In case it isn't obvious,

In case it isn't obvious:  I'm Blu and I'm genderqueer.

"a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders."

#TransDayOfVisibility

Happy 21st Birthday to my favorite girl!

Happy 21st Birthday to my favorite girl! I know we didn't go big today, but I had fun and I hope you did, too. I'm so grateful every day that our paths crossed and that you're part of our lives. I'm so proud of you and love you like the world. Never forget that. 💙💙💙

A tornado...

A tornado really had the audacity to hit James Spann's house. I hate it here.

I'm exhausted...

I'm exhausted and don't feel like writing another long post about how great menstrual discs are, but they definitely are and I hope my fellow bleeders will give them a shot. I have some unopened disposables to share if anyone is interested in trying a disc with no risk. I'm happy to pop one in the mail anytime. All you gotta do is tell me where to send it.

Imagine popping one of these in during the morning and not feeling or thinking about period protection until it's time for bed. Imagine buying one reusable disc and never having to run to the store for (or ask someone to borrow) a pad or a tampon again. That's how I'm living my life. I just keep buying disposable discs to give away. Y'all gone learn. 😂😂😂 

From Top Right going Clockwise:

Moonthlies, size small (reusable)

Lumma Clear, size medium with tail removed (reusable)

Lumma Unicorn, size Large with tail intact (reusable)

Flex Disc, one size (disposable)

Nixit, one size (reusable)

Soft Disc, one size (disposable)

Moonthlies, size large (reusable)

Ziggy, one size (reusable)

I'm about to share something helpful...

I'm about to share something helpful, but before I do I need to preface it with:  In most states this is illegal to do without a permit.  But in the spirit of doing more good than harm, here you go:

I see so many well-intentioned people trying to "help" little animals they find during the spring and if you don't know what you're doing - you're probably hurting rather than helping.  Unfortunate, but true.

In Alabama, it is SO EASY to get a license to kill (hunt, fish, whatever), but, just fuck you if you want to help an innocent life (pardon the language, but it took me literal years to find a way to get a permit to rehab wildlife and the state found a technicality on which to revoke it that same year).  However, I did learn how to keep some baby animals alive and I'm going to share that with you now.

First of all, NEVER FEED A COLD BABY MAMMAL.

Little mammals need to be warm in order to digest.  If you can't reunite a baby with it's natural mother then the first thing you need to do it put it in a small, dark place (like a shoebox with airholes).  Take an old sock and fill it with some dry rice, tie the end off, and microwave it for a minute or so and put it in the box with the baby.  This is what we call a "rice mama."  Let the baby get warm.  Use small blankets or washcloths to keep it from getting burned and to give it something to snuggle with.  You can do similar with a warm water bottle or even a heating pad, but it's very important that you only put warmth on one side of the box.  You (probably) don't want to cook this baby.

Second of all, if you don't have a baby kitten, puppy, goat, or cow, DO NOT FEED IT kitten, puppy, goat, or cow milk.  You can buy milk specifically for the animal that you are trying to help; milk that was made to closely resemble what they would get from their mother, and that is what you should feed them.  Feeding a baby an incorrect diet can cause diarrhea which can lead to dehydration and death.  Milk for many species can be found here:  www.foxvalleynutrition.com.  Another source for milk is www.henryspets.com.  Henry's Pets also has great nipples and syringes for teensy mouths.

I'm not interested in going into how often to feed what species of animal; that is easily Googleable information and depends entirely on the species and age of whoever you've found.  But be aware that many newborn mammals sleep a lot and kind of like humans will get a little wiggly / fussy when hungry.  The one thing I will say here is that YOU SHOULD NURSE IN THE SAME POSITION A WILD MOTHER WOULD.  I LOATHE seeing videos of people nursing baby puppies and kittens on their backs.  If their mother was nursing them they would most likely be laying flat on their tummies.  Try to mimic what would happen in nature to avoid aspiration and pneumonia.

