I know it's silly as heck, because she was an animal, but it doesn't matter. She drove me nuts, nipping at my ankles and feet and was underfoot a lot when I lived at home in Muscatine, and I haven't seen her since Christmas, but I'm gonna miss her.
I'm talking about the family cat, Athena. She died sometime either last night or this morning at home. She was sixteen, which translates to 96 in cat years.
I was sixteen years old when my brother, Dan, got her and her brother Aires from a litter of kittens that a family friend had. Aires died back in 2003 right after Christmas. But I digress...
Dan was a huge cat person, so he liked having the kittens around. They were pretty darn rambunctious back then, jumping on people and scratching my legs (and pantyhose) before getting de-clawed. I remember seeing them lay down at both ends of my nephew (he was a newborn at the time), acting like they were his guard kitties.
A couple of years later, I was getting ready to start college and one of my friends was dating my brother at the time and hanging out at the house a lot (to the point where she was leaving things there). Athena would go up to my brother's room and bring down pairs of socks my friend would leave up there, carrying them in her mouth. We used to joke that she was a jealous kitty and trying to kick my bro's girlfriends out of the house.
I also remember seeing my oldest nephew get batted by Athena's paws every time he'd walk by where she was sprawled on the floor, and he'd always say, "Don't, kitty!" It took him some time to learn how to say her name.
I'm feeling sad, because this is another reminder that things change and don't stay the same. When I go home to Muscatine to visit, Athena won't be there, running to the door to greet me. I won't hear her meowing, and try to meow back at her. Yeah, she was a pain (especially when I tried to keep her from getting cat hair all over my outfit for my date last year and keep her from nipping at said date's ankles), but she was a part of the family, and I am going to miss her. *snif*
Slan go foill...
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
25 Things of Randomness
I actually did this back in December on Facebook and forgot about putting it here. Better late than never, I suppose...
