I’m tired.. I had a great day on Sunday. I was feeling really good and being productive so it is taking me a long time to wind down. My days and nights are backwards and I have been reluctant to keep being productive at night. But I’m apparently in some sort of nesting/productive part of the cycle. I’m just going to go with it when it comes.
I’m kind of terrified by the night owl photo. When I was in grad school in Athens I lived near a park that had sort of a zoo component. I loved to go see the otters. But they also had a bear and some dear and lots of caged birds. I think other than the otters they were all rescue animals.
I’ve always been terrified of birds. I had a college friend that had a bird. I hated going to her house. She would let the bird out and swore it would not land on me. But birds LOVE to land on my head. And it did and I freaked. The park with the otters had Owls. I think the Uni was rehabbing hurt animals or something. But the birds even in cages scared the fuck out of me. I loved that park though.
Anyway I woke up this morning with lots of strange dreams. The last one happened when I was half awake. It wasn’t a dream, but I was reading this list of alphanumeric codes off the back of my eyelids and I could see them all clear as day while half awake. So clearly, I have a brain tumor. Right? Do you do weird things in your sleep? Do you have half awake half asleep times when you wake up?
And of course whatever else is going on with you.. Have a great week. My magic tomatoes have me washing dishes and being productive I hope you are starting to feel the effects soon.
I have more strange dreams with my days and nights reversed. Very often my X husband, divorced in ’95, has a starring role. It is maddning! It is never in a romantic way, he is just part of whatever I am doing in the dream. Sometimes his current wife is as well. I never see them in real life and do not care to so the dreams piss me off.
I have the half awake ones too. They usually make no sense at all, sometimes if it is a good one, I can go back to sleep and finish it. Aren’t people strange? It is cute to watch my cat dream. Sometimes I wake him if it doesn’t look like he is having a good time.
Tamara, I have really Technicolor dreams, too, and I think it’s because of the medication, Neurontin, that I take for damaged nerves. I didn’t know it had that effect until a nurse friend of mine mentioned that she had to stop taking it because of that issue.
I know what you mean about birds. I love them but they don’t love me. A boyfriend I once had asked me to keep his African grey parrot during a move out of state for a job relocation. I kept the bird for about six months and that bird lunged at me all the time. They say that beak can crack nuts so of course one would not want to be the victim of something like that.
Then there was that fateful time when the daughter of a “friend” I was visiting had a ring-necked dove as a pet. They let it out of the cage and it flew up and landed on my head, and it’s toenails or whatever scratched my scalp. Gross! I’m just thankful it didn’t shit on me with that nasty white chalky crap that birds have. They laughed like crazy and didn’t want me pushing the bird off my head so I got up and ran and the bird slid off and they were, of course, more concerned about the bird than with me.
Night-owls unite! I’m glad you’re out there.
Nancy, my pain meds give me crazy dreams as well. I’m on a Butrans patch, plus other crap, and not only do I have wonderful, severe night sweats (prepping early for menopause, I guess)… The dreams are vivid. I also twitch like crazy when I doze off… Muscle spasms, I guess. It freaks my kids out.
As for the birds… I had an evil little fucker Lovebird named Pumpkin (yeah, idk either) at my father’s house, when I was little. I don’t know why this bird was hellbent on hurting everyone. He would bite your fingers if he could, puncture the cuticle– that little shit was thrilled if he drew blood. The goal was to make you bleed as much as possible. My evil step mother had a menagerie, and I think they hated her selfish cocaine-abusing butt too.
No. More. Birds. :))
Btw Nancy, sorry to get off bird topic, but does Neurontin help you? Curious. 🙂 I hope so.
Hey Alexa,
Loved your bird story (“…evil little fucker…”) and I”m still chuckling over that! It made me picture a beautiful little tropical bird dressed in a bank robber mask and black t-shirt, with a mean grin on its face, leaning way over off its perch, screeching and trying its best to get you.
Yes, the Neurontin really does help, thank God. I was about at the end of my rope and went out and bought a .38, no shit. I take the Neurontin alongside some other things and it makes the nights peaceful, whereas before I was up pacing the floors, crying and wondering WTF I had ever done to anyone to deserve this kind of karma. Chronic pain is something I never counted on having when I was young and strong and it makes you realize how precious life is and especially how precious it is when you enjoy good health.
Thank you for asking and I’m wishing continued improvement and peace for you as well.
I took Neurontin for about a month, for peripheral neuropathy (from chemo). But it hurt me more than helped me. It made me so twitchy, toward the end, I felt like I was having mini seizures. And I had horrible insomnia and hallucinations. It scared me, so I stopped, gradually. I wasn’t in constant pain, however. I found out it does nothing to help repair nerve damage, it’s just for pain. So, in my case, there really was no reason for me to take it.
I’m glad it’s helping you. If you do decide to stop taking it, make sure you do so gradually. That’s important.
Yep TT is right about having nights and days backwards. Add nerve medications to that and you get the strangest dreams ever. In one I was walking looking for my lost Rottweiler and came across an old timey gas station that had a neon pink sign advertising that it was a Dog And Pig Wash. Dogs and pigs were in huge tin tubs under the shelter being bathed. The next dream I was actually flying over my house which was awesome but ended up having to kill aliens. Had to figure out who was and wasn’t an alien because they looked like humans but I had to save my family and the world. Could even smell the coppery smell of their blood. When I woke up, I was totally exhausted because I fought all night long. Lol wonder what a psychiatrist would make of those dreams?
Cat, I’m sorry to hear you also have neuropathy. It can be very depressing that there really are no existing medications to promote nerve healing, that I know of anyway.
That’s so weird, Hannah. I just posted about a weird dream I had last night about an alien invasion. Spooky.
Yeah. But hey, the bright side is it got me out of a crappy job and on disability, so I can take my time healing. My oncologist told me it should resolve itself within about 9 months. That was almost a year and a half ago. It is getting better, but it’s very gradual. At least now, I can type a little better without my fingers sliding all over the keyboard. And I can drive myself without slipping from the brake to the gas (scary!)
