Blech

Feeling today like I have or am on the verge of coming down with the flu.  I hate being sick ... although at least working from home I'm close to my own personal bathroom, and don't have to be self-conscious while using it, as there's nobody else around.

Busy Busy

We had a bit of a break yesterday just after noon when we met up with some friends for lunch, but we were essentially on the go from 11am until after 6pm, going to different stores and pricing out equipment, etc that we need for a proper survival kit, as well as other supplies.  Man, by the time we got home were our feet ever sore!  Poor little dogs didn't get any walk yesterday, and they also ended up with a very late lunch!

Still a Proud Pagan ... But

I didn't go out to Pagan Pride Day here in Nanaimo today.  When I was looking over the schedule of things on the two different stages, only one really made me want to attend it ... and I didn't have any money to spend at vendors, which would just be depressing wandering around and not being able to buy anything ... and I was afraid that it would be a really busy event and I'd have issues being able to park, if I didn't take the bus (not looking forward to that on weekend schedules, and likely having to purchase two fares to get there and two to get back).

So, I did go out to Michaels and price out different types/amounts of wax, the wicking they have (spools), and the candle moulds they've got.  I do have a taper candle mould, but I've never used it, it's plastic so it could end up being sort of flimsy to use over and over again, it needs to have a hole cut in it to pour the wax in and needs to use either a two-sided mould holder or a bucket of sand ... so I think I'm going to be getting one of the pillar candle moulds from Michaels.  That's of course once I can afford it!

My friend is going to be making her candles with lard in large seashells, so we're seeing if Maxx would be up for taking us to Rathtrevor Beach next weekend, so we could look for some large clam shells.  As I said to her, it's worth having not just what you need, but lots extra on-hand, so if necessary she can barter them to other folks for goods/services.

Hoping Maxx won't be asleep for too much longer this afternoon, but he did get to sleep really late after his graveyard shift, and has been up multiple times this morning/afternoon ... hoping he's up at a time when we can have dinner together and then get all four dogs out for a walk along the waterfront in the moonlight.  We had them out this morning when he got home, but just down to 7-11 and back (had to check the lotto ticket ... $50 million won by someone in BC but as usual it WASN'T ME!)

Jinx-ed

So, Sunday Jinx was out in the front yard when I was calling for kitties to come inside, and he didn't take off fast enough when I went over to him, so I was able to catch him and bring him in.

Poor fella has quite a large wound behind his right ear, covered with nasty smelling pus-matted fur, so I managed to get that all trimmed off and then got a couple of cotton balls, soaked a few with hot water and gently swabbed out the wound, then patted with dry ones.

Luckily, this was before the vet closed so I managed to call and make him an appointment for Monday, to check out the ouchie and get an antibiotic shot (he has to get antibiotics for any cuts he gets, being FIV+), and we managed to not let him out before yesterday at lunch.  Bundled the poor big bugger into a carrier and off to the vet we shot for our 2pm appointment.  No big deal, no fever, got his shot which will cover him for 2 weeks (much easier than trying to give your cat antiobiotic pills or liquid, especially when they bull their way out of the house and don't come back for days or weeks at a time).  Got some of the mats on his chest and belly shaved off, too.

So, got home and then rushed out to do some errands, and when we got home of course Jinx dashed immediately out of the house, so it's a good thing we get the antibiotic shots for our critters these days!  However, last night as I was going to bed I went to let anyone in who was waiting and Jinx just trotted straight up the front steps and in ... rare that he makes an appearance that quickly, and comes in voluntarily.  He was even out in the yard today when I went out at lunch to collect the green bin and recycling bag.

Hopefully this means he'll start hanging around more and being part of the family again.

Teary Eyed

Just watched a very short documentary about the last minutes in the life of an obviously much-loved dog named, Oden, who's owner had to put him down due to health reasons.  The owner is right, dogs teach us to love, we don't teach them to love.

I love love love my wee babies, cats and dogs, and dread the day when I need to put the next one to sleep.  The pain and heartache, and the feeling of having murdered one of your babies who trusted you to keep them safe, is very hard to deal with, but while they are happy and healthy they give so much love.

Muggy

Okay, so it's not even close to the 32 degrees we had yesterday, but it's 25, overcast and muggy!  Just a short while ago there were some gently falling giant splats of rain, so I'm wondering if we're going to have a thunderstorm .... if so, could it either happen while I'm still on my lunch so I can enjoy it ... or after while it's dark and I don't have to work tomorrow so I could stay up watching lightning?

Angel really doesn't like thunderstorms.  She went through a really big one as a teeny tiny puppy with absolutely no worries whatsoever, but we've had just a few this year, and some fireworks, and she just gets so upset and trembly.  Hobgoblin doesn't care at all, and Imp and Elf both think there's something outside they just MUST bark at!

Short Week

Half-way through today, and by the end of the day I'll be half-way through my "week" as I'm switching to Saturday/Sunday off, so I'll be off Sunday, then working five days and then get my next two-day weekend.

There's a dog-wash and barbeque at Island Veterinary Clinic on Sunday, so I've been pondering going to that.  Next Saturday, Aug 25th, is Pagan Pride Day here in Nanaimo, so I'm hoping to be able to attend, it all depends on bus schedules to the location, so we'll see.  I've also got my eyes on Sun Sept 9th for the Paws for a Cause event, I'll just have to see after payday what sort of spare money (if any) I have for a donation, then I'll sign up ... and see if Maxx will come with me, too.

Very Hot

Got up to at least 30 degrees here yesterday, very very hot.  I ended up with a massive headache in the afternoon/evening, and think it was a least partially due to the heat.

