Skizzy has developed her brain since we have last brought her home.

The new cage has contained her quite well until the princess has discovered if she climbs to the round tower room, brace her paws on it's ceiling and run in place spinning the top, that it will unwind like a jar lid. She then packs her bags... Oh yes, you heard me right.

This is an actual image from camera of Skizzy's distorted face ready with her trail mix.



See, Skizzy realizes her problem with her previous escapes was that she had to come back into the public to eat. She has remedied this issue by bringing seeds provided by her beloved servant, my sweet Kayleen, packed tightly into her cheeks until she looks like a strange transformation, then tries to leave with enough food to sustain herself for a week or two.
Luckily, Kayleen, in tune with her pet has heard her escapade and watched as she performed her houdini act.

We cannot superglue the top because she sleeps in this tower oft and we do not want to trap her inside it.

We are able to screw the lid on tighter than her little muscles allow, to her aggravation, but we can't help and wonder how long before she builds up her body strength. She is on a great diet of fiber and seed.

Skizzy responds to her name. She will run over to me when I call her because she knows I am bringing her a fresh veggie or fruit to eat, yet this is not enough for our hamster.
She wants to roam at free will.



Another odd little trick of hers is to build a nest in her running wheel, then run with her home tumbling all over her. She has done this with food as well, letting her seeds shower her as she runs frantically. We wonder if this is some rodent form of dining out or meals on wheels.
Skizzy doesn't have great expectations when she does escape. She generally just runs and sits under a dresser or bed and watch us from her vantage point trying desperately to recapture her. She never bites or fights us when captured. Instead she feels we should reward her, for our efforts. Strangely, we have fallen prey to her and do exactly this.

Thus we have developed our wheel and are raining skizzy tricks over us as we run in place.



Bill Waterson had his own hamster adventure for Calvin to read. I felt the urge to share, I feel if there is anyone on this earth, by reading this somehow, I know Bill understands.

And tell me about Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie, too!!!

Hamster Huey is a children’s novel written by an imaginary children’s author named Mabel Syrup. Calvin’s dad reads it to him a lot of nights, and grows very tired of having to repeat it for Calvin’s enjoyment so much.
Actually, some people have made a lot of how initially Dad actually wants to read the story to his son, and Calvin in turn questions the book’s quality, since it hasn’t been made into a movie (a clever commentary on how a lot of people expect good books and movies to go hand-in-hand.)
I suppose one could explain this by saying that Dad used to be a fan of the story, but got tired of repeating it so much.
It again is explained in very little detail, save for a few references to “special effects,” “the Hamster Huey hop,” and how when Calvin’s dad “rewrites” the story in some of his readings to make Hamster Huey lose his head or to talk in a very quick, sarcastic tone. It has a sequel named “Commander Coriander Salamander and ‘er Singlehander Bellylander,” of which we know even less about, but it’s obviously another book that Calvin’s dad is put off by when he hears about it.
Again, it’s an open-ended story, and if you gave Watterson an explanation, he’d probably tell you it’s wrong

It took us 4 and a half hours to get to the big Apple which is a bit odd to comprehend because it very close to 6 hours when I am in my upper Ny state home.

But we arrived bright and early entered NY City with the sounds of Fire Trucks and taxi horns.
After Circling 6 blocks, we found a parking garage and hoofed it the rest of the day.
We then learned the fire crew was responding to the exact location of our destination.

*reports*
NEW YORK (AP) - A "Late Show With David Letterman" crew member was briefly hospitalized for smoke inhalation in a small electrical fire at the building that houses the Ed Sullivan Theater. Fire officials responded about 10 a.m. Wednesday after a report of an odor of smoke inside the building at 1697 Broadway, where Letterman does his late-night talk show at the historic 80-year-old theater. According to CBS, one crew member was taken to a hospital as a precaution, but then released. A small fire that originated inside an air conditioning unit was blamed for the smoke. No other injuries were reported, and the Letterman taping - with guests Rebecca Romijn, Jimmy Walker and LeAnn Rimes - wasn't delayed. "Everyone was OK, and they actually believe the fire was started by a disgruntled audience," Letterman joked on the show.

Thank God!

*side note for you nosy parkers*
I was not that said guest.

This event led to some good jokes and the top ten list for which was 'The Top Ten Things Overheard At The Late Show Fire'.
My personal favorite was #5. No Mr. Walker, we don't think the cause was Dy-no-mite."
This was great and proves these writers are on the ball!

