Chihuahua prints on my dinner plate !

Who'd have thunk it possible? There I was sitting on the chesterfield having just finished my dinner. Paycee, being a good dog, lying at my feet asleep. Olivia was on the prowl. She had hopped up on Paycee's back, which is where she frequently sleeps while we are eating. Tonight though she could not control herself, the smell of Bev's lasagna was just too much to handle and she catapulted herself onto the couch - but she over estimated her jump and landed right on my dinner plate. She was some shocked as she skidded across my plate and landed up on my chest. While laughing uncontrollably I glanced down. There, in the tomato sauce, were little chihuahua skid marks and a paw print. The look on her face was priceless. You'd think she had landed on a hot tin roof. It was not her planned method of attack. She was thinking she would just sit on my lap next to the plate and look at me longingly. Don't know why she bothers because she never gets table food. But I have to give her credit for being persistent. I have had her for 3 years and she still tries.
Good thing it isn't Paycee that launches himself places. Can't imagine 125 lbs landing on my lap and on top of my plate!
I still have tiny little tomato sauce prints on my t-shirt!

More spring like weather tomorrow!

Having a start on my farmer's tan in April is very exciting!! Yesterday I worked in the backyard for 5 hours and got a lot done. I think that I am truly solar powered human being.

I dug half of my trench for the French drain that I am making to assist with draining the water out of the back yard. Had to do something before the ducks moved in!! The dogs hate going out to do their business with the grass half under water, especially my big tough Rotty! He, apparently, has very delicate feet!

When my back had had enough digging I raked the lawn, bagged the collective raking debris and then set about spreading pelleted lime on the lawn. Then I dug some more!!

Today was overcast and drizzly so I did a bit of shopping and some housework. Tomorrow the sun is making another appearance so I will tackle the trench some more, and relocate the wood from the dead tree our neighbours chopped down for us, and hopefully rake the front lawn.

Cheers to Ross and Mike for coming over and chopping down our large and very dead tree. And even more thanks to you both for piling the wood into neat piles. Enjoy your Keith's guys and many thanks!!

A really great movie

Wow! We just watched the movie "August Rush" and it is a fantastic movie! I had heard that it was good but really in trying to describe it I feel at a loss for words.

I recommend that everyone rent this movie and watch it. It will undoubtedly leave, you too, somewhat speechless. This is a really good kind of speechless though. So my loyal readership (lol) tell everyone that you know to rent it, I guarantee that it will be the best $10 you have spent in years. Enjoy it and imagine.

A rainy Saturday

Today I can honestly say that my mind is 4000 km's away. My family and friends are on my mind today, so I thought that I would write about that today. The oddest thing that happens to me, being so far away and three hours ahead, is that I frequently want to call people in the morning. However, that would mean that I would be calling you all way too early, thereby quickly cutting down my number of friends!

Today I have borrowed Pam's brand new office chair! Oh my! It is so comfortable. It makes my $20 Ikea chair not only look like and antique it also explains why it is so damn uncomfortable. It's kind of like sitting on an old wood stump that one might actually use to chop wood on except that if you have really good calf muscles you can make it roll with immense effort. I can see myself saving some money up for one of these chairs. May be I should stop encouraging Pam to fix her computer, because the sooner she does the sooner she will be back up in her office and in her chair! lol

It's a rainy and kind of gloomy day here today but I'm not too bothered about it because yesterday I managed to get the tree's pruned, at long last as well as bundle up last years trimmings that the fencing guy had done. We were afraid that something had taken up residence in the pile of tree debris in the back corner of the yard because the dogs seem to really enjoy giving it a good sniff and paw. But to our relief there was nothing living in there. It looks nice and tidy once again with only one hitch, now there is another large spot where Olivia can get under the fence. She doesn't even have to duck, she can just walk right under! Sometimes having a dog with a 4 inch inseam can be very challenging!

Soon I will be digging up parts of the back yard to put in some drainage areas. Currently the yard is partially under water. We have even purchased and put down sidewalk blocks so the dogs can walk on those to the drier parts of the yard!

Thank you!

