What to do about Tiger?

I haven't done anything about Tiger. Two weeks ago I called the local Animal Protection Society and left a voice message. They never take calls but respond the next day. I left a message saying I was in a position that I might have to put my older cat down and do they have room for him? I never got a call back. That kinda really ticks me off. Okay. I know they are pretty full. Well, the last time we were there they were FULL with over 300 cats. The shelter is a very comfortable confined (as in protected) spacious place for cats - on acreage. We got Lucy there last August. If you haven't been following, Tiger is much older and he's been peeing on the floor, the counters and the stove top. Recently he turned around and crapped in the dry food bowl and there was blood in the soft stool. I can't pay $290 for a medical diagnosis just to find that he's either going to die anyway or he can be maintained on expensive drugs for who knows how long.

ANYWAY, I've decided I can't 'off' the poor guy just because he is incontinent and inconvenient. Can you imagine living in the house with a family member and you walk by and make eye contact and smile and one of you is thinking "I'm going to have you killed...." It just isn't right and I can't do it. The poor bastard has no idea. I sit here ruminating about him and he walks in like always, glances over, continues on his way. Eventually he jumps up on to the sofa next to me and massages my full bladder. I guess he likes it here. After all, he adopted us 3 or 4 years ago. He just showed up on our door step one day. He was curled up in the sunlight on our door matt like he owned the place. He was very tentative to come in at first but we made him welcome and did not pressure him and he stayed. Lucky for us he didn't bring any friends!

Tiger was looking pretty sickly last year so we decided to get another cat, a "back up" if you will. Lucy is a handful. I said I wanted a more affectionate, cuddly cat but she and I just don't gel for some reason. I guess that's just the way it is sometimes - even with animals - let alone people. I'm not going to agonise about it but the redeeming thing is that she can be pretty okay at times.

Tiger goes for some time before having a problem. But I came home yesterday from a day trip to find dried pee in the dining room and this morning woke up to bloody poo on the outside of the litter box. I am proud to say that I did not huff or have a fit when I discovered either of these transgressions. Maybe I am getting soft in my old age. (but not as soft as Tiger's poo...)

Cut and Colour

Here it is straight from the hairdresser's. I won't be doing it so frou frou. I can't wash it for 3 days. I like it but its always different when you add your own touch. My dad always said 'what's the difference between a good haircut and a bad hair cut?" Answer: Two weeks. Okay, so it is not too different from what I've had before but the next cut should be much more interesting. Have faith.











In other news, I finally went to the doctor's today and I have a sinus infection. I've been on and off work for a week. The pressure in my head has been incredible and yesterday it started to be unbearable. So she prescribed an antibiotic and decongestant pills and spray. I am feeling relief already after just one dose. I haven't worked out in over a week. I'm feeling very soft and need to get back to working with weights pronto.

Medium Hair

Time for a hair cut this week. Not that I will listen to you all but I thought I would show you some pictures I showed to Bill and a girlfriend and see what you think. They are all of who I think is the epitome of beauty. Charlize Theron. Bill and Gaida really liked the first picture here I do too but I don't want to look too frumpy.




































Except for this last one. This is sort of the look I was going for when I got my hair cut last but I just can't get it to go like this. Besides, its too much work when you are showering twice a day. Doesn't look like a lot of work does it, but it is.Needs a straightening iron and lots of goo - which isn't conducive to lunchtime work outs. I never ever did get it to go right.

Vacation Pictures

Me and Aaron at the Calgary Tower. Neither of us wanted to go out on to the glass floor. It is 534 feet up!




Aaron and a Sherman Tank. My grandfather joined the army in WWII under age. He went over to England and stormed the beaches of France. It was a horrible battle and he was the only survivor in this tank. He lost an eye. He was only there for 4 days and was sent home.







Aaron on a bed of nails at the Telus World of Science.

Bill and his new VW 2.0 GTI Turbo.

White Noise

The power went out Saturday night in the middle of the night. I remember seeing a flash and rolled over and didn’t think more of it. I believe the last time I looked at the clock was about 1:30am so I think the power was out starting from 2 am or so. I woke a couple hours later (I usually wake many times during the night) and I noticed how very dark it was….and QUIET. I thought for a moment ‘it’s always darkest just before dawn’, and then I looked at my clock radio. It wasn’t there. I thought someone had taken it. (dumb eh? Sleepy I guess) I even reached out to touch it. I looked over at the house alarm panel and could see that the trouble light was on. It was so dark and quiet…..it was nice! I got up and walked down the hall to Aaron’s empty bedroom. From there I can usually see the flashing traffic light through two townhouses. There was nothing but blissful darkness. Our garages at the townhouse complex usually have pot-lights on all night and it was all darkness. It reminded me of camping in the middle of no-where. No electricity at all. It is truly impressive how quiet it all is when you remove the ‘white noise’ of life. You just don’t realize the noise (and light) pollution of everyday life. I’m talking about the buzz of light fixtures, computers/servers humming in an empty room, the fridge running etc.

Remove it all and….it is peaceful.

I miss my days of camping in the wilderness. It was a few years ago. A relationship ago. I don't think I'll ever have that same kind of experience again. But that is not what this post is about...

Home Sick

I was sent home from work this morning by my co-workers and manager. I’ve been sick since Tuesday. I worked half days Wednesday and Thursday and stayed home all day Friday. I thought it was best to make an appearance at work at least but expected not to make the whole day. When your co-workers and manager give you trouble for coming in in the first place WHY STAY!

