Cats For Sale - CHEAP.

Had another lovely night of interrupted sleep due to the feline population in my home. It all began with the ever nocturnal McGee, who began knocking things off the counters and tables to push around the floor with a clatter. Ok, got up, moved stuff, put stuff away, back to bed I went. Then he is up on the railings of the loft, and thinking about jumping across the stairwell from one rail to the other, right into Sideshow Bob (the boston fern). Get up, discourage, back to bed. The others are comfortably snuggled in with me on the bed, and I hope for sleep. Not happening. McGee then jumps onto my bed and incites the little bastard who willingly takes off across the bed with him. Get up, roar at both, and get back into bed. Then the fun begins...up and down the stairs they run, up and down off the railings, in and out of Sideshow Bob, like a three-ring circus. Via is still with me, but getting more nosey and decides to supervise the whole affair. Then the carpet clawing begins (McGee again as the others use the scratching posts on their condo religiously) and I have to get up to scold once again, and go back to bed. Then the little bastard (Stormy) is in the Boston fern again. Get up, pull him out of there, go back to bed. It all began to blur together at about 4am...a viscious cycle. They were still at it by 7am, and interrupted a really good dream about that time..now I'll never know if Matthew McConaughey was going to take me to Mexico with him...

I finally dragged my sorry ass out of bed at 9:30am, exhausted...damn cats. McGee may find himself evicted sooner rather than later, the little shit. A. is moving out soon, and taking him with her. She is coming by tomorrow, so I might just have his bags packed...

McGee had the nerve to look surprised when I took his photo, while Stormy just looked irritatingly charming, and Via, well, that little bitch went back to bed, so I promptly woke her up...photos to follow when blogger is working once again..

Taking The High Road

I think I would seriously pass out trying to drive this road in Bolivia...and I know someone who has actually bicycled this road when they were travelling in Bolivia for 6 months...yikes!

East Coast Yoga

This is the difference between East Indian Yoga and East Coast Yoga...
The guy still sitting at the table closely resembles my ex-husband. I swear I even have a photo of him in that very position...

Shitrats Raise The Roof

Yes, those damn cats were at it again last night...I've had three sleepless nights this weekend and they are responsible for some of that. Root, root, root, rustle, rustle, rustle...they jump up and down off the bed, run up and down the stairs, push their food bowls across the floor, and generally just thump and bang their way through the night. I did put my ear plugs in a one point, but for some reason I took them out in my sleep and put them back...only to be woken by them yet again. It is mostly McGee, as Via spends most of the night curled up in my arms *huge sookie baby* and Stormy is often at the end of my bed, but if McGee gets going, he joins in.

Whatever the case, I think I shall be medicating and plugging tonight, as I am now short on sleep...sigh...damn shitrats...I love 'em.

The Stuttering Kitty

sent to me this morning by my mother...

A teacher is explaining biology to her 4th grade students. "Human beings are the only animals that stutter", she says.

A little girl raises her hand. "I had a kitty-cat who stuttered", she volunteered.

The teacher, knowing how precious some of these stories could become, asked the girl to describe the incident.

"Well", she began, "I was in the back yard with my kitty and the rottweiler who lives next door got a running start and before we knew it, he jumped over the fence into our yard!"

"That must've been scary", said the teacher.

"It sure was",said the little girl. "My kitty went 'Fffff, Fffff, Fffff'... and before he could say "Fuck off," the rottweiler ate him!"

Aging. Let it be...

I think I got my first grey hair when I was in my mid twenties. I know my daughter was about 5 or 6 because I was in Halifax with my sister, and found it one day when we were driving through the city. I think I screamed. But then I didn't panic because for many years I had just one or two at a time...and I plucked them out. Now in the past year I have begun to resemble a skunk with my white patch down my part...sheesh...and those damn hairs are like wire...

So as many of my friends know, I have dyed my hair for years, in a variety of colors - purple, pink, blue, red, brown, streaked, black, whatever...so I have been able to basically ignore the gray hairs for a while as well...and now I have been allowing my hair to grow and have not colored it since I moved here. Hmmm...so the gray has taken advantage of that...

I did buy a box of hair dye, just simple brown, much like my natural haircolor. That was about 2 months or more ago. Why do I hesitate? Some say their grey hairs are hard earned...other's say they are a sign of high stress in your life...sometimes I think you are just going to go grey, whatever. In any event, I am still trying to decide if I am going to use that hair dye or let things be as they may...or in the words of Paul McCartney "Let it be"...

The Bear Scare Howl

So I pulled into my driveway tonight and noticed A. cleaning out her car (what a pack rat) so parked the car with a short gravel skid, just to get attention. She didn't budge, so I figured she had her music on. She also didn't see me because her head was down behind the front seat, vacuuming. I couldn't pass up that opportunity.

I crept up behind her and thumped my arm on her back with a low growl...

She let out the Bear Scare Howl.....leapt upright with her head still in her car, smucking it off the roof inside and screamed, stumbled, and screamed again.....

And I laughed my ass off...one of those howling laughs...you know the sort, the kind you've been aching for since the last time something really funny happened. And I needed it more today than ever. Monday really is over.

Another Monday Nearly Crushed

Boomtown Rats weren't the only ones who didn't like Mondays...I am a member of that club. For whatever reason, it makes me feel like I am 3 hours premenstrual...which means my hormones are all over the place. And I feel like a raving lunatic sometimes...but aren't women allotted that occasional lapse in sanity, after having to go through that joyful adventure once a month...not to mention the whole childbirth ordeal. ugh.

And speaking of children...spending the day in a car with two of these sneezing darlings (belonging to my friend R.) has somehow provided me with a lovely case of the common cold. Ahhhhchoooo...

They are also days for small annoyances...like the dumb fuck in a truck ahead of me this morning insisted on driving 60kms in the 90km Alaska Highway. I only have enough time to get through the drivethru at Tim Horton's before getting to work before getting to work. This morning I was nearly late for work, and I didn't even go to Timmy's.

Then there was the always nerve wracking job interview. Pure punishment. I can never come across how I want by a phone interview...I need non-verbal cues! I think I did okay in the written part, even if it was so much like writing a university exam...I already graduated and have my degrees, so I don't understand why I have to prove that again. The interview questions were fair enough, but I think I bumbled through a couple of them. It was hard to concentrate after the hormonal episode earlier today, and the pressure of GETTING A JOB rattled me a little.

Sigh...and life goes on. One of my favorite episodes of Friends is on tonight - where Adam Goldberg is guest starring as Chandler's crazy roommate. So today doesn't totally suck...

Rolling Stone Magazine SUCKS ASS

I have heard mention of Rolling Stone Magazine for years, and had never really read an issue, but when a fresh faced student showed up at my door looking to sell me a magazine subscription, I chose Rolling Stone amongst the other crap. I wish now that I had chosen something like National Geographic instead of the drivel I receive in my mailbox once a month...

I have never seen such a compilation of garbage discussing the war efforts by the US. I thought Rolling Stone was about music? WTF??? So I managed at first to skip over about a third of the magazine because the writers drivelled on about the wars the US are involved in. I hear enough on television to make me sick, I don't need it in my recreational magazines.

