Pretty as a picture

of mountains!

I love living here...

:)

Dog problems suck

Okay, well not really dog problems per se, more like slight issues that will take a lot of work and patience and me not doing things I normally want to do.

When it comes to my animals (that I absolutely adore) I am like that Looney tunes character... Elvira, is it? ("I'll hold you and love you and squeeze you..." and then you see the animal freaking out.)

Okay, I want to baby Marley. I want to hold her and pet her all the time.

But she's starting to show signs of separation anxiety, and also, we have been having issues around the house where she's afraid.

Of what, you ask? Good question. We're stumped on that. There are so many things that it could be, from the wind, to Chris having pressure washed the outside of the house in one spot, to surround sound, to potential ghosts/spirits/entities to lamps/shadows/light reflections... SOOO MANY!!!

We've kind of settled on the fact that it's probably a combination of most of them, and it sort of explains the most recent new behaviour: Staying within 2 feet of me, AT ALL TIMES.

Right now is kind of different, she is sleeping on the couch and I am in the computer room. But during wakeful hours, she follows me everywhere. When I have a bath, she lays on a towel on the floor. When I am cooking, or cleaning, she's underfoot. When I stand in one spot for awhile, particularily in the corner of the kitchen, she sits in between me and the cupboards, ON my feet.

She's even hesitant to go to Chris when he's offering to pet her, and stares at me while she's being petted.

And, after looking all of it up online and reading several pages (I don't trust the potential b.s. that could be some, so I read several and make my own conclusions) I decided that we have some work to do.

Not only do we have to change a lot that we've been doing, <i>I</i> have to change almost everything I do.

Before I leave the house, I cuddle her and give her lots of attention. That's a no-no.

When I get home, I get all excited to see her like she does me. That's a no-no.

When she started military-style crawling under the bed any time we were in the bedroom and staying there all night, my reaction to block off under the bed and try to force her to stay on the bed is a no-no.

Our constantly trying to reassure her when she is sitting on the couch vibrating, looking over her shoulder towards a speaker... that's right, a no-no.

Basically, we've been conditioning her already sensitive mind into being much more nervous. So, I am trying to work backwards. They suggest 'ignoring' the dog when it shows signs of nervousness. Do not coddle. (It's like they knew.)

It says to start leaving the dog alone for a few seconds, in the house, and then come back. When the dog can tolerate that, gradually move to minutes, and get up to 1.5 hours.

I'm not really into leaving the house for 3 seconds at a time, but I guess you have to start somewhere.

So, I am going to (reluctantly) let Marley sleep under the bed, if that's where she feels safe. Eventually, we'll work up to her feeling safe in the whole bedroom/house and not wanting to hide. (We tried moving her kennel into the bedroom so she had a familiar (comfortable) safe place, but she refused to go into it in the bedroom. I guess it's only safe in the living room.)
___________________________________________________________

In non-dog related news...

Got a promotion. Or a few.

Sort of.

Going to be Night Supervisor one or two shifts a week, going to be the Head Cashier's 2nd slash 'night head cashier', going to be president of the social fund (which means I have signing authority on a current balance of $3000+ for parties and BBQ's?!?!), and I am a backup for one of the office girls. The one who takes care of pricing issues, entering new products, putting up new sales (a lot of f#ck!ng signs) and generally everything else from writing Happy birthday "whoever' on cakes to everyone else's job, to cashing in busy spurts of 'where the hell did all of these people come from?' moments...

So, a little of everything, and a lot to do, and still no raise.

Wrote up a nice little letter to my boss, about this fact, and giving it to him tomorrow. 10 to 1 odds say he gets defensive again.

Oh well.

I am a lot more comfortable talking to the bosses now, and even joke around with them about all kinds of stuff.

I am also a lot more confident than I thought I might be, about asking about the wage increase I was told I would get at three months, which was 2 months ago.

(and that promise was made when I was only supposed to be a cashier, let alone all the other stuff I do now- the list is a long one!)

So, yeah. Not taking no for an answer.
__________________________________________________

The weather here has been very decent, haven't seen snow in like three weeks (I mean AT ALL!)... until about 2 hours ago.

Freak storm, supposed to get up to 50 cm overnight. Most of which will most likely melt by 9 a.m., but still.

