Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She's my baby.

Jeff

When Freedom came in she could not stand. Both wings were broken, her left wing in 4 places. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet's office.

From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lie in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes.

We also had to tube feed her for weeks. This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week.

You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone. Yahoo!

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power coarse through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom's.

Hope you enjoy this.

It is almost time to crawl into bed and sleep before going back to the work-a-day life. It has been a short vacation but now we only have until June 18th. Then school will be out for the summer.

I talked with Terri tonight. She WILL be here tomorrow. So, I would assume that she will be on my computer to visit with you..

The boys did not finish all the homework that they had, but they put a dent in it. I keep hoping that they will learn, before graduating, that it is best to keep up on the assignments. But I will not hold my breath!!!

Not much to write about tonight. It was a good weekend and for that I am very thankful. So I am going to close for tonight. Be talking with you later....

Love to all,
Granny

Posted at 10:22PM PST

Today has been some what better. Branden decided, under protest(to start) that he should do some homework. Thank you God!!! I don't know what it is going to take to get through his pointed head that this is very necessary if he wants any kind of a future.

Tonight I offered Billy his internet for a chapter, I got it. I offered Branden his for another assignment. He said I already did two. I told him it was not enough as he had done nothing for 3 days. He asked if he could play the PlayStation if he did one. DEAL!!! He was finished within 30 minutes. I remarked about the length of time it took to do the assignment. He told me, jokingly, to hush. But the point was made.

Only two days left of vacation. The weatherman is saying rain. Why not??? then again with the possibility of Terri coming for a visit, that should help keep some normalcy to life around here. Having 3 extra people around can get hairy!! I just hope it doesn't rain for the whole week.. The little ones so love to be able to run and play outside.

Ray's hand is still really sore. I wish he had medical. He won't let me take him to have it checked. I had to cut his meat for him tonight like I did oh so many years ago... I think it kind of bugged him, but he did want to eat that steak. I wonder if he will ever learn to keep his hands to himself??? Branden is fine, Actually he thinks it is funny that Ray got the worse end of the deal. I wonder if he will ever learn to keep his mouth shut??? I think both of those will take miracle's!!!

Since it was a quiet day there isn't too much to talk about. Aren't you glad?? I know people have to get tired of complaining and bitching. But sometimes I just have to let it out or explode!! Being heavier than I would like, exploding could be dangerous!!!

Is everyone ready for another week end?? Enjoy it and stay safe.

Love to all,
Granny

Posted at 9:41PM PST

My son once asked me, "Isn't it nice to know this is the only hell we will have?" Of course I had to agree. But sometimes waiting for it to end seems so hard.

As I have said this is Spring Break here. Personally, I would rather be at work. It is calmer and more controlled. I had the idea that I could get the boys to make up some of the school work they had left undone before break. Funny joke!!! Branden has fought me every step of the way. Billy has accomplished more than I thought he would. So there is a bright spot.

Yesterday was complete hell. I was talking with Branden and I suggested to him that he needed to be living someplace where no one really cared about him. That way he could do as he wished and no one would really care one way or the other. AND, when he is violated and has to go back to juvie, I would not have to watch it. We talked some and he just couldn't understand why I would say such a thing. (Part of his parole depends on regular school attendance, he does that. And passing grades. He is flunking 2 classes again.) My point this week was to help him bring those 2 grades up to passing at least. He doesn't care!!! He tells me that I am to expect a teenager to flunk classes. No I am NOT!!!!

So last night, Branden was out back playing with the sticks he has been asked repeatedly not to play with. My son walked out to try to talk with him about what I had said about living elsewhere. Branden immediately attacked him verbally and the war was on. Ray pushed him and Branden went after him with the sticks -- like a mighty ninja warrior. Ray just sucker punched him and it was over. After all we have been through, Ray reaching out like that was awesome. But Branden couldn't understand that. I think Ray broke his hand and Branden, has a slight bruise. Ray truly got the worst end of the deal. Why can't there be peace and harmony???

Thankfully Billy had just gone out to try and talk to Branden also. He had no idea what was going on and he was able to step between them and stop it before it got really bad. He was even still standing between them when they came flying into the house. It was anything but a nice evening.

Today, Ray, Billy and G-pa are out doing some shopping and I can not get Branden to get out of bed. It in about 1:30 and he is just sitting in there playing with his microscope. He has checked out his dirty greasy hair and stated that he should go shower and then check his hair again. That is a good enough reason to shower..

Well, the Functional Family Therapist just called, he is on his way out. We talked for a bit on the phone and I told him about last night. I don't like having to blindside anyone if I can help it.

TTYL,
Granny

BLONDE LOGIC
Two blondes living in Oklahoma were sitting on a bench talking, and one blonde says to the other, "Which do you think is farther away... Florida or the moon?"
The other blonde turns and says "Helloooooooooo, can you see Florida ?????"

CAR TROUBLE

A blonde pushes her BMW into a gas station. She tells the mechanic it died.
After he works on it for a few minutes, it is idling smoothly.
She says, "What's the story?"
He replies, "Just crap in the carburetor"
She asks, "How often do I have to do that?"

SPEEDING TICKET

A police officer stops a blonde for speeding and asks her very nicely if he could see her license.
She replied in a huff, "I wish you guys would get your act together. Just yesterday you take away my license and then today you expect me to show it to you!"

RIVER WALK

There's this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees another blonde on the opposite bank. "Yoo-hoo!" she shouts, "How can I get to the other side?"
The second blonde looks up the river then down the river and shouts back, "You ARE on the other side."

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it.
"Impossible!" says the doctor. "Show me."
The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left shoulder and screamed, then she pushed her elbow and screamed even more. She pushed her knee and screamed;
likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream.
The doctor said, "You're not really a redhead, are you?
"Well, no" she said, "I'm actually a blonde."
"I thought so," the doctor said. "Your finger is broken."

KNITTING

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!
Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL OVER!"

"NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!"

BLONDE ON THE SUN

A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were talking one day. The Russian said, "We were the first in space!"
The American said, "We were the first on the moon!"
The Blonde said, "So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!"
The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads. "You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!" said the Russian.
To which the Blonde replied, "We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!"

IN A VACUUM

A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night. It was her turn. She rolled the dice and she landed on Science & Nature. Her question was, "If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?"
She thought for a time and then asked, "Is it on or off?"

FINALLY, THE BLONDE JOKE TO END ALL BLONDE JOKES!

A girl was visiting her blonde friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were. The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex. Her friend said, "Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?"
"HELLLOOOOOOO......," answered the blond. "They're watch dogs"!!


Just a reminder.... I am a blonde!!

Have a super Day
Granny

Posted at 10:56PM PST...