truck.</i> And now? Whenever I see my <i>"rusty" </i>areas--<i>bald
spots</i>--in a mirror? <i>I smile.</i> Because they are <i>reminders </i>of <i>all</i>
the ways that my "Mechanic"--God--is working on me. <i>They are
reminders of all the ways that He is growing, evolving,</i> <i>and maturing me!!
</i>But sometimes? Rusty old baby blue-painted Ford pickup trucks "break
down". </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-38266835287039673222014-10-03T22:10:00.000-07:002014-10-03T22:23:36.543-07:00October Is Adopt A Dog Month!!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Radio silence. That
seems to be how I am rolling these days regarding posting on Beautifully
Unique!! Sigh.... Truth be told? I have a particular Blog post in the works,
but set it aside for about five days to write my October fictional children's
book!! Yep. Because some priorities take precedence!! But cheers to October
{Although we will become happily preoccupied with watching my nieces,
"Amethyst" and "Opal" three days a week soon!!} here's
to resurrecting Beautifully Unique!! I do mean that. Love you later.<u1:p></u1:p></span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Look for my October fictional
children's book to be posted on Minuscule is good! {Lord willing!!} tomorrow!!</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">October.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I love, love, <i>love</i> this month!! Trees' leaves
gradually transform into bright, cheery hues. Pumpkin patches reopen. The
mornings become crisp, our days get shorter. Constant rainfall is inevitable,
as we go about life silently awaiting its downpour. <i>Mmmm....</i>Well,
October <i>also </i>happens to be Adopt A Dog Month!! That's right.<i> Adopt
A Dog Month!!</i> Rose is--thus far!!--the <i>first</i> canine
that I rescued from our local shelter. Allow me to express something.<i> I
hope that every canine who enters my existence from here on is adopted!!</i> Because.
Doing so has <i>profoundly</i> changed my life!! I hope to always
either adopt from some shelter, or a rescue organization. See. Adopting Rose,
our then-three-year old "second chance" mutt, has been, personally,
one of my life's most <i>rewarding</i> experiences!! <i>How so?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>Because I provided a loving home
for this Beautifully Unique four-legged creature!! She was once kenneled in our
local shelter like some convicted criminal. Homeless and desolate. Now, she
is <i>mine!!</i> I am so very, very, <i>very</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>blessed to own Rose!! <i>I'm also
feeling inspired now.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>With
this being Adopt A Dog Month, I want <i>every</i> future canine who
enters my existence to be rescued throughout October!! <i>Why not?</i> There
are seemingly<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>endless </i>canines
available for adoption year-round. Plus 31 days in October!! <i>31
freakin' days!!</i> This may <i>sound</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>like some oddball, far-out notion. But
to <i>me?</i> It's really<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>quite</i> logical!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is taken from a HealthyPets e-mail.
I received it in 2011, but the information should still be
up-to-date!!</span><u1:p></u1:p></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--Adopt A Dog Month--</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you feel like there's a void in your
life, you can make a difference in two lives as October is Adopt A Dog Month.
The ASPCA started Adopt A Dog Month to promote and raise awareness of the
millions of dogs that live in shelters, places not fit to be called a home.
Shelter dogs don't nearly have the amount of space or the amount of love they
deserve. Also keep in mind that thousands of pets that do not get adopted are
euthanized due to lack of shelter space. You can do your part in many ways;
here are a few helpful ideas to get the gears going.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Adoption:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>The best way to help a shelter dog is to bring one into the
comfort of your home. Visit local shelters and share that love connection that
will keep you and your new pooch's relationship going on for years. For those
who absolutely prefer purebred varieties, an estimated 25% of purebreds are
found in shelters. </b>{And, where does that leave <i>mutts?</i> In
the <i>75 percentile!! </i>So, do not exclude <i>mixed breeds</i> from
this!! Adopt a mutt!!} <b>Some shelters offer discounts or waive adoption
fees. Contact local shelters to find out what they offer.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Donations:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Not everyone has the time or money to invest in a new pet -
you can still do your part by donating supplies, money or your time. Local
animal shelters depend on the kindness of strangers' help aside from what
little government funds they receive to keep the shelter going. You can do your
part by volunteering to help walk dogs, clean cages or whatever tasks that may
be needed.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Events:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Attending and volunteering in pet-related events is a fun
way to participate in pet awareness. Attending shelter fundraisers and pet
fairs are ways to help people understand how important pet adoptions can be.
Even if you are unable to adopt a pet, you can help bring awareness to those
who can devote their time to a new family member.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other Ways:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Information is key to preventing the growth of pets being
admitted into animal shelters. Pet behavior trouble is one of biggest reasons
why owners turn dogs into shelters. You can do your part by informing new pet
owners what struggles they may face in the early stages of owning a pet.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-80677678012253499402014-09-21T06:51:00.000-07:002014-09-21T06:51:16.296-07:00Chicken/Chicken Garlic Treats<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Boy, have I become the world's worst Blogger
lately!! And truth be told? I miss Blogging twice a week!! Here's the thing. I
planned to post on Saturday, September 13th {I really did!!} but then my plans
were thwarted by a minor mood swing-infused pity party the day before!! Ugh. More shall be revealed. For I am still processing everything nine days later!! {Do not worry!! I am completely recovered!!} Love you
later.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today is <i>September 21st!!</i>
And that can only mean <i>one</i> thing. <i>It is Rose's fourth Gotcha Day!! </i>Wow.
Just. Wow!! <i>Four</i> years?! <i>Where does time escape to.... Outer space?! </i>I
think it does!!<i> </i>I decided <i>years ago</i> with Shadow that I would not <i>count the</i> <i>passing of time</i> with <i>how old</i>
my dog is. But rather. I would <i>count the
passing of time</i> with <i>how many Gotcha
Day anniversaries</i> we have been <i>blessed</i>
with!! It feels <i>far less depressing,</i>
as I <i>cannot</i> <i>evade</i> Rose's <i>inevitable
death.</i> That being mentioned. I've <i>completely</i>
<i>lost track</i> of <i>how old</i> Rose is!! Whenever people ask, I <i>literally</i> <i>count on my</i> <i>fingers </i>to <i>determine </i>it!! <i>Is that bad?! </i>And honestly? Rose's <i>age--like her mix--</i>is <i>anybody's</i>
guess, anyway!! Why? Because the shelter where I adopted her <i>guessed </i>that she was <i>four</i> years old. Then we drove Rose to
our <i>veterinarian.</i> He guessed <i>two and a half </i>or <i>three </i>years old!! So!! <i>We</i>
rounded Rose's age down to <i>three </i>years
old!! Which means. Rose turns <i>seven</i>
years old today!! <i>There, I wrote it!!</i>
Rose turns <i>seven</i> years old today!! <i>I think!! </i>Four Gotcha Days. Seven years
old. Either way, in honor of Rose's <i>big</i>
day, I, of course, baked a batch of dog cookies!! <i>Although, I must mention. This recipe was originally planned for
Independence Day!! But what with switching up bedrooms and writing a fictional
children's book? I did not have the time!! Better late than never?!</i> As per
usual, I gave Rose <i>tastes</i> of the ingredients as I mixed everything together.
