This year I found myself really wondering where Halloween came from. People have their different ideas as to where it came from, who brought it over, yada yada. So I did some good old research on Wikipedia. Let me tell you it is rather interesting. It states that it is believed that Halloween is heavily influenced by the Christians "All Saints Day," and "All Souls Day" (also known as Hallowmas, All Hallows, and Hallowtide). This fell on November 1st and 2nd; it was a time for honoring the Saints and praying for the recently departed who had yet to reach heaven. At the end of the 12th century these days become holy days across Europe that involved the ringing of bells for souls in purgatory, and something called "souling." Souling is explained as "the custom baking of bread or soul cakes for 'all crysten (christened) souls.'"
Halloween wasn't really introduced or recognized as a holiday until the 19th century, when the Irish and Scottish immigrated over. It says even then it was confined to the immigrants, and didn't mainstream until the mid 19th century. By the 20th century the celebration of Halloween had extended coast to coast.
Ever wonder who thought of going from house to house trick-or-treating for candy? Well, it actually dates back to the Middle Ages. It stems from when the poor would go door to door Hallowmas (Nov. 1) and receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (Nov. 2). Trick-or-Treating is also known as "Guising." Children going Guising in Scotland and Ireland would dress up in disguises and go door to door to receive food or coins. There is a record dated back in 1895 in Scotland on Halloween of "masquearders" in disguies carrying carved turnips to receive cake, fruit, and money. The first repor of Guising in North American was recorded in Kingston, Ontario in 1911.
Again I found all my info on Wikipedia! Don't know if you found that as interesting as I did. BUT there you go! Ha ha.
As for my progress on Crime in Punishment . . . let's just say that this book is a bit harder to read than Dracula. I don't know what it is. Fydor is a much "deeper" writer. He really digs deep into the complexity of the mind. I'm not really used to that and perhaps that is what is throwing me off. Hopefully soon I will get into it, because it seems like it has a lot of potential of becoming a great story! Cross your fingers. I hope to get further than the 3rd chapter. Its usually here where I stop reading. Haha!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Good 'Ol Life
So Muggles is doing better. She is being more herself, although early this morning she peed on Macy's bed. She has gained weight. Mom and I would have liked to see her gain more than she did, but we'd rather see a tiny gain than a loss. She is eating on her own, and playing. The "paw" or "pad" (which ever you would like to call it) is still paralyzed. The vet wanted to see her on Saturday so mom and I took her. The vet talked to a neurologist for cats who said it could be inflammation of Muggle's nerves, or a very teeny tiny blood clot that is blocking only the nerves to her paw. However, they don't think this could be the case because per foot (even down to her toes) is warm. If it were a clot her foot would be cold. Yay no clot! We are clinging to the hope that it is inflammation and the use of her foot will come back. The vet did say that they could give her an oral prescription of steroids, but we'd rather not take that route as every medication that they have given my cat so far has ended up causing issues.
Life is going good. I have my semesters pretty much planned out. My only hope is that the classes I want to take each semester are being offered ha ha! If not I it wont be a big deal I can just shift things around. No biggie. This past weekend my mom painted my bedroom. I picked out the colors, and if I do say so myself it looks awesome! I'm excited! I am going to be going to Hobby Lobby and other stores looking for fun things to decorate my room with. Time to make my bedroom my bedroom. It is finally starting to feel like my space.
There is something that I want to rant about. I cannot tell you how many times I have re-written this paragraph. I don't want to sound like a nagger, or a complainer. All I will say is this:
Actions Speak Louder Than Words!
That's all :)
Okay, I finished Dracula by Bram Stoker. The book is written in first person. I'm not a big fan of books written in this manner, but it was well done. The book is not written in your typical way like let's say the Twilight sagas are. Each chapter is comprised of journal entries, letters, and telegrams from the five main characters. The journal entries, letter, and telegrams tell the story. It was weird at first, but I grew to like it. Of course there are those few chapters were you find yourself snoring and wanting to move on to better, and more exciting parts. But what book doesn't have them?
