Went to the office party last night. Made sure to show up later than usual, although that meant that Maxx couldn't get us drinks before the bar closed for the pre-dinner speeches and videos, etc. Once they started sending tables to the buffet he zipped off and got our drinks, and the dinner was yummy as usual ... but when I went back for seconds there was a decidedly smaller amount of food left to choose from ... the mashed potatoes were all gone! Visited the desert room and had a slice of spice cake and a piece of black forest cake, then we packed it in and left as my back was sooooo not happy! I think a big part of it was trying to twist and went my way between tables/chairs/people to get from our table to the buffet and back.
Maxx was saying maybe we won't go next year, but I reminded him that it's a free meal, and some folks did win some great prizes (biggest was a 42 inch plasma screen tv and Shaw Gateway, there were also a Gateway by itself, two iPads, two digital cameras, and a $200 gift certificate for a local spa). It was nice to see folks all dressed up, too ... although I feel jealous of so many of the beautiful ladies who work with us!
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Santa Photos
When I got home from work today, before I had my lie-down for my back, I managed to get Angel and Hobgoblin out to Buckerfields for their Christmas photos with Santa. While we don't actually celebrate Christmas, we like to try to get yearly professional photos. Last year I had taken Merry as well, but we decided I wouldn't try to take Pippin, as it would stress him out ... and Maxx has a Santa hat that he's going to put on Pippin to take his picture. We may even put up some Yule decorations this year, which is something we haven't done for a few years now (just haven't felt like it). Maxx has already turned around the wreath on the front door, so it's hanging outside for people to see, instead of on the back of the door where we end up storing it (saves space!)
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Lame-o
I'm feeling so lame being off work with my back. Doctor thinks I may have slipped a disk, and put me on muscle relaxants and prescription pain medication. At night when I take both, the pain eases off so I can sleep, and during the day when I just take the pain pill in the morning, it eases off the pain if I'm lying down ... but eventually the old hips start to hurt if i stay in bed too long, so I end up getting up and puttering around until my back hurts enough again that I go and lie down.
When I talked with my supervisor at work this morning, I was joking that if I could lie down to work I could come in ... but if they brought in cots for us they may have a hard time knowing if we're working or napping!
Both Angel and Hobgoblin wormed their way under the covers with me this morning. Hobbs tends to curl up either against my stomach or back, while Angel tends to cuddle up at my feet.
When I talked with my supervisor at work this morning, I was joking that if I could lie down to work I could come in ... but if they brought in cots for us they may have a hard time knowing if we're working or napping!
Both Angel and Hobgoblin wormed their way under the covers with me this morning. Hobbs tends to curl up either against my stomach or back, while Angel tends to cuddle up at my feet.
Friday, 18 November 2011
*Snow Day*
When I was getting ready to leave this morning, it wasn't snowing when I looked out the window at 7am, but by the time I was outside putting my purse in the car and scraping the windows, it was snowing really quite heavily and beginning to stick. Since last night the Weather Network had put up a snow warning for east Vancouver Island stretching from Campbell River to Nanaimo (for 5-10 cm of snow), and this morning they'd update that to be from Comox to Parksville (for up to 5 cm of snow), and since we don't have our winter tires on the car (waiting for our Tuesday appointment), I woke Maxx up and asked if he'd drive me to work.
By the time we got to work, it wasn't snowing any more, but when Maxx got home it was snowing quite hard still, and when he got up to come back to work to pick me up for 1pm, it was snowing heavily at home and snowing really heavily at work ... although by the time we got back to the south end of time the snow was gone.