The topper though was in this month's issue. I turned the page to this heading for an ad "Did you know that over 300,000 baby seals were killed in Canada this year for their fur?" and it was sponsored by The Humane Soceity of The United States. What a load of utter bullshit. I am so fuckiing sick and tired of this anti-Canadian sentiment out there, particularly when they are so damned misinformed and clearly STUPID. The photograph in the ad depicts sealers clubbing seals...ADULT SEALS. And how can I tell? Because the baby seals they refer to are WHITE and the ones in the photo are clearly NOT WHITE. As well, whitecoat seals have been outlawed to kill for nearly 20 years. Considering that the 2006 Quota for sealers was 325,000 and that all reports state that the seals hunted in Canada has been found to be 98% humane AND legal kills...where in the hell do they get their information from?

The ad also called for a complete boycott of Canadian seafood. What in the hell is the sense in that? How is boycotting the lobster, codfish and crab caught by non-sealers going to help anything? Complete idiocy, I say. Also, what they seem to not understand is that Canadian Sealers harvest seals for ALL of their body parts, not just the fur...including seal penises that are sold to an Asian market as an aphrodesiac...and what these so-called do-gooders seem to forget is all the AMERICAN hunters that flock to Canada to bag a big game animal, simply for the trophy head, leaving the rest of the animal to rot in the woods. Now THAT is irresponsible.

I never got the argument about inhumane killing either. I don't buy how these so-called informed activists can claim that seal hunting is inhumane while they chow down on a beef steak. Visit a meat factory and tell me how what they do to cows is any different? I have ACTUALLY been to one, having worked there for 3 months and had a full tour. The cows are simply knocked out with a steel pin shot at their head, and then rolled down the ramp to be hung by their legs while THEY are skinned. Or on the topic of seafood, let's talk about how that is killed...codfish - often by a jesus big hook in the mouth that rips out their insides, and then they have their head beaten and throat slit to keep them from thrashing once aboard the boat. Or how about shellfish - BOILED ALIVE. Hello? Anyone there? But because someone takes a look at those big seal eyes and thinks they look cute, that they have the right to protest how someone makes a living. Pardon the codfish for not looking cute...

I think I shall go put on my seal pelt mukluks, and tell the Americans who wish to boycott Canadian seafood to fuck - right - off. I am boycotting Rolling Stone Magazine.

And if you are looking for more accurate information regarding the Canadian seal hunt, check out this site.

This Is Just Plain Funny

And makes me a little homesick...check out Youtube...

Where Were You On 9/11

I had to ask it. I usually don't like to hear about it, or talk about it. But it is one of those things, like where were you when Reagan was shot, or when you heard John Lennon died...it's something you remember.

I was at university, during my first class of the BSW program I was beginning, and our professor was from New York City. I had stopped by the lounge just before class as the first plane had flown into the world trade centre. I thought what everyone else did, that it was an accident...then I stopped by the lounge not long after again and saw the second one hit. I don't know what drew me to the lounge, there was always someone in it, typically watching terrible soap operas like Passions, or Seventh Heaven...sheesh...but that day, they had the news on and I was hooked. I could bearly tear myself away from the class, but I did once again to go back to the lounge, and was there when the first and second towers fell, sitting beside our practicum coordinator/professor. Stunned is what we were.

Hard to believe it has been 5 years...

Fun In Yahoo Games

So I was on Yahoo Games today to play a few hands of gin while the laundry was going...I typically play in a social room, hoping to catch some interesting chat, and occasionally I do make an online friend that I play with regularly. Today was not that day. I don't understand why people choose a social room to play in and then won't even respond to a simple hello. Rude, that's what it is. No, I take that back, rude was the next asshole I played with. His opening comment was "Are we having a sober day?"...I knew we were headed downhill from there...

This psychopath/chosen one began telling me that it is important to be sober, which I can understand, no biggie, particularly for recovering alcoholics...I can sympathize...but I was interested in where he was coming from - recovering user or bible thumper or both. So then he tells me that not being sober nearly killed him earlier this year. So I figure, ok, he's been in a car crash, drunk driving likely, because he said no one had ever survived an accident like his before. Wanting to play devil's advocate, as it seemed clear he was out to make a statement about something or fishing for sympathy, not simply chat and play cards, particularly by opening with such a bold statement. So then I asked him whose information that was (that he is the only one to ever survive an accident like that - it just sounded like such an american self-centred thing to say. Maybe he is just grateful to be alive and wants to spread the word...who knows...

then it got fucked up...he said he wasn't basing it on anyone's information...so I prodded again - then how can you make such a blanket statement. So then he says it was meant to happen to him, he is the chosen one...WTF? So I simply said, ok man, you are starting to weird me out and sound like a fanatic. To which he replied "who gives a fuck". Then I knew...TROLL. so I told him to leave my room and he refused, and told me to leave. I wanted to boot him out, but it was a rated game and the program wouldn't let me...dammit...I could have stayed in and really razzed him up, but I spend enough of my time confronting angry people that I just didn't want to get into it with him when he was clearly looking for a fight. So I left...fuck him. Maybe that's his game...get into a game, piss someone off so they leave and forfeit the game...

So I am off to Pogo...they are usually more social there...

Dear Kotex

I've seen this one before, but it made me laugh yet again today, so I thought I would share...

Dear Kotex

I recently noticed that the peel-off strip of my pantiliner had a bunch of "Kotex Tips for Life" on it. Annoying advice such as:

1. Staying active during your period can relieve cramps.
2. Avoiding caffeine may help reduce cramps and headaches.
3. Drink 6-8 glasses of wa ter a day to keep you hydrated and feeling fresh.
4. Try Kotex blah blah blah other products...

Obviously the individual behind this was someone who has never possessed a functioning set of ovaries. Go ahead and tell a menstruating woman that drinking 6-8 glasses of water will help keep her feeling fresh. Like we need more fluid inside our bloated bodies from hell...but go ahead. See what happens and report back. I'll wait.

While you're at it, dump out the coffee at work and remove the chocolate from the vending machine. I guaran-friggin-tee that the first responders will be females who just ovulated. This advice was some brain function of a male....right???

Staying active will relieve headaches & cramps...well guess what, the only activity that interests me is eating...and oh...does ripping someone's head off count as a friggin activity?????

Look, females don't need or want tips for living on feminine hygiene products. Younger girls are already hearing "helpful" crap like that from their elderly relatives. Veteran females have already concocted their own recipes of survival, many containing alcohol. Printing out shit advice while sneaking in ads for the brand that was already purchased is just plain annoying, not to mention rude, and enough to send a girl running to the Always brand. Mostly we'd like to forget that we even need these products.

It's not a fun time, but DO NOT try to cheer us up by adding smiley faces or bunnies or flowery cutesy crap to your products or the packaging. Put the shit in a plain brown wrapper so we can throw it in our carts discreetly and have it blend in among the wine and beer. There is nothing more annoying than having a blinding pink package announcing your uterine state to everyone in the store. Why don't ya just add a store microphone to the damn package & announce that...helloooo, another female is on her damn period!!!!!So take your tips for living and your cute bunnies & the smiley faces that need to be smacked hard, and shove them right up your ass.

Ovarily Yours,

Miss PMS

Labourous Rambling

So how does one celebrate Labour Day, anyhow? By doing as little labour as possible? or by some of the things I have done today...

• singing to the cats (I know where my talents are appreciated)
• dozing on the new sofa with some fav's on the stereo - Allman Brothers, Nazareth, Jethro Tull, ELP, Pink Floyd (of course) and so many more talented musicians
• playing with the felines - it's amazing how much fun a piece of yarn can be. I fail to see it...
• comforting the cowardly cats when the water delivery truck filled the tank
• losing at Gin Rummy online at Yahoo Games
• sewing up an afghan I am making for a little one - wait, that is labour...
• chatted online to some friends

Yup, life is rough here in the Yukon...McGee is clearly enjoying his new quarters...Stormy is snuggled deep on the new sofa, while Via grooms in the faint sunlight...

