Donate for the Holidays!

I get that lately times have been tough, but it is the time of year (cause people only give once or twice a year) when we should stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about others. Some would actually argue that is what Christmas is all about, but it isn't. It's not about what you get or give, but what you've done to deserve what you have gotten. So let's get out there and show that we do deserve everything we've gotten, everything that may come and everything that will be. An actual charity has not been determined since the entire group of us can't decide although we've already raised $53.02. So help us out in more than one way!

For more information on the Charities below, please look them up at Charity.com

Which Charity do you feel we should donate the money we raise?

• ASPCA
• WWf
• American Red Cross
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association
• A Special Wish Foundation Inc.
• Children Incorporated
• Olive Crest
• Goodwill
• Easter Seals

To cast your vote (Since I don't feel like dealing with html at the moment sorry), just comment with the charity of your choice. If someone has already commented with the charity of your choice, just reply to that comment. If you have another charity you would like to see receive some funding this holiday season, please leave a comment with the charity's web-site to this entry. If someone has already suggested the charity you had in mind, just reply to their comment.

I wouldn't change what I did for a living even if I can no longer do it. Even if I knew then what I know now I would have still trained and handled animals. No amount of pain can ever change that. Please see it in your heart to give! ♥

Snow.

Well it figures it would snow on the day S needs to head South. Which of course isn't going to be a problem, it's when he needs to head back North that has me slightly worried. Of course we knew this was coming. We've been keeping an eye on the weather and will continue to do so until we get back.

Also need to note, for no good reason except that it's cute and makes me smile to think upon, my kitten (okay so she's 1 year and five months old) has a thing for the My Little Ponies I have gotten recently. These are gently used from other homes and they don't have a bad odor to them at all....but something about them makes her go a little quirky and attack them. It's mostly with the G3s, not the G1s which is some relief, although soon the G3s I like are going to become rare. Already can't find them in the stores thanks to Hasbro's 'New Design' disaster they call My Little Pony. But kitten doesn't do the ponies any harm, just loves up on them pretends to chew on them and is currently laying in the middle of them. Either this is her way of telling me that I need to play with her more or she wants to be a My Little Pony too. My Little Kitty perhaps (why does that sound like something that actually was done in the 80s??????).

So the countdown has begun to the trip to Lubbock, TX. Of course no one has donated even a penny to the cause which doesn't surprise me in any little or big way. I didn't actually think anyone would care, but it never hurts to ask now does it? I keep changing my homepage in that area but have finally (we can hope) come to a decision as to what to put! I mean, how do you ask total strangers for money?? On the internet? Never was good at panhandling. Good thing I don't have to do it. *lightbulb moment* Okay I have once again updated the home page to say that any money donated that isn't used for the surgery or related will be passed on to others. Not going to hold my breath though.

Since I will be spending most of today and tomorrow alone I figured I'd work more on my web-site. Problem is, I haven't a clue what else I should add! I don't even have any non-MLP related links for crying out loud! I have MLP related stuff, old fan fiction from three different movies, random stuff I'm selling, links...I guess I'm just going to have to sit back and think about it for a bit. At least I've got a couple of movies to watch tonight; Sleepless in Seattle which I've seen before but it's still cute. Plus it takes place in my hometown which I sort of miss and Julie and Julia that movie about Julia Childs. Been wanting to see it and now have a copy in my hot little usb drive.

Okay Little Tech (that adorable kitten of mine--this is her nick-name when I am working on computers and she comes in to help) is making me nervous by suddenly taking an interest in the computer I'm using. She keeps looking into the tower window as if she's looking for something. This isn't a new case, she's seen it before so now I'm wondering what she's about.

I think the snow has made the cats too quirky. Bast the kitten is running through the house after Memnoch our female 11 year old black bombay. Usually it's Bast and Trouble (the male black bombay, only 3 years old and has no tail) running through the house. I guess I can die of shock if I see B.K. our 5 year old female bi-polar orange long hair, running through the house with any cat. In fact, I haven't even seen B.K. today. Must not be a social-able day for her.

I think I'm going to go work on the sales page. Make it more friendly and with easy add to cart buttons.

The Black Lioness Site

Surgery date set!

