Will we play by the rules?

Later this week, Conrad Black will be released from a Florida prison after serving the remainder of his sentence for fraud and obstruction of justice, charges he faced in the U.S. for his involvement in Hollinger International.  It is important to note he is now a convicted felon.  He is also a man who renounced his Canadian citizenship in order to take a seat in the British House of Lords in 2000 or 2001. 

Currently he and his wife, Barbara Amiel own his original family home in Toronto, Ontario.  Black has indicated he would, at some time, like to return to Canada.  I can understand that wish; however if the laws of this country are upheld he cannot regain his citizenship easily.  In fact, as a convicted felon, he is restricted from visiting Canada as well.  Since he's no longer a Canadian citizen and he was convicted in the US, he is not eligible for a pardon within the Canadian judicial system.

However, Lord Black is well-connected.  And despite the significant costs associated with his legal battles and restitution, he is still a wealthy man.  Black recently won a libel suit and the award was purported to be in the millions of dollars, and has recently sold a property in Florida also purportedly for more millions.  

The question to be answered is, will the Canadian goverment circumvent the laws of the land to allow Black to regain his citizenship?  Personally, I hope not!  I have little to no sympathy for this man and an interview with Black on W5 (CTV) which was taped prior to his return to jail earlier this year did little to create any empathy.  Black talks about humility, but in my opinion still comes across as an arrogant, pompous ass.  Despite the conviction he admits to nothing, and denigrates both the prosecution and the judge, with not a shred of humility to be heard.

I dislike the fact that he, who was so willing to give up his Canadian citizenship for pomp and prestige, is now suggesting that Canada should be his home.  But in the end, where he lives matters not, so long as his citizenship is lawfully attained.  It is all I would ask of any individual wanting to become a citizen of  this wonderful country I call home!

Caturday - a day late

I spent most of yesterday relaxing on the couch, napping on and off, and watching hockey.  I swear the hockey season is getting longer every year.  Pretty soon they'll just play year round.  Unfortunately none of "my" teams are still in the playoffs so my interest is minimal.

Luckily the cats were more entertaining.  Sasha found a toy in the basket (behind him) to play with.

Sami came to check it out too.  Sasha didn't want to share so he threw it under the tv stand.

He realized he could get behind the stand, but by the time he got there he'd forgotten what he was looking for (just like his Mom!)  I pulled out the stand and gave them the toy but by then they'd moved on to something else...guess I wasn't moving fast enough for them.

Sami figured since Mom was using the couch she could use her chair for a quick nap.

Sasha decided a nap with Mom was in order.  He looks a little irritated that I'm taking his picture doesn't he, lol!
In the meantime, Saku found a insert for D's shoe which he decided made an awesome toy.

He promptly sent it under the couch.  He tried mightily to retrieve it but his legs just aren't long enough.  I had to call D to come get it for him...he is her cat after all! BTW that blue bag has been sitting there since she returned a week ago from her trip.  I wonder when she'll get around to unpacking?

Apparently she didn't move quickly enough either so he stretched out on my chair for a quick snooze.

I didn't accomplish much yesterday, but I had a lot of fun watching the cats play.  It's hard to believe Sasha is nearly 12 years old.  He still plays the way he did as a youngster.  Sami is a little lot round (like her Mom) so tends not to run a lot but she'll follow her big brother around.  Saku is a true character, he prefers toys that aren't toys, like hair bands, crinkled paper, and the latest, the shoe insert.  I don't like feeling unwell but spending a day with these three is worth it once in a while.  I just wish it would happen on a workday instead of my time!

Hope you had a wonderful Caturday!

Rain, rain go away

Well, actually it's not the rain I wish would go away but the cool weather.  We need the moisture, I get that, but I miss not being able to use my sunroom or my deck.  It's just too cool out there, only 6C so I'm stuck indoors doing...housework! :(

I could also have given this post the title of pain, pain go away.  I woke up this morning with a headache, a stiff neck, and lower back pain.  The lower back has been an issue for awhile and I know I need to make an appointment with my chiropractor.  The neck pain and headache are likely due to the way I slept.  Sasha, Sami, and Saku were all on the bed with me last night.  I woke up this morning lying across my bed with one leg extended between Sasha and Saku.  Try not to picture it, it wouldn't be pretty!

