TGIF

Fridays...there's nothing like it. Unless you work on Saturday. I'm on call for the week until next Thursday, but hoping its not as busy as last weekend was for a co-worker. I have been so busy lately, I am looking forward to some relaxation again, and some time out in my back yard if the weather permits. Weather has been quite an issue here it seems...you can dress for the rain and the sun comes out hot enough to scald the rocks...or you can dress for the sun that might be out and it clouds over and pisses rain, and a gale of wind comes up...can't seem to figure it out. The flower growth in the past couple of weeks has been just outrageous...plants in my garden that were just coming up are now in bloom. Except for my damn sunflowers. The first time I ever planted them and I think they're conspiring against me. They've been in the ground for a good month with NOTHING up. Feckers.

The kitten seems to have settled somewhat. I think it was a case of separation anxiety. I had been away all weekend and he rebelled against me to let me know it was NOT cool to leave him behind. Tough break kitty, but you don't get to go camping anyway. Today is the day I hunt down some soft paws nail covers in town at one of the vets and later WRESTLE them on to both cats. It should be interesting to see just how much skin they leave on my body.

Just what the hell are YOU lookin' at? 

Poor thing...so much to eat, so little time... 

Teeth Are Like Needles

This new vampire kitten I have is driving me insane. He sure brings out the evil in me, which is sad. The evil hasn't come out in a very long time. Imagine finally getting to sleep after an hour or more of trying to settle the kitten down when he is still going and chomps onto the back of your calf, thigh, face, neck, WHATEVER. His teeth are like needles so it f-ing HURTS! And this is happening every night. Then he gets up in the morning at dawn, about 5am or earlier and begins again. He also likes to find me wherever I sit and gnaw on my limbs there as well.

Then there is the fun we have at the computer desk. Normally I don't mind a cat lurking, but he doesn't know how to lurk. He only knows how to terrorize. He will climb up my legs, whether or not I am wearing pants is of no consequence to him...I have the scratchmarks on my legs to prove it. His favorite spot to be, and my absolutely most irritated spot for him to be, is in the back of my keyboard drawer, playing with the cord on my mouse, so he hauls it off the end of the drawer, or lays on the mouse, clickin randomly so it fucks up whatever I'm doing. Or he is over climbing over the phone, and mine is one that is live when you hit the keys, so he can interrupt my internet at random as well. I usually snack or eat supper at the desk while I read the news, blogs, whatever. Well, he certainly makes a pest out of himself then. He tries to get IN my glass, bowl, plate, bag, box, WHATEVER. He'll climb right up on my shoulder, or face if he can, and try to take it out of my mouth. I can usually get rid of him easy enough, but at timeshe is very persistent and he earns himself some yelling time.

and then there is the times when he just won't stay out from under my feet, no matter how many times I step on him. I nearly broke his leg the other day when I stepped on him, but it has taught him NOTHING. I walk kind of on the ball of my feet, as I don't like pounding through the house by the heel, and he takes advantage of that by placing his body under my heel...

I know I got this kitten for company for both me and the resident feline, and that kittens will play, but it is his constant attacking me that really makes my blood boil. Real or not, I feel like I am the target of all his aggression and he is not willing to give it up anytime soon. There are times when he is as cute as a button and very affectionate, but then there are times when I would rather punt him out the door. Not that I would. But I think about it all the time. sigh...

I have heard of Soft Paws, which is a rubber tip you glue onto the claws of a cat or dog, but are there any such rubber tips for their teeth? I will be stoppy by the local vet for a package of soft paws today and that will slow the little mite down a notch or two. At least he won't be using me for his favorite climbing post, bare legs and all...

Calling All Seasonal Shoppers...

that's me. I have enough regular shopping to keep me busy, but the one I have come to look forward to the most is seasonal shopping - particularly Summer in Nova Scotia! The artisans all open their shops for the tourist season, and many of these shops are only open in Summer, making it tough at times to get to the more remote ones. The art in all of them is spectacular, and we made it to a few of the local ones today. Sew Inclined is a unique clothing store...the owner designs clothing and particularly hats often made from tapestry and brocade. My friend M. bought a bedspread there and I bought a "monkey's fist" for the kitten to play with. They are pretty cool to look at, and a great conversation piece. We stopped at Leatherworks so I could look at some bags...still looking for a good work bag to put files, notepad and planner in to lug around from house to house. I found one alright, but at $215. It is still there. So I bought a bowl instead. They make them by forming wet leather into a groovy bowl shape and letting it dry, which leaves the leather in a permanent position. After Leatherworks, we were off to Baddeck where we visited Kidston Landing - bought a pottery butter dish covered with ladybugs...too cute....and much needed. I am going to email the potter to see if she has other table items in that design and color. There were many other pieces in a little different pattern by the same potter.

So we finally hauled our treasures and our tired, dirty, and sunburnt bodies home. Oh, there was also a stop to a local pottist (didn't buy anything there) and a lovely bakery (got me some bread there, still warm from the oven!!! And we indulged on cinnamon buns. There were likely other stops, but I had a wonderful time. And talk about timing...just as we left Baddeck for home, the rain began. Good thing we had packed up early 'cause it sure sucks to pack up in the rain! Its still pissing rain, but I don't care because I had a wicked weekend!

Hammock camping and the tale of shitty arse

I love it! I camped once last year in my regular hammock and thought I would have my super-cool Clark Jungle Hammock Tent this year, but wasn't able to get it yet, so used my regular one again this year and it was GREAT! Was "down north" if that makes any sense (it does to folks around here) on work Friday night with a co-worker and we were joined later after the work was done by a couple of friends and stayed overnight at a local chalet there. It was too far to drive home again that night over the "mountains", so we stayed over on the company nickel...gotta like that.

Night #1 was amazing...hot day, very warm night and once everyone was settled at the chalet, the sky opened up and we got a spectacular light show accompanied by thunder...we were chillin' on the covered verandah/deck/bridge whatever by the time it showed up and so sat out and enjoyed the night, turning in well after 3am! Highlights of the evening include spraypainting our names on the flat rocks on Cape Smokey on the way over the mountain...a local tradition and long-standing one of mine! During such time my friend M. slid on her ass and only managed to spell the first two letters of her name (it was her second chance at her name)...caught on digital camera by another person in the car with us;

and an interesting conversation with "shitty arse". Funniest encounter with him yet. He works in a tiny convenience store in the area we camped at and I had described him to my co-worker as somewhat strange. Her response was that surely he couldn't have been stranger than herself (she isn't really strange, just original!) but when she met "shitty arse" she was forced to agree with me...So the story of shitty arse...well, my friend M. had asked for a pack of smokes, and he commented that the last time he tried tobacco was years ago when in high school, and it was chewing tobacco...he had nowhere to spit it out so swallowed it...and it had been unknowingly laced with exlax (how one does that, I know not) so he shit himself. His words actually. He said that it didn't matter how much time had gone by either, he wasn't able to shake the nickname, shitty arse. Apparently he went to his 30 year high school reunion recently and instead of being remembered for "the original AIDS vaccine (yeah, sure buddy) he was still rememered as shitty arse. Both M. and I laughing at that point, trying to laugh WITH and not AT shitty arse himself. Then we asked him if he knew of a local bootlegger as we had finished up with work too late to get to the liquor store (its a small town, closed at 9pm!!!) when he thought he should tell us all the last time he took a drink was in 1978 and it was some weird drink M. knew of (she's from the island, I'm not) and he didn't enjoy that either as it also burned out everything but his asshole. Ok, we're pretty sure we have to leave now as I am about to LOSE it laughing at this guy. We didn't know him from a hole in the ground and vice versa. I do recall going in there last winter once, and finding him strange, but this was out there! Anyhow, we had a few laughs after we left, so that was groovy. Poor old shitty arse...

