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*I've been and had my eyes tested this week, for the first time in some four or five years. The exam was a couple of days ago, and today was the "dilation test", where they stick drops in to dilate your pupils and check for any diseases. And I officially have "beautiful eyeballs", so the optometrist told me. Great!   That photo was two hours later at 3.30pm... they're just about back to normal now at 6pm.
And thanks to a link posted by Bill, for Zennioptical.com, I'll soon be the proud owner of two new pairs of specs... a pair of progressive bifocals ~

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~ and a pair of single lens specs for driving, in case the progressives are troublesome ~~ both with anti-reflective coating, and just $77.20 including postage. WOOT! I do so LOVE a good bargain. Thanks Bill.

*I had to call into work after the eye exam on Monday, to pick up a turkey, lmao! The bosses had got one for every member of staff, how cool is that?! I haven't cooked a turkey in forever. It's currently finishing defrosting in the fridge, ready to submit to my ministrations tomorrow morning. It'll be getting cooked in Pop's oven, and it should be a good Thanksgiving Day. Not the huge celebration which Mom held in the barn last year, with some 20 relatives, but a smaller family gathering with me and Shane, Pops, and Shane's sister and nephew. I'm looking forward to it.

*We've been tentatively talking about the possibility of Junior coming with us, whenever we leave the tree farm and get an apartment. He's such an outdoor cat, and with all these acres to roam, I don't know if he'd take to living in "suburbia" and going in and out via a cat-flap. But we're going to see if we can get him round to the idea of coming in now and then... maybe set a litter tray here in the camper van and shut him in overnight, just to see how he feels about it. He looks a bit dubious about the idea at the moment...

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But who knows... we'll give it a try, anyway. He might be a bit more willing now the weather is starting to get cold. Fingers crossed!

*This is how cold it's been today. I think my days of washing dishes in my lovely outdoor kitchen are at an end... *sigh...*

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*I finished reading "Empire", by Orson Scott Card.The book in itself was okay, though not (to me, anyway) anywhere near as good as his "Ender" series. What I really DID like though was the style of its writing. It's very clipped, and lacking in much descriptive detail... not much emotion at all, either. It's more a catalogue of events, without any superfluous detail. A major event happens well into the book, and it was written so sparsely that you could almost have missed it - there was no "Omigod!!" about it at all. I've never read anything written quite like that before, and it was perfect for the story... as Shane said when I was telling him about the style - "War IS terse". Spot on.

*I'm really looking forward to meeting Lil Zeebers when it's my turn to play host to him for a week, somewhere around the end of January. Hehehehe. Click here to read what I'm on about, if you don't have a clue who Lil Zeebers is. Shane asked "so what does everyone get out of it, besides the entertainment?" My reply... "Nothing. But the entertainment is what it's all about!".   I think Shane's looking forward to it, too. He's had a few ideas of his own already. Hehehe.

*EXTRA "Dessert Delights" Mint Chocolate Chip chewing gum. Omigod. Heaven in a wad in your mouth.

*After stating emphatically that I want a dry winter because of driving, I'm now hoping for snow. I bought a new pair of snow boots last week and can't wait to try them out! They're supposed to be good down to minus 25F. And what's really nice about all this recent new stuff - snow boots, glasses, teeth filled, tyres and struts for the car etc - is the not having to worry about paying for it all. We're not going crazy, but it's a nice feeling to have a few bob in the bank.

*It's time for me to try and get in touch with my bro again, I suppose! This was the last I heard from him, back in July, on Facebook...

Hey Susie Wong!!!!!!!

I`m so so sorry Sue but since i got back i`ve had trouble with my phone and internet, which isn`t surprising considering i was away for 2 and a half months in the end!!
First, i`m really pleased for you and i`m just glad that you`re happy!! Things seem like there going well for you hey!!
Well where do i start?!! I`ll try and keep this short!!

Went to Thailand beginning of April to do some work on a property and also take a break ish. Was supposed to be there for 4 weeks then come back to do work here. My friend has a brand new 3 bedroomed house with swimming pool in a place called Chumphon which is way down south and stunning. Also it was all free for me so i wasn`t complaining!!
Anyway, about 3 days before i was due to fly back i had the accident. Was on my motorbike riding back from the beach when a pack of stray dogs came out of nowhere. I swerved to get out of their way but clipped a foot peg on a high curb. That flung me over the handlebars and i took the full impact at 30mph with the centre of my face on the sharp corner of a concrete pillar. I was unconcious for over 4 hours until some guy found me and took me to a hospital. Woke up just as they were sticking needles in my wounds to numb it all for stitching, pure 100% agony!!!
Basically i`d spilt my forehead, broke my nose in 2 places, from my nose to top lip was spliced in two, slit my throat, dislocated my left shoulder, sprained my right wrist, and had multiple bumps, bruises and cuts everywhere!! Apart from that i was fine!!! Haha!! The bike was ok though!!!
Couldn`t fly back until 21st June in the end. Oman Air were fantastic and never charged me anything to change flights, etc, which helped ease the pain! Hospital fees, etc cost me over 7500 but to be honest i`m very very lucky to be alive or have permanent damage. I`ve had to go to hospital here in UK for scans, etc. I have post trauma concussion which gives me blinding headaches and numbness in the back of my head, this could go on for up to 2 years apparently. And the Thai doctor sewed my lip together wrong so i have quite bad nerve damage which is such a fucking pain. Again, if they don`t operate then it could go on for 6 months or more and i have to take these anti-depressants which act as nerve blockers.
All in all, i count myself lucky, although i feel a bit of a dick sometimes cos i occassionally dribble now when i drink and eat which is highly embarrassing, especially when i`m trying to chat up a bird!!!! Hahaha!!!

