Month: August 2012

  • Cozy Conversations by the Fireside...

     

    July 27, '10:

    Me: Hey love, can I steal a Marlboro from you?
     
    Shane: No.
     
    Me: Okay, can I have a Marlboro from you?
     
    Shane: No.
     
    Me: *Pouts*
     
    Shane: Well... okay, if you beg sycophantically.
     
    Me: Fuck off, I'll go and roll me own.
     
    Both: *Gales of laughter*
     
     

    Aug 1, '10:

    Me: So how d'you think I'm doing, driving the stick shift then love?

     

    Shane: I'd class you as a "competent novice".

     

    Me: Cool! So what am I upgraded from then?

     

    Shane: "Stupid".

     

    *

     

    *

     

    *Silence*

     

    *

     

    *

     

    *

     

     

    Both: *Gales of laughter*
     
     
     
    Aug 16, '10:
     
    Having a good first week at work, today will be my fifth straight day and my first day On My Own, i.e. not shadowing another nurse. Woot! God help the residents on my wing, lmao! :D
     
    It's going well, sort of slow but sure, and I'm feeling more confident each day.  The home is lovely and the staff and residents a good laugh and easy to get on with. :)
     
    Driving home in the dark SUCKS BIG HAIRY FAT ONES. Ugh! It scares the crap out of me. Especially when it involves FOG too. Coming home last night, I was literally a few seconds away from the tree farm and bang, my windscreen was totally fogged up on the outside in a split second... going up a steep hill. I stopped, pulled the handbrake on as hard as I could, turned on my hazards and jumped out, ready to strip off my scrub top and stand there in my bra to wipe the screen dry. Luckily I found a toilet roll on the back seat so modesty remained intact. :)  Got the screen wiped, and made it home safely after screeching gravel to get the car moving again... and I was literally just 20 feet away from the entrance to the tree farm, lol! :D  I HATE night driving. God help me when it's in a thunderstorm or something... *rolls eyes*
     
    Cozy Conversation by the Fireside.
     
    Me: Told Shane's daughter and nephew about my experience with the fog.
     
    Shane's daughter: "Why didn't you use the windscreen wiper?"
     
    Me: Embarrassed silence...
     
    Levi: "Or the defroster?"
     
    Me: Even more silence...
     
    Everyone: *Gales of laughter*
     
     
    ~*~*~

    Apr 3, '11:

     

     

    11.30pm...

     

    Me: Hey babe, what d'you think of my earrings I made? One's a tree, and the other's a bird in a branch.
    Shane: *Blank look*

     

    Me: I made them from the leftover pendants from the bookmark I made this morning...

     

    Shane: Errrr... Am I supposed to be impressed?

     

    Me: Yes love...

     

    Shane: Sorry...

     

    Me: Go to bed. *Giggles*

     

    Shane: Okay. *Giggles*
     
     
    June 22, '11:
     
     
    Shane: I think I'll have a sip of your tea.
     
    Me: Go ahead. It might be a bit milky for you though.
     
    Shane: That's okay, I just want the caffeine.
     
    Me: Ah. It's decaf, those teabags that resident's daughter brought me in at work. You know, the Tetley British Blend.
     
    Shane: You suck.
     
    Me: Thanks love. *Giggles*

     

     

    Sept 18, '11:

     

     

    Me: (after hunting all over the place for the fleece I'd taken off just five minutes earlier) ~ "Shane, will you look after me in my dotage?"

     

    Shane: "What d'you think I've BEEN doing?!"

     

    Me: "Cheeky F**ker"

     

    *Gales of laughter*.
     
     
    Nov 24, '11 - Cozy Conversation by the Fireside, or "Shane's Home! Got Wood?!"
     
    We're sitting outside by the campfire, and I'm reading out loud a brilliant story from the latest "Analog" magazine.
     
    Shane gets up and grabs the maul to split more wood.
     
    Me: "I'll stop reading a minute until you've finished whacking your log".
     
    Silence for a couple of seconds while we think about what I just said.
     
    Both: *Fall About Laughing* 
     
     
    Hope you're having a Happy Thanksgiving peeps! :)

     

  • Highlights of various shifts...

