Bide-A-Wee…..more like Hose-A-Me

Once upon a time there was a family, and for the most part they were a loving family in search of a nice puppy needing a loving home. This nice family didn’t want to buy a pet, as they had always rescued or adopted their pets. So, one family member, oh…we’ll call her ORELINDE; went in search of a puppy to bring in to their home. And so this puppy was found, at the Bide-A-Wee animal shelter.

And this little puppy won the hearts of this loving family, and when the family asked about adoption fees was given the best news. This puppy, who, oh….we’ll call her BLAZE; had already been spayed, 2 weeks of free medical care, her Rabies shot, and had ALL her shots, just needing one round of boosters. And with a ‘donation’ of $100.00 Blaze and her family went home to live a long and happy life.

Then came the date when Blaze needed her booster shot, January 26th when Orelinde brought Blaze back to Bide-A-Wee (under the premise that it would cost her $65.00) for the booster got hit with a bill for $72.00 which included: Distemper booster, which would need to be followed by a third and final booster, as well as her poop exam and waste disposal fee, and heartworm meds. (which she’ll be on for life because ALL dogs need this medication.) And so we were told: Blaze is in good health, is up-to-date on all shots, and just needed her final distemper booster.

La-la-la…Orelinde takes her fast growing, kooky-but-lovable puppy to a real vet on February 16th, for the LAST (booya!) Distemper shot. This is it, no more huge bills pertaining to puppy-face. But then the whole Bide-A-Wee ruse comes clean. Because the vet notices that Blaze NEVER had Rabies shot. And EVEN THOUGH we had a vaccine tag for the Rabies, there was NO paperwork. So I was told to call Bide-A-Wee and ask for the paperwork. If she didn’t have the shot, then the vet would be ‘more than happy to administer the vaccine when I brought her back for the Lymes vaccine booster in 3 weeks.) So there I was hosed for 3 booster shots: the final distemper, and two of the Lymes, plus a 6-month supply of her heartworm meds, and the office visit at the all low-price of: $152.00

And here we are, calling back and forth between yesterday and today, and talking with some helpful and NASTIER Bide-A-Wee employees. Because Bide-A-Wee did NOT ever give her the Rabies vaccine as she was ‘too young’ and they are not going to honor the 2-week free of charge medical agreement if they administer the shot now because we’re past that date. When I questioned why she was never given the Rabies shot, back on January 26th when I went for the booster from them, was told ‘no idea.’ The manager for the adoption center today told me that the waiver I signed when adopting Blaze states that I’m aware of absorbing any and all medical responsibilities for the pet I’ve adopted. Under no circumstance will Hose-A-Me, oops, I mean Bide-A-Wee honor their mistake or misguiding, or outright lie and give my loveable pooch her shot. This now means that I will have to pay out even more money for my free pooch. Because, ya know, Bide-A-Wee is a non-profit organization. I didn’t buuuuuy a pet….I’ve rescuuuuued a pet..

New Zealand- home of the Hobbits and giant sea creatures

New Zealand fishermen catch rare squid

By RAY LILLEY, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 19 minutes ago

A fishing crew has caught a colossal squid that could weigh a half-ton and prove to be the biggest specimen ever landed, a fisheries official said Thursday.
The squid, weighing an estimated 990 lbs and about 39 feet long, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.
The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish, sold under the name Chilean sea bass, south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," Anderton said.
The fishing crew and a fisheries official on board their ship estimated the length and weight of the squid: Detailed, official measurements have not been made. The date when the colossus was caught also was not disclosed.
Colossal squid, known by the scientific name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, are estimated to grow up to 46 feet long and have long been one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep ocean.
If original estimates are correct, the squid would be 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen ever found.
"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," said Dr. Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the Auckland University of Technology. If calamari rings were made from the squid they would be the size of tractor tires, he added.
Colossal squid can descend to 6,500 feet and are extremely active, aggressive hunters, he said.
The frozen squid will be transported to New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, in the capital, Wellington, to be preserved for scientific study.
Marine scientists "will be very interested in this amazing creature as it adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment," Anderton said.
Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid found round the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 39 feet long, but are not as heavy as colossal squid.