Firstly I would like to thank my readership of 2 for checking out my blog!! Mostly though I want to thank you for taking the time to comment on what I have written and knowing how to read through my, somewhat weak, attempt at being slightly cryptic in what I am saying. Those that know me know what is on my mind.
Friends are not easily defined. Being a good friend does not entail chatting every day or even being able to pop over on a regular basis. A friend just knows when you need a lift or a simple word or gesture to lift your spirits. Thanks friends!

Right back atcha!

I can't believe the amount of stress I have put myself through over this last month trying to make a decision. Being new to the area I really don't want to upset any new acquaintances that I have made. It has taken me this long to see that the same thoughtfulness is not reciprocated. Granted that is a rather broad and sweeping statement and I do not mean to lump everyone in there all together. I am just disappointed. Very disappointed and disheartened.

Life will go on though and I will once again align myself with projecting positive energy which will assist me in attracting positive energy and influences back. This is a process of 'right back atcha' that I really like! As of late I have been unable to deflect negative energies and so have absorbed and been consumed by them. Well no more!

Tomorrow I will once again; think positive thoughts (even about negative things- yes it can be done), perform random acts of kindness, and enjoy myself.

Decisions Descisions

Although there are times in my life where I crave change I have a huge problem with the actual leap it can take to achieve it.
Often times the problem comes from worrying more about what other people are going to think, and whether I can live with what that might be, than from what I want to do. Sometimes my desire not to disrupt or ruffle other people makes me actually stay in a position that makes no sense to my well being whether that be physically, mentally or even monetarily.
So I need to decide, jump or stay? I'm thinking jump! There's no risk financially for sure, but what about retaining friends? Hmmm. I'm going to hope that they want what's best for me too!

Light therapy

I'll admit that when I do not get enough sunlight my mood, my stamina, my brain... they all falter. And yes I should really be taking a half an hour every morning to turn on my little sun machine and trick my brain into believing that the sun is really shining on me.

I think that I'm not alone. I think that this condition, SAD as it's referred to, is probably genetic. May be I ought to plug the light in and we can all take turns, facing the light. I guess it's easier to face the light than the music.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day I think. Monday even more so, but I'm sure that staring into the bright light will numb my brain enough to feign my way through it all.

*sigh*

What do you do when nothing you do is good enough?

I take issue with people that continually and deliberately cut you down. My personality is such that I just try harder to get approval. In the work place this gets very complicated because I refuse to let my work ethic or professionalism suffer as a result of workplace strife.
The harder I work, in an effort to avoid staff interaction, the more flack I seem to get for trying hard. "Why bother, nobody cares" or "What are you stupid?".... blah blah blah.
If the staff could see themselves as a team and see that if we all pulled together the service, animal and client care and reputation of the clinic would be awesome. If that were to happen there would be benefits to the staff too: Pride, accomplishment and most likely increased wages.

Some days it just doesn't seem worth the effort

I think I must be definitely needing a dose of spring. After Friday my patience is thin and I think that right about now if someone looks at me sideways I might just poke 'em in the eye - figuratively - may be.

I'm tired, mostly tired of being tired. I'm tired of spending my life trying to prove to myself stuff that I shouldn't of had to. Mostly I'm tired of the fact that I now have to reach out. But like the child of abuse and neglect I'm reaching to no avail.

So easy to pass judgement with NO/KNOW information

The animals seized by the SPCA in Cape Breton were in absolute agony and I don't doubt that everyone wants to blame someone. People want someone to be accountable. The sad truth is that there are so many people/agencies/government that are accountable. We should not be so quick to blame the SPCA for this disaster. Most of their special constables are volunteers. They do not receive funding from the government. They run solely on donations.

Let's look at the bigger picture shall we? The SPCA is entrusted with such an important job but they are not supported financially by any government agency. (In the beginning yearsThe Nova Scotia SPCA was also charged with investigaing Child Abuse in this province.)

If I were looking for a place to start in how this well meaning animal lover fell from caring to abusing animals I think that I would begin with the acquaintances/friends/family of the person running the Celtic Pets Rescue. Someone must have known or suspected that this person was not well. There were documented complaints but the investigators were not allowed access to the entire property, nor to investigate if recommended improvements had been made. Why? I suspect because accessing warrants for animal welfare issues is not an easy task. The body responsible for policing and protecting these animals are volunteers with few legal powers. Top that off with not having adequate funding. I am not saying that the process undertaken by the SPCA is without some burden of fault but I am saying that people have to pressure the government to assist the agencies entrusted with protecting animals in this province. I think if people started to truly think about this tragedy for the animals in the 'care' of the Celtic Pet Rescue and they wanted to point fingers they would find that they don't physically have enough 'fingers' to point.

