Welaxing Wisit

It was delightful to stay in Kelowna for 10 days. Todd said, upon seeing me when I returned, "You're so TAN!" I brought home fruit / veg from Packers' Co-op / Mom -- food as souvenir = confirmation that I am middle-aged.

Animals were extremely happy to see me. Magda now looks panicked every time I go outside.

We didn't do much. Helped Mom with some chores, so when Jim visits he can focus solely on painting the house instead of being distracted. You're welcome, Jim!

We had lunch at Cedar Creek Winery, ate some good dinners chez Mamacita, slept on the beach, drank beer. Although I am extremely relaxed, I do not wish to go back to work.

Todd is doing well! His blood tests show almost no infection left! He has one more week of IV treatment, then goes on oral antibiotics. One of his kitties isn't well, though -- although she's not in pain, she seems confused and lethargic, so he will have to take her to the vet and see what the situation is -- she's old, and she might have to be put down.

This fall, I hope to:
- get new fridge
- get bathroom renovated (Tim, want to come and tile? I'll make it worth your while....)
- maybe get new kitchen counter? (this might wait)

Kittens and the classics

I have seen a couple of these with animals freaking out to music. Someone really knows this music!

Black cat

Nick keeps finding ways to get into trouble.
On Friday, I came home to a note from Richard saying the cats had 1)barfed on rug in 4 spots (though I suspect Sebastian was responsible for this) and 2)Nick peed on rug downstairs in front of Richard. Defiantly, Richard thinks, because Richard did not pay attention to Nick earlier.
Today, I was downstairs watering plants, left cupboard door open. Where the cat food is kept.
Thump.
I come upstairs to see the Pounce cat treat can-which was on the top shelf-on the floor, with Nick frantically eating them and Sebastian trying to get his nose in, somewhat unsuccessfully.
He also keeps drinking out of the bowl on the table which contains roses. Why not his water dish, which has fresh water changed everyday? Because he prefers old flower water with potential to knock vase over on table.
He is a Very Bad Animal.
But charming and engaging.
He is lucky that he lives with us, I tell him. No one else would put up with this.
He just looks at me somewhat surprised when I tell him this.

Natasha Home?

So, I think I have Natasha back. I know that sounds weird, but the cat I got from the pound may be her but may not. Found in Mill Woods, her ears are shorter, she's a bit fatter, and her voice is quite different. But same white whisker, same look, same colour eyes. Not sure.

The Case of the Bedazzled Feline

I sometimes let Natasha out at night to run around and catch small mammals. She is usually waiting at the door the next morning, ready for food and sleep. Last week, I did let her out, and in the morning she wasn't there; I wasn't worried, though, because she is a smart animal and always shows up. After work, she still wasn't there. I was outside, doing a little bit of gardening, and saw her on the step. She had something around her neck. I looked closer, and it was a little heart-shaped necklace with fake diamonds on it. 

Two days later, she had disappeared for a while and again showed up at the door when I was outside. This time, she was wearing a set of multicoloured beads. 

Who is doing this?? I think she might leave me. 

Coffee

I am drinking some as I just got up from a night shift. It was super easy one-those are the days (or rather, nights) where I think, "I get paid how much for doing this?" I did manage to read some stuff about our pandemic protocol, so I'll have you all know that I spent my down time productively. The ethical guidelines were interesting, like who will get treated if the ER is flooded with patients? Who gets supplies? What are healthcare workers ethical responsibilities? Not only actual healthcare providers like drs and nurses, but also clerical and housekeeping staff are vital. I have thought about this, how would I feel going into work if I thought I might get sick, or bring it home?
On another life and death issue: I got stung yesterday while plucking dead flowers off our pansys in the windowbox-baking soda worked pretty quick, I went back to see if there was a bee corpse anywhere-none to be found. R.I.P. I thought, 'well, we already have a shortage of bees, now another one's gone'
Nick went missing last week for a day. I came home from a nightshift, door to deck wide open and no Nick. Mom thinks he may have figured out how to open the door, clever animal that he is, but I think one of us forgot to close it properly. So I woke up Richard, did a walk through the yard, shaking the Pounce can. Went to bed, Richard kept looking until he went to work. I woke up, went around the neighbourhood looking, talked to our neighbours. Then came home and cried. Richard got home that evening about 730. We went out the driveway to look shaking a Pounce can, and heard a small 'mew'. He came runnign over from underneath the neighbours car, smelling of car underside, but none the worse for wear. Sebastian hissed at him when Richard carried him inside. Angry about the smell? Sebastian doesn't seem to recognize Nick when he does this stuff. We never said he was the smart one.
We had a good visit with Will, though I was working while he was here=unable to stay awake and converse normally. He and Richard happily planted Mom's cedars and they sure look a lot better than the falling down fence. I'd like to try to go to Barkerville while he's up there. It has been years. Plus he could give us a personal graveyard tour!