Was that a glass shattering or my venier cracking

I feel so fragile today. This is not something that I normally admit to my friends or family, let alone strangers. But life has funny ways of knocking you on your ass, just when you think you can take on the world, and life is a-o-k.

My mom has had problems with her eyes all her life, from childhood she has been nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. You can only imagine the fun she had with eye glasses, and her vision.

A few years back she was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. And I never really understood what it is, other than she was having problems seeing. At 65 years old mom uses a magnifier glass to read almost everything. When we eat out, she has a hard time navigating the menu, but makes the most of her situation. I know this is a horrible thing for her to endure, because not only does she still work, and drive…but reading has always been one of her greatest passions. So you can imagine what it is like for her to struggle with books. Because, lets face it…the large print books aren’t always what she wants to read.

Mom periodically goes for laser treatment to try to stop the hemorrhaging. But upon my research today, the only outcome of this is her losing her eyesight. If anyone is interested, here are some links that I had been checking out:

Macular degeneration: Causes - MayoClinic.com

Macular Degeneration: Risk Factors

Macular Degeneration

http://www.macugen.com/

It really sucks when something bad is happening to someone you love. And I guess (and yes I know she isn’t terminal) that I’m just overly sensitive. She’s my mom…the only parent I have. And even though we’ve had our ups and downs, and our downs were like being in a gully…this is hitting me harder than I ever thought. Because I know mom has other medical problems too, and I guess my mind is just racing. Because deep down I know the road we’re going. I know where this is going to lead. And I know that it has taken me a very long time to get over losing my Uncle Frank, but by bit as his body was broken down by Diabetes.

So I’m a little fragile today. And I really just want to crawl back in to bed, cuddle with my cats, and sleep. But I can’t. Because I have to work. And if I ask to leave, questions will be asked. And If I do leave, I will not have conquered my anxiety today. But I feel fragile, and if I’m so fragile, how will I have the strength to conquer the anxiety? So don’t mind me as I ramble today…I’ll be ok. I have to be.

Lawmakers Reject Bill to Honor Bono -and Stupid politician crap

**Okay, just as a precursor, this is an article I found on AOL this morning when I signed on to check mail and kill time before dragging my butt to work. I happen to appreciate the work, and respect Bono for what he is trying to do with the third world countries. Like him, hate him, whatever. But don't politicians think any more before they open their mouths? Don't politicians have advisors and speach writers who say, 'erm mayhap you phrase this differently?' I don't know what the hell is going on these days, but people really need to think before they speak, and try to realize that the world isn't as large as it used to be. Maybe I should just go ahead and say I can't tolorate ignorance?**

Lawmakers Reject Bill to Honor Bono
AP
BISMARCK, N.D. (Feb. 16) - Bono has plenty of fans. But don't count North Dakota lawmakers among them.

Lawmakers in the House defeated a resolution 58-35 Thursday to honor the U2 frontman for his advocacy of debt relief for Third World countries, saying the Irish rocker had no connection to the state.


Fargo state Rep. Scot Kelsh, who sponsored the measure, said he got the idea for the resolution from a magazine published by the National Conference of State Legislatures, which mentioned that no state at the time had approved a resolution to honor the singer.

"This is something that does not matter to us as citizens of North Dakota, the United States, and the world at large," Kelsh said.

Rep. Gil Herbel, a Republican, said he initially thought the resolution referred to Sonny Bono , the former singer, Republican congressman and husband of Cher .

"When I saw the resolution, I was looking for Cher 's name in there," Herbel said.


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-02-16 06:50:23

I don’t understand the male species……Really I don’t.

And for that matter, I don’t understand Match.com either. In a past post, I shared the news that annoying co-worker informed me that I need to get out and start dating. And for some insane reason, I listened to him. My friend Claire asked me about on-line dating (As she is in a good relationship with a nice guy. A nice guy who doesn’t have any brothers…lol.) And I decided to reactivate my profile on www.match.com and update the photo and see what fish were out there.

