Category Archives: Twists and Turns
Curious Mare
Scenic Beauty
Loving It!
Training Day!
Before I get into what the fire departments did today, I have to tell you that I didn’t do much more than take a ton of pictures. I had planned to do something during our training, but I didn’t feel confident enough to try. Long story, but unimportant right now. I participated in Thursday’s classroom component, so I was happy about that.
Firefighters from five departments gathered at the Mullen Volunteer Fire Department’s training center today in 80-degree heat to don SCBA packs and heavy gear to train to keep the communities safe.
An obstacle course was the first order of business. Firefighters had to crawl, carry hose, move a tire, drag a railroad tie and use a sledge hammer (for two minutes) against the clock—and do the course in reverse order to get back to the beginning. They had the option of stopping if they felt like they were in trouble, but most opted to finish in spite of fatigue and heat.
While some were doing obstacles, others were in the building crawling through boxes. The purpose was to learn techniques for navigating small spaces in the dark. Learning not to panic is the key to survival. Practice is necessary to avoid panic.
Lunch was served (pizza!), and the firefighters went back to work. They practiced search and rescue as well as fighting live fire. New firefighters (and veteran members of the departments) learned and/or reviewed how to ventilate a room and work the nozzles. It was a hard day’s work, but safety is worth it.
Hi Ho, To The Vet We Go
My little Jinx pup was not feeling her best yesterday, so off to the vet we went. I left the room when the vet and his helper drew blood, but my poor baby cried. She’s so thin-skinned! It looked like a massacre had taken place when I got back there when they were done! They had to poke her twice to get enough blood to analyze. The tech ended up with blood on her hand, and it transferred back to Jinx. The tech cleaned her up, and I comforted my furry kid as best I could.
I think she is now on the mend, but when we got home I noticed that Jersey the Maine Coon was grooming and growling when I tried to take a look. I loaded her up this morning, and we went to the vet.
WARNING: GROSS INFORMATION COMING!
The vet said he might need to sedate Jersey to get a good look at the problem, so he told me to go get some coffee. I stayed away as long as I could (about ten minutes!) and returned to see what was going on. Poor Jersey had a problem with her anal glands. Since the glands were full and they keep producing more “gunk”, it had no place to go. According to the vet, it took the “path of least resistance” and made an opening in her soft tissue. OUCH! My poor sweet girl!
The problem has been fixed—she was “cleaned out” and medicated, and she also has some meds to start this weekend. Jersey acts like she feels better already, so that makes me happy.
Ladies, Pay Attention!
I have a few friends who are never alone for long after a break up. It drives me crazy because I see my friends making the same wrong choices time after time in the romance department. May I speak plainly? My friends deserve better! Some gals recognize the patterns, but they seem helpless to break the cycle of bad relationships.
I have watched one of my gal pals be lied to, yelled at and insulted. It makes me livid! A true loving partner would never treat his woman that way. A real man doesn’t need to humiliate or degrade his lady to feel like a man. A real man would rather cut off his arm than hurt the one he loves.
Someone told me just last week that women “of a certain age” were conditioned to depend on a husband and to never be alone. They were expected to leave the parents’ home to make a home for a husband. I’m thankful that I never absorbed that particular lesson! I do remember my dad asking me how I expected to get a husband because I refused to take “home ec.” I would always tell him that I didn’t need a husband in the first place. I always had a clear picture of who I was. As I grew older and more mature, I finally figured out who I wanted to become. Many ladies have missed out on those important lessons. They mistakenly believe that they are “worth less” without a man.
Ladies, you have to demand better! People will treat you badly only if you let them. That includes family, friends and partners. Don’t ever sell yourself short or be with someone who purposely hurts you. That is not love. Women, know your own worth. It’s better to be alone than in bad company.






















