The Christmas Challenge

Yesterday I was out running errands amid the Christmas shopping madness, and madness is really the best way to describe what I saw.  In the seasonal movies Christmas shopping is full of hustle, bustle, smiles, and people wishing each other a "Merry Christmas."  That's not at all what I saw and experienced.  Very few people smiled, I didn't hear a single "Merry Christmas," not even a "Happy Holidays."  One woman snapped at a cashier over something the poor girl had absolutely no control.  Another woman was loudly complaining because the item she was looking for wasn't available.  Everyone seemed rather rude and in such a hurry.

When did Christmas become such a chore?  

Something the last couple of years has taught me is that life is to be cherished, and our loved ones are the true gifts.  I know I wouldn't have survived what I have without my family and friends.  Christmas should be a joyous occasion, and gifts should come from heart.  

I have a challenge...

The Christmas Challenge

• Tell your family and friends that you love them.  That may be something they don't hear often, and they should hear and know it.


• Do something for someone else.   

• When you're baking your Christmas cookies, take a half dozen over to your neighbor so they know you're thinking of them.  
• Spend $5 at the Dollar Store on a hat, scarf, and pair of gloves.  Then either drop them off at your local homeless shelter or give them to the homeless man you see every day at lunch.  
• Donate a bag of food to the pet shelter, or better yet, take an animal home for the holidays so the shelter employees can have time off as well.
• Take muffins to the police or fire station in your neighborhood.
• Donate canned food to a foodbank.
• Volunteer.


• Be nice!

• Remember your manners.  Say please, thank you, and excuse me.
• Smile at those around you.  A smile is contagious, and you may find yourself starting a cheery trend.
• Don't yell at the cashier, servers, or others.  The majority of the time they aren't even responsible for whatever has you in such a sour mood anyway.  
• Pay someone a sincere compliment.

And that's the Christmas Challenge.  It does have three parts, but none of them are difficult or expensive.  The only thing they really require is for each of us to take a few moments to have a better attitude toward others. Think you can do it?

C'mon, I double dog dare you!

Take Time to Breathe

 

Thanksgiving Blessings

 

The Perfect Pet / House Sitter

A few years a go this Crazy Lady stayed with a friend's dog while she went out of town with her family.  I had no idea that would lead to what I do now -- pet and house sitting.  I guess I just didn't think about people paying others to stay in their home while they were away, but I can certainly see a need for it now.  

Of course it's easier on the pet to stay at home than it is to be in a kennel at the vet's office or someplace like that, although there are some really great boarding kennels out there now.  (It's also a good way for me to earn a few extra dollars because I can honestly tell you that no one gets rich on disability!)

It's also just good for the homeowner because someone in the home not only deters break ins, but it sure helps in other situations.  Just a couple of things that have occurred while I've been on a job have been a broken water pipe and the house getting struck by lightning, after the storm had passed.  (That was one crazy day!)  It's so much better to have someone there to respond as the crisis is happening, rather than coming home and having to respond to the mess you would find after the disaster has struck, and I can tell you that both of the incidents I mentioned could have resulted in disasters for the homeowners.  

And in a roundabout way, that brings me to the point of this blog post...

Because I'm a pet / house sitter I'm often asked, how does one find the perfect sitter?  Well, here are a few tips to help your search.

First, think about your pet.  For instance, if you're seeking a sitter for a dog, is your dog young, high energy, requires daily runs, etc.?  If that's the case, then you probably want to concentrate your search on someone who can spend a lot of time with your baby, take her on daily runs, and really use that energy so that she's not destructive while you're on vacation.

However, if your dog is older and enjoys napping the day away with occasional trips through the doggy door into the back yard, then a lower-energy sitter, such as a grandmother is probably the perfect choice.  

What if you have a puppy?  You might want to concentrate your search on someone who has experience training young dogs.  Match your sitter choice to your pet.

Now that you have an idea of who you're looking for, where do you look for them?  There are several places to check.  You can ask family, friends, and neighbors if they know someone.  You can also do a search at places such as Rover.com, Care.com, National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, Professional United Pet Sitters, etc.  Most sites allow you to search by location and more.  You can usually search by price as well.  

Look for a sitter who's experienced, has references, will meet with you and your pet beforehand, and provides updates with pictures during the stay.  When you meet the prospective sitter, make sure they mesh with both you and your pet.  If anyone is uncomfortable, don't be afraid to say, "No, thank you."

