Veterinarians Are Greedy Bastards

I'm LIVID. My Godchild is a vet, working at a practice too far away for me to get to or I would pack up my kitty and drive that far. Coco has been with me since she was 6 weeks old, she's 8. She's always been a thin cat, Her brother is heavier. But not Coco,who,  in the last week has been attacked by fleas. She's anemic. Severely. So we packed her up and hauled her to the emergency vet. 1800.00 to do a blood transfusion and run some fluids into her. I don't have 1800.00. Thanks to other life crap I have 42.00 to get through to the first of the month.So we brought her home, with some immediate flea killer in her and bundled in warm towels. I sat with her the rest of the night, begging her to live.
This morning she went to our regular vet. The one we have had a standing relationship with for almost two years. After explaining that there had been extenuating circumstances the month before that left us at  the bottom of the money barrel this month, they refused to work with us. Nope, will not take a post dated check, nope will not take the credit card number and run it on the first. Nope, will do a damn thing that actually helps the situation. Not until my husband said "So you want to call my wife and explain why we will have to put down the cat because the dollar means more than the animal?" She acted like she had been slapped in the face. "Well that's not it at all, none of this is cheap" When he responded with "Our godchild is a vet, she said even with you quoting 600.00...you are still 200.00 over the actual cost. And there's only 3 cat blood types- A, B & AB, the latter is extremely rare, Bs tend to be more west coast cats and no, no one really knows why, and most east coast cats are As. She came out of Michigan so, probably an A. 
THEN. RIGHT THEN is when she decided to do something helpful. NOT until it was waved in her face that we had inside knowledge of the costs did she even mention, "well we can do this, lets get her some flea prevention, her body temp is up but still low, we'll do some sub cue fluids and I'll send you home with needles, the fluid and a supplement," They ran fluids then and she immediately responded.
So I asked my god child why they had told me it would dilute her blood too much to give her fluids- "because they only wanted to do IV which they can then charge more for."
They have a frigging oath for god's sake.

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

I have gone to the source and asked why they even bother with an oath. I mean really. My son knew he was going to lose his horse to colic, after meds and endless hours of walking her through snowy mud, so we called Dr. Knight and his wonderful comment was "well if she's going to die-she's going to die" Really ass wipe? And then he was offended when I banned him from ever coming back on my property under threat of leaving in a body bag. He was the on-call for 9...N-I-N-E vets that weekend and this is what we got?? Really? Then he said "well my wife is pregnant" No sympathy bud- I had 6 kids in the military with a deployed husband. Maybe, if you wanted to be glued to her side & by the way- she is a vet too- maybe you should not have agreed to being the weekend emergency guy...just saying.

https://www.avma.org/About/WhoWeAre/Pages/contact-confirm.aspx is where I went for answers- not getting any. Just telling me what I already know- I can lodge a complaint which goes to a group of fellow vets and not a whole hell of a lot really happens

Tribute to a friend or two

    Over the years I have had several dogs that taught me something that I needed to know at that moment. Barney was named for Barney Fife & at 240 lbs was afraid of everything when he first saw it. I found him in a burlap bag in a watery ditch and I learned that even a kid can make a difference. I put that bag in the basket of my bike and rode down the side of 436 like Elmira Gultch all the way to the vets office- 11 puppies and 8 were viable. They turned out to be English Mastiffs…big babies. He was quite impressed. (Less so when I brought home a horse from the pound & proved him wrong when he said it was a goner.)  From Rana the rotti I learned to not buy into the hype on anything. She was a goof ball that loved to grab mudbugs as they crawled out and eat them…totally crazy. If there was one word for her it would be “Play”.  Sasha is “old” by Saint Bernard standards…she’s teaching me age is a number, she’s still all puppy-ish and so not ready to play by the rules.
      Today marks a year since I had to say goodbye to my furry friend who taught me the most. Daisy owned us for a decade. I teased Ed that she liked him better, but, she was my salvation. We found her running the streets with her mama and a stray terrier. Not long after we found mama dog on the road- she lost to a logging truck. I pulled in the driveway and told Ed to snag her, and what had happened. That afternoon we bought her a crate and a collar and got bowls, a ball, food and made a vets appt. for her. I expected the worst-instead we found out she was about 5 weeks old and perfectly healthy.  She knew sit, shake, and went to the door to go out. She also learned ‘high 5’ real fast. She taught me to laugh at the silly things when I was so depressed and missing my family & home-I didn’t want to deal with anyone. Really, when there’s a puppy digging in a dirt pile and all you can see is dirt flying and a waggedy tail going like a furry metronome until she’d come up all sandy nosed and bouncy…you had to laugh.