I’m just taking things a day at a time. As for nights and days being reversed, I was working the overnight shift, anyway, so I’m used to being up all night. I am a night person…Love the stars and moon, and sitting in the dark. I’m weird that way. And since I’m not on a work schedule, I can just sleep when my body says to.
The worst part is the lack of balance. I can’t feel my toes or fingers, so sometimes, I get up and lose my balance. Then I walk like a toddler who is just starting to walk. THAT is frustrating. But I try not to let it get me down. At least I’ve graduated from the walker to a cane for support. Eventually, I hope to get rid of the cane. We will see.
Cat, your neuropathy has a lot of the same symptoms as my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. I started out on the Neurontin but I couldn’t handle it and had to be switched. Lyrica did me in as well. I started with the walker for 3 years. Then the cane for 1 1/2 years. I’m proud to say I’m able to walk without the cane on flat surfaces for short distances now. Still walking like the toddler you mentioned, but it’s better than having to use the walker. You can do it Cat. It’s a tough row to hoe but I think you’ve got what it takes to accomplish it. Proud of your progress so far. I’m pulling for you.
My biggest problem is other people, who don’t see the progress I’ve made. I tell my sister, a year ago today, I could not walk without a walker. I couldn’t drive, shop, cook, clean, take a shower, or walk the short distance to the mailbox. I see it. I see small changes. And I celebrate each new step forward.
And dammit, I really shouldn’t be here at all. So, I think I’m way ahead of the game. Like a friend of mine says “Any day above ground is a good day.”
I may not be able to run a marathon, but then, I never could. Or wanted to.
And thanks. One reason I come here is because of people like you. Whenever I feel down, I think of other people here, who have it much worse than I do. And I realize how lucky I am.
You, and others here, are an inspiration to me. Thanks for being so strong.
🙂 I hope you are having a great day. I mentioned in another comment, I’m waiting on biopsy results for skin cancer. Reading TT and all the awesome people on it really makes my day better. 🙂
Every day I pass the mirror test is a good day.
In China, owls are called cat eagles. In the Bible, Isaiah 34:14 the screech owl is also referred to as Lilith or the night monster.
My triva bits for the day.
Nancy, so glad it helps you! That’s great. Chronic pain is a bummer to say the least. 🙁 I have guns in my house, but the razor blade was seriously speaking to me one night. I was on tramadol only for 10 years (I have bad discs – cervical and lumbar – and hypermoility / SI joint dislocations constantly). I’m 36.
Thank God now I’m on Tramadol, Endocet and a Butrans patch… I was about to end it all. And paxil wasn’t helping… Nothing. Butrans has some funky side effects but it stops the pain of feeling like my spine is being ripped out.
I tried Lyrica – best sleep ever! It made me so groggy though.
Thanks for your opinion 🙂 I resisted the stronger pain pills forever, but they are better than committing suicide. 🙂 I was curious about Neurontin. :)) glad you survived the pain AND the birds 😛
My last wonderful dream was a couple of days ago when dreamt I was a dancing clown with another girl and we were dancing and singing to a Stevie Nicks song that was playing on my Pandora. I have a lot of anxiety dreams, where I lose my purse or a cat or one of the kids. If I wake up during those dreams, I’ve taught myself to go back to sleep and dream that I have the lost object. I see it in my hand, or see the kid. It actually works. When my son first became ill, I had terrible insomnia. I finally was able to break it by watching certain movies that are low key with pretty music, listening to Prairie Home Companion, or putting on an 11 hour stream of Tibetan bowls and gongs.
I have tomorrow off and the kids are taking me to SUR for lunch for Mother’s Day. Will email photos.
How exciting, I hope you share your SUR experience with all of us.
Thanks, @Angel. 🙂
I hate birds too. In fact I have a bird phobia which started when I saw Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” when I was eight. I will seriously avoid places where there are lots of birds and freak if any fly by me if I’m by a tree or something. I don’t know too many people who are as afraid of birds as I am so people think I’m way overreacting but the fear is real!
My partner wants to get a cockatoo. Surprisingly, I do not want to share my apartment with a loud, obnoxious, money sink that will outlive me and probably our relationship.
Give me a cockerspaniel or ragdoll cat anyday.
I vote for the cocker spaniel I had two.
Does your partner realize how messy birds are? My caged bird pet peeve is they’re unable to do what’s natural → fly! Even a pet goldfish is allowed to swim. I don’t understand people who want to take away a bird’s instinctive ability. (It won’t be the 1st time I’m considered weird) but it reminds me of preventing a child from crawling, then walking.
Get the ragdoll. =^-^=
I have 4 rag dolls, Micheal. They are the best. Well, except Coconut. He can’t seem to use a litter box, and is obsessed with Mac and cheese. Besides that, he’s a constant fluffy delight. 🙂 I have pics to convince your partner.
Micheal, Nat Geo has a great program on wild birds as pets. It’s a documentary that had tough me crying at how these birds live. Ask your partner to d/l and watch this before getting a bird.
There was a time when I loved birds and thought about living with something larger than a budgie. A friend involved in animal rescue had been asking around about a bonded pair of Amazon parrots. They were in a bad way, the woman who owned them at the time had retired to Florida and had no intention of taking them with her, so they were living in an empty apartment with several other large birds. I foolishly agreed to take them on and then spent five troubled years with them. I knew nothing about their history. The male, Paco, spoke a little English and a lot of Spanish. The female, Lolita never spoke at all, unless Paco, who hated me from the day he arrived in my house, found a way to attack me. I kept them both locked up in their huge cage, it took up a quarter of my living room, for the entire time I had them, but Paco was an escape artist and got out a couple of times. Every time he did, he’d fly straight at me, bite me with his huge beak and latch on. I still have the scars. Lolita would then burst into a fluent torrent of Spanish, words of encouragement, I’m sure. He would even lie in wait at the apertures where I refreshed their food and water, and lunge his head through the slots to bite me.
I took excellent care of those two birds, suspecting that they’d had a pretty miserable life up to that point. My husband dreamed of just setting them free one day, although Paco liked him just fine. It’s a horrible dilemma. They live so long and I ended up feeling like they were my prisoners . I did a lot of reading AFTER I took them on and learned that jealousy is one of their natural emotions and bonded pairs tend to see humans as a threat. When I had them I often dreamed of the two of them flying free,, and Paco attacking me.
