Manic Monday...

What is the most useful gift you’ve ever been given?
My computer from Ed 5 years ago. I do have to say though, out of all my wedding presents, I have this clock. And it's from a old friend from H.S. It's a blue clock, plastic, with a yellow, IKEA looking bird as the coocoo that swings at the top. Very basic, very plain. And it has been in my art room for over 6 years now. Still to date the most creative (shocker it was from Sean!) and one of the most memorable ones.

Name the most terrifying moment of your life so far.
My sister going into brain surgery in January of 2005.
Or when I was going to my midnight shift, in the early winter that same year (2005) It was one of those cold as fuck, black ice (Thanks to Wikipedia her is some Black ice info for you... also known as "glare ice" or "clear ice," typically refers to a thin coating of glazed ice on a surface, often a roadway.

While not truly black, it is transparent, allowing the usually-black asphalt/macadam roadway to be seen through it, hence the term. It is unusually slick compared to other forms of roadway ice.

Because it contains relatively little entrapped air in the form of bubbles, black ice is transparent and thus very difficult to see (as compared to snow, frozen slush). In addition, it often is interleaved with wet road, which is identical in appearance. For this reason it is especially hazardous when driving or walking because it is both hard to see and unexpectedly slick)

So coming off the highway, I was merging (thank god late and with no traffic) I hit a patch of black ice. I spun out so badly, the officer said I did the "pit maneuver" I spun, and hit the guard rail 3 times. Then leaving myself sideways on the ramp... bad news is, it was foggy, dark, and since I was sideways oncoming traffic from the highway could not see me.

Oh and did I mention I was on my cell phone with my poor mother who will forever have me screaming etched into her brain? I was fine, but the fact that I was stranded, and in a bad spot was no good. Thank goodness while waiting for the city police to get there. The city salt truck stopped and checked on me. He decided to use his big truck to block all traffic till the city got there. My dad picked me up for work, and the car was toed to the shop.

Nothing I did wrong, Just that damn black ice. Scared the shit out of me. Again mom, I am sorry!!

One hot summer afternoon, while walking through a parking lot at a large shopping center, you notice a dog suffering badly from the heat inside a locked car. What would you do?
Call the cops just like I always do. People think they will just be a minute, but they don't understand the effects on how fast and how hot a car can get. Not cool, and I will be the one to get your plates, and report your irresponsible ass.

Baffeled #2

More things that baffle me...

Why is the word "Internet" need to be capitalized when I spell check?

Why doesn't bloggers blog roll stay current? It seems to be getting stuck alot lately.

I am guessing that since I "joined" a church to have the kids Baptised we should probably attend mass, at least until the baptism is over? Or not.

Why do I get a plague of bugs every year? First, the spiders (shudder) then the rollie pollies (pill bugs) then the million legger wormy things (gah, shudder!!) now it's black crickets. Not even just a few. Each year it's something different, and its like a HUGE nest is born in the front of my house each fall... bizarre...

Why are they closing my Starbucks? Why? Why does Joliet get 2 and the one in the bookstore too?

Why don't political candidate take there 4 million dollars raised in Chicago alone for there campaign and do something good with it. Like build houses in Texas, New Orleans, clean up some of this mess. Keep our parks open? No. Instead lets have some bullshit commercials they paid out the ass for... I.don't.want.to.see.your.comercials. I know who I am voting for. It should be easy for everyone. O.bam.a. Either way you chose to vote, I don't see the point in them wasting money on commercials. Spend it on the country your promising to take care of. Tards.

Why I am SO mentally tired of having this ring of fat around my waist but I JUST can not, for the life of me attempt to try, even try, would be a good start. I have to say, I did attempt to get up early to work out, I set my alarm and all. But I just laughed and went back to bed... its a start right?

Random questions I found at Jen's

Jen over at "A Day in the Life Of..." has some fun questions... so I stole them...

Who deceased would you want to see just one more time and what would you say?


Gramma Alice, I would want her to meet Alex. She was able to see Mia for just the first 6 months, and I would also like her to see how big Mia is since.

Gramma Wanda too. I am sure she had a ton of great stories to tell about her life, before kids. I would love to know it.

Ed's friend Matt. I never met him, and he passed away suddenly. I would have him come back so Ed could say goodbye... and so he could see Ed's kids. Oh and of coarse so he could meet his nephew, Mason.



Who would you like to knock out or verbally smack down from your past?

I would love to just knock out a few people. But I am small and violence really doesn't play well with my size and all. And since I never really fought anyone, I don't really see the need to start at the ripe old age of 30.



Buuuut... I can verbally woop some ass. So let's start the list...

