Friday's Feast - One Hundred and Forty-Nine

Welcome to Feast One Hundred & Forty-Nine
for
Friday, June 22nd, 2007

Pull up a chair and dig in!
Friday's Feast is a meme of five questions
cooked up by the chef each and every week.
Enjoy!

Appetizer
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?

Five....My wedding band, engagement ring, my Mom's wedding band, a diamond Forever band that My Sweetie gave me for our 20th Wedding Anniversary, a necklace with some charms.

Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song?

Classical Gas

Salad
Who has a last name that you like?

Now, I never really thought about that, to tell you the truth. I like my names, both maiden and married. They both have character, and are sure to invite others to challenge the pronunciation.

Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.

Being a royalty fan, The Queen, for one, although there are a zillion movies that I have never seen...my loss I suppose.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.

Nothing makes me laugh like My Sweetie (he really does!). Actually, to be correct, that would be, Nobody makes me laugh like My Sweetie.

The Aftermath - A Sequel

This is going to be a short post, mostly as a follow up the The Aftermath.

I mentioned how BJ had been gravitating to CoCo's previously inhabited spots. Well, I just had to post this most recent picture of him, relishing of course.

BJ in what was CoCo's Basket

I also managed to have one last photo of CoCo. This was taken one week ago.

CoCo...asleep on a pair of Mommy's jeans

Little did we know.

The Aftermath

Well, it's almost been a week since posting about my CoCo. It's been a tough week, and the break was needed. It was difficult trying to deal with things and with the new situation at home. It was very hard for me to even think of posting something new above CoCo's sweet little face. It broke my heart, but I wanted to give CoCo her time in the spotlight...kind of like a grief period.

Before I post, I want to express my gratitude to everybody who called, sent kind thoughts, hugs, and words of comfort. Somehow, gestures like that always seem to help one to get through the pain....and they really made a difference to me. Thank You!

A few things have happened since last Friday. When we came home to try to sort things out, and sort out our heads and our hearts, my inbox held a few surprises. One of those surprises was receiving The Rising Blogger award for a very special post called Look Through Any Window. A special thank you to Skittles for nominating me and also to Judd Corizan at The Rising Blogger. I was so upset over CoCo, that when I saw the award, I sobbed.

I also received 2 separate Rockin' Blog Girl awards, from Ruth atThere are a Million Stories in the Naked City and from Skittles at Skittles Place. Again, big thank yous.

I'm so tickled with the awards, that I think I am going to keep them forever on my blog.

Now, this post would not be complete without an update on BJ, our remaining kitty. You see, BJ will be 15 years old at the end of this year. He has never lived without another kitty in the household. This is his first solo gig, and I have been keeping a close watch on his behaviour. Now, I know that animals don't experience emotion. They don't feel happy or sad. They don't grieve. But they sure do have a sense that things have changed.

A little background.

In the past, if I were to sit on the couch, CoCo could have been anywhere in the house, but somehow she would magically appear and be on my lap. If BJ had the opportunity to be on my lap, and if CoCo entered the room, she would boot him off my lap, because it was her territory.

BJ has been on my lap every single night.

In the past, when it was time to go to bed, CoCo would grab her spot on the bed, resting behind my butt.

BJ has been doing something very similar each night.

In the past, CoCo spent many hours during the day in a kitty basket by the back door.

BJ has now claimed that basket as his.

I am not quite sure if, by gravitating to her old spots, he is missing her presence, or if he is doing a Happy Dance at being able to be the king cat. We'll have to figure out if we're going to get him a new little friend or not. Right now, I think we're going to let him enjoy all of the attention.

We're Hurting

CoCo
(1997 - 2007)

Today has been a sad day. It's very difficult to do this.

Too many tears. Too much ache.

The day started with our beloved Coco kitty not behaving normally. Not eating or drinking, and generally looking uncomfortable. We kept an eye on her, but she was looking as though she was in pain. My Sweetie brought her to the vet, twice actually, since they were busy on the first emergency visit. When they checked her out the second time, she had a large mass in her stomach. They said they could have operated, but a positive outcome was unlikely.

There was no option but to put her to sleep so that she would not suffer.

She was only 10 years old.

Coco, was a special kitty. I remember when we got her. We were at the PetSmart, where they had the section for adoptable cats. She was one of three Calico kitties - named Pepsi, Coke, and Sprite by the previous owners. Sprite had been adopted, and Pepsi and Coke remained. Pepsi was a very scared kitty, but Coke (later to be renamed CoCo) came to the side of the cage and rubbed and rubbed and rubbed as if to say "Love me", "Take me home".

And so we did.