The fact that they were a bonded pair was the only thing they had going for them, they really loved each other. When I realized how much my life revolved around them, when I got tired of my house sounding and smelling like an aviary and not being able to leave for even a couple of days (we ran out of birdsitters really fast) I found a bird rescue ring in Ohio, run by a saint of a woman who promised that they’d never be separated. I dropped them off with all their paraphernalia and fled, before she could change her mind, kind of the way I received them in the first place. That’s one decision I’ve never regretted or second-guessed.
@Chris, Wow, just reading this gave me chills! You’re a saint putting up with Paco and Lolita for 5 years. Glad to hear you “escaped”.
The lesson I learned from the whole experience is to THINK before I do something that stupid ever again!
Wow, Chris. Glad you were able to find another home for them. I dont like birds ever since I watched Hitchcock’s movie The Birds with my mom. I was little and it scared me.
If I take Nyquil cold medication I get weird dreams/nightmares. I have woken up in that weird state where “I” am awake but my body isnt. Freaks me out. I know I have to calm down & go back to sleep to “merge”. The weird dreams are when I am a totally different person in a totally different period in time. Unlike the jumbled symbolic dreams, they seem like a movie and I never know what they mean.
Josie, that happens to me. It’s like sleep paralysis. Terrifying.
Lol… I’m sorry, that’s a horrible story. I sympathize… I’ve had pooping dogs, insane cats, and the period where my husband had 50+ snakes! exotic lizards (monitor, anyone?), and more… But the visual of a mean bird spewing Spanish words of encouragement is pure comedy. :)) I’m glad you could re-home them!
Ugh to birds. Let’s shut this topic down lest it color the rest of the week for us.
At the end of last year I helped a relative move from New York to the south…we knew she had “issues”. Oh boy, did she have issues. – Mobility issues, mental health issues, hoarding issues, compulsive shopping issues, filth issues. The icing on the cake was ten animals in a 900 square foot house including three large birds in huge cages which took up half the living room. There was bird seed, feathers, bird food everywhere and shit on the floors and walls. A bonus room in the attic had 3″ of bird shit, etc. on the floor and walls which was just left there when she downsized from 20-something to 3 birds. And damaged woodwork and walls everywhere from escapees allowed to rule the roost. Absolutely filthy and disgusting.
I dont know how, but I managed to convince her to surrender the birds to the Humane Society. As soon as that window opened we have those birds and their travel cages in the car in a New York Minute. The woman at the Humane Society said that since birds live 60 years it was not uncommon for them to have 3 owners over a lifetime. Because they were very valuable and in surprisingly good health, she said they would be adopted in a week.
Then came the cleanup, I am still traumatized by the whole issue.
Now, can we please go back to tomatoes, anyone?
Agreed! We’ve planted just two tomato plants this year. Our yard is full of trees and we just don’t have the sun they need. We’ve put them in the flower bed this year. I live in hope.
Chris, I feel your pain about trying to grow tomatoes in shade. I hope the flower bed does the trick. Last year we cut back a few trees (Mon Dieu!) in hopes of getting a precious additional hour or so of sunshine on our raised beds. We had decent tomato yields on our two test plants last year and now, thanks to TT, we’ve gone overboard with 8 plants for our empty-nester household.
I read someplace that people who own birds have a much higher instance of respiratory diseases like COPD and cancer. The dander from the birds’ skin and feathers, as well as miniscule dust particles laden with mite feces gets in the bronchi and festers. Gross, I know. Just a warning to anyone out there with a bird fetish and does not know this. I hate to think of anyone living with anything to give a potential health risk as I cherish the thought of my former good health and it’s nothing to take lightly.
Dear god can we stop with the bird talk. I am trying to EAT.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:58 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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@TT funny you should talk about dreams, I’ve been having a recurring one lately that I’ve felt the need to tell my family members about, in case some thing should happen (to me). And I feel the need to tell them about this one because I don’t usually remember my dreams, and I keep wondering what it means. You know that feeling you have when you’ve over slept for work, or for someplace you are supposed to be? I wake up in a mini panic that I’ve missed some sort of deadline and that I am doomed. I have this feeling that ok, I’ve missed the last plane, train, boat or whatever, the end of the world is near, and I’m doomed. This happens wether I lay down for a nap, or get drowsy in front of this pc. Like Nancy, I also take Neurontin (gabapentin) and have for several years. I never made a connection with my dream and that drug. Anyway TT you come up with the most fascinating things for us to discuss, thank you!
I get really scared at night. I love the dark, but my mind really wanders to some dark places in the middle of the night. The half awake dreams are the WORST!
That owl picture is pretty terrifying.
My boys bought me a little herb garden for mother’s day, and we planted some flowers. Hoping to play around with the herbs this week.
My sweet little cockatiel died in December and my household is still in mourning. The first night we had her, she landed on my bird-hating husband’s head (how do they know?); He wept when we buried her on the beach last year. The great dane lay by her cage and whined the day she died. She would sit in the windows and watch us when we were out on the porches, and shriek with excitement when we would come home. Such a surprise that the little bird was such a big personality in our busy home filled with teenagers and dogs.
Tampamom, I’m sorry. 🙁 I find cockatiels tend to be sweet and docile many times. I’m sorry for your loss. 🙁
Thank you for your reply. It’s amazing what a big impact a little bird had on our lives!
I’m sorry to hear about the little cockatiel. The same boyfriend who asked me to bird-sit the African grey also had a cockatiel that he took with him, since the cage was a manageable size, when he moved. That little bird was the sweetest thing ever. I was terrified of birds but I finally got to where I’d let him perch on my finger. I know you miss your sweet pet.
When I was in recovery from a medical accident involving Hospital Acquired MRSA is when my sleep/awake cycles became permanently messed up.
Even though I’m weaned off all pain, skeletal drugs, etc. I continuously experience that dream of losing my purse, family and/or every precious dog I’ve had over the years
My dog sleeps with me, too, and I love her to pieces, dog farts and all. The fact that she wants to be where I am, always, just breaks my heart, since she’s getting older. I nap with her whenever I can.