Make sure you check references that are provided, and be sure they come from clients, not from friends and family.  Friends and family are great, but you want to know how the sitter is on the job, not how they behave during a night out or at a family event.  

You also want to make sure you find a sitter that's capable of handling any emergencies that may arise, both pet related and otherwise.  That means checking to make sure they know pet first aid and CPR, while also knowing what to do should a pipe burst or some other home crisis occur.  

If the sitter doesn't ask you about, share with them about your vet, insurance, etc.  Also detail your pet's schedule for feeding and activities, so everyone knows what's involved and expected.  The more information that is shared up front is the less chance for surprises in the end.  

Again, see how your pet interacts with the person.  If something doesn't feel right, don't hesitate to keep looking.  Animals are very good judges of character, and this person will be staying in your home while taking care of a beloved, furry family member.  You need to trust them.  

One thing to always remember is to book your sitter as soon as you know the dates you'll need them.  Good sitters can book up months in advance, so you don't want to wait until the last minute to schedule the visit.

I hope this helps.  If you have questions, please ask them. I'll be more than happy to answer them, expand this post, and help in any way.

Have a great one!

Where Does the Time Go...

When we're young time takes forever.  Christmas and summer will never come, but we can't wait to grow up.  Then, one day, we're older.  Time is a blink of an eye.  One day you're graduating from school.  Blink.  You're married with a child.  Blink.  That child leaves home to start his own life.  Another blink.

This last year has been a strange mix of time and blinks.  

We had a pandemic that shut down the entire world, and time passed so slowly, much more slowly than the lives lost to COVID.  Those loved ones were gone in a blink.

A tornado tore up my hometown. Lives lost.  Parts of my childhood erased.  It all happened in a blink, but the recovery takes so much time.

So many friends lost family and loved ones.  My loved ones turned another year older.  Thankfully, so did I.

I lost Titan.  He was with me for over 12 years, and then he was gone in a blink.

Because I'm disabled, I'm home, a lot.  One day drags into the next.  Then, in a blink, my health changed.  I had a stroke on Nov. 1, and it really didn't take long, but those days in the hospital drug on, especially that first night, when I couldn't use my leg or hand.  My recovery was actually very rapid, but it seemed that it took forever.  I'm still recovering, months later.

And all of these eons and blinks this last year have had me thinking.  Deep thinking.  

Except for a few exceptions, my family is generally blessed with decent health and long lives.  I'm going to be one of those exceptions.

Many women dread turning a year older.  They may even lie about their age.  I celebrate.  It means I've survived another year, a year that allowed me to enjoy time with my family, watch my grandchildren grow, and just relish life.  Another year of experiences, not as exciting as they used to be, but experiences just the same.  

In 1976 a school assignment changed my life.  We were given two weeks to take our family tree back as far as possible, and the one thing we had to include was each individual's profession. I thought it sounded pretty boring, but I was always good about doing my school work, so I quickly set about discovering my history. Mom was of great help with her family, and a phone call to my grandparents filled in a few of the blanks.  Dad, however, wasn't as clear on his side, so he had me call two of his aunts.  Lola Bell McCormick was incredible.  She gave me a notebook, family charts, and all sorts of fun little things, as well as a great deal of information. Then Lurlene McCormick spent an entire day with Mom and me, traveling all over Putnam and Overton Counties to introduce me to ancestors I'd never heard of before that day.  She was a fountain of family lore and stories and truly seemed to enjoy the day we all spent together.  

I was hooked.  What I thought would be a fairly boring assignment turned out to be a huge jigsaw puzzle that I'm still plugging pieces into over 40 years later. I've compiled centuries of data.  

But what if there's another blink, and I'm gone?  What happens to all of that history?  I want to gather the leaves of this family tree that I've raked up over the last few decades and make sure I get it all together in one spot.  I want to get the stories down, record the family recipes, and leave it for my sons and grandchildren, as well as the nieces, nephews, and cousins.  I want them to discover this incredible family we share and know their history.   I truly believe that we learn from our past.   I know I did. 

I don't want it all to disappear in a blink.  Don't be surprised if you begin to see more frequent blog posts as I start compiling it all.  I want my children and grandchildren to know some of my stories.  Yvonne is tired of hearing them!  Perhaps I'll write them now.  Save them for posterity.  

Or maybe there will be another blink, and I'll just fade away.  

We'll just have to see...