I took some Tylenol when I got up a few hours ago but it's beginning to wear off.  I've managed to get the cat litter boxes clean, do dishes, and take out the garbage.  The rest  of my chores are going to have to wait.

Sami helped me by supervising from the box.

The good thing about the rain is the grass is beginning to green up.  It doesn't appear we'll find a landscaper available (and inexpensive enough) to do the xeriscaping this year.  Maybe I'll tackle the weeds instead.

Hope the sun is shining in your part of the world!

Some good news?

It's been one of those days...little things have gotten under my skin and I'm feeling out of sorts.  It started this morning at work when I asked my boss a question regarding an upcoming training course.  It was a simple question about who would be attending and how the decision would be made.  When I was informed that he "could not" tell me, I was literally shocked. 

It seems as though everything in our organization is under a cloak of secrecy.  I know I've written about the federal government decision to cut nearly 20,000 jobs in the next 3 years.  Most of the other departments have released the information to their affected staff.  We've heard nothing and it doesn't appear that any information will be coming soon.  Basically we're in limbo or perhaps it's more like purgatory!

One of the most recent news stories coming out of the government is the sense of entitlement by one of the Members of Parliament Bev Oda.  Ms. Oda travelled to London last summer for a conference.  Apparently she wasn't happy with the 5 star hotel she was booked into because they didn't have a smoking room available.  So she cancelled her room and booked into the Savoy at a cost more than double the original hotel.   Now she needed to travel between the two hotels since the conference was being held at the first, so she arranged for a car and driver at a cost of nearly $3,000.  And of course, she presented a travel claim for reimbursement.  Earlier this week, through access to information, the media (and of course the public) became aware of the excess costs.  Rather than owing up to her error, Ms. Oda initially insisted she had done nothing wrong.  However, in the past few days she's repaid some of the costs and apologized.  This story is so irritating...the sense of entitlement these politicians exhibit is frustrating and so, so very wrong.

And then tonight, I read on one of my favorite cat blogs Random Felines that Louisa had crossed the bridge on Tuesday.  She was an eight month old kitten who had come into her foster mom's care just days ago with six kittens of her own.  This pretty little girl lost her life, all because her previous owner couldn't be bothered to get her spayed and provide with the necessary vaccinations.  I am so angry over this apparent disregard for life.  Thank goodness for Jeanne and the work she does so that more cats don't suffer the same fate as Louisa.  My heart aches for the loss of a sweet girl who never had a real chance at life.

I'm ready for some good news. 

Wordless Wednesday

Mini Vaca - hurray!

I've just finished booking a mini-vacation for a week in May.  I am so excited!!!!  Can you tell, lol?
The last few weeks have been very stressful at work so I decided I needed a few days away to de-stress and unwind.

My friend K who, if you remember, was to travel with me to Saint Lucia and on the cruise last January but ended up being too sick to travel will be back from a trip to Morocco in time to go with me.  She loves to travel and will take just about any opportunity to go...especially if the price is right!  I was doing some checking on the web today and found a sweet deal on a 4 day cruise leaving from Vancouver, B.C. travelling to Ketchican, Alaska and then back to Seattle for around $500 per person.  If I were to book a get-away at a hotel and add in meals, the cost would be greater.

We even got our flights to and from for a really decent price.  And there won't be any hotels on either end of the cruise because the flight times work out perfectly.  We'll be in Vancouver within 9 hours of the cruise leaving port, and we fly out of Seattle 8 hours after arriving in port.  Easy, peasy as Jamie Oliver would say.

At this point, we're planning to board the ship as early as possible, then we'll head back into Vancouver downtown to visit Stanley Park.  K's been there but I never have.  I'm hoping we'll have to do a quick tour in Seattle as well.

