Out with the Old

Posted on December 31, 2013December 31, 2013 by Dusty Roads

What changes do you plan to make in 2014?

I have to be careful when it comes to the “Out with the Old” adage as I could be included in the “Old” category and I have no intention of going out yet!

But I’ve been giving 2014 quite a lot of thought. 2013 turned out to be a year of changes and in some ways I haven’t fully adapted to all of them so I think 2014 will be a year in which to get my routines established again. That would include everything from work to finances to personal challenges.

Have you noticed …I haven’t said the dreaded “R” word yet? That’s because it is my humble opinion that calling challenges set on New Years “RESOLUTIONS” is asking for failure. A resolution is a pledge of sort..I resolve to do this and this. So what happens when you screw it up, like we all seem to do. Most of the time that’s it. Done! Made a resolution and broke it , end of story.

But what if I/we think of them as goals or challenges. A goal is something that you work toward until it’s achieved. You expect there might be a few set backs but that’s where the challenge comes in.

Sports examples come to mind. The New England Patriots start the season with the ultimate goal to win the Superbowl but each week the goal is to just win that game. Sometimes they fall short but the next week they are right out there again trying to “kick butt” for that Superbowl spot…one game at a time.

They didn’t “resolve” to win the Superbowl and then give up as soon as they lost a game. That’s why whatever I/we want to accomplish in 2014 should be a goal and a challenge not a resolution. And if I don’t meet that goal, well I’ll be a better person for trying.

An example….weight loss (ugh). Lets say I resolve to lose 50 lbs in 2014. The first time I “pig out” at the local Pizza Joint I’ll just give up. I blew it. Look at that, resolution broken. But if I say I have a goal to lose 50 lbs, that’s only 1 lb. per week. That’s like the 1 game a week for the Pats. Suddenly it’s not so overwhelming. And if I only lose 30 lbs? Well, I may not have hit the goal but I’m still 30 lbs thinner than when I started.

So that’s my approach to resolutions. Goals and Challenges. Tomorrow I’ll share some specifics. Maybe we can encourage one another to meet the goals we set for a fresh new year.

The Cat’s Meow, A review

Posted on December 30, 2013December 30, 2013 by Dusty Roads

We did get to try out the Cat’s Meow on Christmas. CVS was open so I did make a battery run.

It’s easy to put together so it was ready to go in no time. I set it on the floor and pushed the button on the center post. The ball started moving under the nylon cover making a scratchy-squeaky sound.

It caught Rocky’s attention first. He circled it with caution then backed up and watched. About that time Buddy arrived from the bedroom to see what all the noise was about. He was a bit more bold than Rocky. He tried to tap the center post with his paw and then settled down with his nose to the edge of the nylon but so far neither kitty tried to catch the moving ball.

About 5 minutes into the staring match it was as if Smokey couldn’t take it any more. He hopped down off the couch, walked over to the nylon circle and sat on the moving ball effectively trapping it under his butt. Game Over!

I could hear the motor straining to move so rather than take a chance on burning it out I stepped in and moved Smokey off the nylon freeing the ball to move again. The minute I set Smokey down he was back after that ball again. This time he got it between his front paws and once more, wouldn’t release it. I guess he forgot that cats play with their prey.

Once more I intervened and had him release the ball. I guess 2 tries was enough for him. He headed back to the couch. Rocky had watched the whole thing and now decided to get into the act too. He and Buddy lined up on opposite sides and each batted and played for a few more minutes.

I got up to get the camera and that seemed to break the mood. Rocky left for his sun lamp.

Only Buddy was still interested. He just watched for quite awhile. I was about ready to turn it off and save the battery when I saw the tell-tale butt wiggle and Buddy attacked.

I guess all that concentration worked up an appetite. Buddy played alone a bit longer then headed to the food bowls. I turned the Cat’s Meow off for now. If they show some more interest, I’ll turn it back on but they have all gone their separate ways for now.

My cat testers give it 2 Paws up (Smokey & Buddy) and one Paw down (Rocky) or as they say on the show “Does it Work?”. Yes it does but the amount of interest varies from cat to cat.

How much does it Cost?

Posted on December 28, 2013December 28, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Ever wonder what it would cost to give every gift from the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas?

Every year someone manages to figure it out. This year (2013) according to PNC Wealth Management the cost breaks down as follows:

— Partridge, $15;

— Pear tree, $189.99;

— Two turtle doves, $125;

— Three French hens, $165;

— Four calling birds (canaries), $519.96;

— Five gold rings, $750;

— Six geese a-laying, $210;

— Seven swans a-swimming, $7,000;

— Eight maids a-milking, $58;

— Nine ladies dancing (per performance), $6,294;

— 10 lords a-leaping (per performance), $4,767;

— 11 pipers piping (per performance), $2,562;

— 12 drummers drumming (per performance), $2,776;

Wow! But I don’t know about those Maids a Milking… $58.00 seems a little low even at minimum wage.

