Music is Magic

​For some people, music isn't a huge part of their lives. At the most they'll listen to the radio in the car, or when the alarm clock goes off, but really no more than that.  For me however, music is a huge part of my life, and I think it stems from my upbringing and what I was exposed to from an early age. 

My Dad was in a band when he was younger with some cousins, they had a group called "Dukes of Earl".  My Dad's cousin was the lead singer, who as it happens is a huge Elvis Presley fan as I am. Dad plays the guitar, banjo, drums and piano.  I played piano, so did Mom.  When I heard or discovered a song I really liked, typically I'd go and get the sheet music so I could learn it on the piano. 

Music accompanies my life daily.  Monday - Friday at work, when I am working on an order entry project, I love having my music playlist keeping me company.  On the weekend, when its housework time, I can't do it without music.  When I am playing with my ipad, playing a game or whatever, if the TV isn't on, I have music playing. My husband and I ride share, and we have an hour commute. We both have a diverse taste in music, so we almost always have music on. 

There really isn't a genre of music I dislike, but I will admit to not being a HUGE country fan, but some I do like. ​

​When I am sad, anxious or upset music will nearly always pull me out of whatever issue I am dealing with mentally. 

I'm sure you've surmised by now if you've read this blog,, that I am a huge Elvis Presley fan.  I also however enjoy many other genres - metal, rock, pop, classical, alternative, blues, jazz and oldies to name a few. 

Are you a music fan?

The Joy's of Owning a Fish Tank

Since I was a teenager I have almost always had some sort of aquarium or fish tank.  When I lived at home, I had one in my bedroom, then later moved it out to the kitchen.  

When John and I moved into our first apartment together, I brought my aquarium with me, and had one at nearly each of the locations we lived thereafter.  

Fast forward to our current residence.  

I again had a large aquarium and stand (that was given to us for free), and decided to set it up with fish, as its been a while since I've had a set up. Initially, I wanted fancy goldfish, mostly because they're easy to care for, you don't need a heater because they're cold water fish, they're not expensive and they're pretty.  A friend of mine reminded me that goldfish are always looking for food, and will constantly disrupt the gravel making a mess.  Okay, so I reluctantly went the tropical fish route.  

I chose lots of little fish, tiger barbs, etc, and John wanted to pick a fish or two also, so he chose a tiny little Oscar. (uh-oh). 

Loved the set up we had, and wow, did that Oscar grow fast!  Some of the fish I had in my tank I referred to as "Fishing Lure" fish, due to the fact they were little, shiny and resembled a fishing lure.  

One day we came home from work, and I was looking at my fish, and huh...seemed like there was a fish missing...maybe I'm wrong, or maybe he's hiding.  Whatever.  

Few days later, I am again admiring my fish and upon closer inspection, another fishing lure fish was missing. I checked the floor around the aquarium, to make sure there were no jumpers...nope.  I checked the filter, in case he got sucked into it. Nope. Weird. 

THEN I looked a little closer at my Oscar, it looked like there was something stuck in his mouth...OMG. What I was seeing in the Oscar's mouth was the tail of one of my fishing lure fish! DAMMIT!! 

Ok, so our plan of attack was to try and get larger fishing lure fish and feed the oscar more.  

By the end of the year, all my fishing lure fish were gone, and all I had in the tank was one super large (FAT) oscar, a algae sucker guy, and another white oscar. 

Eventually, I gave the oscars and the algae sucker fish away on craigslist for free and got rid of the fish set up. 

The only fish I have now is a little blue betta in a fish bowl. 

While I'd love to have another aquarium set up, my avaiary really takes up a lot of my time and money, so am going to forgo fish for birds, but I do miss the cute little swimmy fishing lure fish. The oscar? Not so much. 

The Story of the Escaped Boa Constrictor

Before my husband and I moved into our first house (townhouse actually), we lived in an apartment in Blaine.  

One day, we came across the startling revelation that our baby rainbow boa constrictor had escaped her aquarium. (insert extreme panic here) 

We did a cursory search, and found nothing. 

More panic. 

