Peanut, Notchtail, and Lily brought their two babies to meet us this week. They are nearly full-grown. The undersides of their tails are a darker red than the other squirrels, their tails are smaller and beautiful, and their bodies are sleek. They don't have any battle wounds yet and they don't appear to have deformities like Notchtail and Lily whose tails are missing a lot of hair, and Humpback. (We haven't seen Humpback all summer . . . he may have been the one smashed in the CVS parking lot.)

The babies, Nutter and Butter, are very lively. The way they hop around is very quick and light and silly compared to their elders. They talk a lot and they fight over the nuts we give them. They immediately wanted to befriend us, but are too nervous. They jump away at the slightest sound or movement. Nutter jumped up and banged his head under MK's sliding board. It was cute.

The oddest thing happened. I found a pile of grass clippings on the yard bench where we leave nuts for the squirrels. I asked MK if she had put it there. She said no, she hadn't. We are wondering if the squirrels put it there to hide their nuts . . . they usually hide the nuts in the ground nearby . . . or maybe they were making a nest of some sort . . . it is just so odd. We keep putting the nuts there and they seem happy with that.

Picture of the Funnel Cloud by Shiloh School in IL where Cheri works

A Ghost?

I can't really say I believe in ghosts, but things happen that sometimes make me wonder about the paranormal. For a very long time, I have, off and on, noticed a dark shadow glide across the floor. It moves swiftly like a black cat. I never give it much thought other than it might be some shadow or reflection. But, this winter MK mentioned that she sometimes sees a dark shadow race across the floor, and sometimes she sees it in her room.

This Christmas I received a bottle of Estee' Lauder cologne. I shut it in my closet because the scent is too strong for me. Every once-in-a-while, while resting in my bed and watching TV, I suddenly notice the scent of my cologne as if someone has sprayed it. This is while it is still shut in my closet. I figure there must be a little draft escaping under my closet door.

Today, MK and I were on the couch in the living room on the farthest side from my room and yes, you guessed it, I suddenly got a whiff of the cologne . . . as if someone had just sprayed it. My ghost is definitely a lady. I think it must be Mrs. Casper who previously owned this house. She must be Mrs. Casper, The Friendly Ghost!

How to Become a Diabetic

How to become a diabetic: It's easy. Eat wrong, don't exercise, go through the change of life at about 25, have a genetic pre-disposition for diabetes, and be stressed. That pretty much sums it up.

Becoming diabetic is much easier than controlling diabetes when you have it. You can't heal it, but you can do much to control it. By the time I found out I was diabetic, I could hardly function mentally or physically. Once I was diagnosed I started medication and diet. Exercise is coming along more slowly, but as I feel better I can do more. I had reached a point where I could barely walk because all the muscles in my body were in pain and I didn't have enough energy to breathe, let alone exercise. I felt miserable but didn't know why. I was depressed but didn't know why.

Blood pressure medication combined with diuretics caused water weight to roll off very quickly. That made a very drastic difference in how I felt. Now, I am working on eating properly which is causing some more weight loss. However, it is hard to give up things I love. Once in a while I have a little bite or more -- otherwise, I would never be able to keep it up.

Things like milk, sugar, processed or white wheat, peanuts, red meat, and several other things have been removed from my diet. Apparently, I am allergic to something in that list -- because with that elimination, I have discontinued having the migraines that have plagued me my whole life. I thought it was the blood pressure medication that stopped the headaches, but the doctor disagrees. She said it was something in my diet.

Though I am doing better, I am still having problems with mentally focusing. I am hoping that improves very (VERY) soon. I am grateful to have a reason for why I felt so miserable and that it is something I can control.

The contract for the Johnny Carson transcription was completed a few weeks ago; but no new project as of yet. Once again, very little income.

First Day on New Job - Not so Bad

Today I was to complete the transcription and synchronization of the first five minutes of my first assigned tape. That took only a few hours. I had to learn how to work the text portion and then the sync portion. I think I've got it figured out now, and if I did it all correctly, it should all go smoother and quicker from now on.