I don’t lie about my likes, hobbies, or body type in my profile. Because what good would that do? If it ever gets to meeting one of these guys, can’t snap my fingers and look like Gretchen Mohl. I try to get across my wittiness, my love of family and friends, and just be myself. If anyone does want to look, my screen name on match is Orelinde…let me know what you think, in a critiquing manner, insight, pointers, and suggestions are most appreciated.

Anyway, I was brave and reached out and both e-mailed and *winked* at some guys, who Match.com said met my criteria and who I met theirs. (Because, Dr. Phil knows it all.) Well one guy wrote me back and said he didn’t think we were a match. Ok, at least he was nice enough than to just leave me hanging. The majority of the other guys never responded, after checking out my photo. When you sign up for match, there is this thing you must fill out, that allows you to say what: body type, age group, turn-on’s and turn-off’s, etc. that you’re looking for or not wanting in a mate. So if I reach out to a guy, who STATES (body type: about average, curvy) is ok….and they look at my photo….then why are they saying I am not what they’re looking for? I DON’T GET IT! I DON’T! I mean, I am not an Angelina Jolie, but I also don’t think I look like leather face either.

Also, it is taking me forever to get my primary photo excepted on Match.com. I do have three additional photos on my profile. So I then decided to crop one photo and post it as my primary, and it keeps posting an OLD photo of me, from when I was on Match.com in the past. So then I try to e-mail Match my photo that I want to use, and they keep telling me that no photo is attached to the e-mail. ARGH!!!!! *Pulling hair* I don’t understand this! Am I doomed to be single forever? Is Match.com and Dr. Phil both ass-munches, and sucking single people dry? Has the male species just decided to become un-communicative with Orelinde? Damn you www.match.com ! Damn you Dr. Phil! Damn you annoying co-worker who thinks I need to be out and dating!

The life and times of Orelinde Inglorion

Orelinde is making some changes:

Well, as some of us may know, the way I got in to blogging in the first place was by generating a blog based on my dating experiences. However, that blog dried up real fast, as fast as my dating spell did. And then I generated my daily blog {which I love.}

During my ‘quiet dating time’ I have been single, and for the most part liking my life. I come and go as I please; following my own interests and not feeling like I need to alter my life or myself to please anyone. I dyed my hair blond in July, and just this past weekend returned to my NATURAL color (a color I haven’t been in 16 years.) I go away on min-vacations when I want, and don’t stress if I need to stay late in the office, is the male part of the bane-to-my-existence that I have posted about here frequently. I also knowworrying if someone is going to get pissed that I am not at their beck-and-call. Yes, I have dated during this time, but it didn’t go ANYWHERE, and the last dude was married as he eventually revealed to me.

So here I’ve been, enjoying my life, and enjoying my time. Until yesterday when an ever-so-annoying co-worker asked me for the umpteenth time when was I going to get busy and start dating someone. Yes, the co-worker who was so brazen as to ask me this he wasn’t asking me this, because he is interested in me, as I know his taste in women. (Thank God I don’t fit it.) He just wants to see me involved with someone and happy, which I guess is nice.

None of my friends have ‘nice’ friends that they’d want to introduce, and all of my friends are either happily involved or married to someone. I have gone out, not looking to ‘meet’ someone, and have done the museum, wine tasting, just go and have fun thing without meeting anyone. This brings me back to on-line dating. I am going to try this for 3-months and see what happens. My pal Claire is going to be my voice of reason, and sounding board. Perhaps I will meet someone who is ‘the one’. Perhaps I’ll go on some dates and get my feet wet again. No matter what, I hope to have some juicy stuff to share with you all, on the dating blog. However I’ll have to be real careful with what I type. Because you never know who’s reading. *Wink*

Baby its cold outside!!!

Ok, I am all for changes in season, and snow and understand that it is February and is supposed to be COLD. But we haven’t had any real snow, and now New York is experiencing a frigid cold snap, along with other states. But last night I have decided enough is enough.

