FEBRUARY 26, 2009--Well--you have a minute so I can vent? First of all, thanks so much to dear , dear Shelly for the tea, squares and kind note. I love getting a package from Minnesota and you! Also thanks to my blanket-put-'er-togetherers, Carroll, Ruth and Debbie. Your steady work is sending me to the basement to put more blankets together this weekend--Whoo-Hoo!
The last seven blankets have been delivered; the boys enjoyed Mardi Gras from the stories they can share with their mother--highlight was seeing Kid Rock and getting lots of beads as well as James Carville. Sharon from Michigan was concerned over the shootings--but they were far away. . . and it was an unusual occurance for that area. A few idiots always spoil it for the people having the fun in the true spirit of "mardi gras."
I spent today at the vet's with my mother and her new dog and my cat--no major ailments, just shots and a wellness exam. Also planned a good shopping tripthrough the grocery nstore in the town as it is bigger, better, than our little place in my hometown. I dreamed of fresh fruit, tomatoes. . . baked goods. . . fresh fish. . . .So on the way there, the dog car (the one I do not mind transporting animals in, which has 135,000 miles,) starts to make a funny noise, and the steering wheel shakes. Mother clasps the armrest tighter, I mutter something under my breath and limped into the vet's parking lot, got out and smelled hot, burning something. But I figured it was mud up in the under carriage and took Mom's dog Moxie and our cat Betsy into the office. I came out witih a half hour, mission accomplished, and feeling pretty cocoky as the receptionist couldn't believe I was less than two years away from a senior discount. So I load everyone up and attempt to back up. The car wouldn't do anything but groan. At that point, a fellow animal shelter board member's husband pulled in with his two dogs for shots, jumped out and said, "Maggie, you have a broken tie rod or worse. Look at the tire." It was leaning. . . at an odd angle. So there I was, a dog, a cat, a mother with a walker and no car . But the mechanic we have gone to in the past was just up the road, my firend's husband said he would stop in and see if we needed a ride, so off I went--steering wheel shaking, car groaning, cat meowing and dog whining. Mother didn't dare utter a word. Well long story short, I had to leave the car--so I waited for my friend's husband to swing by. . . emergency at the vet's office. . . .one hour passes for two shots. When he shows up, he has his two dogs, then we loaded mother, then mother's dog, my cat, and the mechanics's dog--a darling Engliish Bull--was also ready to go home with us. I yelled, "Stephen, he's not mine." So that at least was one less animal in our vehicle. Mother climbed in the Ford Excursion, I loaded her walker and sat in the back with the cat and three dogs--all the way home 35 minutes. . . .Still no word on from the mechanic, but we're expecting a little less than a foot of snow tonight. . . . can hardly wait to drive back for the car.
FEBRUARY 12, 2009--Seven more blankets are on their way to New Orleans via a son on his way to Mardi Gras. Thanks to Marjorie for the Valentine and box of squares--you earned some beads! And we're closing in on 300 blankets. . . folks. That's a lot of squares. . . .
FEBRUARY 7, 2009--Mardi Gras begins today--so far Ruth has earned favors in this parade! My son has promised to send me some "real beads," so please take part and send me a square or two or perhaps if you are quite ambitious--a blanket! I may be sending a shipment to Common Ground within the week. . . .
FEBRUARY 4, 2009--Mardi Gras begins this weekend in New Orleans--Perhaps by the end of Mardi Gras--February 24, 2009--I can send another box of blankets to Common Ground. We're closing on 300 blankets. . . .perhaps by Easter. I have been receiving boxes regularly from all over the U.S. So from now until the 24th, I will throw "some beads" at anyone sending some donations of squares or blankets. A strand of beads for your contributions and the only thing you have to take off is stitches