Road trip of sorts

Today, I got home from work at about 2:30am (after working 7 to 5 the day before, then starting again at 9pm), slept 'til just after 6am, then loaded up several plastic tubs & a glass aquarium I use for a rat house into my mom's station wagon, and rode with my brother down to Wheaton, IL (Chicago area).

It was interesting to see the different pets people had on display & for sale - puppies, kittens, rabbits, chinchillas, turtles, spiders, lizards, and snakes.
I was mainly there for rats - my snakes need to get back to a regular eating schedule.

I spoke with several vendors there, and decided on one friendly older couple's inventory. I bought all their large rats - 32 @ $3, and 10 medium sized (@ $2) and 10 small rats (@ $1). Total bill = $129!
I just realized they counted the large rats incorrectly - they must have thought they had 33 total. Oh well, I still got a good deal - buying that many rats locally (if they were even available in that quantity - usually only 5-10 at a time) would total $351.83!!
I also purchased some *frozen* mice for two of my smaller snakes who don't like to eat rats too often - 50 for 60 cents each = $30. Locally, those would have cost me $93.37!! Plus these mice and nice and fat - a better meal than Poe & Rattler would get from the local pet store (they only have skinny young mice for sale).
Then I paid for admission ($10 for my brother and I), gasoline bill ($60), and lunch at Taco Bell($7). Tolls through the Illinois highway system cost a total of $6.60 - up a bit since I last travelled there.

So, despite the long (11 hour total) trip, I still saved approximately $200, and I won't have to worry about my snakes being hungry again, Lord willing.
I purchased enough to keep them fed until the baby rats start arriving & get to a proper size to fill up snakey tummies!

So, now I will get some supper, read a couple emails from a friend I see I've received :) , and get some sleep before working again. Got to pay the bills, eh?

To bed? Nope, to work!

Today was the first day of snow accumulation (it did snow twice this season, but it melted before touching the ground), and I was happy to see it. Another season beginning, and all the snowballs to throw, and pretty winter sights to see. For that & other reasons, I spent the day being happy.

I've spent the evening online as I often end up relaxing this way.

I need to accomplish my work before certain stores close and by 7am tomorrow, since my brother and I are taking a much-needed trip to Chicago area. My snakes desperately need rats!
I can buy them much more cheaply down there at a reptile swap meet, in quantities limited only by my cash-on-hand, and space to house them when I bring them home. If I purchase enough of them, the trip will save me money, so...

I plan on bringing my digicam along, so there will be pictures to pass along...

It will give me some time to catch up on things with my brother, too.
Also, the car has a cd player, so we don't have to talk the whole time :)

Well, I need to go to work, so....ttyl

*poof*

I am getting addicted to this life...

Easy work - relaxing evenings spent doing projects & watching tv - catching up with a good friend while listening to great music - nothing to complain about!

Well, a slow day at work (that part I find boring, and feel guilty collecting pay for 9 hours of "work" (driving the long way between stops, chatting with other vendors & store employees to make the day last)), and a busier evening. Oh, and a new pet, too!

Here is a picture of her, but don't click the link if you don't want to see a snake!!!! That's meant for your comfort, PJ :0)
She is 3 months old, about 3 feet long, and very healthy-looking & active. I think I lucked out with getting her, now I have to find a mate for her. In time, in time - she is still a baby.
The guys at work were interested to see her, so when she arrived (I had her sent to my work so she wouldn't have to sit outside all day), I took her out of her shipping box and let her crawl around on my head for a while :)

Then I got home, and re-attached my tv antenna to the roof (with a new sturdy metal tripod I just purchased). I also got a signal amplifier which actually works! - I've heard lots of scam stories about such devices, but decided to see for myself.

So, I was able to watch most of Smallville, and also Grey's Anatomy - all in clear pictures!

Chatted with a friend online, who was gracious to show me pictures of a recent event she organized - very interesting to see how things are done in her part of the world (perhaps I'll see for myself someday ;)

Well, I'm off to bed - events of the past few days have worn my body down more than is necessary. I certainly don't want to get sick! I have lots of photographs to snap this weekend!

At the close of my day -

A lot of unexpected things have happened to me lately, and while I fail to see God in all of them at this point, I'm beginning to see that He is there, regardless of my shallow perceptions.

