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2013-05-23 22:27:28 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

The Sky Peeps Through

One of my patio umbrellas.


#designthursday   curated by +Venkatram Harish Belvadi 

2013-05-23 00:06:05 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

'Nuff said...

2013-05-21 19:40:28 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

You know what's wonderful? Since I've started treatment my attitude has gotten so much better. I was getting really negative there for a while, being snarky and grumpy a lot. That's not who I want to be. I'm so glad to be getting back to my truer self.

2013-05-20 18:03:12 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

I told my husband, "It's so soon that it's probably a placebo effect, but I feel like I've started to feel better since starting the gabapentin."

His very wise response was, "I don't care, as long as you feel better."

A very good point.

2013-05-20 05:10:08 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

One man's trash is another man's treasure?

I know there's been a lot of flack about the new layout, but it's drawn me back to the stream. =)

2013-05-20 04:36:57 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

A lullaby for the tail end of the evening...

(just the music)

2013-05-20 03:41:43 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Domesticated Animal Theatre, Part 2

I put Bob the Cat in the enclosure with Hoppity Bob. They've been very cute together in there. Have to supervise, because Bob's instincts sometimes get the better of her and she'll harass the bunny beyond his endurance. I just have to remind her to "be nice" most of the time, but when the kitty crazies really have her, she can't listen.

2013-05-20 03:07:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Domesticated Animal Theatre

Hoppity Bob Vanderhoppen is enjoying some yard time right now. The neighbor cat who constantly goes through our yard just passed by the pen and Hoppity hopped after her, hoping for some attention. Neighbor cat has no idea what to make of the bunny, and will only hang out near him if he's not paying attention to her.

2013-05-19 20:43:39 (19 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

The Yardstick

Too many times I've heard people say - to me and to others - words to the effect of, "I know my problems are nothing compared to yours."

That is not the way to think about it.

Every person's range of experience is different. For some people, getting a traffic ticket is the worst thing that ever happened to them. More often it's a heartbreak. For me it was cancer. That doesn't turn me into some special being that can pass judgment on the quality or quantity of someone else's suffering.

Your worst experience is as valid as mine. Your suffering is as valid as mine.

It might help to look at it like a yardstick, to stop and imagine  the thing the other person is experiencing as something at a matching point on your yardstick.

Also keep in mind that what seems to be a big deal to you might not be... more »

2013-05-17 22:38:26 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

Photography's Little Surprises

I was shooting this flower in hopes of a lovely flower picture. I failed in that, but I found this little ant!

#buggyfriday curated by +Ray Bilcliff +Sherry McBriar +Dorothy Pugh and +Victoria Etna

(and, with apologies, #floralfriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner )

2013-05-17 03:17:05 (30 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I went to my primary care doctor to discuss being evaluated for FMS. She knows considerably less about it than I do, and she regards the diagnosis as a catch-all similar to the victorian idea of hysteria. But all is far from lost. She believes in my pain and I came up with 12 of the tender spots. While she doesn't want to formally diagnose me at this time, she is willing to try treatment. Because of my bipolar, we decided Neurontin was the safest drug to try.

I also have a pain in my spine that doesn't sound like any FMS pain I've heard of, but has no apparent cause. Due to my history of cancer, I have been thoroughly scanned (bone and MRI) and there's bupkis. Lacking any clue how to further investigate it, she's taking a treat-the-symptoms approach for now.

I see her in a few weeks to discuss how the neurontin is going and to consider a local injection for my spine... more »

2013-05-16 01:17:06 (24 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Not to be type-cast

Ducks are the comedians of the animal kingdom, but what's a poor duck to do if she wants a more serious role?

#waterbirdwednesday curated by +Sherry McBriar +Margaret Tompkins and +Ray Bilcliff 

2013-05-15 02:00:15 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Better than a sharp sti-- Oh.

Poke!!

2013-05-14 02:16:01 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 31 +1s)

Depth of (Dandelion) Field

Couldn't resist the pun...

#dofmonday curated by +Mara Acoma +Helena Martins and +Lynda Bowyer 

2013-05-13 03:33:35 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

I HAVE THE BEST KIDS IN THE WHOLE FREAKING WORLD!!!!

So there.

2013-05-11 18:02:39 (21 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Statistically, at least 200 people who have me circled have fibromyalgia. Are you one of them?

I'm preparing to go to my doctor on Thursday and ask to be evaluated for fibromyalgia. Anyone out there willing to try to answer some questions for me? I've done a lot of reading, so my questions shouldn't be boringly basic. =P

Do you all have "good days and bad days"? For me, I'm in pain all the time. I do not have "good days" period. But on the other hand, it is extremely rare for me to let pain stop me from whatever I want to do.

