We got a new furbaby today!  Per our pet-naming tradition, we named her after a character from an animated show.  “Claes” is from Gunslinger Girl.  Our other cat hates her guts so we have to keep them separated for now.  We’ve been through the process of introducing another animal to the household before.  I just hope it doesn’t take too long before they start getting along.  She’s so rambunctious it was hard to get a picture of her but here it is.

I’ve been in a funk for a long while and I’ve needed to remind myself to be grateful for all the things I have and people that did things for me.  This morning I got to thinking about a girl I knew back in high school.  She was a nice girl with a nice family.  When I went to her house, I felt free to be a typical teenage girl.  I was so happy I never wanted to leave their house.  I wish I knew if her parents were around.  I'd like to let them know those little glimpses of what a normal family was supposed to be like were a balm for my troubled teenage soul.

I’m also grateful to that girl for expanding my musical tastes.  I grew up in the 70’s when pretty much black people listened to black artists and white people listened to white artists with very little cross over.  She introduced me to AC/DC, Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, Judas Priest, Nazareth, Rush, Iron Maiden, The Scorpions and several other artists.  I hope wherever she is she’s happy and still rockin’.