    Sept 25, '10:  Highlight of my shift... Annie, 96 - "I'm a sick old woman, you FUCKING WHORE!!" Never a dull moment. Hahaha!

     

    Sept 27, '10:  Highlight of my shift... A resident's son, standing on the corner with arms folded and head cocked to one side, watching me trying to reverse into a space between another car and the kerb. "Hey Susan! You *almost* managed to get it in there sideways - better luck next time!". Bloody smart arse... :D

     

    Oct 2, '10: Highlight of my shift... having four nurse's aides arguing, then pulling straws, over who gets to work on the West Hall over the weekend - because that's MY Hall and they all want to work with me. Awwww. *Beams* :)

     

    Oct 12, '10: Highlight of my shift... Suddenly realising why the place has felt so familiar ever since I started; staff, residents - the whole shebang. I was a HUGE fan of "Prisoner, Cell Block H" back in the day... :D

     

    Oct 31, '10: Highlights of my shift yesterday - Having my back massaged by Fred, our resident "Grumpy Old Man", in return for me checking his blood sugar. A fair swap. :) Being told by Lil she wants to adopt me as her grand-daughter because "you're young and you're pretty". (Lil is batty as a fruit cake but I like her. :) Opening the door to the fridge in Dinny's assisted living apartment and having her CAT come hurtling out, screeching, at a hundred miles an hour... I nearly had a heart attack!! Needless to say, the family have been informed and the poor wild-eyed creature is going home today. (Made me think of Z Man, that did. Hehehe.)

     

    Nov 21, '10: Highlight of my shift ~ The DON: "Hey Susan, have you got jumper cables?" Me: "Erm... I don't think so Machiel. You want to look in my wound treatment cart?" (A few seconds silence...) The DON: "For my CAR, Susan. My CAR won't start". Me: "OH!" *Bursts out laughing* "No, I don't, sorry Mac. Hahahahaha.". The DON wanders off muttering something about "foreign nurses" while I wipe tears from my eyes and try to get a grip of myself... :D (Note to self - sometimes, just sometimes, something said in American means exactly what it does in English...) *Bursts out laughing again*

     

    Apr 4, '11: Highlight of my shift ~ whisking off my sneaker and sock to show our bipolar, hypochondriac resident that her newly "diagnosed" fungal toenail infection is NOT something to worry about... mine's worse than hers, lmao! She agreed, and said she didn't need that Xanax she'd asked me for after all. :)

     

    June 4, '11: Highlight of my shift ~ The God Squad were in, holding a hymn service for the residents and chatting with them afterwards. One young thing was earnestly explaining to Dinny - who is very demented but still a true lady - about the virtues of prayer. It's our private link to God, who will absolve all our sins and give us our place in heaven blah blah blah. Dinny listened attentively and nodded. The young thing ended her 5 minute spiel by asking her, "so, would you like to pray with me now?" Dinny gave her a beautiful big smile and politely but definitely replied "No, thank you". I had to make a sharp exit before I laughed out loud, it was AWESOME. :)

     

    July 2, '11: Highlight of my shift ~ Talking to one of our aides, Tiffany, who'd said she was getting sick of the deaths recently. I told her, it's an Elderly Care Facility - and death is a big part of the job. I explained the way I see it - that caring for someone at this very personal time in their life... doing it well, making it a comfortable and pain-free process, and taking care of their FAMILY as well... it's a privilege. Anyone can take a few vitals on a patient who has come into hospital for an operation and is being discharged the next day, etc etc. But taking care of the dying is a satisfying, humbling experience, and so worthwhile when you do it well. I think Tiff went home with a new viewpoint to think about - and I think she'll be an even better aide than she already is for it.

     

    Aug 11, '11: Today was the first anniversary of my starting work at the rest/rehab home. One of my favourite "rest" residents died, age 92, and one of my favourite "rehab" residents got discharged home after a six month stay. Quite fitting, in a weird way.