1. I'm a huge fan of Anuna, an Irish choral group.
2. I'm a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
3. As of late, I've been selling fashions for J.Crew.
4. I recently moved out of my parents' house to take a job in Coralville.
5. I love going to Erin Feis in Rock Island every September.
6. While I haven't found my eternal companion, I recently got back into the dating scene, sort of.
7. I love singing along with my CDs.
8. I recently got an MP3 player.
9. I miss seeing my parents every day.
10. I was hoping to be in the Nauvoo Pageant next summer, but now work is going to make that impossible.
11. I'm hoping to take a couple Institute of Religion classes this semester.
12. I'm an avid reader. Just ask my mom and roommate.
13. I love going to my best friend's orchestra concerts.
14. I've seen Riverdance three times.
15. I love the Irish band The Chieftains.
16. I'm learning how to speak Spanish.
17. I can say a few Irish Gaelic phrases.
18. I love Celtic Woman.
19. I took to the musical theatre stage for the last time this past summer.
20. I love hanging out with my other best friend; she's like a sister to me.
21. My testimony has grown since I've moved out on my own.
22. I have two older brothers, Dan and Dave.
23. I want to go to Ireland someday.
24. I've been to Mexico, Canada, and London, England.
25. I'm hoping to find a voice teacher and start taking voice lessons again.
1. I'm a huge fan of Anuna, an Irish choral group.
2. I'm a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
3. As of late, I've been selling fashions for J.Crew.
4. I recently moved out of my parents' house to take a job in Coralville.
5. I love going to Erin Feis in Rock Island every September.
6. While I haven't found my eternal companion, I recently got back into the dating scene, sort of.
7. I love singing along with my CDs.
8. I recently got an MP3 player.
9. I miss seeing my parents every day.
10. I was hoping to be in the Nauvoo Pageant next summer, but now work is going to make that impossible.
11. I'm hoping to take a couple Institute of Religion classes this semester.
12. I'm an avid reader. Just ask my mom and roommate.
13. I love going to my best friend's orchestra concerts.
14. I've seen Riverdance three times.
15. I love the Irish band The Chieftains.
16. I'm learning how to speak Spanish.
17. I can say a few Irish Gaelic phrases.
18. I love Celtic Woman.
19. I took to the musical theatre stage for the last time this past summer.
20. I love hanging out with my other best friend; she's like a sister to me.
21. My testimony has grown since I've moved out on my own.
22. I have two older brothers, Dan and Dave.
23. I want to go to Ireland someday.
24. I've been to Mexico, Canada, and London, England.
25. I'm hoping to find a voice teacher and start taking voice lessons again.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Shining Water by Anuna
In all my time of having this blog, I'm surprised I haven't mentioned this Irish choir very much. They're my favorite group of all time (right up there with The Moody Blues). Here's one of their vids off of YouTube. I love this song. Enjoy!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Poem out of a church magazine...
I actually found this poem in the June 2009 Ensign, and it was exactly what I needed. In fact, I'm going to Xerox it and hang it up in my cubicle at work.
Walking With Two Sisters by Larry Hiller
Faith walks before me,
Holding up her lamp
As I try not to stumble in the ink-dark hours before the dawn.
Her light illuminates
One step and then another.
Beside me, Hope, arm linked with mine, encourages and steadies.
Sometimes in the tedium,
Distracted by the pain,
My mind begins to wander, then my feet. I hesitate.
Unsure, I look to Hope.
Her hand takes mine.
The touch reminds me of another hand held out to me,
One pierced and scarred
Yet oh so tender
Lifting me and blessing me when I had fallen and despaired.
Remembering,
I move ahead
Buoyed up by Hope, who sees the end with perfect clarity.
Slan go foill...
Walking With Two Sisters by Larry Hiller
Faith walks before me,
Holding up her lamp
As I try not to stumble in the ink-dark hours before the dawn.
Her light illuminates
One step and then another.
Beside me, Hope, arm linked with mine, encourages and steadies.
Sometimes in the tedium,
Distracted by the pain,
My mind begins to wander, then my feet. I hesitate.
Unsure, I look to Hope.
Her hand takes mine.
The touch reminds me of another hand held out to me,
One pierced and scarred
Yet oh so tender
Lifting me and blessing me when I had fallen and despaired.
Remembering,
I move ahead
Buoyed up by Hope, who sees the end with perfect clarity.
Slan go foill...
Friday, May 22, 2009
What is wrong with me?!?!?!
There's got to be something wrong with me.
I just found out that a friend of mine from church got engaged last night. Yes, I'm happy for her, but it brings out the question: what is wrong with me that I can't find someone for myself? I'm loving, I'm caring. Okay, I can't really cook, but I'm working on that. But something is definitely lacking in me because I'm still, sadly, single!
Did I spend more time with my books than I did at singles activities? Am I spending more time reading than flirting? Is Ann right? Do I need to "sex" myself up, lose weight, wear more makeup, maybe wear more revealing clothes?
I suppose I have some thinking to do.
Slan go foill...
I just found out that a friend of mine from church got engaged last night. Yes, I'm happy for her, but it brings out the question: what is wrong with me that I can't find someone for myself? I'm loving, I'm caring. Okay, I can't really cook, but I'm working on that. But something is definitely lacking in me because I'm still, sadly, single!
Did I spend more time with my books than I did at singles activities? Am I spending more time reading than flirting? Is Ann right? Do I need to "sex" myself up, lose weight, wear more makeup, maybe wear more revealing clothes?
I suppose I have some thinking to do.
Slan go foill...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
For the first time in a very long time...going back to Pat McGuire's...
Yes, last night for the first time in MONTHS, my parents and I went to Pat McGuire's to see the Irish band Stephen's Green. My intention was to go so I could say goodbye to my friends there since I really didn't get a chance to do so when I moved to Coralville.
My parents picked me up at my apartment around 3:45 pm and we took the hour long drive to Davenport and got to Pat McGuire's around quarter to five. Mom dropped Dad and me off and then went to run an errand. She came back a little while later.