Third, after feeding, YOU GOTTA WIPE THE BUTT!

Most very young mammals cannot pee or poop without stimulation.  Wiping with a warm cloth from tummy to under the tail will get them going.

After that, babies need rest.  I know that small animals are adorable and that it's hard to resist holding and cuddling and taking selfies with them, but they really need to sleep.  Whether you're trying to rehab or steal a baby from nature to keep as your own will decide how you handle this.  Tryna keep a baby?  You probably want to keep it on your person and handle it a lot.  That can also be a good source of warmth.  Planning to release?  Do the opposite and leave it alone as much as possible while still maintaining a heat source.

If you've decided to keep the wildlife you were helping, then proper nutrition is important forever.  The Henry's Pets site linked above has squirrel diet.  www.Mazuri.com has omnivore diet that is good for opossums as long as you supplement it with veggies (especially dark, leafy greens) and yogurt and the like.  Again, do not feed them cat food or dog food because they are not cats or dogs.  Too much protein will cripple an opossum with Metabolic Bone Disease.  You can tell things have already gone wrong for them if their eyes bug out. That is due to changes in the skull.  It is not curable and the opossum will not be releasable if this happens, but it is very easily prevented with proper nutrition.

I will put photos in the comments of a healthy vs. unhealthy opossum.

Baby bunnies are hard to keep alive by even an experienced rehabber, so good luck with that.  Many birds are federally protected because of migration so I would highly recommend getting them to a rehab facility.  And finally, be careful with who you let know that you have wildlife in your possession.  Alabama Fish and Game can and ABSOLUTELY WILL come take and euthanize any wildlife that they deem unreleasable - so take a baby from nature at your (and unfortunately the babys) own risk.

Last bit of info I can share on this subject:  If you have a soft heart or live in an area where you encounter lone baby wildlife pretty frequently then the best thing I can recommend is keeping some supplies and formula on hand.  Be well and try to do no harm.  ❤

"No, I'm not thirsty. Why do you ask?"

"No, I'm not thirsty. Why do you ask?"

😂😂😂

Look at this succulent. Just look at it.

Look at this succulent. Just look at it.

This used to be one of my (many) favorite plants because it was full and beautiful and it was growing all of those (now larger) baby plants off to the side.

Then... with the move, and me rushing to get everyone repotted and watered, and trying to get my light setup right in a vastly different room from where I started, and going far too long between waterings, and being knocked down as I tried to figure out how to keep the cats away from my plants... Well, you see it.

But I noticed today as I was watering it the TWO spiral columns of babies growing on the stem. This plant has gone through a lot, but it's still beautiful and I can't wait to see it in another month or two. It's gonna SHOW. OUT. I guess it still is one of my favorites. 💕😍

Official first day of Spring Post:

Official first day of Spring Post:

If you find baby wildlife the first course of action is to reunite with mama if possible while interfering as little as possible. If it is not possible to reunite baby with mama, put in a dark warm safe place while you seek help. 

For Anniston and Calhoun County, specifically, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES call The Anniston Museum of Natural History. As of my last interaction with them they were not a qualified rehab facility and definitely didn't behave as such (they crippled opossums with what would have been easily remedied diet and then gave them away as pets when they became too burdensome. Ask me how I know).

For mammals (furry animals with nipples), please contact Wild Mammal Care of Alabama 205.871.7803.

For birds, please contact Alabama Wildlife Center.

Source:  I rehabbed with a state permit baby squirrels and opossums for a year.

Please share and save some lives.

When we give Cubba treats...

When we give Cubba treats we always at least make him sit. We recently decided to encourage Rose to do the same - and much to my surprise she does it.

I should mention here that Cubba likes to throw hands... He's always trying to "shake" after a sit to get more treats. Well today, Rose threw a paw at me after she sat. It's not the most conventional dog training I've ever heard of, but it seems to be effective. No complaints here! 😂😂😂

Shaun's oldest kitty, Sindar...