When she’s having a dream, her short little legs start kicking, and she’s kicked me in the abdomen and scratched me up a little bit, but I don’t care. I’d rather get a few little love kicks than not have her near.
She sounds like a sweet doggie.
so glad for a daily tea where i can chat about ‘finding carter’. i heard about this show on the catfish thread. it looks like mtv has a bunch of good shows. i really like finding carter so far. just starting season 2. i need to switch to scripted shows sometimes after so much reality.
There is this Park like area in north Austin. It’s really a public softball area with a lot of trees. I’m not sure how it really started but a bunch of wild cockatiel live there. I know now some people release their pet birds there. It’s odd to see them. But they seem happy enough.
I’ve always wanted to go to Austin, just from what I’ve read about it being a very progressive city, college town, artists and musicians, etc. It must have a pretty mild winter for birds to survive. And I’ve heard it’s very expensive, real-estate-wise.
It is cool place to live. Lots of things to do. Rental rates are high because of the students. Purchasing is relative. High for Texas but not necessarily so compared to some areas in the U.S. Nowhere near California or New York rates. I loved living there. It’s really growing.
I think the owl picture is beautiful, but I’m pretty neutral on birds. Never had one, don’t plan on getting one and don’t have anything to say about them. I have a recurring themed dream. The place changes, but the premise is similar. I’m either at an airport or in a hotel. In both situations, everything in conspiring against me to keep from getting to the airport gate to make my flight home. Sounds stupid, but it’s actually quite anxiety provoking. I haven’t had a recurring dream where you dream the exact same thing more than once since junior high school.
If a magic tomato plant could get me motivated to clean house, I may have to reconsider. Do they come with a written guarantee?
So this was a bad idea for a topic…
again, we don’t have to talk about whatever I ramble on about at 2 am… IJS..
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 11:20 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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*sigh* off to the naughty chair I go.
I was happy to hear you had an “up” day yesterday. Let us know what we can do to keep ’em coming!
I feed the birds, and the squirrels and chipmunks, that visit my balcony. They stay outside, where they belong, and come and go as they please. They are outside, I am inside. The end.
So today is the day I’m supposed to venture out in the world and buy a magic tomato plant. Shhh – don’t tell TTTED. I may or may not confirm said purchase. However, the universe is conspiring against me with severe storms. I may have to change my goal from today to sometime this week. 🙂
GURL! Come hell or high water, I don’t care if you have to build an ark… GET THE DAMN PLANT. Go now afternoon storms are going to start rolling in.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:30 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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heheheh
What are you not inline paying for the plant! Make hay while the sun shines. Or whatever.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:40 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Careful TT. I may have to call you out for a street fight like that resident thug.
Face washed – check
Teeth brushed – check
Yoga pants – check (no I don’t weigh 125)
Shirt – check
Shoes – check
I’m off!!!
YES!!!
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 1:48 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I had to stop by to give my tomato plant report.
I was all ready to post that Nature was playing a mean joke on me. I planted my cherry tomato plants from seed, using those little starter cup things….I watered them daily….and NOTHING.
However, out on my balcony, under the bird feeder, is an old pot of dirt. The birds were tossing seed into that pot of dirt,and Yes, it started to sprout and grow. I was growing bird feed. By doing NOTHING.
But then, we had some sun, followed by a lot of rain. I put the starter cups out on the balcony, and forgot about them. To my surprise, I now have a bunch of tiny, tiny tomato plants!
I brought them back inside, because one of the squirrels knocked one of the cups over. But I managed to salvage the sprout, and it’s now doing ok (I think).
I hope to transfer them to a large pot by next week.
Hey, if I can do it, so can you. Really. I killed a cactus once.
Excellent work, Cat!
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 2:48 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Just like the bad days come for no reason so do the good days. I’m in some sort of nesting mode where I’m actually picking up some crap and washing dishes. I even changed the air filter on the A/C that I have been looking at for at least a month. Who knows what fascinating things I will do today? Can laundry be far behind?
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:38 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
> GURL! Come hell or high water, I don’t care if you have to build an > ark… GET THE DAMN PLANT. Go now afternoon storms are going to start > rolling in. > > On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:30 PM, Tamara Tattles [email protected]> wrote: > >>
Funny thing about laundry – I actually don’t mind doing it. I also don’t mind washing the dishes or scrubbing the toilet. It’s just about everything else that seems like such a chore. That’s the interesting thing about this stage of life – our days are like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates – you never know what kind you’re going to get.
I love to DO laundry when I have access to a washer/dryer. The way my shack is set up, the connections are in opposite corners of the kitchen. And the appliance configuration doesn’t allow anything to go in there. Even if I tried to put the dryer in NEXT TO THE STOVE, you would not be able to open in. So I outsource the laundry and end up taking 70 pounds of clothes to the laundry mat. Or, I’ve been known to just go buy something clean at Target.
FML
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:44 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I’m one of the few that still irons. Not everything but just what needs it (except maybe our pillowcases – love sleeping on freshly pressed pillowcases). After I do my laundry I pull out my ironing board, ironing items before hanging them up or putting them away. (1 of my pet peeves is putting things away wrinkled & ironing right before we’re going to wear or use them).
I grew up with a girl whose mother would iron EVERYTHING including the family’s underwear (honest)! Every time you went over there, day or night there she was bent over her ironing board. Haven’t seen her in years but I picture her with a bad case of osteoporosis. ๏̯̃๏
I don’t mind doing doing the laundry, but I sure would appreciate if that shit would fold itself and put itself away….
TT, living by yourself you can live out of the clean laundry basket until it’s empty and nobody cares, right.
There are bags of clean laundry in the wardrobe room. They have been there for months. The light bulb blew out in there a few months ago and I have yet to muster the desire to replace it. I tried once but I am out of light bulbs. I keep forgetting to buy more.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:53 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Whenever I’m feeling really down and depressed, I look around at the cluttered table and credenza, and it makes me feel even worse. So I get off my ass and get busy. I really go to town, OCD as hell. Certain containers for certain things, labels, colored folders, etc. Then I put it away and in one week can’t find a damned thing. My house is small, under 1000 feet, and one room is the “storage room”, meaning the Room Of No Return. Stuff that goes in there gets forever shuttled around until you can’t put your hands on anything right away, always an hour-long search and a lot of cussing. I’m not a hoarder, just had a late-life move into smaller quarters and then health issues, so that the Great Streamlining that was supposed to occur still has not.
