Loren's Life

Center For Great Apes

This is Monkey Town.

www.prime-apes.org

posted by Loren @ 11:52 AM

Gardening Fools

We tore the hell out of our fronty yard this weenekd. My hands and arms are cdovered in scratches and blisters. I suffer.

About this time of year, our neighborhood has to clean up oak tree leaves about two to three times a week. One of the reasons why I bought a leaf blower. In one clean up, you will fill about two 50 gallon bags.

The leaves also cause a problem for the rest of the yeard. The grass won't grow, the plants and shrubs can't get the sunlight or water they need and the leaves pile up on the roof which can cause mold and ruin the shingle's. And at about 15K for a new roof, we are trying to keep that from happening any time soon.

So, on Saturday we cleaned up leaves (3 cans and 3 bags!), pulled weeds, wild ferns and dead clippings and trimmed down this massive tree/bush thing by our garage door. That stuff I mulched with the mower.

The yard looks great, but as of this morning you can't even tell how hard we worked! But as a reward we treated ourselves to Harmoni for dinner and shopped in their little market for goodies to take home.

Good thing the next two weekendds will be free from yardwork because of our trip to Monkey Town this weekend and Zab Holland.

posted by Loren @ 12:19 PM

This Blog Is Brought To You By The Letter "C"

Christina has given me the letter "C", so here it goes. The ten things I like that begin with "C", in no particular order.

1. Chris Holland
2. cats
3. cheese pizza
4. cuddling
5. Christina Holland
6. canines
7. clothes
8. cranberry orange muffins from Starbucks
9. cold beer
10. common courtesy

posted by Loren @ 6:26 AM

Mr. Jason Turtle

As you know, if you live in Florida, you are always pulling off the side of the road to rescue a turtle. I learned this from my mom, who was a nurse and was always stopping her car to help with everything from car crashes to turtle rescue. As a kid I would watch her run across highways in her scrubs to get a turtle trying to cross and take hime to a safer place. She started encouraging me and my sister to do the same, once she felt we were old enough to haul our fat hides across a five lane highway holding an angry turtle.

Now as an adult, I make it my mission to always drive extra careful in turtle areas and to get them off the road. I mean, it is our fault why they are wandering all over, we have pushed them out of their natural habitat with all the over developing.

On the way home Friday evening, there he was. The size of a Thanksgiving turkey and almost as heavy. He was trying to cross the street. I pulled over, picked him up and as I was running back to my car, a beat up truck full of sweaty landscapers yelled, "Thanks yuppi, you go girl, thanks for saving that turtle!"

I called Jeff at work and asked him to give me any random name he could think of, he gave me Jason. So, the turtle sitting in my front seat in now known as Jason.

When I got to my neighborhood, I carried Jason to one of the ponds, climed down the bank and set him free to live with the ducks. He paddled around and looked relieved and happy. I did ruin a very expensive pair of lined oyster pants with mud and turtle mess, but it was worth it.

Now, some may argue and say it's not wise to relocate a turtle, they are trying to get to where they are going for a reason. In my opinion, those are the same assholes who drive twice the speed limit and hit the poor things. In any case, Jason is with a nice group of pond people in a nice neighborhood where I hope he will live out the rest of his years.

posted by Loren @ 6:16 AM

Oh, Newt Gingrich...

You slut!

Maybe he and Ann Coulter can move to Vegas and open up a brothel together.

posted by Loren @ 2:26 PM

Best Friends Animal Society

They have 37 pets left to sponsor from the Middle East.

Network Home Campaignsmiddleeast.bestfriends.org About

Animals--the innocent victims in war zones More>
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middleeast.bestfriends.orghttp://network.bestfriends.org/middleeast
Created:7/27/2006Individual Members: 27Member Communities: 11
Thousands of animals were left homeless and injured during the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and Best Friends has been helping humane groups on both sides of the border. The situation has been especially desperate in Lebanon, where there is only one small grassroots humane society, Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA), serving the entire country. With their shelters destroyed, BETA (no relation to the U.S. group PETA) moved the animals to temporary refuge in the hills. Finding new homes for them in Lebanon was not a possibility. And there have been numerous other challenges -- like the fact that the entire country had run out of cat food.They have also been trying to help work horses and donkeys, and animals at zoos who were starving.Having assessed the whole situation, Best Friends decided that we could bes help by airlifting the cats and dogs to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and then to good new homes. These 295 homeless pets arrived here on Tuesday, September 26, 2006. After final health checks they will be placed in their new homes. Meanwhile, the folks at BETA will be able to rebuild their shelters and continue their lifesaving work for other animals around the country. Lebanese and Israeli rescue groups share the same mission of mercy, which transcends the political and religious conflicts between their peoples. We are privileged to be able to help them all in their critical work.HOW YOU CAN HELPNEWS updates are posted daily in the news section.DONATE TO THE RESCUE: We are still looking for approximately $200 per dog or cat to help provide shelter and care at Best Friends and then placed in a new home. Your donation is critical. We cannot do this without you. Please go to https://www.bestfriends.org/donate/NRF.cfm.You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions on our FAQ tab. Thank you so much for being part of this extraordinary rescue effort.

posted by Loren @ 6:19 AM

myspace.com

I was just curious, so I went on the site just to see what it's all about.

