Almost Famous By De's Fault

Quick Update...

2009-12-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

Jackie's surgery went great -- thank you so much for your prayers. She has had much less pain than she was told to expect. Today is supposed to be the "worst" day before things start getting better, pain-wise, and I can tell she's hurting today, but she says it's less than she expected it would be. She takes a pain pill and an antihistamine every four hours -- up until today she was taking them every 5-6 hours. The antihistamine boosts the effect of the pain pill and makes her drowsy, so she sleeps when she takes those. That's the best way to get through the uphill part of any post-surgical procedure...

I went to another CFAN Christmas party this morning -- was asked to read something -- so I read THEY CALL ME WALRUS WOMAN from my book Floating Around Hollywood and my new Christmas poem. Our friend, Carol Beitz, watched Jackie while I was away. They wrapped Christmas presents while I was gone.

By the time I got back, I could tell Jackie was hurting. She returned to a recliner and has been there ever since, trying to sleep. I massaged her good foot for 30 minutes; that helped a lot, she said; the pleasure overshadowed the pain.

I hate seeing someone else in pain. I have a very hard time dealing with pain myself so when I see it on another's face, I sorta "feel" it with them. I try to think of ways to alleviate it as much as possible.

Another of Jackie's friends, Georgia, picked up a knee-based roll-about so Jackie can rest her recovering leg on it and push herself from place to place instead of having to use crutches. That has been a real godsend for her.

Anyway, other than that, I'm playing nurse and chauffeur for the next few days for Jackie. I'm reminding her when to place the ice pack under her recovering leg and when to take it out, when to take her pain pill and her antihistamine pill, and fetching her food whenever she gets hungry.

It is for times like these that we actually co-purchased a house and property -- so we can take care of each other when either of us has a malady or some surgery.

The doctor says she'll feel so much better when she's back in action. The snapped tendons "were a mess" and a tangle of blood vessels were being impacted, causing much of the pain she was having. She also had a bone spur that was removed. So she should be able to walk without pain for the first time in a long time. She still needs to get a bunion fixed, but the surgeon said he didn't want to do three things at once because the post-op pain would be too severe. I think today Jackie is very glad she agreed to his suggestion to leave it alone for now!

The puppies are doing well. I have to give them their final puppy shots tomorrow or the next day. I'm looking forward to having that over with so I don't have to "ouch" them anymore for another year -- except for when we have them spayed in a few more months.

Kiki is in seventh heaven with "her" puppies. She has been lonesome, methinks. She isn't anymore -- that's for sure! All three have so much fun together!

First Snow...

2009-12-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

We're getting the first snow of the season, but so far it hasn't amounted to enough to accumulate. We hope it doesn't accumulate, in fact, because I need to drive Jackie to the Baker Center tomorrow for her foot surgery and there are a couple of appreciable-sized hills between here and there. The forecast calls for snow north and south of us, but not much here.

I went to Bible study at church this morning. It's always SOOOOO good. After that, I had to come straight home because Jackie needed the vehicle to get the rest of her shopping done. (Her Mustang is in the shop for repairs.)

I bathed and groomed Buffy yesterday and Jansy today. Jackie bathed Kiki while I bathed and blew-dried Jansy, then we clipped the hair on their muzzles and their toenails.

I'm teaching the dogs to accept "toothbrushing" with dental wipes. I thought it would be a real struggle, but after the first two times, they decided it really wasn't worth worrying about, so they let me do it without too much dodging and feinting. Never thought I'd be the type of pet owner that brushed their pets' teeth but hey, if you start them young, it has to cut back on dental cleanings and gum problems, one would suppose... We'll find out!

Wendy just took Casey to an American Girl doll tea, so Jamie and her dad are having a nap, as is Jackie. I ought to be but I still haven't decided whether to write something for the Christmas gathering on Wednesday or read something from my book, PURPOSEFUL CHRISTIANITY, or read what I read at the Christmas party a week ago. I can't decide...

Did I ever publish, here, the Christmas poem I wrote a few weeks ago? Can't recall, so I'll do it now:

CHRISTMAS DAY

Small and mild

The Christ child

Has come to save the world.

Little fingers,

tiny toes

He's God not yet unfurled.

She'll watch him grow

But does not know

He'll free us from our past.

He'll live to serve

And speak God's word

And suffer at the last.

What had she heard?

