Sweet Merry was out in the livingroom last night on the arm of the chair, and I had been giving him wee bits of food there which he'd been eating ... but when I put down the last piece and he bent down to look at it, he'd stood up and lost his balance, ended up doing almost a headstand and falling off the arm of the chair. Luckily Maxx had just walked into the room and was there at the perfect moment to catch my poor little sweetheart. He'd likely have hurt himself so badly if he'd fallen to the floor, he's so thin.
I know you're not supposed to give your pets table scraps, but as we were saying yesterday, he's only got a week left with us, and he can eat whatever he wants during that time if it gives him any pleasure, poor wee thing.
Friday, 30 September 2011
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Passings
As I was trying to get to sleep last night I was thinking of my loved ones who have passed on.
Nikki ... our first pet, a teddy bear hamster, who passed on in the fall while I was in Elementary school (I believe in Grade 5 or 6).
Uncle Tom ... my Aussie uncle, who passed suddenly of I believe an embolism ... while his son and brand new daughter-in-law were visiting us in Penticton.
Tekk ... who was Maxx's cat but who I loved anyways, the little three-legged cutie. He was still young and in good health until poisoned by the neighbors who put out rat poison.
Buddy ... who passed two weeks after Tekk. He'd reached a good age of 12 1/2, but his epilepsy got the better of him and he was put to sleep after a horrible day of endless seizures.
Nana ... who passed away in New Zealand and who I only got to see a couple of times through my life, with our one family visit to New Zealand and a couple of her visits to Canada.
Maxx's grandfather ... who passed away of bone cancer, who I didn't know well and had only met once or twice, but was such a huge influence on Maxx, his true father-figure.
PV ... our sweet little calico cat, who we had to put to sleep ten days before we bought our house, when we finally learned that what was ailing her was a tumour under her tongue which had spread to her brain.
Maxx's Nana ... who passed away due to medical complications, she made me think of a mischievous older pixie.
Beau ... my little Lady Gouldian finch, my rainbow birdie who had such a sweet melodious song, I think he was scared by one of our cats and had a heart attack.
Shep ... who passed at the ripe age of 13 1/2, when his heart gave out on him, he'd been slowly failing after a stroke a couple of years prior, and we missed out on getting him out for his last picnic at Piper's Lagoon.
Grandpa ... who passed away not long after Shep, I didn't really know him all that well as he and Grandma had gotten divorced when I was really little, but who I loved.
Grandma ... who passed away a couple of months after Grandpa, we always used to have such fun when I was at university and would go out for a weekend visit to her in White Rock ... though her Yahtzee game was slightly less than scrupulous! I still have to get some dice to leave on her grave when we make a trip through to the interior.
Peep and Cloud ... my little Zebra finch and I'm not sure what type of finch Cloud was .... I think they got cold overnight before we got the heat turned on in the fall, and passed.
The year I lost Beau, Shep, Grandpa, Grandma, Peep, and Cloud, we thought Maxx was in danger of passing on, thought my younger brother Michael was in danger of passing on, and almost lost my mother-in-law's dog Xara who was with us at the time (to leptospirosis, which could have taken Shep, Maxx, and myself as well .... vaccinate your dogs against lepto!). That was a really hard year, and the spring after on the anniversary of Beau's death, I basically started having a mental and emotional breakdown when all the anniversaries started piling up on me.
So, I have lots of people to remember on Samhain. Luckily, I have Oct 31st off as my regular day off ... haven't heard back yet if my vacation request for Nov 1 will be approved or not, though.
Nikki ... our first pet, a teddy bear hamster, who passed on in the fall while I was in Elementary school (I believe in Grade 5 or 6).
Uncle Tom ... my Aussie uncle, who passed suddenly of I believe an embolism ... while his son and brand new daughter-in-law were visiting us in Penticton.
Tekk ... who was Maxx's cat but who I loved anyways, the little three-legged cutie. He was still young and in good health until poisoned by the neighbors who put out rat poison.
Buddy ... who passed two weeks after Tekk. He'd reached a good age of 12 1/2, but his epilepsy got the better of him and he was put to sleep after a horrible day of endless seizures.