My back's been bothering me quite a bit since our last trip to the pool, and this morning at work I was in agony sitting and chatting for 5 hours in the work computer chairs, so we popped down to the doctor's office, and I was actually able to sneak into an appointment with only a 20 minute wait ... we love our new doctor's office! The doctor actually thinks I may have slipped a disk, and put me on prescription pain medication to take twice a day, as well as muscle relaxants to take at night ... and thought I should maybe be away from work for the weekend. I want to go back tomorrow, so I have a note for the second part of my shift today that I couldn't make (I did call in to work while waiting for my prescription), and the doctor said if I was still in a fair amount of pain tomorrow to come in and see him during his drop in clinic from 10am-4pm, and he'd give me another note. I only have (*had*) four hours of sick time left, though, so I'm as of this evening over 1 hour (not counting the two unpaid sick days I had off in January), so I'm really hoping that by tomorrow morning bending over to do things such as put on nylons and undies and deal with shoes is much less painful. We'll see! You should have seen me yesterday when we did some errands, and found some new slippers for me (two pairs for $15), with me struggling not just to stay upright on one leg to try them on, but to bend far enough to reach the ends of my feet to take off my shoes and try on the slippers!
So, tonight I'm hoping Angel will dive under the covers and curl up against my back, that always makes me feel better!
By the time we got to work, it wasn't snowing any more, but when Maxx got home it was snowing quite hard still, and when he got up to come back to work to pick me up for 1pm, it was snowing heavily at home and snowing really heavily at work ... although by the time we got back to the south end of time the snow was gone.
My back's been bothering me quite a bit since our last trip to the pool, and this morning at work I was in agony sitting and chatting for 5 hours in the work computer chairs, so we popped down to the doctor's office, and I was actually able to sneak into an appointment with only a 20 minute wait ... we love our new doctor's office! The doctor actually thinks I may have slipped a disk, and put me on prescription pain medication to take twice a day, as well as muscle relaxants to take at night ... and thought I should maybe be away from work for the weekend. I want to go back tomorrow, so I have a note for the second part of my shift today that I couldn't make (I did call in to work while waiting for my prescription), and the doctor said if I was still in a fair amount of pain tomorrow to come in and see him during his drop in clinic from 10am-4pm, and he'd give me another note. I only have (*had*) four hours of sick time left, though, so I'm as of this evening over 1 hour (not counting the two unpaid sick days I had off in January), so I'm really hoping that by tomorrow morning bending over to do things such as put on nylons and undies and deal with shoes is much less painful. We'll see! You should have seen me yesterday when we did some errands, and found some new slippers for me (two pairs for $15), with me struggling not just to stay upright on one leg to try them on, but to bend far enough to reach the ends of my feet to take off my shoes and try on the slippers!
So, tonight I'm hoping Angel will dive under the covers and curl up against my back, that always makes me feel better!
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Silly Us!
Turns out the Lion OS is not available for sale in stores, but only available for purchase through iTunes ... but we did buy some disks so we can back up before upgrading, since the Time Capsule they had in-stock was over $500 ... A bit beyond our means!
Maxx will upgrade his system first, likely, and then next weekend I'll work on my back up and upgrade mine.
Maxx will upgrade his system first, likely, and then next weekend I'll work on my back up and upgrade mine.
Upgrade Time
Off to go see if we can get Lion, and perhaps a Time Capsule. Terrified of updating the OS on my Mac in case I lose all my files, so we need either a Time Capsule and full back up done first, or a bunch of disks so I can pull off my personal stuff and then load back on if it gets kiboshed by the upgrade.
I'm told that when upgrading with a Mac it just upgrades, it doesn't essentially wipe the computer, but I have too many photos and enough writing (novel and many many poems) on the computer it would be devastating if things didn't go as expected.
Wish us luck ... mostly in finding parking downtown so we can get into the store without having to walk and walk and walk and walk ... ;)
I'm told that when upgrading with a Mac it just upgrades, it doesn't essentially wipe the computer, but I have too many photos and enough writing (novel and many many poems) on the computer it would be devastating if things didn't go as expected.
Wish us luck ... mostly in finding parking downtown so we can get into the store without having to walk and walk and walk and walk ... ;)
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Chilly and Wet
So chilly, in fact, that earlier when I looked out the front and saw Jinx hanging out under the neighbour's car, so I opened the front door so he could hustle across the road and into the house, the "rain" which was falling was evidenced by ice pellets in his fur.