<i>Most</i> of which she loved!! <i>Except for
garlic powder. Because like with honey and maple syrup, Rose could not even get
past its strong smell!! Go figure!!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rose would rate this recipe <i>four
'paws' way, way up!! </i>{Yes, she got a pre-Gotcha Day sample!! Two,
actually!!}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chicken Performance Cookies<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This protein- and fat-rich biscuit </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{They are more like <i>cookies!!</i>} <b>would
be a good one to bring along on an excursion with your dog (like a hike). If
you'd like, you can substitute 3/4 cup of Simple Liver Puree for the baby food.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 cups whole wheat flour, plus extra for rolling <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1/2 cup rye flour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 teaspoon baking powder<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1/2 teaspoon garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 egg<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1/2 cup safflower oil </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{We do not
<i>have</i> that ingredient. So I, being a rebel, used <i>vegetable</i> oil!! It <i>worked!!</i>}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 tablespoons chicken broth </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{Rose <i>loves</i> this ingredient!!}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 (2.5-ounce) jars of chicken baby food </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{What did I use? <i>Gerber
chicken and chicken gravy!! </i>Rose love, love, <i>loved</i> her taste of <i>that</i> ingredient!!}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the egg wash:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 egg<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pinch of salt<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the flours, baking powder,
and garlic powder in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, beat one egg. </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{I just <i>whisked </i>it!!}<b> Add, oil, broth, and baby food to the egg
and blend together. </b>{I just <i>stirred</i>
it!!} <b>Add this mixture to the dry
ingredients and mix with a spoon, then knead to incorporate all the dry
ingredients. The dough will be soft a somewhat oily. </b>{It was <i>crumbly!!</i> The
dough <i>kept peeling</i> like a <i>terrible sunburn!!</i> And it seemingly <i>dried very fast!!
</i>I <i>added</i> a little <i>water </i>to my dough!!} <b>Turn
out onto a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. </b>{I always just
<i>eyeball</i> it!!} <b>Cut into shapes with
cookie cutters </b>{I used twain bones. One heart. Twain dogs. And one paw
print!!} <b>and place on a baking sheet
covered with greased or non-stick foil. </b>{I <i>sprayed</i> my pan!! But some of the cookies <i>still</i> stuck to it!!} <b>Beat
the other egg </b>{Again, I just <i>whisked</i>
it!!} <b>and add a pinch of salt. Brush a
little of the egg-and-salt mixture on top of each cookie, to make an attractive
glaze. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes </b>{<i>All</i>
ovens are <i>different.</i> But I baked <i>two separate batches</i> for <i>20 minutes!!</i>} <b>or until the tops {are} brown. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight
container. </b>{I baked <i>21 </i>cookies!!
Therefore, I needed <i>twain</i> airtight
containers!! But I will <i>freeze </i>some
in a <i>plastic bag</i> to <i>prevent </i>them from<i> developing mold!!</i>}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy, happy, <i>happy</i> fourth
Gotcha Day, Rose!! Here's to many, many, <i>many
</i>more!! <b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-7023669080147274742014-09-10T15:22:00.000-07:002014-09-10T15:48:37.361-07:00Cranio Girl Power<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blogging Friends.... Did you know....? That September is </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Craniosynostosis
Awareness Month?! Well. It is!! In honor of my birth defect--and everyone who
was born with it--here is a Blog post from an adult survivor's ever-evolving perspective!!
{Mine, of course!!} Whoops, that sounded so very self-obsessive!! Carrying on. Love
you later.</span></i><br />
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sorry for not posting on Beautifully Unique since--<i>gasp!!</i>--August 30th. That was <i>purely</i> unintentional. Truth be told? My
heart has <i>apparently </i><i>not been
into</i> Blogging lately. <i>Plus this post wasn't yet ready!!</i> But writing? <i>It
keeps me sane!!</i> So I have written nearly <i>every single day!!</i> Now. Do not <i>worry</i>
about me. <i>I am fine....</i> <i>I'm not experiencing
any minor mood swing-infused pity
parties!!</i> I have just simply found myself in a <i>prolonged</i> season of soul searching regarding living with </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">folliculitis decalvans. <i>Life is good!! And I am happy!!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #7030a0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">{These facts were taken from my Life Story!! Which, originally? They
were taken from--if memory serves me!!--The Jorge Posada Foundation!! He has a
son who was born with my birth defect</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">.}</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Craniosynostosis is when an infant’s sutures fuse too early and it
affects the growth of the brain. Often, the end result is an infant with an
abnormally shaped head. An infant’s brain begins to grow before birth and
continues to grow throughout the infant’s first three years of life. At birth,
an infant has 40% of his/her adult brain volume and this increases to 80% by
three years of age, and to 90% by seven years of age. An infant’s skull
consists of bones that are separated by soft joints called 'sutures'. The 'soft
spot', or fontanel, is where the sutures meet on the top of the forehead. As an
infant’s brain continues to grow, the sutures continue to grow. Throughout an
infant’s first three years of life, an infant’s sutures will close or 'fuse' in
sequence. Craniosynostosis may involve the premature closure of a single suture
or multiple sutures in the case of a syndrome. Craniosynostosis, if left
untreated, can cause severe and permanent damage. An infant may have increased
intracranial pressure, seizures, neurological deficiencies, eye problems,
malalignment of the spine, and cognitive and developmental delays.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Craniosynostosis. Over <i>thirty</i>
years ago, I was born with a head of <i>curly
</i>brunette hair. <i>And I had craniosynostosis.
</i>Translation? I was born without <i>any</i> soft spots!!<i> </i></span><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">1 out of 2,000</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> babies are</span></em><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> typically </span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">effected by<i> </i><em><span style="font-style: normal;">craniosynostosis.
There are </span></em><em>five </em><em><span style="font-style: normal;">different
forms of this birth defect. </span></em><em>Unicoronal. Metopic. </em></span><em style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">Bicoronal. </em><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>Sagittal.</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> And, the </span></em><em>rarest</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> type of
craniosynostosis. </span></em><em>Lambdoid.</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;">
It affects </span></em><em>1 in
100,000</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> births.</span></em><em> </em></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since I'm <i>fairly confident</i> that--according to pictures--my form of
craniosynostosis</span><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> was </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">sagittal,</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> I am 1 out of 2,000.</span></em><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>You
know what? I have grown to really love that statistic!! 1 out of 2,000!! Although.</i></span><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> 1 in 100,000</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">would have been even more awesome!! </span></em><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My skull had been <i>horribly</i> disfigured--Mom said that it protruded from the forehead
and back--when Dr. J. entered our Lives. He would perform <i>twain</i> <i>separate reconstructive
skull operations.</i> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Together, these surgically-created
scars form an upside down "T". My
"part"? It is twain </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">craniosynostosis</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> scars!! </span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a matter of fact. Dad even
teasingly</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"> referred to me as "Frankenbaby" due to </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">these scars</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>. Yes, Frankenbaby!! But it was spoken lovingly, of course!! Ha. And Dad was not kidding. I have seen pictures. I did
resemble Frankenbaby!!</i> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">"Surgery
will be just like setting a broken arm," Dr. J. <i>confidently</i> told Mom and Dad. However. If I--an adult
"Cranio" survivor--were to <i>describe</i>
the operation in <i>three </i>words, it
would be this. <i>Invasive. Terrifying.
Miraculous. </i>See, Dr. J. <i>removed parts
of my skull</i>--and at <i>one</i> point <i>threw
some forehead bones away!!</i>--then <i>"rebuilt"</i>
it like an <i>intricate, detailed </i>Lego
creation!! <i>Not once. But twice!!</i> Dr.
J. said that my craniosynostosis was "severe", and he had <i>never seen </i>such a bad case!! <i>Shudder!! </i>I had also been <i>apparently
suffering from painful migraines</i>
because of <i>skull pressure</i> and I'd <i>stopped sucking Mom's breast milk, </i>unbeknownst
to her. See. My mouth had <i>latched onto </i>Mom's breast. But I was <i>not </i>sucking any milk. <i>That figures. Even back then I was putting on "brave acts" during times of suffering!! Was this an inborn trait?! I cannot help but wonder. </i>See, I was a <i>different case</i> of craniosynostosis.