Lau*r3n St@l3y - Loser. Slut. And TOTAL bitch. You wanna see the queen B of them all? She is up there for the crown folks. Nothing like making fun of you for not developing as fast as the rest of the girls in your class. But a topper to do it in front of the boy you really like. Nice. She TOTALLY dissed out my best friend in grade school behind her back, and talked more shit. I know some poor sap married her. I just hope if they ever breed, that she raises her children to be ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like her.

Lila and Rich - They just get one category to share, lets not rehash Pompous Bitch, and Captain Hypocrite. Long story short, they suck. There nicknames tell it all. And they are mean to my mom. Not cool.

Crystal and Jackie - From Harrah's.

Yes, Crystal. FREAK! You freaked out, claimed I stole your $12 throw away camera, that then turned into a $200 digital camera. Grow up! You left your piece of shit disposable at my house with 3 pictures on it. I used the rest and kept it. Get over it.

Jackie. Ah yes, I truly learned the meaning of "throw me under the bus" you were being fired for force balancing and you tried to say that I was doing it too, so I should be fired. Thanks for trying to take me down with you. I thought we were cool. Oh but a few months after, you starting asking about me, like we were friends again. Riiight.

And well all know the last one right? The faux cousin? The no name coward? Hmmm... well you just got your verbal beating. Enjoy!

See this is why I have just a few tight friends. I want to stay drama free, and enjoy this life of mine. So keep your drama, I don't want any, I get all the drama I need from Reality T.V., thanks though.



What is your best feature and why?

My ass and my blue eyes. As big as my ass is, I have to say I like it. I do not have your typical white girl butt, that is flat. I got me a badonka donk, and I am proud of it. And my eyes are blue, and they are pretty.



What is your worst feature and why?

Right now my fat tummy and stretch marks, but I know those are proud baby stripes. I would be more proud if they were just like, one little one... or none at all and still be proud? But other then that my teeth. I had buck teeth growing up, and since I was a genius and lost my retainer about a week after my braces came off, my bottom teeth are all moved all over.



If you could come back as any animal what would you be? I like the monkey idea Jen! I would have to go with a Tamerian if I did. But I would have to say a Tiger. Bengel to be exact, I love them, they are huge, fight for what they want, and I have always wanted to be a cat!

Thursday 13

Thirteen pets I have owned. Scary that I have owned so many...

1. Moses - my mom's first cat, he was a big long haired cat. Died when I was young
2. Shadow - A black calico cat, she was a stray, and stole our hearts, for 15 years.
3. Tweety - A blue and white parakeet. Not much I remember, just a bird. She pecked my cousins yellow and green parakeet "Mickey" to death. Creepy.
4. Punkie - In October of 1986 he came bounding into our lives as a orange and white tabby, 21 years later days, last October, after his 21st birthday. Punkie passed away. Bless your little man soul.
5. Kitter - My cousin Tammy's cat we took in. She was tiny and grey, and passed away from a kidney failure. Because my retarded Uncle fed her only tuna and milk. Way to shut down a cats insides.
6. Annie - Another grey little feisty one. Annie is still here today, tiny as ever!
7. Sassy - My gramma Alice bought her, right we my parents got Annie, when my gramma moved, Sassy became theres. She hates me still to this day, and trys to beat my ass any chance she gets.
8. Citgo - A rescue cat from the Citgo gas plant my dad was working at. Sadly she passed away last year due to a surgery complication. She was abused at the plant, and caused her to have internal issues with eating.
9. Charlie - Also known as Iggy, my Iguana. He was awesome, but sadly I could not give him the attention he needed, and he passed away after 11 years with me.
10. Helmie - Originally named Cheez Wiz, my first pet, a box turtle. I loved him, up until the day he ran away. No joke... long story, another post, just remind me...
11. Ruby - My White Dumpy Tree Frog - I loved her! She would just wrap her fingers around mine!
12. Sam - The hamster. My two mice...Susz help me here with there names...
13. I also had two fire belly newts, and two fire belly toads... oh and a Leopard Gecko named Savanah...

so that was 11 plus the 8 animals mentioned in #12 and #13..so we are at 19... plus...

Then there is MY pets. The ones here at my house now. Wow I have had A LOT of pets... I will list these guys separate, since I am going well over 13... in order of appearance...