Just makes you feel wilted and limp, and not up to doing much, particularly not outside where it's so scorching!

No Meteors for Me

I couldn't try to watch for meteors last night.

Earlier in the evening, while I was still working, some moron started setting off fireworks in the neighborhood (not firecrackers, but full-blown fireworks), so poor Angel was frantic.  Imp, Elf, and Hobs were barking out the windows fairly steadily, any time they heard anything, but Angel was just all a-tremble.  I tried to go out just after midnight to see if I could see anything, but Angel insisted on coming out with me and was then trundling around the yard, too upset to settle down, so we ended up coming back in.

I've got to double-check to make sure, but I believe fireworks are illegal in Nanaimo.  If they are, I need to check if you call just the regular police line or actually 911 to report them ... and I will report them!

Blech!

Very good thing today that I work from home, when I got sick at my desk (would have been awful at the office).

Of course, minutes later Elf started puking away behind me, and I don't know if it was just sympathetic, or if we're both under the weather.

Hoping to feel better in a couple of hours for the second half of my shift.

Disgruntled

What a way to start off my week, by preceding it with a totally crappy weekend.

It's a good thing I have a pack of micro-dogs who totally love me.

Uplifting Photo

You may have seen it already online, the photo taken of a true gentleman named John and his 19-year old dog Schoep.  Schoep has arthritis and John carries him into the warm waters of Lake Superior at night for a therapeutic swim, and the dog falls asleep in his arms.

Every time I see this picture it makes me bawl, but it's just so very beautiful.  If everyone loved animals this way, our world would be a much better place.

Cheated!

We had a thunderstorm last night ... started just as I was beginning the evening part of my shift, lasted all the way through, then gave one last grumble of thunder when I got off.  I missed the entire thing!  I feel so cheated!

Imp and Elf barked dutifully at every crack of thunder, Angel was panting and trembling ... and Hobgoblin was sleeping with his Dad and didn't care at all.

It's much cooler today, so I'm guessing that the chance of thunderstorms on my weekend are pretty slim.

Out of Order Day

So, since yesterday I had the day off for my Stat holiday (BC Day), and my weekend falls on Wed/Thursday, today I'm at work and it feels like both a Monday and  Friday shift all rolled into one.

No fair!

Relief

Cooled down to 19 degrees last night and is only supposed to get up to 24 today ... although it's already hit 22 so we may be higher than expected.

Got some ice cream ... which I almost never eat at home ... and some truly gigantic nectarines.  You should see these suckers ... they look like really really big peaches, twice the size of a usual nectarine.  Going to go eat one now!

Wilting

It's so very hot here right now!  Reading 29 but not sure how much it is with humidex factored in.

I've been wishing that the bedroom (office) ceiling fan was properly balanced, so I could run it on full speed, instead of just on low.  However, at full speed it wobbles and flails around, and looks like it's going to rip out of the ceiling and go at me in attack mode!

Ran a shallow tub of cool water last night before bed and dunked each of the dogs.  Nobody was happy to get web (they never are!) but as soon as they were out and roughly dried, they were rushing around the house in their usual "after bath" high spirits, so it must have made them feel a bit better!

Hot hot hot!

The weather was calling for a high of 28 degrees today (Celsius, for those readers from other nations) ... and it's currently 29.

Man, it really is hot.  I think I need to take a cool shower to get some of the hot sticky off, then relax in the living room with the fan on high before I have to go back to work at 5.

I noticed that the dogs were running around like crazy then bolting over to the shade to lie down and pant, so that shows you how hot it is ... usually the just run around like crazy ;)

Just Realized!

I just realized yesterday that this weekend is a long weekend, so Maxx and I would be making extra cashola for working the stat.  However, I looked at my calendar at lunch and realized that it shows a Stat - Off for Monday ... so when I log back into work later, I'll have to double-check to confirm if I'm off Monday or not.  It would be nice, except for not getting the stat pay ... the dogs always like it most when I'm home and NOT working, and able to pay more attention to them.  Close second is my being home and working, and able to pay them attention on my coffee breaks.  They HATE it when I have to go in to the office for a day!

It WAS A Good Night!

Had quite an enjoyable evening yesterday, starting off when Maxx woke up in time to go with me to pick up the car from the dealership (regular maintenance), so we were able to go out to dinner and then see Brave.

Seeing Brave decided me on my new Celtic Lounge III cd for music for my full-moon / Lammas ceremony.  Definitely out of practice but generally went well.  Looking forward to my next one!

Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night

I'm not sure how often I've listened to the Black Eyed Peas so far today ... but I really do feel like tonight's going to be a good night.  We're even planning on a date out to see Brave, probably dinner before, and afterwards I get to have my little Lammas celebration.  I took the car in for servicing and had the shuttle drop me off downtown so I could grab a coffee at Bocca, then I wandered around the corner and listened to music while munching on my cranberry/white chocolate loaf and drinking my cafe latte, waiting for 10am to roll around when Lobelia's Lair opened, then I spent I guess about an hour wandering and picking out items (although I dare say I spent more than Maxx was expecting me to!) and I now have my altar looking so absolutely lovely!  I can't wait for tonight.

I even have a Himalayan Rock Salt candle holder, in which to burn tea lights and make a lovely glow and give off negative ions.

Soooooo glad I'm getting back into my practice, and I am GOING to keep it up, including being more of a regular at Lobelia's (although hopefully spending less).  Now I want to go listen to my new cd of harp music, to see if I want to use it tonight.

Enjoy your full moon, folks!