Shaun's oldest kitty, Sindar, lives in our bedroom / bathroom because she prefers to be the only cat. She likes to wake me up in the mornings for some petting and that's ok. She's pretty into head bonkies and I love that. Sometimes I kiss her forehead when she goes in for a bonk and a few times now she's imitated the smacky sound back to me right after I kiss her. I don't know why she does it but it's so precious to me. 💗

Look at this dog not getting wet.

It's still raining. Look at this dog not getting wet.

Looks like we're (slowly but surely) making progress with Rose.

Looks like we're (slowly but surely) making progress with Rose. We went to Anniston to spend time with Shadow for his birthday yesterday. It was cloudy but not raining when we left home. When we got back it clearly had rained and Rose was soaking wet in the middle of the yard. 😕

Last night while we were home Shaun called her in and "locked" the doggie door so she would stay in out of the rain (I say "locked" this way because we literally prop the hard plastic slider in front of it and Rose is too confused by that to do anything). We left her there and went to bed. I woke up to her whining around 3 this morning and "unlocked" the doggie door and she went out. I figured she might need to use the bathroom and honestly I've had a hard time getting right since I had the worst migraine of my life the other day so I really needed my sleep.

This morning it was raining pretty hard and Shaun saw Rose on the couch with Cubba rather than out in the middle of the yard (without her being locked in). We consider that a win. We've also discovered that if we just sit in the room with her when we want her to eat, she will. Another thing is that before when she would come inside anything other than me and Shaun both sitting on the couch would scare her back outside. Yesterday and the day before we were able to scoop litter boxes on the other side of the room without her diving out of the doggie door like some kind of evil was chasing her. 😂😂😂 She's quite dramatic at times but she's coming along.

Happy 21st Birthday...

Happy 21st Birthday to the first person to give me a purpose in life. I was young when I had you; too young to have any real direction - so for me being your mom was was as good an option as any (but probably way more fun). I miss the days of you being my little sidekick, but I'm proud of how you've grown. You're a smart, kind, caring, talented human being and your very existence has enriched my life in innumerable ways. I hope you never forget how much I love you, Shadow. You're really the best. 💜

Almost 13 years together...

Almost 13 years together, 3 of them married. Shaun said this is the leather anniversary and bought me this custom pen. You all know how I love writing utensils. How he thought to combine those things I'll never figure out. He is so clever and thoughtful. I am the luckiest. ❤️ The biggest downside to that is that time is flying because life is so much better than I ever dreamed it could be.

We're having a chill anniversary. It took me some days to get completely over my migraine hangover (that's really a thing, unfortunately). I'm almost back to my normal, but I slept a lot today. Shaun is so patient with me especially when my health goes sideways. Hopefully, we'll be up for celebrating soon. For now I'm off to enjoy his company. Maybe we'll start on the puzzle that I gifted him today. 😊

The Texas Nipple Cactus...

The Texas Nipple Cactus that my Father in Law handed down to me a few years ago is blooming for the first time since I've had her. She makes those little red fruits all the time. I love this plant so much. 💚

We moved his light AGAIN...

We moved his light AGAIN and hopefully it'll be to his liking this time. I coaxed him out with some fresh greens and he was into that! I've missed his bad self. 😂

This is the cutest li'l pine tree I've ever seen in my life.

This is the cutest li'l pine tree I've ever seen in my life. I've seen it several times on my street and finally had a chance to stop and get a photo.

Yesterday was terrible.

Yesterday was terrible. I had the worst migraine of my life. It took 2 doses of medication and most of the day to subside and I vomited several times - once so hard that I peed myself. I spent 10 hours napping in the living room floor because I was too weak to shower and too disgusting for the furniture.