learning plan

I should be working on that for my mental health course, but instead here I am updating.
I just finished 3 days, which on the whole were pretty great days at work. I planned a picnic in the park on Sunday, and 10 patients, me and another nurse, and 1 undergraduate nurse all went there.
It was fun, we played bocce, ate watermelon and cookies.
The rest of the days were good, except at shift change when things rapidly went downhill, resulting in me having to stay an extra 30 minutes due to a Code White. Sigh.
But we saw Fred and Christine, and Raeann that day on the way back from the reunion and we saw Fred and Christine on the way to the reunion.
As always, we enjoyed their company! They make me laugh a lot.
reunion sounds like it was lots of fun, I wish we could have gone.
It is hot here, supposed to get up again to 32 degrees today. The cats just lay around the house with their fur coats on trying to keep cool.
Did you know that they were originally desert creatures?

The Long First Day Back

Although coming back to work after 2 weeks' vacation doesn't suck as much as 1 week, the day does seem long. When do I get to take my nap again?!

Winnipeg Folk Festival was very good times. It was cruddy weather the Friday & Saturday, but although we all left the site early on Friday, I was the sole person of our little team to stay for Saturday, because I wanted to see Calexico. Worth it. Jim White was excellent -- he will be good in Edmonton's festival, I think. Some other highlights: The Acorn, Apostle of Hustle, Forro in the Dark, Basia Bulat.

Kirsten and I took turns driving back and did the trip in one day. Went surprisingly fast. And Isaac was quite good during the 12 hours in car. I've never done one of those long drives with a kid (except when I was one).

Cats are super clingy and chirpy now that I am home. Lettuce and swiss chard coming up on the front step, and tomatoes slowly growing (though not ripening yet). Haven't been to the other garden to see what's what. I imagine I'll have lots of weeds that are flourishing.

I'll be going to the Calgary folk fest, since Kirsten is going & I managed to secure a ticket. This is a Good Music Summer.

Seven Things To Do

Has anyone seen that Kids in the Hall sketch where the guy has a list of 7 things to do? That's how I feel -- I have a list in front of my face & am consumed by said list. Although instead of packing up my goods, I seem to go home, drink a beer, eat dinner, have a bath, and go to bed. That's not very efficient! I think I'll do better tonight. I feel a bit more rested.

Cats like the moving boxes a lot. Older cats use them to hide from the kitten. Kitten uses them as teething tools.

My movers are booked for Dec 19, and they'll be moving some of Todd's big furniture as well. I get to take the day off from work -- we get a moving day! Thanks, taxpayers!

I'm hoping to do first painting this week and early next, and maybe paint the living room walls. It's not hard stuff, but I just seem to have some motivation problems with it. Not to mention with xmas shopping. Would any of you like a gallon of paint for xmas?

Welcome, tortoise

Mom suggested that I'm on the way to Cat Lady, but here is the new animal in my home! Her name is Magda, and she's settling in quite fine. Only mild hissing has happened between her & Petra & Natasha, and a bit of swatting. She's tiny tiny, and very squirmy, and purrs like a small wind-up motor.