Bucket

So, I am sitting here with World's Cutest Puppy watching a Food Network Challange. This one is about making city skylines out of Rice Krispy Treats. I LOVE these cake decorating shows.

Anyway, it is just all reminding me of things I want to do someday. A Bucket List. WHY are those called Bucket Lists? Things left in your bucket to do?



So, MINE...

I want to learn to decorate cakes

I want to do Agility training and competitions with a dog

I want to get my Vet Tech license

I want to own a Capybara

I want to raise goats

Critters to Go [and STAY!]

I haven't been writing for awhile and since then, even my family has grown...
Okay, mostly in the Herp sense. ;)

If you are my friend on Facebook then you probably know that Conference Weekend was also REPTILE EXPO weekend and I went with Jakey and Megs and I brought home a sweet little gecko named Jack. He is adorable. Seriously adorable.

But that's not all. Much of this, or at least SOME of this, you can blame on my new business endevor "Critters 2 Go." You can see the website, a work in progress... here. Let me know what you think though. Because I am still trying to figure it out. But here is my little Furry, Scaley, Slimey, etc. Family up to date:

Lilo, Epiphany, and Heber, my babies, my darlings, aka: my Sugar Gliders


Bratanik, my Russian Tortoise, who's Observed Birthday (adoption day) was yesterday



Tortuga, my Red Ear Slider Turtle



Jack, my new baby Leopard Gecko



Mab and Oberon, my new baby American Green Tree Frogs



Legolas of the Woodland Realm, my new and very very LONG (measured him today - 13.5 inches from nose to tail tip!) Asian Long Tailed Grass Lizard



Edward, Giselle, Lil' Spencer, Jessi Jr., Cynthia Jr., Rooster, and their 24 Unnamed Relatives, my Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches



(Oh... and though I don't OWN her, I still almost always count my friend, Cali

Apologies about that MyLife Spam

Dear, well everyone I have every known!

I entered some information into a search on a site called MyLife and, in doing so, it sent "I am looking for you messages" to everyone.  First of all, I DID NOT MEAN TO and am NOT looking for you. 2nd of all I am so sorry to have spammed you like that.  I will use more caution in the future and am now attempting to remove all of that from MyLife.

Please forgive me. If you are my friend, don't hate me.  If you are in a group with me don't ban me. If you don't know who I am then just ignore both that first, and this, message.

--
Bugs and Stitches,
BethAnn aka:  Kipluck, Bob, Mayberry

(and my babies, Epiphany Jo and Lilo and Heber!
Wanna *see* the loves of my life?  http://www.sugarshock.homestead.com/ )

I've Been Clunked... but it's not MY Cash

I recently have become much more environmentally friendly, you might say.

I am pretty conservative, but I have always been the "granola" one in my family. I recycle when I can afford it, I care for animals, I either use reusable grocery bags or take home the plastic ones to use as trash bags.

And, of course I am in education so I am CONSTANTLY collecting and using the following for art projects:

2 Liter Pop Bottles
Toilet Paper Rolls

Film Canisters

CapriSun Pouches

Vegetable Scraps

Cardboard Egg Cartons

Wire Hangers (appologies to Mommy Dearest!)

Plastic Water Bottles
By the way, we need a THOUSAND of the water bottles and hangers soon, so if you have some for me I'd love you and if you have a LOT for me, I'd BRIBE you. Like you're fam could be my half price guests at Thanksgiving Point or something.

ANYWAY, back to the point... my family just recycled something BIG. Ducky, my Jeep. Even though it truly was a "clunker" and had to be towed half way there and then fixed BY the dealer for the deal to go through, I still cried a little.

Nutshelling It

1. What time did you get up this morning? 10, which is plenty early, thank you. Cali asked me if she could come in via my window and I let her. Good thing as I was supposed to go to work. I really do love that cat.

2. How do you like your steak? Mooing. No, not rare... literally. I don't LIKE steak, so I rather prefer cows as friends. Not that I am a vegitarian even, it's just I hate getting to KNOW somebody only to have them become FOOD. And this is me and my new favorite cow. She is a calf named Rosebud. She is so cuddly she thinks she is a dog.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Probably Twilight, with the Fam. It's been awhile.

4. What is your favorite TV show? Office, or Heroes, or possibly 30 Rock or NCIS. Sometimes Perry Mason, still though.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? If I somehow was sill allowed the pets I have and want though they are illegal there then back in Hawaii, probably.

6. What did you have for breakfast? SlimFast: The

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Probably Chinese or Italian.

8. What foods do you dislike? My System greatly dislikes spicy things, even when my tongue likes them. Other than that, umm, a lot of stuff really. Because a lot of foods make me sick, so I am pretty picky.

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Possibly Macaroni Grill or China Bowl.

