Signs

I am a sci-fi fan. I like true sci-fi much more than than sci-fi/fantasy blended. I am a purist that way.

My son and I were watching a sci-fi double feature last weekend, a couple of movies I've watched dozens of times. I was surprised at how the M. Night Shyamalin's movie, Signs, really seemed to speak to me. I can't get the movie out of my mind.

There is a scene where the two main characters, brothers, are watching the TV and trying to find more information about crop circles and alien sightings. The younger brother asked the older, who was once a minister, if this was the end of the world.

The older brother says there are two types of people. One type believes that everything is a matter of luck, that life is a series of random events, with no reason or greater purpose. They will see these events as the end of the world.

The second group sees miracles and signs--reason and purpose. They don't believe they face problems alone. Those people won't see these events as the end of the world.

There have been numerous anxious moment during the past 6 months of my life. I walked away from a good paying job to teach in a small private school, but was laid off when enrollment declined. I was totally unaware that the economy would take such a downturn. I wasn't even told that the decision to lay me off had been made till it was too late to find another teaching job. I have spent months trying to make contacts, to little avail. I have had potential employers string me along, even after positions were all ready filled and there was no chance I would be hired.

During this time I've drained my savings--and financial security. I've been concerned about making mortgage payments. Though I will soon be working at a new job, I will be earning a dangerously low salary with no benefits.

As I watched that movie, the tears began to flow. The former minister asked his brother, "What kind of person are you?"

If I looked at the chain of events this last 2 years as simply bad luck, I would be crushed. I don't know if I could be strong enough to take blow, after blow, after blow. I might think it was easier to give up and go on welfare.

--But I have tried to stay focused and believe there is something out there for me. There is a reason and purpose for what has happened. I don't know where this path leads, just that I am to follow it.

Like the characters in the movie Signs, I'm confused and don't understand what is going on in the world around me. Like the younger brother in the movie, I am seeking the signs and am comforted in knowing that I am not going through all of this alone.

Dixie's Surgery

Dixie's surgery went well and after 2 nights away, she is back with her family that loves her. Now that Dixie Belle is home, Taz is acting like a normal, jealous sibling again. All is as it was.

Adam said that Dixie Belle was so eager to leave the hospital that she wouldn't wait for Adam to open the exit door. She kept ramming her head into the door, trying to get it to open. I knew she was a hard headed dog!

There's no place like home.

Sibling Rivalry

I have always thought it was very significant that a large part of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, deals with family relationships. A theme that appears over and over again is sibling rivalry. You see it with Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Rachael and Leah. What a sad trap those sisters were caught up in.

Maybe God wanted us to know that sibling rivalry is real and that parents should intervene or it can get out of hand and destroy a family. In fact, later in the Bible we see how it affected a nation in the case of King David and his children.

I was simply reminded of this because I took my dog Dixie Belle to the vet. She will be at the animal hospital for 2 nights. What does this have to do with sibling rivalry? Bear with me.

I didn't have the joy of having two children so I never had to worry about sibling rivalry as such. I have had two dogs, though. I inherited Dixie Belle when the neighbors moved and left her behind. She was accustomed to being tied to a tree. Her only entertainment was to eat through her collars. When she succeeded, she would run for days up and down the street until her owners would notice she was untied. She was used to interaction with other dogs.

Dixie liked the freedom of our backyard, but missed running with dogs and was very moody. We (my son and I) thought another pet might help. It did, too. They loved to play in the back yard.

The problems came when we became involved.

Dixie Belle and Taz, a Carolina Dog, would do almost anything to get all the attention from one of us. It was funny sometimes, bothersome other times. An adult lab/boxer mix on your lap is very uncomfortable--and if Taz could get on my lap, Dixie thought she belonged there, too.

Anyway, I was convinced that Taz, would love having two days of our undivided attention while Dixie Belle was at the animal hospital--but I was wrong. Taz saw me put the collar around Dixie Belle and lead her to the car. She was upset because she wanted to go with us. --But she was also upset when I got home and there was no Dixie Belle with me. She was really confused when it was bed time and there was no Dixie Belle. Right now she will have next to nothing to do with me. She may want all the attention when both dogs are at home, but she really does love her companion.