It was a fun read. It was done well. There were parts that I absolutely loved and parts that I just didn't care for. I don't want to spoil the ending in case you haven't read the book or seen the movie . . . But Dracula is a VAMPIRE!! Ha ha kidding. If you didn't already know that then there is something wrong. Anyway, the ending was blah. It could have been a lot better . . . That is all I am going to say.
Now that I have finished Dracula, my next classic novel read is going to be Crime and Punishment by Fydor Dostoevsky. Wish me luck. I have tried 3 times to read this in the past ha ha.
Life is going good. I have my semesters pretty much planned out. My only hope is that the classes I want to take each semester are being offered ha ha! If not I it wont be a big deal I can just shift things around. No biggie. This past weekend my mom painted my bedroom. I picked out the colors, and if I do say so myself it looks awesome! I'm excited! I am going to be going to Hobby Lobby and other stores looking for fun things to decorate my room with. Time to make my bedroom my bedroom. It is finally starting to feel like my space.
There is something that I want to rant about. I cannot tell you how many times I have re-written this paragraph. I don't want to sound like a nagger, or a complainer. All I will say is this:
Actions Speak Louder Than Words!
That's all :)
Okay, I finished Dracula by Bram Stoker. The book is written in first person. I'm not a big fan of books written in this manner, but it was well done. The book is not written in your typical way like let's say the Twilight sagas are. Each chapter is comprised of journal entries, letters, and telegrams from the five main characters. The journal entries, letter, and telegrams tell the story. It was weird at first, but I grew to like it. Of course there are those few chapters were you find yourself snoring and wanting to move on to better, and more exciting parts. But what book doesn't have them?
It was a fun read. It was done well. There were parts that I absolutely loved and parts that I just didn't care for. I don't want to spoil the ending in case you haven't read the book or seen the movie . . . But Dracula is a VAMPIRE!! Ha ha kidding. If you didn't already know that then there is something wrong. Anyway, the ending was blah. It could have been a lot better . . . That is all I am going to say.
Now that I have finished Dracula, my next classic novel read is going to be Crime and Punishment by Fydor Dostoevsky. Wish me luck. I have tried 3 times to read this in the past ha ha.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Just Another Day
I love to read. If there is something that I love to do as much as I love writing it is reading. I go through books like a fat boy goes through a box of donuts. I cannot get enough of books. I'm more of the fantasy, mystery kind of books. Every so often I will read a romance book but they are not my fancy. I have read the occasional biography, but I find them uninteresting. As of lately I have gone through every book in my book case, books given to me by my parents, and every book that my biological mother has given me (which amounts to a lot!).
I have been so stuck with trying to figure out what to read next that I have now gone through the Harry Potter series for the umpteenth time. I have always wanted to read the classics, but have found some kind of excuse not to. Now I have no excuse, and I am going to challenge myself to get through as many of the classics as I can in a year starting today. I will then write my thoughts on the books here (cause I can :) ).
In the spirit of Halloween the first classic I have decided to read is Dracula by Bram Stoker. So far I kind of like it. I'm about two chapters in and I find it rather interesting. They style of writing is rather interesting as well. I have to remember that it was written back in 1897, and the writing styles are far different from they are now . . . well kind of.
For those of you who are interested in the kitty issues our family has been enduring here is your update:
Muggles is doing better. She is more prone to eat on her own, thank heavens! Her right hind leg is still paralyzed :( It is showing improvement, though the improvement is VERY small. You can tell it bugs her that her leg is not working, and that makes me really sad. However, she is becoming more playful! Macy was able to get her to play with some yarn a few days back, and since then she has been playing a bit more each day. YAY!
