Help 'Em Out

Here's a cause that's close to my heart.  I used to work for a veterinarian, and later for an animal humane association.  I've seen many pets that could use a hand-up, and many shelters can certainly benefit from having a consistant food supply.  Most of the animals that have joined my family have been rescues, and they brought much love into my life. 

This project is fairly simple, and all it cost is a bit of time on the innertubes; something that we're all doing anyway.  Right ?  Right!

 For every blog that posts about the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive through September 19^th, PEDIGREE® will donate a bag of their new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelters nationwide.

Thursday, September 16 through Sunday, September 19,  the Pedigree BlogPaws bloggers will host a Blog Hop, to help raise awareness for the “Write a post, help a dog” effort.  So easy, even I can do it!

Just go here and follow the instructions.  Be sure to link back to Life With Dogs, because that's how it works.  Okay?  Okay!

Besides, it's free!  We all like free!

There is a FaceBook page here that if you click on like, a free bowl of food is donated to the cause as well. 

So head out and help.  I just found out about this today, and today is the deadline, so hurry!  I know, I know!  I'm always late to the party; but better late than never.

 
Do it for guys like Joe.  Or for the little loves in your life.  You won't regret it! 

Have a great Sunday!

Sunday Serenade

Time once again for the semi-bi-monthly-once-in-awhile-when-I-remember Sunday Serenade.  David Baerwald is absolutely brilliant with "Stranger."

Labor Day Looniness

How do you like to spend a long week-end?

I'd say most folks like to indulge in a bit of recreation, perhaps catch up on some movies, maybe get the garden ready for next year, go clubbing with some little white balls, possibly bask in the sun's waning warmth as it kisses Summer adieu. Not me! No sir!

I pass the hours doing an uber-clean on our (hopefully not-defunct) fridge! "Gasp! you say. Does the adventure never end at Vikki's house?!!" Oh no, my friends. I'm living on the edge!

Evidently, I left the refrigerator door ajar the night before.   (your door is a jar? NO!  it was cracked open! Can you tell I'm off my meds? Yes? I thought so!) 

Anyhoo; yesterday A.M. we discovered my slip-up. After looking up solutions on-line, and tossing much food stuff, we unplugged Ol' Bessie and transferred what seemed okay to the beer mini fridge down stairs.

That's when the craziness commenced. I had been dreading the task of doing my bi-yearly super-swab on the darned thing, so it was pretty grimy, I hate to admit. The ever-so-lovely design of our less than one butt cucina means that you must pull out the whole contraption in order to remove the shelves and drawers from inside; as you have to be able to swing the doors all the way on the hinges to facilitate this action. I rationalized my procrastination because I couldn't extract the ice box from its' cubby hole.

Man; there were some major UFO's inside!  (unidentified fuzzy objects)

So, today I attacked that baby with gusto!  I scrubbed and wiped and cleaned and shined and polished!  She looks brand spankin' new!

We just plugged her back in and trekked down to the Wal*Mark to purchase a thermometer.  The freezer side is working like gang-busters.  The other side; not so much.

Why work so hard on something that may not work?  Well, anyone who knows me knows the answer to that one!  If we have to have someone repair it, or toss it; I can't have anyone thinking I would ever let anything in my house get to that stage of ickiness!  It was also an exercise in futility hope.

Here's the finished product, for what it's worth.

                                                                Isn't it gorgeous?
                                                        
                                                        Happy refrigeration, people!

So; just to let you know. I'm okay and doing well after revealing one of my worst secrets. I feel a sense of release. I know that shedding light on a subject, and some examination is always good.

Does keeping that secret make one suseptible to certain calamities and afflictions?

I was cohearsed that revealing this truth would result in the death of loved ones or myself. Classic abuser mentality.

I am taking charge of my future. He will not continue to keep me silent. I'm no longer willing to let him keep me in the shadows. I thought that my anger and disgust towards him would subside if he was to ever pass; but I just felt like I had picked off the scab.

Time to allow the wound to close again.

I have no intention of letting him win again.

Ever.

How To Put A Name To This?

(This image found here.)


One of my earliest memories involves meeting my mother's older brother when I was about four years old. He was in his thirties, and for some unknown reason, he was very interested in me. Next to the dishwasher; by my grandmother's kitchen window on Kiowa Street. Warm sun rays streaming in the window. I remember the hair on the back of my neck standing up straight, and a tightening in the pit of my stomach.

A gut feeling; if you will.

Forty five years ago.

Several encounters in between.

Fragmented bits of recollection.

