We got a dog!

Chris and I have been talking/thinking about it for quite awhile now, and I have been looking at the various websites of the different SPCA/Humane Society/Shelter/Pound/Whatever's that I could find.

Well, out of all of the shelters in Alberta, there were 3 possible dogs we could adopt, all in the same 'society'. S.H.A.R.E.S. (Safe Haven Animal Rescue Edmonton Society) is the one we found Marley, Lexus and Mason at. Both Lexus and Mason were cocker spaniel crosses, female spayed and male unaltered, respectively.

Marley, however, was a female poodle crossed with what they thought might be bichon frise. (Once I saw her... holy shamoly, definitely bichon frise). The website had no pictures of Marley, as she is camera shy (still is).

But Chris had an appointment in Edmonton this afternoon, so I went along, and we made arrrangements to meet Marley and Lexus. (Lexus had another potential adopter coming already, so they said that she might not even be an option. I was more interested in Marley anyway.)

Long story short, we now have her here at home. :)

Some of the bad to go with the good: her hair was very badly matted when we met her, and her tail was sort of matted to her body. She was therefore very lumpy, and we weren't sure if we were hurting her when we were carrying her... I spent some time trimming the mats, well, most of them, and now she is much healthier looking! We also gave her a quick bath, and hopefully the conditioner we used will help with what we hope/think was just dry skin!

She is white ish... and surprisingly looks kind of like Pookie did. At times. When she is laying down she looks like Pookie, when she's standing, she looks like a bigger, white version of Ember. Sort of.

I will post pictures soon!

She weighs (guesstimate) about 7 lbs. She's very light. And so far, is a picky eater.

She is about 7 years old, or at least that's the guess from the people at SHARES. She is very well behaved, rarely barks or whines, is excellent on a leash, and they suspect she has been spayed, but they aren't sure. They didn't have any background information on her, but she is up to date with her parvo virus vaccination, and we have a 'coupon' for a free vet exam within 14 days of adoption. If the vet says that she isn't spayed, SHARES will pay for her to be.

She is still getting used to us, and I can only imagine what thoughts are in her head as we are trying to pet her and get her used to us.

(She has so far been freaked out by the dishwasher draining water, the furnace several times (it's loud), and ?the house settling?... she barked for no real reason...)

She is very shy, but I think that will go away with time.

But I have to work tomorrow morning, and will be home after 5 p.m.

To play with our new doggy!

Yay!

An Inconvenient Truth

 
An Inconvenient Truth.

It's a good movie.
 
I just watched it. And it kind of scared me. To think about what the world might be like (or worse) by the time I am forty, let alone, seventy years old... It kind of makes me sick.
 
This movie shows the real data about Global Warning. I know that here in Canada, it's not quite as bad as some other (more to the south) countries, one in particular is absolutely horrible, but I still think that everybody should be doing absolutely everything they can to reduce the problems.
 
The website is www.climatecrisis.net and has a TON of information about how you can do your part.
 
I wish this movie had been made 20 years ago. I wish Al Gore had gotten Florida instead of Bush. I wish a lot of things, and today, they are changing. My mind is changed. I've been a recycler for some time, and other than because my parent's did it and it was a learned habit, I never really knew why. I have 'suffered' through ridicule when I told people I recycle. I have been laughed at when I take cans out of the garbage. I have not cared each and evey time, and never really wondered why. It was always just who I was, and if people didn't like that, then they could leave. 
 
I am trying to think of things to do, more things to do, to help out. I want to compost rather than fill garbage dumps (apparently composting is not really recommended around Hinton, as it attracts animals... like bears and cougars, which are already a problem.). I want to share these thoughts with as many people as I possibly can, and encourage as many people I know to watch this movie. Not just because I care about the issue, but because I care about you, our futures.
 
So please rent this movie the next time you go to the movie store. Or borrow it from a friend. Or download it, I don't care. Just watch it. It won't be time wasted, and it might save our lives, our kids' lives. (especially those not yet born, or even conceived!)  

And Just so you know, I love you!
 
:) Big Hugs
 
Blaine

 
 
 

Happy New Year

Hope it's shiny and wrapped in plastic, with the new car smell!

Or something.

:)

So... christmas was definitely rushed for us. After a long drive, we got to Mom and Dad's much earlier than they'd expected, and we ended up being so tired that we had to have a nap that night...