I still am shaken up by Petey's death - it was so unexpected! Pythons are reported to live 30-50 years, and he didn't make 2 :(
Well, I'll hope he's in a better place -
other than the backyard near my dear ferret, Damaris - doubtful that they would have been friends in this life, but perhaps they are swapping stories about me somewhere. The Bible does hint that we will have all we desire in Heaven - at times like these I'm certain my pets will be there, waiting for me. I'll never forget them.

Well, thank you, God, for friends & family - they have been a definate encouragement to me today. I don't want to think where I'd be without the knowledge of people to talk to, email/IM, and pray for me. They mean the world to me - beginning to see that now.

I found this thought a while back, and it now makes sense to me :(

Perhaps some of you may find comfort in it as well...

Leaning on the everlasting arms...

Why God? Why?

Petey has died.

When I came home yesterday, I noticed an odd smell - I chalked it up to my not being able to clean house during my forced vacation - though I have cleaned since then, occasionally a stray odor will surface.
This morning, I went into the basement to check my pets down there (assorted fish & snakes), and found he had died during the night. What I smelled, I think, was his impending death - he appeared fine earlier. I wish I had known - was there anything I could have done?? :(
He had been off his feeding schedule lately, though I hadn't worried, as he's done this before, and always started eating again before long. This time, it appears he had weakened too much, and the strain got to him - that's my best guess.

For this, I will blame Shawano County law officials, most notably Catharine D. White (assistant District Attorney), John (Jack) Bartholomew (my (ineffective) attorney), and Judge James Habeck.
Oh, sure, you will say, I must have done something horribly bad, and they were only doing there job. No, the prosecutor & judge were against me from the start, making a mountain of a molehill, and my attorney barely lifted a finger (said he couldn't make headway against the prosecutors, but I know he could have tried harder).
I've talked to numerous people (yes, they were on my side of the law, but...) who said any other county would have done little more than give me a "slap on the wrist", rather than the jail time & license revocation I received. One fellow told me of a friend who committed a crime much more pronounced than mine, and only received $800 in fines (in another county) - my attorney admitted I would have received very little punishment in another court.
Because of their sentencing, I was unable to care for my snakes the way they had become accustomed to, and Petey, being more sensitive than my others, picked up on that, and became stressed out & stopped eating. I wonder if he picked up any stress from me - I know I'm not without fault here.
I am so angry right now, both with myself for not picking up on the signs, trying to force feed him, take him to a veterinarian, etc.; with the law (I pray to God He'll calm me, and not let me do anything rash); and with the way my problems had to carry over to my pets. I thought this was all behind me, but I guess there are still lessons to learn, or maybe this is part of this damn fallen world we've made for ourselves here.
Well, I need to get to work - maybe that will preoccupy my mind from this crap.
I apologize for the strong language - that's only the tip of what's running through my mind :'(

Just because

1.) I'm not sleepy yet

2.) I can, 'cause it's my blog

3.) It's 11:34pm here, so...


Happy Birthday to Twinkies!! I hope it's a great year for you - full of lots of opportunities & successes & blessings. I wish you lots of fun with friends, scrumptious meals, and comfortable weather! I'm glad I know you, happy to pray for you in everything, and thrilled you still talk to me :D Welcome to the "32" Club - I've been waiting for ya ;)

So, today started in a strained manner, but was able to work through things, and I'm feeling confident that I can tackle whatever comes my way.
I felt good since late this morning :) and even though I didn't get any "signs from above" - though I suppose no news is good news - I began to realize that God doesn't have to send little things to show me He's there, planning the rest of my life.
The mere fact that I am alive, together with the blessings that I am consistently reminded of, should be enough to show me that I'm loved & cared for.
Yeah, got a song for that, too - "There You Are", ( preview/lyrics by Carolyn Arends.
[side note=keep a list of all these songs so as not to disappoint blog-watchers! Done!]

Well, shower & bed & bear await - Goodnight world!