       Daisy taught me that I really didn’t need the crust on the bread- even though I liked it, or pizza crust, or the last bite of anything. She taught me that bananas were really yellow puppy treats and not something to make bread with or for Ed to snack on. She loved the puppy ice cream we made and would sit, one paw on whoever held the cup and lick it with her eyes closed- like she was savoring every bit of it. Daisy loved to go for a ride and Ed’s gator became the Daisymobile.  She loved to dig and the wild blueberries of Michigan… sadly she never got to have any of ours here. Without having any training, she seemed to know when the nightmares had returned and would bark from her kennel, next to Sasha…which normally would have set her off- but never did. Just hearing her would bring me out of it. I lost track of the number of nights she sat at my feet as I plugged away on my Master’s project after everyone else had gone to bed. She also listened to more papers and stories than anyone else had. The day we lost my brother I was home alone when I found out- she climbed in my lap and whined as I sobbed into her fur. She had the softest ears- one stuck out like Yoda.
      Daisy wasn’t a barker. If she did, you needed to go check it out—then, and she rarely took a dislike to someone, but if she growled…I got rid of them fast. I learned to trust her and always felt safe knowing she was there. She was oblivious to the kitties when they moved in…and wasn’t so sure about Squirty when he joined the family. They did become friends and he searched for her for days after she left us. I had her ashes on the mantle until I decorated for Christmas, I moved her box to my favorite book case, Squirt sat and sniffed at the box and looked back at me and whined. Tell me again how they “are only animals.”

                She was amazing and because she was, I knew I needed to find a new fur friend after she was gone. Because she put so much faith in us, I knew it was right. And it was our turn to save a pup from a who knows what. Chance has been with us 10 months. He was sitting in a cage at the shelter and had this look like he needed a friend. I’m learning to trust him…and nothing against him, but if I could have Daisy back-I’d do it in a half a heartbeat. I think in some ways he knows he has big paws to fill. How he came to be there- we have no idea. He has so many fears, I can only imagine what he went through. At the end of November he figured out what play really is and engages as often as he can. He makes me laugh daily and he’s turning into a good alarm system and I’m seeing how he picks up on the tiny things. I think him and Daisy would be great friends & that’s how it’s supposed to be…they taught me that.

Words.

   I wrote a book set in the deep south in the 50s & 60s. Language was different than it is today. Words that were used to describe people or ethnic groups were different and acceptable then. They may not have been liked or appreciated, but they were used. They have a place in history and therefore in the story. I also have a unique perspective on this because of my heritage. My mother was Seneca, my dad was Scot/Irish/Blackfoot, I was raised with a good bit of the old ways. There has been great debate over the use of "Indian" versus "Native American", if you look at it from a geographical stand point. Indian should refer to someone from India, and Native American is anyone born in America. But that isn't the way it works. I prefer American Indian. It covers the background and pinpoints where     I'm from. A college in Charleston did a study at a Pow-wow to see what term was the preferred. American Indian was preferred by 190 of the 200 indigenous people there. 1 old man said he didn't care what they called him, as long as they remembered to call him for supper.
    The other big hoopla has been over the use of "discriminatory terms"...like Red Skin. Braves. Indians...you get the drift. I do not see the problem with Braves. It's the same as warriors-Indians and Red Skins...they are what you allow them to be. Someone could decide that "water" is derogatory to those of the liquid state--you'd think their bag of marbles had split wide open. It has the same connotation for me with the others. Get real. The Seminoles of Florida State have long used Osceola as their mascot. Do the research and you'll know why...he was cunning, brave, a leader, etc. That is just what a good coach hopes his team shows on the field. The Florida Seminole Tribes work with the University to be sure the portrayal is done in a tasteful manner and back the use. Imagine that. They came, sat, talked, listened, debated in an adult manner and came to an agreement.
    Look at the terms used to describe women over time. There's a grunch load that would get someone slapped sideways if they used them to the right female. The current is "bitch" or "bitches"...you know, like the female dog. Now let reality seep in...have you used that term to refer to your friends? I'm betting at some point in time- its happened. How big of a fit did you pitch? None? Really....but you want to throw a hissy fit over a nationality?
    The world has gone a bit too politically correct.  I pointed out my son, someone else heard a piece of the conversation and berated me for calling him "skinny." He's 6 ft 1 and some, and weighs in between 145 and 165...he's skinny. And he has the super metabolism...brat. Repeated what I told the old bat would just deprive you of a chance to use your imaginations.
   Here's a unique concept, instead of demanding a nationality all be called by the same grand (or not) title, try asking. Two people may have different answers. Get over it. That's why we're different.

