Uh...What's with all of the Feathers??

So I walk in the house tonight with my arms full of stuff, and was greeted with what looked like a vandalized living room. When I surveyed the room, however, I saw that it was LOADED with feathers and several items knocked over and on the floor. "Damn it, CJ!" I thought. You see, my cat has been having a bit of a field day with some of the neighborhood birds. I have found a few deceased (and stinky) ones in my yard; another 'catbird' terrified and injured in my kitchen in front of my fridge, and my poor house/petsitter, Kara was greeted (on her 1st day here, mind you) by a decapitated bird in my yard (evidently she has a history with birds on Smick Street as well!).
So I grabbed the vacuum, got up ALL of the feathers and then put things back in place. Found CJ in the yard (just a-loungin' - he looked so proud of himself, the little sucker) and grabbed him, gave him a lecture, and put him in the house.
Talked to Dom for  a bit, put some soup on, and went up to change. As I was pulling my shirt over my head I heard an awful commotion downstairs! I came running down thinking I'd find either Jack having a seizure (God forbid) or CJ having his way with another bird. What I found was a Mourning Dove, also terrified, perched on my record collection. ('At least this one's still alive!' I thought, very relieved). Ok, so what do I do now???
Ok, I need a box, or a blanket, definitely some gloves. But first, put CJ in the basement so this bird has a chance. Gloves, found one...put a sock on my other hand (yeah, I know). I didn't want to waste anymore time, so I thought I'd do what the guy at the Skuylkill Valley Nature Center rehab did and just pick the bird up. Well...as you can imagine, the dove didn't take to that very well, and started fluttering & flying around like crazy! Scared the living shit out of me and I screamed at the top of my lungs while backing the hell up! Poor thing went straight up into the ceiling (like that game at carnivals where you hit the thingy with the sledghammer and the thingy goes up). There's still a feather stuck to the ceiling...
So then I tried to cover it with a tablecloth, and managed to do so, until it busted out! I didn't think I could shriek like that...you know, so loud and high pitched that you keep hearing it over and over in your head and feel dumber & dumber?? The dove wound up knocking some more stuff down, loosing alot more feathers, and found refuge behind my couch.
After a few more attempts, door openings, shoo-ings, and re-positioning by Mr. dove-man all over my 1st floor (and me talking to him telling him I wasn't going to hurt him), I think we finally came to an understanding (or we were both too tuckered to keep fighting). I gently placed my gloved/socked hands around his wings (and tried not to shit my pants) - and Mr. dove-y-face let me! What a strange but cool feeling to have a bird in your hands (that what she said)...
I placed him outside on one of my ottomans, and then thought twice about leaving him there (he was a bit banged up and had a mark on his head from colliding with my ceiling). But before I could grab him again he was off into the sunset...
More vacuuming, overcooked soup, a confused Jack, but a happy birdy ending!

Helloooooooooo....