so night #2 we were at a local campground there and I was set up in no time...hammock - check, pillow - check, sleeping bag - check, mosquito net - check. All set up. The others weren't far behind with their tents, as they got it DOWN. We set up and then took off to do some shopping and then head to the beach. R. and I swam but the other cowards folks chose to stay and shiver on the beach rock. Including two people we met at the chalets Friday night who couldn't believe we were going to actually swim, so drove to the same beach and found us there, and watched. They showed up earlier at our campground too...I was beginning to feel stalked, heh heh. The swim was a little chilly, but then I was numb before long and it didn't really matter. Back to the camp for beers, snacks, etc and set up for a rousing game of croquet. Which I lost this time...finally defeated after 4 games...heh heh... A delectable supper and then hours and hours of campfire until the last straggler headed off to count sheep...me! Tried the mosquito net, but wasn't set up right and the twine I used was too weak, so gave that up and slept a very peaceful night...was awake for hours after going to bed, just watching the fire and stars from where I slept. No bugs and very little wind....it was a gorgeous night!!! Cinnamon buns and coffees at the beach then M. and I shopped our way home. More about the purchases in another post....this is long enough!

Now What in the Hell

am I supposed to do? My computer chair bit the biscuit tonight...I've had it for about 5 years...well used for sure, the internet whore that I am...so I am perched on a kitchen chair...wooden and HARD. I am quite uncomfortable...whine...so now I have to go shop for a new chair this weekend. Ok, just hauled in my rocking chair over instead...nice hardwood one. It will do for now until I find what I want...when you spend as much time in front of this screen as it is...pathetic I know. Although I've been good this week...out every night in the fresh air...drinking it in, its been lovely. Croquet and campfire tonight...bonus! The mosquitoes were nasty for a bit, but then finally gave it up. pests! I'm off to the highlands tomorrow...possibly camping over the weekend, hoping for a polar dip, heh heh...

Nuns at the Ball Game

got this from my ma today...I actually laughed out loud...

SITTING BEHIND A COUPLE OF NUNS AT A BASEBALL GAME (WHOSE HABITS PARTIALLY BLOCKED THE VIEW), THREE MEN DECIDED TO BADGER THE NUNS IN AN EFFORT TO GET THEM TO MOVE. IN A VERY LOUD VOICE, THE FIRST GUY SAID,"I THINK I'M GOING TO MOVE TO UTAH,THERE ARE ONLY 100 NUNS LIVING THERE."THE SECOND GUY SPOKE UP AND SAID,"I WANT TO GO TO MONTANA,THERE ARE ONLY 5O NUNS LIVING THERE."THE THIRD GUY SAID, "I WANT TO GO TO IDAHO,THERE ARE ONLY 25 NUNS LIVING THERE."ONE OF THE NUNS TURNED AROUND, LOOKED AT THE MEN, AND IN A VERY SWEET,CALM, VOICE SAID, "WHY DON'T YOU GO TO HELL ............THERE AREN'T ANY NUNS THERE."

Gotta love the south... 

No F-ing Wonder

criminals try to sneak into the US....the border guards let them...exerpt from a story on MSNBC's site "BOSTON - On April 25, Gregory Despres arrived at the U.S.-Canadian border crossing at Calais, Maine, carrying a homemade sword, a hatchet, a knife, brass knuckles and a chain saw stained with what appeared to be blood. U.S. customs agents confiscated the weapons and fingerprinted Despres. Then they let him into the United States." Can you believe this shit? Apparently “Being bizarre is not a reason to keep somebody out of this country or lock them up. ... We are governed by laws and regulations, and he did not violate any regulations.”

He was shortly after arrested for murder for a gruesome site he left behind in Canada. Come to Canada where your behaviour doesn't raise eyebrows...criminals welcome.

40 Questions

I know, another meme...but I haven't had one in a while. Thanks to the hoser for this one...

1. My uncle once: built a plane in his basement...he started it sometime in the 70's and now he is retired and moved from Mississauga and the plane is still under construction in his shed.

2. Never in my life: killed someone

3. When I was five: dressed as Laura Ingalls for Halloween in a beautiful homemade outfit

4. High School was: a cloud of smoke, a bit of a blur, and 4 different high schools.

5. I will never forget: the first time I held my daughter

6. I once met: Joshua Morrow (from Y & R) yes, he is just as good looking in person...and smells really nice!

7. There's this girl I know: who searches for potholes and hits nearly every one when I am in the car with her

8. Once, at a bar: I won a prize for a halloween costume...went as Hitler's gal...awesome outfit

9. By noon I'm usually: itching to get outside my office and on the road

10. Last night: I slept in my hammock on the balcony of my daughter's apartment in Halifax

11. If I only had: a mate...it sure is lonely once the kid moved out

12. Next time I go to church: never.

13. Terry Schiavo: was none of my business. I'd be pretty pissed if my death was so sensationalized.

14. What worries me most: what my daughter gets into now that she lives on her own...and what others might do to her

15. When I turn my head left, I see: my two cats acting like baboons, tearing around the living room

16. When I turn my head right: a woven piece that I bought in Guatemala last year...its gorgeous!

17. You know I'm lying when: I don't usually lie. I have a hard enough time tracking the truth, let alone a lie

18. What I miss most about the eighties: my body...I was a size 5, honestly.

19. If I was a character written by Shakespeare, I'd be: The Shrew...wild and ready for the taking by a handsome fella

20. By this time next year: I could be living somewhere else in another country

21. A better name for me would be: clumsy oaf

22. I have a hard time understanding: why men can't realize that Pamela Anderson is NOT looking for them and take a look at me instead on all those singles sites.

23. If I ever go back to school I'll: take my master's degree in criminology, I reckon...then on for ph d I think.

24. You know I like you if: I speak to you at all without curse words

25. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: my daughter, for her inspiration

26. Darwin, Mozart, Slim Pickens & Geraldine Ferraro: who cares?

27. Take my advice: talk to your kids, hear what they have to say

28. My ideal breakfast is: lots of bacon and waffles with whipped cream on them

29. A song I love, but do not have is: Can't think of a single one...have been downloading for years.

30. If you visit my hometown, I suggest: well, if we want to call Cape Breton my hometown, then bring fly dope and sunscreen.

31. Tulips, character flaws, microchips & track stars: my tulips have finished, character flaws are nothing more than facets of a personality, microchips - how could we live without them? and track stars...who cares?

32. Why won't people: lighten up???

33. If you spend the night at my house: you will likely share your bed with a kitty

34. I'd stop my wedding for: a chance out of it...back then...now...probably never marry again. What a farce, in my eyes

35. The world could do without: George W. Bush

36. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: remarry my ex-husband

37. My favorite blonde is: Matthew McConaughey, of course.

38. Paper clips are: something my daughter loves to twist and break into pieces to drive her mother crazy

39. If I do anything well, it's: adapt to change.

40. And by the way... I already answered all these!

taken nearly 19 years ago when BOTH of us looked a little different...me with my daughter in 1986. 

