A Fish Named Quazi - and His Friends

I've had some pretty fun times fishing in my time. When I was 11, I caught my first baby striped bass. Bought pulled me off the pier. That's what I get for falling asleep with the pole in my hand.

Then there was the summer I was pg with the boy. We went fishing and I hooked a skate. Now THAT was a good fish story. People are positioning the boat in efforts to help, I'm fighting this huge (it was to me anyway), 6 foot skate with all my 7 month pg body, doing my best, tug tug, pull pull, reel reel....it was so much fun. We even have that one on video. Got that critter all the way up to the boat but alas, we didn't have the grapple we needed to pull it into the boat.

Just as I had that thing right where we though we wanted it, under the boat it went. This time it put too much pressure on the line and broke the pole. Got the scar on my hand to prove it. Had it.....had it.....dang! Broke the line.

Now to the smaller fish. Standing in the store one day and see this whole stack of betas. I like betas. They're beautiful, graceful, lovely and peaceful looking. Hmmm......I'll take a blue one and this pale blonde one.

Brought them home and since guppies are supposed to be peaceful fish, I put the blue one in the tank and took the other one to work. (yeah, I'm weird that way.) We'll start with the blue one. You know, I have these beautiful fantail guppies. One has a turquoise painting on it's body and tail. The other male has dark blue and purple. Beautiful.

Yeah. Till I got home. I'm looking at them all feeding. The babies are starting to just get color when I notice the female has a nick out of her tail. What? I look closer. The males have great big chunks out of their tales. Whhhaaaattt? The pretty one has a whole 'V' shape out of his. Hmm....someone's goin' down.

I'm watching this blue, male, evil fish ..... he has nipped the bottom fins off the guppies down to a nubbin....you ....e v i l ... fish....you......(see eyes narrowed.....lips all pursed together....NOT happy)

Net evil fish out of tank and put in bowl he came in. He now has a name. We call him Hannibal. Hannibal now sits on the TV. I used to tap his bowl when I went by....I've since stopped that. (evil fishy) Apparently fan tail guppies provoke betas due to the attribute they get their name from. The betas naturally nip at the flowing fins. (still evil fishy)

Now to other one. When I brought him home, my husband said he was an 'u g l y' fish. So I named him Quazi. Quazi and I went to work one day and he has now become the office mascot. I kinda like him too. Had no idea these things have necks. He looks up and eats, it's the wildest thing!

So one day I go to change Quazi's bowl cause it's nasty. Here I am at the sink with my fingers at the top in effort to scare him to the bottom and he jumps over my fingers and down the sink......

INTO THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL!

Uh.....! Uh-oh. Um.......I need a man. And fast. I turn to the nearest one. 'Hey K. Um... I need your help.' I tell him what I just did. 'You dropped the fish in the garbage disposal?' (keep in mind, was still blonde people) He's gone.' No, no, I see him. Right there. You have to get him out! He sticks like an inch of his fingers in, pronounces him a lost cause and goes back to his desk. UH!

I say out loud now, "I need a man." K looks at me, 'thanks...' I go to the biggest one in the office, explain my situation. He's a big man. A BIG man. I think he's related to Goliath. He was too big, cause he couldn't get his hand down in the garbage disposal and we're running out of time people......does nobody feel this emergency like I do?

My heart is pounding. I'm thinking of this fish laying in this nasty place.....gulping at air....the pain in his little, bitty chest, starving for air. Pain I have caused....(wait a minute...HE's the one who jumped out of the bowl....)

Ok. Now either he dies and I have to run the disposal so the office doesn't stink of dead fish, or .....oh.....or.....? (someone say bad words for me right now.....)

The whole reason I haven't ponyed up is because...well...like K....I'm afraid to put my hand down there too. All those horror movies from my childhood....I don't wanna lose a finger, hand, fish.... Scenes from final destination are playing through my minds eye....oh geez! Pony up or shut up.

Ok. Say a very honest prayer. Suck up all the little bit of courage I have (all 2 oz) and shove my hand down in this nasty hole. Of course, I immediately 'yipe' and pull it back out (covered in slime mind you). See, I put my hand in tehre, felt around for him, he flipped and scared me....thus the hand came back out in the same measure of speed it went in.