This cold has been ever changing. It hasn’t been miserable but it has been a tough one. It started with a sore throat, so be warned; It is going around.

Eating when I am hungry enough hasn’t been great but it hasn’t been totally awful either. I do okay for the morning meals but lunch is lazy. I cooked myself a steak and salad for dinner Saturday but last night I was lazy and wanted comfort food and had homemade tortellini alfredo. I am planning to have a chicken stir-fry tonight to use up some vegetables in the ‘fridge.

I look forward to getting back to my workouts. I also want to get back to waking at 6am for a brisk 20 min. walk every morning. This really gets the metabolism jumpstarted for the whole day. It’s just planning. (Isn’t it always about the planning?)

The hardest thing these last few days has been feeling sick and lonely. Aaron has been with his dad all week and Bill returned to Calgary on Monday and I won’t see him again until the Sept. long weekend. The highlight of my day yesterday was going out for gas and cat food. I really don’t know how single people do it. Sometimes I can really fill my time but I suppose I’m a bit (more?) pathetic because I am ill. Sometimes I have energy and I did laundry, vacuumed and cleaned the kitchen. Other times, I’m just loafing on the sofa here watching tv and surfing the web. For example, today I posted pictures of Lucy on a radio website to win a prize of free pet food.

I promised you pictures of my trip to Calgary so here they are:

At Calgary Stampede

I'm having technical difficulties uploading more pictures...stay tuned.

The Van Gogh Family

After much careful research, it has been discovered that the artist Vincent Van Gough had many relatives. Among them were:
The dizzy aunt: Verti Gough
The brother who ate prunes: Gotta Gogh
The brother who worked at a convenience store: Stopn Gogh
The brother who bleached his clothes white: Hue Gogh
The cousin from Illinois: Chica Gogh
His magician uncle: Wherediggy Gogh
The Mexican cousin: Amee Gogh
The Mexican cousin’s American half brother: Grin Gogh
The nephew who drove a stage coach: Wellsfar Gogh
The constipated uncle: Can’t Gogh
The ballroom dancing aunt: Tan Gogh
The bird lover uncle: Flamin Gogh
His nephew psychoanalyst: E Gogh
The fruit loving cousin: Man Gogh
An aunt who taught positive thinking: Wayto Gogh
The little bouncy nephew: Poe Gogh
A sister who loved disco: Go Gogh
His Italian uncle: Day Gogh
The second cousin with this tiny car: Yu Gogh
And his niece who travels the country in a van: Winnie Bay Gogh.
As far as I know this is all – if you find anymore let me know.

Gone to camp

I took the day off today to get Aaron downtown to the drop off point for 7:30am. The ferry left with about 100 kids at 8:30 for Camp Potlatch in Howe Sound. The camp leaders looked like kids themselves! They must range from 16 to 19 years old. Aaron’s been really looking forward to this. His friend Michael invited him along. Aaron invited his friend Bijan. Michael invited another friend, Ron. The four of them were getting to know each other as they waited on the dock.

($330 for 5 days. I guess $66/day isn’t too much?) I think they are going to have a blast. I got him a 27 exposure disposable camera to document the week.

I’m alone tonight and Friday, then Bill’s in town Saturday for the BC Day long weekend. We have a 10:30 tee time for golf on Sunday! Bill goes back to work Tuesday morning early, Aaron comes home at 2:30 but then he’s at his dad’s for the next two weeks.

To make the most of my day off I’m cooking a 40-40-20 meal for myself for the next week. (Mediterranean Meatballs) I really want to apply myself to the eating part of healthy living. The workouts are much easier for me. So, I need to plan ahead have stuff in the freezer to pull out.

Cat news

Lucy is driving me crazy as per usual. Always in my way, and climbing on me to lick and suck and massage any exposed part of my body. (Bill encouraged this bad habit when she was a kitten last summer.) Ah, but she’s okay. Pretty darn cute at times. Tiger though is becoming a real pain in the butt. He’s been peeing on the counter. He’s an old cat – estimated to be 12 years old. That’s 62 in human years. Tuesday just as I was leaving for work the old codger was eating from the dry food bowl. He stopped turned around and assumed that stance! I said “what are you doing!?” He was totally zoned out and I heard a squirt, like a fart and I saw soft turd and blood in the food bowl! That bastard! He’s been peeing on the counter on occasion for a while now but shitting in his food bowl – blood no less, is new. I took him to the vet after work. I got away with a $25 check-up but if I want to know exactly(?) what is wrong with him it will be $300. It could be diabetes, could be thyroid etc. but it’ll cost that much just to get an idea and maybe it could be maintained with medication ($$$) or maybe he’s terminal. I’m sorry. I’m sorry all you cat lovers, but I just can’t stomach or afford $300 on the possibility either way. Pay the money and still find out he’s gonna die anyway? Bill’s take on this is that Tiger came into our lives a few years ago. He showed up on our doorstep needing a place to live. He adopted us basically. We took him in and gave him a very comfortable, rich life. If its his time now then, it just is. Mom made a good point today that kind of eased my mind…she said what if he’s got something that he picked up outside and could possibly give it to Lucy? That would be no good. Tiger is an in/out cat. Lucy is an indoor cat. (We had to make a promise to the cat shelter when we adopted her.) I’m having a real moral dilemma about this.

PS - if I sent you a Birthday Alarm please respond. There's nothing 'funky' about it. It will just help me remember you!

In the beginning

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives..

Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?" And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on theside. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, "I have sent you heart-healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food."

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. Then Satan created HMOs.

Thought for the day .
There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.