But it DOES feel good to get the house cleaned; floors shining, countertops sanitized, window sills clear, window glass shining. And the smell of a really clean house is so nice. That lasts for about three days.
I know what you mean about clutter. And laundry. And all that. I live alone, and when I was sick, I couldn’t do ANYTHING for about a YEAR. I am just now sorting things out, and trying to get things back to normal, before I end up on an episode of Hoarders. The mail is the worst, but I can finally see my dining table…sort of.
I still have bad days, where I can’t do anything. But I cherish the good days. All you can do is try to appreciate every day, and do the best you can. At least I’m still here. I am grateful for that.
My husband does laundry and I cook.
I have a geat recipe. Carne Seca to make machaca.
Take cheap lean pot roast about 4 lbs. I use bottom round or a rump roast. Cut it in 4 pieces. Cook in about an inch of salted water with an onion sliced in ½, a smashed garlic clove, 2 bay leaves, and a dash of red pepper flakes. Cook coverd until very tender and can shredon low.May take more than 4 hours. Shred.Remove lid and continue cooking until liquid evaporates. It okay if beef dries out. Remove onion garlic and bay leaves. Mix 1½ tsp salt, 1 tsp black peppe, garlic powder, onion powder,cumin, ½tsp crushed oregano, and 2 tsp ground red hot or mild New Mexican chile( buy in the plastic bags) or may sub chili powder.
Toss beef with half the seasoning. Put on foil lined cookie sheet. Bake in a 250° F oven for 30 min. Toss with other half of seasoning. Bake for about 30 min more. You want the beef dried. Cool. Store in a plastic zip lock in freezer.
To make machaca. Chop an onion fine. Chop a few tomatoes and mince a couple jalepeños. Heat 2 tsp oil in a no stick pan. Add onions, tomatoes, and peppers. Add a handful of carne seca. Cook on low until meat has softened and liquid evaporated. In place of fresh jalepeños and tomatoes, you can sub a can of rotel. Push meat to 1 side of the pan, add a little butter or oil to empty side. Pour in 4 beaten eggs scramble until almost set. Fold in meat. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.Serve with salsa, refried beans and home fries on the side and hot tortillas. I like corn, some people prefer flour.
The meat can be simmered in a little water and used for tacos or burritos. (Carne deshabrada)
Keeps in the freezer for a couple of months. Machaca makes a great breakfast for the weekend or a great dinner.
TT – so glad yesterday was a good day for you (in spite of the 1.5 hours you had to spend watching the RHOA reunion and the time devoted to writing another stellar blog). I actually went out in public (gasp) for an early supper with my dad. First time in months and months. Let’s keep the momentum going!!
Although I detest housework, I absolutely cannot stand clutter. It sort of pushes me over the edge. So everything may be in need of a good dusting and vacuuming, but there is no clutter allowed. Back when I used to have a desk in an office with coworkers, they came in and moved everything around on my desk to see how I would react. First thing I did, without comment, was to put everything back in it’s place. I was obviously the morning’s entertainment.
I need some TT magic, so I’m making myself accountable. Last night I crawled out from beneath my rock–actually the covers on my bed–and took a little WALK. Today, to keep the miracle alive, I intend to purchase a tomato plant. Currently the plant is imaginary, but I’ve already named her TTt (Tamara Tattles tomato). I don’t think the magic will happen if I don’t bring TTt into reality, will it? TT, hope it’s ok to attach “you” to my magic plant, but you are the inspiration, ok? ; D
wish me luck–
Yay pick out a nice fat one! And good luck!
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 1:35 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I have a funny at my own expense bird story. Like a lot of you I am scared of birds, literally terrified. I went to CA for a few months to do an internship at an animal rescue. The first day me and the other interns were getting a tour of the place, which included a chicken coop with 100s of chickens all around. My palms started to sweat and my legs felt numb so I got the heck out of there. As I was leaving a cute little hen, or I learned later is super friendly, started to follow me. I screamed and started to run from it. All these people came out of surrounding bulidings to see my 5’10 giant ass running from a little chicken. I’ve never been is humiliated in my entire life, but at least I can laugh about it now. 🙂
So I post an embarrassing story about myself to cheer people up and get pushed to the window licking section. I now and 64 new emails on POF but I hate the ones I’ve read and think online dating is not right for me. These could be great men but with limited contact I really dislike them.
I have strange dreams about two places I lived in. I have lived in other homes and it only happens with these two. One was a house and the other an apartment building. When ever I dream these places it always turns in to a nightmare at some point. No matter how pleasant the dream starts out It turns scary. The house was in a different country and the apartment about 15 Mins drive from where I am now. I have visited someone who lives in the building and I get creeped out just being there because of the dreams.
Important Mother’s Day News Update: SUR is closed today, so made reservations for four at PUMP, tonight at 7PM. Please don’t alert the paparazzi or TMZ–this is private Lisamia family time. If a miracle happens and Lisa Vanderpump is there and comes to my table just to say hi, anyone have any questions for her or Ken or OMGOMGOMG Giggy?
Pet Giggy for me. But don’t let him bite you. 🙂
Take pictures of any RHOBH sitings! Send them to me! Have fun!
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 2:55 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I will. 🙂
I am very excited for you— and jealous! I hope you have a wonderful time.
Before you go I think everyone in your party should glue their names in rhinestones on their cuff and show Lisa. She will be very impressed.
Okay….just kidding about that part. I still think that is just about the goofiest thing I’ve ever seen.
Have a wonderful time.
Great idea, Maisey! I am wearing a blouse that has a lot of pink in it, just in case.
Alas, LVP is in London for her mom’s 80th birthday. If Ken stayed stateside with Giggy, maybe you will get to see them.