Give away ends at Midnight!

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/62201-run-in-with-the-devil
 This is book 2 of the trilogy and specially crafted book mark for the book.  The Wordbranch fall catalog is online, there is a discount if you purchase the set so check that out and soon they will have an anthology of sci-fi stories coming out- more info is on the site.

GIVE AWAY!!!!

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/62201-run-in-with-the-devil

Book 2 of the trilogy is on the goodreads.com give aways

Thunder Con

What a blast this was! The number of people in full costumes was staggering, and it was loaded with munchkin sized folks sporting their own mini-sized costumes. Had a great time talking to people and seeing old friends and posting pix that made my granddaughter yell "Oh Cool"

BOOK LAUNCH PT 2

YAY!!! Samaria Blair & The Secret in the Abbey is now out.
Look for it under the name of Cici Adams, its a mid grade book designed mainly for girls but there are battles to go with the witches and fairies and these wonderful flying Dreki that one must train and fly...brooms come later. 
It was a ton of fun to write and will have a sequel next summer.

WE HAVE BOOK LAUNCH!

Over the weekend Beastly Beauty came out- its a steampunk take on beauty and the beast and there will be a goodreads giveaway soon. In the meantime, check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/Beastly-Beauty-Carissa-Marks/dp/1490494529/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1372095361&sr=8-7&keywords=carissa+marks

Congrats to Tandi from Corpus Christi Texas on winning the contest. Thanks to all who stopped by and filled out the form and better luck next time- keep watching there will be another one soon.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

That Bites

by Carissa Marks

Giveaway ends June 07, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Confessions of a Rebel Child

by Carissa Marks

Giveaway ends March 13, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Book 3 is out!!

Yay! That Bites is out now, it's the end of the trilogy and takes you through the trying times of Nick and Rana and ties all 3 books in together. Check it out, also on Good Reads in the next couple of weeks there will be another book give away so look for me there. If you'd like more updates, check out the Beastly Beauty page on Face Book, I'm adding updates there on up coming releases and projects.

Waiting....waiting....waiting

I really don't do wait well, how I ever had kids is beyond me. In December I submitted a steampunk version of Beauty and the Beast to a publisher...right now I'm hoping for an email that says "we love it." In the meantime, I have started a kids book, its along the lines of Harry Potter, more aimed at girls, but if a boy wants to read it- that's cool too. I'll be throwing updates out on here and on the Beastly Beauty facebook page.

Confessions of a Rebel Child

     The book came out in December and has been doing well, I'd classify it as a chik-lit summer read full of crazy characters and situations that either require a small southern town or a soap opera to exist. The setting is before the house of mouse and has the inevitable bad guys- the cracker mafia, there's secrets galore and no taboo was left unturned. There's a sick and twisted "minister", a druggie selling ice cream, and the entitled males thinking they can do anyone because they have the tool to do so and what happens when reality smacks them in the face and grabs them by the ears.
   I wrote this one originally in a more epistolary manner, and then when I started linking them together- well, the original faded away. There are hints throughout about who Sami is seeing, but it isn't until almost the end that we find out it isn't the sexy cop she's known forever, its the 'mystery man'.
  In Ship of Fools, we find out far more of the antics they pulled off, mainly because no one ever said "no", Ship of Fools is in the works, keep an eye out.

   We were able to release Blood Dance a week early, the cover art is done on canvas board by an actual artist, the next one is going to be ultra cool. This is the story of vampires Luka and Laurine, and his sometimes lover,Shayla- the werewolf. It has lots of hot vamp sex and the only one that sparkles...is Laurine, but she's a stripper and its body glitter so, not the same thing. This is the first in the Realm of Night trilogy.
   Originally it was maybe eight pages and designed to be read at an event called Night of the Macabre. The community college sponsors it and its all murder,mayhem, blood, guts,gore,monsters, mayhem and twisted fears. But I kept having people ask when they were going to find out what happened next- I tend to leave them dangling...awful. I know- I hear it from a writer friend all the time.
    The next one out will be Run-in with the Devil. Shayla's story evolves and where Blood Dance is highly sexual, this one is more sensual- lots of action between the sheets and many other places but
with a story full of twists and turns and events that a reader wants to find in a book.
   It's out on amazon.com for kindle and if you don't have an ereader, you can download one for free for your computer.. go grab a copy and tell me what you think.

Some people should not write....