Because while this birth defect--best as I can tell from research--is <i>not</i> in <i>any </i>way, shape, or form, <i>fatal,</i>
when Dr. J. surgically repaired <i>me,</i>
he <i>saved my Life!!</i> Yes, <i>without</i> his <i>hard-earned skills</i> and <i>God's Amazing Grace,</i> I would be <i>dead!!</i> Craniosynostosis, for the most
part, only affects <i>male</i> infants. <i>I am, most assuredly, a girl!! </i>Although
females <i>can</i> be--and <i>are</i>--born with craniosynostosis. <i>It just is not as likely to occur. </i><i>Any</i> Google-search of
craniosynostosis will--<i>honestly!!</i>--spin
in this direction. A concerned mother expressing that her <i>son</i> has just been diagnosed with the neurological birth defect. It
is <i>seldom</i> <i>ever</i> <i>daughter.</i> There are
even <i>craniosynostosis awareness Websites</i>
that manufacture onesies, bibs, and T-shirts which feature the phrase:
"Chicks dig scars". <i>Why yes,
they do!! This I can personally prove!!</i> So, I am a <i>girl,</i> who was born with craniosynostosis. <i>I broke that medical rule.</i> <i>Thus,
as per usual,</i> <i>I am exempt!! </i>Which
can only mean <i>one</i> thing. </span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was born a rebel!! </span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, it is my birthright!! <i>Being
a rebel!! </i>I shall call this "Cranio Girl Power"!! <i>You know what? That has a nice ring to it!! "Cranio" Girl Power!! </i><em><span style="font-style: normal;">The
cause of</span></em></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">craniosynostosis</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">is unknown. It is sporadic. It can be present at birth (congenital).
It can be hereditary. The hereditary form often occurs with other defects. </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Uh-oh.</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I was also born with </span></em><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">congenital diaphragmatic hernia and </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome</span></i><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">!! Well!! I do have
a nephew, "J.", who was born with</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">craniosynostosis!! Not sagittal, though. And they told my oldest
sister that it was not hereditary?! Hmmm.... </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">However, most cases of
craniosynostosis occur in a family with no history of the condition.</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">See. It is by </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">"chance"</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> that infants are ever
born with craniosynostosis.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Like</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">the rolling of dice.</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Or some gambling
game. I--among every other individual born with craniosynostosis--am like Heaven's
poker game with chips, cards, and money bet. </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I must have been
"chosen". For reasons beyond anybody's--</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">beyond my own</span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">--comprehension. </span></em><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">But not God's.</span></em><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> I didn't know until <i>recently </i>that
my craniosynostosis was "severe", or I'd been suffering from painful
migraines and </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">stopped sucking Mom's breast milk</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">. However. I have <i>always
</i>known this. <i>Mom and Dad accepted
Jesus Christ as their Savior because I was born with craniosynostosis!!</i>
See, I had been <i>scheduled </i>for <i>operation number three.</i> Dad complained
to a co-worker about our problems. "Take your daughter to my church,"
he boldly suggested, "There she'll be prayed for. She'll be healed!!"
<i>Which is exactly what Mom and Dad did!! </i>They
drove to his Pentecostal foursquare church {Which, sadly, no longer meets
there!!} I was <i>prayed over,</i> and <i>God healed me,</i> for I <i>no longer needed </i>operation number three!!<i> Thanks be to God!! </i>You know what? I
believe this was <i>a triple miracle!!</i>
Dr. J. reconstructed my skull!! God healed me!! Mom and Dad became Christians!!
Yes, I have <i>always </i>been aware of our
family's testimony!! But I never looked at that positive. Why? Because, as
resulted from being born with craniosynostosis and having my skull reconstructed
{Twice!!} I live with <i>unwanted premature
short-term memory loss.</i> And that is what--<i>for</i> <i>far too many years!!</i>--I
<i>chose</i> to <i>focus </i>on. <i>The negatives. </i>But
my premature short-term memory loss {This learning disability} is what <i>I
lost</i> through being born with craniosynostosis. <i>Look at everything I have gained in Life despite having been born with craniosynostosis!!</i> Because today? I am <i>thirty-years old!!</i> I have owned <i>twain</i> beautifully unique mutts--first <i>Shadow Sunshine</i> and now<i> Rose Elizabeth!!</i>--since I was nearly
sixteen years old!! I <i>just </i>wrote my
thirteenth--<i>13th!!</i>--fictional book!!
I have <i>twain adorable nieces</i> under
the age of three, <i>"Amethyst"</i>
and <i>"Opal"!!</i> Wow. <i>None</i> of
this--<i>and then some</i>--would have <i>ever
occurred </i>sans <i>Dr. J.'s hard-earned
skills!!</i> Not to mention <i>God's Amazing
Grace!! </i>And now? Over<i> </i>one year ago, I was diagnosed with folliculitis decalvans. <i>I am losing my beautiful hair. Eventually I
will be completely bald. In a matter of time, I'll unveil those twain hidden </i><i>craniosynostosis scars. </i>And lately? I have felt self-conscious--<i>ashamed
even</i>--of my craniosynostosis scars!! And during the <i>rare, fleeting occasion</i> when I delve into <i>feel-sorry-for-me thoughts/feelings/emotions?</i> Honestly? I think that <i>somebody such as myself</i> should
<i>not</i> have
folliculitis decalvans.<i> Somebody such as myself should not be losing her hair.</i> But
complex thoughts/feelings/emotions set aside? Until my diagnosis of folliculitis decalvans,
I was <i>never grateful</i> for any of the <i>positives</i> that have arisen from
being born with craniosynostosis/Dr. J.'s skills. And now? <i>Although, I do continue to feel self-conscious of my craniosynostosis
scars. I am actively working on that!! </i>When I think about my Frankenstein-like craniosynostosis scars? I am <i>thankful</i> for them both!! Because I'm <i>so </i>very
glad to be alive!! Question.</span><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Why did it
take a journey with folliculitis decalvans for me to truly become thankful for
my </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">craniosynostosis scars?!</span></i></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-77073267010533150952014-08-30T18:11:00.000-07:002014-08-30T18:35:52.941-07:00Look Fear In The Face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... This was the July quotation from my wall calendar.
Only they did not print her every word!! Sad!! So here is the quotation in whole!!
I like it.... Her words feel somewhat symbolic to my </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">folliculitis
decalvans journey!! How so? I'm choosing to "look fear in the face" as I gradually accept Reality that I will eventually lose my beautiful hair, go bald and unveil twain surgically-created </span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>c</i></span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">raniosynostosis scars</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">!! One step at a time!! Love you later.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which
you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I
have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
You must do the thing you think you cannot do. </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">--</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44566.Eleanor_Roosevelt">Eleanor Roosevelt</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Look for my September fictional
children's book to be posted on Minuscule is good! {Lord willing!!} on
September 1st!! And do not forget to leave a comment!! </span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-69314043928834133362014-08-26T22:20:00.000-07:002014-08-26T22:20:46.784-07:00"Beautiful"--To Me--Is....<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Blogging Friends.... Sorry for not
posting at all last week!! I feel like a terrible Blogger lately!! And I
haven't got any reasons or excuses for my absence from Beautifully Unique, as
last week was not very busy!! Love you later.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Taken from my private Word document journal/diary entry!! <i>Some
changes were made, as per usual!!</i></span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Feel-sorry-for-me pity parties. I
have--throughout my adult Life--thrown several. <i>More than I can count, I'm afraid!!</i> All because I live with
<i>unwanted</i> learning disabilities. <i>I
especially despise my premature short-term memory loss!!</i> Yes. I have--throughout my adult Life--thrown some feel-sorry-for-me pity parties. <i>Nothing serious, lest anybody wonder!! I've learned over the years that
I can quickly bounce back from feel-sorry-for-me pity parties!! Not to mention.
I can also learn from them!!</i> And, while I <i>do</i> experience thoughts/feelings/emotions regarding having </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">folliculitis
decalvans<i> </i></span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">{Some positive. Others negative.} I
have--<i>somehow!!</i>--evaded <i>any</i> feel-sorry-for-me
pity parties!! Yet, whenever I read about <i>other
people's</i> <i>journeys</i> with hair loss-related diseases/issues, <i>their</i> stories are
<i>all</i> the same. <i>Hopeless. Despondent.