1. Jordan - aka Zizzy Vus, or Boobie (neither nickname mean anything, just a bizarre jolt of random fun) this is my "first" cat of my own. She is my pride and joy. Named when Michael Jordan retired in 2003.
2. Haley - Our first Boxer, she was an angel that I didn't get to know but for 5 short days. Because of some assholes dirty mess, she passed away of a tragic death of Parvo virus. June 7th 2003. Miss you hayhay.
3. Maggie May - Because of the asshole mentioned above, we did not get a refund for Haley, but we were given a choice of a replacement dog. Nice. Well thanks to Haley, I was able to find a new love of my life, Maggie.
4. Rosalita - My box turtle. She didn't last long. An avalanche in the closet, buried her alive, we found her a month later... eww...
5. Sophie - Ah the famous Sophie! She was from a family member that was breeding boxers, so we got what was left. A little runt girl. Perfect.
6. Chloe - Chlo berry, was a 1 1/2 year old tiger striped cat, with these green eyes, at the local Animal Hospital. Going to a shelter, and not having much of a shot at life, a week before she would have been taken away, I adopted her.

Then we have the 11 plus the other 8 from above, that is 19, plus the 6 here... that is 25 living things! Oh and a few Beta fish too. Holy animals! I have now summed up that in the coarse of living with animals I loved them all, the lizards and toads, all ate crickets, not that I minded, but a pain in the ass to feed and buy all the time. Dogs are great, but SUPER needy. Cats always rule, because they are not so needy and just cool to have around. The Iguana, and turtles all ate fruit, but since they didn't just come right out and demand my attention. They often went by the wayside.

So now with 4 pets, 2 kids, a husband and a house to attend to. I am thinking of not getting any new additions to my family. Just enjoy the furry and not so furry ones. Until then I will just visit the local Zoo's for a variety of animals...

One of my favorites, and now we share the same hair!

Cotton-Top Tamarin
[ Saguinus oedipus ]

Quick Facts

BODY LENGTH:
7 to 12 inches

TAIL LENGTH:
10 to 17 inches

WEIGHT:
0.5 to 1.9 pounds

WILD DIET:
insects, small vertebrates, fruit, and other plant material

ZOO DIET:
marmoset diet (a specially formulated food for small monkeys), steamed sweet potatoes, fruit, hard-boiled eggs, peanuts, sunflower seeds, crickets, and mealworms

DISTRIBUTION:
Northwestern Colombia

HABITAT:
primarily large trees in tropical rain forests

A Colombian Treasure

A “shocking” appearance

With a shock of white hair sprouting from its head and over its shoulders, a cotton-top tamarin has a slightly “mad scientist” look about it. Small, intense eyes and a stern-looking brow on a dark, hairless face add to the effect. The rest of the cotton top’s look is fairly tame—a brown coat on the back and a light colored underside, usually white or creme. Contrary to what their wild look might suggest, cotton-top tamarins are very much on the social side, and offer little to fear—unless you’re an insect in the rain forests of northern Colombia.

Teamwork

Being active, highly visible, and very vocal, cotton-top tamarins are easy to notice in a forest full of predators. Because a small primate would make a nice meal for lots of animals, cotton-top tamarins’ best defense is in their numbers. They live in family groups of six to ten individuals, all of whom are related. At the core of the group is an adult male and female—the only breeding animals in the group—usually along with several generations of their offspring. A tamarin family group has lots of eyes on the lookout for the snakes and birds of prey that hunt them. When they see a predator, the tamarins let out an alarm call warning others of the danger. This kind of teamwork has other benefits as well...

Cooperative baby-sitting...such as bringing up young tamarins.

A family group of cotton-top tamarins is the definition of cooperation when it comes to raising infants. Everyone lends a hand. The breeding pair in a family group usually produces twins. The parents, brothers, and sisters all take turns carrying the young. Adults, brothers, and sisters all share food with the babies as well. When the family group is on the move, infants cling to an adult’s back, securely anchored to their caregiver’s fur. Sometimes one adult carries both babies at once.

Not all tamarins are alike

There are more than 20 species of tamarins (and their close relatives, marmosets), with a lot of variety in fur and coloration, especially on the head and face. They all have long tails, soft coats, and weigh less than two pounds. The variety among them is in the fur on their face and head. There are tamarins with long manes, droopy moustaches, and all manner of protruding tufts and ridges of fur. These elaborate facial adonments enhance communication and recognition among tamarins.

Symbol of conservation in Colombia

Cotton-top tamarins live only in Colombia, a country in northern South America. As an endangered animal, they’ve become a symbol of conservation for the country. A nationwide education program uses the tamarins’ plight to spread the word about conserving rain forests. Through an education program, Colombian and U.S. students exchange information about tamarins, rain forests, and other conservation topics.

Cotton-top tamarins at Brookfield Zoo

Brookfield Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program for cotton-top tamarins. The SSP works to breed genetically healthy zoo populations of tamarins, and to save valuable tamarin habitat through education efforts.You can see cotton-top tamarins at Brookfield Zoo’s Tropic World: South America.