When we got her home, to become the fourth of the feline family, she didn't know quite what to do, so she proceeded to find the top shelf of the nearest clothes cupboard, and gaze down upon the world beneath her, while she burrowed down in an old comfy quilt. Little did we know, that this once scared and timid kitty would blossom into the beauty that we knew her as.

She was a total lap cat. If I sat on the couch, she was sure to join within 10 seconds. Not today though. She could only manage to huddle into a more or less comfortable position on the floor.

She would always come to sleep with us. She would usually start on my side, behind my butt, and eventually would saunter over to another more inviting area. Last night was the last time she slept with us.

Over the last couple of years, she began to be more vocal. She had started to "meowp" each time we would say her name. "CoCo"...."meowp"..."CoCo"..."meowp".

Both of us are stunned and in shock at what has happened. We cannot get our heads around this one. There were no signs. She was as normal as anything prior to this.

So, as I write this, My Sweetie and I, with BJ resting on the floor beside us, are editing this to pay homage to CoCo.

She was a very special kitty to us. She was one of our kids.

We will miss her. We already do.

The Never Ending Swimming Pool Construction

For about a month now, a neighbour down the street has been installing an in ground pool. That means that for one month, it looks as though the street has been having major construction. Trucks everywhere. Construction crew everywhere. Dirt everywhere.

All for one little pool.

It's been noisy, with all of the trucks that have had to participate in this adventure. Today, there is a long flatbed truck, a rectangular cube type truck, a dump truck, a cement truck, a forklift type vehicle, various pickups.

And lots of half clad men running back and forth from the backyard to the front.

The grass is ruined too, since they had to rip up some of it to create a runway for what I call the R2D2 transporter.....a little forklifty type of thing that moves materials around. It zips back and forth with great speed and regularity.

By now I assume the pool is in, and that the current work being done is to fill in with cement. But who knows. Maybe there is another month of work yet to take place.

I think that with all of the noise and disruption that they've caused in Sleepy Hollow, they should have one huge pool party, and invite all of the neighbours that have been affected.

*fat chance that will happen*

Happy Summer arrival y'all.....

Happy 1 Year Anniversary To Me!

The First Time...

The first time that I ever decided to do a blog, I chickened out. Sure, I viewed other blogs, checked them out, even found some of them interesting. Never thought I'd want to have one of my own (like a dog - always nice to admire other people's dogs but would never own one).

So here I am, composing my first blog entry. No one can tell me what to write here. This is my space, for now. Maybe it will become a really interesting space, or maybe not, but for now it is my space, and a space for me to crawl into.
Labels: 2006 Post, First Post

That was my first post, exactly one year ago today, so Happy 1 Year Blogging Anniversary to me! As you can see, I didn't really have a plan for the blog, but I knew that I had some gaps in my life, and I needed an outlet for expression. It was not meant to be an outlet for complaining (although that does happen sometimes), nor an outlet for griping (again, can happen), but kind of like an invisible friend, who I could talk to.

Through blogging, I got linked into various groups, participated in the meme circle, and just plain got creative. I blogged about nosepicking (not me!), and the creepy guy, and created the tch-tch-tch sound to imitate the wild creature who inhabited our attic. I also dabbled in some technical stuff from time to time.

In the end I found few dear friends with whom I connect on a regular basis. You know who you are, in alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone..... (Jeni, Lattégirl
, Mairin, Silverneurotic, Skittles (EarWorm Infection Alert ------Roberta Flack...The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face..just for you), Terry Queen of the Dorks). I always appreciate your comments.

So, as I embark on a second year of blogging, wish me luck. Who knows what lurks in the hallowed blogging halls?

Addendum as of 10:54 pm ET - Thank goodness that I write and own these posts. That allows me the freedom to add things, like a recognition of some other fine bloggers who stop by to visit.....again in alphabetic order....bobbygriffin, bundle-o-contradictions, Calibar Gal, cats ~ goats ~ quotes, Claire, Comedy+, Crazy Working Mom, Creechman, dawn, Dawnae, Dirk_Star, Donna, elementaryhistoryteacher, FalnAngel7, Felicia Lippenstein, Frances, FRIGGA, Hootin'Anni, Indiana Amy, Jaycee, Jenny, JHS, Joseph C. Harris, Jules, Juzahlyn, Karina, Kim, La Tomate, Leigh, lisa, Lori Madison, Mags, Martie, Melanie, Michelle, Mike, Mimi Lenox, Miss Paula, Missy, Morgen, Mz Jackson, Ruth, RW, Sassy Mom, tegdirb92.....Thank you!