It is fortunate that love can overcome sibling rivalry.

We saw that in the Biblical case of Joseph and his brothers, too.

Dixie Belle's Surgery

My heart is heavy today.

I just took Dixie Belle to the vet. and they said that her heart seems strong enough for the surgery to remove a tumor from her leg. That is the good news. The bad is that I won't see her until Saturday when we will bring her home.

I am sure all will go well. This Animal Hospital is good and Taz had a similar surgery a couple of years ago. Still, Dixie doesn't know what is going on or why I have abandoned her. She is confused and I will worry--and say a prayer.

You dog lovers know just what I am talking about.

Getting Ready

I have had this week to get things ready to start my new job. I had some auto work done. Remember, a woodland creature decided to build its nest on my warm engine?

Now I am getting ready to have surgery done on Dixie Belle. She has a tumor that the Vet said was benign. I was unable to do the surgery until I got back to work.

This has really got me to thinking. Shouldn't there be some help for families who took on the care of a pet during good economic times, but are now struggling economically? The humane society in our city does give out one 20 lb sack of dog food per month, to needy families. Of course for me it is almost as expensive to drive across town to pick up the dog food, but I am sure this service is helpful to others.

My needs were much more serious. I have a dog that needs expensive surgery. Both dogs need their yearly shots, check ups, and heart worm medicine. A year ago these would not have been burdensome, but now it is almost overwhelming. I am sure that there are other people who are in the same situation as me. It seems as though organizations such as the Humane Society or PETA, that really loves animals would have addressed this--though PETA really lost a lot of respect after the Hurricane Katrina fiasco.

I will let you know how things are going with Dixie Belle. She will really be on my mind a lot for the next few days.

Good Things

It looks like I am going back to work. I was fingerprinted yesterday and they are ordering a uniform for me, so I think that means that it is pretty certain. It will be daycare work, a bit different from being a school teacher, but what can I say? The school's aren't hiring and I need a job. I am qualified, so I figured I'd better take it.

I was feeling a little sad about some of the things I wasn't going to be able to afford, taking this job, but something really nice happened. My aunt and uncle drove across country to check on a new job. (I think everyone I know is looking for work right now!) Anyway, I got to visit with my aunt and uncle as they passed through town.

My aunt lost some weight and filled up a suitcase with gently warn dress clothes; skirts, jackets, blouses, slacks and gave them to me. Trying on the clothes was like a 2nd birthday or something. I got about 9 winter blouses and shirts, 12 summer t-shirt style blouses, 2 skirts, 3 pairs of slacks, and 2 pairs of pajamas. The clothes were so nice, it was hard to believe that the clothes had been worn at all.

This did so much to lift my spirits. I felt as if this was just one way God was showing that He would bless me, even through family and friends. Yeah, I am going through financial troubles--as many people are--but I am still very blessed.

First Draft Finished !!!

At 4:18 a.m. I finished the first draft of the 2nd novel in my romance series! Yes, I was determined to finish it if I had to stay up all night--and I did. Though I haven't found a publisher for the first book in the series, I felt the need to go ahead and finish the 2nd book--since I have the time. I am so excited that I know how the book ended. As I do the revision, I can work out kinks in the story.

On another note, I went to fill out a job application today. It took me two hours to find a building fifteen minutes from my home. I followed 2 streets through several suburbs--and into some scary looking neighborhoods, too. I finally gave up and headed toward home when I passed the school's van on the highway, made a quick turn and followed it to the daycare center.

At least I know how to get to the daycare center if I get a call back and I made it home before the ice started started sticking on the road.

Facebook trouble

I wanted to find a way to contact all my Facebook friends and tell them that, for some reason, I can't post or update facebook from my home computer. I am not trying to ignore anyone. Until I can figure out what's wrong, I am unable to make any updated for the time being.

Hopefully I will be able to fix the problem soon.

Happy New Years

I planned to write something profound about the coming new year, but with the holidays out of the way, I feel more inspired to work on my manuscript. It is almost complete and I may finish it by tonight. What a nice way to start the new year.

Of course, I am also still job hunting. I applied for a local library position. That would be nice, spending all day surrounded by books. Sigh.