An angel's word:

"You've found favor with God."

What could she do?

She followed through,

Assenting with a nod.

And because she did

We truly live

Engaged in joyful song.

For God's gift -- free --

A Son like He --

Was His promise all along.

c. Nov 24, 2009 by Kristine M Smith

Puppy Training -- Big Laugh!

2009-12-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

Three of Jackie's grandkids -- Elizabeth, Casey and Jamie -- are trying to teach the puppies tricks. Problem is, like wee children, puppies have almost zero attention span, and get distracted at the drop of a hat (or a nod or another voice).

So I've given the girls instructions: one puppy at a time, one trainer at a time, and only five minutes at a time. I doubt the pups will learn a thing, but the kids are learning patience and encouragement, so it's not entirely a lost cause.

Jackie is out doing last minute shopping for Christmas since she'll be laid up for three weeks after surgery, so I'm kid-sitting, sort of. Phil and Wendy are in and out -- so they're the ones mostly in charge. I'm just keeping tabs on the kids to be sure they don't exhaust the puppies. They're good kids and are at ages (5, 9, 11) where they don't a require moment-to-moment mother hen. I didn't babysit them when they were that young. It made me too nervous, since I've never had kids and didn't babysit much as a teen.

This morning I traveled to three neighbors to wish them happy holidays and give them a box of Satsuma oranges and a card and newsletter. One of the families isn't home right now, so I'll have to catch up with them later. Jamie came with me -- she wanted to get in on the well wishes. She's quite the sparkler.

On Wednesday while I attend another holiday gathering at church, a friend of ours is coming over to sit with Jackie so she won't be alone. It'll be 2 1/2 days post surgery and she is going to be pretty heavily drugged for at least three days, so someone needs to be around to check on her. I'm here 24/7 usually, pretty much, but the church has asked me to read something I've written...

Oh, gosh, that reminds me! I need to write something for the event! Guess I'd better get going on that.

I wonder if they'd let me read what I presented at the Christmas part? Probably not -- too many of the attendees have probably already heard it...

Hmm...

So it's back to the drawing board...

FREEZING But Light at End of Tunnel

2009-12-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

We've had to ask our contractor out to bolster the insulation in areas of piping that he put in earlier this year, 'cause they've frozen but haven't (thank God!) burst. That'll happen today and should make the vulnerable pipes all better. He's also running around rescuing other neighbors, friends and folks who have frozen or broken pipes. What a guy!

Jackie goes in for foot surgery on Monday. I drive her in at 8:00 am and either stay there for six hours until she can come home (surgery is at 10, lasts 60-90 minutes, recovery takes a while) or come home in between. That will depend largely on the weather. If it's treacherous, I'll stay right there so I have to drive less. It doesn't sound like it will be, though. (I may stay anyway. She's my sister, after all, and being nearby seems the right thing to do!)

She's having a bone spur taken off and a tendon re-atttached on her left foot. Please keep her in your prayers, as she has clotting issues and her meds have been reduced prior to surgery; will be reintroduced slowly for two weeks following surgery. People with clotting factors have greater risk of complications, so your prayers are very greatly appreciated!

The pups are doing fine. They may experience their first snow in the next day or two, so if they do, I will be sure to capture it on film so you can watch their antics.

I (shhh! this is a secret!) got Jackie a mouse pad with photos of Jansy on it. I hope it arrives this weekend so I can give it to her as a "get well" gift. It's on its way, so we'll see!

Can you tell I feel very confident that Jackie never reads my blogs? By the time she finds this entry, I may be dead and she'll get a smile out of it. (Not that I'll be dead, but that I was thinking of her and doing things behind her back PUBLICLY that she didn't have a clue about!)

My sister loves me but she is NOT a "follower." She doesn't need to be -- she lives one hollow core door away and gets enough of me every day! HA HA HA HA! Maybe too much!

Elance work has slowed down a little. I think everyone is focused on the holidays right now. There's still enough work to keep my head above water, so I'm all right, but I do get fidgety when I'm not writing, so here I am, writing to you!

Hey, it keeps me out of trouble -- out of the cupboards, away from shopping, out of the puppy pen...

I look pretty silly in the puppy pen, and until Buffy gets the message that pee goes outside, every single time without fail, the puppy pen is where she stays, unless I'm holding her in my arms. She won't pee in the pen -- asks to be let outside -- but if she runs around, she doesn't pay attention to the cue that she has to pee until she REALLY has to pee, and unless I watch her like a hawk, I miss the proper moment to take her outside.

