Pamela's Prose

Cockatiel + Staples = Trip to the Vet

Pamela — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:48:20 +0000

So, “Bird”, my 18 year old white-faced cockatiel was roaming around his perch this afternoon when I noticed something shine when the sun hit his beak. That’s not ‘sposed to happen. I grabbed bird around the body – which he hates of course – and took a closer look. O… M… G. A staple. A big ass staple going from the bottom beak to the chin. Husband was working on the dish network at the time and just happened to have a needle-nose plier handy. We determined that the staple was not attached to the skin outside the lower beak, but was impaled inside the lower beak. He used the needle-nose to straighten and release the staple from said lower beak. Husband did notice a spot of blood inside the bottom jaw/beak area. I’ve made an appointment with the Bird Doc tomorrow afternoon for a quick visit and possible antibiotic treatment if deemed necessary.

Note: Birds like to chew on, well, everything, especially paper products and I’m always quick to oblige bird to make him happy! If you don’t make him happy he squawks LOUD. I’m trying to think… maybe he got a hold of an advertisement that comes staples together? I dunno. But, I’m going to try to be a bit more on top of things. Did I mention I have 3 birds? Hard to stay on top of things!

Hypothyroid and Adrenal Fatigue

Pamela — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:33:57 +0000

By reading many blogs and websites, I found out most people who are overweight/obese feel fine physically except for minor aches and pains. Most even feel good emotionally – having come to grips with their lot in life and have decided that’s the way they are and that’s fine, while others deal with real issues of depression and a constant battle to lose weight. There is a huge sliding scale of how people feel when they’re overweight. I’m not talking about needing to lose 30 lbs. here. To me – that’s mildly overweight. When someone has at least 50 lbs to lose or more, that’s the real struggle if they’re trying to lose.

I need to lose weight and I’m in that big struggle. But, it’s not just the weight. I felt terrible - physically and emotionally! At least, I did, until I found out that all of my symptoms, of which there are literally 40+, can all be tied to Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue.

I’ve been eating so much better since I got laid off work in 2009. I try to exercise at least 3 times per week. From August 2009 to January 2011 I’ve gained and lost the same 5 pounds even though my diet has so much improved. There has been a LOT of stress, sure, as my previous posts have stated. But what does that have to do with my not being able to lose weight and feel better when I’ve been doing so much better with diet and exercise? It’s called Adrenal Fatigue! On top of that my thyroid has probably not been working properly since… well, forever. Easily since my 20′s and probably long before.

Since I began taking Armour Thyroid and reading a TON of information online and purchasing the book with the same title as http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/, I’ve learned so much about myself, my symptoms and how I’m not alone, not crazy and finally I’m able to break through and see some light through my depressed, moody, fat tunnel! I’ve lost 6 lbs and have kept them off (no more yo-yo) and expect more weight loss over the next several months as I continue to get my proper dosage worked out. But, its not just the weight. I feel better. I sleep better. I am slowly regaining some of my old energy.

Please, if you think there is more to your weight gain/weight loss struggle than just what you are putting in your mouth, do yourself a favor and start searching the web for information on Hypothyroid and Adrenal Fatigue symptoms, get yourself a good nurse or doctor that specializes in these problems and get on track to feel great again!

Alll about the Bird (Noise)

Pamela — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:58:43 +0000

Our friends in Gilroy had a parrot that they just loved but, they ”wanted” to be rid of it. (Apparently it was a pain in the ass, but who is going to say that while trying to get rid of a critter?) My hub thought “beautiful bird, nice bird, likes me”. I said “no.” For his birthday a few months later, however, I broke down my guard and got him a lovely, baby, hand-raised, white-faced male cockatiel. “Bird” (best name we could come up with at the time). Bird is 18 this year. Bird has been lots of fun, terror, scary moments, oh yeah, fun, umm messy, 2-year-old that never grows up, healthy! (which I hear is a plus for white-faced), just your average pain in the ass, makes too much noise… pet bird. Talks like crazy. Loves me, loves our other pets. Because I’ve done research and talked with avian veterianarians and all, I feed Bird right. Because Bird gets all the necessary pelleted nutrition, he could easily live to be… 25-30. What am I to do? Start feeding him only seed like most un-educated bird owners (parakeets, budgies, cockatiels)? He will die of malnutrition in less than a year! Of course I won’t do that. I loves my “Bird”.

Part II – Parakeet (Budgie) added to the “flock” (to be continued)

FED-ED here we come!

Pamela — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:29:03 +0000

So I’ve just run out of my Tiers (1-4) of unemployment in California. I now begin FED-ED which is…umm… ah… an extension again of some sort of Federal unemployment(?) Okay I don’t get all the figa-ma-roh, but it comes next. When you begin the FED-ED portion you “have” to fill out the “C” section on the back of your claim form. This rule says you must apply for 3 jobs per week. Which means of course that you must apply for at least 6 jobs for every two week check you continue to receive from the Federal government.

For my first “FED-ED” claim form I had over 16 jobs to choose from to place on my form because that is how many jobs I applied for during the stated time period. I have been applying for anywhere from 4 to 16 jobs per week for over the last year or more. Needless to say, I’ve been looking for work.

The forms the EDD sends out are the same forms I received back in… say… 1982 or so:

Date applied: Ok, can do.
Company name: Um, rarely offered by Career Builder or Monster or Craigslist
Compandy address: Um, see above
Person contacted: They don’t give you a name! Okay, maybe 3 out of 5, not availabe via the forementioned sites, no, thats 1 out of 5 reality
Type of work: not a problem
Results: NOTHING, NADA, NO CALL, NO-EMAIL, NO “THANK YOU FOR APPLYING”

Okay – 1 out of 5 on Career Builder will say, “Thank you for your application!” blah blah

That’s it.