... and apparently at work it is snowing and sticking -- or at least it was earlier.
This morning on the Weather Network, they were calling for 5-10 cm of snow on Saturday. Go figure that we're getting our winter tires put back on the Tuesday after!
... and apparently at work it is snowing and sticking -- or at least it was earlier.
This morning on the Weather Network, they were calling for 5-10 cm of snow on Saturday. Go figure that we're getting our winter tires put back on the Tuesday after!
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
New Poem
Hallowe’en Night
As the day draws down to a close of gloom
Wee ghosts and ghoulies start to roam
And soft and loud call “Trick or Treat”s
And sometimes even “Thanks” or “Please”
With open bags and widened eyes
They wait for this stop’s candy prizes
At each and every opened door
The sugar troves swell more and more
Costumes, face paint, plastic masks
And sometimes we do have to ask
“And who are you dressed as today?”
Before the gluttons rush away
Yet soon enough there’s no more knocks
We wait and wait, then by the clock
We know this Hallowe’en is passed
For kids and now it’s ours at last
And one by one our candles light
While murmuring names, so that we might
Make special remembrance each year
Of our well-loved departed dears
Annemarie Cummings
Nov 15, 2011
Irony
So, yesterday had to leave work early to take Maxx to the hospital, as he was having an allergic reaction causing an asthma attack.
Ironically enough, the allergic reaction was to the new lotion he put on his Medic Alert tattoo that he recently got and is still healing ... Medic Alert tattoo for asthma.
Ironically enough, the allergic reaction was to the new lotion he put on his Medic Alert tattoo that he recently got and is still healing ... Medic Alert tattoo for asthma.
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Writing Group
So, hoping to join a writing group located in my home-town of Penticton .... online, of course, since I live in Nanaimo and that would be quite a commute!
Just waiting for the group moderator to approve my membership, then I'll be able to submit my first submission, with this month's subject being, appropriately enough, Hallowe'en. Of course, I do have to write it first!
I'm hoping this is just the next step in getting back into not just writing, but getting the rest of my creative outlets back online (painting, drawing, crafting jewellery, making soap). 2012 is going to be THE YEAR I get my mojo back and start getting back into the past-times I used to enjoy so much .... that's my promise to myself.
Just waiting for the group moderator to approve my membership, then I'll be able to submit my first submission, with this month's subject being, appropriately enough, Hallowe'en. Of course, I do have to write it first!
I'm hoping this is just the next step in getting back into not just writing, but getting the rest of my creative outlets back online (painting, drawing, crafting jewellery, making soap). 2012 is going to be THE YEAR I get my mojo back and start getting back into the past-times I used to enjoy so much .... that's my promise to myself.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Breezy Day
Well, those of us who live on Vancouver Island know that's a bit of an understatement! Was nice and sunny at work one moment, with black clouds looming on the horizon, then the next thing we know a wall of wind hits the building and there's leaves being torn off the trees and rain is driving sideways. Driving home there was sleet in the rain ... not surprising as it was just 4 degrees!
Came home to no power at 1:30pm, and Maxx told me the power finally came back on at 9:20pm. We've only ever had momentarily power outages at our house before.
Cats seemed happy to be inside while I was home at lunch, and Angel refused to go outside at all.
Came home to no power at 1:30pm, and Maxx told me the power finally came back on at 9:20pm. We've only ever had momentarily power outages at our house before.
Cats seemed happy to be inside while I was home at lunch, and Angel refused to go outside at all.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Minor Emergency
Had a bit of a house emergency yesterday.
While I was home at lunch, while letting critters in/out through the back door, something in the corner of the laundry room caught the tail of my eye.
Steam coming out of the hot water tank!
Sent a message to Maxx at work, who said to just switch off the breaker for the tank for now, and then he got permission to come home early ... and when I showed up to pick him up I spoke with my supervisor about the situation, so he sent a message to scheduling to use 5 of my vacation hours to get the rest of the day off.