The Big One Is Coming

my daughter turns 19 tomorrow. Egad. When did I become old enough to have a daughter who can legally drink? Thinking back to what I was doing on my 19th birthday, I was 4 months pregnant with this child. I did go to the bar, and had one beer. One of two in the entire pregnancy. Her father and I had gone out with our friend Kevin to the Port Club in Port aux Basques. I think that was my only time ever going there...the next few years are a bit of a blur, heh heh.

in any case, I am heading up to Halifax in a few hours to spend her birthday with her, take her to lunch tomorrow, buy her a drink - second legal one I will have bought for her. The first was when we were backpacking in Europe in 2002. We went to a licensed restaurant in Rome and I bought her an Italian beer. She drank about 2 ounces, declared it awful and I finished the rest for her. The legal drinking age is only 16 there, and even then they don't really bother much with it. No one checked her ID, and she was just 16 a month before.

As mentioned before, she wanted the first season of the Family Guy on DVD, so I bought her the three seasons that are currently out. And previewed them, laughing my ass off. I also bought her a watch, not too expensive, so she can remember to call her mother.

Sigh. Next year she will be 20, and I shall be 40. crazy.

Only in Cape Breton

do the construction workers plow through the pissing rain and the first day of sun last week they all disappeared. They have a huge mess in town and no one has seen them since Tuesday when the sun came out. WTF? They are probably out golfing.

Hard to believe that just a week ago we were bitching and whining about the lack of spring and summer weather...the leaves weren't even out and now in just one week of sun, the trees are wonderful and I was finally able to rip that fucking plastic off the windows...and discover about 2000 flies in the window sills and trapped in the plastic...thankfully they were all dead. YUCK!

Went to hang clothes on the line today...was assaulted the entire time by those pesky black flies...little bastards. I think I'll have a fire tonight and burn some boughs that my landlord cut...that will keep them away I hope...feckers...

Such a cliche...three RCMP cars parked at the local donut shop (Tim Hortons)...give me a break! 

Ladies Beware

There is a new scam being pulled mainly on women (i.e. over 30) who are apparently past the age of giving a (fast) running pursuit. What happens is that when the intended victim stops for a red light, a completely nude and good looking, nicely tanned, unbelievably well-endowed young man comes up. With muscles flexing, and body stretched to its full potential, he pretends to wash your windshield. While he is doing this, another person opens the back door of your car, taking anything you have in the car. They are very good at this. They got me seven times Friday and five times Saturday...I couldn't find them on Sunday...heh heh

Why Women Live Longer Than Men

Wouldn't I love to just go and tap those 2 x 4's...

Fat Bastard

it was poetic. and downright funny. but also telling. I was sitting with a child yesterday while she was showing her therapist her little notebook with lots of drawings she had done. There's the snowman, there's daddy, there's my brother, there's my friend, there's Fat Bastard, there's mommy....WTF? Fat bastard? This child is 5 years old. I'm pretty sure that Austin Powers is rated a little higher than "G". Looks like I need to have a chat with someone about appropriate television for primary students. And it ain't Fat Bastard.

I'm not The Family Guy

But I do watch it, having recently discovered the show this spring...I know, its been on a few years...but it was the kind of show that you knew was around, but never really sat down and watched for me...until my daughter bought a DVD of a few of the most popular episoded. Well, I ROARED my head offf. Stewie has a humour that I recall seeing in a friend of mine some years ago, heh heh. The writing for him is just excellent IMHO. Not many shows (besides Will and Grace) that can get me to laugh out LOUD like I do with The Family Guy. The episode where Brian becomes a police dog sniffing out cocaine is an absolute RIOT! Now I'm hooked...on the show that is...

Another DAMN Damp Day

The sun appears to be an illusion...haven't seen it in days. I was wishfully thinking when I went out and set up my new croquet set in the back yard...the heavy mist came down and soaked me. So much for mint julips and crumpets in the backyard today...

Instead, I'm playing tech support once again for my parents and watching The Family Guy which is one of the funniest adult cartoons I have ever watched. Or should I say "animated program". Stewie just cracks me up, I love his sarcasm. The writing is so good, its shocking much of the time, and totally inappropriate...which is the draw for me! Lets draw some attention to old stereotypes and make fun of them, and we can then think about things for ourselves.

Stormy has bravely taken over Via's basket...the nerve. They are playing very well together now and Via has ceased hissing and growling at the little ankle biter...and let me tell you, the ankle bites are NASTY....he usually ends up with the business end of my foot catapulting swishing him across the floor with a YELP when he really digs in.

The tattoo is a little sore...especially when the kitten BITES it. But otherwise is looking gangrenous healthy enough. What's next?

Did I mention that it has been raining quite a bit lately??? 

tonight's tattoo, as promised! 

Friday's Mosaic

• I'm off today...yahoo! Some chores to do around the house, then I can RELAX! I love short work weeks.
• It is still raining here. I have had enough. Have sent for plans to build ark.
• I am getting a tatoo this weekend...figure its a good time since I am on antibiotics anyhow, ha ha
• The kitties are getting along very well...sound like a football team when they race around the house...we were not amused when it happened at 3 am...
• I didn't win Set for Life yesterday, so have to continue slogging away at work. I did win $4 though.
• Finally had a campfire on Wednesday night and sat roasting marshmallows to the sound of coyotes howling...very nice. The sunset was pretty good too, and this time no shrapnel wounds.
• got a postcard from my friend who was visiting South Carolina recently. Lucky gal actually saw the sun.
• I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get to go camping this year as "they" are saying lots of rain and below seasonable temps for the summer...just great.

What WAS I Thinking???

Was over at M's house last night and we watched White Noise which was quite good actually...some real jumpy moments! Just what I like in a scary movie!!! But then I had to drive home...and I was more than jumpy! I was tripping out like mad on the drive home, thinking the radio was telling me something, or someone was jumping out into the road, or I was going to blow off (high winds here last night)...I did make it home and was never so glad to be in my own house again...no more scary movies on stormy nights when I have to drive home....

Have a nice TRIP, see you next FALL

Anyone who knows me knows how clumsy I am. I have more scar tissue on my knees than anyone I know...and I am 38. And today I tripped and fell yet again. drunk again Only no damage to the body, just the salt. I tripped coming into the house from the bbq outside, spilling the entire contents of the salt shaker. Does that mean I have to throw it over my shoulder to repel bad luck? Whatever. Here are a few of my notorious falls, ending with my most embarrassing to keep you interested.