10. Favorite dressing? Depends on the salad. They have to go with the salad. For, like, fruity ones, like Asian salads with mandarin oranges or spiced nuts raspberry vinigaretes or poppy seed. But for, like, a salad made mostly of lettuces Bleu Cheese. I am a big fan of dressings that GO with the salad... like a salad RECIPE, not just "oh, what can I dump on this?"

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Ducky, the Jeep may NEVER be out of the shop, kind of like his driver. SIGH. Most often these days I find myself driving either the Tractor or Super Golf Cart things at work.

12. What are your favorite clothes? This is going to sound so evil, but if I could I swear I would be nude.

Other than that, funny t-shirts.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Australia. I would totaly dig seeing cousins of my babies flying all wild through the trees!

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? It's both... duh.

15. Where would you want to retire? My own little goat farm or something. But I'd ike to do that BEFORE being too old to enjoy it.

16. Favorite time of day? Non-morning

17. Where were you born? Chicago, Illinois-ish... Downer's Grove specifically.

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Quidditch ;) (Yup, still answering that that way.)

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? Don't care.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? Don't Care.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? Not really doing the Tag thing here. Just writing something other than whining about medical problems for a change!

22. Bird watcher? Yes, a little, though, I do not hang bird feeders in this, the parent's, yard. Because they would just make it a little too convenient for Cali to murder them.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? NIGHT.

24. Pets? 3 adorable sugar gliders. 1 semi-feral neighbor cat. 1 Russian tortoise and 1 turtle, still at my apartment being tended by my Roomie that I don't even live with right now. 3 Bull frogs, in various stages... but I really WILL return them to the wild soon.

25. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share? I don't like any of the news that is currently in my life. My Uncle Ken has Cancer and they are doing surgery this week. This is Brady's dad... Brady who was killed in 9-11. I don't think that is freaking FAIR is all. *crying*

My mom still can't see. I also may have the same heart defect that caused her stroke, which may be why my migraines are so bad. I will be getting the tests. But they are expensive.


26. What did you want to be when you were little? An astronaut, teacher, vet, paleontologist, mom, zookeeper, artist, author and professional roller skater. Except for the skating, my job pretty much covers it, so that works (except for the salary and benefits).

27. What is your best childhood memory? I have a LOT of them. I can't decide. I had a really awesome childhood. No joke.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Yes. I used to say Dog person, no question. But now, well, I really like Cali, so it turns out I am a CAT person too. Go figure!

29. Are you married? No way!

30. Always wear your seat belt? Always!

31. Been in a car accident? Yes, though fortunately only minor ones. Though I still think they are pretty traumatic! Like hitting that deer that one Valentine's with Mali and Megs and BoyKid? That seriously STILL gives me nightmares, even though BoyKid was highly funny and quotable.

32. Any pet peeves? People who ONLY talk on speaker phone, and walk into rooms doing so, and then are annoyed YOU are being loud. UMMM, YOU walked in, Dad. Go talk in YOUR room.

33. Favorite pizza topping? "Hawaiian"... Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, etc. Mmmm!

34. Favorite Flower? Daisies or Plumeria... or Dandelions!

35. Favorite ice cream? Pralines and Carmel

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Einstein Bagels or Betos... or Sonic just for the drinks

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Zero. Passed it the first time

38. From whom did you get your last email? Ummm... someone in the Red Ear Slider Yahoo group?

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Ummm since I would just have to PAY THE BILLS, none. But if I could just have a GIFT card, any bookstore, thanks!

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Took a picture of a Stegosaurus wearing plastic booties?

41. Like your job? I make cardboard tulips, drive tractors, color pictures, hug baby animals, make a thermometer out of a water bottle, program robots, raise tadpoles, grow wheat in a necklace, make ice cream in a tupperware, make space suits, convince 12 year olds there is such thing as fairies, get free popcorn, snuggle calves, pet chickens, laugh at children, make fossils, launch rockets, and take pictures of a stegosaurus wearing plastic booties...

WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE?!?!

42. Broccoli? It's okay. I prefer Cauliflower, but it is okay. I used to LOVE it when I was little though, with Velveeta. Now, for some reason, I don't love it as much. :(

43. What was your favorite vacation? Probably Hawaii with the fam when we saw the sea turtle or the really random Disneyland trip with Coats and the Deaf club or spring break that was just HILARIOUS with Melissa and Alia and Karalee when we were totally LOST most of the time in Honolulu.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? The fam. :)

45. What are you listening to right now? crickets.

46. What is your favorite color? Purple

47. How many tattoos do you have? a bunch! They are in my junk drawer!

But, umm... none of them are real.

48. Coffee drinker? Just a coffee smeller... were it not for being Mormon though, I think it would SURELY be a one of my DAILY vices, though. Because I LOVE it.

49. How many children do you have? depends on the day! But I don't take them home with me. ;) Unless you count the furry or scaley kind.

50. How many siblings do you have? 2 (and I'M from Utah, TOO, Kami! :OP).

Stroke

Saturday, my world fell apart again.