Flash forward to now. I am forty-nine. I drink too much. I can't shut my mind off at bedtime. I have closed off most of my wants and desires and my confidence is non-existent. I used to be able to bury this crap. I thought I was "dealing" with it. Getting over it. Moving on somehow. But this stuff keeps foaming to the surface.

It doesn't help that my father worked on the road. *Or that my mother felt that I must have done something to provoke illicit desires on her brother's part. I was just too irresistible. At four years of age. I know logically that is not possible, but in my child-heart; it's my fault.

To make matters worse, when we talk now of what I endured; my mother insists that I should have told of all the times he came into my room under the guise of a restroom break while they were all playing cards: the music up loud.

Selective memory on her part. I told her more than once.*

Then after several tries, I just gave up on the notion of anyone ever believing me. Or helping me. Why bother. I wasn't worth the effort, obviously.

I did tell her, but never my dad. I was too ashamed. I waited many years to tell her, because he had said that they would never believe me. That he would kill them or me--what ever suited his frigging mindset at the time. Totally textbook for a pedophile. I was too horrified to think otherwise.

Last winter, she called to inform me that he had passed away. Of liver cancer. Like I was supposed to feel some kind of something for the son-of-a-bitch. And her for her "loss." My thought was, "I'm supposed to feel what?"

What sucks is a part of me has guilt for feeling nothing of the passing of another human being. It goes against everything that I believe in. Liver cancer is a terrible way to die. I would normally feel awful for anyone suffering this sort of anguish. Not this time. I have a bit of trouble reconciling that with myself.

There was so much more between my first encounter with this bastard; and my last.

I know that forgiveness is freedom, but how do you reach that pinnacle?

I can't seem to quash the shame, the self-hatred.

Can I ever get over wondering of "What did I do to warrant this treatment?"

It still influences every day of my life!

How many bad choices have I made due to this history? Can I get a grip, and do better, instead of trying to numb the feeling of inadequacy?

I hope so. I'm not sure how a person sorts through something like this; but I must find a way.

If and when I do; I vow to help others who have been through similar situations.

I'd better get to work.

Native American Tacos

I was goofing off on Face book the other day, and someone mentioned Navajo Tacos. We all know what happens when a craving is planted around here. I had to make some!

They're quite easy to make. You just need a few items.

1-2 16oz. cans of Ranch style beans. I usually make my own version from a recipe that Sis taught me years ago; but for the sake of ease, this will do.

1/2-1 chopped white onion.

1/2-1 tsp. chopped garlic.

1-2 lbs. ground beef seasoned for tacos.

1-2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated.

1-2 cups shredded ice burg lettuce.

1 large red tomato, diced.

4-8 pieces of fry bread.*

Break up the ground beef into a large cast iron skillet heated to medium high heat, stirring and breaking into crumbles as you go. Add the onions and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle in your favorite seasonings for tacos. At this point; I add my favorite green chile, and about 2 table spoons of good salsa. Reduce the heat to simmer. Place the beans into a small sauce pan, heating them up on a medium setting. Let these two pans simmer for about 10-15 minutes, until nice and warm. Turn off the heat and set into a warm oven until you finish with the bread.


*Recipe for fry bread found here. I tweaked it a little by rounding up the baking powder rather than leveling it off to puff the bread up a bit more. This one tastes like the fry bread I remember from home.

Have everything ready before you start the bread so you can assemble plates right after the fry bread is done.

I just sprinkle a bit of grated cheese over the bread, and spoon a layer of beans, then a layer of meat. Add another healthy handful of cheese, and distribute lettuce and diced tomatoes on top. Serve with a good dollop of sour cream and a nice side of salsa.



Enjoy!

Saturday Snack and Sunday Serenade

This is by far the best sandwich I have ever had the pleasure of eating! Thanks to Dave and Sarah for introducing us to it.

Such an easy thing to make, and simple ingredients! I'm sure it can become one of your go-to's as well.


Fry up a mess of wonderful applewood smoked bacon. Be generous! You can never have TOO much bacon! Trust me on this! ;) Next, you'll need a good wedge of brie. Let it soften a bit and slice it in rather thick portions. Then, peel and slice thin a Granny Smith apple.
Now, divide and slice open a nice baguette. Brush with a light layer of unsalted butter or olive oil. Toast in the broiler or on the grill, just slightly.

Spread the brie slices on the toasted bread and add the bacon and apple slices. Add a smear of your favorite apricot preserves, and viola!

Enjoy!

And now, a bit of nostalgia.


(This image found here.)



Happy What's Left of Sunday!