@tootsie…Oh darn. Well, Ken and Giggy would be awesome.
How fun! Maybe you will get lucky and one of the Toms will be on bar duty! And Jax won’t! lol
Hopefully, Jax only works at SUR. I don’t think I’d want to eat anything that Jax touched.
Ya, I don’t know if Lisa moving them around her bars is just for the show or not. I think I would be afraid to touch a cocktail that Jax mixed!
Have a great time. Have lots of champagne
I’m a little behind on my TT reading but I saw Jax and the Toms at Britney Spears in Vegas Saturday night. Jax is surprisingly tiny.
Wow Jax seems big next to the tiny Toms. Interesting info. Thanks.
On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 10:32 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Weird dream last night. I was doing a photo shoot at the shack, as old fat women are wont to do. Will Smith was sitting at the edge of the driveway. He was there to give me some pointers. I was in my usual unwashed three day old yoga pants, hair matted , no makeup state. I was unhappy that I had been hired to work this job an had little interest in preparing for it. I went inside leaving Will sitting in the driveway.
Then I moved on to other dreams. Sorry Will.
On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
> Wow Jax seems big next to the tiny Toms. Interesting info. Thanks. > > On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 10:32 AM, Tamara Tattles [email protected]> wrote: > >>
Rumor has it Will’s allegedly an asshole. Though he was giving you pointers, he may’ve been being a jerk. Good for you to leave him sitting there.☺
Even fake models have their diva moments!
I did some minor modeling gigs back when I was young. My aversion to photos of me came with the crazy.
On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 4:49 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I had a weird experience last night. I fell asleep on the couch, in front of the tv. I don’t know if I was dreaming, or hallucinating, or what, but I woke up to that insurance commercial about the guy who calls his agent at 3am, and the wife thinks he’s cheating. The commercial kept getting interference, with interruptions that were news flashes about an alien invasion. It was freaky.
I like the owl picture.
Last night for the first time, I tried & ate a 1/3rd piece of pot hard candy. It took 2 & 1/2 hours for a buzz to kick in. I slept ok, but I kept waking up from my weird dreams. Next time I will consume the other 2/3rd piece at once to see what happens. I prefer the old skool way…. smoking a joint.
I hear the gummy bears are great.
The old skool way is hard on the lungs though, but definitely the preferred result. In a different way, the chocolate is fun too, allegedly.
Hey UF: How went the garage sale?
The garage sale is the REASON that I scored some edible pot!
People at garage sales are 75% savages\ & 25% are lovely people.
It was an exhausting experience, especially since we had to load the truck the night before and be at the church parking lot to start setting up at 6:30 AM. Then the sale was over at Noon & had to repack everything & load back into the truck & then unload again at the house. #EXHAUSTED
We grossed almost $600 but had $100 expenses for truck & booth rental.
It was my first garage sale and it was an interesting experience dealing with bottom feeders. We hustled & sold about 35% of our inventory, then later donated about 35% of our unsold inventory to Goodwill, and came back home with the remaining 30% of our inventory.
I said I would never do it again, but I might do it again in Sept because I know what I would do differently now to make it easier…. and everyone who told me to watch out for folks with STICKY FINGERS and those looking for a a 5 finger discount were unfortunately RIGHT!!!!
Congratulations UF you were lucky – not only for your $500 take (after expenses) but on your edible pot.
Glad to hear the garage sale was a success! If you end up with stuff you don’t want to deal with – just call Purple Heart for the tax write off. Unlike Goodwill, they will take anything. So what’s the verdict? Edible vs. inhaled?
Inhaling WINS.
The results are IMMEDIATE when inhaled.
The edibles took over 2 1/2 hours and by the time it hit me, it was almost bedtime, and I forgot that was supposed to be stoned.
I was FaceTime w my best friend ever on August 25th,2014, and all of a sudden I had the worst feeling in the world. I can’t describe it. I suffer from anxiety attacks and this was WAY more than that. It felt like death. I begged her to go to the dr but she thought I was nuts. This feeling did not leave it only got heavier and heavier. August 28th, 645 am I got a call from her daughter screaming into the phone her mom was in the hospital she had had a pulmonary embolism and then hung up. The feeling was strongest at that second and then a blackness fell, i know this sounds insane but the energy in the room changed, then I felt as if something blew through me and the air pressure changed quickly. All of this happened in less than 1 minute. 647 my best friend I’ve ever had died. Her daughter called me hysterical. She had been stabalized and then in 10 seconds crashed and died. She was 43. The feeling left and the blackness went through the wall. I’m still grieving her but I’ve had premonitions all of my life with major events but never anything that felt that bad.
With birds I’ve always been told if one flies into your home it is an omen of death or major life change.
So so sorry Lisa m. I’ve always had that ability myself. I will say things to people and get that they think I’m a bit crazy too. My husband was going on a motorcycle day trip and I had a bad feeling and told him. He assured me he would be fine. Two hours later he was having surgery to repair his badly broken leg at a hospital in another state. I’d never worried about him before riding. I had gotten to the point to where I held back. I knew something was going to happen to my son the night he lost his leg and didn’t speak up. Several other times bad things have happened that I sensed but didn’t speak up. I’ve decided I’m going to tell the person what I feel and then they can do what they choose. The ones that I did warn that only got hurt have told me if I ever feel that way again to please tell them and they will listen. It doesn’t help when someone you love didn’t understand your warning. Just know you tried your best. Sending you healing energy and positive vibes.
I’ve had feelings like that, too. But they are usually about myself. I’ve learned to listen to them. These feelings have saved me from danger over and over again.
You are not weird. So sorry about your friend.
My husband rides & though I 100% trust his riding ability, I constantly worry about people who are preoccupied not seeing him. It scares me to death & every time he goes out I give him a lecture & tell him “Please be careful & come home in 1 piece”. I’ve tossed around getting my own motorcycle license for years (& just last week we went trying bikes on for size) but I’m afraid my health (weakness) won’t allow me & I may always have to be the passenger.
I used to be a nurse in a neurosurgical intensive care unit. I will never ride a motorcycle. I sort of get the freedom on the road thing, but I don’t see how the benefits outweigh the risks. Too many crazies on the road.
