Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Theres another one...

Link is Mr. Photogenic
Well since I last posted I got another one. Yeah, thats correct, I adopted another child. I don't know what got into me but I just felt like it was my time to save another baby from an uncertain future. I had been seeing posts from the shelter on facebook for a while and there were so many kitties that needed a home. I know I can't save them all and I know some people will judge me for getting another one but so be it. Anyone that knows me knows I have a big heart (that's sometimes too big when it comes to animals) and I know when I am capable of handling one more.



Link all layed out in his cage!
Just looking through the pictures one in particular caught my eye. It was an orange and white kitty that was probably about a year or so old. I knew I wanted to get a grown cat because they are the least likely to be saved. Most people want kittens unfortunately. I wanted one that would be about the same age as my others so maybe they could get along better. I went to the shelter to look and I knew going there meant I was committing because I wasn't going to leave without a cat. I went and looked at all those poor babies and several luckily had been marked for rescue, so they were not available, but, the one I went after was so I talked to that little kitty for 10 minutes as he pawed at me like he didn't have a care in the world. That was it. I wanted him! So I went to fill out the paperwork. There were several hurdles I had to cross before they would even approve me to adopt. They said I had too many, but if I could prove that they were all fixed then they would approve me. Well that meant getting the vets that did their surgeries to let them know, and some of the places were closed. Then another lady pointed out that the cat I had picked out absolutely did not like other cats. Huge problem!!! She even showed me how when you would put a cat within inches that cat freaked out and went nutzo. Poor thing, I felt so bad at that point because I felt like I had gotten his hopes up. I couldn't get that cat no matter how bad I wanted. That cat was meant to be an only child! So I looked around some more and got to a cage with a black and white kitty with the prettiest eyes and white whiskers who stuck his paw out at me as if he were saying, "hey what about me?" so I stood there and he was just pawing at me wanting to play! She said that has to be one of the friendliest cats I've ever seen. She let him out and he went around to all of the other cages and rubbed against them. He let me hold him and didn't make a sound or seem upset or scared at all. Just a laid back kitty! I said this is my kitty! They had named him Link. I had to come back 2 days later after the vets were able to show proof of my other kitties surgeries to get Link and I was so scared someone else may have gotten him in that time. I drove so fast trying to get there after work, walked straight in and there he was! He was still there! It was meant to be! Finished all the paperwork and they sent Link off with me to go to his new home!



The ride home. Look at those eyes!
First day in his new home! Looks comfy don't he :)
He was not a fan of riding in the car though and he yelled the whole way home. Finally got him home and introduced him to his new brothers and sisters and they were not really happy about it. There was lots of hissing going on in that house for about a week lol. Link slept with me right next to my head everynight. I finally had me a cuddle kitty! Some of the others will cuddle occasionally, but Link would cuddle ALL THE TIME! I love it! Hes 2-3 years old so he's not a small cat but he is definitely one of the sweetest cats around!


My two boys! Yoda and Link.


 And here we are a few months later and he seems to be getting along really well with the others! Just took some getting used to and now we are a big happy family :)



 Gonna have to call it quits on getting kitties for a while. I bet everyone reading this is thinking, don't you say that every time? hahaha, yeah I do but I mean it this time!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Has it really been that long??


Who would have thought time would go so fast? It's officially been 10 years since I graduated high school. So much has changed in 10 years, friendships, relationships, addresses, appearances, job titles, etc but funny thing is I can remember so many details about high school its almost scary. It must've been because I had such an enjoyable senior year! Not counting the whole having to learn part (which lets face it I barely made it through) but the just everyday things. 
Yeah, I am about to ramble on about memories. If you aren't really looking to relive my senior year then I suggest you stop reading right about here.

Lets see, its senior year. As some of you may know the summer before my senior year I had a major surgery. Best decision of my life and I was feeling better about myself already! My best friend was Amy Fegaro and we did everything together! We have so many crazy funny stories we could write a book. We had a group that stuck together but we didn't just hang out with our group. 


