ghosts and things...

Ok...get this...we have ghosts (or at least one) in our house...again.



About 6 years ago, when we lived in our first apartment in TX, we had a ghost. We had a pole lamp that sat against the wall in the living room. This lamp was pretty heavy...the electric cord was coiled up underneath the base, and the weight of it made an indention in the carpet. Quite often, when we would get home, the lamp would be moved...down one side or the other a few feet, to the middle of the floor...just moved. We could move it back, leave to get dinner, and it would be moved again when we returned home. It was kind of freaky, but hey...the only thing that ever happened was the moving of the lamp.



From there, we moved to a different apartment...I don't remember any weird happenings there. Then, we moved into our current house, almost 3 years ago.

After moving into our house, the ghost returned. The lamp mentioned above is now upstairs, and has never been moved again. The ghost's attention was turned to a Japanese carved camphor wood chest that we have in our bedroom...it was passed down from El Guapo's grandparents. This chest is very heavy...it is about 4' long x 2.5' deep x 2.5 ' high...and it is filled with blankets and things. We started to notice that the chest wasn't always in the same place as where we placed it. The same as the lamp, it would be moved down the wall a foot or two, or out from the wall. There was no reasonable explanation for it...the bedroom door would be closed, just like when we left the house, but the chest would be moved...with indentions in the carpet where it originally was sitting. After this freaking me out for a couple of years, I asked the ghost to leave. The chest hasn't moved since.

Our sweet kitty Cloud passed away just over a year ago...in December 2006. I found her when I got home from work one night, and obviously took it very hard. We spoke to our vet, and her death was textbook for a feline heart condition. She had no symptoms, and died in her sleep. I was heartbroken and still cry about her occasionally. In our living room, across from where she was found, in a niche where our tv is located, we have some staggered shelves. On the top shelf, I have pictures of Cloud, along with her 3 brothers...all black & white pictures, and all in matching frames. Each picture has a tealight candle holder in front. More times than I can count, since her death, Cloud's picture has moved. All the other frames are exactly where they should be, but hers is turned to one side or the other. This has freaked me out as well, and once again, I asked the ghost to leave...it hasn't happened since then.



One night last week, me & El Guapo were laying in bed, chit chatting...and for some reason we started talking about our past ghosts, and that they hadn't been around in a while. I told him I had asked them to leave, and that apparently they had. He made a statement that got me thinking...he said that he wished they would come back, b/c things went better for us when they were around. So, a few nights later, I was sitting on the couch in the living room, and I asked the ghosts to come back and take care of us. El Guapo was not home, and I did not tell him that I did this.



Well, last night, we got home after work, to a surprise. The picture of Cloud had fallen off of the top shelf, along with the glass tealight holder...hit a stack of dvd's and scattered them all over the living room floor. Cloud's picture frame was upside down on the tv shelf, 5 feet below the shelf...and the glass was not even broken. One of the other frames on the shelf was turned a tiny bit, but her picture was the only one that had fallen. I do believe Cloud's ghost is back to take care of us. It is just quite freaky that only a few nights earlier I asked the ghosts to come back. I've thought about this...there is no way that my other cats knocked this frame off...nothing on the other shelves was moved to make me think they had climbed up to the top. Her frame is the third in a row, and there is no way that hers is the only one that they would have knocked off. I'm not an overly superstitious person, but I really believe this is a ghostly experience. Freaky...my ghosts are back...hopefully that means this will be a better year for us.

Has anyone else had anything like this happen? I'm interested to know if I'm the only weirdo that has things like this happen in my house...

OK...an update on Kahn...he is doing a little better. We took him in to the vet yesterday before work, and left him for the day. His eating had decreased little by little, and he was eating near to nothing. With his condition (CRF), eating is very important. If he doesn't eat, his body breaks down muscle, which is hard for the kidneys to process. This makes him feel worse, and makes him not want to eat even more...a vicious cycle it is. So, we have started giving him Sub-Q fluids...twice a day for 10 days, and then we'll reevaluate with our vet. I was dreading this, as you have to insert a needle into him, and use an IV bag of fluids; it was really not a big deal at all...actually quite easy. Anyway, he has good moments and bad moments...but the vet assured me that it is totally normal with this condition. We just have to find the right combination of treatments for him to keep him stable.

It is finally cold here in north Texas...has been for the last few days. The highs have only been in the 30's and 40's. I know that's not cold to many of you "northern'ers", but it's darn cold to me. Cold weather makes me want to hibernate, and really prohibits my productivity. Could this explain why my house is a wreck and I haven't exercised lately? I've got to get motivated!