When I did transcription in the law firm, I listened to a very concise, well-paced attorney's voice, and was able to backtrack with a pedal (much like a sewing machine pedal) when I needed to. What I am doing now is listening to very fast-paced speaking, joke-telling, distractions caused by the audience, while learning to use "HOT" keys to move the video backward, forward, pause, restart, etc. Very different, but will be fine when I get it in my muscular memory (the same term I use for piano students!).

I cannot watch the video while I transcribe . . . that would be too distracting and would slow me down. I just listen and type. If I want to watch some particular ones, I could probably rewind and watch whatever parts I want to when I've completed the task. But, I doubt I'll have much time for that. I'm a very busy girl!

MK didn't feel very well today. She wasn't really ill, just felt as if she is coming down with something. So, she stayed in her pajamas all day, did homework in bed and she did practice the piano. She is allowed to listen to classical music/piano music while doing homework. She uses earphones, so I often catch her listening to pop music on the radio! I don't think she can focus and learn when listening to vocals. So, if I catch her one more time, radio is off limits during homework.

I think I am going to enjoy this new job. What scares me is the old saying, "It's too good to be true!" Let's hope this doesn't apply in this case.

New Flippin' Cool Job

Today, I signed a new freelance contract for a flippin' cool job where I will be part of a transcribing team for work in the entertainment media. This appears to be a long-term position.

We create online transcription and sync to video software. The current project our team is to work on is 3300 old (very famous talk show host) Shows.

Future projects may include transcription for the Department of Justice (my legal secretary transcribing experience helped me get this job), and other TV shows that I know about, but I don't think I can list the titles since we have a confidentiality agreement. Believe me, though, it is exciting!

The only bad part, at this point, is that pay is always a month delayed. So, for instance, the end of this pay period will be the 15th, and I won't have much on it yet, AND I won't get paid for it until December 15. But, I'll manage somehow until then. There are two pay periods each month. Pay varies with the projects, but should pay okay.

MK and I have been doing a rather unusual job this week. On Monday we painted three street sign posts and the backs of stop signs and other signs, and today five more. We are painting these black, like Duke Energy did on the big street light poles. We are doing this for money to fill in the gap since I lost that last copywriting contract. I sure don't enjoy it. I don't like being that high on a ladder next to busy traffic in the dang wind. Money is money. The things we do to keep the utilities on or a roof over our heads.

No Time for Pouting

I took one day for my own little pity party and to start looking for possibilities. I have no idea in what direction my life will go, but then I've never known that. I've sent two resume's to school systems, one in Terre Haute, one in Shiloh, Illinois. I might have to go back to working as a teacher's aid in the school system -- you know, those government-run institutions that have one-size-fits-all educational systems . . but, only if I don't land a new contract for freelance copywriting.

I have applied to two companies so far, one just a few minutes ago. The type of writing I would do for them would be for various interesting topics. Far less cut-and-dried I think.

I am also working on a book proposal that I've kept on the back burner for quite a while (excuse:too busy). Now seems the time to do that. I found a publisher through another writer. Prayers and a lot of finger-crossing would be helpful here!!

In the meantime, I will go back to the writing site that has what is called "Marketplace" and will try to sell another magazine article. Those usually pay enough to buy some groceries now and then.

I'm also trying to take advantage of the opportunity to get some school work of my own done.

MK has finished reading the entire Harry Potter series. She has rough-drafted a letter to J.K. Rowlings asking for more! Even though Rowlings included a chapter on what has happened to the characters 19 years later, MK wants to know what happens to the characters' children and other new students at Hogwarts School. We will need to work on a final draft of the letter and get it mailed.

I am thankful that today my niece, Cindi, is going home for her long recovery after weeks in the hospital following her car accident. She's home with her children and that's the best medicine of all.