Matthew and I had great seats, we were in the main audience and only 6 rows from the front so we had a great view of it all.
The stage is so much smaller than it seems but Paul and the Band are fabulous and Dave is a blast!
For anyone else who was curious, the backdrop of the sky line behind Dave's desk is a miniature set! I always wondered if it was a picture, but it always looked too 3-D, now I know why!

Besides the Late Nite show, I had my own personal experience!
I waited beside David Hyde Pierce at the crosswalk and crossed over next to him! I knew it was him right away by the voice and though he wore a baseball cap and shades I immediately recognized him.

*claps loudly*
Oh yeah! That ruled!

I know he is just a human like the rest of us, but a very talented Broadway actor (now starring in 'Curtains') and my all time favorite Frasier character, Niles!

I was tempted to say hi to him but he was in active conversation about his Broadway play with someone so I let him be, besides, the poor man probably doesn't need another crazed fan stopping him and making a scene for him.


After the show, we headed to Hard Rock Cafe.
Matthew, my drummer husband and music lover, truly enjoys Hard Rock. It is a fun atmosphere and they serve great food so I enjoy it as well.
We have been to the one in Niagara Falls, Inner harbor Baltimore, and of course now NY City. He has also been to the one in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving with his daughter. (She was a dancer in the Parade that year)



Although I have been to NY City two other times, this was my first time being there at night. Completely new scene! I loved it.


For those of you who know me know I see things in a odd light sometimes. One of these observations took place in the Letterman line, a dragonfly came swooping down and chose a gentleman ahead of me to perch on his shoulder, without no one's knowledge but mine for 15 minutes, he then took to flight on his way up 45th street. I have oft wondered how these creatures survive among such city life, and now I know. It was a serene moment for me in such a fast paced world.

Matthew and I truly agree that we could live in this part of the City and be genuinely happy.

Today is my middle baby's birthday, she is 15!!
*woots*
She is a fantastic kid.
We will be celebrating this next weekend.
Good Golly!



Today my best friend is a grammy, her baby had a baby boy this morning at 7 am! He is 7 pounds 6 ounces and 20 inches long.
Welcome to this crazy world Kyler James!

Now for what you were Really looking for:
Here it is!




The Top Ten Reasons for this post:

#10. The weather has gotten predictable. Um..yeah

#9. I am trying to make the top ten most popular blogs and this looked like a good way to start.

#8. Whit already covered the topic I was going to write.

#7. Because I am still a bit "twisted" from Belle.

#6. We could smell Rupert's deli meats from here and it is making Randy hungry.

#5. Paris Hilton's perfume Can-can inspired me.

#4. So I can get more great comments from Daisy and Colo!

#3. There was nothing else to do on a Tuesday.

#2. Because it's my Ashli's Birthday.

And the Number one Reason is:

*drumroll from Paul's band*

Matthew won tickets for the David Letterman's show and we are going tomorrow!!!

Oh yeah Baby!!
He really did!!
We are going to NY Ci-tay in the mornin!
I am soooo amped.
I will tell you all about it when I get back Thursday!!
*dances around a Lot!!*

You're Too Sensitive!
You're Reading Too Much into It!
You're Too Emotional
You're Very Intuitive
How did you know?!

There is something to be said about people who choose to tune others in emotionally.
It is not an easy life.



It’s not the majority of people’s way of thinking either.
It's not that I chose to be this way; it is because it is who I am.
I always wondered what everyone is feeling or how I would feel in their place. I am always kind and considerate to others and have never been able to understand when someone dislikes me. It does happen and although I know not everyone is appreciated in life, I still can't help but wonder what or why has created that feeling for me in them. In other words I internalize it and take it personally.
It makes me the type of person who mulls and obsesses about how I handle situations or will handle situations and I have become a resource to many who need answers.

I remember when I was going through a time when my hearing was very poor and I struggled in conversations. There was a friend of one of my friends who was talking to me and when I explained I couldn’t hear very well and was trying to understand her, she sat up and said quite frankly, “Well I don’t have tome to repeat everything I am saying.” She then turned her back to me and never talked to me again. I felt rage, humility and then a sudden pity that all she relates to is superficial people. She is willing to have a conversation if there is no effort to have one. How sad for her. How many have been shut out because they didn’t meet the perfection demanded by the receiver.
That kind of reaction shocks me and it makes me reach inside to wonder what environmental impact creates that within a person. What makes them feel that if another has a physical ailment that they can eliminate that person from having any validity in their life. It is quite astounding.