There are so many things I love about cruising.  Not only do they feed you (extremely well, too much and too often but I think that's more my fault not theirs), but they also provide varied entertainment, and the service is first rate.  It's another opportunity to meet some interesting people, see another part of this world we live in, and just generally be spoiled.  No beds to make, no meals to prepare, no dishes to do...what's not to like?  Of course I'm sure it helps that I've never even had a hint of seasickness!  K is the perfect travelling companion...she lets me be lazy and read while she does aerobics or dance classes.   (Did I mention I like being spoiled?)

It's great to be able to take advantage of a last minute deal like this.  Someday I hope to win the lottery so I can do it more often.  In the meantime I'll continue to travel as often as I possibly can within the limitation finances and vacation time.

Have you got a favorite destination? 

Sleeping positions (updated with pictures, I hope!)

Well, there's one good thing about this new interface - all I had to do was copy and paste from my email and the entire post was there, pictures included.  Darned blogger...when I previewed it the pictures were there but apparently they didn't show for anyone else!. (Thanks for letting me know Trish)

This was too cute not to share - how many of these poses have you seen from your kitties? 

The Half Sit-up To achieve the half sit-up, you must begin with the intention of exercising your abs and promptly fall asleep midway through the task. This position is extremely advanced and not recommended for amateur sleepers. The Awkward Spoon The goal here is not so much for intimacy, as it is the socially uncomfortable sharing of your physical space with someone. Bonus points if your arm falls asleep and you're too scared to move it. The Cool Dude The trick here is to look totally relaxed while you're really extremely uncomfortable. Bed Hog The goal is not so much comfort, as an expression of sheer, unadulterated greed. Thinking Outside the Box Two of your feet - preferably on opposite sides of your body - must remain outside the box at all times. The Pile-Up You end up colliding with at least three others, and you are hoping they all have insurance. Be The Box You must be able to get your whole body in the box, no matter what it takes. Become one with the box! The Radiator Your main goal here is not about comfort......it's just about warmth. The Sleeping Dog This one is easy. Find a dog. Imitate the dog. The Positive Thinker You refuse to be let a bad situation get the best of you. The Drying Rack Imagine that you are a wet t-shirt. Drape yourself accordingly. The Head-Rush Lay on your back, head hanging off the side, paws in the air - and let gravity do the rest. A pounding headache will incur shortly. The Non-Conformist You will first need to find two willing conformists, in order to make your statement. The Mid-Sentence This position is only for those with extreme forms of narcolepsy. Some Assembly Required Have a friend take you apart and then try to reassemble you from memory. Same as above, except without the box. The Dog Bed It's probably the most comfortable bed you will ever sleep on, but smells kind of funky. The Dreaded Mid-Afternoon Slump Eating a big lunch, then falling asleep at your desk. The Old Married Couple Your mate's snoring no longer bothers you.

Enjoying the sunshine

What a beautiful day!   I woke up to the sun this morning - I always find it amazing how the light just lifts my spirits.  I made a pot of coffee and took my book out to the sunroom about  8:30 a.m.  It was still a little cool so I turned on the space heater for a bit, but within a half hour it was needed.  Now at 2:30 in the afternoon it's actually too warm out there (for me, not the cats) so I've the window open and the fan is on for a little breeze.

After starting the laundry and vaccuming the basement I took another break.  This darn back of mine is really giving me trouble.  I can't bend, lift, or push the vacuum for prolonged periods - it just aches and I need to sit for awhile.

The house is looking decent, but my yard is not, so after a short break I headed to the back yard.  Can you believe that the winter debris on this little strip of lawn resulted in a full bag?

It's starting to green up!

Unfortunately that was the extent of the work my back would allow me to do.  So I'm left with this

I always leave the containers in the fall and empty them in the spring.   At the old house I had a compost heap under the trees in the back yard to empty the debris.  There isn't the space in the yard at this house so I'm not sure what I'm going to do.  I read that I can retain a least a portion of the old dirt by adding good soil and nutrients to it this year.  I'll try that but I'll still have a pile of dirt.  I'm thinking I might fill in the old dog run (you can see the posts in the top left of the first picture) and try growing ferns as that corner is very dark.  Do you think Mr. Bunny would like that?