Crocodile Hunter Dies By Stingray

I wasn't a huge fan of the show, but one of my old roomies, M. from Russia was a huge fan, and thought he was amazing, as did many others. And now he has been killed instantly by the barb of a stingray, right to the heart. Somehow I always thought he would die by croc...but I can imagine he is glad he died by stingray instead...news reports say he died instantly, whereas if a croc got hold of him, it might last a bit.

I have watched the show, "Crocodile Hunter" over the years and once I got past his bawdy Aussie accent, it was entertaining enough. Australia has lost one of its icons, for sure, from a man who definitely lived on the edge.

You Deserve To Be Scammed

After reading this article on CBC news, I have to say, the people that were scammed deserved it. If you are that stupid to fall for such an obvious scam, I'm sorry...you have idiot written all over your face. A convoluted story about someone telling you to add chemicals to some money to make it turn green again...WTF? Stupidity reigns in Mississauga apparently...

Fall Has Fallen

The leaves are changing, there is snow on the mountains. Fall has arrived. And it is only September 1st. Brrrrrrrrrrr....

Long weekend ahead, which is just grand...wishing A. didn't have to work though so we could go somewhere, camping or day trip but it is not to be! We are going on a short road trip though out to Lake Labarge area, and hope to get some photos of the fall colors that the bear berry bushes and fireweed provide in the absence of maple and oak trees.

Other than that, I reckon I shall attempt to complete some household projects this weekend, and with the tv broken, that will be one less distraction.

Now I have to go get ready for work...thankfully today is Friday!

15 Years Gone

As I drove into the city today, I passed many fresh faced children on their first day of school...this was my youngster on her first day, 15 years ago. Yes, I cried buckets when I left the school...sob...

Black Sabbath Saves The Day

As I was getting ready for my trip to town today, I went rooting for a bandanna...anyone who knows me, knows that I have tons of them in all colors and styles. My oldest one is a plain black one with Black Sabbath printed all over it in white. It is also one of my favorites but I don't wear it to work, so look forward to sporting it outside of work...only I couldn't find it at the time, so put on a different one. This happened to be a wise decision as I found myself at the cardboard boat race that I soon found out was organized by the Latter Day Saints...it was all Elder this, and Elder that...I stood out enough as it is, since everyone else seemed to know one another, but sporting a bandanna screaming Black Sabbath would have certainly been a topic of conversation among these folks...

Then I found myself in town tonight at the going away part of an gay fellow. He used to be support staff at the agency I work at and is moving to New Brunswick. I had heard there would be Karaoke, but thought it was only for the first part of the night...um...no. I'm not a fan of karoke in the best of times, but knowing I was driving home and limiting myself to 2 beers for the night, I was not near drunk enough (at all actually on the one beer I drank) to sit through queen after queen crooning out the oldies...although someone did pull off a great rendition of an Elton John song that I quite enjoyed, along with "It's Raining Men" in falsetto...it was actually the girls that got up and crashed their way through a song that finally drove me out.

So I was on my way home, and those who know me, know I am a little heavy on the pedal...and there was all this open road in front of me, not a camper in sight...but Black Sabbath came on the stereo, War Pigs - and knowing it was a long one and wanting to be driving for the entire song, I slowed to just around the speed limit. And in a spot where I usually am not behaving, the only other car on the road was the RCMP, going in the other direction. Black Sabbath likely saved me from a very costly ticket...thanks guys...

It was interesting to finally drive my car in the night for the first time and see how the dash lights up. With daylight most all night, I hadn't had the opportunity, but the days are quickly getting shorty and it is now dark and stars are out for several hours. The dash lights are groovy, with the entire stereo lighting up where it needs to be, such as a little bar of light on either side of the cd slot to guide you in, the eject is lit up, and there is even a ring of light around the cigarette lighter...not that I use it, but I do use the outlet.

now for some more Black Sabbath...

Fridays Aren't Supposed To Suck

I normally love Fridays. They are the end of the work week, and the whole weekend stretches out before you, with the knowledge that Monday is still three days away, still out of sight.

Then I got out of bed.

I hung up on a client today, because he picked a fight with me, and I wasn't willing to give him the audience he was looking for with his rant. It had been documented enough already by 2 other provinces...anyhow...I never enjoy it when I am forced to get heavy with a client, so that set the mood for the day.

I had to call two call centres today, which is NEVER fun. Royal Bank was one of them, and those fucking voice activated menus drove me to the brink, so more expletives...too bad they don't recognize those...instead they mock you with "I'm sorry I didn't understand you, could you please repeat again"...arrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh! Dell was the other and surprisingly it went well. Real shocker. So my mood lifted again.

Then I got an letter back from an agency I applied for a job with stating that they do not currently have any openings. Dammit.

So I left work for an eye appointment. I wasn't going to take my car and walk instead, but someone came into my office and talked too long about a case, so I was late to leave and had to drive to the appointment, and pay for parking...the closest zone was only 1 hour with meter, so I filled the meter and then hurried into my appointment, where I was just barely on time at 3:30pm. They were dilating today, so I had to be on time, as it takes a while and I asked for the latest appt they could give. I paid for my appointment at 4:30pm. My parking ticket was printed at 4:32pm. I didn't know this when I first glanced at it and cursed a blue streak yet again today at that parking bastard who haunts me downtown, searching out my car. When I noticed the time on it later, I am sure he was in hearing distance from me, likely only a car or two over...GOOD. I hope he heard me today. Parking is outrageous in places. There is tons of spots, so everyone can easily find one, but you have to pay for them all and they are mostly time limited, meaning you have to watch the time instead of focus on why you are downtown. Like my eye appointment. I thought about going out to feed the meter, but I was having my damned eyes dilated, and was a little incapacitated at the time. Fucker. At least it was for just $10, instead of the damn $25 one from last week...

Driving home was interesting...definitely couldn't stare into any headlights or I was in danger of tripping out...I could still read signs easy enough and had no problem seeing enough to drive...although many would recommend waiting before driving I reckon. Anyhow, got stuck behind a huge truck today, one of those WIDE LOAD ones that creeps along at least 20kms under the speed limit...sigh...at least it wasn't a camper. They seem to be thinning out as the cold creeps in.

It was good to finally get home and be alone with the felines. Let the GOOD part of Friday begin...

Hmmmm...something is amiss...

This is what happens when you light the stove and forget about the plant on top of it...my poor senseless roommate accomplished this today. I glanced over at the plant and wondered what didn't look right...the plant is potless...apparently absentmindedness runs in the family...

Hatching Good Television

I've begun watching a few new shows lately...my favorite has to be Matching, Hatching and Dispatching. Think of a outport Newfoundland version of Six Feet Under...damned hilarious, and of course Mary Walsh is front and center as the mistress of the mortuary...she's a hoot no matter where you put her...such as Parliament Hill, lmao...and Shaun Majunder is wicked with his strong outport dialect!!! eh, bye?

Another I've discovered after it was filmed here (some of it just down the road from me, apparently as I drove by each day this winter, oblivious...) is Northern Town, a story about a meteorite that landed somewhere in the Yukon and the locals begin searching for it to collect the reward money. Cool, huh?