Depressed. </i>I was researching</span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">folliculitis decalvans</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> sometime in the beginning of Summer, and came across <i>several forums</i> that were written by
fellow <i>Kindred Spirit</i> sufferers of my
disease. <i>Same sad stories. </i>One person even wrote these words. "</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It is attacking my confidence and driving
me into depression at an age where I should be getting ready to graduate and
begin my career. I'm at the point where I've lost my drive for self improvement
and my desire to even leave the house." <i>Mmmm....</i> Then, being <i>driven</i> by such desolate
thoughts/feelings/emotions, I made a <i>promise</i> to myself. <i>I will not let folliculitis decalvans and hair loss issues make me hopeless,
despondent or depressed!!</i> So instead? I <i>count
</i>my<i> blessings</i> and am <i>grateful.</i> I
find <i>humor </i>in the situation. I <i>smile.</i> I <i>laugh.</i> I <i>maintain</i> a <i>positive attitude.</i> I <i>evade </i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">tearful mood swings</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.</span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I <i>choose</i>
joy. <i>Because I have at last learned that
happiness is a choice!! </i>And I <i>choose</i>
to let folliculitis
decalvans<i> </i><i>change me</i> in
only <i>positive </i>ways!! For during the
course of <i>this Summer alone,</i> I have <i>evolved, grown and matured</i> as a person!! <i>All because</i> of an <i>embarrassing disease</i> called <i>folliculitis decalvans</i><i>.</i> How so? <i>Aside from counting my blessings and being grateful? Finding humor in
the situation? Aside from smiling? Laughing? Maintaining a positive attitude? </i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Aside from choosing joy and
happiness?</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Uncharacteristically evading </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">tearful mood swings? </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oh, <i>where</i>
to <i>begin....?</i> I have learned <i>unexpected</i> lessons in vanity. <i>By the way? I continue to learn this
lesson!! </i>I have found myself <i>crushing</i>
on Vin Diesel. <i>What? He is completely
bald!! And I have never crushed on a celebrity who does not have any hair!! Ever!!
This is a cosmic first for me!! See, every male celebrity</i></span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>that I've ever crushed on has hair!!</i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I have <i>accepted</i>
folliculitis decalvans</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">'<i> inevitable </i>progression. <i>Because there is absolutely nothing I can do
about it, anyway!!</i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have<i>
</i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">gained </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">self-acceptance. <i>And I
continue to learn this lesson!!</i> I have become <i>less </i>self-conscious. <i>And I
continue to learn this lesson!!</i> <i>Yeah,
I am actively working on that one!!</i> I have <i>begun noticing bald/balding men</i> and--for the <i>very first time!!</i>--I find them attractive!! <i>Did I mention that I'm crushing on Vin Diesel?!</i> I have <i>gained </i>self-acceptance.<i> Again. Because Life--for me--is seemingly
one self-acceptance issue after another!! </i>And </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have <i>completely r</i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">edefined</span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> my <i>definition</i> of
"beautiful". <i>I know now more
than ever that it isn't physical appearances!! </i>For "beautiful"--to
me--does <i>not</i> mean a pencil-thin body. No. "Beautiful"--to me--does
<i>not </i>mean being laugh line-free.<i> Quite the
contrary!! I, for one, find laugh lines very attractive!! Especially Robert
Downey Jr.'s!! </i>And "beautiful"--to me--<i>definitely </i>does <i>not</i> mean having no<i> surgically-created Frankenstein-like </i></span></b><b><i><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">craniosynostosis</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">scars</span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and a <i>full</i> head of hair!!<i> Because "beautiful"--to me--is what's inside. </i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-87562615801818130752014-08-16T16:57:00.000-07:002014-08-16T16:57:12.835-07:00It's Happening....<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... I feel like I need to be honest with you. I
just realized this week that--unbeknownst to me--I've been putting on a
"brave act" regarding my journey with folliculitis decalvans. Yes, I
do have negative thoughts/feelings/emotions. But they are short-lived and kept
private. Yes, I have experienced woe-is-me feelings. But they are short-lived
and kept private, as well. No, I am not strong every day, all the time. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But I understand that even</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> brief negative thoughts/feelings/emotions,
and</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">woe-is-me feelings are completely "normal"</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. Yet, I choose.... To remain positive. I
choose.... To count my blessings and be grateful. I choose.... To find a witty
sense of humor amongst my hair loss issues. I choose.... To laugh. I choose.... To
evade tearful minor mood swing infused pity parties. I choose.... Joy. And I choose....
To put on a brave act!! Love you later. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Taken from my private Word document journal/diary entry!! <i>Some
changes were made, as per usual!! </i>Written on 8-8-14 and 8-9-14.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's
happening. The further progression of my folliculitis decalvans. It's
officially happening. And the most frustrating part about this? I am swallowing
a medication that is supposed to prevent F.D.'s progression. I'm even nearly
finished with bottle number two,</span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>for Heaven's sake!! </i>I
noticed it on <i>Tuesday, August 5th,</i> as
my niece, "Amethyst" and I watched <i>age-appropriate</i> YouTube videos together. <i>Like "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse". "Part of Your World"
from "The Little Mermaid". Or "Minnie's Bowtique".</i> I
had been experiencing an itchy, itchy, <i>itchy
</i>scalp next door to Baldy ever since stopping medication number one--or as I
call it <i>Plan A!!</i>--so, <i>naturally,</i> I <i>scratched</i> the area. <i>And
scratched it.</i> <i>And scratched it. And
scratched it some more. </i>Doing so <i>never</i>
caused me any physical pain. <i>Never.</i>
If <i>anything,</i> it felt <i>good,</i> as though I were <i>massaging </i>my <i>freakishly hard</i> head!! <i>Ahhhh....
</i>And oh, <i>boy </i>did I <i>love </i>how it felt!! <i>In fact. I have even cracked jokes about having "a few bugs",
like </i></span></b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0355429/?ref_=tt_cl_t3"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kristoff</span></i></b></a><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>in "Fixer Upper" from "Frozen"!!</b></span></i><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Now. <i>My fingertips oft had a pus-like substance
on them after scratching the area. But. As an injury-prone, clumsy person, I
have never cringed, grimaced, or became grossed out about pus!! </i>However.
While "Amethyst" and I watched <i>kid-friendly</i>
YouTube videos together--<i>I honestly
cannot remember what!!</i>--my <i>nose</i>
smelled an <i>all-too familiar</i> bodily
fluid. <i>Blood. </i>Certainly enough, it
was on my <i>fingertips </i>and <i>twain </i>nails. <i>Yes, being an injury-prone, clumsy person, I can determine the smell of
blood. It's a gift!! I can also determine blood by its sticky substance!! </i>My
immediate thought? <i>Blood. I know all too
well what this means. Blood means furthermore hair loss. </i>As I kept watching
<i>age-appropriate</i> YouTube videos with
"Amethyst", I attempted my <i>very
best</i> to <i>forget</i> everything. <i>My itchy scalp. The blood. Probable
furthermore hair loss.</i> This was <i>easier
said than done</i> as even Donald Duck, Chip and Dale could not erase Reality. <i>Oh, yeah. Donald Duck was one of the classic
cartoons that we had watched!! </i>Once I <i>distracted</i>
"Amethyst" and <i>encouraged</i>
her <i>away </i>from this very flat screened
desktop computer, I <i>looked</i> at my <i>reflection</i> in our Boy's Bathroom mirror.
First, I needed to <i>part</i> remaining
hairs. And there it was. In the <i>area</i>
where I had been scratching. <i>It was
another bald spot. </i>Red, enflamed, scaly and bloody, it is {Thus far!!} <i>much smaller</i> in size than Baldy.