Nana ... who passed away in New Zealand and who I only got to see a couple of times through my life, with our one family visit to New Zealand and a couple of her visits to Canada.
Maxx's grandfather ... who passed away of bone cancer, who I didn't know well and had only met once or twice, but was such a huge influence on Maxx, his true father-figure.
PV ... our sweet little calico cat, who we had to put to sleep ten days before we bought our house, when we finally learned that what was ailing her was a tumour under her tongue which had spread to her brain.
Maxx's Nana ... who passed away due to medical complications, she made me think of a mischievous older pixie.
Beau ... my little Lady Gouldian finch, my rainbow birdie who had such a sweet melodious song, I think he was scared by one of our cats and had a heart attack.
Shep ... who passed at the ripe age of 13 1/2, when his heart gave out on him, he'd been slowly failing after a stroke a couple of years prior, and we missed out on getting him out for his last picnic at Piper's Lagoon.
Grandpa ... who passed away not long after Shep, I didn't really know him all that well as he and Grandma had gotten divorced when I was really little, but who I loved.
Grandma ... who passed away a couple of months after Grandpa, we always used to have such fun when I was at university and would go out for a weekend visit to her in White Rock ... though her Yahtzee game was slightly less than scrupulous! I still have to get some dice to leave on her grave when we make a trip through to the interior.
Peep and Cloud ... my little Zebra finch and I'm not sure what type of finch Cloud was .... I think they got cold overnight before we got the heat turned on in the fall, and passed.
The year I lost Beau, Shep, Grandpa, Grandma, Peep, and Cloud, we thought Maxx was in danger of passing on, thought my younger brother Michael was in danger of passing on, and almost lost my mother-in-law's dog Xara who was with us at the time (to leptospirosis, which could have taken Shep, Maxx, and myself as well .... vaccinate your dogs against lepto!). That was a really hard year, and the spring after on the anniversary of Beau's death, I basically started having a mental and emotional breakdown when all the anniversaries started piling up on me.
So, I have lots of people to remember on Samhain. Luckily, I have Oct 31st off as my regular day off ... haven't heard back yet if my vacation request for Nov 1 will be approved or not, though.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Melancholy Day
Picked up the last bag of the special cat food Merry has been having to eat for the past year or so ... did make sure to get a big one so that once he passes on Oct 6th we should still have some left to use to ease the cats back onto a regular food.
While at the vets picking it up, they had two sets of kittens in, and quite the story with one litter, especially about one of the little guys they named "Hawk". Seems this litter was born out at the dump, and when they were 4 weeks old a hawk came by and snatched up one of the kittens, then came back later for another but Hawk fought back and I guess was dropped, was found by a nice family who also got his siblings gathered up, and they're now 8 weeks old and looking for forever homes. Lovely little black and white kittens.
I just love kittens, particularly when they are sweet and interested but not too sure of themselves ... and when they come over to the front of the cage and reach through trying to interact with you ... and the silly wee silver tabby who started off being interested and kitty-purring (very rumbly), but by the time I was leaving was fast asleep draped over one of his siblings ... and still purring away madly.
While at the vets picking it up, they had two sets of kittens in, and quite the story with one litter, especially about one of the little guys they named "Hawk". Seems this litter was born out at the dump, and when they were 4 weeks old a hawk came by and snatched up one of the kittens, then came back later for another but Hawk fought back and I guess was dropped, was found by a nice family who also got his siblings gathered up, and they're now 8 weeks old and looking for forever homes. Lovely little black and white kittens.
I just love kittens, particularly when they are sweet and interested but not too sure of themselves ... and when they come over to the front of the cage and reach through trying to interact with you ... and the silly wee silver tabby who started off being interested and kitty-purring (very rumbly), but by the time I was leaving was fast asleep draped over one of his siblings ... and still purring away madly.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Just Ducky
I forgot to mention that the other morning when it was rainy (steady, but not really all that hard ... but all night long) as we left for work we pulled out of the driveway and around the corner ... and there was a duck walking in the middle of the road.
She stopped (female mallard).
We stopped.
We looked at each other for a split second or two, then the duck took off in a bee-line flight right down the alley.
.... Sure, it was wet out, but it wasn't THAT wet out that you'd expect to just run across random ducks while driving!