It's so dry around here that almost everything I touch -- cat, blanket, shirt, coat -- sparks and shocks me. (The dogs seem fine -- no electrical discharges that I can discern when I touch them.) So for now the cats and I just appreciate each other from a distance -- interacting hurts them! Poor babies... Maybe I should run a static eraser (dryer sheet) over them... I wonder if that would be safe and healthy. Does anyone know?

BRRRRR!!!!!!

2009-12-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is getting ridiculous...

The pipes in the garage froze last night, so we have a heat lamp and an oil heater out on the washer-dryer platform thawing things out so I can start the wash. I have to start the wash because Buffy peed on my bed last night.

It was my fault. She asked to go out (several little whimpers and warm body near my face), but I was half comatose and didn't respond in time. Good thing: we both would probably have been frozen to the grass outside had I taken her out there to pee!

Of course, I could have placed her on linoleum and let her do her thing -- it would have been far easier to clean than letting her pee on my bed -- but that would have given her "permission" to pee in the house. And since her output amounts to about a tablespoon, if that, I ... let her go on my bed and forgave her immediately. Not that I praised her, or anything! I just didn't pitch a bitch, since I was fully capable of waking up enough when she cried, and I "put it off" for too long... (The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.)

The Noriega radio visit last night was fun. There was only enough time after the reading for one question, which I pretty much blew, but the rest of it went very well. You can still listen to it, if you missed it, by clicking on the link that exists about five blog entries back...

A number of people who usually listen weren't available at the right time last night, so they'll be catching up after the fact and letting me know how I did. Lisa Hamner (De's new star polisher; she's an actor in Long Beach at De's old thespian stand) got to the program right on time and said I get better every time and that she thinks I should have my own radio program or start acting.

I wanted to act as a child and teenager, but being a professional writer is risky enough for me! Acting takes a lot of time, and probably a lot more talent than I have. For every minute someone spends on stage or on film, they spend hours and days preparing, being rejected, rehearsing, etc. etc. etc. I'm not sure the roar of the greasepaint/the smell of the crowd could compensate for that. As a writer at Elance, I spend significant time looking for projects to bid on, but I charge enough to compensate for that time. It rarely works out that well for actors. Not that I would ever discourage anyone from acting! It's an addiction, like writing. And people need what actors do: offer much-needed diversion from everyday trials and tribulations, offer hope, laughs, feelings... They're valuable , valuable people! My hat is off to every one of them -- especially Lisa Hamner and Alison Winter! If you're not familiar with Alison Winter's story, get my e-book about De, ENDURING LEGACY OF DeFOREST KELLEY. I hope Lisa will contribute to the next edition!!! (Hint, hint, Ms. Hamner!)

I should be getting a project or two at Elance today, but they haven't come in yet, so while I'm at loose ends, thought I should "catch you up" on the shenanigans from the cold, frozen, Arctic Pacific North-Wet -- er, North-Frozen!

God forbid we should lose our power at a time like this. Some people have up here... I'm praying for all of them and for the line workers who have to be out in this getting the power back on. I know a couple of them, too. Stalwart, hardy folks... who go out when everybody else rushes in to save themselves! I salute you!

Don't Forget Tonight's Radio Show at 6:30 PM Pacific Time

2009-12-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

I'm ready to roll -- my excerpts are picked and marked (thanks for your help!) and my one minute intro is written. I'm hoping to keep everything to under 10 minutes so there will be time to answer a few questions...

Let me know if you'll be listening in! Thanks!

The link to the show is a couple of blog entries down. (I can't get it to cut and paste into this blog --- grrr!!! ---- or I would.)

Any Suggestions on Which Excerpt to Read Tomorrow Evening on Blogtalk Radio?

2009-12-06T15:42:00.000-08:00

I'm going through my books trying to decide which excerpt to pull out and read during the radio visit tomorrow night. I have several favorites and don't want to repeat the one I read last time (in case the same listeners tune in, I don't want to bore them).

Do you have any ideas? Any particular faves? Let me know -- and if you know which page it starts on, let me know that, too...