For some reason she has taken a disliking to her litter box. She has peed in my closet, my bed (while I was sleeping in it), and the laundry room. She has also pooped in my closet, on Macy's bedroom floor, and on a pink blanket beside her litter box. As of right now those are the only places we know of that she has done her business. We have done everything we can possibly think of to get her to use a litter box. We have even gone as far as placing the litter on a garbage bag on the floor so she didn't have to try and hoist herself into the box. She now has two litter boxes (her new one has a ramp that goes into the box so she doesn't have to really jump); one upstairs and one downstairs, and she has yet to use either one . . . Baby steps I have to keep telling myself. I'd rather have her peeing on the carpet than in the hospital in kidney failure.
I have been so stuck with trying to figure out what to read next that I have now gone through the Harry Potter series for the umpteenth time. I have always wanted to read the classics, but have found some kind of excuse not to. Now I have no excuse, and I am going to challenge myself to get through as many of the classics as I can in a year starting today. I will then write my thoughts on the books here (cause I can :) ).
In the spirit of Halloween the first classic I have decided to read is Dracula by Bram Stoker. So far I kind of like it. I'm about two chapters in and I find it rather interesting. They style of writing is rather interesting as well. I have to remember that it was written back in 1897, and the writing styles are far different from they are now . . . well kind of.
For those of you who are interested in the kitty issues our family has been enduring here is your update:
Muggles is doing better. She is more prone to eat on her own, thank heavens! Her right hind leg is still paralyzed :( It is showing improvement, though the improvement is VERY small. You can tell it bugs her that her leg is not working, and that makes me really sad. However, she is becoming more playful! Macy was able to get her to play with some yarn a few days back, and since then she has been playing a bit more each day. YAY!
For some reason she has taken a disliking to her litter box. She has peed in my closet, my bed (while I was sleeping in it), and the laundry room. She has also pooped in my closet, on Macy's bedroom floor, and on a pink blanket beside her litter box. As of right now those are the only places we know of that she has done her business. We have done everything we can possibly think of to get her to use a litter box. We have even gone as far as placing the litter on a garbage bag on the floor so she didn't have to try and hoist herself into the box. She now has two litter boxes (her new one has a ramp that goes into the box so she doesn't have to really jump); one upstairs and one downstairs, and she has yet to use either one . . . Baby steps I have to keep telling myself. I'd rather have her peeing on the carpet than in the hospital in kidney failure.
Pumpkins, Crows, and Witches . . . OH MY!
If you haven't ever gone to Gardner Village during the month of October I suggest you go! It is a fun little place full of fun little shops, boutiques, and a fabulous restaurant called Archibald's. During October they host “Witchfest,” where the place is decorated for Halloween and have strategically placed witches through out the village. They have fun little activities like “Ride to a Witch” (its like a hay ride), Breakfast with a Witch, and Witchpalooza which is a music and dinner show. I haven't done any of this so I cannot give you my opinion on any of the activities, but I can say if you are looking for a fun time for a mother daughter thing the shopping is fun. I also highly suggest you go to the restaurant Archibald's. There is only one catch with this restaurant . . . you need to get there rather early (especially on the weekend) and place your name on the list. It is wildly popular so they get busy. My Mom, Macy, and I went on a Saturday and were placed on a 2 hour waiting time. HOWEVER, do not be discouraged from the thought of a long wait, because the food is good, and they currently have a Pumpkin Cake that is very delicious! So if you are looking for a fun time with your daughters over the weekend this October go! You can also check them out here www.gardnervillage.com
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Cloud 9
I found out today that my Spring Semester is completely taken care of :) No financial strains for me! I can't explain the weight that has been lifted off my shoulders. Every time I have had to pay a bill I would wince. Why? Cause I watched a bit of my tuition for Spring exiting my account. Not anymore baby!! Now, don't go thinking that I'm going to go all shopping crazy cause I'm not. I have 13 years of school that I have to think of, and save for. Also, my mom just told me that she knows someone who's wife is apart of a MLS program out by the U of U, and gave my mom some pointers to give me for when I get up to the U. SCORE!!!
LAYIN' ON CLOUD NINE!