Of course, about a week ago there was a fire in a nature sanctuary just up the road, so Maxx was wondering if the wee thing hadn't lost her home in the fire. Hope she's safe and snug somewhere.
She stopped (female mallard).
We stopped.
We looked at each other for a split second or two, then the duck took off in a bee-line flight right down the alley.
.... Sure, it was wet out, but it wasn't THAT wet out that you'd expect to just run across random ducks while driving!
Of course, about a week ago there was a fire in a nature sanctuary just up the road, so Maxx was wondering if the wee thing hadn't lost her home in the fire. Hope she's safe and snug somewhere.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Autumn Rains
We had our first rain yesterday that really felt like an autumn rain. Still warm enough that many of the house windows are open, and you could hear the ran falling falling falling, music even with the lowering skies.
Those rainy fall days when you are snug at home listening to the quiet and the gentle rain are a sweet sort of melancholy.
Of course, it's raining in my heart right now, so while I'd usually love warm sunny days, the rain suits me much more ... and will for some time, I'm sure.
Those rainy fall days when you are snug at home listening to the quiet and the gentle rain are a sweet sort of melancholy.
Of course, it's raining in my heart right now, so while I'd usually love warm sunny days, the rain suits me much more ... and will for some time, I'm sure.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Sad Decision
Merry's last day with us is going to be Oct 6th. I have an appointment to take him in that morning at 9am. That would have been my Friday preceding my regular weekend, but work was nice enough to not only accept my request to use 10 hours of my bank time to be off Oct 6th, but to already have that updated on my schedule.
My poor wee fellow has just not been doing any better, and he's just so skinny and lately I think he's stopped cleaning himself, as his fur is starting to get not so nice ... and he's getting a bit wobbly on his feet more often.
I had to make the decision that it's time. He may hang on for a long time yet, but I don't think he's got the quality of life, and while it's going to hurt like hell to be there while they put him down, I'll be there for him until the bitter end.
Hopefully he and I can have some quality snuggling time between now and then ... usually that's only when I'm on the toilet and he wanders in for a drink from the shower stall.
My poor wee fellow has just not been doing any better, and he's just so skinny and lately I think he's stopped cleaning himself, as his fur is starting to get not so nice ... and he's getting a bit wobbly on his feet more often.
I had to make the decision that it's time. He may hang on for a long time yet, but I don't think he's got the quality of life, and while it's going to hurt like hell to be there while they put him down, I'll be there for him until the bitter end.
Hopefully he and I can have some quality snuggling time between now and then ... usually that's only when I'm on the toilet and he wanders in for a drink from the shower stall.
Monday, 19 September 2011
Caterpillars
I saw a couple of caterpillars while walking with the dogs the other day. I'm not sure why I didn't stop and take photos.
One was a pale green and looked much like a snow pea pod wriggling along the road, while the other was one of those fuzzy orange and black caterpillars, looked much like a tiger tail squirming along.
Trying to think what time of year you usually see caterpillars ... I want to say spring, so that they then go into the cocoons and metamorph into butterflies later in the summer, but I'm guessing that they over-winter and come out as butterflies in the spring ... or does it depend on the species and the location?
One was a pale green and looked much like a snow pea pod wriggling along the road, while the other was one of those fuzzy orange and black caterpillars, looked much like a tiger tail squirming along.
Trying to think what time of year you usually see caterpillars ... I want to say spring, so that they then go into the cocoons and metamorph into butterflies later in the summer, but I'm guessing that they over-winter and come out as butterflies in the spring ... or does it depend on the species and the location?
Sunday, 18 September 2011
No Lotto Max for Me
Well, not on this past Friday. But nobody else won it too, so it's up to 30 Million smackeroos for this coming Friday, and I've got my ticket ...
.... Hope springs eternal, right!?
Ah, well, on my weekend right now. Not the hugest fan of one day weekends (particularly when used to three day weekends), but if I'm reading the schedule rotation correctly, when we rotate for the middle of October I should be changing from Fri/Sat/Sun off to Sat/Sun/Mon off ... so I get the Fri/Sat of my last weekend of this current rotation, then the Sun/Mon off of the first weekend of the next rotation, so that should be a four-day weekend!