I`ll write you a proper email soon to let you know what`s going on in my life and my plans for the future, which have all changed again!!!

But dont worry, i`m fine and alive!!!!

Love me xxx

*Shakes head in despair and laughs out loud* THAT'S Geoff, all over! I haven't heard from him since, though I did send a couple of messages back. I might see if I can give him a call on Skype over the weekend.

*Last but not least - I've been realising lately, just how precious time is. Since going back to work and not having much to speak of just to chill out and do nothing... or do what I want to do, at any rate. I've hardly given the new camera a fighting chance, and haven't done any "creative" writing since god knows when. It didn't seem as bad somehow in England, I guess because work was a short bus ride away (and I could at least read on the bus!), and my shift patterns were totally different. I'm learning to really appreciate the time I can spend on myself now. It's a very precious commodity.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! I hope YOU all enjoy the time you spend celebrating tomorrow, whatever form that might take.

Tune in My Head

1) Shane's daughter was here from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon and we all had a brilliant weekend. On Saturday we went grocery shopping and called at a garden center on the way home ~ we splurged $40 on a couple of trays of goodies including HERBS!! which I'm chuffed about. I'd planted pots of various seeds but they didn't do anything, and I think Shane knew how disappointed I've been so he indulged me. I now have a "proper" herb garden. I love that man.

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2) On Sunday, M and I went for a wet walk in the woods, it was teeming down! But fun anyway.  Everything was so fresh and green and gorgeous, including the honeysuckle...

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We came across a "shelter" Shane and M made together several years ago ~ a bit rickety and draughty but still standing and even growing a new roof on the top, hehehe.

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4) Luckily, I counted $33.50 in quarters we have saved in a jar ~ that's a good start!

7) I never did get round to writing letters back home over the weekend. I've been suffering with really bad pains and cramps in my hands for months now, and actually using a pen and paper to write a letter is too much to stand at the moment.  I'm going to have to type some and print them instead, omigod! Ugh. It rankles... it doesn't seem right! But I'm sure Eric et al will understand.

8) I've found a website I'll be having a good nosey at. We've got tons of burdock growing all over the place here, so I want to have a go at expanding my culinary repertoire of "things to cook from the woods". (I can hear Z Man laughing already!  ) I used to LOVE dandelion & burdock soda pop as a kid ~ if I can learn how to make my own I'll be well chuffed.  :)

He doesn't know he's born, does he?!

BIG POT!

Before...

After!!...

After finishing the last batch yesterday, I've got 12 4oz jars and three 12oz. THICK!  Thanks for the opinions and advice! 

Juniorette is enjoying the warmth and sunshine too; she's finally started to go exploring around the place a bit, instead of sleeping under The Oven 24/7. It's good to see her looking well, fur groomed and fluffy, and just being a cat.

Discovering a liking for onion shoots...

Yes love, that's my CLEAN copper pot! Don't even THINK about it!

And yes love, that's a hose, with running water... so you'd best stay away from the pot, eh?!

She's lovely. I'm totally smitten. She's sat on the step now, looking in at me through the screen door. Okay Juniorette, I'll come out and play for a while.

* I wasn't going to blog today ~ it's been a busy one, and I was hoping Shane might get home tonight as he's delivering here in Ohio. But his clock has run out of driving hours and he's still waiting to be unloaded, so he'll be spending the night at the Pilot. Bummer.

* But look on the bright side! No covers being dragged off me when he rolls over in the night, and I get all that space to myself!

It looks very ruby-coloured, but I think that must have been the lighting or something ~ it's actually a deep brown, thick,and delicious. Oh yeah...  This weekend we're going to play about making some sort of labels for them. 

No wonder I had "sticky keys". And still do. *Sigh*. It was impossible to get it completely cleaned out, and when I tried to get the whole base out it sort of stuck in the middle and wouldn't budge, no matter how I tried to pull at it. I now have a slightly bent , non-working keyboard. I should learn to leave things alone.

* I had a great morning out with Roger yesterday! We called at the Goodwill store, and although they didn't seem to have a flesh-coloured spandex ski-suit (sorry Bill, I tried! ), I did find the bargain of the year... a full-length, dark green velvet bathrobe with long fluted sleeves and ruffled neckline. WOOT! "Bathrobe" doesn't do it justice, it's absolutely gorgeous. Victoria's Secret! And... only $5!!! Omigod. I nearly fell over. I bought it for Shane's daughter for her birthday next month. She's really into gypsy/renaissance type stuff, and I know she's going to LOVE it.

