If you’ve ever seen my Facebook page…you know I have four cats. Technically…they’re still kittens. I don’t think they become cats until they’re two. Spike, Sprite, Speedo and Phoenix were born on April 28, 2008 in my front yard. How’d I end up keeping them? Their mom adopted me. I hadn’t planned on adopting another pet after my 16 year old cat Kentucky passed away in January 2007…but Yang (who became Oreo when my neighbor adopted her) showed up on my doorstep. I had no idea she was pregnant when I started feeding her. She was very obviously someone else’s pet. I checked around, and nobody belonged to her…so…I took her in. And then, the last Sunday in April, she followed me around the yard the whole afternoon. It started raining, and she didn’t care…I know now she was looking for somewhere to have her kittens, and she wanted me to help. I woke up the next morning, and my roommate had already left for work…and Yang was laying where the front of his car would have been. When I shook the food canister, she just rolled over and looked at me…and I just knew something was wrong, that she was injured, that somehow, something had happened.
Turns out, something had happened. She had four furry balls attached to her belly. So, I did what any normal pet owner would do. I scooped them all up, put them in a pet carrier, and took them to my mom’s house for safe keeping. I knew I couldn’t take care of them. I visited them nearly every day for three weeks. The smallest of the babies really didn’t like me…even before her eyes opened, she hissed at me, and got her toenail stuck in my forehead trying to fight me. She was two weeks old. Nothing like foreshadowing.
I took them home on Mother’s Day weekend. We kept them in my kitchen, under the table in a little bed. There were no flea issues until much later on, so all was well…until one day in late June when Yang decided that she wanted out…so she bolted out the door and was GONE. She hung around outside, but wanted nothing more to do with her babies…so I let her stay there. And try as I might…I couldn’t get anyone to adopt any of the babies. So…by the time August rolled around, they were there months old, and I was in love. No adoption other than my own would work.
Spike warmed up to me first. He really liked to lay in my lap. (He still does.) Speedo followed. He is one big ol’ cat! He, like his mom, doesn’t like to be held, but he LOVES to lay on you, lay around you, rub his nose against yours…or ram his head into yours. He is perhaps the most loving animal I have ever met. His sisters took a bit longer. Sprite had a moment when she was about four or five months old…she decided to destroy a couple of things in the house…so I decided to pop her little behind. And she had issues with me for the next six months. It wasn’t until this past April or so that she started allowing me to pet her. Now, you’d think she was an attachment. Every time I turn around, she’s walking in front of the couch, waiting to be rubbed or petted…I just wish she’d gain some weight. Somehow, I managed to have four cats…small, medium, large and extra large. Sprite weighs about five pounds…maybe six. Phoenix, my other little girl who LIVES to sleep with me on the bed, weighs about eight pounds. Spike checks in at around eleven…and Speedo is about fifteen. He’s mammoth.
So those are my kids. Their picture is on my website…but the one on my Facebook profile is priceless…they’re following light, but it looks like they’re mesmerized by the family portrait. Entertainment at its best.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Frankenfest on Main
Yep...it's that time of year again. Frankenfest on Main is approaching. I've spent the past four hours working on preparation here at my office at Town Hall. Things are coming along swimmingly...but wouldn't you like to help? You can! SHOW UP! The biggest help we could have is to have folks come out, shop with our vendors, buy food and raffle tickets, and support the Town and the URC! It's that support that's allowed us to put up new banners in downtown, that's going to promote our being able to do a downtown facade grant program, and that will promote the URC placing a Christmas tree in downtown Franklinton for the holiday season! Isn't that awesome?! We're stoked! So come out and support the efforts of these volunteers! The URC (all 15 or 20 of us) is a hard working group - they pour themselves into this weekend, everybody with their own niche. Let's show our appreciation by coming out and having a great day on October 31!
And Annie...thanks for the reminder. I'll try to do better.
And Annie...thanks for the reminder. I'll try to do better.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Franklinton Chamber of Commerce
By now, you’re likely aware that the Franklinton Township Chamber of Commerce has ‘come back to life,’ so to speak. This organization, in existence for nearly 25 years, has been kept alive by a core group of folks in the past couple of years. Thanks to the efforts of past president Darrell Chalk, new members have been brought to the Chamber, as have new, active members. I joined a year ago, and though it took us a few months to get moving, we kicked into high gear in November around the Christmas parade. An event that normally takes six months to prepare was handled in six weeks, thanks to the hard work and diligence of the Franklinton Fire Department, members of the Chamber, and Tammy Ray, Town Planner.
