Category Archives: General

I Will Not Settle

Posted by Life is a Rat Race in General

At least once a week, I see a post about “settling” for a person or hear from someone that I need to just pick a guy and “settle” down.  Why is it people feel the need to “settle” or push others to do the same?

Parents, well-meaning friends, and even some co-workers will try to encourage single people to “settle” down.  Why the push?  Is it that they are so blissfully happy in a relationship that they just want to others to experience the same?  Could it possibly be that they are secretly jealous that single people have the freedom that they may long for and that they themselves “settled” for something other than their ideal match? I’m sure that the parents and well-meaning friends just want the people in their lives to find love.  What they need to realize is, is that encouraging someone to “settle” may not be the best advice.

Some single people are perfectly happy to be single and dating.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  The idea that everyone needs to be coupled up like animals about to board Noah’s Ark is asinine.  They may not be at a point in their lives where they are ready or willing to commit to another person.  Some people may be at a stage in their lives where they are just looking to enjoy the moment, while others may be biding their time until the perfect match crosses their path. Life is a journey.  The path we choose twists and turns along the way.  Some people are content to travel that path alone throughout their lives, while others travel solitary for a while until the meet a companion that makes the journey even more enjoyable.

To me, “settling” means accepting something or someone less worthy than what you deserve.  For me, that is not an option. I consider it a negative.  It means that the relationship stagnates and does not grow, which is not a good thing in my book.  Any relationship that you choose to be in should be one that continues to grow, mature and develop through time. It should consist of two people that are not only on the same path in life, but willing to run headlong down that path, eager to find the next adventure together.

I would much rather be single and happy, than “settle” for any relationship that is a poor imitation of the real thing.  I am quite happy to date for now.  Should the right person come along, I would willingly jump into the relationship with both feet.  I am willing to wait for the person that is ready and willing to share all that life has to offer and looks forward to growing and exploring the path ahead with me, side by side.  I am looking for someone who is eager to see what is around the next corner, not someone willing to sit on the sidelines while life passes them by.

I do know this… I will not “settle” for anything less.

This was previously posted in another forum and added here for content.

Change

Posted by Life is a Rat Race in General

Nothing ever stays the same.  The only thing that is guaranteed in life is that things will change, usually when you least expect it.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  Change forces us to grow, move with the times, and accept new ideas.  It’s how we evolve as a species.

Some of the changes we encounter aren’t always pleasant.  The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, having to move to a different place can all upset us, to say the least.  How we handle these stressful times and persevere is what is most important.  It shows us what our limits are and teaches us how to reach for the unknown future.

Change cannot be stalled, ignored or dismissed.  It is inevitable.  How we deal with change is another story…

Unusual finds…

Posted by Life is a Rat Race in General, Pets

You never know what you will find when you go to yard sales.  It’s true what they say…”one man’s trash is another’s treasure.”  Sometimes you come across some truly unusual finds.  My girlfriends and I usually go to yard sales on average about once a month during the summer and fall.

Last fall, we came across, and actually ACQUIRED the most unusual item to date… a live goat. Yep, I said it, a GOAT.  More specifically, a baby pygmy goat named Mason.  It seemed the woman having the yard sale had gotten him as a gift and her neighbors turned her in for having a farm animal in a residential area.  She had to find poor little Mason a new home.  Luckily one of my girlfriends happens to own a farm.  It was fate!

We went home and started building the new goat pen that day.  We also decided that Mason would be lonely in the pen by himself, since he was used to living in the house with Michelle (his previous mama), so we decided to get him a playmate.  After a brief online search, we found Matilda, another baby pygmy goat who was only 2 months younger than Mason.  Since Mason was already neutered, we knew they would be fine together.

The past few months have been highly entertaining for us.  The goats are funny as hell to watch play and we have been educating ourselves with ways to enrich their lives.  We are now in the process of building them a larger enclosure, complete with teeter totters, logs, wire spools to climb on, and possibly a tree house.

Mason’s other Mom comes to visit and brings him goodies.  He still remembers her.  🙂  She is happy he has a good home and that he is close enough for her to see whenever she wants.  There are a few children that visit the farm weekly and we talked to them about showing the goats in the local 4H club.  They are excited at the prospect.

Mason wasn’t by any means “trash”, but definetly qualifies as the strangest and most unusual find we have yet to acquire.  Best of all, he was free.  Of course, if you add up what we’ve spent in fencing, food, vet bills, ect., he may actually be the most expensive find yet.  Totally worth it!!!!  Makes me wonder what we will find this year…

Life with a Rat Terrier

Posted by Life is a Rat Race in General, Pets

Life with a Rat Terrier has its’ moments. My girlies have made me laugh, cry and cuss. On a good day, they are pure entertainment and love. On one of their evil days, they can try the patience of a Saint.

Today was a good day. The girlies played with each other and Abby “spoke” to me with her ball in her mouth, telling me in her own special way, she wanted to play catch. When I ignored her, she dropped the ball and chased her tail or hind leg, running in a circle until she was so dizzy she couldn’t stand. Bonnie just wanted to cuddle. She is my snuggle buddy. I must admit, it was kind of hard to set up the blog site with a pooch in my lap, but I got it done. It took a little longer, but I didn’t mind.

Last week, the girlies were heathens. Abby ate the shirt off Dad’s back (literally), and chewed my sheets. So far, she’s chewed 4 sets of sheets, 2 comforters, 3 blankets, ate holes in 2 pairs of jeans (while Dad was still in them, mind you), and 2 shirts of Dad’s. It wouldn’t be so bad, except everything she eats is new. She has expensive taste. Bonnie just ate the carpet… You may be wondering how on earth a dog can eat clothing while someone is still wearing them. I wondered that myself. It seems that Dad likes to nap on the floor and have the girls run up and down his back. It was his version of a mini-massage. Apparently, the girlies tired of this game and Abbey found a new one of her own making. Dad just slept right through it. I’m convinced she chews my bedding out of spite. She can be a little bitch.

I wouldn’t give up my girlies for the world. They keep me company, like now, and bring joy to my life. They also cost me a damn fortune! All in all, I guess it’s a fair trade…

Welcome!

Posted by Life is a Rat Race in General

Welcome to Life is a Rat Race! I’m glad you took the opportunity to check out my blog site. I created this site as a means to post blogs written about my POV on life.
I suppose I should tell you a little about myself. I am single, female and a redhead. In other words, I’ve been known to have a temper. LOL I live on the East Coast in a Podunk little town with my two rat terriers (hence the name of the site). I am one of three children and the only girl born in two generations, so it’s safe to say I was a tad ruined by my grandfather. My rats, or the girlies, as I like to call them, are my babies. I date…sometimes not so successfully, but that is for the blogs. I tend to have a slightly sarcastic sense of humor and more often than not, I eat leather because my mouth works faster than my brain.
I hope you enjoy reading what is written here and welcome comments other POV’s besides my own. Sometimes, my blogs are written just to make people think. Other times, I write solely for my own enjoyment. Some people may recognize some blogs I will be re-posting that were written in the past by myself for another forum. These will be marked as such.
Take care… 