Great. Now I gotta do it again. Oh Jesus. Hand back in (not at mack speed this time) and feel around again. He flips all over these blades in here. I'm praying the blasted piece of machinerary doesn't short out and come on, chewing my fingers into bits.

Aha! I caught it. Cover it with my fingers so the nasty slime doesn't get all over Quazi, and pull it out. Okay. Now I'm shaking like a leaf. Whew! The fish is alive! Do best not to scream fool head off...(it tends to echo in here) and plop adventurous fish back into bowl.

I'm looking him over...no nicks, scrapes, blood. He looks about as pale as I was at that moment. He now has a name change. Jesus. My co-worker spells it this way: Hey Zeus. I figure since he's been resurrected from death, he deserves the new name.

He's really cute when I feed him and the food lands on his head.

Now: Back to the tank.

About a month ago, I cleaned this tank. Took everything out, scrubbed everything, put it back all nice and pretty. It's funny cause the big sucker fish I have swam into the castle right as I put it back in the tank.

The next morning, it's still there. Hmmm..... Come home from work....still there. By the next morning, I tried to free him. Unfortunately, he has swam through the biggest hole and his fins won't fold so I can pull him back out. Oh, I hated to do it, but I had to. I busted the castle to free him. Scared him and me both!

Come home last week and there's three dead fish and the tank is .....blue? Blueish green? What gives? Come to find out, my 'darling' son has gone fishing in the tank. He was scooping them up in the net . . . and dumping them out on the floor. Okay, that accounts for the dead ones, what about the color change?

The girls and I are eating breakfast with the boy (aka, culprit). He's expressing his delight over his cereal when one of his sisters ask him, 'Bubby, what did you do to the fish tank?' We were all shocked at his response.....he points to the box of rainbow drinks. You know, those little koolaids in a jug? "I put this and this and this in there." Four mouths drop, bounce off the table.

You did what? He points to the jugs on the box...that's not good enough, he sorts through the contents and pulls three out, two reds and a blue. "I put this and this and this in there." He knows he's done wrong, so he adds: 'Sorry, Mom. I sorry." (comes out sounding like: saaaaaa reeee)

So...there's koolaid in my fish tank. Nice. Great. Loverly. Poor fishy.

Can we just say it is never a dull moment is my household?

Goin' to the Dark Side

Look at this pretty rainbow we found when we turned the corner.

For those of you who have known me for a while....how long have I been blonde? There are a very few who could tell you because it's been........ a very long time.

So I did something I haven't done in a long while...I went to the Salon on break to get a trim. I got to looking...I think I'm done being blonde....so I did what I normally do when I have to make a big decision, I thought about it for about 4 months. During this time, I let the highlights grow out. THAT was ugly. Well I thought it was anyway. My husband didn't.

Here grew in this shiny, healthy hair. Hmmm.....must have to think about this...what am I going to do? I can't keep this up. There are a short list of options. Cutting it short wasn't one of them. I thought some more. (picture Pooh bear sitting at the base of a tree...think, think, think...)

There came an opportunity where it was just Doog Boog, the boy, and me. We had a blast together. We went yard saleing, tooling around town, goofing off and then.....we wandered into this Salon to get Her hair done.

I swear that's only sprite, regardless of the face.

Normally I cut the girls' hair. (not obvious a bit is it?) Now Doog Boog had made a request for a specific style in which was recognized immediately by her Mother (that would be me), that it was out of the realm of my specific skills. Um....not so much, sweetheart. So we requested that this lady did it. OH, She did such a wonderful job. I can't believe how beautiful my young lady looks!

Then it came to me. Now we'd spent some time looking through books at just what hairstyles.....well to be honest, made us think of characters in Friends...but that's besides the point. We also spent some time choosing what we thought we might want.

I just made a decision. Let's take it all back to the roots. I think I trembled. I have NEVER colored my hair before. Highlights yes, color, no no no no! She says, 'Here, you look through here and decide what you want.' Okay, I can do that.

Now you realize how hard it is to turn, hold a hand, AND a camera...

I look. Copper looks good. Honey looks good. She shakes her head. 'Not for what you're wanting to do.' Not for what I'm wanting to do??? No? Okay, you have the experience. You choose. She picked, and I'm not kidding you, the third from the left. There was 'black as midnight', black as dark, and . . . Lordy be, I'm gonna be Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Are you sure? She nods. Alright, you have the experience, make me look good.