Christmas morning was good, lots of smiles, we played games later on, and Chris, Joy, Mat and I made fools of ourselves playing "Don't be a dork"... It's an interesting game in case you want to know, but I don't think I'd play it again.

(By some freaking miracle, I won the game we were playing, so I won't feel the need to accomplish that.)

Hmmm... my thoughts were totally derialed by a train, so gonna go...
:)

I'll be home for Christmas!

YAY!!!

I can't wait!

We are getting up at about 5 a.m. to leave... I should really be sleeping, but luckily, Chris likes to drive, and driving puts me to sleep.

So I will snooze a little on the way, and will see you when we get there!

Cross your fingers for good weather!

(Highway forecast looks good!)

:D

T.A.K.

BoomSticks.

Because I can, I did.

:D

T.A.K.

Pepper on my back

Don't ask.
_____________________________________________

I think I need to practice patience.

A lot. Now. (See, I can't even wait to practice it...)

argh.

I am going crazy in my own place. It's really getting to me.

I can't wait.
_____________________________________________

I get to go home for Christmas, and as much as I am super excited about it, I CAN'T wait to come home.

I know, it sounds kind of bad, but it's just that we get to set up the rest of the house.

I will no longer have a huge pile of boxes in my bedroom. I won't have a cramped computer area. I won't have to worry about all the stupid little things I haven't been able to get out of my head.

I can't wait.
_____________________________________________

I also can't wait for Sunday morning. We get to go to Cold Lake!!!!

AIEEE!!!!

I mean, um, yes, I am looking forward to it.

(Fair warning, I will be crying when I get home, and it won't be a bad thing. I just miss you guys so darn much!)
_____________________________________________

Gonna go have a shower now.

:D
















Mah house.
















The last time it will be this cramped. (Hopefully).

:D

Yay!

As of January 1st ishness, we are open for visiting.

Maybe. Email. Or something.

:D

T.A.K.

Ow

and ew, too.

I have a somewhat different post today...

I will start at the beginning, way back when I was young. From what I've been told, I was sick to the point that I had a fever above a certain temperature that it can start to cause problems with dental development. As a result, my teeth have had way more problems than I care to remember, and it hasn't yet stopped.

Anyhoo, later on, when I was like elevenish, (not elvenish) I noticed one of my teeth, third from the back on the top left side, had a brownish tinge to it.

After showing my mom, and then the dentist, the dentist concluded that I would later on have problems with that tooth. (And he was right, just like when he said that three of my back teeth would need to have crowns, and that I would have my wisdom teeth removed at about 16.) I think my dentist was either a fortune teller, a really good dentist, or wanted money...

Either way, the tooth ended up having a few fillings, and about 6 months ago, one of them fell out...

Since then, the hole has gotten progressively bigger, and started to hurt a little. A few days ago, it began to get excruciatingly painful, to the point that I was on Tylenol all day yesterday, to no real avail, and had used almost a whole bottle of Anbesol (reg strength- never used before...). Last night, it was bad enough that Chris suggested we call a dentist this morning and get it pulled. Or something.

And that brings me to today. Woke up and called a dentist, they got me in for 10 a.m. and after a quick (and painful) test to see how the nerve ending was doing, I was given some options:

-root canal (expensive) and then within 6 months a crown (expensive)
-extraction, followed by either a bridge (expensive and can cause complications later), a partial denture (expensive and not very appealing), extraction and surgical replacement with a titanium tooth that would be embedded into the jaw bone (most expensive, would be in the city, would be in a while) or just extraction.

So far, I chose just extraction (ow!) and will decide if I want to bother with anything else later. (when we have insurance).

The 'risks' with leaving it as is now:

the teeth on either side might cave in (tilt), and the tooth that normally coincides with the one that was pulled, might come up. Of course, this will take a while to happen, and I have a long time to decide what I want to have done, if anything, when we get insurance. (I am sort of leaning towards titanium already).

Yeah. So that was my morning. how was yours?

I am now sitting here, the freezing starting to wear off, with gauze in my mouth.

Good times.

The good Doc gave me a prescription for antiinflammatories. Not sure if it is a painkiller, too, but will know soon.

My left eye was frozen, too, when she froze my mouth, so that was weird.

But I am going to go, the freezing is going away, and the pain is coming back.

ttyl. TAK

Hoping for news tomorrow.

