2021 Was Supposed To Be Better

We all know what a shit show 2020 was because of the Covid-19 pandemic. No one ever thought that it was going to last this long.  No one ever imagined that people would loose their business, homes, jobs because we had to be quarantined and the country came to a stand still.  By March we were all working from home, toilet paper and hand sanitizers were no where to be found.  Why toilet paper was the one thing that everyone was buying during a pandemic was beyond me and by December we were more than ready to say goodbye to 2020.  And I got laid off back in November, yes see ya 2020!!

We all had high hopes for 2021.  But on January 6, our US Capital came under attack.  Trump lost the election and wouldn't concede and his followers stormed the Capital.  They pushed through barriers, broke windows and broke down doors.  They attacked the Capital Police beating them with the US flag.  It was hard to believe that this was happening in the US.  We've seen this on TV from other countries but not the US.  It was definitely a WTF is happening here moment. 

Attacks on the Asian community have increase by 1,000 percent or more. Asians are being blamed for this pandemic.  They are being attacked just by being outside, pushed to the ground and some have died because of this. This is terrible and very heartbreaking.  

And let's not forget about the crazy snow storms all over the country.  Just last week, Texas and surrounding states were hit with a snow storm.  They're not equipped for that type of weather and all hell happened.  The grid crashed because it was never updated and not capable of weather that cold.  People had pipes bursting in their houses, no electricity, heat or water.  People have died because they froze to death including an 11 year old boy.  I just can't imagine.  Here in NH, we're used to freezing temps and loss of power, it still sucks to deal with it but we are equipped for it, we have snow plows, sanders and whatever else we need. It also doesn't help that Texas officials knew their system couldn't handle this type of weather and put it off and now they're all pointing fingers at each other.  

It's not even the end of February and all this is happening.  Parents are still fighting to put kids in school and those that are there are doing well.  They're doing their part, wearing a mask and social distancing.  They don't want to go back to remote learning.  The kids miss their friends.  Now that the vaccine is out there's hope, so much hope that we will be returning to the old norm but it's going to take at least til the end of the year if that.  

On this cold, snowy day, I know that Spring is around the corner somewhere.  Stay safe everyone.

Saying Goodbye to 2020 - The Pandemic Year

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times and then it got worse and worse and worse.  That is a total understatement.  2020 started off like no other - trying to keep to those New Year's resolutions of hitting the gym everyday, being a better person, eating healthier, blah blah blah!  Everything seemed to be normal, high hopes of new beginnings, new prospects and so much potential and then it happened - the bloody pandemic.  I found the above ornament on Etsy and just had to get it.  

We started hearing on the news about this new virus that started in China.  It wasn't long before it hit here in the US and then by end of February the word pandemic was the word of the day - all day.  By March we're all now working from home. The country came to a halt.  Schools were closed and kids were now on remote schedule, businesses were closed for indoor dining and the biggest was the shortage of toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer but the biggest was toilet paper.  Shelves were completely bare of toilet paper and there was a wait to get into the grocery stores.  I'm not sure what the correlation was with toilet paper and what was happening and at first I didn't understand it and now we're all scrambling to find toilet paper.   So many people have lost their jobs including me.  I got laid off the beginning of November.  I've been lucky to have worked this long with everything that is happening but it was still a shock.  It's especially scary when you're a single mom - ok, who am I kidding I freakin freaked the hell out the first month.  December kept me distracted with my daughter's birthday and Christmas and Navidad our Elf helped too 😂

Here we are nine months later, the last day of 2020 and we're now hearing of the new virus - a covid hybrid strain that could be worse than the original.  This new one started in the UK and so far they have found people with it, and here we thought with the vaccine out now things would be turning around. Just another way for Covid to say Fuck you to us - I'm still here and you can't get rid of me.  It's been nine months of baking - banana bread, zucchini bread, donuts and anything else. Like so many of you out there I've been honing in on my baking skills. I've learned that I absolutely love working from home - although I've been able to work from home many times, I really really loved it.  I realized I'm much more of an introvert than I thought and I'm so ok with it.  I absolutely dread the idea of having to go back into an office when I find a new job. 