1. falling last autumn outside the courthouse after testifying. Tripped over a grass tuft growing up between the sidewalk (it was really overgrown!) and shredding my left calf and knee, my right knee, my elbows and my hands. The left calf was the worst and I have a huge scar speckling my left leg, about 5 inches or bigger. Its not deep, just huge. It ws the day before I was flying out to BC to see my sister and her family...scared the hell out of the little ones I reckon.
2. 5 months pregnant, up in the night for a craving and when climbing back into bed, I stepped on the edge of the bed, which was actually the edge of the blankets and gave myself the worst carpet/blanket burn I ever had.
3. fell taking out the garbage here last summer. Was wearing a long skirt, had both hands full and stepped into the hem walking down the steps. Another nasty scrape on the knee...thankfully I landed on the garbage so no concussion, but blood on my skirt so had to go back and change and try again.
4. running down over the hill from my grandmother's house to my best cousin's, G. Flat out, of course, as children know only one speed. Of course, on the east coast, most rocks are covered in lichens and moss...SKIDDED and tumbled all the way down the hill and cut open my knee.
5. 9 months pregnant. Went to let one of the cats in and the wind took the door, flinging me far out onto the concrete step, down on my knees. Husband yelled, and I was sent to my room.
6. Up on a ladder, slipped and fell, injuring my ankle and my pride. We were building our cabin, and I earned myself 2 weeks on crutches.
7. Walking home drunk from the bar one night as a youth, we had spent our cab fare on liquor, so had to walk for about an hour. I thought I was cool in my spandex pants and leather jacket, drop-kicked my friend and sprained my ankle, and fell...flat on my face, scraping both elbows. Earned two weeks on crutches then too.
8. The piece de resistance. While backpacking in the UK in 2001, I was carrying around my 50lb pack all day as I was flying out of London that night and didn't want to store it in a locker. Watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Then promptly tripped on the curb in the cobblestone and fell FLAT ON MY FACE. Of course, the 50lb pack didn't help and smashed into the back of my head, pinning me to that lovely cobblestone. I scraped both my knees, my elbows, my hands, and my forehead. Oh, and I tore one of my two pairs of pants. Just great. Thankfully some foreign tourist rolled me over and helped me up while the locals snapped photos of me, laughing (miserable feckers). They probably thought it was just another Irish gal, drunk again. I have a bit of a Newfie accent at times...

So there you have it. My life measured out in trips and fumbles. Have a laugh, I did, when the bleeding stopped...

Happy Holidaze

Well, our big Victoria Day is upon us Canucks...it certainly doesn't mean lets sit and ponder about Queen Victoria to most Canadians...it means the beginning of summer complete with sunburns, drinking, fireworks, barbecue, grass cutting, beaches, and camping, just to name a few. Unfortunately, I am on-call all weekend, so will not be partaking in many of the above noted activities...however, THE SUN IS OUT, so I am happy, at last. I may even light that fucking firepit tonight and make s'mores. The neighbor is out on the riding mower so I can't wait to go out and SMELL the grass. Nothing says summer more than fresh cut grass.

I may even sit out and read for a few hours this afternoon, since we are in pre-infestation days for mosquitoes and black flies (I hope).

hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend!

Old Dog, Old Tricks

yup. That's me. I found myself with an abundance of yarn recently and wanting to use it up before I end up like my mother with bags and boxes everywhere of craft projects...so I asked mother for her granny square pattern and lo and behold...I am crocheting again. I had crocheted years ago, in the "old days" when I was a stay at home mom. Haven't been that since the summer of 1997. I was surprised how quickly I recalled just what to do. I didn't even really need the book. One simply diagram and I was off and running!

what's pathetic is that is what I find myself doing this Saturday night on a holiday weekend...while watching reruns of ER on DVD. I'm on-call, so couldn't really go far anyhow, but this is the weekend most of my friends chose to be out of town too! So the big loser stays home alone...well, not completely alone. I do have my two felines to roast on the firepit drive me crazy...here kitty, kitty, kitty...

(kidding of course)

Stop the Insanity!

well, at least stop the fucking rain. I have had enough, and am considering filing a complaint with Mother Nature. Just what is your problem, woman? We have seen the sun maybe 5 times since spring arrived in March. And on one of those days, I got sunburnt. Sure, the grass is green, and the flowers are up, but I am IN. We have had rain every day this week and it is still raining.

I have finished up my lovely firepit and can't get a decent day to sit by the fire...its a plot, I know it.

At least the cats are getting along...no blood spilled and they are playing together now. Haven't heard a hiss or growl in days...

Prime Depression

I'm not one for politics, but this cracked me up...

A man on his way home from work in downtown Ottawa came to a dead halt in traffic and thought to himself, "Wow, this traffic seems worse than usual. Nothing's even moving."

He notices a police officer walking back and forth between the lines of cars so he rolls down his window and asks, "Excuse me, Officer, what's the hold up?"

The Officer replies, "The Prime Minister is just so depressed about the corruption scandals that he stopped his limo in the middle of the freeway and he's threatening to douse himself in gasoline and set himself on fire. He says the country hates him and he can't quit because he hasn't a big enough pension to retire. I'm walking round taking up a collection for him".

"Oh really? How much have you collected so far?"

"So far only about a hundred litres but I've got a lot of folks still siphoning."

Barn next to the previous shed...its all written up too...he's talking about some thing that were stolen and when...I wonder if he caught the rat bastards... 

passed this on a road trip through remote Cape Breton...that's true east coast classy, I tell ya...on the end of the building it says "Stay off my property you rat bastards" 

Tuesday Tidbits

- resident feline has overcome her cowardice and is now just openly hostile towards the new kitten...but sometimes is just very curious. She's still a bitch most of the time though.
- non-resident teenager is coming today for a 3-day visit. We both work this long-weekend, so we agreed on a mid-week visit. whoo hoo! I have missed her something awful.

- the sun appears to be scared shitless to appear again...its been in hiding since Sunday, with no hope in sight, leaving me to whine about my sunburn in the fog

- I finally got my parcel from e-bay - 3rd season of ER. Little shit who sold it to me over a MONTH ago finally posted it last week. I thought I was getting the shaft once again
- my doctor's appointments in Antigonish are getting more expensive...I can't stay away from Cotton Ginny and spent another $100 I can't really afford there last night...sigh...but I will look snazzy in court this morning (for work)
- if the weather clears this afternoon, the visiting teen and I will attempt to clear out the firepit, put new sand in and light it again tonight...I have post traumatic stress from the flying brick of last week's fire, but am willing to face my demons and try again...

Snow and Sunburns?

Ok. Only in Cape Breton can you have a snowstorm on Saturday morning and then a sunburn on Sunday morning. WTF? I was cleaning snow off my car yesterday and today I had to put that icky green gel on my sunburned legs and face! I was only out for about an hour, reading in the backyard (next to that killer firepit), but yeah, I am burned RED! But I'm not complaining, I am happy the sun was here today...what a gorgeous spring day. My tulips are up, and I fought off the bumblebees to plant sunflowers. They were going after some purple flowers in my flower box. And since when did bumblebees get so damn big and have RED on their butts? Perhaps they got sunburned too...

Glorious SUN!

and then I burnt myself. My skin had been in such withdrawal after a long chilly (but not too stormy) winter and so when I spent an hour outside reading today, I managed to get my legs, face and arms burnt. The temp wasn't all that high either, just about 15C or so...but I am definitely RED. skin cancer be damned, I am just glad to see the friggin sun today! I sat out and finished my book - The Five People You Meet in Heaven which was pretty good...now I'm on the prowl for my next read...

The Tail of Two Cats and other Brambles

The truce is off. Stormy got too close to Via and all hell broke loose. They both hissed and growled and fluffed their tails. I scooped in to pick up the little one and his heart was beating a mile a minute. The coward retreated to my bedroom again.

He has been a busy one today...climbed all over and inspected most of the first floor. He is such a good kitty too...litter trained AND using the scratchpad. Bonus.

Got up to SNOW on the ground this morning. And I had already burned put away the damn shovels already...oh, but it wasn't that much...melted by mid-afternoon. But serious...WTF??? It's mid-May.

Did I mention the really great mother's day card I got from the non-resident teen this week? She knows how much I prefer the handmade cards, no matter what her age...so she bought me the standard Carlton, and then tucked a little handmade one inside. It reads "Thanks for always being there and for being the hippest ma on the block! Ha Ha, that was cheesy! Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks, and I love you!" I cried. She is the only person in the world that really gets me. Thanks, kid. I love you too.

now, thanks to bubblehead, I have to go watch The Breakfast Club and turn off that Frank Zappa...man he must have had some interesting drugs when he wrote Don't Eat The Yellow Snow...I am not in the headspace to listen to it tonight!