Blaze the wonder-pup needs to do her puppy homework, ever night. This includes loose leash walking, which INCLUDES yours truly walking with her. I have now branched our daily walks to: going up our block, turning on to a main road to go around the corner, where stores are, looping around to a side street to come back to our block and home. This is so she can experience traffic and, smells, and learn the proper way to walk on the leash.

Last night, I get home from work, and decide to take her out right away, as opposed to feeding her and then going. Because I know me, and once I got comfy in the warm house, wouldn’t want to venture out again. So grabbing the clicker and her baggie of treats, Blaze the wonder-pup and I venture out in the winter cold…trying not to think of how cold it is. Up our block we get, with a few pauses to reward her for walking. Turn on to the busy street and switch her side to walk as she still is freaked by the traffic noises. Ok, my nose is starting to sniffle, and my hands are feeling the cold quite sharply. Another treat or two, and I notice Blaze is shivering too. Another turn, and now we’re walking past the store fronts, and I notice my pace is picking up as my hands are experiencing SHARP pains, and I can barely flex my fingers. Blaze is walking like a trooper now, and I can’t help but wonder if she is just as anxious to get home, so isn’t going to screw up and try to go between my legs.
Turn the corner again, and we meet a tow truck, which noise startles Blaze, and she switches her walking side again, and decides to pee on the corner. I think she would have done something else, but by this time my eyes were watering as the pain in my fingers were so sharp; it actually felt like someone was sawing thru the bone. Back on to our block THANK GOD, and I can tell the two of us had had enough of this. She was straining at the leash, walking on one side, and I didn’t care. (Bad training skills?) Because I needed to get home. By the time we got to the front door, Ida had been in the hallway, and I had needed her to open the door, and take my gloves off. My hands we whitish, with flaming red patches, and as I put the under water to warm, screamed in pain. I have never felt anything like this. Ida poured me a sherry to warm up and I wrapped my hands in towels to try and warm them.

So THAT’S how cold it is here. And this is what I probably have to look forward to tonight as well. But not only do I cringe about that…but I cringe thinking of all the homeless people New York and other states have who are sleeping out in this weather. I know how many must be freezing to death, or freeze to death, literally during the night because they refuse to go to shelters.

RockStar: SuperNova concert 1/31/07 Recap

“I love you Gilby Clarke”…and other cliché’s such as that!

