Happy Thanksgiving

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What are you thankful for?
I’m thankful to be alive and relatively healthy. There’s so much to see and do in this big  wide world.

I’m thankful for my furry friends…Rocky and Smokey.

They keep me company and cheer me up when I’m down. They are loyal and give me unconditional love. Sound like a dog? They are about as dog-like as  cats can be. Rocky follows me, comes when called and plays fetch.Smokey will flop over for a belly run any chance he gets and wants to be wherever I am.

I’m thankful for the family…even if we don’t see each other a lot. I know they “have my back”. And since some of them live in the country I’ll have a place to move if  the “Doomsday Preppers” are right. 🙂

I’m thankful I have a job. So many people are out of work. I joke about retiring but somehow I think I have few good years left.

I’m thankful I have a roof over my head. I’m not homeless even if I came close when the real estate market tanked. But thanks to the  new rules and mortgage modifications that resulted, I still have my home.

I’m thankful that I am still on a spiritual journey. It keeps me from becoming close minded and intolerant. There is truth in every religion as well as mystery. No one has all the answers in this life.

I’m thankful for the friends and acquaintances that I meet along my path. Some for a short time, some travel the path with me for a longer time. They are a network of friendship and support, constantly changing yet always there.

I am thankful for the beauty I see around me every day and the hobby that allows me to see it with new eyes.

I’m thankful for so much more as well but what is it that you’re thankful for?

Rocky Holiday Photo..Take 2

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We’ve only been “clicker” training for 2 days so I wasn’t even going to bother trying to get the picture of my “vision” but When I turned my back there he was…right in the middle of the picture set up I was working on.

Ok he was ready and willing. I decided to try again.

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We’re getting closer  but we’re not quite there yet.

Goodbye Twinkies RIP

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Well here’s to the power of Unions. I thought they were supposed to help the people who were their members? The union question is big in my company. We’re not union but a lot of people would like to see that change. They think it will protect their jobs, benefits and perks. They think it will prevent management from demanding more and more work for the same or less pay.

That’s what the employees at Hostess thought too. Hostess has been struggling but they make good snacks. Snacks that we thought would be around forever…especially since the shelf life of a Twinkie was said to be 30 -50 years.

President Clinton  called  Twinkies  an “American Icon” as he dropped a Twinkie in the millennium capsule back in 1999.

But 5000 people just cost 18,000 people their jobs. Hostess said…”Help, We can’t pay our bills “ and petitioned the bankruptcy court for protection. As part of the bankruptcy they were told to cut wages. The union said no. Hostess said if we don’t cut wages we can’t stay open but the union still went out on strike. It was no secret what would happen if the union didn’t settle the strike. It was in all the news.

Now the company is being liquidated. No more Twinkies, no more Ding Dongs and no more jobs for 18,000 people.

It’s a sin. Dear Union…Are you pleased? Are you proud of your accomplishment? The power of a union run amok.

I can’t do anything for those 18,000 unemployed folks except express my horror and indignation but I can share a recipe or two so that  maybe the withdrawal from the yummy (but unhealthy) snacks won’t be too severe.

Sorry my scan is a little small. 🙁

A Pet Photo Shoot

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I have a vision. I know what I want on my personal Christmas card this year. I can see it in my mind. It includes one or both of my cats. I can be flexible. But working with animals can be tricky even the most cooperative ones.

Step one: Get the set ready.

Step 2: Set up camera and pre focus.

Step 3: Call the Cat.  That was the easy part. Rocky came running, jumped into the set and slid taking the drape and set with him.

Step 4: Set the set back up.

Step 5: Catch a cat…don’t call it. Once again Rocky was more willing. He thinks he’s a little kitty rock star and that everyone should worship him.

Step 6. Try to communicate what you want him to do.

Step 7: Use cat toys, treats, funny noises to try to get your animal actor to perform.

Step 8. Pick up to try again another day Rocky let me know when he was done. Tail in the air he walked away like a true Prima Donna. I found him curled up asleep on my bed. I guess I wore him out.

It wasn’t a total loss. I managed to get a couple of nice pictures so I could create this combo that I call “Twins”,  but it’s not what I want for the card.

I am not giving up. I’ll be trying again next time I have an hour or so to fuss around. Maybe  a bit of turkey will hold his attention.