Nonetheless. It <i>is</i> another permanent
bald spot. And I know <i>all too well</i>
what <i>this </i>means. <i>My hair will not grow back there. Ever. And there is absolutely nothing
I--or anybody--can do about it. Baldy has a next door neighbor. </i>Then I took
myself by surprise. <i>Although I was not
nearly as Drama Queen or vain as when Michael noticed Baldy last year, I did
panic. </i>Wait. <i>What?!</i> Was it
because the <i>sight</i> <i>of my</i> <i>own blood</i> causes <i>an</i> <i>irrational</i> <i>fear</i> that I am <i>bleeding to
death?</i> Or. Was it the <i>dread</i> which
comes with <i>knowing</i> that I am slowly
but surely <i>losing my beautiful hair</i>
and <i>going bald? </i>I'm afraid it is the <i>latter.</i> Which <i>greatly confused</i> me. <i>See, I
thought I was completely at peace with losing my hair and unveiling twain c</i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">raniosynostosis scars. No going back to
old thoughts/feelings/emotions. </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I even needed to remind myself<i> </i>this.<i> I don't give a damn. I don't give a damn. I don't give a damn. </i>But
truth be told? I am--this is not me putting on a "brave act"--</span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">completely at peace </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">with <i>losing my hair </i>and <i>unveiling twain c</i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">raniosynostosis scars. </span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">No going back to old thoughts/feelings/emotions. <i>No going back.</i> But on the other hand? I
am <i>still</i> processing Life's Reality
that I will more than likely lose my hair!! And that, I think {As well as my
little panic attack!!} is absolutely okay. </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's happening. The further progression of my folliculitis
decalvans.</span></b></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-1632161728392025932014-08-13T17:14:00.000-07:002014-08-13T20:26:08.808-07:00Genie<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Blogging Friends.... So I disappeared off
the face of this Online planet, and, for nearly twain--TWAIN!!--weeks, I did
not post on Beautifully Unique!! Whoops. That was purely unintentional!! But with
being happily preoccupied as an Aunt to "Amethyst" and
"Opal", I stopped posting for thirteen days!! So I guess you can say
I went on a "Blog-cation"? I have, of course, continued writing
{Nearly every single day!!} because writing keeps me sane!! Love you later.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ten thousand years will give you such a
crick in the neck! </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">--Genie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Did you rub my lamp? Did you wake me up?
Did you bring me here? And now all of a sudden you're walking out on me? I
don't think so, not right now. You're getting your wishes, so sit down! </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">--Genie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tell her the truth! </span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">--Genie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I awoke <i>yesterday morning </i>at <i>5:45 AM.</i>
I was <i>groggy, physically tired, </i>and <i>needed at least</i> <i>one more</i> <i>hour</i> of sleep. <i>Which, by the way, I got!!</i> But my <i>crazy</i> never-shuts down head <i>always </i>seemingly wakes up <i>faster</i> than my body!! <i>And I do not even drink caffeine-loaded coffee!!
</i>The <i>very first</i> thoughts that
appeared within my head yesterday morning? <i>Those above Genie
lines from Walt Disney's animated film, "Aladdin"!! </i>Now this was <i>anything</i> but random. <i>And definitely unlike when I quote Tony
Stark/Iron Man lines on a daily basis!! </i>It was</span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">completely<i> </i></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">unplanned. <i>I mentally quoted those three Genie lines in memory of Robin Williams,
as he played his voice. </i>Then my emotions were confused. <i>Should I smile? Cry? Laugh? I think I smiled!! </i>Confession. I haven't seen <i>many</i>--if not <i>most</i>--of
Robin William's films. However. This does not <i>erase</i> the <i>very</i> fact
that--<i>thanks to Genie</i>--I <i>grew up</i> with Robin Williams. When I saw
msn.com's shocking red-boxed "breaking news" about this beloved
Hollywood actor's death, my reaction was a dramatic, "Oh my gosh. Oh my
gosh. Oh my gosh!!" <i>And I had yet to
even read the words "apparent suicide" or later hear on a
local/nation-wide radio news station how, exactly, Robin Williams killed
himself. </i>Like <i>every single one</i> of
his fanatics, I was left feeling <i>shocked,
saddened, </i>and<i> heartbroken</i><i>.</i>
Then I thought this. <i>Just last year, I
read a Parade magazine article about him. I thought he was doing good!! </i>After
those three Genie lines appeared within my head at <i>5:45 AM </i>yesterday morning, the song "Friend Like Me" from
"Aladdin" also did, as Robin Williams <i>sang
</i>it himself. <i>I love an actor who can
sing!! </i>So did the song "Prince Ali", as Robin Williams <i>also</i> sang it. Once I awoke around <i>7AM,</i> I began thinking. <i>If those three Genie lines can just pop into
my head, then I must have really liked that character!! </i>Huh. I <i>do </i>remember <i>crushing on Aladdin. </i>As well as--<i>thus according to my sister</i>--Jafar. <i>Because I'm an oddball, I have always had a thing for villains!! My
sister has even teasingly said that I am "addicted to bad guys"!! Maybe.
Maybe not!! </i>Now as for my <i>liking</i>
Genie? I makes <i>perfect</i> sense, since I
have <i>always </i>loved <i>crazy</i> dudes!! Robin Williams was a <i>cosmic</i> part of <i>my childhood.</i> And truth be told? <i>Genie</i> has remained a <i>cosmic</i>
part of <i>my Life!! </i>See. In my Life
Story, I wrote this. <b>You know what? </b></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If some crazy blue
genie voiced by Hollywood actor Robin Williams in a shiny golden lamp were to
allow me three wishes, I would request away my premature short-term memory
loss. That's right.<i> Three times.</i>
Perhaps in doing so, one could at least become reality. <i>Wouldn't that be nice? </i></span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course. <i>Genie </i>would most likely <i>never allow</i> me the <i>same three wishes,</i> as he was a <i>stickler</i> for rules. <i>But I had to try. Right?! </i>Then later I
wrote this in my fictional book, "Made For Each Other". {February}<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><b> <i>All I want is to be 'normal', whatever 'normal' is,</i> Julian
has often thought, <i>If some crazy purple genie in a shiny golden lamp were
to give me three wishes, I would ask away my short-term memory loss.</i> </b></span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">Yes. </span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">That,</span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"> too, was
inspired by Robin Williams/Genie!! I will close this with these lyrics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You ain't never had a friend, never had a
friend,<br />
You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend,<br />
You ain't never had a friend like me!<br />
You ain't never had a friend like me!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Goodbye,
Robin Williams....</span></i></div>
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<i></i><br />
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<i>
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<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></i>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-70880054383368753622014-07-31T15:44:00.000-07:002014-07-31T16:19:25.238-07:00National Mutt Day/July 31st<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Guess what?! It's National Mutt Day!! This very
special celebration--which is written on my calendar!!--of Beautifully Unique
mixed breeds only comes but twice a year!! July 31st. And December 2nd. But
then again. For those who are blessed to love and own mutts. And those who
embrace their mixed breeds, as just as important as purebreds. We celebrate National
Mutt Day all year around!! I love, love, love Rose!! And I adored Shadow before
her!! </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">75 percent of canines who enter
shelters nationwide are mutts. 75 freakin' percent!!</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> So. "Say it loud,
say it proud", as that phrase goes. And chant with me now. WE LOVE MUTTS!!