     

    Aug 13, '11: Highlight of my shift ~ Tristan, the boyfriend of one of our aides, takes great enjoyment in watching me arrive for work when he's dropping Tiffany off. He announced, in true Alcoholics Anonymous style, "My name is Susan, and I Cannot Park". Ha ha ha. :P

     

    Nov 26, '11: Highlight of my shift ~ Being able to reassure an extremely anxious husband that no, the long skinny beige thing in his wife's medicine cup WASN'T some sort of gastrointestinal worm, but a piece of noodle from the chicken noodle soup she had at lunchtime. She'd dropped a bit, fallen asleep, and when she woke up picked it off her chest and dropped it in the pot to be thrown away later. :D

     

    Feb 1, '12: Highlight of my shift - Walter, after I did his blood sugar check which involves blowing on his finger to dry the alcohol I used to clean it, telling the physiotherapist I'm great 'cos I just gave him a blow job. He's nearly 80. I'm just glad I was still in the room to explain to the therapist.... :D

     

    May 11, '12: Highlight of my Shift... (Or, Married to a Midget):
    I was potting Walter's meds last night (80 and slightly deaf) and from outside his room I could hear him chatting up Beth, his aide. I'm laughing out loud.

    Beth: Susan's laughing at you Walter, hahaha.

    Walter: I'd ask her out too, but she's married and I don't know how big her husband is.

    Beth: Hey Susan, how tall's Shane?

    Me: He's 6 feet 2 Walter.

    Walter: Sixty-two? He's a bit old for you isn't he?

    Me: *Giggling* NO Walter, he's not sixty-two, he's six FEET two. He's forty-seven!

    Walter: Four feet seven? FOUR FEET SEVEN??

    Beth's dying laughing, and I'm not far behind her.

    Walter looks at me for a few seconds, head cocked to one side.

    "Oh well... as long as you love each other, there's no harm in it"


    OMIGOD. HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAAAAAAAA. *THUD*.

     

     

    May 13, '12: Highlight of My Shift - or, The benefit of being the most Harassed-by-Hospice nurse in the building...

     When they bring in a box of donuts for the staff, they bring a separate one in its own box, labelled


    "For Susan Only". :)

    Oh yeeeeaaah....!!

  • 2/27/10 - CSI Thornville

     
     
     
     

    The call came in early on Saturday morning. Fowl play was afoot in The Forest, a sleepy suburb of Thornville. The locals were in a flap. The serial killer had struck again.

     
     
    Superintendent Squish Squirrel was on the scene in minutes to begin taking twittering statements from the panicked crowd.
     
     
     

     
     
     

    One pointed a trembling wing in the direction of the suet block, unable to look. Super Squish followed with his eyes. The first sign of suspicious activity was glaringly obvious.

     
     
    .
     
     
    The victim appeared to be an Animalia Cardinalidae, female, and in her prime. The perp had made no attempt to hide his crime, and his MO was well-known to the Super. Evidence lay scattered far and wide. He took photographs for the lab.
     
     
     
     
     
    He asked for a team to help with an inch-by-inch search for clues. Cardinal began an intent search of the ground at her feet. Titmouse however made a sharp exit stage left, un-nerved by it all. She couldn't cope with unpleasantnest.
     
     
     
    Junco rose to the challenge. He was no bird brain.
     
     
     
    But the search was fruitless. It had gone to seed, and Super Squish was getting nowhere. He offered a reward for anyone who came forward with solid evidence that would led to an arrest. Nuthatch looked like he was about to spill the beans, but apologetically changed his mind and slunk away.
     
     
     
    Chickadee waded in and grabbed a mouthful, but said nothing of relevance. He was later to be charged with wasting police time.
     
     
     
    The cats had got their tongues, and no-one was squawking. But suddenly, Super Squish spotted something in the snow, under the tree where the suet block hung. The perp hadn't even covered his tracks.
     
     
     
    Delighted at this new lead, Super Squish rounded up the Usual Suspects. They sat and sprawled nonchalantly, smirking while he fired questions at them.
     
      
     
     
     
    Answers were not forthcoming. They held their own tongues, too. He was thwarted, and had to release them; he didn't have a solitary piece of solid evidence. Damn cats, and their fastidious cleaning. Today's killing was one of several which had recently taken place and Super Squish was getting nowhere. He walked into the distance, wishing he had a pair of sunglasses to put on and something profound to say, and stared off into nothing, lost in thought.
     