Muggles
If you know my family you know that we are the biggest pet loving family around. We have had frogs, fish, cats, and dogs. We haven't tried the whole gerbil thing, and I can honestly say that from the things I hear about them I am glad we haven't ever gotten one. When I was a baby I grew up with a fluffy Himalayan named Bailey. He was my buddy and the most easy going cat ever. He loved to be picked up and cuddled, and when I would wake up in the middle of the night I would wake up with him sitting on my face forcing me off my pillow so he could sleep on it. I loved him so much, and when he passed away he took a chunk of me with him.
So of course knowing me there was no way that I could go without a cat. I love them. Shortly after my mom's dad passed away, I was baby sitting a girl my mom was teaching in dance. I took her out and about, and we decided to go into a pet store. So we are walking around and stop at this large cage that had a bunch of kittens roaming around. I fell in love with about every cat in there. There was this beautiful black kitty, and a white and brown kitty that I was looking at. The girl I was with kept telling me to get one, and I couldn't decide if I should. So while I'm sitting at this cage the white and brown kitty comes up to the cage and begins nuzzling my fingers. That was it, I had to have her. I bought her, named her Muggles (yes for those of you out there I am a Harry Potter fan, and named my cat after a Harry Potter term), and took her home to surprise my family. Was Muggles' welcoming warm from the family . . . nope. Ha ha. Muggles had to prove to my family that she could stay a part of the family. Naturally she did, she is so tiny, and the cutest thing ever.
Fast forward 8 years to about a week ago. My parents noticed that Muggles was limping and favoring her right front paw, so my mom took her to the vet. X-rays were done and they didn't see anything broken or anything out of the norm. Must have been a pulled muscle. Because Muggles is an inside cat and never goes outside we really haven't had to take her to the vet; so, while she was there the vet gave her her vaccinations for rabies and some kind of virus. Muggles comes home, she seems to be ok. Well, on Monday after I had left for work my mom notices that Muggles isn't acting like herself; she hadn't eaten, used her litter box, or drank anything. She was looking thin, which is scary cause Muggles is only 7 pounds. My mom takes her into the vet again and they do blood work. Muggles' electrolyte count was high and she was dehydrated; they tell my mom that they want to keep her over night so they can put her on an IV to flush whatever was in her system.
On Tuesday they said she was doing a bit better. Thankfully my mom, Macy, and I were able to go visit her and see for ourselves how she was doing. They brought her in to the room and she was perkier than she was. She still wasn't eating (but who would in a noisy and scary place like the vets?). When we put her down on the ground she would walk as much as she could without being bothered by the IV in her paw. Needless to say the three of us were extremely hopeful that Muggles would be able to come home Wednesday, but it all depended on her blood work. Mom got a call Wednesday morning saying that she could come and pick up Muggles at 2pm. We were all excited!! When she gets there the technician told my mom to go check out and she would bring Muggles out to her.
When my mom got home with Muggles she let her out of the cage and guess what . . . Muggle's right hind leg wasn't working. Every time Muggles tried to walk her right leg would drag, and her toes would curl causing her to walk on her knuckles. Lifting her up you can see the muscles in her right hing leg are not engaging. So my mom called the vet to find out what happened. Their excuse is that she was in a cage laying down for 2 days straight . . . Well hate to break it to you vet but that is a load of BS and you know it cause when we saw her at 5pm on Tuesday her leg was just fine. Soooo I call and I don't let them give me that BS excuse. The technician then tells me "I didn't giver he a shot. No wait. I did," and then said, "I have no idea why her leg would be doing that." So we hang up. She calls back and says "Now, it's her left leg right?" my response "No its her right" like I already told her. Her response, "Well shoot cause I gave her the shot in her left leg." I then am told that I can bring Muggles back in and have her looked at free of charge. Like hell I am! I am not going to take my cat back in there and have them mess something else up! OR wig Muggles out even more.
So, here we are Thursday night and her right hind leg still isn't working. I am more than angry. This is my baby, and something happened to her at the vet from when I last saw her at 5pm to when my mom picked her up at 2pm the next day. Someone over there better start explaining!