It was raining earlier, which turned into snow that melted instantly when it touched anything else, which turned into tiny, new blades of grass covered in snow, again.

I can just imagine what everyone in town will be saying tomorrow as they go through my till. I hear a lot of bitching about the snow. I am fine with it, but it feels like I am having the same conversation over and over all day long. (Groundhog Day?)
______________________________________________

Still no freaking news from CN.

I am sure they have bigger things on their plates right now, like, say, maybe the strike. But, still! You'd think the hiring department that just sends people into training would still be operating. The strike would affect neither the current staff in charge of hiring/training, nor the employees to be going into five week trainng courses. They aren't covered by the strike until after their classroom training is finished.

... not sure what else to say there.

Just send Chris lots of positive energy and patience.

Actually, while you're doing that, send some to Marley and myself, too, please.

:)

Lots of love,

Lots of Homesickness.

Can't wait to see everyone.

Love ya, miss ya. I'm going to bed.

(If you need Marley, she'll be under it.)

Blaine

Hydro phobia?

Okay, so apparently more things than we thought run in our family.

I love water. I love being in water. I could spend my entire day off in the tub, adding hot water and reading until my legs hurt from being water-logged. And sometimes I even stay after that point.

I don't really know how to swim, and haven't really tried. But I am terrified of being around other people in pools/lakes, and I hate getting water on my face, to the point that I would avoid going to the lake and hanging out in the summer if I knew the people I was going with were the type to splash.

I really liked hanging out and relaxing in tubes at the lake, and I could sit in the shallows for hours, but past my shoulders, I freak out.

Even in the shower, I wash my hair in a way that I don't get water on my face, and once in awhile work up to being okay with letting the water run over my face. I've always been like that, and don't know why.

Maybe my Mom would have some insight from my early years or something, or maybe it is just a family thing...?

Woot

Thanks for the healing-ness, I had to stop taking the medication the doc gave me because it was making me sick and giving me headaches, plus, it didn't actually help with the pain. Some R&R at home for two days while I was off sure helped.

Still have the weird rash on my leg... I told the doctor about it, and he didn't even look at it. Never going back to him. (Needless to say, I am not surprised he has so many available appointments. All the other doctors here have at least a one to two week wait before you can get an appointment, him you can see same day...!

And I now have keys to offices, change drawers, etc, and also know the code to the safe! Being sort of kind of unofficially trained as night supervisor... just haven''t been told that yet. They just keep giving me more responsibility and training me on stuff, and I plan to ask the boss man if I am now a supervisor or what?

The Head Cashier is leaving in 3 months(?) to go for maternity leave, and I am the next most experienced in line, so I think I will be taking over her job... It's weird to think about it, though. Especially if we'll be moving to Edson if Chris gets the job at CN.

That's all still up in the air, though, too!

Woot!

No news is '?' news.

Well, still nothing from CN. Except that the nurse (from their medical office in Edmonton) called to ask how the appointment went.
 
But other than that! Nada.
 
Trust me, as soon as I know, there will be an update.
 
Because I will probably be freaking out.
_____________________________________________

Marley is back from the vets. I was so anxious about her getting knocked out to have her teeth cleaned, even as necessary as it was, that I think I made her nervous before she had any idea she would have to go to the vets.
 
I was cuddling her the whole night before, and then when we took her food away, she stared at us for the rest of the night.
 
This morning we dropped her off, and as we went through all of the paperwork, we decided to get the pre-anesthesia blood screening done (results in minutes, and they'd call us if there was a problem) to see if there is any liver, kidney, etc. disease or dehydration, or just anything that might cause complications during the dental procedure. It cost us a little extra ($40) but just the thought that they would call us if there might possibly be anything that could cause a problem made me feel a little bit better about the whole thing.
 
We also decided to get her microchipped while she was under. They put the chip between her shoulder blades, and aside from a small scab on her back, I don't think she cares. But, at least if she runs away/ gets lost/ whatever, we have a much higher chance of getting her back. (We'd still put up posters EVERYWHERE!!! :) That's the kind of overly anxious 'parent' I am to her...)
 
So the microchipping was another $40, but it's a one time fee, and it is free to update addresses. By the way, Mom 'n' Dad, you are an alternate contact on the sheet. :)
 
The vet decided that Marley didn't need any teeth extracted (YAY!!! I know first hand from very recently that it sucks. And she wouldn't get Tylenol. Or whatever else.) so I was very happen to hear that she didn't need any after care besides love and maybe softer food if it seems to hurt her to eat.
 