And then there is a Showcase show, Weeds. It's about a widowed single mother who turns to selling marijuana to support her current lifestyle in snobby suburbia...kinda spoofy, but funny as hell!

Centipede Saga

Well, turns out those potted corn plants A. brought home from work are responsible for the centipede McGee came across...many folks have brought them back to the store because of the centipede...in fact, a little toddler ate one and got really sick, having to get his stomach pumped due to the level of venom in a whole centipede. Nice. So the three huge corn plants are now outside, waiting to be dumped into the compost heap. We never use the compost because the ground isn't fit for gardening, and the squirrels take anything out of there we throw out except the wood ashes...maybe they will get stung by centipedes...heh heh...I know they won't last because when the temp drops this fall, they will all die of exposure. Let's hope this saga is over...

The Barbecue That Wasn't

This is what happens when one forgets they are cooking on the barbecue...all night! I got up this morning and went out on the back step to see if it was raining because I had clothes to put out. I spot the dishes still on the BBQ and initially was going to blame A. again as she typically does leave some stuff out there when she cooks, and she cooked her steak last night a couple of hours before I was ready to eat mine. Then I take a closer look and see that the BBQ is still on, and actually, my steak is still on...from about 10 hours ago. FUCK.

So this is what a steak looks like when it is VERY WELL DONE and my poor Tupperware salt shaker that I've had for so many years is also history. FUCK. I loved that salt shaker...and I don't think my warranty covers idiotic acts like this.

So perhaps I need to set a timer next time...although there is the possibility we could be sitting around wondering why the timer is going off...sigh...

Picking Fights With The Locals

That would be McGee early this morning...we apparently had a resident centipede, and when McGee got just a little too curious...it stung him on the lip. The centipede later drowned (in the toiletbowl) so won't be stinging anyone in the future...now I read they are beneficial to homes in clearing up your insect population...

all I can say is ick...

McGee!

He likes to hang out on the stairs, looking down into the kitchen. The other photo is of Heckle Hill, and this was it the other morning, with a strange stripe of cloud/mist. A. is determined to climb it someday...

Saturday Sludge

appealing huh? About as much as the weather here today...grey and overcast, with rain as a threat and only 10C (50F) but I was determined to find something positive about the day...too much negativity around a person can make your whole outlook dreary. So off I went outside and listened - squirrels, birds and peace and quiet. Not a breath of wind, no traffic sounds, and 10C was not unpleasant. I think I might even move this show outside...too cold for mosquitoes maybe? We will have to wait and see. It is chilly out here, but I have a thick sweater on, and a small quilt over my skirt. And lets not forget the freshest of air.

The squirrels and birds have been providing a great deal of entertainment for the kitties. Yesterday McGee was sitting in the window, watching the birds out in the yard when one smacked into the window, directly in front of him! A. said he jumped a foot or more, and flew backwards, it tripped him out big time, lmao. And there was the video camera right beside her...darnit!

A. is at work again...lots of early shifts this week, often 7am (yawn...) so of course when she is up, I am awake. I didn't hear too much this morning, and when that happens, I wonder if she has gotten out of bed yet, perhaps sleeping in. So I call out, and that wakes everyone up (the cats). So then it gets noisy, whether she did actually sleep in or not. Today I managed to get back to sleep for a weirdo dream about living in my parents house again. I don't think I've ever had that dream before.

The weekend stretches out in front of me, and I have but a few goals - to get in a hike somewhere, and a paddle in my kayak. Other than that, think solitude (as much as one can get in a cabin in the woods, sharing it with 3 cats, a tank of fish and my daughter). I have all that I need out here, so I'm all set. The one kink is that our satellite dish is on the fritz and because you all know how much I LOVE calling those fucking call centres for assistance....it might just hve to be for a while. Ugh. I will probably call them later today. There has been some problems with it since I moved in, and I called them enough about that already, and dread the thought of calling them yet again. I want a technician out here, dammit and my dad is too far away!

I got an interview for a job in northern BC, but for quite a bit less money, however more than I made on the east coast. I'll do the interview, and see how it goes. Nice to have options. I am waiting to hear from the other places. Sometimes it can take a while.

Ok, now I hear an airplane, sounds like a small one (not Air North). Regulations are getting strict onboard now...no toothpastelike substances because it might be liquid explosives. I can see where we're going with this. Soon we won't even get to drink onboard...time to get my own pilot license...

I to go bedhunting today...roomie is tired of sleeping on an air mattress...it has only been over 3 months...I can't imagine why? Just kidding A. I will make a good effort to secure you a bed today.

While out filling the birdfeeders today (for the squirrels too) I saw this creature...ick. Thankfully he stayed put. Gives me the heebie jeebies...(wait for photo...damn blogger is acting up again today..arrrrrgggghhhh)

East Coast Connection

Well, I am impressed...I have been lucky enough to connect with four of my friends from back east this week so far...with the time difference between us, they are often in bed by the time I get home and settled in enough to make calls, and all of us are often busy on weekends. G. is still tormenting me about renting a camper to drive here in from Edmonton. I had three in front of me on the way to work today, driving at about 45km/hr most of the way. sigh...

G. and I were talking about how the days are already noticably cooler and shorter. We almost get black night now, I can see the evening star at least. I still wear my sleep mask though as the sunrise is early enough to wake me up (I don't have any curtains in the house, just two blinds in my sleeping space, but I am in a loft open to the rest of the house). I will be glad to shed it though and sleep with naked eyes...

I've been less homesick lately...it has been raining for days(I moved here from the east coast) For an arid region, things are getting soggy this month so far. I want SUN! It doesn't need to be hot, just some sunny days to sit out in the above zero temperatures before the frost sets in again. I've been told that snow on Labour Day weekend is not unusal, particularly on the mountain tops. I'll be sure to take photos.

And that is all I have to say about that.

Monday Got Me

I had a case of the mondays today. It didn't help that A. had to work at 7am, so was up at 5:30am and of course, when she is up, I am up, being as there are no walls to speak of in this cabin, but for the bathroom and closet. Open concept is fucking hell fun. T'was the hairdryer that did it, as it screamed below me...arrrrrgggggghhhh...so then I couldn't get back to sleep, until of course, about 10 minutes before my alarm went off for me. So much for that. I might just as well have gotten up and gone into work. Then I would be home earlier that I already am...I had some flex time, so that helped with the mondays...I got home at 3:00pm, which is always nice. It's chilly though at just 11C outdoors again, wet and rainy.

So here I sit, with a case of the mondays, but glad to be alive and at home with the kitties. And lucky for McGee, who was locked in the bathroom by accident sometime today after I left. He and Stormy might have been carrying on like they usually do (like psychotic baboons) and the door ended up closed with him on the inside. At least he had a supply of fresh water...yup, he's a toilet bowl drinker. My two cats don't do it, but I have had others in the past that have...including video of 3 on the seat at the same time, ducking their heads in and out.

I bought some neon tetras this weekend for my tank, along with a betta and a bottom feeder. Four went into the tank...I saw one struggling on Friday night when I first put them in, and he was gone by Saturday, and this morning there are only two...hmmmm...I should check now if there are any. Phew...there are still two. Good thing tetras are cheap here.

oh, and just a note...I found out on Friday that my term is not being renewed due to budget cut of 2 positions (and mine was a new one) so now I am on the hunt for a new job, locally if possible, but I am not counting too much on that at this point, so have to prepare for the possibility of leaving and have begun applying for jobs out of the territory, such as northern BC, northern Alberta, and NWT for now. So there you go, I might not be in this cozy cabin come Christmas this year...