Maxx and I got asked to take Oct 31st and Nov 1st off as vacation days, and I see that the 31st is a Monday, so that would in theory be a day I already have scheduled off, so if I'm right and if the request gets approved I'd then have another 4-day weekend, with only having to take one vacation day.
Sweet!
What we really need to do is both take a week off work at the same time, and then really buckle down and get the house cleaned and organized. Neither of us is (or perhaps will is more correct) do it alone, but together we could make a big difference. I hate having the house in such a state that I'm embarrassed if someone comes over.
.... Hope springs eternal, right!?
Ah, well, on my weekend right now. Not the hugest fan of one day weekends (particularly when used to three day weekends), but if I'm reading the schedule rotation correctly, when we rotate for the middle of October I should be changing from Fri/Sat/Sun off to Sat/Sun/Mon off ... so I get the Fri/Sat of my last weekend of this current rotation, then the Sun/Mon off of the first weekend of the next rotation, so that should be a four-day weekend!
Maxx and I got asked to take Oct 31st and Nov 1st off as vacation days, and I see that the 31st is a Monday, so that would in theory be a day I already have scheduled off, so if I'm right and if the request gets approved I'd then have another 4-day weekend, with only having to take one vacation day.
Sweet!
What we really need to do is both take a week off work at the same time, and then really buckle down and get the house cleaned and organized. Neither of us is (or perhaps will is more correct) do it alone, but together we could make a big difference. I hate having the house in such a state that I'm embarrassed if someone comes over.
Friday, 16 September 2011
Friday ... Lucky Friday?
Fingers and toes very crossed ... would so love to have the right numbers for the Lotto Max tonight.
... Sigh ....
It's nice to dream, huh?
On an upbeat note, the 10 hour split shift trial at work has been extended for another 90 days, so that means once this coming four week rotation is through, there's another three to come ... we'll see what happens after that. Doing the ten-hour days does make for a long day, but at least it gives a third day off for the weekend, and it's so much better doing either split than constantly swapping back and forth between days and nights!
... Sigh ....
It's nice to dream, huh?
On an upbeat note, the 10 hour split shift trial at work has been extended for another 90 days, so that means once this coming four week rotation is through, there's another three to come ... we'll see what happens after that. Doing the ten-hour days does make for a long day, but at least it gives a third day off for the weekend, and it's so much better doing either split than constantly swapping back and forth between days and nights!
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Grooming Day
Had both Angel and Hobgoblin into PetSmart for grooming today. I didn't realize when I picked them up that Angel actually hadn't gotten the tunnel portion of her requested service, but she got the poodle-face trim which was the most important part ... and her "sanitary area" has been clipped, even more important!
Every time I take Angel in for grooming she gets wee bows by her ears, which are adorable, but she doesn't really like them. She managed to get the first one out at the cash desk, so I just pulled the other one off as well. She's so fluffy right now! I should take some pictures of them and see if I can post them to this blog.
Hobgoblin got both his poodle-face and the tunnel portion of his groom, and his feed tidied up like I asked, so he's looking good!
The groomers are always so happy to see my little daggits, they behave themselves nicely during the groom and are just such adorable wee critters!
Every time I take Angel in for grooming she gets wee bows by her ears, which are adorable, but she doesn't really like them. She managed to get the first one out at the cash desk, so I just pulled the other one off as well. She's so fluffy right now! I should take some pictures of them and see if I can post them to this blog.
Hobgoblin got both his poodle-face and the tunnel portion of his groom, and his feed tidied up like I asked, so he's looking good!
The groomers are always so happy to see my little daggits, they behave themselves nicely during the groom and are just such adorable wee critters!
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Auto- Correct
I don't know about folks who have Blackberrys, but for those of us with iPhones we've been through the sometimes dreaded / sometimes hilarious "autocorrect" when sending text messages to friends and loved ones. After all, there's even a web-site "damn you auto correct" (which is darned-tootin' hilarious to read through, too!).
So, the other day I was at PetSmart and they had Hallowe'en costumes in ... more than I usually see since it's still about 6 weeks to the big day ... and I found one that I thought would look super-cute on Angel. It's labelled as a Unicorn costume, but it's got wings too, so really it's a kyrin or a pegacorn.