Moving furniture again...

Pam and I began the day with readying the 'new' living room for the furniture from the current living room. We decided to do this for a few reasons; one was that our power bill was out of this world, meaning that we had better find a way to heat the house more efficiently with the wood stove and in order to do that we had to keep the wood stove a lot hotter, which makes it impossible to stay in that room and watch TV or anything without melting into a pile of goo. We also needed to make room in the office for beds for Mum and Dad. So now we have a little library/sitting room where the wood stove is and a guest room. Well almost, we still have to set up the two beds, although they are in there just not put together yet. I think they will be quite comfy in there and will enjoy their visit with us. Only six more days!! We're finally getting around to hanging pictures and making this our home not just our house. We are enjoying this and although it has been pretty physical work, we're both happy with how things are coming together!

A sea of opportunity to initiate change

We've traversed the country and landed in beautiful Nova Scotia. Gorgeous scenery, and super people. We can see many opportunities here for us to grow, learn and prosper as a family. Ma & Pa Kettle will be joining us soon for a visit and we are excitedly awaiting their arrival.

On the 'pet front' there are several issues that I think would be interesting to encourage and perhaps enable change in the area. Such as a spay and neuter program, incorporating interest and functionality of the HRM dog licensing system/program, generating interest and excitement regarding the behaviour of dogs (The dominance theory is only a theory) training animal health professionals on safe pet handling and restraint techniques... the ideas are endless as is the need.

Oh What a week !!!

Let me see, hmmm, where to start. I guess Monday is a good place.

• Monday - Root canal first, Dr. , visit with friends, get home and some arse has broken into and tried to steal my car!! This is the 3rd assault on my car in a month. 1st they just broke in and went through stuff, then it was egged and now the stearing column is in pieces!
• Tuesday - Had to go have an eye test ... they dialate your pupils and they stayed that way for hours... which makes you really light sensitive. Then around 1 a.m. some idiots decided to drive around our neighbourhood and rang our doorbell and kept driving by laughing. Until I went out and tried to get their liscence plate and vehicle info. Then they screwed off.
• Wednesday - Another appt !
• Thursday - drove my niece to and from her final exams
• Friday - took car in, so they could let me know what to do about the damages etc. and did gardening all afternoon.

Thank God it's Friday is so true !!!

Wolf at my door

You know that totally wouldn't bother me. Now if someone said there's a boogie man at the door that would freak me out! Unlike people animals are without malice ... go ahead and argue the point if you want to try; just keep in mind that I can be long winded.

This weather is keeping me way too close to home .... going extremely stir crazy... and so are the poor dogs. See now if I didn't mind the rain I could walk the Rotty but the chihuahua, forget it - they're extremely allergic to cold wet weather. They shiver and shake just thinking about it. My sister's golden would just become a walking sponge. I used to have long haired high maintenance furry dogs ... when the weather is like this I don't miss all the grooming. The Rotty's coat is so low maintenance ... buff, shake and go !! Got to love that. And the chi's avoid getting dirty and or wet at all costs so that makes it easy plus she's 3 whole pounds so you can carry her over the mud ( besides she just stands at the edge of it and waits for you to pick her up anyway~!)

Well that's it from me for today... Praying for SUNSHINE !!!

Another day ... another hockey game tonight!!

The Oilers are going to WIN tonight and Ryan Smyth is going to play awesome!! As for the swiss cheese I mentioned earlier ... it is still full of holes. If the sun doesn't come out tomorrow I think I'm going to step in front of a bus!! Can't take any more gloomy weather, thank God I don't live on the coast!

I've been working with my Rotty.... just brushing up, and he's doing awesome.... even walks past the two psycho dogs in the back alley .... they get so worked up barking when you go by that they actually start to fight .... now there's two dogs badly in need of some training. I am hoping to find a tracking harness for him ASAP because he has an absolute natural tendency to track and a real good nose on him.