I’ve applied to over 200 jobs in the last 18 months – easy. Probably more if I keep a digging. Point is, now that I’m on the FED-ED I have to “state” my employment job search. I just wish I could go back 16 months and let them know all I’ve done.

I have good – no, great skills for what I do. I’m optimistic that the “perfect” job is just ’round the corner.

Time is running out.

Unemployed 2011

Pamela — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:36:37 +0000

Yeah. Unemployed since August 7, 2009. Husband unemployed since August 31, 2009. We joined the “ranks” of unemployed 17 months ago now. I’ve been looking for and applying to Admin-type jobs for 16 months with little to no success. My mother passed away on August 25 of 2009 so although I was “looking for work” I was able to take some time to clear out her home, grieve somewhat and basically try to get my shit together. Some say the “timing was good”. Is that what it is? When your mother passes away at the young age of 69 - just 2 weeks after you get laid from a job you loved – is that good timing? Just 2 weeks before your husband gets laid off? Well, “yes”, some say, because it “gave us time” to do what “needs to be done” in those circumstances without the “worry of work” hanging over our head. Ok. Whatever.

Grieving never aside, I still need a job. A great job actually. One like I had, that I really enjoyed at the California DOJ. I was a contractor so not a State employee. I even re-applied at SRA – that’s how desperate I’ve been to get back to full time work and medical benefits.

Husband, Bob, also needs an excellent job because he has excellent skills! He was working in the Silicon Valley for the last 11 years since we moved to the Sacramento area. Why was he still in Silicon Valley? Duh. Salaries are twice as high, literally, for what he does. The problem was that he had to live there monday through friday, and came home on weekends to be with me and his son. That sucked. We will be married 25 years in August 2011, but we’ve only actually “lived full time” together for 14 years. We don’t want to do that again. However, if the job market for IT remains stagnant as time moves on, his only option for keeping our home in the Sacramento Valley may be to take a job opportunity, again, in the Silicon Valley! Ugh! NO! We want to support the economy here in ther northern Sacramento area. We are both willing to work and be responsible, an integral support system to our community. We will keep on keeping on til that happens!

Scarface and Cold Case Theme Song

Pamela — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:47:39 +0000

I just love it.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1739107/5788690

Missing: Three Boys from Morenci – November 28, 2010 Story

Pamela — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:48:03 +0000

Update

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110224/METRO/102240448/1361/Charges-added-against-Skelton-in-sons–disappearance

I don’t think this story should linger on ANY blog, but there has been no worthwhile updates. I already thought “daddy dearest” was at fault here and this proves the theory. Asshole. Unless a new unsub comes along(?)

http://snipurl.com/1jjwkk

Let’s all pray for their safe return – believe in a God or not. Seriously.

Pitbulls and Parolees December 2011

Pamela — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:42:33 +0000

Something I feel strongly about is the welfare of dogs and cats. Something not mentioned alot in true crime, but, hey – it’s my site so here goes. The folks at Villalobos Rescue Center need help. Seriously. Please go to the site and give ‘em a $1.00 or a $5.00 or whatever more hits yur fancy. Thanks!

http://www.vrcpitbull.com/home.htm

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/pitbulls-and-parolees/about-villalobos/

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Pamela — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:35:37 +0000

Wow. What’an eye opener this book was. I was an at-home mom at the time – watching the entire Columbine incident on CNN. The misconceptions that were put out by the media over the next couple weeks, months were crazy and mostly unrealistic. This book provides the facts as they came about. I am in the middle of the book right now and so far it was a law enforcement fiasco that allowed Eric and Dylan to perform this rage upon their high school. Please read it and let me know what you think as well. I’ll post more thoughts when I complete the book.

http://www.davecullen.com/

Arizona’s Immigration Law

Pamela — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:44:06 +0000

I live in a border state so I’m more pro on the the Arizona Immigration Law than some of my friends may think I would be. I am 2nd generation on my father’s side (Grandpa Hans took the boat from Danmark and Grandma Anna took her boat from Sweden). They both came over on their own and went through the necessary hoops to became American citizens way back when. They did this in order to give their children the legal rights to their new country. It took time, it took being poor during the great depression. They did it. I am a true example of their doing it all legal and with successful results!

Grandpa and Grandma never took a dime from the Federal Government. They settled into the small community of Escalon in California and farmed the land to raise their children. It was a lot of work, it was legal and it is MY heritage.

Do illegals really think of their children when they cross the border? I hear so many stories of legal mexican decendants as they discuss how their parents came here to California, worked night and day for minimum to little wages, so their children would have a better life – only to have that parent, 5, 10 or 20 to 30 years later be deported! How is that doing something good for your children? Sure – your children are citizens, but their heartache at their parents NOT doing the right thing is what drives the protests of the Arizona Law (of the Federal law actually). This is happening to so many, so often, to parents, grandparents. I believe these pick’n'choose deportations is what pushes ALL of the protests for similar United States immigation policies. Currently, there is an “Anchor Baby” bill that would eliminate automatically making a child a US citizen simply by being born here. I think this should have been standard procedure decades ago.

To quote my favorite AM Radio dude, “Lookit”… Your parents screwed up by crossing ILLEGALY. No matter what the reason – it was wrong and unlawful. THEY as well as you, unfortunately, will need to suffer whatever consquences come your way. This statement is for ALL illegals in the United States. Even if you’re Danish and Swedish like myself. If you chose to live here permanently without doing the necessary studying, testing and paperwork to make you legal – you should be DEPORTED. Plain and simple.