When I went back into the house, Sasha was hollering to be let out for a little bit.  I went out with him and he headed for the grass for a nibble.

He's such a good boy, when I called his name and told him it was time to go back in, he jumped back up on the deck and headed for the door.  I only wish Sami and Saku (especially Saku) would only be as well behaved!

Tonight I'll head out to the airport to pick up my daughter from her trip to Punta Cana and Toronto.   It's been quiet around her without her - that's about to change!

Finding time to read

I know I've mentioned in my profile that I like to read.  In fact, I love to read and I usually have more than one two book on the go at any given time.  
I grew up in a household where my parents read everyday.  My Mom was a huge fan of Dick Francis and other mystery writers.  My Dad taught himself to read French (at the age of 60) and his reading tended towards farming magazines and the Reader's Digest.  A trip to the local library was a regular event each Saturday.  I think I got my first library card when I was in grade one. 

I don't have a library card anymore.  But I still read - a lot.  These are the books I've read since I returned from my vacation in January.

This first group are true crime stories.  I'm not sure why this genre fascinates me so much but it does.  I don't read crime fiction though.

These are a couple of my favorite authors, Jean Auel and Edward Rutherford.  I'm always happy when their newest novels come out in paperback.  (I'm too cheap to buy the hardcover)/

I do buy hardcovers in the bargain section of Chapters.  In general these are authors I've not read before but when the price is right and the story sounds interesting I'll take a chance.

Speaking of bargains, our local Super Walmart has some great prices on books.  This is the book I'm currently reading.  It's a story of three families over three generations living in a fictional town in Texas.  It isn't a book that I would stay up all night to read but I'm enjoying the story none the less.

My friend C has suggested I get an e-reader especially for travelling.  But I think I'll always want the touch and feel of a real book.  They might be more expensive and heavier to pack but they take me back to my childhood.   I'm in my happy place when  I curl up in a chair to read, especially with a cat on my lap and a cup of coffee by my side!

April showers - at least it's not snow!

I did wander out once today to get the mail.  It's a short walk around the corner and by the time I got home I was cold and wet.  That was enough time outdoors for me!

The forecast for the weekend is for warm and sunny weather.  I've got plans to hang out with a friend tomorrow afternoon - coffee on an outdoor patio would be lovely!

Stupid people

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/04/19/bc-motorcycle-video-victoria.html

I had to share this story with you - it's ridiculous, frightening, and totally stupid!  This guy posted a video on You-tube of himself on his motorcycle travelling down a highway in B.C., at times reaching speeds of 300 km per hour (186 mph).  In the video he weaves in and out of traffic, often driving between two lanes of traffic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SIUTXIsJz3o

The video was posted by "Joe Blow", such an inventive name, apparently his lame attempt to remain anonymous.  Within days, the police were able to locate the IP address from which the video was uploaded, and are currently attempting to talk to the 25 year old who was likely driving the bike.

It turns out the bike is registered in his mother's name, he doesn't have a driver's licence, and has a history of traffic violations.

The bike has been seized by the police - hopefully he never gets it back.  In the meantime I wonder if Mom is going to ground Junior?

Wordless Wednesday

An evening at home

This is what it usually likes at my house on weekday evening.  Sami is snoozing on one end of the couch...

While Sasha snoozes at the other end...

Saku is on watch duty...what might be out there?  Maybe a bunny, a bird or another cat?

Or better yet he might find a bug in the house (picture is too small but the spider is there!)

In the meantime, when Mom got up to take the pictures...

Sasha steals her chair!
That pretty much sums up an evening at home for us.  Minus the bug.

Wild life

I wish I meant my personal life...but I'm not!

Jack (or possibly Jacqueline) has been hanging out in my yard a lot.  This weekend I spotted him/her sitting next to my garden shed.  Excuse the quality of the photo - the picture was taken from the sunroom and windows really need washing!  The bunny hung out for quite awhile until the neighbour cat showed up.