Once again, climbing uphill

Well, another down, another up, another down... Now I'm trying to work my way back up!
This gets frustrating, but whatever doesn't kill me will make me stronger.
As one hurdle is cleared, another presents itself. I think time is the only antidote to these problems I'm facing. I've discovered good communication is key, and not to be taken lightly, or for granted.
It would be so easy for a few mis-spoken words to undo weeks, months, even years of building. God help me to choose my words wisely, so that others do not misunderstand me! It seems that is a curse I must deal with - I just don't know where to start - either I don't communicate correctly or enough, or I say too much.
In either scenario, I get frustrated when words aren't clear (from me to others) & then tend to clam up & shut down.
Well, more things to pray about, and more faults to work on...
Here's to better days ahead!

One bright spot so far today - I know definately that a dream will come true... all we need is just a little patience (Guns 'n Roses).

Forget the meal...

I think I'll just go to bed. I stay up way too late too often - that can't be good for me. I'll just save my money a little faster that way anyway. Goodnight!

Little Blessings from Today

After the rough night I had the other night, I think God showed me a happy day today.

This morning I was rushing out the door, wishing I had some bread for toast - something for breakfast. But, I had no bread, and no time to bake any either, so I grabbed a granola bar and that tided me over.
Then, at one of my stops, the bread vendor for that store had a lot of returns that he had credited to the store and was reluctant to truck around with him all day, so he offered them to whoever wanted to grab them!
I thanked him, and helped myself to two loaves of bread - one white & one wheat/whole grain - and also some cinnamon rolls & doughnuts for the guys at work.
I was quite hungry by then, so I ate a couple doughnuts (well, three - one of each variety (coconut, chocolate, and powdered sugar), then I was thirsty. I thought I'd tough it out until I could get to a water fountain, but then the dairy vendor was going to throw out a bunch of assorted milk jugs. He offered me my pick of the lot, and I chose a small (half gallon) banana-flavored milk ( I joked that it better not come from monkeys) - it was delicious!

The rest of the day went smoothly - no upset customers, no close calls while driving around town, my evening job was easy & fast, and a friend from work called me to tell me about "the world's largest snake" that will be on a late-night talk show.

Talked to a friend on the phone, and got a nice email from another friend :)

Oh, and I've just been offered a tremendous deal on a snake I've been trying to obtain - I'll have to see if it all checks out!
Yeah, one more - finally found "Monday, Monday, Monday" by Tegan & Sara :)

So, little reminders in case I forgot God is concerned with my happiness...
I get it - don't let me forget it!

More than you may want to know about me

I just finished eating "breakfast for supper" - one of my favorite meals. Soft-scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, & corned beef hash. Of course, I had to share some with Penny, since she works hard all day :) At being cute, that is (all that napping must be beauty sleep ;) ).

I was invited to my mom's house for lunch, but due to several factors, I ended up running a bit late. I attempted to call, but no answer. I received a call later on from my mom, who hadn't been feeling well, taken a nap, and forgotten about my coming over. She was feeling better, but we agreed to get together another day - I don't want to overwork her!

Found some cool songs - Alanis Morrisette, The Cars, Rembrandts, & Snow Patrol. I'm going to overload that silly radio.blog when I finally work the kinks out!!

Ahh, yes, my rough night...Well, I've been on a "high" for the last several days, but either that was not good for me or I was tempted to be depressed. Either way, I gave in, and all kinds of loneliness, sad thoughts & disappointing memories came flooding in.
A friend called, but her questions kept grating at me, and finally I had to hang up before I really freaked out.
Then I put some music on, and though the thoughts & memories subsided, the loneliness got worse, so I finally stumbled to bed through my tears.
Karina helped a bit, so thanks God for that blessing (I haven't had a stuffed animal in a while, but it's comforting to have a soft, furry hand to hold :$ )
Sara jumped up on my bed and demanded to be petted for a while - that also helped. Finally I cried myself to sleep, feeling little & alone.
When I woke up, feeling exhausted despite a rather large amount of sleep, I got to chat with a friend for a bit, and that helped quite a bit to dispel my feeling of loneliness.
I finally went to work, and being busy didn't let me think about much of anything.

Well, I got through the rough spot in the road fairly quickly - perhaps it's still an after-effect of what I've been through. I think the that's the case - these backslides will diminish with time.
It did get to me - I'm only human.
It didn't last long - God is looking out for me.
It will get better - I have faith.
I'll try to enjoy the small patch of the road I'm on right now, and look forward to what may come. I'm still young - so many possibilities ahead!
Once again, I'm cheerful :D