It's been such a long time (I was reminded by a good friend tonight). I guess I'll work my way backwards. I had a bit of a breakdown on the way home from work tonight...just a mini...didn't last long. Work has been insane this week. I came back on Friday after an amazing week and a half in Jim Thorpe/Lehighton and not only did I get 4 new payroll/billing areas, but the billing process has changed. It's not horrible, and I work with some really awesome people/women, but I've got so much going on outside work, and when I'm working longer hours, sitting in a cubicle, I feel completely drained (and in pain much of the time) when I'm done, and all of my 'plans' for the evening get postponed due to fatigue. It's pretty frustrating, especially when there are so many things I want to/need to do. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life (just celebrated 6 years of my 'new' one), but I was having a rare moment of feeling completely overwhelmed during my drive home. I was on the verge of tears a few times, and then (thank you WXPN) I heard Amos Lee's "Windows Are Rolled Down" and immediately started feeling better. Then...I stopped at my parents to pick up some stuff and right away 'Mommy' & 'Daddy' made me feel so much better. I know there are people who take their parents/siblings for granted, and I hope to never get that way. I was reminded again of how incredibly blessed I am to have the parents I do. My friend Nadina has been ill and in the hospital (my parents have unofficially adopted her). My mom spent the entire day cooking meals for Nadina and THEN they contributed to the 'fund'. My parents' generosity never ceases to amaze me. So I left there feeling tons better.
My trip to Jim Thorpe/Lehighton was fabulous. Jack and I drove up on a Tuesday night (he did very well in the car with the exception of being scared when we went under an overpass). Got there around 9pm and hung out with the family/helped do wash, etc. until bedtime. Then helped some more Wednesday and got them off to the airport in the afternoon. Chulu, the 17/18 week-old puppy was a challenge, but so damn adorable. She not only pooped and peed all over the place, but also terrorized the 2 cats by jumping up on the kitchen table and eating their food! She took to Jack right away and wanted to play alot! He did very well, and 'told her off' when he needed to. She would nip at his face/neck for a while, and he would snap at her when it got to be too much, and then she would start kissing his face (as if to say 'I'm sorry...I love you'). My god it was so frickin' precious!
So for the 1st couple of days I did wash and cleaned up poop & pee. I didn't know a tiny pup could have that much poop in her! Mom & Dad came up Thursday to Friday, and I was starting to get into the groove and get Chulu a bit 'trained.' We had a fantastic time and Dad even talked to Michele, who owns Nutritional Needs in Jim Thorpe, for 2 hours! We both really connected with her and learned alot about what we should and shouldn't put into our bodies. I'm hoping it sticks and we both keep our committment to healthier living. Michele is an absolutely amazing woman...I'm so glad we met.  Daisy & Michael came up for the day Sunday (man, we had a blast and even took the pups to the river!) and Tree & the kids (Caeli, Christiane & Roy) came up Tuesday through Thursday (my last day there). We had so much frickin' fun! The kids & Tree were so much fun to be with and they really help alot. The weekend was jam packed with guests (11 women for a bachelorette party, 14 NY police officers...I loved them, a father and daughter in the apartment, and another friend/guest in Jimmy's room!). I never thought I'd be done doing wash! It was alot of work, but meeting all of those people made it worth it. Meeting people is one of my favorite things to do, and there are so many wonderful souls up there. The Mann family are truly amazing people (the owners of the Canalside Guest House http://www.canalside.org/) - you should definitely pay them a visit sometime! A few of my favorite places and people in Jim Thorpe are: Bear Appetite - great restaurant owned by Brian (from NY)...good food (fabulous desserts) and very reasonable; Flights of Fancy (mom's favorite!) - Phil is a great guy and ALWAYS treats us like royalty (and gives us nice discounts as well); Natural Impressions (Terri is character and fun to talk to!); Galerie B & Reinhard Gallery (Jean & Lisa are absolute dolls...love them!); Naturally Yours (fantastic shop with natural, organic, products owned by Jean, who introduced us to Michele...); who owns Nutritional Needs; Moya - one of our favorite restaurants...every single item on the menu is heaven!; Albrights restaurant - another favorite and currently up for sale - I really hope the new owners leave it as is.
Ok, I realize I probably sound like a member of the chamber of commerce! I guess I just love it up there so much and feel so at home when I'm there. It's such a high point for me over the last few months.
Back to reality (and my zipcode)...other than my crazy work schedule, I've got some good things to look forward to: Mom & Gen's birthdays and getting to spend time with the family (and next week Gen & 'the girls'); my trip to Orlando with Mom & Dad for Bobby & Maria's wedding (and a week of sunshine and fun!); seeing Nadina & Colin tomorrow; getting together with my new guitar player to practice some songs; a trip to San Diego to see Kieran, Grant, Aunt Bonnie & Uncle Jim; a trip to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello with a few good friends; and hopefully catching up with some friends I haven't seen in a while (Krysta, Shawn & Sofia, Mere & Steph, etc). The 'good' list is way too long so hopefully my little breakdowns will be few and far between!
Jeez...that was a long one, eh?  :-)

Temporary Innkeeper...

So I'm watching this place up here in Jim Thorpe for the family that owns it...fantastic people! My family has been staying here for years (usually our Mother's Day weekend getaway), and we've become pretty friendly with the family. They are wonderful people who have adopted 2 boys and have recently become proud parents to a 17-week old puppy. She's adorable, but she's giving Jack a run for his money (she likes to nip him on his face/neck...but he tells her off when he gets tired of it). Got here around 9pm last night and helped them get ready to leave today. Took them to the airport in Allentown (I drove a 15-passenger van...and didn't kill myself or anyone else!) and got back here around 5pm. Lots to do when I got back, and walked the pups along the canal (got caught in the pouring rain!), and now we're having some 'quiet' time watching BBC. I'm pooped! I love it up here though...I feel so at home when I come here. It's so beautiful, and rural, and peaceful. It's gonna be a full house this weekend (including about a dozen firemen/policemen, thank you very much!). Should be fun and interesting! Hopefully I'll have some good stories...