     
     
    He needed someone to infiltrate the Moggie Mob. A quiet word in a likely-looking ear, and a quiet conversation took place.
     
     
     
    "I'm your cat"
     
    "I thought you were My Cat"
     
    "Well, she calls me her cat, so yes, to her I'm My Cat. But I'm happy to be your cat. Let's do business."
     
    The deal was sealed with the promise of all the tuna he could eat. Super Squish got his infiltrator. The plan worked. Several days later his informant passed along a bit of hearsay. Loose lips and a boastful, "get ME!" attitude had compelled the killer to brag to his cronies. Your Cat/My Cat/Whoever's-Cat-Suited-His-Purpose-At-The-Time told Super Squish all he'd heard. The local force quickly GOT HIM! The killer was arrested and broke under interrogation. His print matched perfectly. No need for trial, he was soon behind bars.
     
     
     
     
    When the news hit the press, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
     
     
     
     
    Super Squish was also relieved. He needed a break, and badly. Earlier thoughts of Miami disappeared. He took a two week vacation in Exumas in the Bahamas. He'd heard tales of nudity, rum, and lobster.
     
     
     
    Working for peanuts was all very fine. But he wanted to be shown a better time.
     
     
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
     
    Final image stolen from the net. This was a crime story, after all. 

  • 1/15/12 It's been a lovely weekend :)

    ~*~*~
    We took it easy on Saturday, Shane being tired after getting home Friday afternoon. Slept in and took our time getting up in time for lunch at a little local Greek restaurant - I had a spinach, feta cheese and herb pie in filo pastry which was gorgeous! We did a bit of shopping for stationary supplies and pottered about in the motel, Shane reading his SciAm magazine and me finally getting to finish watching The Hogfather, after the laptop kept shutting down from overheating every 15-20 minutes. What a pain in the arse!! The movie was brilliant though, thanks for the heads-up Bill. :)

    I also finally finished that Winter wall-hanging I've been working on, stitching on some dried grasses from the tree farm. I'm pleased with it. Now I just need to buy some sort of spray-on glue from the craft store to keep it from falling apart bit by bit.

    Now I can get on with a certain hat that's been on the go for a while... hehehe.


    Today we went down to the tree farm to check on Junior - he's doing just fine! Shane saw him in the rear view mirror, pedaling down the lane after us as fast as he could go, lol.

    Yayyy! Chow time!! :D

    I fed him and the birds while Shane got a fire going to warm our toes - it's bloody cold out there! And Junior came up for a cuddle on my knee.

    ~*~*~

    It's always a relief to get down there and see he's okay. :)

    Since we got back here, Shane's cooked a hunk of steak (delicious!!), and the remains are in the crockpot with a load of frozen veggies we brought back from home with us. I'm really looking forward to breakfast. ;)

    How was your weekend? :)

  • 12/2/11 - D'you remember when Junior disgraced himself...

     
    ... by coming to sleep on the bed with us, and sprayed on Shane's leg when Shane had the audacity to shove him over when he rolled over in his sleep? Junior paid the price by having a trip to the vet's to get his nuts cut off the next day. He didn't come to sleep on the bed again forEVER.
     
    Looks like he's gotten over it, eh? :)
     
     
     

     
     
    Damn... it was bad enough when I just had Shane to contend with before I could get in! :D
     

     

  • 4/19/11 Tuesday Snippets

    ~*~*~
     
     
    * Junior has discovered the comfort of the bed, now it's warm enough that we often have the big fan at the bottom of it turned off. That fan put him off until now. He approves of silence and still air. :)
     
    ~*~*~~*~*~
     
    * I got my bill yesterday for my mammogram and ultrasound - $640!!! $640!!! OMFG. And that's with a $324 discount because I've no insurance! They want me to go back in 6 months for a check up. I think not. 
     
    * Thankfully our tax return was in on time, and will bring us enough to pay that horror, plus some work on the car that needs doing - new front struts and rotors, mainly. I gave it a good spring clean yesterday while the weather was dry, cleared out a whole pile of old rubbish and brushed the floors etc. It's looking GREAT now. :)
     
    * The garden is coming on nicely! The recent mix of warm days and showers has done it well.
     
