Everything in Between | What A Slacker!

Donations to the ARL and Other Stuff

May 202011

For the last couple of years Boris (that’s my cat) and I have been making donations and helping out our local animal shelters. When I make the donations I like to personal deliver them to the animals and take pictures of their little faces lighting up when they get a toy or a treat. Sometimes it is the first time they have been given a toy and it is so rewarding watching them finally figure out how to have fun with it.

I usally post the donation photos and adoption information of the animals over at Boris’ site — BorisKitty.com (he has more followers on his blog than I do and we won’t even get into all his followers on Twitter and friends on facebook).

Today I took over boxes and boxes of dog treats from work and a small bag of treats and toys for the kitties for the animals at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County as I have done MANY times over the past few years. When I took my first photo of a cat playing with one of the toys I gave them a staff member yelled at me for taking pictures and basically told me to leave. I had no idea what was going on as I said I have gone in and taken photos of the cats in their care on MANY occasions.

Needless to say I was very disappointed and a bit upset by being blocked from my project. I asked to speak with the director of the ARL who tried his best to placate me with the old “it has always been our policy” bit. Oh really, then why have I been allowed before without getting special permission to photograph? It seems they had some one posting photos on facebook that showed them in a bad light and instead of fixing the issues these photos pointed out to the world at large the sweep them under the carpet by banning photography. Doing that only makes it seem like they REALLY have something to hide doesn’t it?

I half expect to see an expose on them on Action News sometime in the future.

I was assured that nothing bad is going on and that they are only trying to stop that sort of thing from happening again.

Ok, wait an minute here…

If nothing bad is going on why do you have to stop photographs from showing it?

I have never liked the ARL all that much any way, especially since they are a kill shelter, and this new issue only reinforces that dislike.

Yes, animals you take in there are usually put down within days of going there and sometimes they are put down within minutes. But they had been cleaning up their act a bit, or so I thought, by implementing a fostering program, which gives the animals a fighting chance to be adopted out instead of put to sleep.

The staff there are never friendly, yes they are trying to do their job and I am sure most, if not all of them, dislike working in a kill shelter, but if you don’t like your job or you don’t like people quit. Of all the times I have donated I have never once been thanked or helped with the boxes (and I usually take a lot of boxes in). Surprisingly this was the first time someone not only helped me with the boxes (came out and took one of the last two inside for me), but also kind of thanked me and asked if I needed a receipt. (I should have taken them up on that receipt that pile of boxes retails at over $800.)

When I raised $11oo for them online with the first SCIFIpawty I never heard one word of thanks. I guess the HSBC spoiled me by sending out a thank you letter every time I drop something off at their facility.

I know there is bad blood between the ARL and HSBC but never once have I heard HSBC speak ill of the ARL. The director of the ARL freely spoke of HSBC and of his opinions of them. Not very good form for the director is it? But he was trying to place blame for the whole Skittles issue on everyone else except the ARL where it belongs.

Guess I will stick with groups that appreciate what I do for them like One By One Cat Rescue and Humane Society of Berks County. Two very worthy animal rescue groups indeed.

If you know of some other worthy shelters or rescue groups please let me know in the comments below.

Well At Least I Am Still A Pisces

Everything in Between, Odd Stuff No Responses »

Jan 202011

I did not pay too much attention to the new star signs when the news first hit as I am not into astrology, but I do find it interesting that along with moving some of the dates they have added a whole new sign to the line up.

Several of my friends and family have changed signs. Wonder what they link of their new sign? Does it match their personality or will they stick with the old one?

The new 13th sign is Ophiuchus (how the heck do you pronounce that).

The new signs and dates are as follows:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 – Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 – Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 – Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 – Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 – Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 – Jan. 20

Maybe this is what’s wrong with the world today? No one knows where they stand or how they are supposed to act or which horoscope to read in the daily paper!

Worlds Best Cat Litter

Pets, Raves No Responses »

Nov 072010

It really isn’t just a self-aggrandizing name, it really is the World’s Best Cat Litter.

I won a bag in a contest on Twitter and tried it out on our cats and I just loved it and so did the cats.

It is almost dustless, which was so nice when filling the box. No cloud of perfumed yuck flew up in my face.

Even without all the perfumes of other clumping litters it still kept the smell down too. Cat urine was almost undetectable when cleaning out the cat box.

The worst part was that it was only available at Petco or Petsmart which are not on my regular shopping routes.