My Mom had a stroke.

We were watching some recorded NCISs downstairs and I was about to start another when Mom said not to. I thought she was going to say she was going to run to the bathroom or something. Instead she said "I think I am having a stroke. I need you to call an ambulance.... wait, no..." she paused a minute as I picked up the phone, but her eyes were wall-eyed, like going 2 different ways. "Are my eyes crossed?"
"No, they are wall eyed" And I dialed as she said "yeah, I think you need to call."

I called 911. I told the paramedic, and at first it was pretty easy to be calm because Mom answered all my questions clearly.
"Is your mom having trouble breathing?"
"Mom, any trouble breathing?"
"No, I'm breathing fine."
Etc.
But then she started to slur, and sort of fall asleep. I kept trying to make her stay awake and talk to me, but she got less and less coherent. I yelled upstairs to BoyKid that he needed to go outside so that he could wave down the ambulance. He did not really know what was going on, but came downstairs instead, so I said, "fine, *I* will go out! Keep talking to her and 911 wants to be called back if her condition changes!"

I ran upstairs and threw on clothes (because, as usual, I was still wearing PJs at, like 3 in the afternoon) while calling Padre on the cell (because, as usual, he was golfing) and ran outside just as the paramedics and a firetruck arrived in the cul-de-sac. I told them that she had now basically gone UNconscious, and we could not keep her talking and that they would probably have better luck getting a gurney thing down the outside stairs/lawn thing and through the bay doors then through the front.

They came and took her to the hospital. They couldn't wake her up all day. She was sleeping, but sleeping so HARD it was like she was under anesthesia. The doctors kept saying everything was normal. EKG, normal. Blood sugar, normal. They tried smelling salt stuff and she wouldn't wake up but she was breathing heavy, and snoring weird... like a cartoon snore... they had her on oxygen.

For hours, she slept. Every time she seemed to stir, we almost yelled at her and begged her to wake up and stay alert. A few times she almost did... she even woke and TALKED, but it was only to say something weird. (Like once she said "I'm okay. I'm gonna go get some peaches." Before going out again.)


_------__-------_------__------_-------__------

So, I started this post over a month ago, and never finished it. I guess I just wanted to end it differently. Like "and that was last week. But now she's fine." But the thing is, while Mom IS much better... she is out of the hospital, and can talk and stay awake and stuff, she still can't walk with out help, and can't see right. Her eyes go different ways making it near impossible to really see more than doubled blurs. She uses a walker, and one of us, to go to the restroom, but a wheelchair for trips to the kitchen. She still gets foggy, and slurs when she gets tired. She is on oxygen.

I am doing so okay with things. Lately, I have been having to rely heavily on my mom for things, with my whole medical thing. Now she is worse off than me. I feel worried for her... and worried for ME, too. Anyway, it has just been... bad. My mom is awesome. My family is AMAZING. But I am feeling scared of what will happen to us. I don't know that we can make it with a Mom who can't mother.

Pretty Sure a Cat is mandatory when you are 30 and single

Yet again I am behind in my writing, so here is a little recap of my recent life changes...

I turned 30. And Befriended a cat. Figures, eh?

My awesome friends threw me a surprise party! I got 30 of all kinds of little things. 30 little plushies, 30+ bubble gum coins, 30+ ring pops, etc. We played on the Wii on the Big Screen, and I got an action figure of Hiro from Heroes who I crush (I'm a nerd, yeah) and SoftLips and yummy cake. Also really yummy food that I could really only suck on due to the pain in my teeth at the time but it was the thought that counted and they were AWESOME.

I got a few MORE root canals and realized I can no longer go to regular dentist for this stuff, even good ones. My problems are too complicated. I hate my teeth.

My fam got me a pass to the Aquarium which rocks since it's very near my Endodontist. So I have been able to use it OFTEN. Those stingrays are gonna start RECOGNIZING me, I tell ya!
I love it. Plus, this now makes it both Living Planet AND the Zoo that I have a pass too. Since I WORK at Thanksgiving Point (though I haven't been able to go in for forever), about the only animals I CAN'T see anytime I want are those at Secret Garden in Vegas. I need a membership THERE now! HA!

Now I am dealing with a craptastic stomach thing. As usual we don't know what it is, except that I had some really bad test results in the ER last awhile ago, which led to a colonoscopy and endoscopy yesterday and a liver biopsy planned for Friday. But right now I am just on lots of meds, and hurting a lot.

I am still living at the parents' and neglecting my OWN apartment (and my turtle and tortoise. :O( Bummer.) where the Roomie is. My best friend at this house is totally that cat, even though I am really a dog person.

And I am totally digging all things Steampunk. A beautiful combination of history and science fiction... and making technichal things look old and weird and lovely.... AND talking all British and saying things like "What what" and "By Jove!".... WHY am I late to this party?!