Stormy - the newest resident feline...welcome to the crazy house, my boy. 

Times When Using the "F" Word Was Appropriate

This cracked me up...I wish there were visuals to accompany, but alas, you must use your imagination! And remember...they are just in fun...

"Scattered f___ing showers, my ass!" -Noah, 4314 BC

"How the f___ did you work that out?" -Pythagoras, 126 BC

"You want WHAT on the f___ing ceiling?" -Michelangelo, 1566

"Where did all those f___ing Indians come from?" -Custer,1877

"It does so f___ing look like her!" -Picasso, 1926

"Where the f___ are we?" -Amelia Earhart, 1937

"Any f___ing idiot could understand that." -Einstein, 1938

"What the f___ was that?" - Mayor of Hiroshima, 1945

"I need this parade like I need a f___ing hole in the head!" -JFK,1963

"Aw c'mon. Who the f___ is going to find out?" -Bill Clinton, 1997

I had a bunch of pics sent to me, but this one is my favorite...it took a sec for my brain to catch up to my vision though...heh heh 

Ten Heads - No Ears

I saw that written in the local paper yesterday in relation to a protest against a town council...I laughed my ass off...someone had it on a sign.

The rabbits must be in a high production part of their 7-year cycle...I saw ten on one 8km dirt road I went over last night. One even sat still instead of running off the shoulder into the bushes...looked just like a chocolate easter bunny!

Missed a doctor's appointment today...RATS! Now I have to beg the gate keeper tomorrow for a squeeze in appointment...she's a tough nut to crack, that receptionist.

My neighbor finally cancelled the movie channels on the dish subscription we share...now I am forced to watch all those other channels...heh heh...

Tomorrow is my Friday - I have the real one off and unless I do something serious like apprehend a kid tomorrow (which is what no one wants) I should be able to ACTUALLY take the day off on Friday. I have had to reschedule my relief day so often because of court matters with my job.

I got my Mother's Day card in the mail today - a lovely Hallmark as well as a basic handmade one...she knows how much I adore handmade cards, and even though she's almost 19 years old, I still want that handmade one! They are so much better...and I got two last year :-)

Home Remedies

1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto. The blockage will be almost instantly removed.

2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.

3. Avoid arguments with the little woman about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.

7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget about the toothache.

Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:

You only need two tools - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

Remember:

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You get another chance.

And finally, be really nice to your family and friends; you never know when you might need them to empty your bedpan.

The Case of the Exploding Firepit

Yeah, that's what happened. We gathered around the newly constructed firepit only to suffer shrapnel wounds...apparently the bricks I bought (with the help of the not so trusty Central Building Supplies yahoos) are not so heat resistant, and once the fire got going, they did too...exploded into a million pieces and shot out like cannon fire. There were injuries, myself included suffered a nice little burn on my top lip that blistered immediately. Great. We got our smores in spite of the torpedoes as we thought it was just the wood...then I got up in the morning and noticed that the plastic bag that was out there had brick melted to it...and so I went to inspect and discovered the bricks had crumbled to not a hell of a lot.

So in I marched to the building store and demanded a full refund for my bricks. The guy who helped me happened to be the guy who sold me the bricks and tried to back out of it saying, well you did get the bricks you wanted though, right? Um, no. When I went, I told you what I wanted to build and asked you to show me the right bricks. You even suggested a pattern to lay them in at the bottom of my pit, and measured for the size to calculate how many bricks I would need, wrote it on a slip with the brick code and sent me out to the yard. Asshole. So he caved and refunded my money.

If I wanted to be a super bitch, I could have told him I was going to sue them for injuries, pain and suffering....but I wasn't wearing THAT hat today...I left it in the car...

so now I have to dig out all that shit and throw it away, and get some sand to line the pit with, which will be fine and won't explode on me. Stay tuned...

Mother's Day

I'm sure many bloggers will be writing today about Mother's Day...I'm no exception. This one is particularly noteworthy for me as it is the first one I have spent apart from my daughter. She moved out last June to attend university and live on her own with her boyfriend.

I miss the handmade cards created in high secrecy, the flowers picked from a neighbor's yard, the cold burnt toast and juice served in bed, and the big hugs from those skinny little kid arms.

I can take comfort however in knowing that I did my job well and have raised a wonderful daughter who is very independent and moved out before her 19th birthday to live on her own. She will be 19 next month and honestly I don't know where the years went! Then I sit and think about all the memories I have of her in each of those years and wish I had them to live over again, even the rough times.

so dear daughter, if you are reading this, thank-you for being my daughter and allowing me the experience of being your mother. I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Today's Toiling Effort

Thanks to my friends R. and A., we completed the new firepit in my backyard! The idea began to take root earlier this year after my landlord and neighbors used a tractor to pull a few stumps out of the back yard. They asked me if either of those spots were good for a firepit as I had mentioned I wanted to make one, and since they already had gaping holes in the yard, I figured sure, why not. But then after it was dug out (but not constructed) I realized this morning I didn't really like the spot...too close to the house, I was concerned fire might travel through the huge roots sticking into the pit, and I couldn't really dig it smooth with all those friggin roots left behind, as well, I couldn't see the sunset. So I dug a new hole farther down into the yard, on level ground, with NO ROOTS! And I used the dirt and sod from that to fill the previous hole. Then we were cooking...add a layer of sand and gravel for drainage, a layer of brick, and then a ring of local stones and we're set! I bought a couple of tiki torches at Wal-Mart, and spent some of the afternoon gathering stuff to burn. No one around me burns wood, so there was plenty to gather out here in the country. My neighbor built a new corral last year so I can have all the old posts to burn, which is GREAT!

So the "christening" of the new firepit happens tonight with some friends gathering to roast marshmallow, have some s'mores, beer, and whatever else they want to bring. Here's to the official beginning of spending-time-outdoors-now-that-I-won't-freeze-my-ass-off season!

my brand new firepit

lovely sunset, taken from my front patio last night 

My New Toy

I did it, I joined the rest of the country and bought a digital camera last night. I had thought about buying one for several years, ever since they first came out. And when the non-resident teenager was in house, she bought one and I used hers. It was a very simple model, cheap with low resolution, but did the job and got me used to working with digital pics. Then my parents got one, and my sister got one and I was able to use theirs when I visited. My brother had had one for a while before them as well. and they are all Kodak Easyshare cameras.

Now I will be scoping the neighborhood, taking endless amounts of photos. My plan is to take the camera on the road with me when I work as I often come across beautiful scenery and alas, have no camera with me. And of course, if a child needs a picture taken of them for my file...I am ready!

So the next post will be my first picture taken with the digital camera...

The Male Face

Little known fact. Did you Know?:
A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of male face a woman finds attractive can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle.

For instance, if she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features.
However, if she is menstruating or menopausal, she is more prone to be attracted to a man with scissors lodged in his temple and a bat jammed up his ass while he is on fire.

Just thought you might want to know.

How can it be almost Friday already???