It's hard to believe that Christmas is only 10 days away. I have really not been able to get in the Christmas spirit yet this year. We've just had so many things going on lately...I haven't even sent out my Christmas cards yet. We haven't put up lights, a tree, or anything. Bah Humbug! We will just be staying home for Christmas...not going out of town or anything. We're not very close to either of our families, and usually just do our own thing for Christmas. Our little tradition that we started several years back...we sleep in, lay around and are lazy and cozy most of the day. Them, we cook an awesome gourmet dinner for just the two of us. For dinner, we dress up and enjoy. After dinner, we go out to a movie...one of the great ones that just opened that day. I don't even know which movies are starting this Christmas...guess I better get to looking into that.

I am a Food Network freak...a few weeks ago, I saw Giada DeLaurentis make biscotti. It looked really easy, so I gave it a try...it is delicious. Maybe not as pretty as hers, but absolutely delicious. In case you want to give it a try...here's the recipe.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Whisk the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend.
Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl to blend.
Beat in the eggs 1 at a time.
Add the flour mixture and beat just until blended.
Stir in the pistachios and cranberries.
Form the dough into a 13-inch long, 3-inch wide log on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake until light golden, about 40 minutes.
Cool for 30 minutes.
Place the log on the cutting board.
Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log on a diagonal into 1/2 to 3/4-inch-thick slices.
Arrange the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet.
Bake the biscotti until they are pale golden, about 15 minutes.
Transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely.
Enjoy!

It was super easy to make...the only problem I had: You cook it for 40 minutes, then let it cool before you slice it to put back in the oven. When I sliced it, I found that the center was still a little raw. This cooked when it went in the oven the 2nd time, but it was a little ugly. It also broke up a little bit while it was sliced. Also, Giada dipped it in white chocolate, but I chose not to do that. Also, I used walnuts in the place of pistacios, just b/c that is what I had in the pantry. It was not so pretty, but very good. If you like biscotti, give it a try and enjoy.

andes mints are the best...

I absolutely love Andes mints...I bought a package of them specifically for "spiking" my hot cocoa with. But then, they're awesome all by their little selves. I could eat the whole bag in one sitting...but then, that wouldn't be good, would it?

For a kitty update...Kahn is doing ok, not great. I'm going to take him back to the vet tomorrow, just to get his opinion. He seems uncomfortable, but not in pain. He doesn't want to eat his prescription cat food, so I'm having to mix it with other types of food, just to get him to eat something. He also doesn't like to eat by himself, so I've been having to sit with him and talk to him, to get him to eat. Oh, the things I would do for this little guy. Anyway, he is not terrible, but just doesn't seem to feel too hot. I'm going to ask the vet about giving him Sub-Q fluids...injecting fluid under the skin to help keep him from getting dehydrated and help his kidney function. Anyway, just trying to pamper him back into feeling better.

One of our other cats ended up with a trip to the ER vet on Saturday night. He vomited on Friday night, and was laying around kind of strangly. His belly felt very tight and he felt warmer than usual. Not knowing what was wrong with him, and not wanting to wait until Monday morning to have him checked out...we took him to the ER vet. After an exam, abdominal xray and all...his diagnosis...gas and constipation. So, an injection for nausea, one of antacid and some stool softener, we were on our way home. He is back to his normal self now...feeling much better. Poor guy.

I really can't handle any more drama around here. Seriously, when it rains, it pours. I'm just hoping that everything else that is going to bomb out waits a while. I am emotionally, mentally and financially drained right now. UGH! I really hope that 2008 will be a better year for us. Not that this year has been bad, but it just seems like it's been one thing after another all year long.

aaaahhhhh...law & order...

Sitting here tonight watching Law & Order...there are several episodes on that I actually haven't seen before...it's awesome. I can't get enough of it. Are there any other Law & Order addicts out there, or am I the only one?

An update on my kitty Kahn...he was at the vet for 4 days, on fluids. He came home last Friday evening...he was doing a little better, but his bloodwork was not what it should have been. We watched him throughout the weekend...I was honestly concerned that he may not make it. He was really weak and sleepy. As the days have gone on, he's gotten a little better...his personality has come out again, and he's eating better. He's got partial kidney failure, and will be on special prescription food and meds for the rest of his life. I love my little guy so much, and am just glad he's feeling more like himself now.

what next???

It's just one of those times...you know the ones I'm talking about...when everything goes wrong at once. When will it stop? What did I do, to cause or deserve all of this at once? I really can't emotionally handle anything else right now. Just to summarize what's been going on...

- my microwave is broken. About a week 1/2 ago, it started making strange noises and started smelling like it was melting. The thing is, it's the built-in kind above the stove, and at least $300 to buy a new one. You never realize how much you use those things, until you don't have it...major inconvenience.