WE LOVE MUTTS!! WE LOVE MUTTS!! WE LOVE MUTTS!! WE LOVE MUTTS!! Wasn't that
fun?! Love you later.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">{Taken from National Mutt Day's Website!! { </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">http://www.nationalmuttday.com/index2.htm } </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They also
have a Facebook page { </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">https://www.facebook.com/NationalMuttDay#!/NationalMuttDay</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> } which has been very fun these days as mixed breed canine owners worldwide have posted pictures of their cuties!! Check it out!!}</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">National Mutt Day was created in 2005 by Celebrity
Pet Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate, <a href="http://www.colleenpaige.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Colleen Paige</span></a>, and is
celebrated on both July 31st and December 2nd. National Mutt Day is all about
embracing, saving and celebrating mixed breed dogs. The biggest percentage of
dogs euthanized in due to the constant over-breeding and public desire of
designer dogs and pure bred puppies that are sold to pet stores supplied by
puppy mills that often produce ill and horribly neglected animals. </span></b><b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">National Mutt Day was created to be
celebrated on two dates per year to raise awareness of the plight of mixed
breed dogs in shelters around the nation and to educate the public about the
sea of mixed breed dogs that desperately await new homes. Mixed breed dogs tend
to be healthier, better behaved, they live longer and are just as able to
perform the duties of pure bred dogs - such as bomb and drug sniffing, search
and rescue and guiding the blind. </span></b><b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There are millions of loving and healthy
mixed breed dogs sitting in shelters, who are desperately searching for a new
home. One of the county's most famous movie dogs is Benji, is a mixed breed
Terrier. </span></b><b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So please visit your local shelter and find a new friend today! If you can't
adopt a mixed breed friend on July 31st and December 2nd, please donate at
least $5 to your local animal shelter, as they all need financial assistance
and every dollar counts! </span></b><b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You can also volunteer to walk a dog, donate food and other supplies needed to
your local animal shelter or make a donation in the memory of a loved dog who
has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. </span></b><b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our goal is to save 10,000 Mutts this July 31st and December 2nd from coast to
coast!</span></b></div>
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<b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ADOPT A MUTT! PLEASE SPAY & NEUTER
YOUR PETS!</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Rose Elizabeth, my Mystery Dog of a mutt!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oh yeah!! Look for
my August fictional children's book to be posted on Minuscule is good! {Lord
willing!!} on August 2nd!!</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-86986156241771477592014-07-26T07:43:00.000-07:002014-07-26T07:44:11.514-07:00Rose's Paw In My Hand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... Apparently, carving time to write fictional
children's books during the Summer is quite challenging!! Last month? I was
helping move around bedrooms. This month? I have "Amethyst" on
Tuesdays {I am not complaining!!} and my nearly eleven-year old cousin every Friday!!
{I repeat. I am not complaining!!} So. I know I've promised a story about Rose
{Which has been written just not edited!!} a photograph will have to do as I begin
work on my August fictional children's book!! Love you later.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This is an artsy picture of
Rose's paw in my unique, disfigured hand with the small ring finger and only
three knuckles!! I snapped it awhile back. I stole the idea from another dog
Blogger. I love, love, <i>love</i> how it turned out!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Yes, I know I'm still a stranger to all of your Blogs. I sincerely apologize
for that!! Every time I attempt to read/comment on your Blogs, it somehow
never completely happens. Please do not forget about me!!</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-72370971749119121992014-07-23T20:52:00.000-07:002014-07-23T20:52:26.050-07:00An Unlikely Superhero<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blogging Friends.... Did you
know that it is Batman Day?! No? Neither did I until finding out!! Apparently
the Dark Knight turned 75 years old today, hence why this date is dedicated to
him!! Honestly? Batman was never truly my very favorite superhero. {But I loved
Robin!!} However. Because I have an older brother, Batman was my first word!!
True story, I'm afraid!! Anyhoo. In correlation to this being Batman Day, here
is a superhero-themed Blog post!!</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Word document journal!! Some changes were made, as per usual!! It was
written--for the most part!!--on July 20th!!}</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have often considered
myself as somewhat of a superhero. <i>Like an X-Men. By the way? I like
Wolverine!! Oh, and Jubilee!! </i>I have often considered my powers as
being inborn, like Superman's. <i>Because I am an alien!! </i>I have
often considered myself as not having been a self-created superhero, like Iron
Man. <i>No offense, Tony Stark!!</i> However. I <i>am </i>an unlikely
superhero. <i>In more ways than one.</i> According to my Blogging
Friend, Robyn {Who founded TinySuperheroes!!} having been born
with craniosynostosis, </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">congenital diaphragmatic hernia</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, and </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">--therefore overcoming such severe birth defects--would qualify me
as a superhero!! <i>I like that!!</i> As a matter of fact. My journey
with folliculitis decalvans {And somehow maintaining an out of character,
un-victimizing, positive attitude!!} might also, according to Robyn, qualify me
as a superhero!! <i>I like that!!</i> And according to my Blogging
Friend, Ellen {Who has a Beautifully Unique son with cerebral palsy named
Max!!} my developmental delays, learning disabilities, attention deficit
disorder and--yes--dreaded premature short-term memory loss, would qualify me
as possessing superpowers!! <i>I like that!!</i> Today Michael {Who has at last
accepted my probable furthermore hair loss!!} called me Ben--aka The
Thing--because of his "bald head". To which I laughed!! "I'm The
Thing!!" I exclaimed, a cockeyed smirk written on my face, "I <i>love
</i>it!!" I then lowered my voice to a deeper man-like tone. "It's
clobberin' time!!" I said. "We have something in common, The Thing
and I," I added in my "normal" voice, "Neither one of us
can hide the way we look. When I lose my hair and go bald, my hair won't grow
back." <i>I am The Thing!! So much for my superhero powers being
inborn....</i></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-63333299716893432942014-07-19T14:34:00.000-07:002014-07-19T17:15:23.383-07:00I Am A Freak!!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... This has easily
been the busiest Summer of my Life {And I am not in any way, shape, or form,
complaining!!} Every Tuesday, we have been watching my niece,
"Amethyst"!! All. Day. Long!! And every Friday, we have had my ten-year
old cousin. All. Day. Long!! So please pardon me for being a stranger to all of
your Blogs!! I will return.... Eventually!! And please excuse Beautifully
Unique's random posts of late!! I am working on a story about Rose!! Slowly but
surely!! My Life right now has seemingly become a purpose-given combination of
spending quality time with Rose, watching kids, and writing!! Love you later.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Taken from my Life Story!! Which was
written in 2012 through 2013!!</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am a freak.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>This birth defected, learning
disabled, weird and crazy freak!!</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Plus,
I am an oddball, too!!<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>I
shall announce this<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"loud
and proud"</i>, as that phrase goes.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Yes,
loud and proud.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>For I shall
stand atop the balcony of some tall skyscraper. And scream. I!! AM!! A!!
FREAK!! Because I am definitely not human!! And, that is okay. You know what?
Society says "freak" as though it's a negative thing.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Yes, negative.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Oh, and you must automatically need
therapy on account of being a freak!!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I
do not like that mindset.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And,
why is it, exactly, does society think of "weird" as being negative?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Like<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>"weird" is some fault or
shortcoming.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I do not like
that mindset, either.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>For society
has long-ago deemed anybody who is different--whether developmentally,
physically, or both--as some "freak". Like they are an animal
infected with rabies. But I think that the word freak (And weird!!) should be
used only in positive ways. I am a freak.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>I
am a freak!!</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Or, as my phrase
goes, I'm Beautifully Unique.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>A
Beautifully Unique freak.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>(Hey,
it rhymes!! The poetess within me likes that!!)</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Taken from my private Word document
journal entry!! Which was--for the most part--written yesterday!!</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ever since I was a teenager, I've
considered myself a freak.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Inhuman.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>How so? I was born defected, with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">craniosynostosis</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">/c</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ongenital diaphragmatic hernia</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">/</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wolff–Parkinson–White
syndrome</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. I have, my entire Life,
lived with premature short-term memory loss as though I'm some middle-aged
person. I am a learning disabled individual. I'm "hard to kill", as
that phrase goes. I am both physically and emotionally resilient. I'm a weird,
crazy, misfit, outsider oddball. You know what? I have long felt like a mutant
from X-Men. However. I am--throughout time--gradually gaining self-acceptance
regarding my birth defects, premature short-term memory loss, learning
disabilities, and being a weird, crazy, misfit, outsider oddball!! I. AM. A.
FREAK!! And now? Thanks to folliculitis decalvans, I will possibly eventually
look like a bald-headed freak with Frankenstein-like </span></b><b style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">craniosynostosis </span></b><b style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">scars.
<i>Bring it on!!</i></span></b></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-15763735063315823372014-07-16T14:19:00.001-07:002014-07-16T16:25:59.063-07:00From "Bad Boy" To Family Man....<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Blogging Friends.... At a birthday party on Sunday, I impersonated Tony/Stark/Iron Man {It was for the kids!! But I rather enjoy being Iron Man, thank-you very much!!} Then I caught my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a colorful </span></i><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><i>polka dot </i></span></span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">party hat and girly-looking bow tie!! How very cool. Not really!! Tony Stark wouldn't be caught dead wearing a colorful polka dot party hat and girly-looking bow tie!! Robert Downey Jr. on the other hand.... And I love, love, love him for it.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I found this last
night!! Be. Still. My. Heart....</span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">{Interviewer} </span><b style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you
enjoying fatherhood the second time around?</b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">{Robert Downey Jr.} </span><b style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I love
it. I love being with Exton and trying to communicate with him on his level.
