Crackheads

Yes, they are out in full force with the nice weather. Yes, we are finally getting some decent weather, despite the violent storm we had Sunday night, where I believe a micro burst came into the neighborhood and smashed my neighbor's glass patio table, tore off limbs off the trees next door to my house, and all over the neighborhood - I thought my house would fly off its foundation, and the tree hovering over the house would come crashing down. It was a frightening storm for not just me, but everyone I talked to. Then again, I've always loved storms, lightening and thunder, but now I think of the animals out there going through it, scared to death. Anyways, the crackheads. Its now very light out at 5 am. but I am NOT going out any earlier than that. Its crazy to begin with! They are out there sitting, watching, waiting to do their next hit. They are far enough away from me that I dont' feel as if I am in any danger, and I do believe they won't hurt me, they know I just feed the cats, and I know that in their drug addled minds, they respect that. Of course, I try not to give my mother details like this, after all, any good mother would be very upset that their child puts themselves in harms way, just as if I were a crackhead, or a cigarette smoker. My mother once told me that she bore me and I am hurting her by hurting the lungs she gave me. You can't blame her. She is an excellent mother, and I thank God for her every day. Thank you Mommy! OK, back to the cats! (I get on tangents... ). After completing my last spot this morning, as I was getting into my car, a young man stopped in his car, you could tell he was the newpaper delivery guy in this not so nice neighborhood, and he asked if I was feeding the cats. I didn't know what he would say next but I told him I was trying to! He said I give you a lot of respect for that or something like that. He told me he was an interpreter for the city, for child welfare, the deaf, etc. He commended me for what I do and it just made my morning. Its so nice to hear just one complement from folks out there. I just wish I could have more help rounding up the kitties. There are so many wonderful ones out there waiting to be rescued and find a permanent home!

Dear Blog...

I came upon an e-mail this morning - yes, I finally got on my computer after four days! Computer free for four days! Its been bliss! Don't get me wrong, I love the computer, just in bits and pieces. I am true Googler, that part I miss, but at home, there are a million and one things to do and I love to get things done! I am a getter doner kind of girl! Back to what I originally was going to say... I found an e-mail this morning from a woman who found the article about me on the Post online website and she pasted it on her facebook page and her followers - she is a author - suggested they raise money for me. Apparently this was done over a month ago, and also unbeknownst to me, they raised a small sum of money and are donating that to my quest to feed and rescue kitties that I do every day. Yes, I am overwhelmed by these people's generosity, total strangers. And not to forget, the local strangers that I have met along the way of this blog who have also made donations toward my fight to help all the stray and homeless animals out there. I am touched beyond words, and my spirit is renewed another day. Thanks to all of you that have helped me, and you know who you are...... xoxo......

Take Time to Smell the Flowers

This is my second post today, but I just wanted to share the following - an old friend sent the following to me, along with the picture attached. Its small stuff like that that we miss each day. because we are all so busy running here and there, doing this and that, life is nuts but when we can actually focus on nature like this, its a free destresser!!

"Hi Lady!I went out this morning to water the hanging baskets on my front porch. Apparently "someone" has taken up residence in one of them! (see the picture attached) I avoided the nest and watered around it. Momma bird flew to a nearby tree but returned to her nest as soon as I went in and closed the door. I can watch her through the glass in my front door sitting on her eggs. I think it is a sparrow. What a great way to start my morning! Just wanted to share!"

TGIT

I say that because its my Friday! Yay! Tomorrow will start a nice four day weekend. Boy, do I need it. NOT that I get a break from the kitties in the morning, that will never change, I hope, but I have more hours in the day to clean my house, do my gardening, and just plain relax! And I sometimes ignore the computer at home on weekends, but I do hope to post something on here at least once or twice. After all, the excitement just never ends! HA! I am including pictures of the cutest kittens I've seen (this week!). They are kittens of a cat I rescued named Dusty - aka Copper. I didn't know she was pregnant until I was told by the woman who took her. Aren't they pretty babies! And they are up for adoption! I want to thank this kind gentlemen John who left a donation of dry cat food on my porch yesterday. This man saw the little blurb about me in a Mark Hare column in the Democrat & Chronical a while back, found my number, and donated a bag of food to me last year. He is back from his winter in Florida, and still thought of me to do that for me. Thank you John! There are so many nice people out there that offer to help with donations occasionally, and I just thank God for such wonderful people in my life that take the time to do this. I cannot tell you what it means to my pocket. I really do live paycheck to paycheck, never an extra cent for me. Some people call that stupid, but when you look into the eyes of these innocent cats every morning that are just trying to survive 24/7 and they see me coming with a plate of food, its all worth it! Have a great day everyone!