Here I sit, in front of the 'puter, wondering where in the hell the week went. And why I haven't posted since Sunday. WTF? I was in Halifax for the past day and a half for a conference, which was great, although a serious topic (child sexual abuse) but good presenters and a chance to meet up with old friends I hadn't seen in a while. Of course, a trip to the city also means shopping...only went to one store, Hill Tribe, and I just LOVE their clothes and other items! Granted I can't afford their regular priced clothes, but they have WONDERFUL sales and I made off like a bandit today...and I bought a TALL KITTY! You know the kind, wooden sculpture, painted, made in Indonesia. I just love it!

So tomorrow is Friday...THANK GOODNESS! I am on call, but hoping for a rather slow week, if possible...and good weather so I can get out and swing in the hammock...not my new one though as I still don't have it and might not even get it now...found a sticker on my door today from UPS and a COD fee of $98!!! WTF???? Criminal, that's what it is. I paid a small fortune for the damn thing in the first place, and now they want to charge me extra for WHAT? So I intend to have a conversation with them tomorrow. Its likely some ridiculous border fees, and I won't be paying that much...fuck that to hell with that. wahhhh....

Sunday Ramblings - Read it or Not

funny how one letter can change a word. like read + y makes it ready. And live can be love, head can be heed, and bed can be bad...

I've been reading a bit about parents and others all in an uproar now that their child has discovered blogging and how dangerous it is to put their information up on a blog, such as first name, town they live in, etc. Ok then...lets think about how it was done before blogging and net...check out your local city newspaper where you have wished your darling daughter a happy birthday...not only have you given her date of birth, her full name, her siblings, who her parents are, what grade she is in and what town she lives in. Um. I think that information has been available for many years. Granted not to the whole world, but there are many newspapers online with similar information which are available to the whole world. And to top it all off, you have your daughter's picture in there, front and centre. Think about this and then tell me your daughter is "putting herself out there" in a blog. You have done it before she ever thought about it.

Spring is having some difficulty finding its way to Nova Scotia...we got a little taste of it a few weeks ago and Mother Nature, in her own bitchy sweet way, took it back and told us to suck it up, its too early. Regardless of weather, there I was last night in the rain, planting a rosebush, my first ever. And I have been working on my fire pit. Its not quite warm enough to be outside to enjoy it yet, so I haven't finished it.

and just where in the hell are my packages...I ordered the 3rd season of ER from e-Bay about two weeks ago, as well as my much anticipated Clark Jungle Hammock, also ordered two weeks ago...whassup?

the damn flies have finally let up and now I have to shovel them out of the basement...is there any known use for dead flies? Let me know, I have thousands here for ya...

I miss my kid...sniff...why do they have to grow up and move away? sigh...

This Road Has Breasts

Well, frost heaves at least...driving along for work today on my way to a client's home and there were two clear bumps in the road, looked just like a set of breasts, and were about 4-6 inches high...there were in the pavement of course, JICYI...

The roads in this province are nasty...pot holes everywhere and shoulders falling apart. The American tourists are apparently complaining that they won't come back to visit unless we pave the roads again....well fuck off then don't come. Its MY tax dollars that paves the roads here, and if they are to be improved upon, it will be for ME! Sure, you folks bring something to the economy here, but you also bring a lot of cheap shit with you so you won't have to buy it here, you drive a million campers on our crappy roads, making them worse and not paying to park them since you find yourselves in every Wal-Mart parking lot around and do not contirbute to the hotels and cabins, and cook your steak dinners at home, not contributing to the restaurants, buy up all the cheap land and then to add insult to injury, file for a Tax Refund for taxes paid in our country...the very taxes that contribute to our road condition...

So yeah, see if I care if you don't come. I can't stand getting stuck behind your little convoys anyhow, especially on the windy two-lane highways on my way to a client's house...thanks for making me late.

Yahoo for another tourist season being thrust upon us...

Gender Designation

You may not know that many nonliving things have a gender.For example:
1) Ziploc Bags — They are Male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.
2) Copiers — They are Female, because once turned off, it takes a while to warm them up again. It’s an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can wreak havoc if the wrong buttons are pushed.
3) Tire — Male, because it goes bald and it’s often over-inflated.
4) Hot Air Balloon — Male, because, to get it to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under it, and of course, there’s the hot air part.
5) Sponges — Female, because they’re soft, squeezable and retain water.
6) Web Page — Female, because it’s always getting hit on.
7) Subway — Male, because it uses the same old lines to pick people up.
8) Hourglass — Female, because over time the weight shifts to the bottom.
9) Hammer — Male, because it hasn’t changed much over the last 5,000 years, but it’s handy to have around.
10) Remote Control — Female…… Ha! You thought it’d be male. But consider this — it gives a man pleasure, he’d be lost without it, and while he doesn’t always know the right buttons to push, he keeps trying...

yet another reason you shouldn't pass out at a party...your friends will do something to make you look stupid! Thank goodness I never pass out! 

Here's a Monday morning chuckle... 

The Bitch Within

I had a really good post written...and lost half of it. Thanks Blogger. So now you get the abbreviated version.

I tried to go to the movies Friday night with the kid, even went rummaging through the reconstruction at Park Lane Mall on Spring Garden Road to the theatre area to buy advance tickets as we weren't sure when it opened. We get there and park in the underground garage, only to have to walk down a ramp to the floor below for an operating elevator. The movie's dialogue track doesn't play. No one fixes it. The Bitch within stepped out. She demanded her money back from pubescent customer service and bitched the whole way back to the car. The elevator wouldn't go to P3 and both the bitch and her daughter didn't recall not getting it in the first place on P3. Once the bitch figured it out, she attempted to convince her daughter of the fact they had to get off a floor below or above and walk down. Daughter is not convinced. Yelling ensues, and although they do just as the bitch suggests and locate the car easily, the daughter still isn't convinced. The bitch tries to get her money back for parking since the movie wasn't playing as promised. No go. Parking guy chuckles and says have a nice night. Daughter still isn't willing to let it go. Raves about how bitch has embarrassed her tonight. Bitch muses whether child is trying to razz mother up or is genuine...it has happened before...

After some well earned silence and the trip home to daughter's apartment...the evening resumes in good spirits and they watch The Family Guy on DVD...sure, its not The Amityville Horror as planned, but it works.

The bitch has retreated...

A Bloody Massacre

Sheesh, ya go away for a few days and leave the resident feline unsupervised and I come home to a bloody massacre! I'm happy with her victim - the late brown mouse, but what a friggin mess she made. When I first got in the door, I saw a pile of something out of the corner of my eye, assuming it was a pile of cat puke...but then I thought I saw a tail. So I finished what I was doing (setting up the Betta - Bubbles) so when I finished, I took a look...and it was a huge brown mouse...headless. I found the head about 4 feet away...there was blood from one end of my bedroom to the other. Thank goodness she didn't take it to my bed! There was scraps of fur, body parts, and blood all over the place, including the bathroom across the hall. I am guessing that the mouse fought the good fight by the mess left. Good thing I don't have a weak stomach and the weather is still cool...a couple of HOT HUMID days like we get in the summer would have made quite the stench out of this scene.

in any event, I am proud of my housebound kitty for taking care of business for me...even if she did make a mess!

Its Hump Day

and I love it! I am on training for the next two days once this day is over, in the big city. I get to see my kid, and those of us going on training are going out on Thursday night to a great pub. Whoo hoo! In other less enjoyable news, my roomie told me she is planning on moving out soon, like next month. She wants to get her own place and her mom is coming to visit for a month, and so on...YIKES! Now I have to cover all the rent and expenses and I don't know if I can. Just when things started to ease up for me a little, I am going right back down into the pit of debt...whine...maybe I will have to scope for a new roomie, but I will try the summer without one and see how it goes. I'll miss having roomie around, even though she was rarely here. She's a cool gal and a good roomie.

