I wanted to give it a few days, just to make sure any stray pieces didn’t miss their mark!!

So much I’ve wanted to write, and if the truth be told, I SHOULD BE WORKING right now, but if I put this off any longer, it may never get recorded!

I’m on a 5-acre “farm” with my sister’s 3 horses, 2 dogs and “once feral, now kinda tame” cat…been here since last Wednesday evening and having a wonderful time!  Once I overcame the sneezing, that is.  I’m somewhat allergic to animals, dander, dust, you name it.  But, sniffles and sneezing behind me, I’m thankful that I didn’t get hit by space junk.

Which means, I can continue working the new 3rd part-time job, the original 2 part-time jobs AND I can live happily in my new digs, the in-law suite in The Villages.   I haven’t yet figured out HOW to get all the required work done, move, and have a life too, but I’m working on it.

But, I really wanted to write about the animals.   There’s Indy, she’s a pit bull mix, and she’s the QUEEN of the house.   Travis, a brindle pit mix of some sort, defers to Indy, WHEN Indy is not around!  I’m speaking of the two knuckle bone “treats” my sister and her husband left in return for abandoning their “children” for the week.   Indy took possession of both, and only today did I notice that Travis has been allowed (?) to have one for himself.  Although both bones are a little less for the wear, at least Indy has relinquished on to the subservient Travis.

One morning, I don’t remember which, Indy made her way from my sister’s room, out to greet Travis who was sleeping near the location where I spent the night…she actually touched him, her nose to his, in greeting.  It was so cute.  I’ve noticed that the horses are also friendly to one another…there is an older mare, Maggie who is in the same pasture/barn as McCloud, a Mustang rescue.   Valentine is in her own area, something about the two mares not getting along, I don’t remember the details.  But, I’ve often found McCloud over at the adjoining fence, seeming to be communicating with Valley Girl, as my sister sometimes calls Valentine.

All of the animals, Thump (cat) included, have distinct personalities.   I’ve learned that a treat in hand makes for a part-time friend, in every instance.   Even though I’ve stayed here on numerous occasions, the animals, in varying degrees, take some warming up to.  They are very well loved and taken care of, and I have to rise to the high bar that has been set!   After a day or two, or three, everyone seems to be acclimated and “life” goes on as usual.  Just in time for my sister and her husband to return home…and for me to get back to my life.

Already I’ve forgotten all of the cool things I WANTED to write here…about the dead squirrel “gift” Thump brought me the second morning I was here…my sister had warned me of the things that go bump in the hallway, when Thump hasn’t quite killed the offering he brings in from the wild.   I forgot to mention waking up on the first morning here alone to find a 15 lb cat sitting on my head!!  Forget the 8AM alarm, it’s time to get up when the cat wants to eat.  Oh, and the time when Maggie and McCloud, backside to backside, each demanding (quietly) his and her turn at scratching…Maggie isn’t one to warm up to anyone touching her but my sister, but when I tried using a brush on her, she found she liked it…so much so that AFTER she indicated (ears laid back) that she didn’t like it and I stopped, she then saw me brushing McCloud and decided she DID want some attention too.  McCloud had already backed up to me, indicating he wanted the area above his tail brushed/scratched…and Maggie agreed.   I only had the one brush, so I’d work on McCloud and Maggie would bump into him.  Work on Maggie and McCloud would bump into her.  It was comical, especially considering that Maggie has never really warmed up to me!

I’m sure there’s more I’m not remembering to record…but I have so much work to do, that I can’t indulge myself with writing right now.  Glad to get this much down.  And, glad to have the opportunity to get away from “it all”…I love my life in The Villages, not so much lately, hardly get to do anything “fun”, but as I’ve mentioned before, I LIKE what I’m doing for income, and so, now it’s just a matter of scheduling everything so that there is a nice work/life balance.

Until next time…

Working 3 part-time jobs, trying to continue also having “a life” here in The Villages AND maintaining the weight loss and the healthy lifestyle…and began the move - using a golf cart, the only way to move (mean that in the BEST way) - and, looking so forward to a life without crumbs, second-hand smoke, and responsibility for someone other than myself.

58.

58.

58.

Six days ago, the big 58.

sigh.

Stopped by the old stomping grounds and witnessed 5 baby gators - they are soooo cute!!!

When will UARS re-enter Earth’s atmosphere?

It’s too early to predict exactly when the spacecraft will begin its plunge to the ground, but NASA says it will likely be in late September or early October 2011. As we get closer to that time, the space agency expects to be able to predict more accurately the course and timeline of UARS’ re-entry. The timing depends on variations in radiation from the sun, as well as the spacecraft’s orientation as it loses altitude.