We did have to pick up some supplies ... We needed to check the temperature to make sure it wasn't that the tank itself was getting way too hot, not just the release valve failing, and of course our "people" thermometer doesn't go up as high as we needed (that would be quite the fever!).
Maxx got the panel off the side of the tank so we could check what the water temperature is set to, and the temperature was right on the money, so the poor man had to crawl around under the house looking for the shut off valve, so we could swap out the release valve on the tank itself.
Apparently, while we have three sinks, two toilets, one shower, one tub, and one washing machine ... there are TONNES of valves on the pipes under the house. Some of the pipes are even orphaned, so they don't have any water in them and don't connect anywhere. He ended up finding the main shut of valve near the front of the house, so we got that taken care of and were able to swap the valve. By the time we were done, it was after 8pm, but we should be good to go now, although I'll be checking into provincial and federal programs for performing energy upgrades, to see if we could get something back for replacing the tank with a tankless hot water system or hot water on demand system.
So, glad this didn't happen when Merry was still with us. The top of the hot water tank was one of his "spots" because it was nice and warm. If the valve had gone and shot steam into his face to scald him, I would have been just devastated!
While I was home at lunch, while letting critters in/out through the back door, something in the corner of the laundry room caught the tail of my eye.
Steam coming out of the hot water tank!
Sent a message to Maxx at work, who said to just switch off the breaker for the tank for now, and then he got permission to come home early ... and when I showed up to pick him up I spoke with my supervisor about the situation, so he sent a message to scheduling to use 5 of my vacation hours to get the rest of the day off.
We did have to pick up some supplies ... We needed to check the temperature to make sure it wasn't that the tank itself was getting way too hot, not just the release valve failing, and of course our "people" thermometer doesn't go up as high as we needed (that would be quite the fever!).
Maxx got the panel off the side of the tank so we could check what the water temperature is set to, and the temperature was right on the money, so the poor man had to crawl around under the house looking for the shut off valve, so we could swap out the release valve on the tank itself.
Apparently, while we have three sinks, two toilets, one shower, one tub, and one washing machine ... there are TONNES of valves on the pipes under the house. Some of the pipes are even orphaned, so they don't have any water in them and don't connect anywhere. He ended up finding the main shut of valve near the front of the house, so we got that taken care of and were able to swap the valve. By the time we were done, it was after 8pm, but we should be good to go now, although I'll be checking into provincial and federal programs for performing energy upgrades, to see if we could get something back for replacing the tank with a tankless hot water system or hot water on demand system.
So, glad this didn't happen when Merry was still with us. The top of the hot water tank was one of his "spots" because it was nice and warm. If the valve had gone and shot steam into his face to scald him, I would have been just devastated!
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Animal News
So sad to hear that Hickstead died of an aortic aneurism just shortly after competing in a jumping competition in Italy.
On a happier note, here in town a family which had their house burn down basically to the ground the other day got a nice surprise 11 hours later when the excavators were pulling off the collapsed upper story so that fire investigators could get access to the home. Their 200-lb English mastiff Daisy, who had followed the husband back into the home when he dashed in for clothes but didn't manage to follow him back out, had somehow survived the smoke, the fire, the destruction, and came rushing out. She suffered from minor smoke inhalation and burns but is going to be a-ok. Considering they were expecting the excavator or inspectors to turn up her remains, that definitely did put a better light on the whole situation!
On a happier note, here in town a family which had their house burn down basically to the ground the other day got a nice surprise 11 hours later when the excavators were pulling off the collapsed upper story so that fire investigators could get access to the home. Their 200-lb English mastiff Daisy, who had followed the husband back into the home when he dashed in for clothes but didn't manage to follow him back out, had somehow survived the smoke, the fire, the destruction, and came rushing out. She suffered from minor smoke inhalation and burns but is going to be a-ok. Considering they were expecting the excavator or inspectors to turn up her remains, that definitely did put a better light on the whole situation!
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Grey Day
It's grey out and rainy.