Today is New Year's Eve and there will be no celebrating in Times Square, no celebrating anywhere unless you have a home party but even so just not the same.  Tomorrow is day one of 2021 and nothing will change, Covid will still be here and many will still be suffering but there's hope, there's always hope and I think that's about all we can do now, hope that this will be over soon.  

I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year!  May 2021 bring lots of new beginnings, health, love and anything else you wish for.  

Stay Safe!

Welcome to 4th Grade - I Now Have A Middle Schooler

4th Grade - Middle School

How are y'all surviving the beginning of school?  We are starting week 3 of middle school.  Guys, can I just tell you, I can't believe my daughter is in 4th grade!!  Yesterday I was admiring all her class pictures I have on our wall and got teary-eyed because my baby girl is growing up so fast.

BUT, I will say that since school started this kid as been testing my patience.  Lord help me, I don't know how many times I've said Lord, tag you're it!  A new grade, new school year and a brand new attitude to go with it.  Since the first week of school, it's been non-stop arguing every time I pick her up from school.  My kid will argue and debate every.single.thing no matter what.   Yesterday she was grounded for the first time ever!  Even as a little one I've only put her in time out once when she was 3 - that's it! 

I can only imagine my mom up in Heaven smirking as if saying now you know what I went through.  What I did realize is that I need to take a step back and breathe because last week it hit me - my aha moment!  This kid is just like her Mami!  She's me. SHIT!  While she's a sweet, lovable, funny, always making me laugh because she's so goofy with a great sense of humor and a love for life, she's also strong-willed, independent, sassy, doesn't take no for an answer and doesn't like to be told what to do kinda kid. Which is the case for many kids this age but again - SHIT! 

With that said, I will say this, my daughter makes me proud every single day.  She's also the most loving, empathetic, smart, funny, full of life beautiful 4th grader ever.  She makes me so proud every day.  She amazes me every day and she inspires me.  Being a single mom isn't easy and every day I work hard to let her know that no matter what, you can accomplish anything you want. 

How are you all doing with the back to school schedules?  Have y'all adjusted yet?  I hope all your kids have a positive, amazing school year!!

Irene

Please Stop Killing Your Babies

There is so much sadness and hurt in this world today.  Yesterday on the news I saw how a mother who just delivered her beautiful baby girl placed her in a plastic bag and dumped her in the woods. 

This is baby India, named by the police.  A beautiful healthy baby girl found in a plastic bag dumped in the woods.  Thank God a family heard her screams (they thought it was a cat and went to investigate) and called the police.  This mother, we can only assume she's very young, could have brought the baby to one of the Safe Haven places in her area.  

As a mother, this hurts me.  There are so many of us that struggled to have children.  I am blessed with my miracle baby girl (not so baby anymore) but I can't have any more children. I didn't want to be part of the one and done club. I have two sisters but grew up with so many cousins.  I've always dreamt of having a big family so that my kid(s) could experience that.  I had to do IVF many times, I suffered an ectopic pregnancy.  I cry every single time I hear a story like this or of parents killing or hurting their kids.  

These beautiful babies didn't deserve this.  I would have taken Baby India with loving, open arms as many of us would have. I would have taken any of those children.  For those of us that cannot have any more children, for those of us that struggle to conceive, for those of us that are always willing to open our homes and welcome another child, we beg you, please stop hurting the children. 

Saying Goodbye To Elementary School

1st day of 3rd grade

My baby girl is growing up way too fast.  This past year seemed to have really flown by.  

We finished 3rd grade about two weeks ago.  I cried!  Honestly, I sort of ugly cried.  Buggs is my one and only. I will never get to experience this again.  I no longer have an elementary school kid.  Come fall we enter 4th grade - middle school.  Whaaaa!!  Those words, I'm still not used to saying them.  No longer will we walk the halls in that part of the building.  Middle schoolers will need to wear uniforms - that I'm happy about- no more shopping for school clothes.  I still can't believe that it's over and now it's officially summer.  The good thing about that is that Mami gets a break from all her sports activities.  This kid just never stops. 

I'm so blessed to have such an amazing daughter.  She's a strong, independent, funny, full of emotions, cheeky little bugger.  Holy shit - she's so much like me and I'm in for it!!  