Bunny Tales

No, there are no sweet fairy tales here - I picked up a sweet little bunny off the street this morning. How can someone drive down a street, hear a thumpety thump (which you can hear and feel) and just keep driving? The same as last Sunday. I saw a pretty white dead cat in the road. Naturally, I turned my car around and grabbed the nearest towel in the car and picked it up and placed it gently on someone's well manicured lawn. I figured that someone who would care about their lawn in this godforsaken neighborhood would care about a dead animal and treat it with some respect. Probably not, but what can I do. It was a Sunday morning.

My route was quiet this morning. I saw all the usual suspects. They were all hungry and waiting for me. Teddy is very leery of my now, and I feel bad for that. I tried to trap him last week - not trap, but pick him up and place him in my upright carrier. He freaked, got away and won't come near me now. Poor thing doesn't know how good he could have it. There is a beautiful soft gray kitty that now lets me pet him at my first spot. He eats close to the street, not in the back of the lot where the others wait for me. Would love to get him. He is a sweetie, and very pretty. I have an affection for gray cats now! They are the BEST! If someone is looking for a sweet gray, let me know!

Waiter, there's a Fly in my Soup!

I know, sometimes my titles are pretty lame... ! :) Yesterday, when I got home, I tried to let a trapped fly out the window on my porch. Somehow he managed to wedge himself into the groove of the window. I successfully 'rescued' him from the groove with a piece of paper, but in the process, I must have broken his wing, or leg or something. They are so delicate. I felt bad, I know he didn't die right away, and I actually hope he was able to fly away and live! but those are the lengths I will go to ease the suffering of anybody, and anything! Flies are gross! But its a 'life'. I know, I sound very silly. But....

On another note, I had to dial 911 again this morning on my route because of Jumper Girl, thats the nickname I've given this hooker I see occasionally. She jumps out in front of the cars - at 5:30 in the morning when people are half asleep anyways... I call for her own safety, and for others. I don't know why I bother, but I just do it anyways. If it were an animal, most law enforcement wouldn't bother, or care. Maybe this is just my secret way of trying to get their attention. The operators always ask my name, and my number, and I also mention how I feed the strays around the neighborhood which is how I see what I see when I report something, and maybe someday someone will give me some recognition. Cause for now I get nothin! But thats ok. I keep doing what I do. Last night it poured, and the wind was whippin. Of course we have no reason to complain when you have storms like what passed over Joplin, Missouri two nights ago. Such a tragedy. So there are times I thank God for where I live, despite the winters, its pretty good country. The cats can relax for a few months out there.

Second Chances (?)

I have just about seen everything, and done maybe half. I believe in second chances for people in life, as we have all made mistakes, and I certainly have, and I thank God for second chances from my family and friends, and God. Animals are in the same league as far as I am concerned, although they are complete innocents and are born into circumstances that they have no control over. Barney was adopted last week by someone that I had a hard time connecting with for four days, and this worried me sick. Personally, when I rescue a cat, I want to be sure they are living in a safe environment, and are free from harm. Such was the case with Barney. I began to worry myself sick after not hearing from the person who adopted him. I drove over to the house this morning just to 'check out the house' and make sure it was 'normal looking.' I could not understand why this person would not return my daily call to call me so that I could just know how Barney was doing. It was very early when I went over this morning, it was just after my cat rounds which began at their normal time of 5 am. Barneys new 'companion's' neighbor was out with her dog, and she made it clear she did not like her neighbor, and told me that this person had committed a crime that is a reportable crime to the neighborhood when people like this move to their area. I had to brush this fact aside, and tell myself that just because someone like this does something that bad, it doesn't mean they will hurt an animal. I HAD to tell myself this, after all, my Barney was adopted legally, and there was nothing I could do. The more I thought about this, the more I said to myself, I must get over this and trust this person will be kind, and has been kind to my little Barney. Without making this a novel, this person did call me after my fourth call to him, I did go over, and I did make sure Barney was OK. I have never felt this bad about a situation in my life, but this person did seem to have an affection for Barney, and for someone like this, an outcast to society, he really needed the companionship. I will continue to monitor the situation as best as I can, for Barney's sake. I hope this made sense, but I just want to get the point across that we all deserve a second chance. Some more than others. I pray for my Barney, if I could take him back I would in a second. Even if I had NOT known about this person's crime, I would take him back just due to the fact that this person is a chain smoker with a somewhat closed up dark house. But legally I can't. I just have to pray he is OK.