What gives you, personally, the most relief?

When you were diagnosed, what was the first thing your doctor suggested?

What have you tried that didn't help at all?

Thanks in advance to anyone who wants to indulge me.

2013-05-11 16:33:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Kat's Quill: Maybe Mets (OR: Anatomy of a Recurrence Scare)

I’ve spend approximately the last two months worrying about metastatic cancer. I’m pleased to reveal in advance that there is no sign of it, and we’ve done some pretty thorough testing.

Even though I appear to still be cancer-free, I thought this little journal might be of interest to family members and care-givers… and maybe even to survivors.

As with Silver Linings I did not edit this. Polish might take the edge off the raw feelings, and then what would be the point. It’s a journal, not a novel. I’m posting it through Kat’s Quill largely because it’s more than 6000 words, and I, as a writer, feel like I shouldn’t hide that many words in the dark.

Be warned, there’s some strange shit in there.

Click the link to read the rest

2013-05-11 00:59:13 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Accustomed as I am to the sounds of at least seven different kinds of birds in my yard, I was completely thrown off by a neighbor squeezing a squeaky toy for their dog. =P

2013-05-11 00:37:20 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 29 +1s)

I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

#floralfriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner 

2013-05-11 00:12:23 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Mama told me there'd be days like this

Little One, about 8 years ago... She's not this little now... ;)

#weareparents curated by +Juan Gonzalez 

2013-05-10 21:38:27 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Weeds are beautiful too

A field of dandelions in my neighbor's yard. Maybe I should send my bunny over there....

#floralfriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner 

2013-05-09 02:17:39 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

In the spotlight

Couldn't wait for #floralfriday (curated by +Tamara Pruessner )...

2013-05-09 01:54:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

WTD?

By request (or at least mischievous egging on), here's the quizzical duck asking the ultimate question.

2013-05-09 01:03:44 (17 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

Move over, Quizzical Dog

The new face of "WTF?"

#waterbirdwednesday curated by +Sherry McBriar +Margaret Tompkins and +Ray Bilcliff 

2013-05-08 20:23:59 (8 comments, 2 reshares, 20 +1s)

Duck!

On my neighborhood toddle today, I found these ducks in a drainage ditch. They didn't mind me, up to about three feet away. That was okay, I couldn't have gotten much closer with my 100mm and still get the whole bird in the shot. ;)

#ducks  

2013-05-08 20:04:29 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Friggin Sweet

Well worth a teensy bit of trespassing (I just went up their driveway a few feet...) ;)

2013-05-07 17:05:52 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

The Joy of Euphemisms

This shot is from about four years ago for an informal contest on the theme "Euphemisms". It's not a very good picture, but it still makes me giggle.

#seatuesday curated by +Julia Anna Gospodarou

and early for

#weneedalaughwednesday curated by +Pat Kennedy Corlin

PS- Imagine buying one clam at the grocery store. They must have thought I was mad....

2013-05-07 02:08:33 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

Vermillion Echoes

#dofmonday curated by +Mara Acoma +Helena Martins and +Lynda Bowyer 

2013-05-07 05:34:58 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

A pigeon with a sad song

#backyardbirdingmonday curated by +Celeste Odono and +Ricky L Jones 

2013-05-06 01:42:17 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

It's really cool to get to participate in +Olav Folland 's art.  I love this image, and it goes well with the music, although I think perhaps the image has just a smidge more hope in the darkness.

2013-05-06 01:37:28 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

Whachu looking at?

2013-05-04 23:16:33 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 25 +1s)

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful

This little guy came to visit our yard today. He let me take far more pictures of him than I really needed. =)

2013-05-04 17:55:07 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Review: Wildlife Theatre, Spring 2013 Edition

Lots of birdsecks going on in our yard, and even more "courting". It seems like we have more birds than ever passing through. Jays, Doves, Magpies, Hummingbirds, Finches, Woodpeckers, and a couple of birds that I don't recognize...

And hawks. Well, to be accurate, the hawks aren't mating or courting in our yard. They are hunting. In the past couple of weeks, I've seen a hawk get two doves in my yard. While I think hawks are pretty cool - and, for that matter, that the world won't miss the odd dove or two - I don't want them to get in the habit of thinking our yard is a good place to hunt... I'd be very distressed if one got my bunny while he was enjoying the fresh air and grass.

As for land-dwelling critters, we have racoons, skunks, and the neighbor's cat (lol).