I would just like to precursor this post with a shout out to my girl Claire. And in a public forum, will admit: GILBY CLARKE is not an awesome rocker. I don’t know what I was thinking…but he is still eye candy to me. Claire…you were right…I was wrong…and I don’t love you anymore Gilby Clarke! {Claire used to mock my temporary Gilby love.}
With that out of the way, I would like to share my RockStar: SuperNova concert experience with you all. First of all, I was shocked with the amount of kids…and when I say kids I’m talking young kids, like 9years and up at the show. Also my tickets were not as great as I thought. Because we were in row N, in orchestra and I thought we’d be closer to the stage. But at Radio City Music Hall, the seat closer to the stage are double lettered such as AA, BB, CC, etc., then the single letters start. So our seats were good, just not GREAT. What was cool though, was I was able to sneak lower and get some better pix (which I will post in the next few days) than from my seat because yeah, the Sony Cyber Shot is not as awesome with the concert photos as it is with regular photos.
Dilana was the first to take the stage, and she was A-MAZ-ING. I would totally buy her cd, and also see her in concert. Magni is playing with her which is cool too. But she sounded just as she had on TV, and her energy is great. She is my height, if not just a smidge shorter. They did four songs, opening with Roxanne and then Toby took the stage with his band. All I can say is THANK YOU GOD that he is not fronting SuperNova. I don’t understand what was going on with the sound system because you could hear Dilana great. Then when Toby’s band took the stage, it was SO LOUD (and no the cliché, ‘if it’s too loud, you’re too old’ does not fit here.) It was so loud, that you couldn’t hear what they were singing, and what you could make out SUCKED. Plus he has that crackly, foggy, scratchy filtering going on, so his voice wasn’t that clear anyway. He did two cover tunes, and that was the only good thing about his time playing. Toby then announced that downstairs, he, Magni, and Dilana would be posing for photos and signing stuff.
So down I went, feeling somewhat like a groupie, youngster and waited, and waited. It was then announced that they would not be signing until 9:45, and at that point, The Panic Channel (Dave Navarro’s band) had just gone on stage. After missing three of their songs, and it only being 9:15, I decided to go back up to see TPC play. So back to my seat I went, and listened…and cringed. Because I own TPC cd, and they sound way better on cd, than live. Dave Navarro did NOT rock out at all, moved a round a bit, but nothing crazy, no guitar smashing…no crowd cruising. Just did circles on stage. They were really loud, but not as loud as when Toby was on stage, so at least you could understand what they were singing. Then Steve Issacs, (the lead singer) decides he is going to get political. And I’ll be a hypocrite. Yes, I’m a huge fan of U2/Bono, and the work that Bono does. But I do not believe politics should be brought to a concert. And Steve Issacs wasn’t very diplomatic. Steve goes up in the side balcony seats and starts talking about people lying, and people lying to gain power. And he loves that in this country you can agree to disagree. With that he launches in to bad mouthing President Bush, and talking about how he’s a liar, etc….but even if we hate the president, we can love our brothers and sisters over seas. Well! The crowd wasn’t very happy and one woman in the row in front of us got actually belligerent. Dilana joined The Panic Channel to sing ‘Highway To Hell’ and then it was time for SuperNova.
And finally it was time. Ida and I were joking around, chanting “Tommy! Gilby! Tommy!” and then I actually heard someone (not me Claire) scream “I LOVE YOU GILBY CLARKE! YOU ROCK!” As Gilby walked on to the stage. Tommy had a new drum kit and it is awesome. And the crowd went wild when Lukas made his appearance. RockStar: SuperNova caused mixed feelings in me seeing them live. Yes, the music was loud…and you could understand what they were singing. But after three songs, Lukas and his voice wore thin. I still have NO IDEA what Jason and Tommy were thinking, to pick him. Now, I like my music loud, I like it raw…angry…full of emotion or even to tell a story. I like my music to course thru my body, and make me not sit once. I love to watch the band members and get a charge off their juice. GILBY CLARKE was a thud! Now, aside from knowing these guys are older, I decided to do my homework this morning. Gilby Clarke was born in 1962, making him 44/45 years old. He did not rush around the stage, play off Lukas, move much, or give any energy to the audience. Joe Perry-born in 1950, 12 years older than Gilby. You can not glue him to one spot when he plays for ANYTHING. He makes me want to BE the guitar. He has an energy level which I wish I had. Keith Richards-born in 1943, 19 years older than Gilby. Need I say any more? Gene Simmons-born in 1949, 13 years older than Gilby. Again, the energy and enthusiasm just oozes from him. And Eric Clapton-born in 1945, making him 17 years older than Gilby. Eric Clapton is still slow-hand, and still gives an amazing show, inspiring many people of all ages to pick up a guitar and play. Not you Gilby! NOT YOU! My Gilby-lust has gone down the drain.
Lukas just looks like a monchichi, and has not altered his glam style. Sparkly mic, sparkles on his face, intense eyeliner. And the bass player who is standing in for Jason Newsted? So looks like he does not want to be there. Tommy Lee carried the show…hands down. His enthusiasm, his flair…he did it. Maybe the guys were tired. Maybe it was just an off night. I do know there was some bad feedback at one point during their set…and I did feel bad when a HUGE chunk of audience walked out. SuperNova wrapped things up at 11:30, and did one song for an encore: The Rolling Stones cover. Would I go to see them again? Yes, but if it was an outdoor venue and if Jason was on Bass. I have to say I did buy their cd last night, and the cd is worth it.

Seperated at birth?