I like the silly stuff a lot:

Dinner With the Kelleys (first real sit-down-and-chat session)

Request for Signed Photo from my "penpal" De

"Letter of Complaint" re: De calling me Krazy Kris at the L.A. Con

"Shambala Pachyderm Poop Plaques"

"Fake Star Ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame" (We were there. Where Were You, De!?)

I could also step away from the books entirely and read my stand-up routine, 'HUSBAND HUNTING ON THE ENTERPRISE.'

Or read from FLOATING AROUND HOLLYWOOD:

Baywatch Wrap Party

The Oreo Cookie Affair

They Call Me Walrus Woman

When You Wash Upon a Star, People Think You're Quite Bizarre!

I dunno. I just dunno. I want to do something different... something exclusive... something I've never read before publicly. Most of all, I want to leave all the listeners wanting more, so they'll get a book or two.. and some for friends for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa...

Bummer! Can't Copy My Presentation Into This Blog!

2009-12-05T17:11:00.000-08:00

Photo by Yvonne Olson
Photo by Dr. Mary Jo Robinson

Photo by Dr. Mary Jo Robinson

I've tried everything to try to get my presentation into this blog, but it won't go! So if you want a copy, please let me know (let me know your email address, too) and I'll send you one.

Sorry...

It all went very well. All three presenters -- Tami Bidwell, Pat Leksen and myself -- did a good job and were well-received and the rest of the program was a lot of fun, too.

One of the pastors came to me afterward and said I should send what I read to Guideposts. I'll check into that...

Sometimes I get real irritated with Vista! I don't understand why it won't let me cut-and-paste about half of the time. Does anybody know why, or have a fix for it? If so, let me know!

Thanks!

Two other ladies came up to me after the program to thank me for the encouragement. They said it really spoke to them. Another asked if I'd be willing to teach writing on-line. I said yes. She's going to get back to me with details soon.

I'll Be on Blogtalk Radio Again Monday Night at 6:30 pm Pacific Time

2009-12-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

Calling all De Kelley fans! Roger Noreiga has asked me to spend fifteen minutes with him again on Blogtalk radio this coming Monday at 6:30 Pacific Time. I hope you can make it. We'll visit... I'll read a couple of excerpts... and after the visit I'll stay in the chat room to answer questions and send virtual hugs... so TELL YOUR FRIENDS right away!

Thanks!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ndbmedia/2009/12/08/kristine-m-smith-is-in-the-house

The call-in number is 914-338- 0314. Register beforehand so you can be seen and heard in the chat room or on the phone!

Jackie's Pup on the Run!

2009-12-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

This Evening I'll Post the Presentation I'm Giving at CFAN this Afternoon

2009-12-05T09:12:00.001-08:00

Good morning! I'm freezing. Guess I'd better turn on my Amish Heat Surge "fireplace" before I go any farther here or icicles will form on my chin and my fingers will break off tapping the keyboard! (Hyperbole, folks. It ain't quite that bad -- I'm not sitting outside!)

It is frosty out there! It is finally and officially too freaking cold -- and will stay that way for the foreseeable future. It is, after all, December in the northern latitudes and here in Washington State we're right next to Canada and not far from Alaska. Brrrrrrr!!!!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This evening I'll post the presentation I'll be giving at the CFAN Women's Christmas Party. It should be of interest to many of you who are addicted to creating something -- songs, a portrayal on stage, screen or canvas, books, dance, quilting, knitting... you name it. What I'll be sharing is along the lines of "following your bliss" although I don't use that phrase at all; about not letting the duties of your day dissuade you from doing what you've always wanted to do.

I think you'll like it -- and if you don't... there's always the COMMENT button to push or the little boxes to click that indicate your feelings about it. But be kind -- t'is the season!!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A few months ago I bought a Broyhill Executive Office Chair. I love it. It helped my back tremendously, since I often sit here hours on end writing copy for Elance clients or blogging to you.

Even so, I was still feeling some discomfort, so I bought a Back Joy ergonomic device that I sit on (strategically) to keep my posture perfect and my buns and lower back vertebrae less smashed. It works great -- but every single time I abandon my chair, even for a 30 second foray into another room, when I come back, my 13 year old cat, Ashley, is curled up on it and out like a light.

Now, I know Back Joy wasn't designed to fit the contours of a cat, and it's a relatively pricey device, but if they want to tweak their selling points to notify the pet-loving market, I wanna tell you, I would happily become their first testimonial to the magnetic attraction their device has for cats -- or at least for this one cat! (Who else could claim it from him? He sits right here waiting for me to stand up!) It's just amazing.