    ~*~*~~*~*~* 
     
    As well as the garden, all sorts of spring plants are making themselves known, including the Mayflowers...
     
    ~*~*~~*~*~
     
    and Jack-in-the-Pulpits. :)
     
    ~*~*~
     
    ~*~*~
     
    * I had to go into work today for a mandatory meeting, about what to do in case of danger and disasters etc. If there's a tornado warning, we have to make sure every resident has a blanket on their bed - I had this image in my head of 50-odd old folks grabbing the corners to make parachutes and floating away like Dorothy... hehehe. 
     
    * And d'you know, I'm out of things to say! As Shane said in his blog today, it's a dreary, rainy one - I think it's catching, lol! Ah well... I'll get this posted and write a book review I've been intending for a couple of weeks. :)
     
    * In the meantime...
     
    ~*~*~~*~*~
     
    Tune in my Head
     
     
     

    What's going on in your world? :)

  • 3/31/11 Pictorial Fudge Heaven :)

    Yesterday I posted this recipe for Bill the Bacon Binger. At the time I hadn't actually made it, but that wasn't the case for long! Me and Shane headed out for a grocery shop soon afterwards and here's what happened when we got back... :)

     
     
    Who needs air freshener or scented candles when you can fill your home with the glorious scent of frying bacon?
     ~*~*~
    ~*~*~
    TIP: if some doesn't cook quite crispy enough for the recipe, eat it. Just make sure you don't do it on purpose. ;)
     
    Glance over and think how cute Junior is, asleep on Shane's knee while he's blogging...
     
    ~*~*~~*~*~
     
    For melting the choc/condensed milk/butter/cream mixture - If you don't have a nifty free natural gas flame outside to do this, and an old breeze block to sit on, don't worry. Go ahead and use one of those indoor gas/electric rings on one of those fancy cooker things. Will work just as well but you'll miss the experience of snowflakes gently melting down your neck while you're stirring. Bummer! :P
     
    ~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~
     
    I've never bought condensed milk before, but a taste of it on the spoon brought childhood memories flooding back. When we were kids, Mum used to put a couple of tablespoons of it into bowls and stir in hot water, to which we'd add Shredded Wheat. It was a proper treat, especially in winter, and the taste hasn't changed over the years! I miss my brother. :)
    What foodstuff smell/taste reminds YOU of childhood?
     
    Once you've mixed the crumbled bacon and pecans into the chocolate mixture and poured it into the pan, Put it in the fridge to chill. And cry, because four hours is SUCH a long time.
     
    ~*~*~~*~*~
     
    Console yourself with the fact that as the cook, you have the prerogative of licking the spoon. :)
     
     
     ;
     
    AND that all the left over whipped cream can be added to the coffees to which you've already added good slugs of Canadian Club whisky, which you also splurged out on while shopping. WOOT!
     
    Play with Picnik for a while and turn a pretty boring photo you took while outside melting the choc mix into something you actually like...
     
    ~*~*~*~*~*~
     
     
    ~*~*~*~
    Cake pans - $1.91
    Whipped Cream - $2.79
    Condensed Milk - $1.50
    Choc chips - $3.69
    Pecans - $4.69
    Bacon - $3.99
    Butter - $2.98
    1.75 liter bottle of Canadian Club - $25.05
    Total = $46.60
     
    An evening of cooking, reading, drinking and good conversation, ending in going to sleep slightly drunk and happy as anything - PRICELESS. :)
     
     
    And breakfast in the morning ...
    -~*~*~~*~*~
     
    Omigod. Heaven. The chocolate is rich and sticky but not so overwhelming that you can't taste the bacon. YUMMMMMM!! 
    It's just as it says - sweet & salty. 
    Delicious. :)

  • 3/8/11 Okay, it's DEFINITELY Spring now!

     

    The maple sap run is almost over... the trees are about to bud and the flow of sap is slowing right down because they want it for themselves. Fair enough! Shane's got more than enough syrup jarred now. ;)

     
     
    Junior is AWOL these last couple of days... we saw him snoozing on Roger's porch earlier today - along with the Lady cats and kittens from last year. He ran in briefly to grab a mouthful of breakfast this morning while I was half asleep, and disappeared out again with indecent haste - it seems he's discovered what his nuts are for. Hehehe.
     