What's fascinating to me is that when I was in my twenties I could never have imagined
myself as a married guy in his forties raising a young son and having this very
mellow life. Now I'm in the process of accepting the fact that I am that guy! </b></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-89568737520398459112014-07-12T10:19:00.000-07:002014-07-12T10:40:20.117-07:00Not Brave<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... I found this quotation Online the other day.
Gail Porter has alopecia {Which is not quite the same as</span></i> <i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">folliculitis decalvans!!}
She has experienced hair loss and is now completely bald. I learned a little
about Gail Porter this morning. She absolutely refuses to wear wigs or hats!!
Wow, I think I like her!! I hope that when--if--I lose my beautiful hair and go
bald, I, too, will tout it.... Surgically-created Frankenstein-like </span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><i>craniosynostosis </i></span></span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">scars and all!! Somehow, I think I will!! What an inspiration this Gail Porter is.... Love you later. </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/gailporter486344.html" title="view quote"><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">What's so brave about being
bald? I've not fought for my country or found the cure for cancer - I've just
gone out without my hat on!</span></b></a></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> --</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/gail_porter.html" title="view author"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Gail Porter</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-70136128483439601112014-07-09T20:46:00.001-07:002014-07-09T22:28:44.836-07:00 Independence Day<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blogging Friends.... I hope all of my Readers who reside in America
enjoyed themselves a happy and safe July 4th!! Here is my experience with Rose, who suffers from noise phobia.... Love you later.</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For those of you who have not <i>read</i> it yet, I finally--<i>three
freakin' days later than promised!!</i>--posted my <i>July fictional children's story</i> on Minuscule is good! !! Go ahead. <i>Read</i> it!! And be sure to <i>leave comments!! </i>So I <i>know </i>you <i>visited!!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Congrats, congrats, congrats to Robert Downey Jr., Susan, and
Exton as they are adding <i>a girl</i> to
their little family in <i>November!!</i> I
am <i>so</i> very happy for them!! I've always
thought that Robert--especially considering his past--should have a daughter.<i> </i>How so?<i> Nothing against sons, but a daughter eternally holds an incredibly special
place within her Daddy's heart. </i>Robert. An ex-drug addict. Is having a daughter!!
<i>It's nothing short of beautiful.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bombs explode in warzones. And they are set off during terrorist
attacks. Bombs' powerful blasts turn homes into rubble. They blow off people's
limbs. And worst of all, bombs kill. I am not an Army soldier who served in
Iraq. Nor was I a runner during the Boston Bombing Marathon. And I hope to
never {Ever, ever, ever!!} witness or experience the real thing. </span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These were thoughts which crossed through my <i>crazy </i>never-shuts-down head as I sat on our hard tiled "Boy's
Bathroom" floor while fireworks, illegal booming pretty explosions and
bottle rockets {Or "bombs" as I call them both!!} were lit on
Independence Day night. <i>I hope to never
{Ever, ever, ever!!} witness or experience the real thing. </i>There truly is
no escape from fireworks in our one-level home. <i>For we do not have a basement.</i> So, after a few distant fireworks, I
linked Rose's collar with her spare red leash and "held my girl
hostage"--in "our" bedroom. Then, when they stopped, I released
a <i>very cautious</i> Rose. She wandered
toward our great room. I followed her. Well. It was <i>7:30 PM</i> when the <i>first </i>resounding,
booming, nerve-racking, heart-stopping, terrifying "bomb" went off
behind our house. I <i>gasped.</i> Rose
abruptly <i>jumped up</i> from her <i>lying position</i> by our red great room
loveseat. Again, I <i>followed </i>my little
girl, figuring that Rose would lead me to the "Boy's Bathroom". <i>She did not.</i> Rose <i>wandered </i>down the hall toward my parents' bedroom, instead. I <i>gently</i> grabbed her collar, another red
leash in hand. I linked it to Rose's collar and lead us toward the "Boy's
Bathroom". It serves as an <i>incredible</i>
sound barrier!! Although we can <i>still</i>
hear fireworks, illegal booming pretty explosions and bottle rockets {Or
"bombs" as I call them both!!} I, myself, feel <i>safe</i> in the "Boy's Bathroom" on Independence Day!! As
does Rose. Anywhere else in our home and she trembles, pants or tries to
escape. <i>Poor baby!!</i> Not that I <i>blame</i> her. <i>When I momentarily stepped foot into our darkened great room and stretched
my legs, there were twain sudden flashes of fireworks-created light. I jumped,
then whispered these words. "I am feeling unsafe in my own house!!" </i>Not
surprising. I <i>always</i> feel <i>unsafe </i>in my own home on the 4th of
July!! <i>Yes, always.</i> But I <i>never</i> feel <i>unsafe </i>on the hard tile "Boy's Bathroom" floor!! As I <i>sat</i> next to Rose, and <i>stroked </i>her velvet-soft fur, I <i>bemused </i>myself with this <i>far-out</i> thought. <i>It feels like we're hiding in a bomb cellar!!</i> I know, I know. But <i>that</i> is--in a <i>minuscule</i> sense--<i>how it
feels!!</i> Behind our house resides a <i>semi
truck driver.</i> As he <i>drives across
America,</i> this "neighbor"--who I have <i>not met</i>--purchases <i>illegal fireworks</i>
that result in <i>booming pretty sky lit explosions.
</i>He is <i>safe and responsible. </i>But
these "bombs" are resounding, booming, nerve-racking, heart-stopping,
and terrifying!! This year, The Trucker was <i>not
home!! </i>That being mentioned. <i>Despite</i>
our outside world setting off <i>countless</i>
<i>"bombs"</i> <i>anyway,</i> the "Boy's Bathroom"
felt <i>safer </i>this year!! <i>Somehow.</i> Rose--as per usual--even <i>slept through</i> several "bombs".
<i>Although some fireworks made my canine's
eyes suddenly pop open and inhale deep Drama Queen sighs.</i> Rose otherwise <i>escaped to Dreamland,</i> as her legs <i>twitched.</i> No <i>tremors </i>worked their way through my mutt's poor body. She <i>never </i>panted hard and salivated. Rose
simply <i>snored!!</i> Oh, how I'd wished I <i>possessed</i> that ability as I was <i>tired </i>and <i>exhausted</i> all day long on July 4th!! I do not know if it was the<i> several consecutive late nights </i>due to
pre-Independence Day fireworks.<i> </i>Or horrid
hot Summer weather. <i>Or the manual labor
of exchanging my brother Michael's bedroom with our sister's. </i>Or <i>happily chasing after</i> my <i>energetic</i> two-year old niece, "Amethyst"
on Independence Day. <i>Or the stress of
spending five freakin' days writing my July fictional children's book. </i>{I
am <i>already thinking</i> about <i>next month's story,</i> by the way!!} <i>Or.... </i>Nonetheless. I was <i>tired </i>and <i>exhausted!! </i>After <i>everybody</i>
in our home <i>attempted</i> slumber among <i>seemingly endless "bombs",</i> I
mixed up my <i>ultimate </i>chocolate
addict's recipe. <i>About 1/2 cup Hershey's
syrup--no, I have not measured it!!--mixed into pure white milk!! </i>Yum!! I
mixed it up in a glass <i>as swiftly as I
could</i> {While "bombs" were lit <i>above
our roof,</i> therefore <i>terrifying</i>
me!!} then I poured my "chocolate/chocolate/chocolate milk" into one
of our bottles so that Rose could not drink it. <i>Because accidents occur. </i>I was partying hard. <i>Hey, I do not too much care for alcoholic beverages!!</i> I was going
to get <i>"high on chocolate". </i>Because
I <i>needed</i> it!! A result which is <i>ineffective, </i>I'm afraid,<i> </i>when I am <i>exhausted.</i> Did you know that when the Boy's Bathroom toilet seat is
down, it makes an <i>awesome </i>makeshift table?!