So of course knowing me there was no way that I could go without a cat. I love them. Shortly after my mom's dad passed away, I was baby sitting a girl my mom was teaching in dance. I took her out and about, and we decided to go into a pet store. So we are walking around and stop at this large cage that had a bunch of kittens roaming around. I fell in love with about every cat in there. There was this beautiful black kitty, and a white and brown kitty that I was looking at. The girl I was with kept telling me to get one, and I couldn't decide if I should. So while I'm sitting at this cage the white and brown kitty comes up to the cage and begins nuzzling my fingers. That was it, I had to have her. I bought her, named her Muggles (yes for those of you out there I am a Harry Potter fan, and named my cat after a Harry Potter term), and took her home to surprise my family. Was Muggles' welcoming warm from the family . . . nope. Ha ha. Muggles had to prove to my family that she could stay a part of the family. Naturally she did, she is so tiny, and the cutest thing ever.
Fast forward 8 years to about a week ago. My parents noticed that Muggles was limping and favoring her right front paw, so my mom took her to the vet. X-rays were done and they didn't see anything broken or anything out of the norm. Must have been a pulled muscle. Because Muggles is an inside cat and never goes outside we really haven't had to take her to the vet; so, while she was there the vet gave her her vaccinations for rabies and some kind of virus. Muggles comes home, she seems to be ok. Well, on Monday after I had left for work my mom notices that Muggles isn't acting like herself; she hadn't eaten, used her litter box, or drank anything. She was looking thin, which is scary cause Muggles is only 7 pounds. My mom takes her into the vet again and they do blood work. Muggles' electrolyte count was high and she was dehydrated; they tell my mom that they want to keep her over night so they can put her on an IV to flush whatever was in her system.
On Tuesday they said she was doing a bit better. Thankfully my mom, Macy, and I were able to go visit her and see for ourselves how she was doing. They brought her in to the room and she was perkier than she was. She still wasn't eating (but who would in a noisy and scary place like the vets?). When we put her down on the ground she would walk as much as she could without being bothered by the IV in her paw. Needless to say the three of us were extremely hopeful that Muggles would be able to come home Wednesday, but it all depended on her blood work. Mom got a call Wednesday morning saying that she could come and pick up Muggles at 2pm. We were all excited!! When she gets there the technician told my mom to go check out and she would bring Muggles out to her.
When my mom got home with Muggles she let her out of the cage and guess what . . . Muggle's right hind leg wasn't working. Every time Muggles tried to walk her right leg would drag, and her toes would curl causing her to walk on her knuckles. Lifting her up you can see the muscles in her right hing leg are not engaging. So my mom called the vet to find out what happened. Their excuse is that she was in a cage laying down for 2 days straight . . . Well hate to break it to you vet but that is a load of BS and you know it cause when we saw her at 5pm on Tuesday her leg was just fine. Soooo I call and I don't let them give me that BS excuse. The technician then tells me "I didn't giver he a shot. No wait. I did," and then said, "I have no idea why her leg would be doing that." So we hang up. She calls back and says "Now, it's her left leg right?" my response "No its her right" like I already told her. Her response, "Well shoot cause I gave her the shot in her left leg." I then am told that I can bring Muggles back in and have her looked at free of charge. Like hell I am! I am not going to take my cat back in there and have them mess something else up! OR wig Muggles out even more.
So, here we are Thursday night and her right hind leg still isn't working. I am more than angry. This is my baby, and something happened to her at the vet from when I last saw her at 5pm to when my mom picked her up at 2pm the next day. Someone over there better start explaining!
Monday, October 3, 2011
New Slate
Where do I start??? I have found over the last little while that I am a rather drawn in person. I don't really share too much with people like when I was little. Maybe it's because I'm getting older. Who knows. But one thing that I am sure of is when I write, I'm an open book. The one place where you are going to get most of your answers about me is in my writing. I like to write . . . for those of you who didn't know that, now you do ha ha. When I'm not reading, or working, or working on a complicated song that my dad wants me to play for the ward choir, I am writing. I am either writing in my journal, my computer, or now here. I feel there is a sense of freedom when writing, I love to just escape from the world around me and enter my thoughts. In short, I love to write.