Whether or not I move, I still have to think about getting some wood to burn, as I don't have much left and the cold will be soon upon us once again. I do have an oil monitor heater which works very well, but I do love the stove too and want a few more cozy fires before I have to leave (if, let's say IF). I think I'll wait until the rains have gone away again...it seems to rain often here, weird.

and of course, like any day here, I was stuck behind a camper both to and from work today...sigh. My friend G. tried to convince me she was coming up north in a camper this fall, just to see me, and drive in front of me, slowly, taking pictures, and parking at Wal-mart. Thanks for the laugh G. She is like that, will try to string you along with her prose, only to slip and begin to laugh...I remember the first time she did that to me, years ago...I love it now though when she does it to others as I can tell when she's spinning a good one...I can't do that, my face gives it away right off, I'm not the actress miss Mathilda is, lol...

and now Blogger won't post an photos...what a Monday.

Where In The HELL Have You Been

um...sorry folks...been busy and feeling uninspired of late...and tired of posting about the silly cats...for now anyhow.

I am job hunting again, as my term is up in November and not being renewed due to budget cuts (WHATEVER) so I am shooting off resumes everywhere now...the sky is the limit!

Wouldn't it be interesting to simply have YTG move me back east and I took a year off and lived in my house in NL for the winter...hmmm...am I mad? Stay tuned...

Oh Gawd, It's Another Stormy!!!

McGee came flying down the stairs and jumped on the sofa, looking out the window, then leapt down to the window by the back door and looked out intently...so I wondered if the bear was back, and went for a look...nope, no bear, but is that Stormy outside? I opened the door to shoo him back inside, as it was the SPITTING image of Stormy, right down to that sinister face of his...but then I swivelled my head back into the cabin (no, not exorcist style) and saw that Stormy was snuggled into his bed on the end table, under the window...clearly oblivious to the whole scene...

Pimped My Ride

How's this work for ya...don't matter...I LOVE IT!

How Much Do I HATE Automated Phone Systems

I want to let out a primal scream each and every time I get one. It seems everyone has one, and the menus are long, annoying and tedious. They don't always give you the right options for what you want to do, and often you're left going through 15 different ones only to find out that the person you want to speak to isn't available, please try your call again later. Ok, fuck off then.

Then when you FINALLY get through the series of menus, the voice tells you something so stupid I don't believe it anymore..."we are experiencing a higher than normal volume of calls, please hold the line". What they really mean is that they are TOO CHEAP to hire enough people to answer the phone.

Then you get to speak to someone who asks you a barrage of personal questions, stating they have to ask due to privacy laws...WHATEVER! And my personal favorite is when I ended up on the line with someone who recently immigrated to Canada and have an accent so thick from wherever they hail (usually India, Pakistan, or China) that I have no idea what in the hell they are talking about.

Or how about if you make a mistake in the menus and you just want to speak to someone and can't get to the right menu to do it, so have to hang up and start all over again.

And then there are those newer voice command systems that I FUCKING HATE because they don't give you the options you need, they don't understand plain English, and keep telling you "I'm sorry I did not recognize your answer, please try again" or my personal favorite "I'm sorry you're having difficulty, please try again".

I just want to pick up the phone and speak to someone without all the hassle. They think they are providing better customer service, but they ARE NOT. What they are doing is making me hate call centres all that much more. I end up being the rude bitch they go home and tell their families about when asked how their day went.

I hate automated phone systems...

These Are The Days Of Our Lives

aka As The Stomach Turns...whatever. In any event, lest y'all think A. and I are fighting constantly, we're not. She even apologized for her behaviour on Sunday, as I knew she would. We may disagree with one another, but never hold any real grudges and usually get over things quite quickly. That's my gal!

bad news delivered yesterday. My sis' FIL was out fishing yesterday and suffered what they think was a massive heart attack and died immediately after. Such a sudden shock and I feel for the family as he was a very much loved man, who made an impact on the lives of others. I have a sign at the end of my driveway that he painted, as well as one at my door. Along with talented sign painter, G. was also an avid fisherman, and died while pursuing his passion, fly fishing. As much as a shock it was to hear about, we are all taking comfort in that he died as he wished for...fast, painless and while fishing. I can only hope for the same end (though not anytime soon).

I mailed off the first of my VHS movies today that I sold on eBay. Since buying a DVD recorder and tackling the task of backing up my collection, I have been trying to unload them. Some will go in a yard sale, while others I am hoping to sell as lots on eBay. I can sure use the space left behind by my emptying shelves...all of my DVD movies will fit into a binder.

Mr Bear has not returned, so I am hoping that he moved on, after realizing there isn't much to nibble on here anymore. I have thrice heard that hooves in the driveway though and didn't catch what it was again last night.

I am still loving my new car, and need some replacement bumper stickers...though I do have three on there now - I survived the Top Of The World Highway, Chicken Alaska; I survived the ferry at Dawson City; and Fat People Are Harder To Kidnap...got to give those tailgaters something to read...not to mention the scroungers in the parking lots, looking for spare change and offering to take back your cart for the dollar coin you deposited for it...

Road Trips

Well, that was probably the last road trip with A. for a while. For some reason, I'm a bitch if I happen to say something about A. driving 130kms/hr over what has to be the worst highway in the world, skimming the edge of the cratered potholes, and slaloming through the loose gravel they warn you about, and caution you to slow down through. Forgive me if I want my brand new car to see more than a week of life with me. This child does not appear to have any common sense about what a car can and should be put through. When I did say something about her driving, she belittled me, telling me that I was being ridiculous and that my car should be able to handle it...forgive me dear, innocent child if I have had to pay out small fortunes in the past to repair rims, shocks, springs, whatever because some asshole did not treat his car kindly before selling it to me. Now that I have my first brand new car purchase, I just want to be a little more cautious about my car.

And let's not forget the reality of a breakdown on the highway that really is in the middle of nowhere...I didn't fancy wanting to sit around for 2 days for someone to send help in the dry, hot, mountain dirt. Or the fact that I just don't want someone breaking my damn car!!!

Anyhow, if her driving is any indication of how she will treat cars in the future...her new little car has much to endure. I predict it will not make it to the winter without a major injury...

New Car Smell

thought I liked it. I don't. I need a stick-up air freshener to take the smell out.

I do however love driving it! The sunroof is awesome, and I am not finished playing with the power doors and windows...I have however, finally moved in. Now for decor...bumper stickers? Only if my dearest friends in Cape Breton will get me another copy of Tickle My Shillelagh...and there are a couple from Little Mysteries in Halifax that I want again, but I think I can order online.

Now to face Monday...

Turning Silver Into Indigo

New wheels today...my first new car of my very own. My Echo was a lease, so not really mine, but this here baby, is 60 payments away from being mine...my very first car was a 1976 Mercury Comet, two tone with a vinyl roof. My second car was a 1987 Toyota Camry. With this one, I hope to own it from beginning to end, and hope for a long journey inbetween.

Fish Tank Adventures

The toxic waste dump known as my fishtank finally got a thorough cleaning last night. Turns out I haven't been adding a certain chemical weekly, so the algae got a little out of control. I also had a snail problem. I bought a plant for it a little while back, and it must have had some on it, though I didn't see any. Within a couple of months there were dozens of snails in my tank...icky poop machines.