I just hope this day doesn't go on forever!!!

Clark Jungle Hammock

I did it. I bought a Clark Jungle Hammock. I have always HATED how I felt after sleeping on the ground while camping, no matter how many different types of sleeping pads, cots, etc I used. And then last summer I tried my nylon hammock on a trip and it was WONDERFUL, with just two drawbacks - flies and dew. With this hammock I will eliminate both of those! I can't wait to get it and try it out in the back yard. No more aching back and hips from a rotten sleep on the ground, and what a wonderful idea! Ok M. and K., time to plan our first excursion! May 24 will be upon us before we know it...I wonder if it has a pocket for beer...

and you know what

I think I got a sunburn today...bonus!

When Is Enough Too Much

I hurt right now. I was rather productive today, and cleaned out my car, vacuuming it through and got out the armor-all, cleaned the trunk, and polished up the windows. After that I tackled the flower beds, snipping and raking away all the dead stuff from last year. I bagged and dragged all the garbage and recycling to the end of the driveway. I filled all the birdfeeders again (not a big task, but in the list!), I finished a load of laundry, washed the dishes, vacuumed up all the frigging flies AGAIN, along with the dust bunnies...they are ganging up to get me, the bastards. I even had the wet/dry vac out to clean out the car, including the ice frozen in my spare tire compartment...how in the hell...

so now I hurt. I might not be able to move tomorrow. You would think I just ran a marathon for pity's sake. What a wuss. Well, this wuss is taking to her sofa once again. whine. sigh....

Saturday in Seclusion

I love Saturdays. You can choose to stay out drinking all night sleep in or get up early (which I normally do and did today). You can choose to do all your household crap today or leave it for Sunday. Personally would rather get it done ASAP so I can relax the rest of the weekend. I have Monday off, so it is a long weekend for me.

I did a presentation yesterday to the interagency committee in our area - probation services, transition house, family services counselling, restorative justice, rcmp, addiction services, etc, you get the picture. So I had been asked to present on how our agency (children's aid) responds to domestic violence. Easy enough. Then they asked me how do our workers cope with the high stress we deal with daily, especially after an apprehension...I tipped my arm up to my mouth and said we drink...well, at first you could hear a pin drop, then the laughs came. I was only half-kidding...heh heh...then the gal from addiction services hauled out her cards and asked if I needed to bring some back to my co-workers...it was quite funny...

so here I sit, sniffling, hacking and coughing my way through another weekend. But loving that I am NOT on call, so I don't have to listen to anyone whining and complaining that things are not right in their corner of the world and expect me to solve it.

I think I will go check out my sofa again...

Thank F?$! It's Friday

It has been a busy, busy week! I felt like I was juggling every day, but the work got done, believe it or not. And after my hellish weekend and the rotten son-of-a-bitch cold I had, I am impressed that I made it. Although I did bail on a transport tonight, but hell, I went yesterday to the same place and did all the paperwork...let the other gal go there tonight. I just wasn't up for another 3 hours in my car this week!!!

Sigh. Well, as always, when I do an apprehension on the weekend, its because I am on-call for the week. We have a 5-day hearing, which for a weekend apprehension, always falls on a Friday. And when I am on call for a week, I always get the Friday off, no questions asked. Except when I do an apprehension. Then I have to reschedule the free Friday off as I have to spend the day in court. Nice. Just how I want to spend my Friday. And today it was in the afternoon. Yes, Your Honor. I have given up my Friday off to be here with you so we can get this show on the road...so get going!

At least I didn't get a speeding ticket this time. I was watching my speed closely. It was the last thing I wanted today! I was struck though, while driving back with the Bras D'Or Lakes on my right, just how beautiful they are from that side of the lakes. The last time I was in Sydney (1.5 hours away) they were all frozen, and while still beautiful in their own way, they were awesome today. Bright sunny skies, gale of wind, so you saw the whitecaps everywhere. And there I was, flitting along the highway like it was the coast of the ocean...oh yeah, it was partly that too...I don't much like all the driving I have to do for my job, but the scenery makes up for it sometimes! I can't wait until I can take my breaks at the beach again.

So now what is the weekend plan? Putter, lounge, eat, and sleep. I bought a ton of movies the other night at Movie Gallery - $2.99 each with buy two get two free...whoo hoo! There are also some replanting I have to do, now that I have my herb garden all done.

What a TRIP.

driving home from M.'s tonight and it was SNOWING! I turned on the highbeams because I live in the country and want to see well ahead if there are any bumps animals in the road. Turning your high beams on in the dark while it's snowing is just downright trippy whether you have a buzz on or not! There I was, creeping down the local highway at about 30kms under the speed limit because I can't see the damn potholes in the road or should I say, what is left of the road when you have to dodge the potholes like an obstacle course...dammit the roads are nasty in Cape Breton...Nova Scotia for that matter, but Cape Breton is downright nasty. My poor little car almost gets lost in them.

Anyhow, its snowing directly into the headlights on the drive home, so I am feeling rather Han Solosish as I cruised through starfields snowfields...

Ok, that's enough snow...got my trip, now STOP snowing. Thank you and good night.

I Don't Know What The Hell Happened!

I left home at 3:30pm on Saturday to get a few things in town, picked up some gardening supplies as it was a beautiful day here and was just checking out at Canadian Tire when my pager went off...it went downhill from there.

Of course, can't get into details, but that one call had me busy with a difficult family until 4am, and saw me back at it the next morning from 10:30am - 8:30pm. And I'm still not done.

All I wanted to do that day was plant some herbs...and instead I ended up working with the most challenging family I've ever come across. And I'm sick again too. WHINE!

It's All About Me

Taken from devilboss at Fruit and the Devil a nice little list...lets see what I come up with.

I Live: in rural, catholic, conservative Cape Breton

I Work: for Children's Aid

I Think: about work no matter how much I try to leave it at the office

I Smell: local herbs

I Listen: classic rock the most - lovin The Doors, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, April Wine, Rush...

I Hide: my mailman my bills and any other important papers...because I can never find them!

I Walk: to the end of the driveway

I Write: every day, in many ways

I See: the resident feline curled up next to the computer

I Sing: all the time, especially in the car

I Can: think for myself

I Watch: ER, Survivor and The Amazing Race

I Daydream: about dancing with Matthew McConaughey

I Fall: for a foreign accent

I Want: to share my life with someone

I Cry: less than I used to

I Read: constantly, for work, for pleasure, for personal development, whatever!

I Love: my daughter, more than anything else in the world

I Rode: a horse up the side of a volcano in Guatemala last year

I Sometimes: say stupid things

I Fear: I will die by falling through the ice and being trapped

I Hope: there is a soulmate for me

I Eat: alone, most of the time

I Quit: worrying what others things all the time

I Drink: Alexander Keith's Light

I Play: The Sims and Freecell

I Miss: the feeling of my daughter snuggled in my lap, asleep

I Forgive: but I don't often forget

I Drive: all the time for work and personal..4000kms last month alone!

I Dream: of never being packed on time and missing my flight/boat/bus/train

I Have: too much "stuff" and need to pare down again this year

I Remember: being a child and moving into a new neighborhood every few years

I Don't: tolerate incompetence well

I Believe: me

I Owe: a lot to student loans!