The Typical Flying Dinghy

We are sailors. We spend our time around many types of vessels, but predominantly, sailboats. All shapes, sizes, and colours of sailboats. It's a marvelous world. Most of these vessels have an additional boat that is towed either from the stern, or hoisted in davits at the stern.

Little boats called dinghies. These little, and some not-so-little rubber boats can get you into some really special coves and spots that the bigger boats can't get into. They can get you to a town dock for shopping. Or they can get you to the next boat-neighbour for afternoon tea.

But we have one special fellow who has a dinghy of a different colour you could say. This is what we call the Flying Dinghy. The flying dinghy is fitted with a motor and a sail, and can glide through the air, high above us, and then, when ready, can come in for a landing on a piece of open water.

"Click on the images to enlarge"

Circling the runway...um waterway.

Preparing for take off.

And we have lift-off...just look at those trees.

High above the clouds now...heh heh.

Helloooooo down there.

Coming down for a landing....beside this big boat. Maybe they want a new dinghy!

Little flying dinghy...happy at last.

Father's Day

I just came back from a northern weekend, and I decided to visit Skittles' blog. She prepared a heartfelt post to commemorate Father's Day, and it prompted me to follow suit.

Now I had been trying to forget that today was Father's Day. I try to forget Mother's and Father's Day now. It just hurts too much. It was sort of easy to forget today, because it didn't seem that people were doing anything big to honor their Fathers. Sure, there was the odd Father's Day sail taking place, or a special BBQ or breakfast or phone call. But mostly it was quiet.

It's been eleven years since my Dad passed away. We never got to celebrate Father's Day that year. he was taken away before that. But then I got to thinking. I remember when I was a little girl. I would make a card for my Dad for Father's Day. He'd always be happy with whatever I did or gave him. He didn't expect the world. In fact, he didn't expect anything. Just a simple guy with simple wishes. Mostly wishes for me. That I be safe. That I be happy. That I be loved.

So Happy Father's Day.

And, Dad? I think I am.

and thanks to Skittles, whose post allowed me to post.

Friday's Feast - One Hundred and Forty-Eight

Welcome to Feast One Hundred & Forty-Eight
for
Friday, June 15th, 2007

Pull up a chair and dig in!
Friday's Feast is a meme of five questions
cooked up by the chef each and every week.
Enjoy!

Appetizer
Fill in the blank: The best thing about where I live is ___…

we have tree frogs at night.........

Soup
Create a new name for a deodorant (like “Flower Fresh” or “Shower Scent”).

"My Armpits Don't Smell Like A Stinky Gym Bag" ahhhhhh, I can smell it now!

Salad
What was the last piece of software you installed onto your computer?

Printshop deluxe and some clipart software. Nothing too exciting.

Main Course
If you were to receive a superlative award today beginning with the words ”Most likely to…”, what would the rest of the phrase say?

A superlative award eh? hmmmm. Let me think. Most likely to be working out at the gym. Most likely to be following Weight Watchers (I'm Lifetime). Most likely to be at the boat. Most likely to be scrapbooking. *stop me now!!!*

Dessert
What two colors do you like to wear together?

Now that depends on the season. In the fall and winter I love to wear dark green and black together...pretty morbid eh?In the summer, I like your good old nautical red and navy or yellow andtan (okay, not so nautical, but our boat has yellow trim...gotta match ya know).

Wordless Wednesday

Duck On A Dock

"Early one morning, just as the sun was rising
I heard a maid sing in the valley below"

Not quite.

Early yesterday morning, while we were asleep on our boat, there was a visitor. First, there was a tharimp. Then a tharump. Then pad-pad-pad-pad-pad-pad.

Ms.Duck had arrived, having found some nice smooth fibreglass to land on.

Mz.Duck: 'mmmm this great. I think this is a fantastic place to preen my feathers, and clean my beak. It's so nice and quiet, and I can see the calmness of the marina while everyone is sleeping. In fact, it's so quiet, that my feathered friends would really be able to hear me if I called them right about now.'

'QUACK quack quack quack.....QUACK quack quack quack QUACK quack quack quack

*multiply this about thirty times and you'll get the picture, although you probably cannot imagine the VOLUME!!!!*

The loudest cacophony that you ever heard. The quacking went on and on, and seemingly awoke everyone on the dock.

Well not quite. It never bothered me. I, the sleeping rock, slept through the whole thing. Never heard a single quack. Duck? What duck?

Friday's Feast - One Hundred and Forty-Seven

Welcome to Feast One Hundred & Forty-Seven
for
Friday, June 8th, 2007

Pull up a chair and dig in!
Friday's Feast is a meme of five questions
cooked up by the chef each and every week.
Enjoy!