So there was reason to empty the tank and give it a good cleaning. Once I finally captured all the fish without killing any of them (phew) I put the container on the floor...McGee didn't notice at first but once he did, he was determined to check them out. So I finally had to flick him on the head with a wet hand (I think he thought they jumped out at him!) and he laid down beside it simply to watch. He pawed at it a little with them swimming around so fast in there, but behaved for the most part.

What a damn mess I had though...water everywhere...and then when I went to put the filter back on the side of the tank, I filled it with water to get it going again, but forgot to put the fan back on the bottom, and the water poured out through there, down the back of my stand onto all of my plugins...ZZZZZZZZZZZAAP......or so I thought. Quickly cleaned that up and we were back in business...now the tanks sparkles once again and the fish look happy. Phew. The first time for a major clean without casualties...

Tweak and Tweeter

Well, I doubt that these new speakers have anything recognizable as a tweeter, however...the bearded dragon (very young still) is Tweak (on my shoulder - he is not mine, but belongs to a friend).

Flextime on a Friday

Well, I am rather new to this flextime that is so popular here. I happen to be accumulating some overtime hours because of A.'s schedule and having to take her to work for 8am, so I am there 30 minutes early on those days....and today I took the afternoon off. What a treat...to be home early on a Friday afternoon in the summer. I did my weekend shopping in the psycho-busy stores, and then came the hell home. I was to go to the Atlin Music Festival, but the forecast is for rain, rain, and more rain, so bah, I'd rather stay home and chill. So here I sit. Chilling. Trying to become insipired for more writing. The only sounds in my world as I write this are the ticking of my wall clock, the gurgling of the aquarium and someone out in the sky in a small plane. I am not far from the regional airport, so hear the little planes from time to time. There are also birds, wasps, and cats grooming themselves in various parts of the cabin. I don't like to post too often without a photo or two...so here are some more of the resident felines...

Girl In The City

Decided to hang out in the city tonight after work, and wait for A. to get off work at 10pm, which meant I have 5 hours to kill. So I went brought A. her new glasses at work, did some shopping, visited a sick friend, bringing her hot apple cider (as requested), and now am at the office, writing and listening to the radio on the net - Rock 101. They play pretty good music at night, all my favorites! At one point when I was on msn with a friend, and Pink Floyd was on, I tuned the office out entirely and was shocked to find myself here when I shifted position, lol.

For those who know me, I was able to pick up some cobalt blue glass spice bottles at a store here, for my loose spices...I shall have them all in the window...photos to follow, ha ha.

I also bought a seat cushion for my rocking chair...and which I have never done since my parents gave it to me 18 years ago...it is sage green microsuede. I also bought a heavy table runner in green and brown tones, something to protect my coffee table from my careless roomie...love you to bits gal, but man, you are hard on my stuff sometimes...

I still have to pick up a few things at the supermarket, but will do that when I pick up my roomie there in a bit. The sun is still up in the sky, although I noticed that sunset is moving back to about 11:25pm now, and getting earlier faster now than last week. Before you know it we will have dark nights again, and I can see the stars once more.

Listen to the music

ignore the instructions on the pic I'm heading off to my first outdoor music festival in the Yukon. I didn't get to the Alsek one, maybe next year. This weekend I'm off to the Atlin Arts and Music Festival in Atlin, BC. There is a huge lake near the festival grounds where people often camp...I am looking for a place to hang my hammock...I don't do tents if at all possible...I'd rather stay up or sleep in my car. I've tried air mattresses but this aging body of mine doesn't like that anymore. The hammock has been the perfect fit for me, sleep like a baby in it. I just have to have two places to hang it from...and last summer I ended up with neither at a couple of musical weekends. I don't think that will be the problem here as it sounds like trees are not far, and the campsites are treed. We shall see. I have done it with just one tree a number of times, tying it to someone's vehicle on one end, lol (camper, truck, blazer...whatever! Thanks guys!)

I have been trying to access their site today and can't get in so it must be down. I wanted to check out the lineup and see what they had to say about the festival grounds. For now I shall have to rely on word of mouth as many I know have enjoyed festivals past.

I sure hope the weather is good, but I can handle a little rain and fog about now...the lake is ok to swim in, but apparently brrrrrrrrrrrrr....I will check it out just the same. I've never gone swimming in BC before...

Now as long as my roomie doesn't have a huge party while I'm gone... ;-)

Am I A Material Girl

Lemme set out the events first and then see what you think. Last year I bought a new sofa, and new tables for the living room (coffee, end). They weren't cheap either, with the sofa(actually just a large loveseat) costing me $799 on sale, and the tables were $399 for the set. More money that I've spent in years on furniture. I didn't have the money before, and usually bought crap. The first edition of crap is sitting in my living room in Newfoundland. I spent $500 on the sofa and chair, and $80 on the tables. They wore well, but look like the crap that they are. The cats came to LOVE them and I ended up cutting patches out of the back of the sofa to cover the cat LOVE. Then I moved to Ontario where I bought more crap - sofa, loveseat, tables, and lamps came to less than $1000. My friend A. has the sofa and love seat, and possibly the end tables, and the coffee table was toasted somewhere in Ontario, broke the first year. The loveseat broke the second year by my lovely daughter and her 6 friends that piled onto it, jiggling and squirming as teenagers do.

So when I made the decision to move north, I thought it was time for some new furniture, and I bought a plush sofa and nice chunky solid wooden tables and away I went. Well the movers managed to break the drawer in the coffee table, but nothing that a bottle of elmer's wood glue couldn't fix.

Then my daughter came to live with me. She has been trying to singlehandedly destroy both the tables and the sofa. Never on purpose of course...and yesterday she had another go at it. She was painting her toenails and brought out the nail polish and remover. As soon as I saw it, I told her that in no uncertain terms did I want her putting the nail polish remover on my coffee table. This is the child the spoiled every surface in her room with nail polish, remover, and candle wax - dresser, nightstand, desk, bookcase. She scoffed at me, but complied and put the bottle on the floor, lid off (!!!). For some unknown reason, the bottle migrated to the table eventually, probably when she next picked it up to get more remover. In any event, there it was on my coffee table, with the lid off!!!!!!!!!. I didn't quite notice it at first, and was rooting around on the table for something and the lid of my wooden box hit the bottle, tipping it over.

It stripped the finish off my new table in a huge patch. It spilled most of the bottle, and a pile of it went under the runner on the table, soaking everything under it. And this child has the nerve to say it is MY FAULT because I knocked it over. If it wasn't supposed to be on the table, how could it be my fault to begin with...

Then this charming child, in helping me clean it up, whips this chemical infested dripping table runner off as told, but then chooses to fling it where? On my new sofa. I was not amused.

And when I blew up at this child of mine who wants me to treat her as a grownup now that she's 20, she was pretty indifferent, and said it was just a table, why was I upset. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Yes, we're having fun at Camp Yukon.

Celebrating Canada Day

So what does it mean to you to be Canadian? Freedom? Health Care? More land that we know what to do with? Easy access to Canadian beer?

I am happy to be alive and well in Canada, this sunny day in the Yukon Territory. The air is warm, the sun shines most of the day and night, and I don't have to go to work until Tuesday. Now I am going to swing in my hammock under the sun, and snooze away the afternoon.

I love Canada!

Sand In My Camera

caused me to get a really good shot...the lens cover didn't open all the way, but it sure caught McGee whimpering after a bird in the feeder on the outside of the window!