I have said before that any one can write, but I also believe that some people should never write anything more substantial than a grocery list. IF you cannot get a point across, meaning if you put something in words and people who read it are confused-you have no word control. If you can't tell a story, chances are writing it isn't going to help. Chances are- because there are people who get in front of even small groups and can't speak or they lose the ability to transfer what they see/know into oral components. This is different from simply not having the vocabulary to convey a thought.

Lately I have read some feeble attempts at "writing" a story, when in fact they are rewriting something already done on TV, not fan fic, that at least has some pseudo rules attached to it. This was a blatant re-do of an episode the way they wanted to see it. Okay, so it's writing and any writing is good writing...except for this. I am pretty sure my girls have a better vocab than what was used, when I suggested a thesaurus, they had no clue why you would use one "when it's just another dictionary."

Really?? That alone says volumes. Go back and take a look at a basic English book. Learn more than one word for things then try it again. It also helps if you have never lived any where except for the house you're in, in the town you're in, surrounded by the same people for your whole life-that you not try to write about someplace that is the polar opposite of this. Write what you know, not what you have never seen. Do your research. Know the place as well as you know your own kitchen. This too is not all inclusive. There are those creative souls who can sit and do the research, surround themselves with the essence of Morocco and write a beautiful moving piece. The exceptions are there, but generally...yeah, some people just shouldn't write.

Research is your Friend

I had to laugh, last night I'm on the phone with an editor/writer/friend of mine and she is editing a story for someone who very obviously did not do enough research. I've also had this happen. I'm reading along and then this piece will leap and nearly scream at me and I have to ask the question- did you do any research at all?? And of course the answer is usually no.

So...if you haven't done the research, or at least did a quick google of whatever it is...how can you write about it? You lose credibility with your readers which is the first step to being a dusty cover on your own bookshelf. If you are writing sci-fi or fantasy, you do have some leeway, but you have to give the reader your world, and then stay with it. You can't go from jet-packs to driving a 57 Chevy and expect to have people stay with you. Like wise, if it's a definite period of time, make sure you check your sources, pull up old newspapers and look for the ads. I recently found one for a well known eatery that used to serve a roast beef dinner with 2 sides and a drink for 3.95. Oh to have those days back. It was also the days of bell bottom jeans and things with fringe( don't ask) if you weren't born until 1990, you may never have seen any of these images- you need to do some recon before you write.

Combat the "I can't write"

I hear it far too often, "I can't write, but I can tell a story." or the all inclusive, "I can't write." Well, if you can talk, you can write. It's words, not rocket science. You can convey a myriad of emotions and supply someone with a visual and the words are the same-'the' is the same word whether written or spoken. I subbed at a high school while a teacher was on maternity leave, and of course half the class moaned about not being able to write an essay as long as she had specified. One poor student wandered back through the door bemoaning the fact that if he didn't pass the class he couldn't play football. That same morning I had heard him talking about a fantastic play his sister had made in a softball game. There was details, and sounds, and you could almost smell the hot dogs at the concession stand and the popcorn. My advice was to find a tape recorder, recite the tale and then rewind and write. He did and he made an A. His teacher was amazed when she came back and cornered me in the hall one day wanting to know what I said that made the difference. Finally she caught on, there isn't one right way to write, there's what's right for you.

Inspiration is another grand excuse, "I'm not inspired to write." So, what you are really saying is, "I'm in a lazy mood and don't want to write." Just say that. Inspiration is everywhere, IF you allow yourself to accept it. The other day we had fog roll in over a snow packed road and it was magnificently spooky, so I sent the hubs out to shoot a few picture for me. I prowl old photo albums and now online albums, pictures are great-I wrote a story that was set in the Keys and old Bahama Islands, and all around me I had taped pictures of beaches and shells and three masted ships. I listened to beach sounds on CD...until I had a feel for where I was taking that story. Music is great inspirational material. Again, you have to decide what's right for you. One of my writer friends has this loud, obnoxious, electric chainsaw meets car wreck type of music and another cannot listen to anything with words. Mine is whatever trips my trigger on that day.

The biggest thing is to rid yourself of the word 'can't'. Life has enough roadblocks without throwing more in your way. Find the trick that works for you and write.

So many new things...

I took a bit of a sabbatical while my brother Rick was in the hospital-sadly we lost him at christmas time and I miss him more than mere words can ever convey. While I was still in school I could use the deadlines as a way to block the hurt but now...well graduation was last week and I am so happy to be done and now have a chance to laugh at those who said it wouldn't happen.

My book is out on amazon.com, Confessions of a Rebel Child. Reviews are starting to come in and people like it but no Sally Field gushy comments. I've been asked about merchandise linked with Confessions and they are forthcoming-keep an eye out.