Still haven't heard much more from the 'Prospect'...

Other than that, not much new here in Hinton.

Um... let's see. I guess the only thing really to mention is that we will be going to Cold Lake for the 24th, 25th, and 26th...

Since Chris and I are a little tight on cash, we really haven't done much this year. Save for decorating with our old decorations (way too early, in some peoples' opinion).

Going to go... haven't got much to say this time.

Um... yeah.

:) Hope to see people soon... !

He was a good person

One of my favorite pictures of Job. A super cool kitty.


























This was back in August '05 while kitty sitting. I don't think he liked us that much. He wanted to stay out when it came time for us to leave, but eventually resigned to coming in, although not without quite the conversation.

He will be missed. And he will be remembered.

Sorry to see you go, Job.

Went to Edmonton

And Chris had some pre-position tests to do...

Eeeeeee!!!

His vision is 20/20, his hearing is above average, and he passed the other test. We are just waiting for the results of the drug test, which we already know he will pass. (Never done any in his life, like me!)

So, just going to be waiting for him to get a phone call from the HR department!

Eeeeeee!!!

So, yeah!

While we were driving in, the car hit a patch of ice, (I like to call it road) and we kinda went sideways. I, of course, freaked out. Chris was driving.

After that, I was nervous the whole trip, when we were driving on the highway.

But, after staying overnight in a hotel (really didn't want to drive home same day, even though I didn't really want to stay in a hotel- not a fan of them), we drove home, and made it in good enough time, for the conditions.

And, of course, while we were in the city, we had to look for a store that had a Wii for Chris to buy. Even I am surprised, he sure didn't look very hard. We only looked at about 3 stores. After 3 no's, Chris figured the whole city was sold out, and that it would be futile to try to call more stores.

"Doo doo doo doo do do do do do, do do do doooo"

(Music from the LOTR:Fellowship of the Ring- the part where they form the fellowship)(of the ring).

Anyway...

Chris picked up his Yamaha receiver, from Repair. He bought it, for way too much, (he argues that it was not too much, that it is worth it) almost 2 years ago. It has been in repair for most of the 2 years. The first time, they didn't replace the right thing. And it broke again.

The second time, they sent it to an authorized repair centre, and it apparently cost them ~$600 to fix the real problem.

Now, Chris has it set up real good. So good, in fact, that I am going to not bother trying to watch tv out here. (The freaking remote has an LCD screen on it, for gosh sakes! It took me forever to figure out his tv remote, then his Harmon Kardon receiver remote. Now there's this Yamaha one. Gah!)

Gah!

Gah!

Oh, well. If it breaks again, I am going to try to make him sell it. (It's been broken for most of the warranty period, and I personally think it would be better to sell it before it breaks again. Chris' typical response to this is that is should now be fixed and won't break again. I probably won't be able to restrain myself from saying 'I told you so' if it does break again.)

:)

Meh. So... Who else out there is already decorated for Christmas?

Just me? Oh.

Got a really cool plant this weekend. Mom saw Chair's Rosemary tree, and decided she wanted one. She drove to a Safeway, and they were out, and then called me and asked if I could pick one up, and one for me, too. The first store we went to was out, but I bought a really little rubber plant. It has four small leaves, the longest being about four inches. I remember the one we got from my Great Aunt Olive, it was HUGE! I think it will take years for this one to get that big. I hope.

Anyway, back on track, the second store we went to had some of the plants left, and Mom bought two. One for her, one for me.

When I got mine home, I cleaned it thoroughly, as it had a lot of dead leaves on it. I watered it really well, too, and it must have been really thirsty, because it just kept taking it! Finally, after over a litre of water had been poured in, it started to drain a little bit!

Overnight, it has really perked up, and has gotten bushier!

I can't wait to cook with it!

And, I think I am going to get some small Christmas decorations and decorate it... just some really light ones. I don't want it to fall over or anything.

I think I will buy some little candy canes. And a tiny angel or something.

:)

Yeah, so, I have been really happy with my plants lately, I haven't killed any in a long time!

I must be getting better!

:)

My Aunt, Uncle and Cousin are moving this weekend, and I hope that they have a safe trip, good weather, and that everything else goes smoothly for them!

Gonna go now, got some laundry to do, and maybe some sewing!

If I don't post before Christmas, I hope everyone has a good one!

:)

T.A.K.