The Chamber next moved to host Fun in the Sun, it’s annual spring festival in downtown Franklinton. Of course, as anything I do outdoors does, it rained. But it was a wonderful day, and we had people from all over the area visit with us that day! Since then, however, the Chamber has worked to try and determine its next course of action. There are several things the Chamber could do – business directories, discount coupons and cards, other events…but when do we do them and what do we do? Of course, the Chamber would be able to do more if we had more members…so won’t you join us? If you’re a business owner in the greater Franklinton area, if you’re a citizen of the greater Franklinton area, or you just want to support the Chamber, become a member today!
The Chamber next moved to host Fun in the Sun, it’s annual spring festival in downtown Franklinton. Of course, as anything I do outdoors does, it rained. But it was a wonderful day, and we had people from all over the area visit with us that day! Since then, however, the Chamber has worked to try and determine its next course of action. There are several things the Chamber could do – business directories, discount coupons and cards, other events…but when do we do them and what do we do? Of course, the Chamber would be able to do more if we had more members…so won’t you join us? If you’re a business owner in the greater Franklinton area, if you’re a citizen of the greater Franklinton area, or you just want to support the Chamber, become a member today!
Getting Around Town
I don’t get out as much as I’d like to. I must admit…work has been a bit hectic lately…summer is oddly a very busy time for us at NCAE, because that’s when we do a lot of teacher workshops, conferences, and leadership trainings. Coupled with working with the URC, working with Arts Alive, working with the Chamber…I only get to go where I’m invited. Please invite me! I LOVE to go to events, to visit with people! I just don’t always get an invitation, or an opportunity. If you’ll invite me…I’ll do my level best to be there!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
July 4th
What a great day it was! I had a blast. I managed to enjoy part of the day at the lake, and then headed back to Franklinton for the day’s events. Tammy, Kim, Kate, et al, had already packed everything up, and were ready to head to the athletic complex. I got there, and again, the dunk tank was off the field. (I’ve said it two years in a row now…the dunk tank has to be on the field, otherwise nobody comes over to use it!) We made about $100, which was cool. How’d we do it? Well…I spent three and a half hours being dunked like a fool…and I really appreciated the half hour break Harvey Satterwhite gave me. LOL Several people…mostly kids…came back three or four times with their $1 for 3 throws. One young man threw like he was in the major leagues. The baseballs flew into the tank a couple of times. A couple of folks spent about $10…and never dunked me. They got courtesy dunks, thanks to Anne Deal.
When I finally got out, and headed back to the URC booth to help Kim, Tammy & Kate…they were SLAMMED! Apparently, those glowing sticks, necklaces, yo-yos, and bouncy balls were quite the popular. We sold out of EVERYTHING we had. Next year, Tammy plans to order a bit more, I believe…
The American Legion did a wonderful job orchestrating the day. They had a very popular concession stand, and the entertainment was pretty good, too! (Commissioner Cutchins even got to sing ‘Franklinton.’ ) The brief video they showed prior to the fireworks was very well done – and the fireworks were great, too! I hate that we’re limited by the location we have to do it – but we don’t have any other location, so we’re tied to the athletic complex. But the fireworks we have are amazing, and even the hundreds of folks stopped along US 1 agreed! (That will be a bit better controlled next year.) The most wonderful part is that there has yet to be a skirmish, no scuffles, no issues….everyone just goes with the flow. And there were well over 2500 people there…and when you consider the 2000 census said we had 1745 citizens, and 2005 said 2409…we most ASSUREDLY had folks from outside of town come in! (Thus…tourism!!!)
I’d like to say thanks to all of the American Legion, the different groups and organizations who took part, and to everyone who came – you made it one wonderful event!
When I finally got out, and headed back to the URC booth to help Kim, Tammy & Kate…they were SLAMMED! Apparently, those glowing sticks, necklaces, yo-yos, and bouncy balls were quite the popular. We sold out of EVERYTHING we had. Next year, Tammy plans to order a bit more, I believe…
The American Legion did a wonderful job orchestrating the day. They had a very popular concession stand, and the entertainment was pretty good, too! (Commissioner Cutchins even got to sing ‘Franklinton.’ ) The brief video they showed prior to the fireworks was very well done – and the fireworks were great, too! I hate that we’re limited by the location we have to do it – but we don’t have any other location, so we’re tied to the athletic complex. But the fireworks we have are amazing, and even the hundreds of folks stopped along US 1 agreed! (That will be a bit better controlled next year.) The most wonderful part is that there has yet to be a skirmish, no scuffles, no issues….everyone just goes with the flow. And there were well over 2500 people there…and when you consider the 2000 census said we had 1745 citizens, and 2005 said 2409…we most ASSUREDLY had folks from outside of town come in! (Thus…tourism!!!)
