I am a grandma!

Another week of vacation to get through.  Woohoo! Went to the canal today.  Not a good idea.  Kayla and I are both limping tonight.  Getting old is a bitch.  Nothing much happening at the canal.  Haven't seen any wildlife.  My heron hasn't been around, no ducks with ducklings, haven't even seen the turtles.  The only picture I have taken is of a dragonfly: Other than that, it has been pretty boring.  I am not complaining, mind you.  Boring can be good once in a while, just not for too long. Not much else to report.  I checked about my baggage with the airline today.  I think I have it all clear.  Luckily my bag that contains the blankets, etc. is about 30 lbs.  I am allowed 50 lbs.  I know my other bag is not going to weigh that much.  So I am going to be OK.  Anyhow, have a great week, my friends.  TTFN

Spent a lovely day.  Didn't do much of anything except rearrange the pictures on my wall.  One wall was not easy as it is completely concrete.  Hard to get the nails in.  I did it though! Got a call from my son today.  Question:  Mom, how much do you love your son? My response: Depends on what he wants. Just a ride to the Costco to get some stuff.  No big deal, an hour and a half this afternoon.  Bought a couple of books from our library.  $1.00 each.  They were Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series.  It is up to # 17.  I have 14-17, but I really like the early ones, so now I have 3 & 4.  A fun read. I was taking Kayla for a walk in the park tonight.  Saw this 20 something year old doing yoga.  She had herself bent like a pretzel.  I haven't been able to bend like that in years.  Bitch. Hahaha. Just jealous as I hobble around. I will sit here and have a drink and watch Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  Have a great rest of the weekend, my friends. TTFN

Not a lot happening today.  went to get dog food, took Kayla to the canal.  Even the short walk on the canal was too much for her.  I am taking it easy. Unfortunately, my arthritis is really acting up right now, so I can't do much.  Kayla and I made quite the sight limping along the canal today. Vacation is a bore.  Gas is so expensive right now, it is not worth going anywhere.  I was going to go visit my cousin in Ottawa, but she is apparently away at a conference in the States.  So I am not going. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. TTFN.

Had a great shopping day, which is weird as I hate shopping.  Other than that, we  took it easy as both Kayla and I are having problems with our arthritis. I decided that I was having real problems with the quitting smoking so I bought the patch.  I know I have an allergy to the patch, but I have Benadryl cream, so I am going to try them together.  I think I have a better chance with them both. Washed all my floors, so I am pretty clear on the housework.  A few things left to do, but not much. Anyhow, all I have to say for today.  Have a great weekend my friends. TTFN

I can't believe this.  The neighbor who snubbed me a couple of days ago started chatting me up today because she needed help figuring out her scanner.  Talk about moxie.  Told her I couldn't help her.  Last night I called her on the building intercom to tell her she left her car window open, She starts telling me that I could have closed it for her.  Even though I kept telling her I thought she had electronic windows, she kept telling me I could have just rolled them up.  NO.  I thought she had electronic windows which means you need to start the car to close them.  Didn't realize they were the roll-up kind.   Then she starts saying how the alarm was set anyhow.  Doesn't have a clue, does she? It was quite cool here this morning, only 19.  So we stayed close to home.  Didn't know if it was going to rain as it was quite cloudy all morning.  Not a very exciting vacation, but better than none. Not much else to say.  Knees are hurting (damn arthritis), so I am going

I blame being on vacation for not posting yesterday.  Not much has been happening, so there really hasn't been anything to write about Kayla's lump in her leg is getting smaller, yeah!  The weather here has not been very cooperative, so we haven't been able to do much.  I am doing something completely foreign to me.  I am taking it easy. Nothing else much is going on.  I am still nervous about going to Nairobi.  Other than that, nothing much.  God, my life is boring right now.  But then, that is summer.  Not a lot happening.  So, keep well, my friends. Not much else for now.  Stay well and have a great summer. TTFN