These past few years have been awesome.  I love being one of the chaperones on her school trips.  I always make sure that I'm available and she will always ask. I hope that continues in mmmmmiddle school.  As the end of the year was approaching quickly we would talk about how my baby is getting older.  I would pretend to cry but the real tears would creep up and she would hug me and tell me that she'll always be my baby.  I would promise to hold her to that and remind her of those words when she's a tween and no longer wants to hang out with Mami and I would get the eye roll.  

To say that I'm beyond proud of my Buggs is an understatement.  She amazes me every.single.day.  I can't wait to see all that she will accomplish in the coming years.  As much as it hurts to see my little girl growing up so fast I also cannot wait to see her grow into the amazing beautiful young lady she is becoming.  

I'm so proud of you baby girl.  You are my WHY!  You inspire me.  Keep reaching for the stars mi amor!!!!   

Last day of 3rd grade

I'm Georgia - Adopt Me!!

Hi everyone!  Hope y'all had a great Memorial weekend. 

Remember me, Georgia?  I just wanted to let you know that I'm still available for adoption, ya know, just in case you're looking for a wicked awesome, pretty, goofy, snugglable puppy.  I'm learning so much and I know how to sit very pretty and learning to stay and so many things from my brother.  Mami also says my potty training is going well - some days.

I love playing with my siblings.  I follow my brother around and I love wrestling with my sister Jada and sometimes I just play by myself and then when I'm tired I just go in my crate.  I love my crate.  I get to go on so many walks and Mami takes me to my human sister's softball games.  Everyone there tells me how awesome and pretty and show soft I am. I love meeting new people.  I'm a little shy at first but then warm up to everyone.  All the new surroundings scare me a little but I'm getting used to it - that's part of learning right? 

I hope my new home has a fenced in yard and siblings.  I love running around the yard like it's the Indy 500 and chasing my siblings.  If you have any questions about me you can ask Mami anything and you can also go to www.satoheartrescue.org and fill out an application.  I promise you, you won't regret it!! 

                     

 

Sato Puppies - From The Streets To Fur-Ever Homes

There is so much puppy love going on here that it'll melt your heart. I've recently teamed up with another rescue - Sato Heart Rescue located in Milford, NH.   

Sato - pronounced Saw-toe is Puerto Rican slang for street or stray dog.  For the most part, these dogs are small to medium size.  My boxer mix is from PR and I've also had a pure boxer from PR as well.  If you've ever traveled to Puerto Rican, you probably saw your share of dogs on the beach or strays running around.  Growing up my sisters and I spent our summers in PR with my family.  I didn't notice it as much but it was probably because my family knew to distract me whenever they would see them because they knew I would want to bring them home with me.  I had a passion for rescue even then.  This is my second rescue from PR.  The previous one I worked with I was the liaison between the locals in PR and the team here.  It was so overwhelming with so many puppies needing help and the hardest part was not being there to help.  Many times I would reach out to my family and try and get them to foster.  

Last night my daughter and I (who's just as passionate as I am about rescue) spent some time at the quarantine facility playing with the puppies and cleaning out the kennels.  My daughter fell in love with little Miss Mia, a lab mix.  We had so much fun.

We have new puppies coming in soon and of course, we are always in need of foster homes.  Many people don't like to foster because they'll get attached to the dog, yes, it's true but remember that you're doing just as great a service by fostering as you are by adopting.  There are so many dogs that are in shelters or waiting to be surrendered but we need foster homes to bring them in.  

I started my rescue work with Boxer Rescue back in 2000 when I was looking to get a big dog, I already had two small dogs.  I wanted every breed out there but decided on boxers.  I decided to become a foster mom to make sure this was the right breed for me.  

My first foster was a five month old.  His family surrendered him because he had Diabetic Insipidus and couldn't afford to treat him.  I had him for about a month and cried like a baby when he was adopted.  After a week I was ready for my next foster.  I realized then how much I loved the breed and I absolutely loved fostering.  I found my passion!!! It's been 19 amazing years and I've been a foster flunky many times!!   The first two rescues are no longer around and I've been with my current one, The Boxer Rescue for about five years now.  Rescue groups need so much help and I can't imagine ever giving it up.

Please consider opening up your home to fosters and if you can't there are many other ways to help.  Are you good at fundraising? Are you a social media expert?  We never turn down a volunteer!