So, I find the size that fits her and buy it and bring it home ... and when I get home I send a text message to Maxx about it, indicating that I've found her costumer and it's a pegacorn.
What does autocorrect make of those text messages?
Me: Angel has her customer for Samhain this year
Maxx: Nice
Me: She's a organism
Me: Pegacorn
Me: Autocorrect!
Now, sometimes auto-correct is helpful, and sometimes it's darned funny or makes up some really interesting text messages (like the time I asked a friend if she was done with my gardening magazines (according to auto-correct, "orgasims"). But let's face it, aside from the obvious usage error (Hello ... it would be AN organism), that's a pretty pathetic costume! I mean ... she's an organism 365 days of the year!
So, the other day I was at PetSmart and they had Hallowe'en costumes in ... more than I usually see since it's still about 6 weeks to the big day ... and I found one that I thought would look super-cute on Angel. It's labelled as a Unicorn costume, but it's got wings too, so really it's a kyrin or a pegacorn.
So, I find the size that fits her and buy it and bring it home ... and when I get home I send a text message to Maxx about it, indicating that I've found her costumer and it's a pegacorn.
What does autocorrect make of those text messages?
Me: Angel has her customer for Samhain this year
Maxx: Nice
Me: She's a organism
Me: Pegacorn
Me: Autocorrect!
Now, sometimes auto-correct is helpful, and sometimes it's darned funny or makes up some really interesting text messages (like the time I asked a friend if she was done with my gardening magazines (according to auto-correct, "orgasims"). But let's face it, aside from the obvious usage error (Hello ... it would be AN organism), that's a pretty pathetic costume! I mean ... she's an organism 365 days of the year!
Monday, 12 September 2011
"Indian Summer"
I sure hope that we do get an Indian summer this year. It's been so nice this past week with the hot weather and blue blue BLUE skies.
We're hoping that tomorrow after work we can stop at the store on the way home and get some bread, some cheese and some cold cuts, then come home and whip up a couple of sandwiches and get the daggits out for a picnic dinner and walk, since it's still supposed to be nice, just not quite so hot. Hopefully neither one of us gets stuck on a call or a chat ... and nobody asks for favors for Maxx to pick them up and drop them off and run errands, etc!
While I've had some nice outings with the dogs, I sort of feel like I've missed summer. Working split shifts may not have the swapping back and forth between days and nights that I can't handle, but it's just not quite enough time being home for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at lunch to really get out and enjoy the weather. I feel like I've cheated my wee dogs of their nice weather enjoyment, too ... although to be fair when it's hot Angel gets overheated with all that wooly fur, even when she's clipped fairly short.
We've both requested Oct 31 and Nov 1 off, so hopefully we both get approved. We're specifically NOT having anyone over on the 31st this year, as a bunch of years past we've said we wouldn't and ended up with people over anyhow. We're actually going to take the evening and remember our dear departed, for once.
Checking over my time off manager page at work the other day, I realized that I actually haven't taken another sick day since the end of March ... although there's been a couple of days I've used banked time to have the second half of my shift off when I was feeling really poorly and we didn't have hugely busy days ... guess those days are behind us, we've just been so frantic lately! Ah, well, gives me 8 hours of OT tomorrow, which helps out my paycheque AND helps my team, so it's all good.
We're hoping that tomorrow after work we can stop at the store on the way home and get some bread, some cheese and some cold cuts, then come home and whip up a couple of sandwiches and get the daggits out for a picnic dinner and walk, since it's still supposed to be nice, just not quite so hot. Hopefully neither one of us gets stuck on a call or a chat ... and nobody asks for favors for Maxx to pick them up and drop them off and run errands, etc!
While I've had some nice outings with the dogs, I sort of feel like I've missed summer. Working split shifts may not have the swapping back and forth between days and nights that I can't handle, but it's just not quite enough time being home for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at lunch to really get out and enjoy the weather. I feel like I've cheated my wee dogs of their nice weather enjoyment, too ... although to be fair when it's hot Angel gets overheated with all that wooly fur, even when she's clipped fairly short.
We've both requested Oct 31 and Nov 1 off, so hopefully we both get approved. We're specifically NOT having anyone over on the 31st this year, as a bunch of years past we've said we wouldn't and ended up with people over anyhow. We're actually going to take the evening and remember our dear departed, for once.