I have a neighbor that I have been ??friends?? with for about 20 years now.  This is the type of person that you need to take a step back from every so often so you can recharge in order to deal with them.  Mentally, I don't think she has ever advanced over the age of 16.  She complained to another neighbor that she missed seeing me and talking to me, yet when I ran into her today and said HI, she looked away and completely ignored me.  This is typical of her.  I don't need this shit.  She constantly runs hot and cold.  And, of course, it is all about her.  Nothing much else going on.  I feel so tired today.  I guess it is from the 3 days of extreme heat.  It cooled down quite nicely today, but I feel drained.  But I am on vacation, so it doesn't really matter.  Didn't do a heck of a lot today.  Started watching the Harry Potter movies on DVD from the beginning.  Fun!  I am just trying to keep Kayla calm so her leg heals.  I hope you all have a great week.  Stay w

A really lazy day here.  Started off with walking the dog.  Came back, did a few things then walked the dog again.  It is a lot of short walks with the heat right now.  Good thing I am on vacation. My son and I went to see the final Harry Potter today.  A little sad.  this is the end of an era.  We started going to see the movies when they started about 10 years ago.  Now the last one has aired.  At least he made a date with me and we went to see it together.  Nothing much else happening.  I think it may be a slow couple of weeks.  Can't go to my cousin's place because she has a young dog that likes to leap on Kayla.  Kayla tried to run with a couple of dogs at the canal and ended up limping later, so I think the leg still needs rest. Just had my 10th bath since Thursday.  The heat is supposed to break tonight.  It is supposed to go down to a wonderful 18 degrees.  Great for sleeping. Wouldn't it be lovely if I won the lottery tonight.  Think of all the great thing

OK, I slipped.  I got rid of the package and am starting over.  Don't know what happened.  Just had to have one, or two.  But that is it. Kayla and I went to the canal early this morning before the heat arrived.  She swam for about a half hour then met 2 other dogs on our way back.  She played for a few minutes and then we came home.  I guess she still needs to rest her leg, she was limping a bit when we got back.  I got some work done in the house.  Don't know why I didn't think of this yesterday when it was so bad, but the next time I had to take her out, I hosed her down in the tub with cool water.  When we went out she wasn't panting half as bad as yesterday.  Granted yesterday was like 95% humidity, today had barely any and a nice breeze, but I think she felt better being wet. Had a great dinner.  I made a cold pasta salad with little green peas.  I topped it with  a cucumber dressing which I jazzed up with a mixture  of sea salt, lemon and dill.  It was so g

Weekend and holiday.  Two weeks no work.  Yahoo!  I can get to all the little things I never get around to. Can't believe this.  I found a blanket my son left here when he moved out 5 or 6 years ago.  Actually it was in the locker, so I decided to wash it and bring it to the DSWT.  It is on its 4th washing and the water is still coming out brown.  Eeeew.  I am determined to get it clean. So hot today.  I almost fell asleep at my desk.  Even with the fans, it is no better.  Gave Kayla her bowl of ice cream.  Can anyone explain why dogs don't get brain freeze when they gobble ice cream?   Let her go into the pond in the park a couple of times.  Seemed to help her cool down.  If we do the canal tomorrow, it will probably be early.  As I sit her complaining about  the heat, I can't help but think of how the animals cope with this. I am also a bad girl.  I sit here smoking a cigarette, which I gave up a while ago.  I don't know what made me cave, but I had to have one.

Oh, wow.  Just finished reading A Dog's Purpose.  Story is all told by the dog(s).  It is actually the story of only one dog who keeps getting reincarnated 3 times.  The story is a little banal at first, but the last half is incredible.  I went through at least a dozen tissues.  So beautiful.  Better than Marley and Me. I have a neighbor that used to work in a library.  She has often recommended books to me.  I brought her up the book I just finished.  A week ago she told me she had read the reviews and it looked really good.  I handed it to her and she told me it wasn't a book that really interested her.  Huh?  Talk about your mixed messages.  She also doesn't understand why I buy books and don't just go to the library.  I feel like books are good friends that you can pull out and read again.  When I get  a book I read it voraciously, then the next time I read it, I do it more slowly and capture what I missed the first time.  I don't think she has ever read a boo