I have spent too much money trying to entice and thrill my pet charges and have never found a device as attractive to Ashley as this one. And no, I'm not laying out another bunch of money to satisfy his need to "cocoon."

There's just one drawback. The Back Joy is covered with some kind of material. It "captures" cat hair. So every time just before I leave the house I have to inspect my butt to make sure the hair from the device hasn't transferred to MY tail. I don't want to have people who are seeing me from behind to think I sit on my cats to excess... or at all, for that matter!

Plea From a Dedicated STAR TREK Fan & Organization -- EXTEND THE ENTERPRISE LEGACY

2009-12-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Mary Doman for the following timely piece of information.

Link to a petition to save the exalted Enterprise name for future real-life vessels...

http://ussntrprs.epetitions.net/

Let's "Make It So!"

Thanks!

So Realistic The Police Made the Homeowner Take It Down!

2009-12-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

Faux "Stranded Christmas Home Decorator"

This display caused such a ruckus -- people jumping out of their cars to "rescue" this "guy" -- that police asked the homeowner to take it down.

Very clever!

Pups at Play -- ENJOY!

2009-12-03T18:36:00.000-08:00

Buffy after a romp in wet grass
Jansy Airborne

Jansy in hot pursuit of Buffy

Jansy asking to be picked up

When Jansy Gets Wet... She Reminds Me of Yosemite Sam!

2009-12-02T15:35:00.000-08:00

Isn't this hysterical?!!!

Hurry and take a look before Jackie freaks and requires me to delete this photo!

HA HA HA HA HA (Not really. She's a good sport -- because she agrees!!!)

Jansy has about the same rootin' tootin' attitute as Yosemite Sam, too!

Finally! Here They Are!

2009-12-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

New Pups Jansy and Buffy
My puppy, Buffy, Close Up

These aren't the best photos -- the best ones are on Jackie's camera, I think, but she isn't home yet to download them and email them to me from her PC...

On Jackie's camera, I got a couple of photos of the pups in mid-air -- like popcorn! Hysterical! I'll post them as soon as I get them...

These are teacup poodle/shih tzu/Pekingese mixes...

Puppy Photos This Evening! Check Back!

2009-12-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

I have taken some of the cutest puppy photos, but my camera won't download them to my PC! So I grabbed Jackie's camera and took some more. She says she'll download them to her PC and send me copies tonight... As soon as she does, I'll post them here.

Stay tuned! It'll be worth the wait!

I trimmed their feet, rear ends and snouts a little bit this morning, so I'll post a couple of the "trimmed" photos, too...

Gads, they have feet and leg bones line toothpicks, they're so little, and they're 12 weeks old!

Here's the Link to Obama's Afghanistan/Pakistan War Plans

2009-12-02T06:07:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it last night:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=34209585?

Donate To The Families of the Four Fallen Police Officers Here!

2009-12-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

This link will take you to the website where you can donate money and your sentiments to the families of the four fallen Lakewood police officers who were slain two days ago.

I hope you will visit the link and let them know how much you care, as I did.

www.lpig.us

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You know, when I lived in Lakewood, I always thanked the police officers I saw on duty. Military officers, too. Tacoma is a military town and defenders are everywhere we look when we're out in public.

It is so sad to think that officers whose hands I shook, in an effort to thank and bless them for the work they do, are no longer here...

I'm glad the Seattle officer got the guy responsible, and that Tacoma officers are today rounding up the people who helped the assassin get away for as long as he did.

And I hope Tacoma isn't getting a bad rap for having lunatics in it (this guy, the DC sniper, Gary Ridgeway, Brame, and Ted Bundy in the past)... Every place has more than its share of lunatics, but Tacoma only seems to catch international attention when something bad happens here.

"If it bleeds, it leads" -- the news media mantra...

Be Careful Driving in Europe, Africa and Asia!!!

2009-11-30T10:41:00.000-08:00

The hedgehog babies are coming out right about now!

You don't want to run over any of them!

Thanks to Janet for the heads up! We don't have them here in the US or in Australia, but if we did, I'd probably be out holding up a sign asking motorists to drive with extreme care.

Ain't he adorable?

Here I Sit, Bleary-Eyed...