I Know: that life is what happens when you are busy making other plans (John Lennon)

I Hate: dawdling service (Augustus MacRae, Lonesome Dove)

I Feel: tired

I WANT...

...a mustang. I saw one today, a dark red one zipped by me. It was the dealer's show version...I noticed the papers in the windows and when I drove by the dealer a few minutes later, the pedestal was empty. I heard it before I saw it...vrrroooommm...and I was instantly jealous. I normally don't care a whole lot for material things, but have wanted a mustang since I don't know when.

And I don't even like Ford cars...Found On Roadside Dead, Fixed Or Repaired Daily, Fast Only Rolling Downhill, Failed On Race Day, Fails On Rainy Days, Found On Russian Dump, For Old Retired Dudes, Fix Our Rusty Doors, Fucked Over Rebuilt Dodge, Forget Ours Reconsider Dodge, Fuck! Our Ride Died, Failure Of Research & Development...well, you get the point...for more car anacronisms acronyms, check out this site

but I want a mustang anyway.

What's UP?

an interesting meme from someone on Blog Explosion. Wanted to link to them but couldn't get back to their page, even through blog history...sorry!

1. _Halloween_ is more fun to celebrate than any other holiday.

2. The last vacation I took was to _Belize and Guatemala_

3. The next vacation I plan to take will be to _Thailand_.

4. I'd really like to be more _thin_.

5. I can't remember the last time I _spoke to my friend Natalie_.

6. The book I last read (or am currently reading) is _As the Crow Flies by Ann Marie MacDonald_.

7. The last program I installed on my computer was _Word Perfect Office (hate the program but it was a work thing)_.

8. When it comes to food, my weakness is _pizza - piping hot, with lots of cheese_.

9. I really look forward to spending time _with my daughter_.

Rubber Pants and a Bicycle, and a twitching kitty too

Weird. That's what I thought too when I drove past it today. There was a man walking a bicycle along the side of the highway, wearing yellow rubber pants, you know the kind with suspenders. It wasn't raining and the roads were not wet. He was carrying a couple of shopping bags with stuff in them. All I could think of is MAN it must be uncomfortable and HOT riding that bicycle in rubber pants.

Then there was the twitching kitty...awww...I wanted to cry, I swear. I came along a kitty in the middle of the road that had just been hit and was in convulsions. It truly freaked me out, as well as saddened me. I wanted to stop and pick it up, but in 5 lanes of busy traffic in an industrial town where 18 wheel trucks number high, I wasn't about to join said kitty in her despair. It was a calico, just like my own kitty. Of course when I got home I scooped the resident feline up and smothered her with affection. I can't get the image of that twitching kitty out of my head though...

the resident feline - Via...ain't she cute? I'm so glad I keep her inside! 

Sniff, Snort, COUGH, Hack

Gawd, I hate being sick. Just when I thought this stupid cold of mine that I picked up in Halifax last week was easing back...its back full force today. I am tired of all the sniffing, snorting, hacking, coughing...I swear I have used a two boxes of tissues already. The cough medicine I use is disgusting and its not even Buckley's. It works, which is the point, but I gag while taking it. I have eaten my weight in candy and cough drops in an effort to stifle my cacking. I have surely coughed over every surface in my house and office, despite my feeble attempts to cover my mouth, but when one is in the throes of a coughing and sputtering fit where lung tissue is brought forth, it ain't easy.

And then there is the RASP in my throat that never seems to go away. I have asthma, and the puffers just ain't doin' it for me. So each breath, no matter how much I gag and cough, are tempered with a little rattle and rasp. Great. Just what I need. And I am SOOOO tired. Its hard to believe I once had a sleeping issue...I put my head down on the pillow of the sofa yesterday for what I thought would be my usual 10-15 minute cat naps and woke about 5 hours later...WTF? So THATS when I knew my cold was on ROUND TWO. I have never been able to nap that long.

Oh, and since I have been sick and tired, or tired and sick, those pesky body jerks are more pronounced...I think my coworkers will soon catch me at it...most of the time I can try to turn it into a shift in position, but when one's head snaps sharply to the right and left foot shoots out to the right...it ain't always easy....sigh.

Nothing Like a Barbecue

Yesterday REALLY marked spring for me - I bought a new barbecue and we had our first of the season, complete with potato salad and grilled pork chops....YUM! Of course, it wasn't without incident...

Began shopping for the barbecue grill in the morning - first stop was Wal-Mart, of course...saw a really nice one for $129 with a blue hood on it, made out of what seemed like porcelain on steel/case aluminum, whatever...it was purty...but then I spotted one almost as nice for $79 so kept that in mind. We checked out grills at Crappy Tire Canadian Tire but saw nothing under $200 there, so back to Wal-Mart it was. Waited for about 20 minutes for someone to come with a cart to take it to the cash for me as it wouldn't fit in the shopping carts. A much older gentleman who usually works the garden centre in the summer helped me out, nice fella, and as I went to lug off the new tank, he let me know that Wal-Mart actually sells new tanks that have already been purged and filled - BONUS! so I bought one of them instead, and it saved me another trip.

Got the BBQ home and delegated my father the responsibility of putting it together, informing him there was to be no supper until it was assembled as supper was relying on the BBQ...and if anyone knows my father, this is the ultimate motivation to get things moving along. WELL, I don't know if the book had issues or my father but that poor BBQ was assembled and unassembled (?) 3 times until it was put together properly....and he lost as screw. Thankfully I still had my old portable one and we punked a screw off that one and it fit perfectly...voila!

Then I had to light the grill for a bit to burn off the factory smell and all that...went to check the grill after a bit and it was topping out at 650C...eek! S0 I thought I had best turn it down a little before throwing on the chops...put on the chops, they stuck to the new grill (forgot to oil it!) and got them ripped off without too much damage, and went in the house for a minute to check on mushrooms and onions on the stove and during that minute to 90 seconds, my pork chops took it upon themselves to BURN. Dammit. I'm not used to this much grill power! I have used a portable table-top grill for so many years, and having to wait for nearly 30 minutes to cook the damn things. Managed to cook the chops on both sides, with 5 of the 7 burnt crispy...which incidentally, my mother LOVES and ate nearly two full blackened chops...YUCK, but her favorite part.

All incidents aside, t'was a lovely barbecue...now it feels like SPRING!

Sunny Saturdays

Well, FINALLY it has warmed and dried up here...the temperature yesterday reached a whopping 8C, ha ha ha. Today is beautiful and sunny as well. Having said that, it looks like it will be raining for most of the week beginning on Monday, but I am OKAY with that. I don't have to shovel rain, and I found out that my sump pump works...

My parents are here for a few days again, although the condition of my house is somewhat less than spotless due to my infirm nature this week as I cough up a lung struggle with a nasty cold. And they are sure to point it out to me. Last week when I saw them at my brother's house, my dad mentioned that it was about time I vacuumed my car. Um, what were you doing in my car? He is right though, I put about 4000 kms on my car in March patrolling for cute hitchhikers so there was a lot of eating done in there and it gets messy...now that I have a sunny day, I wonder if he will volunteer to vacuum my car for me...

My mom and I will likely head into town to do some shopping today - she lives in a tiny outport where there is just one store and no road to Wal-Mart (so deprived). She has already been out clothes shopping on the way across the province. She is a Cotton Ginny freak like I am and bought a bundle there. About 75% of what is in my closet came from that store, I just LOVE their clothes.

Time to do battle with the flies again...