I stepped out the back door this morning into what felt like “balmy weather” after the past few days of “witch’s tit” cold.  When I looked at the thermometer, it read thirty degrees–still a couple degrees below freezing, but very survivable in jeans and a sweatshirt while caring for the critters.   There’s a 60%…

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I had a series of upsetting dreams last night … followed by a wonderful one.   In the upsetting dreams, I was failing mightily as a “designated protector”.   In the first upsetting dream, I was taking care of three large dogs that kept getting away from me in a heavily-traveled area. I was afraid…

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Goodness gracious sakes alive! It’s arctic out there this morning!   I stepped outside briefly to take the trash and recycling bins to the road (less than fifty feet away) wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants, and froze half to death.   Minutes later, I had to keep dashing in and out to take hot water…

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Someone in South Carolina went on a spending spree using my credit card number recently. Luckily, the fraud department  spotted the atypical purchases and knew that wasn’t like me at all, and that I live clear across the country from S.C. so they called  last night. The card is cancelled; all will be well.  …

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  Have you ever sat and observed a cat as it transitions from one response to another? If you haven’t, you’re missing  a valuable lesson–especially if you experience anxiety attacks or other nervous disorders.   I grew up with chronically-clenched fists. I didn’t know it at the time, but the baseline emotion in my nuclear…

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My parents didn’t want me to leave home–ever.   I was their “sparkler”–their weird, unfathomable optimist … their cheery valentine.   I was their Pollyanna. They never told an off-color joke in front of me until I was middle-aged. Mom even castigated me for returning from Hollywood with the f word in tow during one…

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No this isn’t a suicide note. Relax!   When I look at 2017 after January 20th (Inauguration Day) I could feel nothing but dread, but I’m beyond that now. My stomach has finally settled. I perceive the inevitable–no matter how nauseating–and I’ve entered the acceptance phase; that is, I’m accepting the all-but-inevitable result of the…

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The Art and Science of Bathing a Cat   That’s me bathing my “serval son” Deaken (@ 1994) Disclaimer: This method has worked well for me for decades with scores of different cats, but not with every cat. If you try this method after reading this, you are doing so at your own risk.   …

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Since getting Amazon Prime recently I’ve been catching up on TV series whose synopses have intrigued me. I’ve read and now seen Good Girls Revolt (terrific), Transparent (edgy and upsetting in more ways than I will articulate here, like watching a train wreck in slow motion, but impossible to look away from; an excellent series…

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Savvy Steeds at Your Service Top photo: My sis Laurel on Stormy (I’m in the background atop Sugar Babe) Bottom Photo: Our first “Charlie” Horse (The branch-yielding, hole-digging one) The most fascinating thing about getting new horses is the fact that you don’t know what kind of training they arrive with, in most cases.  …

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