Half of my senior year could be summed up spending my weekends on Lake Judson. Man, those were the days! Most everyone that went to Holt knows about some Lake Judson and has some kind of memory there. If not there, then Keene's Mill or whatever the designated "well pad" was for that weekend. Looking back I would say we were a wild bunch. Can't believe all that we've been through dodging police and getting stuck in national forests lol. 


Our whole group went to the beach for spring break which we considered our senior trip too. Yeah we were poor but we had a freaking blast. We rented a house and all stayed together! (We found ways around the being 25 to rent a house thing without getting caught too!) That was a trip. Like I don't even know where to start, alcohol in the washing machine, Amy flooding the dishwasher, Laura (ohhhh sweet Laura) counting, the "movies" we watched, our precious little ball of fire Jessica with her saran wrap dress, Brandy being my fellow shopper, and Stacy just being, you know, Stacy!




Back to the whole school part, since this is about my senior year, I remember the best class being Government/Economics class which was taught by our Principal Mr. Booth! We had fun in that class and I can honestly say he was a good teacher because I learned a little too! I also loved Medical Professions because Dr. Perkins always made it interesting and who can forget a rousing game of medical bingo! Plus getting to leave to 
go to clinicals was pretty cool too but it also taught me I was not cut out for the medical field. It takes a special person to be a nurse or doctor and I'm greatful there are those out there cut out for that profession! 


 Can't forget about Prom! I didn't really have a date but my friend Steven did walk me out for leadout so I wouldn't be that girl walking by herself hahaha. Thanks Steven! But I got to spend a fun filled night with my friends even though they made me eat at the Olive Garden (Ughh I am not a fan) and we made my jeep our own limo hahaha. We went to Trent's house afterward where we all spent the night with the plans of going to Waffle House the next morning. I'm pretty sure I don't remember that happening lol. Either way we had fun as we always did!


Another big part of not just senior year, but my entire high school career was softball. Anyone who knows me knows I played softball since I was 6. It was the Russell lifestyle! Me and my sis both grew up at the ballpark and its what we loved to do. I didn't see myself going to play in college even though when I was a kid that was my dream so I knew that my senior year was it. I knew I had to enjoy every game and know this is almost over. Its like ending a chapter of your life. I hated to see it go and yes I cried like a little kid after my official last game. I still, to this day, think back to the days of playing and just wish I could go back out there and do it again. Wonder if I could still pitch? I'd like to think I could! Maybe one day we will find out :) until then I will just have to cherish all the memories!






On to graduation. I remember it had rained and at graduation practice the day before they told us that it was going to be a last minute decision on whether it was on the field at the school or at a church. If it was at the church there was limited seating available which meant you could only invite 6 people. That would leave some of my family members out so we were all hoping that it wouldn't rain. We kept our 
fingers crossed. That afternoon me and Amy were bored so we drove to the school and they were setting up the chairs outside and we got so excited! It was going to be outside! We went home and got ready and came back at our time to be there and parked in my reserved parking place one last time for good measure :). During the whole ceremony none of us behind the speakers could hear what anyone was saying and you know how we get, some of the teachers had to tell us to be quiet lol. Go figure we would get in trouble for talking at our own graduation. All in all it was a great night! I couldn't believe I was finally a graduate. Later that night of course we celebrated, but I ended up leaving the party and going to hang out with Josh and Chelsea where we literally sat outside laughing and talking until the next morning when Tammi left for work hahaha. I miss those days! 


I know this has been a pretty long post but I just needed to let out some memories :) I hope ya'll enjoyed taking a little stroll down memory lane. There is so much that I didn't put in here. I could write for days about all the great times I had back then. Back when we didn't have to worry about much. No bills, no full time job, no mortgage, no big responsibilities. Now look at us. Half of my classmates are married with children. Growing up is tough but I think we've all done a pretty good job at it! I'm proud to be a Holt High School alumnus! I will always remember my friends from the Class of 2004! Can't wait to see ya'll at the reunion!