S has finally gotten his surgery date for his gastric by-pass! He'll be going in on the 14th of this month, which means we have only a week to pull together funds for hotel and accommodation's for ten days in Lubbock, TX. Thankfully the bills are alright for this month and I'm hoping nothing unexpected pops up between now and the 22nd at least. Monday he goes to Lubbock, TX for pre-op stuff then comes home Tuesday night. Wouldn't be so bad if we didn't live in Los Alamos, NM which is around 435 miles, 7 to 10 hour drive from Lubbock. This means that the rest of the money I have in my Pony Fund (money that me and S agreed on together to put aside to allow me to buy My Little Ponies) will now instead go for this trip, the kids will be left at home with our friend and his wife, I'm hoping that we'll be able to stay home for Christmas instead of having to drive down to Las Cruces NM (a 318 mile, 5 hour drive) to see his parents and everyone knows that Christmas will be a small event this year. And I do mean small, almost non-existent where gifts are concerned.

For the most part, the family is completely understanding and okay with that....unfortunately this does not include S's mother. She still expects us to buy presents for not just her, but others in the family as well, on top of coming down to her house for the holiday. What really pisses me off about this (and this on it's own makes me never want to talk or have any contract with her) but she's having the EXACT same surgery on the EXACT same day with the EXACT same doctor as S, but she's flying down (and expects us to pick her up from the airport in Lubbock then drop her off when she's cleared to go home) instead of driving and expects US to understand why SHE can't afford presents or anything fancy for Christmas. And yet our situation is the same and we're expected to buy everyone presents..not just from us, but also buy presents from HER too. I am absolutely dumbfounded on the lack of logic. The fact that she would even expect that actually doesn't surprise me even in the tiniest bit. The fact that she's going to be very put off and upset at us because we're not going to do as she wishes makes me want to write her off completely and never see her again.

Unfortunately his dad is the sweetest person on the planet (right next to my own dad of course) and writing her off would also mean writing him off and that's just not fair to him. Specially since the kids love him (Grandma not so much). God knows hell will rise if we go down there empty handed so even though I'm completely uncomfortable even thinking about asking this, I have set up a donation taking section on my website and I do ask that if you can, please, please help! Even a donation of just a dollar will go a long way (I still have connections--I'm hoping at least!) and will go 100% to the surgery and everything around it. I already know that the small amount we're going to do this year is going to piss my "mother-in-law" off and probably make her hate me even more, but she's not the one who is most important here, S is. S looked into this surgery first. S picked out this doctor first. S got his surgery date first. And for reasons even our children cannot understand she has to copy him. The woman has mental problems she is in denial of I am sure. Either way a little is better than nothing and she will be happy with that or I will find a way to keep S's dad in the picture while completely cutting her off.

If you can help financially, please see my website The Black Lioness and scroll to the bottom of the main page there for the Paypal donate button and click on it. You do not need a Paypal account (but they are free and if you decide to sign up for one I do suggest getting a free Merchant account--saves on fees, trust me!) you can use a credit card or eCheck. I originally set up the donate account for donations to help me pay for customizing and collecting ponies that I never got around to actually using so the thank you page has a happy Butterscotch My Little Pony on it.

If you cannot help financially I do not mind at all. An e-hug and grumblings about S's mother is just as welcomed. Share a few "mother-in-law" stories yourself so I don't feel like mine is beyond Cruella DeVille evil. Donations of My Little Ponies are also welcomed (I actually have a page for that), but we need the money more than the ponies. However, I never look a gift horse in the mouth so send away! Feel free to roam the site, it's a bit small at the moment and sign the book if you wish.

Thanks to everyone for everything.
To my fellow MLP lovers gals and guys alike, for keeping the My Little Pony Trading Post and My Little Pony Arena alive and hopping, for being willing to part with your ponies at prices I can actually afford and just for being a great group of individuals!
To my friends who'll read this and still like to tease me about my new addiction to My Little Ponies, I love you for that. You're the ones who help keep me sane by reminding me it's not always serious.
To the women with nightmarish mother-in-laws or boyfriend's mothers, ladies be strong! I know this time of year is the hardest and it seems like holidays always bring out the worst in them, just remember it's not about them though. It's about the ones closest to you whom you spend all or most of your time with. You can't make everyone happy all of the time. Pick your battles!

Happy Holidays and best wishes to you all!