Well, started off the day real good.  Unlocked my bike to find I had a flat tire.  Not just any tire, the back one that has the gear attached to it.  Oily chain, etc..  Lovely.  Had to walk to the nearest store, buy a new tube, and change the tire.  Of course, I couldn't get the brake cable back on.  Luckily, I talked to one of the guys at work that do various repairs.  Just wanted to borrow an allen key.  He ended up coming over and fixing it for me.  THANK YOU!  I had enough grease on my hands this morning. Only a couple of more days and then I am on vacation for 2 weeks.  YES!  Sleeping in (is 8:30 sleeping in?)  Walks along the canal with Kayla.  I love it. It is officially 90 days until I leave for Kenya.  I am getting so excited.  Just have to do my Visa application.  Lots of time for that.  I just know that I am going to burst out crying when I see all the babies.  How is it so possible to love something so much that you have never actually seen? Anyhow, tomorrow is go

I didn't post anything last night.  We had a thunderstorm with high wind and I had a neighbor sitting in my apartment.  She is afraid of wind.  So, nothing got done. Got my shots this morning.  Not too bad.  Still, I'm a big baby when it comes to needles.  Don't like them. It was really too hot to do anything much yesterday, so Kayla and I just chilled in the apartment.  We took lots of short walks.  Finished up with all the sculptures, now I can bubble wrap them and put the safely away so nothing happens to them.  Kayla already knocked one of my Muddy Butts off the shelf.  It is all fixed up now and on a higher shelf where her tail can't reach. Ah, Monday.  Really hate Monday mornings.  The afternoons aren't too bad.  But I forgot to bring my lunch today, so I will have to go "forage for food". Jade and Rudy, playing with the water. Kayla about 8 weeks old.   Pooh Bear, Jade, Brother and Rudy. 2 brothers, 2 sisters E.J.

We went to the canal early this morning.  I wanted to get there before the heat got too much.  Got quite the surprise when, instead of open fields, there was a sound stage and kiosks all over.  Parks Canada, which runs the canal, was having an Appreciate Parks Canada day.  There was going to be a big concert later this afternoon. Let Kayla go swimming in the canal.  After she got out, she went into puppy mode and was running around and playing.  She had such a good time. Got home and decided I had to finish all my sculpture stuff.  Kayla knocked one of the ele butts off the shelf, so I had to fix and repaint it's leg and tail.  Then I had to paint the ele that I will be bringing to the DSWT.  Now that they have been fixed and painted, etc. I can start putting them away before the cats knock them over and destroy them. As usual on a Saturday, nothing on t.v. tonight.  Have a great rest of the weekend, my friends. TTFN

I seem to have lost a cat!  Woke up this morning and she didn't come for breakfast.  There is a hole in my window screen.  She has never been outdoors.  I am not going to panic yet, she might turn up when she gets hungry.  I hope so.  Of course, the dog who is so great at finding things outside doesn't even sniff when I say Find Jade. Did my groceries, hung some pictures, washed the kitchen curtains. Did that all this morning while it was still cool.  Still lots to do, but it is so warm, I just can't get motivated to move.  Maybe I will wait until the sun goes down a bit and then get the rest of my work done. A p.s. I have been around the area about 6 times today calling for Jade, but have not been able to find her.  I hope she comes back soon. Have yourselves a great weekend, everyone. TTFN

Yeah, it's my weekend.  Had a good supper, am now enjoying a glass of white wine.  The next two days are going to be stinking hot. I have my appointment for my shots on Monday.  Gosh, even after paying the plane fare, travel is really expensive.  My boss is really great, she told me I should probably take Monday off as the shots might affect me.  Told her I would see how it went. My secret addiction is on: Big Brother.  It is just so much fun watching everybody being idiots.  The backstabbing, etc.  Well, it is summer and there is not much else on. My lemon seeds have taken off.  I have eight little treelets growing.  Can't wait to see if they keep growing.  I have a green thumb with african violets, it seems, but not much luck with anything treelike.  Had to stop trying bonzai's after the third one died on me.  But I do have 2 ficus in my office.  One is huge and I have had it for about 10 years.  The second was started from clippings of the first one.  It has lasted