I had come out to the sunroom to see if Jack/ie was still there and spotted the cat.  I tapped on the window and it took off across my fence to the neighbour's yard.  I wandered to my bedroom to check what was happening next door.  It was the funniest thing - the bunny and the cat were facing off.  You know the way a cat's bum wiggles just before it charges?  That's what Jack/ie was doing!  The cat must have realized Jack/ie was about to lay a licking on him so he climbed the fence and made tracks.  (No picture as I didn't have my camera with me).  Hopefully the two remain separated - it could get ugly.

Later I was watching television and I heard a bird hit the front window.  It hit with such force I thought for certain it had broken it's neck.  I went outside to check and found it lying in the front flower bed and it seemed to be twitching.  I couldn't bring myself to touch it, even to put it out of it's misery so I left it be.  About 10 minutes I checked and the little guy was sitting up looking around and a few minutes later it starting hopping around the garden.  I've nicknamed him Sidney (for the hockey player Sidney Crosby) because I'm certain he must have had a concussion from that hit!  Later another bird hit the window but I saw it fly away into the tree, thank goodness.  I've lowered the blinds with the hope the birds will pay more attention....because apparently dirty windows aren't distracting enough!

I was chatting with a friend at work today and she warned me that Jack/ie might be nesting in my yard.  She could be right because I've seen two rabbits, one has less brown than the other, again proving that the wild life has a more exciting life than I!

Love you always, forget you never

Three years ago, on April 15, I had to say goodbye to my sweet girl Silver.  This picture is one of the few I have of her since my old computer died.  She loved her big brother Sasha and the two could often be found cuddled up together.

Silver came to live with us in December 2000.   I remember the night we brought her home from Petcetra so well.  We'd bought a cat carrier (pink) to bring her home and she was riding in the rear seat with C&D.  It was evening and as we drove along the children and I tried to decide on a name for our new kitten.  The staff at the store had called her Cupid or something silly like that since she was a mere 6-7 weeks old and it was nearing Christmas.  We tried several different names; the only one I really remember was Willow (for pussy willow since her fur was grey, soft and short), but when I mentioned how silver in color she was we all agreed she was Silver.
Silver was supposed to be my daughter's cat since Sasha was so obviously C's cat.  She spent her first few days living in D's room before we introduced her to Sasha.  It wasn't love at first sight, but they soon became best buds.  In fact, he was the only cat she ever really liked.  She and Sami were enemies from the start because Sami adored Sasha as well and followed him everywhere.  She barely tolerated the babies, Shady and Silas, and limited her contact with them as much as possible.  And when Saku joined the household I think she nearly had a nervous breakdown.
As a result she spent most of her time in my bedroom.  I had bought a chair at a garage sale for $5 and that was Silver's chair.  I would come home from work and she would be curled up sleeping.  While I changed,  she would unwind and stretch and let me pet her briefly.  Silver always waited until the rest of the cats had eaten their dinner before she would come out to the kitchen.  She was a picky eater and I doubt she ate more than a few pieces of kibble at a time.  She never weighed more than six pounds, truly a little dainty girl.

Silver was never a cuddler, the closest we got was when she would come sit on the arm of the chair or sofa beside me.  She would purr as I petted her, but only for a little while, then she'd head back into the bedroom.  She did like to sleep with me, between my legs (not the most comfortable postion) and would hiss at the other cats if they tried to disturb her.  For the last few months of her life she would occasionally come to lie on my chest (above the blankets) and purr each morning (perhaps she knew what was coming).

When Silver got sick, it all happened very quickly.  I had been away and came home to a puddle of yellow pukc (bile I think) in my bedroom.  I wasn't certain who had been sick, so simply cleaned it up.  By Wednesday Silver seemed very lethargic and limp so I took her into the vet's office to be checked out.   They determined she was dehydrated, so they hooked her up to intravenous fluids, rather some blood tests, and kept her overnight for observation. 

