Shiloh, oh, Shiloh

My doggie was part of a gang related killing this morning. Geeeeee, that sounds awful. But, it's true.

Working on my computer, I hear a lot of dog barking, yelping and commotion and run out and realized there is a fight going on in the corner of my yard which I cannot see, for it is a wildlife area (means I do not cut anything down, it is thickly wooded). Kristopher's and Amy's dogs are there as well and I thought it was a dog fight, only to realize there was a cat involved.

I scream at Shiloh to come and she came rather quickly, put her in the house and went back out, but the other 2 dogs are still at it. I can hear the poor cat moaning. Amy yelled at them to come and wouldn't so she got the hose and squirted them. Wink came and I put her in the house. Then she picked up Muka and carried him inside. She was brave enough to deal with the cat, which is so hurt it strikes out at her. She cannot pick it up but talks to it and realizes it cannot move, the eyes are rolling back but it still hisses at her. We cannot do anything for it at this point and chat about whose cat this may be. She called K and he called me and is pretty sure the cat belongs to the next door neighbors... the same neighbors whose other cat was killed by our dogs a couple of months ago. Oh boy.

That time it was in their yard. They let their cats loose and dogs, because they are dogs, want to chase them. It is so tempting to see prey several feet away. They hopped over the fence and killed it. We felt awful about it. I had already made plans to build a wooden fence and shortly thereafter it was built; now the dogs are not tempted to jump due to a cat sighting.

But this time the cat was in our yard. Different story. Has to do with territory. Has to do with pack mentality. Has to do with dogs not had their hunting instinct bred out. It is still there so I cannot find fault for what they are doing. It is normal. We don't like it, but it is normal.

Amy and Kristopher have 2 cats. Their dogs live with them and know they are part of the family. So it is not like they are cat killers. They are hunters. So are cats.

Our neighbors had (had)4 cats... all outside cats. Now there is an issue with that as well. They are out hunting, killing squirrels and birds. Even the birds that come to my feeders. I had to change location of the feeders so the cats could not see when they are being visited by hungry birds. I no longer get possums, raccoons and armadillos like I once did. The animals keep them away.

Cats cannot be contained by fences like our dogs can. They are free to roam and do their own killings. I feel they are fair game when they jump into our yard. As much as I hate that people's pets are being hurt, damaged or killed, I feel that if they are allowed to roam they are targets for animals whose instincts are to protect, hunt and kill if necessary.
We wonder whose cat this is. It does not belong to our neighbor.... I found out a few minutes ago when I was "breaking the news" to her. Sigh of relief that it was not hers, but I know someone is missing their beautiful huge cat. In the meantime he is in a box until burial time.

As far as these dogs are concerned, it's business as usual. Please keep your cats inside.

In the last 24 hours

-I received news I am going to Haiti with Project Hope and got my e-ticket. My ship, the USS Kearsarge will get us in Haiti, they will pick us up at the airport and take us to the ship in a helicopter (I am sooooo excited about that)then it is R&R time for the crew (guess we are getting there just in time for some fun) and then we go to the Dominican Republic. I am bummed about not doing the work in Panama, but there's next year.
-My daughter Layla who is in Tennessee to deliver her sister-in-law called me to tell me the baby was born by caesarean. All is well.
-My neighbor calls me to please help.... a neighbor down the street (must have been on drugs or has some kind of mental problem) was running in the street naked, tackled this old man who was waxing his car, who in turn sat on the unclothed guy, the police were called, and while the cop was handcuffing him, the guy babbled out numbers in an incoherent manner. I went inside the old man's home to tell his wife that a little excitement just occurred, that her husband is fine, that when she sees the police and the ambulance outside, they are just making sure he is ok, just a little cut on his hand .....hahahha.....
-Two hours later fire trucks, cops and rescue squad were 2 houses down and I never found out what happened.
-The electrician tried to hook my office up with electricity, only to find that the wires were cut at the main. Now I have to wait until Monday to get it hooked up.
-The phone company, yesterday turned on my number, 385-BABY, but were unsure of hooking it up in the office. Another crew came today and now I have a phone wire draped across the yard. Another crew will come Monday to bury it.
-I get a phone call, that one of my lovely families had a tragedy. I have delivered their 7 kids, she is pregnant with number 8, but yesterday, a horrible accident.... she and the kids were planting fruit trees, she had to move her car, and suddenly baby Joshua ran out in front of the car. He died. I was shocked. The baby who was born into my hands, to a family I adore is now gone. I got into midwife mode to tell her support people to make sure she gets nourishment, rest and vitamins and then when I spoke with mama Kim, I lost it. My heart aches.
-Salvador went to the Seminole game and I heard the stealth airplane go over the stadium..... what a roar, rumble....wish I could have seen it.
-Kristopher, Amy and I cleaned the backyard of every bush, vine, gumball and debris. Then I brushed the pool. Those are forms of meditation, working in the yard and pool, and all I could think about was the Plath family.

Roomba!

It's not a dance, it's my trusty little vacuum robot. It actually makes more work for me than a regular broom and a regular vacuum cleaner. It is small, and my area is large enough that it can hold much dust, dog hair and dirt. The trick is to get everything off the floor, make the area uncluttered enough for the thing to get around and leave the house. Really, just leave. Because when I don't, I watch the damn thing going around, criss-crossing the floor, and missing a spot here and there. Of course if I don't watch, it will eventually make it to that spot, but no, I go, stick my feet in front of it and make it turn around to go back to the spot. I do this over and over, so really, am I saving time? But it's so much fun!!

Birth Gathering

It was a lovely day today. I headed out to Silver Lake for our annual Birth Gathering. Many of my older and newer clients came, and like always I smiled all day from seeing all these lovely families. (My jaw is a little achy)

Turns out many of my clients made friends with other clients at past gatherings. So of course, I realize this is another example of how our birthing practice creates community.
The food was great, so many tastes, from juicy seasoned ribs to vegan scrumptious salads. Food was plentiful.

The children, oh the children, I must say are all beautiful. We had several red-haired babies there. I love it!!
My ballet group showed up. Their kids now moving into their teens.
A few I had not seen in years.
I wish I could have spent more time with each of them, it is so hard though, so we kiss and hug, take pictures, catch up and then mingle.
Or go down to the lake, our beautiful lake.
I am looking forward to many more of these

Grand Central - Frozen in New York

Saw this twice today from 2 very different people, so thought I must share also.

Grand Central Station in New York

Play Me Some Music and.....

I dance.

Health Update

My oncologist called me tonight (in the middle of the democratic debate between Obama and Clinton- sheeesh) and said we should do a follow-up to this last set of blood tests. He said not to worry, so I won't.

Undies

About that dream I had last night? Yeah, you can buy me some.

Power of a Sad Song

What is it about sad songs? I am just going along, feeling fine, and the radio plays Don't Speak by No Doubt and suddenly I am feeling down, sad and realizing some of the things I am sad for are pushed back up (in my mind). So what to do with the feeling? Just say it's just a song and snap out of it or do what I tell everyone else.... see where the feeling is coming from? My rational mind says you're busy, think about it later... then it says no, think about it now. And my gut feeling is quiet... what's up with that? What do you do?