She's doing great. She was still wobbly when we got her home, and stayed that way for awhile, and she sat on the couches staring at us, half dopey, half 'whoa, man' kind of look...
 
It was super cute.
 
We encouraged her to eat, we figured getting some food in her system might help the anesthesia to wear off quicker. She was still a little dopey after 9, but I am sure she'll be back to normal soon.
_________________________________________
 
I think I have a pinched nerve in my left hip.
 
I slipped on some ice in the driveway about 12 days ago, and aside from what felt like a minor torn muscle, I thought I was fine. I relaxed in the tub that night, and felt better over the next few days.
 
I started to notice that the skin above my left knee felt like it was burning, and was very sensitive to hot and cold, touching, walking, etc. (Pants hurt. Bad.) And my knee started to get sore. And then my hip. If I bend a certain way, or lift my leg, or go up the steps to the house using my left leg first, it really freaking hurts. The pain in my knee is dull, achey, throbbing, kind of like a bad bruise, and the pain in my hip is sharp, stabbing, 'hot' pain, that extends into the joint and up my back if I bend the worst way possible.
 
My last 2 shifts at work have been worked through the miracle that is Tylenol. I took the maximum daily amount of extra strength Tylenol in 8 hours. Both days. I felt kinda dopey at work, but my hip didn't hurt, just felt stiff. I have a feeling I am going to get told I shouldn't have done that, that it might have made things worse, and I know. But we are getting extremely short staffed at work, while we are getting busier (cashiers are quitting left right and center, 3 in the last week alone, leaving myself, a full timer, a part timer who can only work 6 p.m. till midnight who is also thnking of quitting, and a casual weekends only person. Yeah, totally not enough. Need another 3 people. FT. At least.
 
Anyway, back to the hip thing, meaning the hip-knee injury thingy.
 
I am going to see the doctor tomorrow morning, and hopefully this is something that will heal relatively quick, and preferably so that I can still go to work while it heals, maybe just with limited movement or something.
 
As a result of all the people quitting (one was by a phone call - with good reason, her father has just gotten news he is dying and she is moving to Edmonton to be with him. It really sucks, and we all feel so terrible about it.) the schedule has been rearranged a few times, and now I am closer to 40 hrs/week than ever before.
 
Oh, did I mention I am now considered a senior cashier? I started in November. How bad is that!
 
Oh, we also have the head cashier, who is pregnant and leaving for mat leave in ~4 months (?), but half of her shifts are in the office doing the cash up while the normal cashup person has days off. (Oh, the normal person who does the cashup is thinking of leaving, too.)
 
And we have temporary help from a woman who works in the deli (they call it the micro kitchen), who can't work in the deli because she has a broken wing. She's still faster than some at cashing, though. She is so high energy. She cannot sit still for a moment. (Both good and bad at the same time, but interesting!)
 
But basically, after everybody who has already quit is done, there will be 4. Maybe.
 
I am tired. Going to go to sleep. :)
 
Blaine

Cross your fingers and toes

 
And maybe braid your hair for good luck, too!
 
Chris and I went to Edmonton on tuesday for his final appointment that was needed so that the chief medical guy at CN would be satisfied that his tourette's is not an issue (in relation to the job!)
 
The two appointments that he had to go to went spectacularily well, and Chris's dad found out he was apparently their first pick after the exams (logic) and interviews. No wonder they are spending money on fancy schmancy doctors to prove he's okay!
 
Well, he's more than okay, he's great!
 
We should hear within a week from CN, and Chris would be training in Edmonton for 5 weeks starting the end of March... meaning Blaine will be in an Empty house, but whatev. I have Marley.
 
The only potential issue we've been dealing with, is that he'd be working out of Edson, and so he'd have to drive an hour each way before and after his ~14 ish hour trips (sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. And that's one way, with a rest period in between.).
 
And since I worry enough as it is, and that particular stretch of HWY 16 has taken more than it's fair share of lives and vehicles during the winter months, it looks like we'll be moving to Edson before the fall. Hopefully before September 1st, because we'll be busy then...
 
I just heard that C+G set a date of September 1st! Whoop whoop whoop! Cool!
 