The past 4 years have been such an educational, emotional, and spiritual journey for me. There are so many things that I have learned (and still am learning) about myself. Looking back I always wonder "What would have happened had I . . ." Then it is usually followed by "Well I wouldn't be . . ." One thing that I must always tell myself is that there are things that I cannot go back and fix. But I guess the next question is would I really want to fix anything? No. Not really. Though I was overwhelmed and stressed out of my mind at times, I learned things about myself, and it brought my mom and I closer together. If I fixed things, would I have the strong relationship I have with my mother that I have now? Probably not, and I don't want to give away the relationship that she and I have. It is the strongest it has ever been. I love my mom.
So . . . What am I up to these days. Well, after an internal struggle to figure out what I want in my life, and where I am heading I have decided to go back to school. Yes, I graduated from Paul Mitchell the School for cosmetology, and yes I enjoy doing hair. I'm good at it; I know that. I see it in my clients' faces when they leave the salon that I am good at what I do. I don't mean to boast, but I know I'm good. However, I'm restless, and a passion of mine has always been the science/medicine/pathology subjects. So I am going back to school, and pursuing a deep passion of mine. I will be finishing my generals at SLCC. I have made a commitment to myself that I am going to strive to get no lower than a B in all my classes (secretly I want all A's). I also have made a commitment to really push myself. It is why I have decided to do Spring 2012, Summer 2012, and Fall 2012 semesters. I will graduate with my Associates at the end of the Fall semester and transfer to the U of U (GO UTES!). I will then go into the MLS Program (Medical Laboratory Science), and then on to Medical School. I'm in for the long haul, that I know . . . But this is my passion, and I cannot tell you how excited I am for this journey and for this career. Wish me luck cause I am looking at 13 years of school - and that is including my 4 years of fellowship required.
My sister, my dad and my mom laughed at me (lovingly), because I told them I am extremely excited to begin school. Their response is "Wait till school starts." Now, don't go thinking I haven't thought of that already, but I have. I understand that come three weeks into the semester I wont be grabbing my hair and pulling. You may even pass me in church and find a vacant look on face, maybe even red eyes from studying all night . . . But don't worry I will be rejoicing deep down! For those of you who are wondering, yes I will still be working. I will be working for the attorney that I have been working for the past year for. I will still do hair, but it will be done when I can fit people in, which means no hair on test weeks. The last thing I want to do is give a haircut while I'm thinking about organic chemistry and have my client leaving with purple hair. Not good. Ha ha.
I feel like there is a lot to cover, but I don't know where to start. I'm literally going down my mental check list . . . but this is a blog, and it's mine, so you get to enjoy my randomness as I jump from topic to topic.
I started going back to church. I started going back in December (Wow it has almost been a year). There were a lot of things that led me back to the Church . . . One of the factors was my brother Jeremy and his wife Lindsey. They don't know how much they inspire me, and what an example they are to me. I couldn't be more grateful for them . . . I also think that having been raised in the church helped me on my journey back. The values and principals were instilled in me from when I was little, and I knew the comfort and happiness that it brought. Though during those few years I thought they were nothing but a nuisance I will admit. However, my view have changed dramatically. Don't let that make you think I am some self righteous religious girl now, cause I'm not. I'm human, I still swear (though I have cut back quite considerably), I still make mistakes, I still lay in bed on some Sundays and wish I could just roll over and go back to bed or just not go to church . . . I'm not perfect, nor is anyone else. We all have our different paths we are taking, and one day we will all get to where we are meant to be. I don't like to get too "churchy" as some may describe it. It is not who I am, but know that I am a proud member of the LDS Church, and I love my Father in Heaven.
I'm not going to lie my brain is starting to shut down I am so tired. I'm surprised I have been able to write this much.
Until next time . . .
XOXO
McCall
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