Looking Forward To That New Car Smell

So I hope to sign papers this week to buy a new car. My lease is up next month, and I don't want to buy a car that has already been driven for 3 years in salty winters, so have decided to buy a special edition Toyota Corolla. This is not the color though. Mine will be indigo ink (dark blue). I wanted something really different but they don't offer much for some of their models...the usual fare - red, blue, silver, black, charcoal, silver, and some goldy color. I want a purple car! And not one of those dumbass purple neons that came out years ago...ick. Now how will I get all my bumper stickers off without ruining them...

I HATE HOUSECLEANING

So my 20 year daughter is living with me, and my home looks like a frat house because she is a slob most of the time. She admits it, and doesn’t seem too bothered by it. I am.

This weekend I had invited some newish friends over for a bbq on Saturday and was determined that the damn house was going to be CLEAN. I’m not OCD about it or anything, but I have certain standards. For one, I like clean floors, clean bathrooms, and a clean and tidy kitchen. I don’t dust, and I certainly don’t do windows. Some of this responsibility for a clean home should fall to my temporary roomie, particularly now that she wants me to treat her like an adult, and stop “nagging her”. Oh, ok. Then I have a lazy slob for a roommate.

Needless to say, most of the cleaning was left to me, because it wasn’t on “her schedule”. Fine, I want it done, they are my friends coming over…fuck it. I’ll clean. If only it had gone smoothly…

The floors were very dirty…this comes from both of us walking back and forth with our shoes on, and of course, the other three resident pigs in the home – the felines. There is cat food and (clean) litter scattered from one end of the house to the other. I think it sticks to their paws, and comes off when they walk…however it happens, they are pigs…not cats.

So I vacuum up the first layer of dirt, then sweep twice, then mop, then sweep again, then mop, then sweep again. In order to do an effective job, I move out all the chairs and crap off the floor to the living room. My roomie does not do this, so there was a great deal of dirt in hiding. While the cat food is up on the table, I see Stormy heading to the food bowl like the pig that he is. As it is, he is at the trough constantly as is Pig Gee aka McGee. I holler at him not to spill it, and shove it back from the edge of the table. The floors had just been mopped up for the second time and I was fucking tired, wanting to sit down. Well no sooner had I hollered at him when he pushed the bowl off the table onto my freshly washed floor. Let’s just say the volume was turned up then and animals scattered, and roomie trembled upstairs (probably with laughter as she is never afraid of me). Got that mess cleaned up and mopped again, then swept again. Dammit the floors are dirty.

The bathroom was done half-assed by roomie, and she didn’t finally get the floors cleaned until about 10 minutes before company showed up. The kitchen, well I had to clean it several times, as roomie thought I wouldn’t mind a few extra when she made chocolate chip pancakes. Her version of cleaning up after herself meant chuck all the dishes she used into the sink, and wipe out the frying pan and stuff it back into the cupboard.

In the end, the house looked reasonably clean, but I was cranky and exhausted by the time company showed up. Roomie likes to comment often that the Queen isn’t coming, just my friends. What she doesn’t appear to understand is that I simply like a clean house, and company coming is just the motivation to get the work done.

And of course the day was not complete without injury…roomie seems to have difficulty in understanding the concept of replacing a drawer into it’s proper slot WHILE making sure it matches up with the drawer guides. I wish I had known that she had taken one in particular…as it crashed to the floor, or should I say, my foot. Now I have some purple bruising on it. Nice. Thanks roomie.

At least my house is clean now. Now she is at home for the morning, and I just KNOW the house will be a pigsty again by noon…

New Look For The Weekend

Well, I went out tonight, which was great for a change. I went with some friends from work, and a few of their friends, which was also groovy. There were tales of night out in the past, um. What a bunch of drunks...heh heh...just kidding guys. Anyhow, what was cool about it was that I went to the same school at one point in my life as did 3 of these people, and with yet another, I knew a lot of the same people...and we are all in the Yukon together. L.'s wife, A. was also a military brat, and lived at one time in Chatham, NB as did I. Two of L.s friends who were brothers, were from Goose Bay, NL and graduated from the same high school that I did, which was very strange. I hadn't met anyone since graduating who had ever gone to that school in Labrador, and had only minimal contact with ONE friend that I graduated with. And I graduated with an aunt of the boys from Labrador. And then L. is from close by to where I lived at one time in Newfoundland, and we knew a lot of the same folks from that area. It is a small world for sure.

We ordered pizza from Pizza Hut while we were at the bar, which was weird. Some bars south of here are so uptight about you bringing even a chocolate bar in with you, and we had the pizza guy deliver to our table in this busy bar! I like the Yukon.

So we left the bar and headed down to the Sunstroke Festival at the Shipyards Park. I had to meet A. at her place of work, so only stayed a short time. The music was ok, and the crowd was quite young. I didn't stay long when I returned with A. as we then headed back to the bar for a few more drinks. I didn't have anymore as I was to be the DD when we finally headed home hours later. It was weird...the sun was still up while we were at the bar...it just went down shortly before we left, but only just so...it is still light out a 1:13am. They days begin to get shorter now, and I wonder if they will turn as fast as they got light...stay tuned...

So I have made some changes to my template and am working on it still, hopefully finishing this weekend. I hate renovations...very time consuming, but they are nice when finished...comments anyone?

Why You Should Get Married In A Church

Oh Those Newfies...Smarter Than You Think

Two small business men in Toronto are seated in their soon to be new store.. As of now the store is bare with just a few s helves.

One says to the other "I bet you 5 dollars that any minute a newfie is going to walk by, put his face to the window and ask what we are selling" .

No sooner were the words out of his mouth when sure enough a curious newfie walks to the window, has a peak and asked "what are ya sellin here byes?"

One of the business men (trying to be a smart ass) says.."Oh..we're selling assholes here" as he laughs.

With that the Newfie replies "Well I see you're doing really well, you've only got two left."

redesign blues

wasted entirely too much time tonight searching for a new template...so now I have ended up with a half redesigned blog...please be patient...maybe I'll get it finished tomorrow night. so sue me.

WTF

Via, what have you been up to?

Undesirable Guests

What would you do if you found out someone was reading your blog that was an undesirable guest? I know I am putting myself out there anyhow to the world anyhow, but it has come to my attention that an undesirable person who knows me, and certainly doesn't like me, has been reading my blog. Not too sure how he came across it, though I do have a few ideas...

I don't feel like I should be forced to move my blog, or censor my content. He is probably just looking for fault, something negative to talk about...which usually doesn't bother me anyhow. If that is his reason, it's pretty shallow and tells me he has too much time on his hands. I guess if anything, it feels like an invasion of privacy (I met this person through my previous job). In any case, I was just looking for input from others who may have encountered a similar situation, or if anyone has any suggestions. And as for YOU(you know who you are), get your own life and stop reading about mine. It won't help your situation. It just makes you look like a stalker...and the last time I had one of those, I called the police on them...he turned out to be a crazy man who lived in his van and like following people around.

so, other than for negative reasons, why would someone who doesn't like you waste their time reading someone else's ramblings? Life is too short to waste it on pettiness.

Working Girls

Well, Amber and I drove off to work together today...that was weird! She began her new job at a the garden/flowers/automotive centre of a local chain store. She seemed to like it so far today, whereas I couldn't wait to get the hell out of mine. It was hard in the first few hours, feeling quite disconnected after being away for 3 weeks and not hearing anything about what's up at work, which is both good and bad. It took a bit to get back into the train of thinking required but I got there, and cleared up a bunch of paperwork.