Not pouring down hard slashing cold November rain, just a gentle sombre rain.
Does make me want to curl up in front of a fireplace with a dog or cat cuddled into my lap, though.
Guess I'll have to keep working on those Lotto numbers to see if I can make that happen!
Not pouring down hard slashing cold November rain, just a gentle sombre rain.
Does make me want to curl up in front of a fireplace with a dog or cat cuddled into my lap, though.
Guess I'll have to keep working on those Lotto numbers to see if I can make that happen!
Monday, 7 November 2011
Distracted Pippin
We have a small stepladder set up in front of our washer/dryer, so that Pippin is able to climb up and have a much smaller jump to the top where the cat food is set out, to keep it away from the dogs.
Pippin came in through the back door this afternoon, and was going up the ladder to go get some food, but he got distracted by the scene through the front door of the washer, which was running.
He stood there on the top step, watching the wash spinning around in its cycle, then started to jump up for food once more, only to be distracted once again by the spinning wash.
I ended up giving him a boost to the top so he could have a bite to eat, as he kept making a move then stopping to stare into the front of the washer again.
Silly Pippin.
Pippin came in through the back door this afternoon, and was going up the ladder to go get some food, but he got distracted by the scene through the front door of the washer, which was running.
He stood there on the top step, watching the wash spinning around in its cycle, then started to jump up for food once more, only to be distracted once again by the spinning wash.
I ended up giving him a boost to the top so he could have a bite to eat, as he kept making a move then stopping to stare into the front of the washer again.
Silly Pippin.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
A Must Read to Brighten Your Day
A couple of suggestions before following this link:
Do not be imbibing liquid or even holding a drink in your hand.
Do not be eating anything.
Go to the bathroom first.
Don't share with anyone else around you until you provide them the link or let them start from the beginning to read themselves.
http://damnyouautocorrect.com/13603/the-25-funniest-autocorrects-of-dyacs-first-year/
I literally laughed so hard I thought I might be sick and couldn't breathe, scared Trouble out of the room, and Angel was standing up leaning against my leg to see what was wrong. These are just priceless. Hope the neighbors could tell the noise coming from my house was uncontrollable hysterical laughter!
Do not be imbibing liquid or even holding a drink in your hand.
Do not be eating anything.
Go to the bathroom first.
Don't share with anyone else around you until you provide them the link or let them start from the beginning to read themselves.
http://damnyouautocorrect.com/13603/the-25-funniest-autocorrects-of-dyacs-first-year/
I literally laughed so hard I thought I might be sick and couldn't breathe, scared Trouble out of the room, and Angel was standing up leaning against my leg to see what was wrong. These are just priceless. Hope the neighbors could tell the noise coming from my house was uncontrollable hysterical laughter!
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Lonely Pippin
So, it certainly does seem as though Pippin is missing his brother.
Maxx has found him wandering around the house and he goes out and back in and out again (more so than usual).
He's also taken to climbing up into my lap for snuggles, which he really hasn't done. He's always been a Maxx-lap kind of kitty.
We'll be making sure to take him to Buckerfields on the 26th along with the daggits, for photos with Santa. I'm so glad I took Merry with them last year, so I have a final Santa photo of him.
I really need to go through all my photos and get them into some albums. I even bought a couple of large albums ... I just never think about doing it when I have the space and time to dig them out and go through them. Figures.
Maxx has found him wandering around the house and he goes out and back in and out again (more so than usual).
He's also taken to climbing up into my lap for snuggles, which he really hasn't done. He's always been a Maxx-lap kind of kitty.
We'll be making sure to take him to Buckerfields on the 26th along with the daggits, for photos with Santa. I'm so glad I took Merry with them last year, so I have a final Santa photo of him.
I really need to go through all my photos and get them into some albums. I even bought a couple of large albums ... I just never think about doing it when I have the space and time to dig them out and go through them. Figures.