2009-11-30T07:38:00.000-08:00

For a person with a relatively high IQ, I can't figure out why I don't go back to bed.
I got up at 3:30 and let Buffy, Jansy and Kiki outside to take a leak/poo, setting off the two labrador retrievers next door, which set off their owners: "Bob, that's enough! Quiet down!"

...blush...

It would have been fine if I had just set them down and, in silence, waited for them to finish their lawn duty. But no, I'm in the habit of congratulating the puppies when they go out to potty. And it was Buffy asking me to go out that got me up in the first place.

Praising the puppies sets Bob off. He wants to be praised, too, and comes running to the fence, barking and wagging... to the displeasure of his sleeping owners.

Oops...

So I have to curtail my early-morning congratulations and just stand there and remain mute while the kids score a touchdown -- in doggy terms.

I didn't go back to bed after the dogs came back in. That was a mistake. I responded to Elance clients -- both of whom were very happy with what I'd written for them -- and took a bath, and fed the cats, and ate breakfast...

Now it's 7:45 and I feel like I've been clobbered by Mr. Sandman. My eyelids are heavy, my mind feels dull and feeble. The only things working are my heart, other autonomic anatomical functions, and my fingers.

I should really, really, really go back to sleep for a while. No one needs me right now... and later today I'll be bathing and clipping my ex-brother-in-law's dog Kokomo and going out to the store for a few items. I avoided shopping this past four-day weekend because I like to get through check-out lines in under 10 minutes whenever possible, and I very much doubt that would have been possible this past weekend.

Oh, drat... just remembered. The comforter for my bed is still in the dryer, so even if I decided to crash for a while, I couldn't... without freezing... unless I find a spot in the dog bed next to the upside-down, snoring puppies. Alas, I wouldn't fit...

Oh, well. At least you got a blog out of it! Such as it is.

I promise: I'm getting camera batteries TODAY so I can post puppy pictures for you to see. I know you're dying to see them... or you should be, dagnab it! It's your duty! Puppies are precious! Dogs are 'dorable. Cats are contagious. Fish are fantastic. Guinea pigs are guilty pleasures. Horses are... okay, that's enough alliteration for one paragraph. I'm afraid I'd have to call horses something R-rated in order to complete the thought as an alliteration, and this is a G-rated blog!

So I'll rest my case, instead of my bones, and see what other kind of mischief I can get into while my comforter dries...

OMG!!!! Santa!!!!!!

2009-11-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

"When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!"

Beginner's Aquarium E-Book Available for FREE in My Elance Portfolio

2009-11-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

I've just completed the editing of a wonderful aquarium e-book that the author is offering for free from his website. He has graciously allowed me to place it into my Portfolio at Elance as an example of my editing skills. I also wrote the front and back cover copy and the inside back cover, as well. You will notice he also allowed me to be identified as the editor, in the hope that more work will come my way...

If you're considering getting an aquarium, or know someone who will be getting one for Christmas, you're invited to visit my portfolio and run off a copy. (If that doesn't work, ask me for a copy and I'll send you one.) The author has given his blessing and, in fact, encourages the book to be disseminated to new fish owners because he doesn't want to see new fish under duress or dying for lack of ample knowledge.

So visit my Elance Profile (http://kristinemsmith/elance.com) or just click on my image on the left of the page at the top of this blog, and you'll be whisked to the profile page. When you get there, click on Portfolio and scroll through the writing samples until you see the Aquarium Book... It's in PDF format.

Enjoy!

Bad Dreams and JibJab... and More on Buffy

2009-11-29T11:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted some fun "starring you" cartoons from JibJab onto my Facebook page. You'd think that would have been the end of it, but I dreamed about it last night!

I tried a lot of JibJab options before choosing the ones I posted. I pasted my face into a caroling card alongside the faces of Obamas and Joe Biden. (I didn't see Dr. Jill Biden as an option, which is an extreme oversight on JibJab's part.) Decided not to use it because it looked like I was "replacing" Mrs. Biden in a White House Christmas card... and that wouldn't be kosher, even as a joke!

Anyway, I guess the juxtaposition really weighed on me, because last night I had a dream that I was somewhere at a big to-do when the Obamas and Bidens walked in! VP Biden came right over to me with his big grin and said he wanted to introduce me to his wife and the Obamas! I stood there thinking, "How do you know me?!?" but of course I nodded my agreement that I would like to meet them! (Maybe he reads my blog! HA HA HA... I hope not! But if he does, I beg him not to read the next part of this blog entry until he gets to the <<<<<< >>>>>!!!)