It was a sunny and hot day today, with the temp at 29C when I got home from work today...thankfully I had closed the windows before I went to work this morning so it's nice and cool in the house.

Amber will be working until 5 pm now, starting at 9am, so close to mine and should make things easy enough. No real change to my own schedule, and I am chauffeured each day. I did have to wait a bit for her tonight though as she didn't have a watch and was still working at 5:10pm when her supervisor let her know it was after 5 and she could go home. :-)

The nights are cool, and when we got up to get ready for work this morning it was quite frigid getting out of the shower. In any case, the cooler nights make it much easier to sleep at night, however the nights are really short, so the coolness doesn't happen as early.

now it's time to unwind while watching Canadian Idol auditions...they are just funny sometimes...

A Former Home

photos by EJ

I used to live here, several years ago for more than a decade, and prior to that, I visited my grandparents there every summer since the year I was born. I still co-own a house there, and rent it when we can. My ex-husband is there now, for his sister's funeral. My SIL S. passed away on Thursday afternoon. Next to the waterfall that is found in the centre of the community is the local United Church where the service will be held. It sits at the centre of the community atop the hill, along with the fire hall. The boat pictured is the local ferry, the Marine Coaster.

Time Marches On

My ex-husband's sister, S. passed away last night from a long hard struggle with cancer. I know she fought hard, and had so much to live for, but that damned disease has won, again. We'll miss her. She was a special lady, talented, hard working, loving and such a great sense of humour. Thinking back, I have many memories and images of her in my mind to sift through...

- her many handicrafts, be it sewing, knitting, cross stitch, her work was beautiful and she seemed to enjoy it all (and I often borrowed her sewing machine before I received my last one for my birthday)
- that natural blonde streak in her hair that I often wished I had!
- the many mouthwatering recipes she so willingly shared, and the many calls I made to her over the years after I moved away, such as her molasses cookies, her trifles, and potato salad (yes, this is who I model my own salad after, for my friends that have enjoyed it over the years); and the beautiful cakes she decorated year after year for so many occasions
- S. taking my newborn daughter from my arms as I stepped off the Marine Runner, where she went directly to my house to strip her down for a better look. It was the funniest thing, but oh so cute to see. Hard to believe but that was just a few days shy of 20 years ago...
- the many card games at the cabin...I remember one such game where she and I were playing against our husbands and we took over 800 points in one hand...the men were savage about it, but we gloated freely
- she always seemed to have a smile for you, particularly all those years she and her husband ran their general store, and what a beautiful smile it was

There are more, but they're hard to write about right now, and I may just be selfish and keep them to myself. I can't make it to the funeral, some 7800kms away, but I will be there in spirit and Amber and I will do our best to remember S. as she was, keeping her close to our hearts.

I would like to encourage anyone and everyone who reads to please help raise breast cancer awareness and if you are able, donate to breast cancer research to put a stop to the continuing loss of so many of our country's great women. Click here or on the post title for more information on how you can help.

Amber and I have been putting together a small flower garden next to the steps these past couple of days just after we heard the news, I will think of S. as she loved to garden and mow her grass.

Hoarding Kitties, Gardening and Baiting the Fox

Well, I found cat food in my bed yesterday, just a scrap, but there it was, in all it's crumbly glory. We ran out of cat food on Monday and I didn't get home with it for a few hours as I had a couple of appointments in town, so the cats were crawling all over Amber while I was in town, begging for catfood. I reckon they're hoarding now incase their selfish owner runs out of food again and leaves them without for 3 or 4 hours, the poor starved felines...(though you'd never know by looking at the portly Stormy and McGee).

And now Amber has fashioned McGee a harness so she could take him outside while she gardened for me tonight. We visited the organic farm's garden centre in town today and picked up some truly fantastic flowers. Take a look at what Amber is busy potting in the backyard for our garden...she also thought it would be fun to take McGee out with her and parade him around with a harness she fashioned out of yarn, a bandanna, and the strap from her video camera...(sigh) but he wriggled out and moments after she brought him back in, the fox pictured here showed up and retraced McGee's scent...so I told her not to take him out again as the animals can clearly smell him!

Handsome Boys

I taught Amber how to crochet this past weekend, so she took it upon herself to make a scarf for her kitty, however he wasn't as impressed with it as Stormy was until he saw Stormy with it on and then got jealous, and wanted to wear it...I think McGee looks rather dashing with it on...

Duffel Bags

sent to me by a friend who shares my humour...

A man walked into a supermarket with his zipper down. A lady cashier walked up to him and said, "Your barracks door is open. Not a phrase that men normally use, he went on his way looking a bit puzzled.

When he was about done shopping, a man came up and said, "Your fly is open." He zipped up and finished his shopping. At the checkout, he intentionally got in the line where the lady was that told him about his "barracks door." He was planning to have a little fun with her, so when he reached the counter he said, "When you saw my barracks door open, did you see a Marine standing in there at attention?"

The lady (naturally smarter than the man) thought for a moment and said "No, no I didn't. All I saw was a disabled veteran sitting on a couple of old duffel bags.

Dances With Wolves

Who first? Stormy, Via, and McGee are all on the list to be booted outside to dance with the wolves, bears, coyotes, eagles...whatever. Last night they decided it was time to tear around the house the moment the lights were turned out. I know there is still some daylight due to living in the north, but these little bastards should know by now that when we're in bed, with our heads on our pillows, that this is the cue for them to settle down. Apparently they are cueless...up and down the fucking stairs they went, up and over both beds, in and out of the closet, up and down off the railings, through the Sideshow Bob fern, and around and around we go...after about an hour of this and the inner bitch in me coming out, they finally gave it up and settled in for the night. If only that was the end...

5:30am this morning they are up and at it again...this time it is just Stormy and McGee...same thing, up and over, up and down, around and around...however Via was no innocent...she took to rubbing plastic with her nose, which she knows DRIVES ME CRAZY! In this small cabin, there is nowhere she will go to do it where I won't hear her, particularly since I live in the quiet of the country. So after putting up with just so much again, and firing off all of my reading material at them (Reader's Digest travels well) I finally had to get up and scream and holler at them to settle the fuck down. Then I am too wound up to sleep again, so get out my laptop to do some browsing and reading. I begin to get sleepy, so position my laptop on a pillow next to me and read, fearing I'll fall asleep and let it slide (I know, a book would have been much easier but I am too rotten to look at by then). I end up falling asleep and dreaming that I dropped my laptop once again, cracking the screen and jolt awake only to discover it nestled right next to me, unharmed. This is enough prompting to get me up and out of bed with it to place it safely downstairs on the table.

So here I sit, writing this post and Stormy has the nerve to jump up for a cuddle...two words fat boy...fuck off...

Now, don't get me wrong, I love my kitties something fierce, but there are times when they try my patience...their only saving grace is that they don't talk back to me.

I feel a nap is in my afternoon agenda...sigh...

Oh, Those Witty Newfoundland Girls

a gal I went to school with in Newfoundland sent me this and it gave me a chuckle...

A girl from Newfoundland and a girl from Ontario were seated side by side on an airplane.

The girl from Newfoundland, being friendly and all, said, "So, where you from?"

The Ontario girl said, "From a place where they know better than to use a preposition at the end of a sentence."

The girl from Newfoundland sat quietly for a few moments and then replied "So, where you from, bitch?"