My plate is full...

And Tulip's is full as well. 

I've been spending more time at the Benson Center for Active Aging (BCAA) these past few weeks. It's left me with less time for writing.

Two or three classes follow the writing classes I lead. On Tuesdays, there is Cardio Drumming. I've been going on Wednesdays to learn about stained glass making. After that class, there are games to play, so that's another two hours... Repeat on the third Friday of the month.

😺

Tulip is up to her old tricks. Yesterday she pawed my plastic bin of medicines off the counter. She is a PRO at grabbing my attention. At least none of the pill bottles fell out.

Her latest thing is dumping full bowls of food onto the floor, almost simultaneously with my bestowing her food onto her table. She immediately demands more food.

When I talk on the telephone, Tulip sprints to the kitchen to paw at the clean dishes; then she inspects the dirty ones. In between, she'll overturn whatever is neglected on tabletops.

#fullplates

#toddlercat

#alexanderpopadinphoto

AAUUGGH!!!

I thought I was fiscally wise to switch my home phone and Internet service from Spectrum to Brightspeed.

Have had nothing but aggravation for the past month. Brightspeed sent three two-man crews to dig and bury their cables. Three rows of disturbed grass resulted. The last installer said he could not close the work ticket because there was an issue with the IP address.

Many phone calls later - after I called Spectrum to cancel the phone and Internet - I learned that Brightspeed couldn't port my home phone because the phone number was still under Spectrum's purview. They said I needed to call Spectrum to reactivate the home phone so that Brightspeed could port the number. 

Today - after nearly a month without my home phone - I saw an online bill from BS;  they charged me for the voice service. Also, that service costs $30, which is $10 more than a discussion I had with their rep a few weeks ago said.

I'm seriously considering getting rid of the home phone altogether. So, as of today, I'll be saving $31.43 a month. Big whoop. Brightspeed's pricing will last 24 months. When I add it all up, the overall savings is significant. 

Spectrum			Brightspeed + Spectrum
TV	$103.00		TV	Not available	$103.00
Internet	$35.00		Internet	$29.99
Voice	$30.00		Phone	$30.00
Taxes	$7.17		Taxes	$2.10
Total	$175.17		Total	$40.74	$103.00
New combined total	$143.74			/	/
	$31.43		Combined:	$40.74
31.43 X 24 =	754.32			$103.00
				$143.74

But, if I remove home phone service entirely, that would save me $720 over the coming two years. The last rep I talked to disagreed with me about the price reduction. "It's $30; it's always been $30; you're (meaning me) not entitled to a rate cut." 

To say the least, my experience with Brightspeed reps has been underwhelming.

Decisions, decisions. I'll give it a few months and reconsider.

#internetproviderpain

#notsobrightspeed

#internet_switch

Feral Cats

My neighborhood has had a feral cat problem for years. Ages ago, I was asked by my landlord if I would contact Animal Control. So I did. I captured a possum and about eight kitties, as I recall.

This year I lost a landscaper company's business because his men kept walking in kitty poo on my lot. Well, imagine me weeding through tons of monkey grass and coming across several piles of poo in them. Yuck! I had had enough.

Over the past week, I trapped six cats and the Benson Police took them away. I don't know if they were set free down Hwy 301 in Dunn or if they were brought to the shelter in Smithfield. 

Now if only I could get the dog owners to control their animals from running free.

Maybe THIS chapter should be entitled Vilify Me.

#feralcats

#catchingcats

Vilify Me

OK. I am old. I've lived in this mobile home community for 15 years as one of the most tenured residents in our twenty mobile homes.

My new nextdoor neighbors seem pleasant enough.

But their dog, Maya, is allowed to behave in ways which drive me nuts.

1. They let her poop in our shared garden bed. They never pick up the dog poop. 
2. I told them that it is a health hazard (which is OK as long as it's in their yard). 
3. Then I put a cheap plastic fence in-between our yards.
4. Then Maya would get in between our lots further up. Yes, I complained to their daughter who speaks fluent English.
5. I was pleasantly surprised to see a screen in that section a few days later.
6. Maya is allowed to bark for extended lengths of time.
7. They crate their puppy at the side of the house, where she dumps her water dish over immediately. (Did Tulip teach her that trick?)
8. When I saw Maya running loose through several yards last week, I called over to the dad that dogs are not allowed to run loose here. Maya was quickly brought inside her house.
9. When I got home this afternoon, Maya was running with her leash still on; no owners in sight. Then she plunked her little behind in my flower bed, as if it (and she) belonged there.

THAT DID IT.

I walked next door to complain. I told the family, "This time, I'm telling our landlord."

It's not all gripes. The good stuff is in a blue font.

(My sister can confirm that I was always a tattle tale.)

Now, if what I have related makes me The Trailer Park B-Witch (choose either first letter), so be it.

But it's not all gripes. The good stuff is in a blue font.

#nodoubtnopoop

#neighbor_dog_rant

#imabeotch

#vilifyme

#TheTrailerParkBWitch 

Hole in Mat

Since the old tabletop was icky from peeling paint, Tulip had been using her water dish as a finger bowl. I thought of ways to waterproof the table. A friend suggested putting a rubber mat designed for using under sinks. I thought,"Great idea!" 

The mat's been in place for a few days.

Tonight I noticed Tulip paying a lot of attention to the right side of the mat where it overhangs a little. Upon close examination, my cat has already taken out a chunk of the mat. The hole is shaped exactly like the little leaf design in the rubber. 

TULIP!    ⮟

The dot at the far right is her first hole. Hope she doesn't become too comfortable doing this. The mat cost me about $36. 

Tulip is still eating paper. Guess now she's onto harder stuff.

I have an addicted cat on my hands!

#cataddict

#tulipeatsrubber

#tuliptales