- the husband's car needs to have some repairs done

- my car needs new tires very badly

- my clothes dryer stopped heating...the heating coil is ruined. This will be the second one that has burned out this year...and is about $90 to replace...so I had to take all my clothing & bedding to the laundrymat

- my sweet kittie that I spoke about the other day is still sick. He hasn't vomited any since last Friday, but was just not being himself. I took him in to the vet yesterday morning...the vet ran bloodtests. When I went by yesterday after work, (thinking I was picking him up to go home), he told me that Kahn's bloodwork does not look good. He is having kidney problems. They kept him (prob until Friday) and are giving him fluids and meds to help his kidneys. If they don't start working better, it's not going to be good. I can't handle losing my little guy. I cried the whole way home from the vet, and most of the night...don't know why I'm so upset...just don't have a good feeling. El Guapo and I are going to visit him after work today and get an update. Keep him in your thoughts...he's so precious to us.

- we just got news yesterday that we have to come up with an extra $3000 to pay off a pastdue bill by the end of December. We had previously been told it could be paid off over the next 6 months, but they changed their minds. Now, I'm stressing on how I'm going to cut corners and come up with this extra money. Like I needed something else to stress about right now.

- work has been crazy lately...my division is being taken over by another...and I don't even know what I'm going to be doing much longer. The person put over our division doesn't know what he's doing, and is driving me insane. I can't get him to do what he's supposed to do, and he is making me extremely angry.

- because of all of these issues...I've got huge knots in my shoulders and neck. The knots are to the point of stinging like bee stings and starting to get numb. Oh, what fun...I've got icepacks waiting when I get home tonight.

Don't mean for this to be such a sucky post...just a lot of worries on my mind right now and needed to vent. I hope nothing else goes wrong, b/c I really can't mentally or emotionally handle it right now. Why is it that when it rains, it pours?

catching up...

El Guapo's birthday party was a week ago today...where did the week go? It was an awesome time...goofing around and catching up with friends. The rum cakes were a hit...I did not get a picture though...I'll still post the recipe later. The "boys" got a little wild...wrestling and having a sword fight...all while drunk...no injuries though...thank god. Anyway, the party was a blast.


Monday was El Guapo's actual birthday...after we got off work, we grabbed a bite to eat and then went to see American Gangster...it was really good. Not my all-time-fave, but really good. Denzel Washington was awesome...

I've kind of lost touch with my best friend from college over the last few years. She's moved around several times...her husband joined the Army a few years ago, and they've moved several times through his training and station assignments....I didn't even have a current phone number. I think of her often, but havn't talked to her in almost 2 years. Well, I've messaged her husband on myspace a few times, asking for him to have her call me...I finally got a message back from her the other day. I was shocked to find out...her husband is in Iraq right now. She is living in Kansas with her 2 1/2 year old son. I totally couldn't handle my husband risking his life in Iraq...I'd have had a nervous breakdown by now. She's strong though. Please keep her in your thoughts...and her husband...for him to return home safely. I'm excited to have "found" her again...

We were planning on going to Mississippi to spend Thanksgiving with friends and family...more friends than family actually...my family drives me insane. We decided to stay home a few days ahead of time...my car desperately needs tires before making an 8 hour trip, and the hubby's car needs some work done on it. We didn't need to spend money on both cars, and on a trip all at once, so we're going to go out for a visit in a month or so. This was actually our very first Thanksgiving dinner that we've cooked together...it was damn good too! We had an awesome Crockpot Turkey, mashed potatos, stuffing, green beans and pumpkin pie...yummy! And, now we've got days worth of leftovers!

Kahn, one of my sweet kitties, is not feeling too well. He vomited yesterday several times, and was obviously not feeling well at all last night. I was very close to taking him to the ER Vet, but he seemed to be feeling a little better within an hour or so. The husband sat up with him for most of the night, to make sure he was ok. He's eaten a couple of times this morning without vomiting, and is acting much better, but just like he doesn't feel quite right. He's sleeping right now...I hope he will be ok. I'm assuming since he's improved, that he'll continue to do so. If not, we'll end up at the ER Vet later on...our normal vet, which I love, is not open this afternoon or tomorrow. I'm thinking he's probably got a bad hairball, that has his tummy upset. He is bad about eating things he shouldn't eat though...he had surgery about 6 years ago for eating a big chunk of hard plastic. It had to be cut out of his stomach, b/c it wouldn't pass through. Crazy cat...but I love him so much. Anyway, hopefully Kahn will be back to himself soon...he's my precious first born. (He actually was our first born kitten...7 1/2 years ago)

Well, I guess that's about it for today...I've got housecleaning/organizing to do around here.

go mavs...