Checking over my time off manager page at work the other day, I realized that I actually haven't taken another sick day since the end of March ... although there's been a couple of days I've used banked time to have the second half of my shift off when I was feeling really poorly and we didn't have hugely busy days ... guess those days are behind us, we've just been so frantic lately! Ah, well, gives me 8 hours of OT tomorrow, which helps out my paycheque AND helps my team, so it's all good.
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Heat Wave Winding Down
Supposed to be another scorcher today, up to 29 with a humidex of 34, tomorrow it's supposed to be fairly hot as well, and then on Tuesday it cools down to just above 20.
Will be working an overtime shift on Tuesday at work, so at least I'm giving up one day of my weekend and it's not SUPPOSED to be fabulous weather, although it's still nothing to sneeze at!
Will be working an overtime shift on Tuesday at work, so at least I'm giving up one day of my weekend and it's not SUPPOSED to be fabulous weather, although it's still nothing to sneeze at!
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Squeaky
My cat Trouble squeaks.
She doesn't really meow, she squeaks.
And if she's sleeping and you make some noise like sneezing which annoys her, she will squeakily complain about it ... without waking up.
Funny critter!
She doesn't really meow, she squeaks.
And if she's sleeping and you make some noise like sneezing which annoys her, she will squeakily complain about it ... without waking up.
Funny critter!
Friday, 9 September 2011
Earthquake
According to The Weather Network, earthquake today off the coast of Vancouver Island was 6.4, not 6.7 as I found online. They felt it in Vancouver (the tower was swaying, we heard in our instant messaging room), but I didn't feel it while at work today. No worries about any tsunami, apparently, as it wasn't large enough, so that's good.
No Picnic
Well, we didn't manage to get out for our picnic yesterday. Maxx was stuck on a call until 6:45, and then he had to go deal with picking up one of our co-worker's daughters from the hospital where she volunteers and taking her home, so by the time we picked up the bread and meat/cheese, etc, it was too dark to go for a picnic.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Picnic
Think that when I pick up Maxx from work today at 6pm, we're going to head to Costco to pick up some burgers and buns, and we'll head to Superstore to pick up a few other things, then pop home to do a drop off, make up some sandwiches, grab the pupperoos and head out for an evening picnic.
It's just so lovely and warm out today, and supposed to be hot again for the next couple of days, so Maxx will have some nice hot days for his weekend, but next Tuesday the weather is supposed to cool off considerably, so we'll see what sort of summer outings I do on my coming weekend. Although, this week was originally being forecast to have much cooler weather than we've had ... I think it's been our hottest week so far this year!
Had Angel and Hobgoblin out along the boardwalk at Maffeo-Sutton park this morning, and we were all glad for the breeze, as even then it was pretty hot out! Actually saw three of the really big orange starfish, so I think I may suggest the picnic at Maffeo-Sutton and then after eating walk the dogs along, to see if I can point them out to Maxx. I don't think he's seen those giant ones yet, just the regular purple and orange starfish we see.
It's just so lovely and warm out today, and supposed to be hot again for the next couple of days, so Maxx will have some nice hot days for his weekend, but next Tuesday the weather is supposed to cool off considerably, so we'll see what sort of summer outings I do on my coming weekend. Although, this week was originally being forecast to have much cooler weather than we've had ... I think it's been our hottest week so far this year!
Had Angel and Hobgoblin out along the boardwalk at Maffeo-Sutton park this morning, and we were all glad for the breeze, as even then it was pretty hot out! Actually saw three of the really big orange starfish, so I think I may suggest the picnic at Maffeo-Sutton and then after eating walk the dogs along, to see if I can point them out to Maxx. I don't think he's seen those giant ones yet, just the regular purple and orange starfish we see.
Hallowe'en
Was at Pet Smart today and found Angel's costume for Halowe'en this year. It says it's a unicorn, but really it's a pegacorn as it also has wings. Very cute, tried it on her in the store and she's absolutely adorable ... well, even more so than usual.
Will have to have Maxx go in with Hobgoblin to check out costumes for him. If you get in before the selection is all picked over, sometimes you can find such cute wee outfits!