I don't know how I would have survived yesterday without Shaun. I woke up feeling really horrible and took my meds and sat on the couch. He got up a few minutes later and immediately asked me if I was ok. All I could answer was "No. Can I have something to vomit into?" and thus began my most attractive and sexy day ever. 😂 For real though, he spent all day dealing with my puke and pee and bringing me meds and fluids and checking on me and being all around wonderful. He even said I was cute all balled up in the floor. I don't know what I ever did to deserve this human being, but he is my favorite and I am so thankful for him.

As for what triggered my migraine? The best I can figure is stress from scheduling my CSA exam. Yes, I was excited but I also felt dizzy later that night and woke up in the middle of the night feeling pretty bad. I should have taken medication then but I didn't. I thought I could sleep it off and that is a mistake I won't be making again.

I'm feeling really excited and nervous.

I'm feeling really excited and nervous.  I just registered for my Certified System Administrator exam.  I'm not taking it for 3 more weeks (unless I feel super ready before then), but that is a big step in regards to starting my career.

I took the CSA class last April between college courses and I loved it.  With classwork and my mental health and us losing Shaun's dad and then moving and then moving the kids and all that that entails I never had time to study and prepare for the exam.  My deadline is coming up and I'm pretty mentally rested now so it's time to make this a priority.  I'm really excited.  I can't wait to update my already beautiful resume with this certification so that I can pursue the job I want.  It's so weird how fast this all feels like it's happening despite the fact that I spent 5+ years struggling to get to this point.

Anyway, I wanted to share that because I've done a thing, taken another step and I'm pretty proud of myself.  😃

Look at my handsome Gramson

Look at my handsome Gramson, Leon. Precious little baby.

I'm not trying to be mean, but...

I'm not trying to be mean, but I think Rose might be the dumbest dog I've ever met.  I consider myself to be a dog person but I've never encountered anyone like her and I need help.

It doesn't matter if it's below freezing or if it's raining; she sleeps out in the open (usually in the middle of the yard).  She has a heated dog house not to mention a doggie door to actually come inside the house.  She knows how to use the doggie door but sometimes stands there slapping at the flap before she'll actually come in.  The other day when it was raining and I wanted her inside we had to coax her in and I sat with her on the couch for over an hour; but when she got tired of that she went outside anyway and not under any sort of shelter.

She doesn't eat much unless we coax her to do so; she was thin before she was lost for 2 weeks, but much thinner when we got her home.  The people who'd found her said that they couldn't get her to eat (or eat much eventually), either.  I don't understand this.  Does she not feel cold or rain or hunger?  Does she just not care?

I've said before that she likes to be up Cubba's butt and if he's outside that is still true.  Only once or twice has she followed him indoors.  Before we had a doggie door she slept in the dog house with him, but now doesn't even go in there (and the blanket inside should smell like him still, but she keeps dragging it out into the middle of the yard to lay on it - weather be damned).

I guess the simple conclusion would be that she's not uncomfortable and doesn't feel hungry too often, but when I see her literally shivering while rolled up in a tiny ball out in the open in the cold it breaks my heart.  I tried to make her stay in last night by "closing" the doggie door, but every time I checked on her she was sat in front of it whining.

I'm not trying to be funny when I say this but I feel like she might have special needs and I just don't know what to do for her.  Please advise me.

Update:  I ate with her and Shaun pretended to. That's the most we've seen her eat in one sitting.

We've been giving...

We've been giving Rose more calories and supervising her eating... It's the weirdest thing, but I gave her a weiner the other day and she laid on it - then left it without eating it. I've never met a dog who didn't by default want people food. I handed it to her again and she finally ate it, but that was so weird. Anyway, she's finally showing some weight gain.

I had a bunch of chores to do today, but when I went outside the weather was so nice and the dogs were so happy that I spent more time than I meant to playing with them. Shaun came out and played, too. It's all good, though. We all needed that.

I hope you all are doing well. I felt like turds for the last 2 weeks (PMS and then I don't know... just run down, hence the lack of posts), but I've been better the last two days. I slept like crap last night but made the most of today regardless. Hopefully, tomorrow will be pretty good, too.