Appetizer
What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food?

The ultimate snack food for me (note that this only hits when I am not being good with what I eat, and this hasn't happened in a long long time) is either cheezies (which I totally adore) or else it is Pringles potato chips dunked in Coke.....that is the ultimate.

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name?

Now, I guess it depends if it is my maiden name or my married name. If it's my maiden name, then I don't think it is very popular at all, although it has gone through various spellings, so if you count that as popular, then I guess it is. Now, my married name could be popular. I know that there is some soap with the same name, jewellers, and just yesterday I noticed a sponge with the same name.

Salad
Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why?

My favourite sitcom character was Mary Richards from the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Now THAT was television. Gosh I sounded OLD writing that particular line!!

Main Course
Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies.

Yes....www.Lang.com for small wall calendars that I can't find in stores. www.mint.ca for my coin collecting habit (when I have money that is...heh heh money to buy money...cute)

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I think ___________ should be ___________.

I think I should be rich.

Hey, Hey, Hey, It's My Lucky Day!

I won some money in the lottery! Okay, so it's not a million, nor is it a thousand, not even a hundred. But it's a dinner out! Woo hoo!

This really is a first for me. I don't think I have ever won anything in any sort of draw, except when I won a free PTS sampler by breaking a balloon at the gym party.

Now lately, we have been spending a minimal amount each week on the lottery, and have been winning small $$ plus free tickets. Perhaps that was the incentive to keep going. As they say, if you don't play, it don't pay.

A couple from Barrie just won 32 million I think it was. They can retire, and then some. If we won that, I think we'd be on our way south for a long time. Job? What job? Mortgage? What mortgage?

If nothing else, playing the lottery certainly provides an avenue for dreaming, for creating the what-if scenarios. What if we won 5 million...what would we do? My mind reels with the possibilities. I think I'd like to get a pool and a hot tub. I know, I know. I could buy the whole damn street a pool and a hot tub.

And a pool boy. To take care of the pool....and hot tub....and the towels....and the iced tea....*and get your minds out of that gutter*.

*again I dream*

I remember my Auntie Helen used to play Bingo; used to buy lottery tickets. In fact, I recall that she had a lucky streak in her, because she was always winning something. She's probably still playing Heaven's lottery and winning big.

I remember My Sweetie's Aunt Nan expressing that the Jaguar was her vehicle of choice. I would have to agree. That would be on my list.

Perhaps a new sailing vessel. Hmmmmm. Jeanneau? Catalina? Vauquiez?

*again my mind stirs*

Of course I would need to get new workout gear. Heck, I could buy a whole gym and manage it...no wait...pay someone to manage it. An investment, that's the ticket.

Ah "to dream perchance to sleep"

Dream on my little chickens, dream on.

Clean Air Day

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Today is Clean Air Day, and also the Blog Blast for Peace Day. This may not mean a lot to anybody, but it should be a day to think and do something.

Do something to have a cleaner environment to live in.

Do something to obtain peace in our world.

Do something so that others do not go hungry in our world.

Do seomthing so that others do not sleep in the streets in our world.

Do something.

Anything.

We have so much. We are the world of plenty. Sometimes, we have too much.

Friday's Feast - One Hundred and Forty-Six

Welcome to Feast One Hundred & Forty-Six
for
Friday, June 1st, 2007

Pull up a chair and dig in!
Friday's Feast is a meme of five questions
cooked up by the chef each and every week.
Enjoy!

Appetizer
Name something you think is “the best.”

Goodlife Fitness and the instructors who teach at the Barrie club are The Best.

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 highest), how stressed are you today?

I am somewhere between a 7 and a 10 today. It is potentially another Black Day today at work, since yesterday was Black Thursday in other parts of the company. This has me pretty stressed.

Salad
What kind of cleanser do you use to wash your face?

Oh! An easy one. Hang on. I have to run to the other room to get the tube. Hang on. There. Okay, I am back. I use Neutrogena Deep Clean cream cleanser. A penetrating cleanser that improves your complexion (yeah right). Oil free. .

Main Course
Tonight is a blue moon! What is something that you believe only happens “once in a blue moon.”

You know, I really don't know. We don't have too many blue moons up here, and while I am familiar with the expression, I don't think I use it very much. Now, yellow or white moons we have many of, and lots of stuff happens, especially when those moons are full. Then lookout!

Dessert
When was the last time it rained where you live?

It rained a teeny weeny, little bitty, bit of rain last night. Not much. Hardly noticeable. So small that we hardly noticed it. In fact, the plants didn't even notice. Really! That little.