Will have to have Maxx go in with Hobgoblin to check out costumes for him. If you get in before the selection is all picked over, sometimes you can find such cute wee outfits!
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Cougar Sighting
So, off work yesterday but got a text message from Maxx that a cougar was spotted in and caught by animal control in the work parking lot.
Exciting! Usually cougars are spotted on the outskirts of town.
Exciting! Usually cougars are spotted on the outskirts of town.
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Penticton Trip
Got back last night from my trip to Penticton.
On Sunday, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece picked me up at the ferry in Tswassen (took the 5:15am to get a quick start on the day), and we drove up to Penticton. Lovely weather, construction on the highway in the Lower Mainland slowing things down a bit ... and I'd forgotten it was IronMan Sunday, so things were awkward in the interior for traffic. We ended up being stopped not that far out of Keremeos, and told we would have to wait 20 minutes for the pilot car to take us through the course, or go back and take the Green Mountain Road as a detour. After Noa took advantage of the facilities that happened to be available where they'd stopped us, Noni opted to go back to Green Mountain Road. Windy road, lovely scenery, saw some beautiful horses and some foals, and a completely dilapidated old cabin which made us think of a Bob Ross painting.
Got in to Penticton about 1pm, visited with Dad very shortly and then we were heading up to the hospital to visit Mum, but with the IronMan on Main Street it was quite a wait to cross the road, and Noni decided that they'd better head out and pop back over to Green Mountain Road to get home. Such a long day for them! But at least we did get to visit while driving in the car.
Sat with Mum for about an hour and a half on Sunday before I wore her out, then walked home from the hospital. Goodness, it was hot! About 34 degrees, and I was worn out and wringing with sweat by the time I got to the house ... don't know how the Iron Athletes do it!
Dad got home just after midnight, got up to see him briefly and then back to bed, then up again after 1:30 to take something for my ankle and Dad was up as well, his back was really bothering him. We sat up together for a while and then turned in.
Monday and Tuesday Dad and I were back and forth to the hospital twice a day ... we seemed to keep getting there when the nurses were doing stuff with Mum and having to wait 15 or 20 minutes before we could start visiting. I guess we kept her up too long on Tuesday, as yesterday she was very tired and she said that after breakfast they were going to put her back in bed as she'd been up too long the day before.
It's tough seeing Mum in the hospital, but at least she's getting the care and they have the lifts to get her back and forth between the bed and the wheelchair. We're not sure when she'll be into an interim facility, and once she gets into a permanent bed she wants it to be at Trinity in Penticton, on Green Avenue ... Dad says because it's close to the Barley Mill. They're looking forward to going on dates to the pub once she's in Trinity.
It's been awfully tough on Dad. He's still working, and trying to get things done around the house for housework and gardening, and now starting to pull boxes up from the crawl-space to go through and determine what's garbage, what needs to go to family members, and what can be sold at a yard sale or given to charity. It'll be a long process of winnowing.
Maxx drove up Tuesday night after work, with the dogs, as we figured out if he took the ferry the next morning we wouldn't be able to make it back down to the ferries to be able to get home for a decent sleep before he works today. So, he made it in to Penticton close to 2:30am Wednesday morning, immediately crashed. Hobgoblin hopped up onto the bed with us and was ambling around, but when Maxx told him to lie down and go to sleep he immediately did so, pressed between us. Angel for some reason had difficulty getting up onto the hide-a-bed, but I got her up and she was so excited to see me that she didn't sleep for quite some time. Messy kisser!
We headed out of Penticton yesterday at about 12:30pm, later than Maxx had hoped. Managed to pick up a bit of fresh fruit at Bear's fruit stand in Keremeos, and grabbed a quick lunch in Princeton at the Dairy Queen. There was construction at Twin Lakes, and in Manning Park, and of course in the Lower Mainland, but we hit Horseshoe Bay at 6:45pm, so we figured we'd be on the 7:30pm ferry, but they let us on the 6:55pm one, so that was a nice piece of luck ... not that it would have been much of a wait. Grabbed dinner on board, then hung out in the car with the dogs.
Since arriving in Penticton, Angel hasn't let me out of her sight. I guess she was very upset that I was gone, and now she has some separation anxiety. She loves me so much!