It is now at Target and for a limited time there is a $3 off coupon on the 8 lb bags. Sweet! Now I can pick it up when I stop for a regular shopping trip instead of making a special trip to a specialty store.

Head on over to the World’s Best Cat Litter’s website for more information and to enter their contest to win a year’s supply of litter & a $200 Target gift card. Good Luck!

Snickers Peanut Butter YUM

Free Stuff, Raves No Responses »

Nov 042010

I had an opportunity to sample the new Snickers Peanut Butter candy bars, at least I would have if I wasn’t allergic to peanuts! So I did a private sampling with all my co-workers and friends.

The overall opinion was that is was a very tasty candy bar. This only made me want to try it even more!

As you can see by the picture it has all the YUMMY goodness of a regular Snickers but the peanuts are surround by very tasty peanut butter.

I had a blast handing the new treats out on Halloween, but I really, really wanted to nom some for myself. Just look at all the fun everyone working with Snickers & SheSpeaks.com had…

So go ahead and taste them (they should be in stores now) and then stop by here and rub it in how yummy they are and how I don’t get to eat any. Go ahead. I dare you.

Do I Hold Grudges? Nah! LOL

Junk, Rants 1 Response »

Aug 102010

Okay so if you are a person and want to express your displeasure with a company how do you complain? I voice my opinion to my friends and family and that circle has grown to include my online friends and family too. I also avoid using those products and services ever again, if I can help it.

Some examples of this are Comcast….hate them, their customer service, their product — everything but I still use them because cable companies are a monopoly and I have no other choice (don’t get me started on satellite TV). Thanks to my complaints here on my blog they did finally take notice and come out to fix both the DVR issues & the cable leading to my house.

Another example is the SCI FI Channel (now SyFy) for personal reasons I can not really spell out here, they did a great disservice to me back in 2000 & I have never gone back (only a few exceptions have occurred.

Then there is The Outback Restaurant. I some of the worst service by any waitress ever there, which was then followed up by the manager who only defended the waitress. I could not eat the food and was still charged. I actually had to take my complaint to RipOffReport.com to get the corporate office to notice my complaint and/or do anything about it. All they did was send me a gift card for a restaurant that I was never going to ever again (I have not been back in one in over 5 years). I gave the gift card to friend.

Latest example is BP. With this BIG problem in the Gulf I refuse to buy their gas (thank goodness there aren’t many around so I do not have to actively avoid them but I will drive by if there is one even if the gas is cheaper). Will I ever go back to BP? No. I haven’t gone back to using Exxon gas for anything so why would I forgive BP?

That being said…I think you now know the answer to the question…do i hold grudges? YES.

Seems like companies these days are more about PR then they are about actual customer service. Shame, because those companies will never see my business again.

I Don’t Like This Feeling

Depression, Health, Rants No Responses »

May 282010

I don’t like this feeling.

I don’t like feeling.

I feel strange. I can feel everything happening in my body.

I feel weak. Nauseous.

I can fell my heart beating in my chest.

I can feel every breath I take. Especially the ones I don’t take. My chest feels heavy. It is hard to breath. I feel out of breath when all I am doing is lying here.

I can feel my throat. I can feel the breath as it moves down my throat. How can air get caught in your throat? My tongue feels like it is pushing on the back of my throat. Pushing it closed.

I feel my head, the weight of my head. Yet I am light headed?

I feel my arms and legs. Feel them feel as if they are useless or not even there. Tingly but not tingly. Weak.

Remember to breath.

My stomach is empty yet I feel it working. Digesting. Gurgling. Pushing nothingness into my bowels, bowels that bubble and twist.

Headache.

I can feel my eyes moving about in their sockets. I feel every blink.

I feel like a stranger in my own body.

I want to go back to not feeling any of this as it happens, to blissfully feel nothing as my body works.

I don’t like this feeling.

I don’t like feeling.

Microsoft Is Now On The List

Computers, Rants No Responses »

Apr 052010

I have been using Outlook Express for years without too much of a problem until today.

I recently moved all my files onto a newer computer at work (we won’t call it new as it has been sitting there not being used since it was purchased in 2007, but it is a lot newer than the dying one I was using). I moved all my email files, address book everything over to the new computer and I was rather impressed that I did it without spending too many hours searching on Topeka (see Google’s April Fool’s Day joke for an explanation) for the help I needed in exporting and importing the files from old PC to new PC. Yay me. Pat on the back and all that.