So here we go. No turning back. Place your wig in this strangers hands and let it be whatever it may be. She goes in the back to mix this chemical compound that shall be spread all over my locks while I look at them longingly in the mirror. It's time for a change . . and you know it.

Out she comes with this bottle and on it goes. Roots first, big chunks in the middle, then the very ends. I'm a big girl and I ain't a goin' a cry! (maybe) So while she cuts her boyfriends hair I sit and cook. I'm looking, that dye ain't so dark. Kinda light brown.

Look 10 minutes later.

That dye ain't too dark, it's kinda a medium brown. I can live with this. Faith Hill went dark.

Look 10 minutes later.

That dye ain't no where near brown now. (Oh mama)

Ten minutes later I timidly look in the mirror. Here comes Elvira.

Now I'm thinking. 'What ever did you do? What were you thinking?' Eh, whatever, ya gotta do everything in life at least once. Fun things 4 or 5 times.

Go to the sink, wash, wash. My daughter laughs at me and pokes fun. (I love her!)

To the mirror. It's.....it's....red. Why is it red? I like red. Why is it red?

Explanation: You have red undertones. The patches in the book are clear to begin with. You're hair has strong, red undertones so it picks up the red better.

Well, Mom, Grandpa, most of my Aunts, several of my cousins, there's alot of red in my family. This is pretty cool! I had decided that if I ever went grey I was dying it red. Who knew?I have no words. Looks like a big bobble head doesn't it?

She cuts it the way she thought would look good. (remember, she has the experience, it's her job to make me look good) This removes alot of the dried, crispy hair, and I very happily pay my bill (with a big tip cause the girl did good and has a good attitude. Attitude can go a long way with me.)

Now. It gets better. My husband has been overseas while we did this. He had no idea. He comes into the restaurant. We made a pack not to say anything till he noticed. Even if it took two weeks. (yeah right. Like it would take THAT long...) He sits down, completely wore out, speaks a bit. Goes back out to the vehicle.

And THAT would be pink lemonade. Where are all her teeth?

We girls giggle and laugh. He comes back in and bellows out across the crowd...."What'd you do to your hair?" We all laugh. 'Why Rhett, what ever do you mean?' He liked it! He really liked it! I was so glad. His only disagreement was with me cutting any length at all off, but over all, he liked it. He calls me his feisty red-head. (hee-hee)

My poor man. He was so very tired.

And I feel like I got a whole new lease on life. (big - fat - C H E E S E Y grin on my face!)

Condemnation - Not!

I'm standing in church looking at the youth pastor and thinking to myself. If there is anyone here that has a reason to tuck his head in shame . . . I'm struck with awe. Here he stands. Free. Arms in the air. Smile across his face. I am so proud.

I've heard stories of what lies in his colorful past from people at work, people around town, the kids at church and even himself. Yet, there he stands and I get to thinking. Looking around...I bet everyone in here has a story. Everyone has a past.

This is what makes this guy so powerful. His past. He came from crap. Got deeper in crap. Now does his best to prevent others from getting into the same crap. He's very effective. Think about Paul. Had he not gone down the road he had, he would not have been as effective as he was.

It's not that the deeds they did were so bad, though they were, it's the fact they turned thier lives over. They did the hard thing and changed the direction they were going in. It was hard. They were ridiculed. They were called liars. Fakes. Hypocrites. Insane. Today, nothing has changed.

I find it ironic that the people that judge Christians for their short-comings the most are those that make no effort on their end to have morals or justice themselves. The ones calling the names, pointing the fingers, ridiculing, belittling, demoralizing, and doing their best to break the good guys down are doing nothing themselves to improve their quality of character.

I truly shouldn't be shocked. This is the way it has been for generations to come. This is nothing new. In fact, these are the people that need prayer the most. If Christians make such an impact on these people that they spit back with bitterness and contempt, aren't we somehow getting through to them? What makes them so malicious towards us? Is it guilt? Conviction? Conscience? Jealousy? I truly don't know.