I tried early onto make my children sensitive to others. I never balked at helping my children understand that handicapped people are you and I, just with a need. We are not superior to another in any way. It appalls me to this day at how insensitive my children’s peers are and how much my own daughters have suffered at the mouths of these others. It is difficult because they don’t have the ‘thick skin’ others have because we are respectful and kind to others.
My oldest and I were having a discussion the other day at how rude people are to each other even in jest. She pointed out that one of her friends are cruel when joking and when her feelings get hurt, not only does he apologize, which is rare for him, but how he is teaching her how to respond in the same and to be less hurt by it. I understood his care to help build her a shield. I also explained that she has the choice to partake in that, but also pointed out that eventually she will change, and she will find it easier to say ‘the rude’ than the nice. She will lose her kind spirit that has gifted her ability to shelter many.
I understand the pain having such a thin shell, and understand the desire to increase its density, but to also realize it means you become less apparent and visible to those who need refuge.
Sure, my feelings get hurt and I have to sift through the murk to find the reasons, but it is who I am, it is who I like being and it rewards me in so many ways. I could not partake in anything less, and if that sets me up to be a target at times. So be it. I won’t change because …well…
I care.

Until February, when Sarah will turn 20, my girls are all teenagers.
Toys-R-Us will be abandoned by me this year. The girls are requesting
clothes, CDs, and video games.

My little one even cleaned out her room of all the toys she doesn't play with anymore. Although she really needed it done, it was still sad to see them go.

One of the things that have developed with their age is their humor.
We can sit around and share our stories and laugh until we are struggling to breathe. I love these evenings!

We also talk about when they were small and re-share things they have done.

I will give you a story from each of them though there are so many and it was hard to know which one to share, but here are 3 of our favorites.

Sarah looked like Shirley Temple when she was very small, and she has been an actress from the very beginning. She had to wear corrective shoes for a while. They look liked the old fashioned white high top shoes so I purchased sailor dresses and old fashioned baby doll dresses to make them not stand out so much. This look thrilled the older crowd because she represented an era they could relate. Sarah was a performer and sang solos on stage in church by the age of 3. That same year we went to Florida to visit in-laws. While we were there we they had a court meeting for the retirement village. Sarah's Grand mother asked her to sing for the group. Sarah stepped up on stage and said into the microphone, "Wachya want me to sing granmom?" The reply was anything Sarah wanted to sing. I was wondering what one of the songs she would perform when my sweet angel sang loud and clear into the microphone, "Bad Boys, Bad Boys, whatchya gonna do when they come for you..." Needless to say we all were laughing. Luckily she followed up with a sweet song.


Ashli's story is unique to her own, because I have never heard of anyone having this issue before.
For a month and a half I was sending my bills out in the mail and getting phone calls that the check hadn't arrived. No one had received our out going mail. The mail carrier, the neighbors, and we were not seeing anyone unusual around the mailbox.
I finally said at the supper table, "I just can't put our out going mail in the box, I will have to drive it to the post office." My sweet Ashli pipes up in her little voice and says, "I get mail."
I asked her what she meant by that and she said,"Whenever the red flag is up, I have mail."
I immediately respond, "Can I see your mail?"
She got down from the table and took my hand, we went to her bedroom and low and behold she had all the missing mail stuffed under her bed.
Try and explain that to the post office!


When Kayleen was potty training, she was extremely dutchy in speech. If you weren't from the family, you probably didn't know what she was saying.
When she was ready to buy panties she chose Winnie the Pooh ones and could not wait to wear them.
On Sunday, she was wearing a new dress and her big girl panties. I dropped her off to the nursery, with Miss Kathy who Kayleen adored, and told her that Kayleen will let her know if she has to go to the bathroom.
An hour later when I picked her up I asked how it went. Kathy said, "She asked to go three times and each time she didn't do anything but she kept saying she had to wee and poo."
Suddenly I look at Kayleen's little frustrated face and burst out laughing, I then said to Kathy, she says 'potty' when she has to go, she is saying "Winnie the Pooh to you, she wants you to see her new panties."
Poor Baby, I then got one out of her diaper bag so she could show Miss Kathy!


The girls got together and posed for this picture for one of Sarah's college project in photo shop class, I thought I would share it with you.


Side Note:
I was with Dad Sunday to Monday, he is a bit frustrated at what he can't do, but he is progressing and that is the best thing. Mom called yesterday after his heart doctor visit and the doctor was pleased at his progression. So far so good!
Thanks for your continual prayer and support!