* We also called at one of Roger's favourite Pawn shops, they stock a load of ham radio gear and he's as much into that as I am Multiply. They were selling DVDs, $5 for TWO, and I found "The Boondock Saints"!! OMIGOD!!! It was recommended to me a bit back so I ordered it at the library and It Is AWESOME. Well up in my top 5 favourite movies, and now I have my own copy. I am chuffed to BITS!  

* I officially  "have a cat" now, if such a thing is possible. I tend to believe they own you, and have had plenty of past experience to prove it. Anyway, Junior's status has been raised from "stray cat living under The Oven and being given a bit of food" to fully-fledged My Cat.

When he first started sleeping in the warmth of The Oven just before Christmas, he was such a sickly, poorly thing that we didn't really expect him to survive long. He was the runt of last spring's litter and had to fight for his food up at Roger's trailer from the get-go ~ Roger feeds LOADS of them up there. Then in the summer he tangled with a raccoon, we think, and got his mouth badly injured. So things weren't looking too clever when he moved down here. For a good week or more we couldn't get him to eat. He justed wanted to be warm.  His chest rattled like he was drowning, and his left eye was so badly infected we thought he'd lose it... even now I'm unsure of what his sight is like, it's very odd-looking compared to the other. His mouth was also still not healed, and we fully expected a dead cat at New Year.

He made it through though, and over the last couple of months he's come along nicely ~ not quite in leaps and bounds, but slow and sure. His chest infection worsened a couple of weeks ago but I started giving him a quarter of a Vitamin C tablet crushed in his food, and that's much better.

His mouth is healed completely, but he's been left with a lump right in the middle of his lower lip, which makes it difficult for him sometimes. The "entree' type mushy cat food gets squished down into the bottom of the bowl so he can't pick it up, and some of the chunky stuff in gravy is too big. Poor little bugger! But I do what I can to help, and he's doing Alright.

And I really think... when it gets to the stage of putting a folded towel down as a blanket, and splashing out $15 on flea drops and a brush, that makes him a bit more than "just a stray" we feed. When we get an apartment eventually, I think it'll be a ground floor one. With a cat-flap fitted.

I  Junior.  He's never going to win any beauty contests and he's likely to remain a scrawny, sickly thing. But that doesn't matter to me. He's just lovely.

I'm moving over some of the blogs and photos mentioning Junior, my beloved and MUCH missed cat from the Tree Farm. He was My Cat for a couple of years and I was totally in love with him. We'd hoped that when we got an apartment we'd be able to bring him with us, but this place we're in now isn't suitable at all so we decided to leave him with his Momma and cousins back at the Tree Farm. Sadly, about the time we were moving here in April this year, he disappeared, and despite Pops and Roger keeping an eye out and going looking for him, he never turned back up. We can only think the worst.

He'd found his way to us in late December 2010, the runt of that Spring's litter and then having tangled badly with a raccoon in the Fall. He was near to death - face all ripped up, a bag of skin and bone, and he'd crawled under the hot water tank fireplace outside our camper to die. His chest was so congested he sounded like he was drowning, and he could barely stand. Shane said we should let nature take its course and let him die, at least in some warmth. So I went along with that and made the decision along with Shane not to feed him or tend to him. This was country life, and it's hard as Hell.

But Shane gave in first, lol, and started feeding Junior juice from a tin of tuna with a dropper. I cleaned his face each day with cotton balls, built him a wood platform at the side of the tank with a towel to sleep on so his face wouldn't be constantly in the dirt adding to his breathing problems, and started giving him Vitamin C in his food. He was still really sickly and we didn't expect him to live. But he did... and I spent the next couple of years with My Cat, who totally stole my heart and became one of the most important things in my life.

You wouldn't believe how much I miss him. I can hardly walk by the cat food in the store without choking up, and I know I'll shed a few tears tonight while I'm moving my memories of him here. I know in my heart that he's dead - either run over or got into another fight with something he shouldn't have on the Tree Farm. But at least his life was happy with us, and he knew he was loved.

Click for weather forecast

My man

~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~

Cool dude, that Einstein.

And another cool dude, that Darwin.

And yet another cool dude, that Jimi.

The following is a genuine open letter written by a real Public Defender. I heard it read out on a radio podcast this morning and thought it was more than worth the effort of playing it back, sentence by sentence, so I could scribble it down and type it up to share with you guys. Some adult content, and definitely "no holds barred".

These are GENUINE answers given by contestants on various quiz shows on radio and television in the UK. After my stint on "The Weakest Link", where I got to the final and answered "what boy's name, beginning with 'L', comes before 'Corporal' to give a rank in the British Army?" with "George?", I shouldn't really laugh... but I just can't help myself!

Thanks for the email Andy... this is one of the funniest ones I've read forEVAR!