    Sitting outside smoking a ciggie this evening, I heard the PEEPERS in the creek for the first time this year. WOOT!
     
    Yes... it's DEFINITELY Spring! Any more snow now? It's "Spring Snow". :P
     
     
    Spot the Junior...
     
     
     
     

    ~*~*~*~

    ~*~*~*~

    ~*~*~*~

    ~*~*~*~

     
    Taken a few days ago, before the kid got all growed up. *Snif...* :)

  • 2/27/11 For the Cat lovers (Z Man, don't bother, lol!)

     

     
     
    Junior in Spring
     
    ~*~*~
     
    Cat Haiku

     

    Negotiating
    No-man's land: carpet alive
    Flea season again

    I need a new toy.
    tail of black dog keeps good time.
    pounce! good dog! good dog!

    The rule for today
    Touch my tail, I shred your hand
    New rule tomorrow

    In deep sleep hear sound
    cat vomit hairball somewhere
    will find in morning

    Cat, fearless hunter
    leaves 'presents' for me near door
    next time I'll wear shoes

    Grace personified,
    I leap into the window.
    I meant to do that.

    Night. Now come night-mice.
    I chase them 'round on loud feet.
    You can't see them too?

     

    Blur of motion, then --
    silence, me, a paper bag.
    What is so funny?

    You never feed me.
    Perhaps I'll sleep on your face.
    That will sure show you.

    The mighty hunter
    Returns with gifts of plump birds --
    Your foot just squashed one

    You must scratch me there!
    Yes, above my tail! Behold,
    elevator butt.

    You're always typing.
    Well, let's see you ignore my
    sitting on your hands.

    My small cardboard box.
    You cannot see me if I
    Can just hide my head.

    Terrible battle.
    I fought for hours. Come and see!
    What's a 'term paper'?

    Kitty likes plastic
    Confuses for litter box
    Don't leave tarp around.

     

    Small brave carnivores
    Kill pine cones and mosquitoes
    Fear vacuum cleaner

    Want to trim my claws?
    Don't even think about it!
    My yelps will wake dead.

    I want to be close
    To you. Can I fit my head
    Inside your armpit?

    Wanna go outside.
    Oh, shit! Help! I got outside!
    Let me back inside!

    Oh no! Big One
    Has been trapped by newspaper!
    Cat to the rescue!

    Humans are so strange.
    Mine lies still in bed, then screams!
    My claws aren't that sharp ...

    Cats meow out of angst
    "Thumbs! If only we had thumbs!
    We could break so much!"

     

    Litter box not here
    You must have moved it again
    I'll crap in the sink.

    The Big Ones snore now
    Every room is dark and cold
    Time for "Cup Hockey".

    Hair hanging, straight, long
    One of my favorite things
    Female visitors.

    I seek new places
    Cupboard doors hide secret realms
    Meow when I get stuck.

    I like to roll dice
    From the box, one at a time
    I will steal them all.

    James has a squirt gun
    When I eat the plant, he shoots
    I wait till he leaves.

    We're almost equals
    I purr to show I love you
    Want to smell my butt?

    The food in my bowl 
    Is old and more to the point
    Contains no tuna.

     

    So you want to play. 
    Will I claw at dancing string?
    Your ankle's closer.

    There's no dignity 
    In being sick - which is why
    I don't tell you where.

    Seeking solitude
    I am locked in the closet.
    For once I need you.

    Tiny can, dumped in 
    Plastic bowl. Presentation,
    One star; service: none.

    Am I in your way? 
    You seem to have it backwards:
    This pillow's taken.

    Your mouth is moving; 
    Up and down, emitting noise.
    I've lost interest.

    The dog wags his tail, 
    Seeking approval. See mine?
    Different message.

    My brain: walnut-sized. 
    Yours: largest among primates.
    Yet, who leaves for work?

     

    Most problems can be 
    Ignored. The more difficult
    Ones can be slept through.

    My affection is 
    conditional. Don't stand up
    It's your lap I love.