Unbelievable... The subconscious mind is a wonder... and at times a terror.

The dream morphed into a nightmare. There was a gunman in the crowd and as the First and Second family (adults only) scrunched together for a photo, I heard shots and lots of people went down. I dived (dove?) to the ground and pretended to be dead... The shots continued.... I didn't know if they were from Secret Service people or the gunman, so I stayed "dead."

Finally, I got up. I wasn't able to see who, if anyone, had been hit, but a young Chinese lady next to me was standing and looking over to see if she could discern who had been hurt. Trouble was, she was holding her upper leg -- she had a serious, deep skin wound that was squirting blood. I took her by the hand and led to where I thought there might be a first aid station. (That was the Warner Bros. emergency training kicking in.)

I found someone to help her just before she was ready to hit the desk from loss of blood, and then realized I should call my sister to let her know I was all right... in case the incident was on television by now and she knew I was attending the event.

In the dream, my cell phone became a giant, wind-it-up-with-a-crank thingy. It also had a combination -- kind of like a lock with a combination -- and I couldn't get it to work. People sitting near me were wondering why I didn't know how to dial my own phone -- they had identical versions and were doing just fine with theirs! (Translation: This entire situation was completely out of hand and I felt helpless!)

I decided I'd better walk home to let Jackie know I was okay, but I took a detour....

and on and on and on...

I prayed for the Obamas and Bidens, thought of their children and prayed harder, thought of our country and prayed even harder...

So my dream of meeting the Obamas and Bidens became a freaking nightmare. It was just awful. I can't say whether they were injured at all. It could be that the gunshots I heard were all Secret Service shots. All I know is that the nightmare left a very unpleasant taste in my mouth.

And I pray to God it's the ONLY incident of the kind that will ever occur in the lives of our nation's leaders. I've been concerned and fretful about assassination since even before Obama-Biden were elected. I guess it comes from being "a child of the 60's" and knowing how quickly a situation can change from smiles and hope to tears and fears.

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Let's get off THAT topic and on to something more wonderful... Buffy!

Friday night was my first night at home after getting Buffy on November 24th, so she has slept with me for two nights now. She sleeps either beside me on a pillow near my neck or over the top of my pillow between the pillow and the headboard, so I know she's safe.

Last night she started making whimpering sounds, so I asked her if she had to go potty. Since she doesn't talk, I had to assume she said "yes"when she continued to whimper.

Sure enough, when I set her outside in the grass, she squatted immediately and did her thing, then ran a few more yards and went #2. I praised her to the moon and carried her back to bed.

Whimper, whimper. She wouldn't quiet down, and started licking my mouth. (In case you haven't a clue, this is dog talk for, "I'm hungry. Throw something up for me, will ya, Mom?")

So we got up again, and I got her some dry puppy food, wetted it a little bit, and then sat in a recliner with the kibble on my bathrobed chest while she scarfed down an entire handful of kibble. It took about three minutes.

We went back to bed and she feel asleep immediately.

She woke me at 7:15... whimper, whimper... wagging tail, puppy licks to my cheek.
Yep. She had to go again.

That's my girl.

I need to get some new batteries for my camera today or tomorrow. As soon as I do I'll take a few photos of Buffy (and her sister, Jansy, Jackie's pup) and put them here for you to enjoy...

Four Lakewood Police Officers Executed This Morning

2009-11-29T11:39:00.000-08:00

This hits too close to home!

Four police officers -- three men and a woman -- were slain, execution-style, in a local coffee shop not more than five miles from here.

Just a few weeks ago, two Seattle officers were targeted, with one executed and the other injured. They apparently got the fellow responsible in that event, but it looks like we have a copycat on our hands.

He's a "scruffy-looking" black man in his late 20's or early thirty's. He was on foot after the shooting, so he probably isn't far away. The entire Tacoma police department is out looking for him.

What is going on?

The four officers were getting ready to start their day. They had their laptops open and were looking at them when the man came in, pulled a handgun, and opened fire. It doesn't sound like the officers even had time to react.

So now do police officers have to post someone on duty when they take "down time" to eat breakfast or lunch?

My heart hurts...