On Thursday she seemed to be doing a little better when I stopped in to see her after work.  I should have realized things weren't good because she allowed me to hold her on my lap for nearly 20 minutes.  All the while her tail was whapping my leg...the only way she had of expressing her displeasure.   Friday morning, I got a call at work that she had taken a turn for the worse.  When I got the clinic, it was obvious she wasn't going to get well so the decision was made to euthanize her.  They left me in the room with her to say goodbye.  As I stood there petting her, crying and telling how sorry I was, I felt her slipping away.  I had the thought she might go on her own without the drugs.  But then she began seizing and I began screaming for help.  The doctor came in and pushed the drugs and thankfully it was over in mere seconds.
I remember going home from the clinic and all the other cats met me at the back door.  I fell to the floor and cried for what seemed like days, holding them close and feeling like my heart would never be whole again.  A few days later I threw her chair in the garbage because seeing it in my room without her there was simply too painful.   She was far too young to die, she was only 7 1/2 years old.

Because we had no idea what had caused her death, I agreed to an autopsy. Unfortunately, there was nothing conclusive so I will likely never know. I suspect her liver failed, but the why is a question impossible to answer.  I did make a decision that day, that I would never allow another of my cats to suffer the way she did.  As difficult as it might be, I felt it would be easier if I made the decision based on their quality of life.  Not so as I would learn but that's how I felt that day.

Silver was a beautiful girl, she didn't have a sweet personality, but was loving in her own way.  We used to call her the Princess and that she was, a little bit of a diva and definitely a personality.  It might be three years since she left us, but her memory is still close, and I would give anything to have her near me again. 

Love you always, forget you never my darling girl Silver.

Distracted productivity

That's a mouthful of a title isn't it?  As I consider what to title today's post, this came to mind, along with the thought that it was bit of an oxymoron.  Apparently, however, it's how I work best.

I'll try to explain what I mean.  As I posted a couple of days ago, my daughter D is sitting on beach in the Dominican Republic courtesy her employer.  This morning, my son C left for work about 8 a.m.  I took the opportunity to curl up in bed to read but after a couple of chapters I was restless and ready to get moving for the day.

As usual, one of my first tasks is to start a pot of coffee. While it was brewing I cleaned up a few dishes left over from last night's bedtime snacks and cleaned off the counters. As I was tidying I recalled that the oven needed cleaning, so I pulled out the racks and sprayed the oven cleaner. Since the coffee wasn't quite ready, I gathered up the garbage and took it out to the bin. On my way back I realized the recyclying needed to be taken out. On the way back in from the garage, I pulled the vacuum out of the closet. Before I started in on that, I realized the coffee was ready and decided I was ready for a break!

You get the picture...it was one of those days. I'd start one task, then another, stop for a coffee, go back and finish a chore, so on and so forth. I'm pretty pleased with myself this evening - I accomplished far more than I planned and the house is looking pretty spiffy! Quite a change from the usual around here that's for sure.

It was a beautiful day, the temperature reached nearly 16C (61F) so the sun room was a lovely place for the cats to enjoy. I disturbed their peace however when I vacuumed the rug and furniture. It's supposed to cool off tomorrow but I'm hoping the sun will shine; with the little space heater I think we'll all hang out there tomorrow.  The cats can sleep and I'll read my new book!

Taking a wild ride!

Check this outhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-loTpJ1ZOzE

A Vietnamese traffic cop went on a wild ride in Hanoi, clinging to the windshield wipers of a moving bus for more than a kilometre after the rogue driver tried to avoid a ticket.
The Thanh Nien newspaper says traffic police Lt. Nguyen Manh Phan ordered bus driver Phung Hong Phuong to pull over the 39-seat passenger coach Monday. The driver allegedly refused to show his paperwork and drove off — but not before Phan leaped onto the front.
A YouTube video shows the officer trying to get his footing and dangling precariously from the moving bus as oncoming traffic whizzed past.
The driver eventually pulled over and could face charges of acting against public officials, local media report.

© The Associated Press, 2012

This guy takes his job seriously....wonder what his wife had to say to him when he got home?