What I know is this: The man at church is a great man. He has done wonders for children and individuals and should be rewarded for his effort and courage. The Pastor too has a colorful past he has overcome. He gets up there every Sunday on fire and does his utmost for the congregation that he honestly and truly cares about. I know people who have changed their direction in life from horrid to wonderful. Since their enemies can't criticize them for their great shortcomings, they now criticize them for their stumbles.

It is a great difficulty to change not just habits but personal character and train of thought. It takes a great deal of inner strength to become a better person out of choice and not force. People should be commended, encouraged and supported. These are the people that change lives. Give hope to those at the end of their rope. Show those down on their luck there is something better to reach for.

For those with this fortitude, my hats are off to you. Kudos! Hurrah! Keep up the good work and may God bless you richly in everything you put effort to!

~~It's a Great Day to be Alive~~

You ever just feel good about yourself? Ever have one of those days where your inner person is dancing around? Do you dance?

I love to dance. It's hard to dance while driving down the highway and I'm sure many of those driving along with me would prefer that I not, so I do it all on the inside. But I'm serious. Do you ever see your inner person dancing around?

Today is one of those days. There's nothing particular that has happened. It's just one of those days. The sun isn't all the way up yet, but it looks gorgeous from here. My daughter made me breakfast this morning. I feel positive.

There's been alot of prayer lately. Based on a couple of events, I made some decisions that actually took time away from God instead of better correct the problem. I've since corrected that. Recently the study has been over Daniel.

Now I grew up with Daniel and one would think I would know it all. (left those teenage years a long time ago....) I found there were thinks that must have been forgotten. I had no idea they changed his name from one that reflected God to one that reflected paganism. The King said 'tell me my dream....and THEN tell me what it means'. Okay, no challenge there. On top of that, Daniel had the Faith that God would not just show Him the dream but that He'd also give him the interpretation. Who here is that gutsy? Who here has that much faith? Truly?

My view point has changed a bit. Life is rarely easy. This must mean that God gives us challenges to shape us into what He wants us to be. You know the whole, "I will purge you like dross..." (and make us shiny!) Makes one think....then it's not cause He hates us this happens, it's to grow us. Oh, how much growing I still have left to do!

Maryland is Crabby

So I get a phone call requesting my presence with a good-looking man in a place I want to be with people I haven't seen in a while for food I want to consume. Am I game? You betcha!

Pack the van and off we go! Oh it's been a long time since we've been on a road trip! Yeah for us! 'On the road again......going places we've already been....seeing things I can only hope to see again....'

This was so much fun. We came, we saw, we fraternized, we ate. Hahahahaha! Okay, I have to say that seeing people I haven't seen in a long while was so nice. Sat down and visited with one particular girlfriend for a long while. Had no idea we had so much in common. She's even more of a peach than everyone says she is. Probably the only other person outside of work that knows what a GDS is.

Got to see Mr. Leggy and his pretty ....um...err...panties. Mr. C, with all his wisdom. I'm pretty sure I passed that test, by the way. Tell me he doesn't look like Ray Stevens.....can't you just see him singing that song, "It's Me Again Margret......hehehehe".

Ate lots and lots of crab.....never a bad thing . . . met some new people and had a great time. I learned more about life in Maryland from some interesting people. Sang some songs. Had no idea Mr. Leggy had such a good voice. Met a wonderful, intelligent man that can shell crab claws quicker than anyone I know. (which was great for me because all I had to was graciously consume those 'cocktail claws') Yay for me!

While there, the kids and I went swimming. That was so much fun! The kids and I played 'monkey in the middle'. I had no idea they were that.....quick? Heavy? Agile? No....vicious! They tackled me. Dunked me. Beat me up. (I held my ground.....barely) It was great. They are marvelous and make me proud.

Have to say....as hot as it was here...it was hotter there. Oh My Gosh was it hot!! I think Mr. C was sweating .....well, if you were there, you saw that everyone was sweating in that manner. That drenching, clothes-soaking, give new meaning to sweat socks manner.

From the blue tipped crabs sitting quietly in the baskets in the freezer, to watching them try to crawl out of the steam pot, to them being dumped in front of you in all their tender goodness, right on the table in front of you. Yum. Yum. Yum.

The weekend was great. Friendships were renewed. Tummy's were full. The best part, memories were built.

Yay!