    Cats can't steal the breath 
    Of children. But if my tail's 
    Pulled again, I'll learn.

    I don't mind being 
    Teased, any more than you mind
    A skin graft or two.

    So you call this thing 
    Your "cat carrier." I call
    These my "blades of death."

    Toy mice, dancing yarn 
    Meowing sounds. I'm convinced:
    You're an idiot.

    Author Unknown

     

    (From Flippy's Cat Page. :)

     

  • 2/27/11 Just... y'know... Stuff

    ~*~*~

     
    * I wonder if the Z Man's cat ever gets to sleep as soundly and blissfully unaware as Junior. Somehow I doubt it! He's so comfortable indoors now, when he chooses to come in... :)  He's sticking his wet nose on my arm as I type, wanting supper. I guess I'd better feed him before he starts yowling - he never did that when we fed him outside! - and wakes Shane up. Brb!
     
    * Difficult to open a tin of cat food quietly... hehehe. But Shane sleeps on, and Junior tucks in. :)
     
    * Dawes Arboretum, down the road from us, have only just tapped their maples and hung buckets to collect the sap a couple of days ago. Bloody hell! They're slow off the mark! Shane tapped half a dozen here some two or three weeks ago and we've got almost enough boiled down for a good couple of 12oz jars already! And more on the go, too. Maples need a few freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw cycles for sap to run properly - I think Dawes have left it well too late.
     
    * Mom flies off to London on Monday, a trip she's been planning and looking forward to for months. I wish I was going with her! London will always have a fond spot in my heart as a place where lots of good things happened - passing my NCLEX exam, and passing my interview at the American Embassy. Plus that wonderful, unexpected day I spent sightseeing after the exam, when I'd thought I'd be in the exam room all day! Mom's going to bring me back some Walnut Whips and OXO stock cubes. WOOT!  English chocolate is the BEST. :P
     
    * Shane was explaining to me about car oil additives like Slick 50 this evening. I'm not a mechanic... and he was searching his brain trying to think of a "kitchen analogy" for me, lol! The difference between men and women... 
     
    * We eat a lot of cottage cheese. The tubs come in handy for leftovers when they're empty... it's a bit of a lucky dip when you pull one of five tubs out of the fridge as to whether you're actually going to find cottage cheese in there or not! I nearly made a cold beef stroganof sandwich earlier. Eeeee! 
     
    * We did a bit of work on the garden today. We're scaling right down from the enormous thing we've had the last two years, to just a small 4' x 6' area. Once Shane's working too, which will be soon now winter is almost over and the heating system doesn't need such round-the-clock care, we just won't have time for a big garden. So we'll plant some stuff in the small plot, and leave the rest to be taken over by volunteer tomatoes and whatever else re-surfaces from last year. We like tomatoes, so it's all good. :)
     
    * Saw a trailer for a new movie coming out, "Source Code". It looks good! And we've decided we're actually going to go to the movies to see it, woot! The last movie we went to see was ages ago, so this I'm looking forward to! It'll be nice to have a "day out" that doesn't involve the Post Office, recycling center, and laundromat, lol!! :D
     
    * I'm really, really missing my old camera, my Vivitar Vivicam 8325. Since the motor burned out and it died on me, I've bought two cameras... an Olympus something-or-other which I hated and gave to Roger, and a newer model Vivitar, which I'm not feeling the love for either. It has a digital zoom but not optical, so distance shots aren't up to much. And its macro facility is practically non-existent. I wish I'd been bright, and just bought another 8325. Ah well... it's my birthday in a couple of months - I might treat myself. Yay. THAT'S a plan!
     
    * I recently read "The Broken Shore", by Peter Temple, and can't recommend it highly enough. I started it on the Saturday afternoon, and had it finished by Sunday evening - literally a book I couldn't put down! I'd never heard of Temple before, but it seems he's written many crime novels and won several awards... I'll definitely be picking up more of his stuff before too long. Set in Australia, this book was both awful and wonderful at the same time. I LOVED it.
     
    * That's about it. I'm going to check the sap one more time, turn the flame right down so it can be left overnight, and head for bed. G'nite guys! :)
     
     
    Tune in My Head
     
    "Undertow" - Helen Watson