In the ER and in the ICU where I worked we called them donor cycles.
fivecatsownme: Yep. Organ donors with massive head injuries save many, many lives.
@addie2u, I had my own motorcycle for years and never had any problems luckily. Had to give it up since getting CRPS but recently when I had to renew my driver’s license I kept the endorsement for the bike. Silly I know but I kept it anyway. Have thought about getting a three wheeler instead of the standard 2 wheel motorcycle. You don’t have to worry about being strong enough to hold the bike up with your legs. Plus it has a reverse where a bike doesn’t except for your legs lol. You need to wear the appropriate riding gear such as helmets, leather jackets, chaps and boots. You have to obey the traffic laws, drive very defensively and be constantly aware and alert to other drivers around you. Is riding a motorcycle dangerous? YES. Is riding a motorcycle on an open road with the wind blowing in your face awesome? YES. I don’t say riding a motorcycle is right for everyone. I loved the time I spent on mine.
You go Hannah girl! I know many think motorcycles are extremely dangerous but I’ve grown up around them my entire life. As long as the person is a capable rider & is up to speed with defensive riding / fully aware of what’s going on around them, I feel fine. It’s those in cars who are so preoccupied (especially with their phones) that I worry about. I’ve had all the riding gear for years & wear it when we go out for long rides or trips but as you know it’s just not the same as riding yourself.
So for Mother’s Day I finally got all of my blackout curtains for my bedroom. My bedroom is a sunroom turned bedroom so the need for the blackout curtains. Also helps me since I am on vampire daylight savings time. Anyway it got me to looking at small home improvement projects. My bathroom flooring is coming up in places. I just saw a u tube on how to do a paper bag floor that looks like a hardwood floor. My bathroom is tiny so I might be able to do it myself. Has anyone ever tried it? The finished pictures of the floors look great and say they have lasted 5 years since they were done. Even if something happens to it, it’s easy to repair. You just crumple up another strip of paper bag and stick it down.
That sounds really cool!
It’s being reported that George Zimmerman was shot in face during a road rage incident today — but police are now saying “Bullet missed / injured by shattered glass” + it appears to be from an “ongoing dispute”!
Karma is a bitch.
Dear TTTED: I brought little tootsie kay home from the nursery today. She is a Bush Goliath. You can now remove me from your list of subversives.:-)
TT are you going to believe tootsie’s claim without receipts and bar codes from Lowes or wherever this alleged tomato plant was purchased? Lmao. She may have googled Bush Goliath to familiarize herself with the particulars on that variety. I mean pictures can be gotten from anywhere. Hehehe.
Tootsie knows better than to lie to me. That would not be pretty.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 4:33 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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HKR: *sigh*. I shouldn’t be surprised at your doubt. Lowe’s. $29.94 for the plant, soil, and cage. Transaction # 19369938.
Are you going to replant it?
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 4:40 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Hallelujah! Here is hoping Tootsie Kay will flourish and bear many fruit. Good job!
You have been moved to the good list.
TTTED
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 4:15 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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TT, I have a great picture of a little girl reacting to a bird on her head. I’d love to send it to you, but don’t want to freak you out.
So why mention it? I deeply regret making this post.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 4:37 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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As you mentioned when you recommended the Bush Goliath, she has a couple of little nubs growing already! I won’t get too cocky, I’m pretty sure I’ll do something before too long to get moved back to the naughty list.
TT: Yes, I’m going to replant her in a big ole pot. Have to clean it out first. And you know I would never lie to you – I’m pretty sure you could whoop my butt.
I’m sort of bent out of shape that Cat brought up another bird crap story on my comment thread. But, I now have a magic tomato plant, so I forgive you Cat.
Yeah Tootsie, you are woman.
Wasn’t that fun to carry the dirty pot home?
Not too bad. I will provide periodic updates about little tootsie kay on the gardening page (even though I’m not a gardener). HKR and company didn’t really appreciate comments from a reformed magic tomato plant resister.
Oh stop pouting. I am thrilled you bought a tomato. And you must admit you tried to fake it before. Buck UP BUTTERCUP. Life is hard and so are we.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 11:40 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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”Oh stop pouting. Buck UP BUTTERCUP. Life is hard and so are we.”
MOM – when did you take over TT’s blog??!! ⊙.☉
I’m still thinking about buying a tomato plant or two. May take another week or two of thinking about it before I can actually make myself do it. Unfortunately that seems to be the norm these days!
It’s weird, but I don’t think I’ve had a real dream since losing my family. Sometimes I wake and think I feel a little something floating through my brain, but nothing that feels like a real dream. It seems like I should be having more dreams instead of none! I don’t know what that means though.
OK, so cawoman is still on the list of subversives. I have to say, if I can submit to the magic tomato plant, I’m pretty sure anyone can. Why not make that your goal for tomorrow?
Anything is possible. I did manage to make it to Starbucks today. Only because it’s a drive through lol
cawoman – Starbucks is not a replacement for magic tomato plant therapy. You deserve to be on the subversive list until you see the error of your ways.
Omg tootsie really did buy a tomato plant today. I’m convinced Tamara. She’s now on cawoman23 about getting one. She sounds like a reformed smoker. I know, I used to be one.There’s nothing worse than a reformed smoker talking to those who haven’t quit smoking. Except maybe for a reformed non-tomato planting person. They seem to be tougher than reformed smokers. There’s your proof for certain TT. tootsie is off the subversive list and wants us all to know. Lmao.
Tootsie is pulling herself out of the hole (one tomato plant at a time) and I could not be prouder.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 9:34 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Oh, and I LOVE owls. I want one of those little, white fluffy ones! As long as I don’t have to actually take care of it.
*sigh* If the daily tea thread becomes a recipe exchange, I am out. fivecatsownme – I’m looking at you.
Okay Tootsie, but the bird thing is really creeping me out. I had to go cook to relieve my anxiety.
Understood. When and if TT wants a recipe exchange, I’m sure she’ll put up a separate tab for those who are interested. Totally agree with you on the bird thing – don’t know why folks continue to comment on that subject. Shhh – don’t tell. I love to cook as well.
calipatti: Where are you? I bought the magic tomato plant. Wish you were here to share in the victory. xoxo
Tootsie ~~ So very proud of you, did you take it out of your car yet?