I’d like to say thanks to all of the American Legion, the different groups and organizations who took part, and to everyone who came – you made it one wonderful event!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Website and Newsletter in Franklinton
So…why do we have a newsletter? After all, we have a website, and I have this blog, and my own website, right? Well, yes…but…how many 90 year olds are bloggers? (I think we’d all be surprised.) The gist of it is that we produce the newsletter so that we can maintain constant communication and keep all of our citizens updated. The newsletter is an important tool, but it’s just one tool. That’s why we have the website!
Our website is brand new – and yet, it’s not. We’ve had a website for about four years. However, it didn’t get functional until it got a new address. About four months ago, it went live. And I couldn’t be more proud of our Assistant Town Clerk, Wendy Gilliam! She’s learned, in very short order, how to make things happen with the website. We have most of our minutes from the last year or so posted, as well as all agendas, and important announcements. We put newsflashes there, and other pertinent information. It’s a near miracle that it’s up – because we weren’t sure how that would happen. But it’s coming along swimmingly, so please, please, please – use it! You can also e-mail all of your town commissioners there, as well as town staff! We’re going to be using it to bring more information to you. Look for updates weekly!
Our website is brand new – and yet, it’s not. We’ve had a website for about four years. However, it didn’t get functional until it got a new address. About four months ago, it went live. And I couldn’t be more proud of our Assistant Town Clerk, Wendy Gilliam! She’s learned, in very short order, how to make things happen with the website. We have most of our minutes from the last year or so posted, as well as all agendas, and important announcements. We put newsflashes there, and other pertinent information. It’s a near miracle that it’s up – because we weren’t sure how that would happen. But it’s coming along swimmingly, so please, please, please – use it! You can also e-mail all of your town commissioners there, as well as town staff! We’re going to be using it to bring more information to you. Look for updates weekly!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Water Discoloration
By now, everybody knows what happened. The water turned brownish-orange. It happened! I know…why bother talking about it now? Well, because I want to clarify a couple of things. Firstly, I didn’t find out what was happening until Saturday afternoon…so I was as in the dark as everybody else was. Secondly, can I ask for a little bit of patience? I know it's an inconvenience, and I know it was a bit freaky...but...I can't fix anything I don't know about, and I can't snap my fingers to make anything happen...my election didn't come with a magic wand.
Now, here’s where I’ll apologize. I snapped at a couple of people that Friday that I shouldn't have – because before asking how I was, before even greeting me, I was hit with, “You can’t even use the water in this town! We pay an arm and a leg for it, and you can’t use it!” Thus…I wasn’t in the best frame of mind at that moment, especially given things I had going on in my own life at that point. (You’ll read about that later.) So, for being less than cordial, I do apologize. (I apologized then, too...)
Should we have done things a little differently? You bet. Town staff have taken several steps so that this ‘perfect storm’ doesn’t happen again. A challenge of this magnitude hasn’t happened in quite some time…thus, we didn't know that it would get that bad, especially that fast. We did our best to correct it as quickly as possible…forgive us that it wasn’t as fast as it perhaps could have been, and that we didn’t put a notice up right away. But I promise…we’ll be better from now on.
Now, here’s where I’ll apologize. I snapped at a couple of people that Friday that I shouldn't have – because before asking how I was, before even greeting me, I was hit with, “You can’t even use the water in this town! We pay an arm and a leg for it, and you can’t use it!” Thus…I wasn’t in the best frame of mind at that moment, especially given things I had going on in my own life at that point. (You’ll read about that later.) So, for being less than cordial, I do apologize. (I apologized then, too...)
Should we have done things a little differently? You bet. Town staff have taken several steps so that this ‘perfect storm’ doesn’t happen again. A challenge of this magnitude hasn’t happened in quite some time…thus, we didn't know that it would get that bad, especially that fast. We did our best to correct it as quickly as possible…forgive us that it wasn’t as fast as it perhaps could have been, and that we didn’t put a notice up right away. But I promise…we’ll be better from now on.
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