No wonder I... more »

2013-05-04 17:46:13 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Pews at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento, CA

#benchsaturday curated by +Rainer M. Ritz 

2013-05-04 17:38:19 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

It's a crummy cell phone photo, but the moment couldn't be missed.  30 seconds prior, they were 2" apart from spooning.  What goes on in their minds, one can only wonder...

2013-05-04 16:55:22 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Anyone know where I can rent an ant-eater? o.0

2013-05-04 16:50:19 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Noisy magpies in my yard sound much like this...

2013-05-04 16:12:52 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Angel Wings

I'll grant you I was hoping for blur on just the bird, but despite the general not-sharpness of the pic, I still like it.

#unsharpsaturday curated by +Nathan Beaulne 

2013-05-04 02:52:58 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Fastlane: The Fine Art of Passive Aggression

I’ve come up with a new way to get back at tailgaters. ~Evil grin.~

If someone starts riding my ass, I’ll tap the brakes a couple times to suggest they back the hell off. If that doesn’t work…

I clean my windshield.

At freeway speeds the spray will get the person behind you. I did it today and it warmed my heart to see the windshield wipers come on and the driver back off.

Muahahahahahahaha!

Drive safe, folks!

That's the whole thing, but if you need more Fast Lane, you can read through the archives!

2013-05-03 18:51:59 (27 comments, 1 reshares, 48 +1s)

Wee Baby Mantis

I took this picture a few years ago. Mantises either love me or want to eat me, I'm not sure, but they seem drawn to me like a moth to a flame. I look forward to this year's visitors. The way they come after me is a bit disconcerting, but they're good subjects. ;)

#buggyfriday curated by +Ray Bilcliff +Sherry McBriar +Dorothy Pugh and +Victoria Etna 

2013-05-03 17:03:05 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Warm weather, happy toes, happy Kat

Re-sharing for #feetfriday  

2013-05-03 16:44:51 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

Larger than Life

What I've always loved about macro photography is how I can bring the little things in life to the sight of us giant blundering humans. That was part of how I convinced my then-8-year-old that photography is art.

#floralfriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner 

2013-05-03 16:08:15 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

+linda stokes  and +Dorian Stretton - I got identical emails from y'all that look like spam. Text reads as follows:

Please view the document i uploaded for you using Google docs. SEE DOC HERE just sign in with your email to view the document, Looks great to me, Check it very important.
Thank you.

I thought you might want to check your account security.

Posted public in case this happens to others as well; if it's got you two, it seems highly likely that other people got hit too.

2013-05-03 02:16:21 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Dear +Google ,

If I let you hold my driver's license will you refrain from logging me out at random?

Your adoring fan,

Kat

2013-05-02 04:35:11 (23 comments, 9 reshares, 128 +1s)

Shape doesn't matter, when you've got love

Penny the dog always wanted to be friends with a cat... When the new kitten was shunned by the older cats, she was ecstatic to finally gain a feline friend.

Inspired by +Olav Folland 's post: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113330053950020592701/posts/LczFZYqrvK8

2013-05-02 02:48:30 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Happy Feet

First pedicure of the warm season, yay!

2013-04-28 19:16:23 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Comfort In, Dump Out

This is an interesting and yet simple way to consider how to deal with someone else's trauma.

FTA: Here are the rules. The person in the center ring can say anything she wants to anyone, anywhere. She can kvetch and complain and whine and moan and curse the heavens and say, "Life is unfair" and "Why me?" That's the one payoff for being in the center ring.

Everyone else can say those things too, but only to people in larger rings.

2013-04-28 17:49:58 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

AGH! I forgot about #squirrelsaturday ! Is it still Saturday anywhere?

Oh well, here is cute squirrel in the park....

#squirrelsaturday curated by +Beth Blackwell and +Skippy Sheeskin 

2013-04-28 17:00:54 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Authentic Internet Gibberish


This may sound gentle, but traditional one-armed bandit automobile that you will penury to get the try-on symbols on your silver screen subsequent to every birl you Get....

~this morning's spam
/and yes, it trailed off like that

2013-04-27 17:42:37 (21 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

All hail the TENS unit!

I woke up at five this morning in excruciating pain. I carefully got myself out of bed and grabbed my TENS unit. Usually when I wear it I go for 30-60 minutes at a time, but I was so sleepy that I thought I'd just go for 15 minutes. It was enough. I disconnected and went back to bed.

When I woke up five hours later I was in pain, but not nearly as bad as in the wee hours. I've got the zapper on now, working on that pain.

It doesn't make me pain-free, but it works faster and probably nearly as well as a muscle relaxant/narcotic combo, and doesn't make me groggy or uncoordinated lol. The only thing that helps nearly as much is cannabis, and I have that too.

This thing is definitely changing my life. =D