Blonde By Design's Blog

Questions about SOPA?

blondeoxygen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:17:36 +0000

Any more questions?

My Evening Guest …

blondeoxygen — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:19:26 +0000

All snuggled up in bed, letting myself unwind and relax after a long day that included physical therapy, the sound of my doorbell pierced my peaceful quiet. By the time I found clothes to throw on and made it past my four legged kids barking, I opened the door to find no one there.

As I stepped out to look and see if I could catch a glimpse of who I’d missed one of my little neighbors ran forward, her quiet dark eyes beckoning me to “come, come …” Clearly she was distressed.

“I didn’t know who else to come to,” she explained, “with your love of animals, I thought surely you could help … there in the middle of the road, it’s a baby bird, it’s not moving … I’ve never held an animal in my life, I don’t know what to do, but I know you will …”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard this beautiful little neighbor say so much.

Sure enough, the poor little thing wasn’t moving and was definitely in the middle of the road, headed for road kill or cat kill, I’m not sure which … nor was I sure how the poor little thing had gotten there. Gently, I picked him up to place him in a box, and he cried out in protest, but still didn’t move his little legs or wings.

I’ve tucked him into a box I’ve since lined with soft cotton, given a few eye droppers of water which seemed to help bring the baby out of a bit of dehydration. (and of course, one of the first things I read – afterward – is to not force water down a bird, you can drown it. I’m only relaxed because I didn’t force, only offered and the baby drank for me)

Now what to do? I’m not up on my ABC’s of how to save a baby bird. I’ve covered the top of the box with a mesh basket so air flows easily and hidden it away in my pantry to give it dark quiet and time to revive while I figure out what to do with the little bugger. I see no injuries and after I gave him water it did seem to help him feel more like moving.

Any suggestions? Birds are the hardest to save and best left alone, but one really can’t leave a baby in the middle of the road, nor set him on the side of the road as open prey.

Toilet Training & a Proud Mom …

blondeoxygen — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:14:25 +0000

The Ark Kittens have begun their toilet training.

I’m such a proud mom. We’ve had pee on the red ring! lol

Can you believe a year ago he weighed 1.7 pounds?

blondeoxygen — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:19:59 +0000

Me thinks Ark Kitten, Roger grew up a bit.
Hard to believe he’s the same 1.7 lb bobble head I adopted a year ago,
other than he’s still just as sweet and “I’m so glad you brought me home” grateful.

Somebody Knows Me …

blondeoxygen — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:25:23 +0000

A gift for house sitting, an awesome box of herbs.

Somebody knows me.

I so ♥ flowers, herbs, plants.

If I would have known I was getting a gift, I would have requested they stay gone longer!

Lone Star and @Klout …

blondeoxygen — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:03:34 +0000

So … apparently Fox wants me to have a neighborhood premier party … and I was thinking, “Well… Ok…”

Lone Star Premier box of goodies arrived today … Popcorn, Carmel Corn, an ice bucket, wine glasses & beer glasses … (because you KNOW you need both!), Tshirt, LoneStar wine bottle openers & key chain. All in all, a Fun Eureka! Moment!

Now I have to gather the neighbors.

Stay Tuned …

(but I should in no way be held responsible or blamed if the popcorn doesn’t make it to the neighborhood premier party … really ... FOX should have known I couldn’t save something like that … that would require a responsible adult)

*grins*

Where Were You?

blondeoxygen — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:18:02 +0000

A couple of days ago a Tweet by my buddy @MikeNeumann caught my attention.

A reminder of September 11, 2001 and the old question “Where were you on 911″ flashed through my mind.

I know exactly where I was. It was a difficult time. I had been evicted from the home I had lived in for twelve years weeks earlier, not because I had ever missed a day of rent, but because my landlord had decided on a whim to sell the place only two weeks after telling me he’d never put my place on the market. Following being served the eviction notice, I went through weeks of harassment, vandalism, and ended up taking the landlord to court. Granted, I won and had had no doubt I would win, but it was an exhausting time. Just hours before that eviction notice was served I was at an appointment with a neurologist. It was all ready not a good day as the nuerologist rattled off a list of things I would never do again because of nerve damage in my back. Leave that and come home to an eviction notice on your door.

Yeah. You get what I mean. Not your average day at Disneyland.

On September 11th I was temporarily homeless, staying in a friends guest room while the newly built apartment complex that had taken my deposit months earlier finished with it’s inspections so tenants could move in. The delays seemed to take forever, but I was grateful for a quiet place to stay.

And then the phone calls came.

“Turn on the TV, turn on the TV … New Yorks been bombed …”

“Bombed? What …. no way …”

For the next three days we all sat, transfixed in front of our TV’s watching 911 unfold, feeling like this can’t be real.

The loss. The pain. The suffering. The unknown.

Years later a sea of accusations, conspiracy and confusion still exists. Whatever you believe, disbelieve or want to believe, don’t you DARE disrespect the lives … the hundreds and thousands of INNOCENT lives that were lost that horrific day.

There are children who were babies or born that year and have never known more than a picture of their mother or their father.

Remember that. Give them respect.

There were firemen who fought to save lives and lost theirs.

Remember that. Give them respect.

There were men and women on their way to work or all ready at work. Men and women of every color, nationality, and religion who needlessly lost their life that day.

Remember that. Give them respect.

Whether you believe it was terrorist or conspiracy, have the decency to respect the loss of thousands of innocent lives.

That is all I ask.

Which takes me back to @MikeNeumanns Tweet. @Victims_of_9ll was telling us he was going to Tweet ALL of the names of ALL of those who lost their lives that dark day in September. I saw a few tweets aimed at @Victims_of_911 that made me embarrassed for the person aiming their suspicion and anger. Junior High behavior thrown at one person remembering the loss of thousands. A person who had gone through much grief, their own loss and a dramatic change to their community.

Remember… and give them Respect.

@Victims_of_911 has taken the time to write out each name he had of those who lost their lives on that day. Take a moment before you leave this day and pay your respects, please. You can believe whatever you want, but JUST as we respect our soldiers when we don’t believe in the war, respect the loss of thousands on American soil.

It wasn’t just New York’s loss, it was America’s loss.

Thank You, Damien. I’m so sorry for you loss and I thank you for your time. God Bless You for sticking to your task and writing out all of those names even as you came to the name that struck of your own personal loss.

Where were you on September 11, 2001.

Never Forget.

Please, Thank You & a Smile …

blondeoxygen — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:26:56 +0000

… and then the nice men will stop their work and fill your car with lots and lots of boxes.
For Free!

Hello world!

blondeoxygen — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:53:38 +0000

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

Our Air Quality …

blondeoxygen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:27:34 +0000

It’s that time of year, when everything gets stuck in the Valley.
Including ALL of California’s bad air.
Breathing has suddenly become an option.

Yesterday	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	OZONE
Friday	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	OZONE
Saturday	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	OZONE
Sunday	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	OZONE
Monday	Moderate	OZONE
Tuesday	Moderate	OZONE