First thing is, I'm happier with my blog than I ever would be with a myspace.com page. Myspace.com looks so cheap and tacky, like a free dating service for losers and perverts.

In order to look at a page, you have to enter a name in the search engine. So, I entered a few names of people I went to high school with.

Either I'm really old and boring for 30, or these people just never grew up. I looked at this one girl's profile, who at 16 and 17 was my best friend, but we lost touch with each other (if you know me, you know how bad I am with keeping in touch). She looks the same, according to her pictures and journal, acts the same and still living in an 18 year old world.

At first I was sad. I looked at her page and the links to pages of friends we once shared. I kind of missed those people and the fun we all had and how I felt a little left out. But then, I realized I was the one who moved on, got a job, got a husband and a house in the burbs and pretty much live the ultimate suburban life and that I'm pretty darn happy. Then I got sad again because now I'm wondering if I "sold out". I have grown up to be everything I was once against. I work for the man, pay a mortgage, take pleasure in travel, good food, higher CD rates, getting my hair done and spend time with my husband, dog and cat. But then again, I'm not all that selfish. I'm a big advocate for animal rescue, conservation and education.

So anyway, I'm kind of just weirded out. I kind of looked at what my life could have been like, BUT I'm so happy with how it really turned out, but I also kind of miss those people, BUT I'm afraid of ever running in to them (I really don't think that will ever happen) because I feel like they would judge me. BUT I'm also proud of everything I have accomplished ang would love to show Jeff off and catch up with everyone, BUT I'm also afraid I would get really annoyed with them and tell them off with the whole grow up and get a job speach.

I think for now I will remember them of how they were, how we all were and just live with that.

Am I a sad sack or what?

posted by Loren @ 1:26 PM

It's More Than Just A Name, It's A Way Of Life

I don't THINK like a Stanford.

Could that be such a bad thing?

Good to know I still have some Faust in me.

posted by Loren @ 10:11 AM

All Spent

Let's just say the Stanford's are pooped.

Both of us have been having a hell of a time with work and our brains are just fried. So Sturday morning we did our favorite thing. Go to Old Navy and have lunch at Hops.

Jeff's party Saturday night was great. Everyone met at St. Andrews for traditional British food and good beer. After some pie, pasties and pints, the after party moved to Wally's for drinks, drinks and more drinks. Then the after after party moved to our friend, Brian's house. All I can say is that Jeff felt 38 the next morning.

Sunday he slept and recovered and them we had the family over for dinner and had a call from Karen and Paul from across the pond wishing Jeff a happy birthday. Bud and Sharon are back for about a month, then they return to NC.

Now it's back to work, and all I want to do is lay my head on my desk.

posted by Loren @ 6:39 AM

Happy Birthday Jeff!

I know, I know, it's on Sunday. But I may not have a chance to post until after that. I just wanted to wish my honey bunny a happy birthday. I love you!!!

posted by Loren @ 5:06 AM

Ann Coulter

Did you hear what she called John Edwards? I have always disliked her. Yes, she, like everyone else has a right to their opinion and freedom of speech, that is why we live in the country, but to call someone a faggot is way out of line.

I have been putting up with her rude and crass comments for years, her nasty attitude towards innocent people and beliefs and for just being her.

What is so funny is that all these tight ass Republicans love her for being judgemental and bitch towards liberals when in reality she just makes the Republicans look bad, even worse than they already are.

Whatever, she acts that way to fill some void in her life. She has to slam the positive because her life is so negative, she needs to feel better about herself.

Reagrdless, she's a bitter, dried up skank who will die alone and the world will cheer.

Ps. You know in an ultimate cage match between her and Hillary, Clinton would kick her ass in five seconds flat.

posted by Loren @ 12:28 PM

I Got One!

After years of wondering why and what purpose they serve, I finally broke down and bought one.

A leaf blower.

I suffer all the time cleaning up leaves. We have four full grown oak trees on our property and about eight others that cover our house. Our yard always has the most leaves, but we are the only house weithout a leaf blower. You could only dream on how long that can take to clean up. It sucks.

I bought a 12 amp electric Toro. It's a beautiful little machine, ready to be tested this weekend. Ready to make my life easier.

I also need to clean up before we get busted by the HOA police for an un maintained yard. Even though the other houses are buried under mountains of leaves, I'm not taking any chances.

posted by Loren @ 9:34 AM