<i>Well? The counter/sink is too high up
from where I was sitting!! </i>There I set my "chocolate/chocolate/chocolate
milk"!! <i>Pop the toilet seat back up,
and I can urinate in it!! Which, I did!!</i> Toward the end of everybody's
fireworks, illegal booming pretty explosions and bottle rockets {Or
"bombs" as I call them both!!} I was dozing off on our hard tiled
Boy's Bathroom floor, my back against the opened hollow wooden door, my feet
between its toilet and sink. <i>"Bombs"?
What "bombs"?</i> I was suddenly <i>determined
</i>to sleep through them alongside Rose right then and there!! <i>But alas, I could not.</i> For every time
yet <i>another</i> resounding, booming,
nerve-racking, heart-stopping, terrifying "bomb" went off, this <i>light sleeper</i>--me--popped open her
eyes!! <i>Oh well!! I would have awoken the
following morning with my butt and legs asleep, anyway!! </i>Although. The <i>bathtub</i> would have made a good makeshift
bed!! <i>And I am just now thinking of this
because....? </i>Rose lets me leave the Boy's Bathroom--or our "bomb
cellar"--so I do get to <i>briefly
witness</i> some booming pretty explosions out our <i>living room windows</i> while stretching my legs!! It was <i>12:15 AM.</i> "The cone is
silent", to quote a line from <i>Twister.</i> Or
so I thought. I <i>quietly</i> called
Rose into "our" bedroom. She <i>stood
up</i> from her <i>lying position</i> on the
Boy's Bathroom floor. <i>Willingly!!</i>
Rose then walked toward "our" bedroom and <i>lay</i> on her <i>comically-sized
dog pillow</i> as though no "bombs" were ever lit!! I was <i>shocked</i> and <i>surprised!!</i> What a <i>resilient </i>girl!!
Then, as I was checking our great room sliding glass door to make sure it had
been locked--my pre-bed ritual--apparently yet <i>another</i> "bomb" or two exploded. <i>Ugh.</i> Rose <i>returned back</i>
to the Boy's Bathroom--or our "bomb cellar"--and I will <i>never, ever, ever</i> forget her <i>apologetic, untrusting facial expression</i>
when she <i>looked directly</i> at me with a
pair of big brown "Beagle" eyes. I felt <i>so</i> very guilty, <i>so</i> very terrible!!
<i>Did my facial expression look displeased?</i>
Because I was <i>most certainly</i> <i>frustrated.</i> But not at Rose!! No, I was <i>frustrated</i> with the seemingly
never-ending fireworks. <i>I was frustrated
with everybody's late, late, late night insanity.</i> The thought that crossed my
mind during those ungodly hours was this. <i>She'll
never trust me again!!</i> Eventually, I was <i>forced </i>to <i>give up</i> as <i>distant</i> fireworks, illegal booming
pretty explosions and bottle rockets {Or "bombs" as I call them both!!}
<i>still</i> exploded. My clock now ticked at
almost <i>1AM.</i> And I was <i>desperately </i>in need of some <i>sleep!!</i> So I <i>grabbed</i> Rose's collar and <i>gently</i>
<i>pulled</i> her out of the Boy's Bathroom.
<i>Literally!! </i>I <i>lead</i> Rose to "our" <i>smoky-smelling</i>
room--because the window was open--<i>closed</i> its door, <i>heard</i> a few faraway
"bombs", <i>apologized</i>
profusely, <i>lay</i> in my bed, then <i>attempted</i> slumber. <i>Until another nearby resounding, booming, nerve-racking,
heart-stopping, and terrifying "bomb" was lit. </i>I <i>popped</i> open my eyes, <i>checked </i>on Rose, <i>attempted </i>slumber again, then yet <i>another</i> "bomb" exploded. <i>Sigh.</i> It was nearly <i>1:20 AM</i>
when our <i>outside world</i> became <i>silent!!</i> At <i>last.... </i></span></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-9557754252473362402014-07-04T23:50:00.002-07:002014-07-05T10:24:44.004-07:00"Goodnight, Everybody!"<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Blogging Friends.... Happy Independence
Day!! Well, it is nearly midnight. Bombs--er--bottle rockets--are still being
lit, and Rose is sleeping peacefully on our Boy's Bathroom floor!! I need to go
to her. As Shawn from "Boy Meets World" said. "Goodnight,
everybody!" Love you later.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And the {bottle}
rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there/Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave,
o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!</span></b></div>
Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043009785231048167.post-77371282498059000352014-06-30T09:53:00.000-07:002014-06-30T09:53:47.514-07:00Fireworks Season<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blogging Friends.... Is it that time again?! Already?! Fireworks
season, as I am now calling it, is once again upon us!! Just last night, before
bed, our neighbor shot off several illegal, heart-stopping, booming, beautiful
when exploding in our skies, bottle rockets. Or bombs, as I call them!! Rose,
my noise phobia suffering little girl darted from our bedroom, first cowered in
the kitchen, then living room, and finally our sound barrier of a "boy's
bathroom". Poor baby!! I lead Rose to our bedroom, and linked her spare
red leash. There we heard a bottle rocket--bomb--explode, so I walked my
reluctant, terrified little girl toward the great room. All while sarcastically
whispering these words. "God bless America." And so begins yet
another long {weekend} fireworks season.... Love you later.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did I seriously write the other day that my July fictional children's
story will be posted on the first? <i>Really?!
What on Earth was I thinking?!</i> July 1st. <i>We will be watching my two-year old niece, "Amethyst" that
day!! </i>So. Since we will also be watching my nearly eleven-year old cousin
on Thursday, look for the story {Again, Lord willing!!} to be posted on July
2nd!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This information was taken from a Summer 2011 local dog newsletter
issue.</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Every year, many companion pets escape and are lost or injured
because of their fear of fireworks. While many of us love the big bangs and
beautiful lights, our companion pets do not share our sentiment. Many dogs and
cats escape their homes, some never to be reunited with their families. We
encourage each of you to please take the necessary precautions to make sure
your companion pet remains safe, at home and healthy. If your pet is easily
frightened by sudden noises or bright lights, talk with your veterinarian about
a mild sedative to ease your pet's anxiety. Keep your pet in a safe place when
the fireworks begin. Options include the pet's crate, a safe room or the
basement. Turn on a radio for background noise to help muffle some of the
bangs. Provide a high quality chew toy to help keep them busy and distracted.
Provide their favorite stuffed toy, blanket or other item that helps them feel
safe. Every year all animal shelters see many pets that have escaped over the
July 4th holiday."</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And.... Its veterinarian writes this.</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"With the Fourth of July right around the corner, fireworks and
loud noises are plentiful and for some pets, it's anything but a happy time. They
can become anxious, stressed, terrified or uncomfortable and can suffer from a
fear of loud noises known as noise phobia. Learn to recognize the signs of a
noise phobia. Signs commonly seen are: shaking or trembling, excessive
drooling, barking or howling, hiding, and trying to escape from the house,
fence, or other enclosure. Some animals will lose control of their bladder or
bowels and some may experience prolonged diarrhea from the stress. Keep in
mind, dogs that escape can end up with wounds, lacerations or worse-hit by a
car. To help you manage your dog's anxiety, try these tips: keep you dogs at
home. Keep dogs inside in a safe, quiet room, turn on music and pull the window
blinds. Remove any items that might be chewed. Take your dog for a walk prior
to the start of the noise. Provide a safe "escape" place. For safety
measures, make sure your pet's ID is current. If needed, visit your favorite
vet for medical help with the noise phobia/anxiety behavior to ensure a safe
holiday for you and your pet."</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I acknowledge completely
that some facts were repeated in this Blog post. My apologies for that!!</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005199691237610718noreply@blogger.com2