A Little Bit of This and That

Posted on December 15, 2013December 15, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Happy Snowday everyone. 🙂 (Yes for those of you in warm climates…New England is getting snowed on right now)

Wow, that was quite the honor yesterday, to be nominated for a blogger award. I truly appreciate it but the required post went way over my daily limit. 🙂 1500+ words instead of my usual limit of 400-500. I hope I haven’t used up all of my brain cells.

I’ve noticed my most popular posts are travel related or pet related, mostly the antics of my 3 cats, unfortunately I don’t think I’m original enough to post regularly with just those two subjects. It’s not that there isn’t enough material but rather my story telling has limitations. So I’ll just keep muddling along and hope you bear with me.

How’s the Christmas season turning out for all of you? I am so far behind I can’t even begin to describe it. I haven’t gotten my Christmas cards created much less addressed. I mean really, I sell cards. I can’t go to the store for them.

I have to use my own products. I have one more client photo session that has to be done fast so I can get their cards to them and then I can work on mine. Not sure I’ll make the deadlines but maybe they’ll be New Years cards instead. Whats’ the story about the shoemaker’s children..something about them being shoe-less?

How about resolutions? Anyone started thinking about making any yet? I have 2-3 in mind and that’s probably the most I can handle. Not going to share yet. It’s too soon 🙂

My 2014 Interval Catalog came yesterday. Yippee! That’s the book of time share exchanges outside the ones that are free exchanges. These have a fee to swap but usually lower points. Maybe I should write a post on how that works. In the meantime I’ll be able to dig in and see what places I can consider for my 2014 vacation. Williamsburgh VA has been high on the list of possibles but I noticed more places near Jackson Hole listed so maybe I can go back to my original plan and go to Wyoming.

Well Rocky just came over and sat on my keyboard. That’s a pretty good sign that I need to wrap this up before he deletes it.

Rocky the Flying Cat

Posted on December 9, 2013December 9, 2013 by Dusty Roads

From 1959 – 1964 the airwaves were filled with the Adventures of Rocky the Flying Squirrel and his side kick Bullwinkle the Moose. Their adventures included matching wits with the villains, Natasha and Boris, archenemies of the “Moose and Squirrel”.

I loved that show and wish I could say that Rocky the Squirrel was the inspiration for my cat’s name but it wouldn’t be true. He was actually named after the boxer in the “Rocky” movies. In the movies no matter how battered and beaten Rocky ended up, he never gave up, shook it off and came back to win the boxing match. Well, when I rescued my Rocky he was a tiny kitten and a young boy was abusing him. When I came racing to the rescue the kid tossed the kitten into a shopping cart and ran. That little bit of orange fluff was so tiny he fell through the wire floor of the cart to the ground. As I approached, the kitten stood up, shook himself and headed for me with his wobbly little kitten walk.

When I took him to the vet they said I had to name him or they wouldn’t treat him. Rocky was the only name that came to mind. From that first day he embraced the name, even coming when I call “Rocky”.

Now 12 years later Rocky the Cat continues to be unique compared to any other cat I have ever shared a home with, and there have been many. He likes affection but barely slows down long enough to get any. He will cuddle but not in your lap…that’s another story for another time.

Today is a classic Christmas Disaster Story.

I’ve been working from home now since July. When I do go out ( for meetings, photo shoots, shopping, life) the cats, Rocky, Smokey and Buddy all get very hyper when I return. It’s usually pretty funny to watch them all racing around. What a happy welcome!

This time it wasn’t so funny. My little 48 inch table top Christmas Tree was all set up in the living room. Rocky had shown some interest but that had begun to slow down as he got used to it. The other two cats paid it no attention at all.

I was at a meeting in Dedham from 11am- returning home around 3pm and the cats were doing their run around crazy greeting. Buddy ran past the tree at ground level with Rocky in hot pursuit except Rocky decided to try for the “High Road”. He launched himself in a great leap that brought him down right in the middle of the tree. A little to the left and he would have flattened Buddy . Instead down crashed the tree to the floor where it landed on top of the shocked kitty. Still tangled in the string of lights, Rocky took off like a shot , dragging the tree across the living room floor, ornaments scattering everywhere. Then Rocky broke free and made a bee line to the bedroom.

RIP Christmas Tree 🙁

I didn’t take pictures of the carnage. My first reaction was to unplug the tree to avoid a fire or electrocuting the cat. My 2nd reaction was to check Rocky for broken bones or cuts and scrapes. He seemed to be unscathed.

Then I returned to the living room to pick up the mess. The silence was strange. No curious cats poked in the wreckage or teasing for treats. No one was running around anymore. It was almost like they had all put themselves in “time out”.

Epilogue

The tree is back together. It’s artificial. Only one light bulb was broken. The ornaments are plastic or Styrofoam so no damage there. It lights up and I’ve re-trimmed it. Rocky the Flying Cat has checked it out…from a distance. The other 2 cats ignore it. Maybe I’ll get Rocky a cape to wear for Christmas.