I'm just sitting here tonight, watching the Mavs kick the Cavalier's butts, with kitties on my lap. My 16 pound Katrina cat stops by every now and then, to jump up and say hello. He is such a sweetie...a big ole silver tabby. We adopted him in January...he was very independant and wasn't very affectionate. His foster mom said that he usually kept to himself and didn't bother anyone. Well, he has definately changed...he has become a cuddlebug...loves to snuggle up with you and be a teddy bear. He loves to run and play with our other cats and seems truly happy. The interesting thing about Gaston...he was found in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and had a badly broken jaw. Surgery was performed on his jaw, and his 2 lower canine teeth had to be removed b/c of the dislocation. His jaw is crooked...his bottom jaw goes to one side, and his tongue sticks out the other side...he has no problems though, and is so cute with his little tongue sticking out. He makes my heart smile...I'm glad that he is happy with us. I love my kitties!

I've decided to take a leave of absence from school. I've been in Court Reporting school at night for almost the last 2 years. It is honestly wearing me out. I just feel burnt out and my heart is not in it right now. I feel like I'm just wasting my money. The company I work for is undergoing some major changes right now...being taken over by a "sister" company. This means I've become an employee of the larger company, and they offer tuition reimbursement, if you're going to school for something that will benefit your job. This has got me thinking...I may possibly go to a different school starting January, and finish my bachelor's in Accounting, b/c they'll pay for it. Accounting is not really something I want to do for the rest of my life, but they will pay for my school, give me a better position with the company upon graduation, and give me more money. I've got some thinking to do. Decisions...decisions... Anyway, I'm taking a leave of absence for the rest of the quarter, to get a break from the constant insanity...and to decide what I want to do.

El Guapo and I ran in Target the other night to pick up a few things...including 2 limes. When we were checking out, the young guy checking us out thought that the limes were avocados...how weird. We corrected him, telling him that they were limes. He then started looking on his cheatsheet for the code for limes, and couldn't find it. He then asked...are they a fruit? He really didn't know what a lime was...what do they teach kids these days???

catching up...

It's been a while...I've just had way too many things going on. Here's for catching up...

I'm almost half way through another quarter of school...that's court reporting school. The driving time (almost 2 extra hours on school days), distractions and stress are about to kill me. I'm constantly stressed, have no time for excercising, no time for myself...something's got to change. I think I have my solution. In the next few weeks, I'm going to transfer to my school's online program. The night program that I'm currently in is half time, and the online program that I'm transferring into is full time. This means I'm going to have to be disciplined...come home from work, eat dinner (which I don't get to do on school nights now), and get to school work. I'll have to put more time into it that I currently am, but all the time that I put into it will be productive and from home. I won't be wasting time driving, dealing with distractions from other people, waiting for teachers to get class going, etc. This change is going to be challenging, but I'm ready for it.

We've been trying to spend more time with friends lately. We've had several pool parties at friend's houses, as well as going out, and having friends over for drinks at our house. It seems like everyone has so much going on, it's hard to get people together. We spent time with two other couples a week or so ago...helping one of them move. We hadn't seen them in a while, b/c of everyone's schedules...it was really great to hang out with old friends.

My little cousin is in town this weekend. She came with her boyfriend and three other friends. They're 18, 20 & 21. It's definately strange, and the age difference is surely noticable. She's 8 years younger than me, and we haven't really spent much time together, b/c I was married and moved away by the time she was 13. It's nice to have them here for a visit, but just weird. We had planned to take them out, but they seem totally content just shopping at the mall, sitting and talking and doing their own thing. Today, they're gone to the Project Revolution concert, and tomorrow they'll go back home to MS.

Oh how I love Ann Taylor Loft! They had an awesome sale this week, and I got around $300 worth of clothes for just $100...2 pair of capris, 1 pair of shorts and 3 shirts. Didn't need to spend the money, but it was just too great of a deal to pass up.

Next weekend we'll be going to New Orleans with a bunch of friends. I can't wait...I really need this break! El Guapo and I used to live an hour from there, and spent quite a bit of time there in our college years. We even spent our honeymoon there almost exactly 8 years ago. I'm hoping we can sneak away from the friends for a nice anniversary dinner together while we're there. We'll be staying 1/2 block off of Bourbon street...I can't wait!

I have the most awesomely sweet kitties in the world. One in particular today is super clingy and being so sweet. Gaston is our Katrina kitty...we adopted him from a foster group here in Dallas that got him from New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina. He was skin & bones when they got him...his jaw had been badly broken...so bad that his bottom canine teeth were digging into the roof of his mouth, and he couldn't eat. They did surgery on his jaw and had to pull his canines. His jaw is still crooked, but it's cute b/c his tongue sticks out the side of his mouth now. He doesn't let it bother him though...he's a pig is weighs almost 16 pounds now. It took him about 6 months to warm up to us, but he's a cuddlebug now. He's been kind of disturbed with the cousin and friends here, and since they're gone to their concert today, he's ready for love. He's been following me around and in my lap all day. Right now, he's laying beside me dreaming...it's so funny when their little whiskers and feet move while they're sleeping! I wonder what he's dreaming of.

Well, that's about all that's been going on around here...well, except for work, school and all the everyday things.