Then, I sat down on the floor in front of where her aquarium was, and closed my eyes, and tried to "think like a snake".  If I were a snake, on the lam, where would I go first upon aquarium escape?  I looked around the room, and about 2' from where the aquarium was, is a heat vent along the baseboard of the wall. Hmm. Right by the corner where the two walls meet, was small opening, between the wall where the heat vent / pipe thing was.  Bingo.  If I were a snake, that would be the first place I'd go.  I got a flashlight and sure enough. There she was. (well shit)

Prior to this discovery, we were getting ready to go to my parents lakeshore home, where they were hosting a party. Halt in plans. 

So, we went to a pet store, and got a live "fuzzy" baby mouse, the though being we'll lure the snake out with a yummy fuzzy live baby mouse.  It took several hours, but through lots of waiting, and very still watching, the snake slowly came out of the wall to grab the fuzzy snack.  John got her, and she was safely put back in her aquarium.  Holy crap that could have ended badly.  Never assume the lid is secure on the snake cage lid unless you are 100% positive. 

We currently have 3 pythons at home, and all 3 of their aquariums have LOTS of weight on the tops of their aquairums. 

Lesson learned!

Teapot

So, I was talking to Kim, and mentioned that yesterday I had a cup of Aveda Comforting Tea and that it was great, I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it, as I hadn't had it in a while. 

Kim then asks me if she has given me a teapot yet ...

(yet? is this some sort of friendship thing that happens between friends after a while? you give teapots to each other? began to wonder if I'd missed some milestone or something)

I said no, I am a teapot free gal. Then she goes on to describe the 3 (yes 3) teapots that she has and went over the features and benefits of each, I was impressed, she could have sold a teapot to the Keurig peeps I was so impressed with her passion.

I then asked her if it the teapot was short and stout?

Kim responded: "No, its tall and handsome"

Well damn! 

I'm gonna get me a tall handsome teapot. Nice. 

(will it look like David Boreanaz? Jensen Ackles? Luke Perry? Elvis Presley?) 

Love ya Kimber!

Political stuff

So, I normally don't post about political stuff on my blog, but I just gotta get this off my chest. 

Okay, here's the thing.  No one is going to agree on who is better or why. 

Everyone is going to have their own opinion, and really, don't we all know that?  I mean, its not a radical concept is it? 

So why do we have to shit all over each other for differing opinions? Can't we just support who we want to support, and may the best candidate win?  Does it really have any effect on the election if we are assholes to each other? NO!

Believe what you want to believe, and let others do the same.  

Holidays

Last year at this time, it was days away from me getting the news that my Ozzy had cancer.  

My previous Boston Terrier, Katie, lived to be 13.  I assumed that I'd have at least that much time with Ozzy.  I lost my Ozzy 3 days after his 7th birthday. I feel I was cheated and didn't get a fair amount of time with him. 

I still think of him not only daily, but more often.  

Would John and I like another dog? Yes and no, for a variety of reasons, and this is going to sound absolutely childish, but if I can't have my Ozzy, I don't want another dog. I want Ozzy. 

We didn't put up the Christmas tree this year, and we are not exchanging gifts. Partially because money is tight (thanks to the new hot water heater), and partially because without Ozzy, it feels pointless. 

We did get some nice gifts for my in laws, and I pleased about that....

November Osbourne Update

Greetings & Salutations! (anyone know which movie that particular greeting comes from?)

Recently, we've had some rodent issues in the lower level of our house.  We initially discovered it because we have a series of cameras in our home that are triggered by motion.  One morning I was checking the alerts for the camera, and there was a few around 1:30am in our downstairs. Ok. I clicked on the video and damn was I surprised to see a mouse literally RIGHT in front of the camera.  Another time I was using the downstairs bathroom, and I happen to glance to the left to the hallway and saw a mouse run by.  Ok. Yep. Its time to get some traps.

We got a bunch of sticky traps and traditional mouse traps and this week we've killed 6. SIX!! Funny, John inspected each kill and determined they were 3 different species of mouse. The other day he was taking a sticky trap with 2 mice on it outside to the trash, and the second the cold air hit the mice, they both started to wiggle.  I would have dropped it an ran. LOL

I'm getting close to borrowing one of my BFF Kim's 4 cats.

Our hot water heater kicked the bucket, so that was a delightful unexpected expense.  The last item in our house that needs replacement is our furnace, that came with the house when it was built in 1996.

As far as work goes, I'll quote Kevin Arnolds Dad from the TV show "The Wonder Years" :

Work is work.