Okay, that being said, I normally have the email spell check everything before sending it. Well this new system did not have the email set up that way from the previous user. So I manually ran the spell check only to find that it wanted to change every word to something funky. What the heck was going on here? So I looked under the hood, so to speak, only to find that the only language available for the spell checker was French! I don’t speak French and don’t send too many emails in French. I need English, any English would do.

A quick search revealed that the missing languages in Outlook Express is known problem with Outlook Express 6 and Microsoft Office 2007. From what I read this happens with upgrades from old office versions to this new one, yet this PC come with the programs installed on it. Apparently, Microsoft has no intention of fixing this and suggests you use a third party spell checker. Maybe an updated Outlook Express is in order, maybe?

Thanks to a very helpful blog post on Outlook Express being stuck on French, I was able to find the information I needed to either get the 3rd party software (they recommend Spell Checker For Outlook Express from Snapfiles). Upon further reading of the comments I saw that I could install/reinstall just the needed Office 2003 Proofing tools, which I did and so far so good. But who knows what tomorrows PC start up will cause. Wish me luck.

Don’t even get me started on their new file formats for Office 2007!

Get Moving With Moving Staffers

Everything in Between No Responses »

Mar 212010

Do you need packing help for your big moving day? Give Moving Staffers a call. They offer a wide range of service for anyone who needs to move their stuff from one place to another, whether it is a local move or clear across the country. They have a nationwide network of movers to take care of all your moving needs.

Nights Not Getting Any Better

Rants No Responses »

Mar 162010

Okay, so if witnessing the murder of a groundhog this morning wasn’t bad enough, tonight’s no better!

Now I am faced with stinky, runny cat poop to clean up and a spider.

I give up. Today is just crappy.

Going to bed now.

Night.

Horrible Way to Start the Day

Death, Mourning, Rants No Responses »

Mar 162010

I had a rather disturbing thing happen on the way to work and quite frankly it was a horrible way to start my day.

I was speeding along the turnpike as usual when up ahead I spotted a little groundhog trying his hardest to make it across the road. He got across the first lane of traffic fine only narrowly escaping the Mack truck only to be struck down by the SUV in the next lane.

His, hopefully, lifeless body came tumbling towards me at a high rate of speed coming to rest up against the cement medium.

I still can’t shake that image. It really messed me up most of the day. Poor little guy. Even if he had made it across where would he have gone? Upon reaching the middle of the road he would have been met with an insurmountable cement wall. Why don’t they make them with a gap in them every few yards? Or make the mediums out of cement columns instead of solid walls? Something.

Hair Follicle Drug Testing

Everything in Between, Health No Responses »

Feb 252010

Need to test your kids for drugs or maybe even potential employees?

Don’t rely on those pee-in-a-cup tests which only give you a few days worth of information. Use a more accurate hair follicle drug test with a longer testing range. You can now see results from as far as 90 days ago.

Parents with this easy test, you could actually test your kid without them ever knowing about it. Why risk that teenage anger being directed at you if you are wrong? Address the problem then confront them with the results. All you need is a hair sample to send off to the lab and in a short while you are armed with the truth. Couldn’t get any easier than that.

Note: if you do check out the info on the above site, the links at the bottom of the pages do not work use the ones in the header.

Need Help with Orange County Bail Bonds

Everything in Between No Responses »

Feb 252010

Get yourself in trouble in Orange County?

Need help getting bailed out?

Check out Orange County Bail Bonds.

Attack of the Giant Spiders from Mars

Health, Junk, Rants 1 Response »

Feb 232010

I was witness to an invasion last night.

Okay, not so much of an invasion as one giant spider from Mars.

Okay, it wasn’t from Mars.

It was from the ceiling.

Okay, it wasn’t giant either, but when it is only inches from your face hanging there with all eight of its evil little legs squirming at u in the light on the TV it looks friggin’ HUGE!

I detest spiders.

Okay, maybe that is a little strong.

I hate them.

Still too strong. I extremely dislike them and do not want them near me ever, especially two inches from my face when I am trying to go to bed.

My fear, disgust, distrust of them keeps me from even being able to squish them dead so that I can go on with my pathetic little existence asÂ a spider loathing human being. I was ousted from my own bedroom in the middle of the night from a creature the size of my thumb nail. How does that work?

I like Spider-man. I like spider themed jewelry and art. I even like watching them on the Discovery channel. I just don’t like them on my head.

Spider: 1

Me: 0

(If you are keeping score.)

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