Because we hadn't been able to get a reservation, we ended up sitting at the bar for a bit. But some of the reservations were canceled, so we were able to move to our old table before the first set. First set was the usual stuff, with a new song tossed in (and I for the life of me can't remember what the name was!). They also played The Wild Colonial Boy, A Rainy Night in Soho, and Danny Boy for us.
Second set brought German Clock Winder, Charlie and the MTA, Finnegan's Wake, and The Unicorn! (among other selections!) After several months of being away, it felt so nice to be back on that stage being a Unicornette! Next month, I'd love to bring Melissa with me so we can be Unicornettes together. Then again, I'm not sure she'd be comfortable there.
I also got a once in a lifetime chance: I got to sing with the band! It wasn't until much later, during the third set, but it was so much fun. I sang "Carrick Fergus", using the Celtic Woman lyrics to Andy and Martin's accompaniment. Watch this space and Facebook for pics coming up of my performance.
I also got to see some old friends and let them know what I've been up to. Tommy, the manager of Pat McGuire's, commented that I seemed older, more seasoned. I told him that living on my own in Coralville did that to me.
We also made a tentative reservation for June 30th when the band comes back, but it will depend on my work schedule and how Mom's feeling. But hopefully, it will pan out and I'll get to see the old gang again.
Slan go foill...
My parents picked me up at my apartment around 3:45 pm and we took the hour long drive to Davenport and got to Pat McGuire's around quarter to five. Mom dropped Dad and me off and then went to run an errand. She came back a little while later.
Because we hadn't been able to get a reservation, we ended up sitting at the bar for a bit. But some of the reservations were canceled, so we were able to move to our old table before the first set. First set was the usual stuff, with a new song tossed in (and I for the life of me can't remember what the name was!). They also played The Wild Colonial Boy, A Rainy Night in Soho, and Danny Boy for us.
Second set brought German Clock Winder, Charlie and the MTA, Finnegan's Wake, and The Unicorn! (among other selections!) After several months of being away, it felt so nice to be back on that stage being a Unicornette! Next month, I'd love to bring Melissa with me so we can be Unicornettes together. Then again, I'm not sure she'd be comfortable there.
I also got a once in a lifetime chance: I got to sing with the band! It wasn't until much later, during the third set, but it was so much fun. I sang "Carrick Fergus", using the Celtic Woman lyrics to Andy and Martin's accompaniment. Watch this space and Facebook for pics coming up of my performance.
I also got to see some old friends and let them know what I've been up to. Tommy, the manager of Pat McGuire's, commented that I seemed older, more seasoned. I told him that living on my own in Coralville did that to me.
We also made a tentative reservation for June 30th when the band comes back, but it will depend on my work schedule and how Mom's feeling. But hopefully, it will pan out and I'll get to see the old gang again.
Slan go foill...
Friday, May 8, 2009
April was a very hard month for me...
Yes, April was a very hard month for me, because of my work.
Because of my work, I was forced to work on Sundays for a month. It was absolutely horrible; having to break the Sabbath because of work. I felt as if my spirit was becoming sick. Even though I was able to take the Sacrament at IC 2nd Ward, and go to the Spanish language Sacrament meeting, it just wasn't the same as attending all three of my meetings and getting the fellowship and love from my ward family.
However, I did learn something. I learned to truly appreciate the Sabbath and strive to keep it holy even more. I didn't really get what it meant to me until I had to lose it for a month. That month was torture and I hope I never have to go through that again.
Slan go foill...
Because of my work, I was forced to work on Sundays for a month. It was absolutely horrible; having to break the Sabbath because of work. I felt as if my spirit was becoming sick. Even though I was able to take the Sacrament at IC 2nd Ward, and go to the Spanish language Sacrament meeting, it just wasn't the same as attending all three of my meetings and getting the fellowship and love from my ward family.
However, I did learn something. I learned to truly appreciate the Sabbath and strive to keep it holy even more. I didn't really get what it meant to me until I had to lose it for a month. That month was torture and I hope I never have to go through that again.
Slan go foill...
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