WTG girl. Do not start arguing with anyone today, be nice pretty please.
I’m off to bed.
The better question is did Cali ever take hers out of the car…
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 11:44 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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*gasp* Of course I didn’t leave little tootsie in a hot car. What are you? Some sort of sicko tomato plant abuser? I shall report you to the TTTED.
HKR: tootsie will keep further magic tomato plant comments, updates, and encouragement to herself. Go along now and take a ride on that Harley. Don’t worry about a helmet.
Give me your kidney
Ok. Hell that was out of nowhere. Do you need a kidney?
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 11:40 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I have Stage IV kidney function at 23%. Hit below 15%, dialysis and or new kidney.
@fivecatsownme Hugs and sending energy.
Sweetie. I don’t think Hannah meant any ill will. At all. Your updates helped me make sure I got my walk in today even though I was SOFA KING pissed at Banjo. We had an issue because I went out to water the garden and he thought he was getting a walk, so he tore his bed out of the crate in the five minutes it took me to do that BEFORE the walk.
The we all felt bad and I walked him later. I did not give him his bed back.
We need to build you a thicker skin dear. We like you here, but you have to build your armor.
On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 9:44 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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TT: You are absolutely right. Something else for me to work on with the magic tomato plant.
@tootsie I want you to know that I was just joking with you. Tamara had been giving you such a hard time about buying and planting a tomato and you had been pretending to resist. It all seemed funny to me. I really am not the kind of person to intentionally be mean to anyone here at Tamara Tattles. I don’t think you will find anyone who will say I have been. If I hurt your feelings or made you mad, I do apologize. I had been kidding about whether or not you had bought the tomato as it had gone on for a while. Then when you were giving cawoman23 a hard time telling her she deserved to be on the subversive list, I thought it would be ok for me to make a joke myself especially since it seemed you had joined in doing it to someone else.
As I said none of it was done intentionally to be hurtful. I thought I was following along in the vein of the your comments about being subversive and calling out Tamara like a street thug. I mistakenly thought you knew what I was doing was just some good natured ribbing. Obviously not.
Tootsie please feel free to discuss your tomato plant updates, comments and encouragements without fear of any further comment by me. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable by my comment even though they were intended to be funny.
Oh and just so you know I have an incurable nerve disease Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and many other diseases that I suffer chronic pain from every day so I don’t drive motorcycles anymore so that won’t be what kills me. It will be the other stuff. Believe it or not tootsie, I was really proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone and buying that tomato plant. I wish you great success with it.
HKR – absolutely no apology necessary from you; however, I will sincerely apologize to you. Of course you should feel free to poke fun at me and my tomato plant challenges and whatever else nonsense I include in my comments. I reread the exchange this morning, and I have no idea why I reacted the way I did – I was out of line and I admit it. If I may quote from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: Mr Bennett says “what do we live for if not to make sport of our neighbors”. If I can’t stand the heat in the TT kitchen I should leave. Since I don’t want to leave, I will work on my insecurities and defensiveness. Hopefully the magic tomato plant will help. BTW – it’s none of my business if you ride a motorcycle (or a bicycle or a horse, or whatever), but I am sorry you are limited in your activities by chronic physical pain. My pain is of the nonphysical type, so much harder to explain and for others to understand, although just as real and just as limiting. I really enjoy you and your comments and would not want to be responsible for you limiting them in anyway. I hope you will continue to level snark at tootsie, and I hope today is a good one for you. xoxo
I was just going to leave a reply to Hannah telling her not to worry about it but after seeing your response to her I’m scratching that comment.
♪♫ Kumbaya my lord, Kumbaya ♫♪ ☺
@tootsie I am so glad we got that straightened out. I enjoy reading your comments and I do understand nonphysical pain. Pain is pain tootsie no matter the origin. I’m sorry for what you have to deal with as well. We’re all a big, sometimes dysfunctional family here at Tamara Tattles but we usually are able to work it out like we did. That’s why I love coming here. You never know what’s going to happen next. Oh and thanks addie2u. It’s all good now.
Slightly off topic — as some of you may know, the Seattle housing market is on fire. My hubby and I are putting our house on the market (nearly 20 years after I bought it and 8 years after he moved in). Get this….our neighbor’s son put his house on the market late last week and had an open house on Mother’s Day. Guess how many people showed up for the open house? No, guess.
125 (one hundred twenty-five)!
Sounds like the Seattle market is on fire. I remember it being bad in Silicon Valley in the late 90s. Houses were going for ridiculous amounts and people would get in bidding wars. I’m curious to see how long Seattle is the hot new city.
I have family that’s lived in the Seattle area for 40+ years & I’ve been hearing for years how “Californians are moving here in hordes lowering our housing prices & taking over the entire area”.
Good luck in selling your home (even if it is to a Californian)!☺
It’s nice to have those productive days where you catch up. And then you’re tired again but at least you can enjoy the clean and organized house for a few days.
I have been laughing at all the tales of bird fear. Especially the chicken one, omg, running from a chicken? But then you all will think I am nuts because I won’t have a pet in the house. No birds, cats, dogs, gerbils, turtles, snakes, etc.
Dreams, okay, if you want a laugh about dreams, I had to learn to fly in my dreams. I used to have to jump and force it (I may have flapped my arms) but now I float. The one thing I enjoy in my dreams is floating/flying.
I like flying dreams. Also have dreams where I am reading a book. Hate the dreams where I am working calculus problems in a french speaking class.
Better to dream than not dream
OMG I used to dream about calculus EVERY NIGHT. I was working a job where I taught on the side and tutored. I sucked at Calculus and was tasked with supervising all the tutors. There was no calculus tutor so it was me. and I had to relearn….
I spent so much time relearning and tutoring that all of my dreams were about Calculus problems.
On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 2:10 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I still have dreams about signing up for a class in college and forgetting to go until it’s too late to drop out.
I still dream those awful dreams. All this foolscap and yellow pencil with rows of problems and hafta show my work.