Friday, 4 November 2011
Anticipation
The weekend is almost here. On lunch now and have five hours left tonight ... hope I can keep my contacts per hour up and maybe increase it a bit for the week ... we have an incentive going right now and it would be SO nice to get a little extra cash-ola!
Stopped at lunch to pick up some more cat food for the boys and girls, so they'll be happy we can fill their bowls tonight. Of course, now I'm broke for the next 11 days, but hey, who's counting?
Stopped at lunch to pick up some more cat food for the boys and girls, so they'll be happy we can fill their bowls tonight. Of course, now I'm broke for the next 11 days, but hey, who's counting?
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Conflicted Emotions
I was actually feeling happy today about the number of emails I'd gotten through at work on the first part of my shift.
Then I realized that today is the four-week anniversary of putting Merry to sleep, and started to cry.
Poor Maxx, living with this emotional roller coaster.
Then I realized that today is the four-week anniversary of putting Merry to sleep, and started to cry.
Poor Maxx, living with this emotional roller coaster.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Day of the Dead
We did our candle-light remembrance for those who passed on last night. We were going to hold it on Samhain, but there are just enough trick or treaters later in the evening that we'd be interrupted, so we held off.
Hobgoblin climbed immediately up into his Dad's lap once we had the candles lit and were sitting watching them, remember, and Angel came over to us on the love seat ... for once not running away when I reached down to her. She let me pick her up and did her version of snuggling and comfort-giving (ie trying to lick the inside of my nose) for a while, but hung out for quite some time.
Tears, of course. Not as many good memories passing through my mind and heart as usual, since Merry passed away so recently. I miss my little Muffin.
Hobgoblin climbed immediately up into his Dad's lap once we had the candles lit and were sitting watching them, remember, and Angel came over to us on the love seat ... for once not running away when I reached down to her. She let me pick her up and did her version of snuggling and comfort-giving (ie trying to lick the inside of my nose) for a while, but hung out for quite some time.
Tears, of course. Not as many good memories passing through my mind and heart as usual, since Merry passed away so recently. I miss my little Muffin.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Samhain or Howl-o-ween
Took Angel and Hobgoblin out for their walk yesterday in their costumes, Angel with her angel wings and Hobs in his devil costume. They received more than the usual amount of attention and "aren't they cute!" comments. They also wore the costumes last night during the evening while the trick or treaters were hitting the pavement ... and got lots of comments from the kids and teens as well, and those of the parents who came up to the door.
Funniest comment was from the mother of an adorable little purple unicorn, though. She took one sniff as the door opened and said "Something certainly smells good! Can we take a bowl of what you're cooking?"
Dinner was finished and Maxx was just plating it up ... spiral cut ham with roasted veggies (parsnips, red/green/yellow/orange peppers, onions, carrots), with steamed cauliflower, and personal ramikins (not sure how that's spelled) of potatoes Romanof. Yum yum! The personal potatoes Romanof worked out great, just had to go in the oven once the ham and veggies came out and had to sit, and only took about 10 minutes to bake through instead of the usual 45 for a full casserole.
Fair number of fireworks were going off. As we were getting ready to pack it in for the evening, there were two extremely loud booms that almost sounded like someone was shooting off cannons or actually exploding something. Hope they WERE just big fireworks.
Funniest comment was from the mother of an adorable little purple unicorn, though. She took one sniff as the door opened and said "Something certainly smells good! Can we take a bowl of what you're cooking?"
Dinner was finished and Maxx was just plating it up ... spiral cut ham with roasted veggies (parsnips, red/green/yellow/orange peppers, onions, carrots), with steamed cauliflower, and personal ramikins (not sure how that's spelled) of potatoes Romanof. Yum yum! The personal potatoes Romanof worked out great, just had to go in the oven once the ham and veggies came out and had to sit, and only took about 10 minutes to bake through instead of the usual 45 for a full casserole.
Fair number of fireworks were going off. As we were getting ready to pack it in for the evening, there were two extremely loud booms that almost sounded like someone was shooting off cannons or actually exploding something. Hope they WERE just big fireworks.
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