Anyway, Maxx is getting ready for work now (I work tomorrow), and he's very tired, poor man. I'm glad I don't work as travelling always messes up my back and I'm very sore right now! Going to relax and read a book today.
On Sunday, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece picked me up at the ferry in Tswassen (took the 5:15am to get a quick start on the day), and we drove up to Penticton. Lovely weather, construction on the highway in the Lower Mainland slowing things down a bit ... and I'd forgotten it was IronMan Sunday, so things were awkward in the interior for traffic. We ended up being stopped not that far out of Keremeos, and told we would have to wait 20 minutes for the pilot car to take us through the course, or go back and take the Green Mountain Road as a detour. After Noa took advantage of the facilities that happened to be available where they'd stopped us, Noni opted to go back to Green Mountain Road. Windy road, lovely scenery, saw some beautiful horses and some foals, and a completely dilapidated old cabin which made us think of a Bob Ross painting.
Got in to Penticton about 1pm, visited with Dad very shortly and then we were heading up to the hospital to visit Mum, but with the IronMan on Main Street it was quite a wait to cross the road, and Noni decided that they'd better head out and pop back over to Green Mountain Road to get home. Such a long day for them! But at least we did get to visit while driving in the car.
Sat with Mum for about an hour and a half on Sunday before I wore her out, then walked home from the hospital. Goodness, it was hot! About 34 degrees, and I was worn out and wringing with sweat by the time I got to the house ... don't know how the Iron Athletes do it!
Dad got home just after midnight, got up to see him briefly and then back to bed, then up again after 1:30 to take something for my ankle and Dad was up as well, his back was really bothering him. We sat up together for a while and then turned in.
Monday and Tuesday Dad and I were back and forth to the hospital twice a day ... we seemed to keep getting there when the nurses were doing stuff with Mum and having to wait 15 or 20 minutes before we could start visiting. I guess we kept her up too long on Tuesday, as yesterday she was very tired and she said that after breakfast they were going to put her back in bed as she'd been up too long the day before.
It's tough seeing Mum in the hospital, but at least she's getting the care and they have the lifts to get her back and forth between the bed and the wheelchair. We're not sure when she'll be into an interim facility, and once she gets into a permanent bed she wants it to be at Trinity in Penticton, on Green Avenue ... Dad says because it's close to the Barley Mill. They're looking forward to going on dates to the pub once she's in Trinity.
It's been awfully tough on Dad. He's still working, and trying to get things done around the house for housework and gardening, and now starting to pull boxes up from the crawl-space to go through and determine what's garbage, what needs to go to family members, and what can be sold at a yard sale or given to charity. It'll be a long process of winnowing.
Maxx drove up Tuesday night after work, with the dogs, as we figured out if he took the ferry the next morning we wouldn't be able to make it back down to the ferries to be able to get home for a decent sleep before he works today. So, he made it in to Penticton close to 2:30am Wednesday morning, immediately crashed. Hobgoblin hopped up onto the bed with us and was ambling around, but when Maxx told him to lie down and go to sleep he immediately did so, pressed between us. Angel for some reason had difficulty getting up onto the hide-a-bed, but I got her up and she was so excited to see me that she didn't sleep for quite some time. Messy kisser!
We headed out of Penticton yesterday at about 12:30pm, later than Maxx had hoped. Managed to pick up a bit of fresh fruit at Bear's fruit stand in Keremeos, and grabbed a quick lunch in Princeton at the Dairy Queen. There was construction at Twin Lakes, and in Manning Park, and of course in the Lower Mainland, but we hit Horseshoe Bay at 6:45pm, so we figured we'd be on the 7:30pm ferry, but they let us on the 6:55pm one, so that was a nice piece of luck ... not that it would have been much of a wait. Grabbed dinner on board, then hung out in the car with the dogs.
Since arriving in Penticton, Angel hasn't let me out of her sight. I guess she was very upset that I was gone, and now she has some separation anxiety. She loves me so much!
Anyway, Maxx is getting ready for work now (I work tomorrow), and he's very tired, poor man. I'm glad I don't work as travelling always messes up my back and I'm very sore right now! Going to relax and read a book today.
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