I am still fighting off the urge to have a smoke.  Haven't bought any, so I am doing pretty good.  Have had so much good support from my friends.  Started a FB group to ban animals from the circus.  Be interesting to see how far it goes and how people take to it.  Just so much evil happening in the world, anything to help bring awareness.  Cheri and I decided that today should be International "Hate Animals in Circus" Day.   These are just a couple of banners I came up with quickly.  Can't wait to see if any of the artists out there come up with some really great ones.  Need them on the group. Anyhow, not much else going on.  Listening to all the bangs from the International Fireworks Competition.  Hope that ends before I go to bed. Have a great Thursday, everyone. TTFN

Not much happening anywhere.  Everyone at the University is away on vacation, students have gone home, except for the newly accepted students who have to come see me.  But I get the bulk of those in March and April.  Of course, nobody has sent me their outline, I can see them all coming in the week classes start. Bought the new Janet Evanovich book today, so I'm all set for reading for a day or 2.  The last two she did were a little boring, so I hope this one is better.  It has good characters, though. Kayla's swelling has gone down to at least half its size, so she must have strained something.  The vet thought it might have been a huge lipoma and wanted to try the medicine to see if it would do anything.  It did, so we don't have to worry about surgery to remove anything. Two more days of work, then the weekend.  I think we will be able to do the short walk at the canal this weekend.  Yay. I think I am doing it this time.  I don't know why quitting smoking has

Oooops, it is actually Tuesday.  I posted on FB that it was nearly 10 p.m. and I would be going to bed shortly as I had a very restless night before.  Next thing I knew it was 11:30.  I must have fallen asleep watching Master Chef.   Took the dog for a very quick walk, then went to bed.  Well, I think I am making good progress on quitting smoking.  I had a couple of drags this morning, a friend offered me a smoke.  I lit it, took 2 puffs and had to give it back to them.  I got so dizzy and nauseous, so it must be starting to take affect.  I really believe I can do it this time.  I have never gone this long on my own without some kind of aid like the patch (which I am now allergic to) or the pill (which makes me sick).   Only use the Nicorette gum maybe once a day.  Anyhow, I have student due very shortly.  So I better get to work.  TTFN

Took Kayla to the canal early this morning before it got too hot.  We just walked slowly with lots of rest and I let her stand in the water.  She seemed to really like that.  Poor girl wanted to play with a couple of other dogs, but I couldn't let her. When we got home, a neighbor suggested we sit out for a while, so back out we went for another couple of hours.  I am going to sleep tonight!  Kayla is already in her crate sound asleep.  I keep her crate in the living room with no door on it so she just goes in and out as she wants. I'm not doing to bad with quitting smoking.  I think I will actually make it this time.  Yeah! Think I am going to go relax in a nice bath now.  Need to wash off the sunscreen.  Back to work tomorrow.  It's 81 degrees out right now, and tomorrow is supposed to go up to 101.  The sunshine was great this weekend.   Supposed to rain tomorrow evening and that's fine. Have a great week, everyone. TTFN

Realized I forgot to post anything yesterday.  Had Kayla at the vet, unsure of what the swelling is around her front armpit.  So she is on anti-inflammatory medicine for the next week.  The vet tried aspiration, but nothing came out.  Thinks it might be soft-tissue  damage combined with the onset of arthritis.  Needs to rest and take it easy for a while.  So we are doing lots of short walks. Woke up this morning with a migraine.   I quite often get them on Saturday mornings if I sleep a little later and don't get my caffeine on time.  So both of us are taking it easy today.  I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend. TTFN

Oh, my lord.  Even with the gum and the electronic cigarette this is really hard.  I feel horrible.  I did bum a cigarette from a neighbor who has bummed many cigarettes from me.  Oh, I feel terrible, dizzy, nauseous, how did I ever get past all that to become addicted. Not much else for today.  Kayla is going to the vet tomorrow.  I hope it is only a pulled muscle.  All for now.  TTFN.

Well, I am trying it again.  Hope this time I can quit smoking.  No, I will quit this time.  Gosh, I've been smoking for about 40 years.  It would be nice to wake up and not hear my breath rattling.  I'm o.k. when I am busy, it's when I don't have much to do that I start reaching for one.  Can't keep any in the house anywhere.  I CAN DO THIS. My friends on FB are going to help me.  I have asked them to nag at me.  This will help a lot. I really appreciate Facebook, it has connected me with so many wonderful people.  So many differences, opinions, feelings.  I love it. Was thinking that any money I don't spend in Nairobi will go right back into a savings account and hopefully I can stay for longer next year.  Something to really look forward to. Have my appointment to get my shots on the 18th. Looking forward to it, NOT. The Trust has a new baby, sweet Mumbushi.  He must have seen such atrocities, but he is trusting the keepers already.  I plan to adopt

I need a support group.  I have tried to quit smoking, and get a couple of days in, but end up just wanting one and I go out to buy a pack.  You guessed it, I smoke the whole pack.  I have friends, but they are not really supportive.  I know if I got nagged a bit, I could do it.  I have always been able to do anything I set my mind to, except for this one thing.  Well, I will try again. Nothing much else happening.  It is really hot here the past couple of days.  I'm not complaining, I have had enough of the cold.  Had a couple of magnificent thunder storms.  Love turning off the lights and watching the lightening. The rest during the day seems to be helping Kayla's leg, she hasn't been limping.  I tried putting an icepack on her armpit where the swelling was.  Should have seen the look on her face.  Absolutely priceless. Anyhow, I think I am going to take a nice shower and relax for the rest of the evening.  I have the fans going, I don't like AC.  It is nice at

It is with great relief that I found out my girl has fatty lumps.  The alternative was just too horrendous to think about. It was back to work today, so nothing too complicated there.  As I said, summer, so nothing much happening.  It was a little irritating to see an e-mail from my boss informing someone that she was on vacation this month.  It would have been nice if I knew that. Other than that, nothing much happening.  Have a great week my friends. TTFN

Ahhh, work tomorrow.  I really don't do well with so much time off.  Turns out, on top of Kayla having those lumps, she also pulled a muscle yesterday.  The next few days of rest are going to be good for her.  We are keeping a low profile today, just taking it easy with slow walks. It is evening here now.  A thunder storm is brewing outside.  Hear the thunder, but no rain yet. Spoke to a neighbor earlier.  People amaze me.  Eleven years ago, we had a bad fire in the building next to us.  I had to be out of my apartment for 2 months.  Mostly water damage.  Anyhow, my neighbor was saying how she smelled smoke last night, looked out her window and saw a garbage bag on fire, kids playing with matches.  She said she saw a person from the next building out with his dog, so she didn't do anything.  When I asked why she didn't call the fire department, she said the kids would have been long gone by the time they arrived.  I told her they would have got a description from the ot

Spent the best time at the canal today.  Lots of sunshine, warm, just a little breeze.  The ideal summer day. Funny, even though I had sunscreen on, I still got a little red today.  Nothing painful, but I thought sunscreen was supposed to stop that. Kayla has 2 lumps on her.  From everything I have read, it seems they might just be fatty lumps.  I hope so.  With E.J.  I discovered the lumps in his neck and he was gone 6 weeks later.  Don't want to lose Kayla just yet.  Love her so much.  We were at the canal for nearly 4 hours, so now I am a little sleepy.  Kayla hasn't come out of her crate since we got back.  Actually, when we got back, I gave her a bowl of ice cream, then she went into her crate.  Still sleeping.  I think I wore her out.  We played ball, she chased a stick, went swimming.  Just watching the movie Ghost.  Love that movie even though it makes me cry.  Whoopie Goldberg is great in it.  Love her bowlegged walk when she is walking away after giving some n

Well, it was Canada Day.  Yippee.  Someone else took over the arrangements for the BBQ and entertainment.  It just wasn't the same.  There were no familiar faces and fun things to do.  I got my hamburger done on the BBQ, so that was something. Just came in from walking the dog.  The catalpa tree, what Beth calls a bean tree, is in full bloom in the park.  This tree has large, wide leaves and gets beautiful flowers that remind me of orchids.  The smell is just so lovely.  Not overpowering.  And in the fall, it get these things that look like giant string beans.  These are the seeds. Not much else happening today.  I tried to seal my sculptures, and the eles broke.  I think I have figured out how to do them now, tried to make another one tonight, but had to put it aside.  Just can't do it. Anyhow, the weatherman has not gotten it right all week, but if tomorrow is what it is supposed to be, it is going to be gorgeous so I will head to the canal with the dog.  Have a great w