But I have to go now, Chris is outside, he has been working on getting his powered remote controlled truck running, and it sounds like he did! And he wants me to go see.
 
:)
 
 

 

Wow!

 
It's been over a month since we adopted Marley, and it feels like we've known her forever.
 
Already she knows that I am her Mommy, and Chris is her Daddy. Apparently, like all the other strong, independant Alpha-type females in my family, I am The Boss.
 
She listens to me more than Chris, basically.
 
But she sleeps more with him, and if he stays up late, will sleep on the couch in the living room until he starts to turn off lights.
 
:) Many things to talk about, all about Marley!
 
We've kind of settled on feeding her the Purina Beneful Healthy Radiance dog food, as opposed to the Purina Pro Plan 18.1 KG bag that she's eaten maybe 2 lbs. of. She'll eat it if she's really hungry, but she actually likes the other stuff.
 
So, either we mix it in (and watch her eat around it), or donate it to friends or a local SPCA. Do they accept open bags of food? I sure hope so!
 
She actually has a pattern when eating the food she does like. (It's comprised of several different shapes, and I'm guessing they are different flavors, too.)
 
She eats the red ones first, then the clover shaped ones, and works her way through it, leaving the little brown ones, and the dark green ones until last.
 
I'm doing well, am getting trained in several different things at work, partially because they are impressed with me, partially because one of the more experienced girls just gave her notice, and the 'Head Cashier' (which I am pretty sure the job description reads: "know lots, able to authorize cashing checks and refunds, but basically do nothing else. At all. Distract other workers from their duties as often as possible, and stand around and gossip. Oh, and be High and Mighty about it, too.") is about 3 months pregnant and will be going on maternity leave soonish. (She might have to go earlier than usual, apparently she was told 7 years ago after she had her son and then went in for emergency surgery that she wouldn't be able to have any more children, also know as, don't get your hopes up to have any more. Something like that. So she's super happy to be preggers, and we all think it's cool - and she glows - but with the hours being cutback, and people leaving left right and centre... it's getting crazy!
 
So, that's my job. Well, the more gossipy side of it. (I HAD to tell someone. Chris listens, but I don't think he really cares about all of this gossipy stuff. I don't blame him. It's just that, or talk about Marley even more. (We talk about her a lot.)
 
Speaking of, (go figure), we've now determined that Marley needs to socialize. She seems to have a nervous stomach when it comes to company, and so we want to try to get her de-sensitized before May.
 
Our plan is to try to get 'strange' people (to her) to come over, so that she will start to feel less  overwhelmed when more strange people come over. And, we also want to get her to the point of knowing that's she's safe in her kennel, or in our bedroom if she decides to go into either while guests are here. That way, she can feel safe in May when we go to the cabins (with the kennel). She'll have a place to hide from Patches!
 
I just get the feeling that we might run out of strange people before she becomes de-sensitized. (I'd rather it be people WE trust, so we don't feel weird, too. She'd pick up on our nervousness, too. She really reacts to it if we're cranky or sad or frustrated, so we are trying to make sure to send positive energy to her.)
 
Anyway, my back is sore, it's late, and I want to go soak in the tub. I will try to upload pictures soon, I have a couple of cool ones from when Joy and Mat and Willy came to visit.
 
:)
 
Lots of luv, Blaine

 
 
 

Common Sense is dead

R.I.P.

 
 Today we mourn the passing of a beloved
>
>old friend, Common Sense,
>
>who has been with us for many years.
>
>No one knows for sure how old he was,
>
>since his birth records were lost long ago
>
>lost in bureaucratic red tape.
>
>He will be remembered as having cultivated
>
>such valuable lessons as knowing
>
>when to come in out of the rain,
>
>why the early bird gets the worm,
>
>life isn't always fair,
>
>and maybe it was my fault.
>
>Common Sense lived by simple,
>
>sound financial policies
>
>(don't spend more than you earn)
>
>and reliable parenting strategies
>
>(adults, not children, are in charge).
>
>His health began to deteriorate rapidly
>
>when well intentions but overbearing
>
>regulations were set in place.
>
>Reports of teens suspended from school
>
>for using mouthwash after lunch;
>
>and a teacher fired for reprimanding
>
>an unruly student,
>
>only worsened his condition.
>
>Common Sense lost ground
>
>when parents attacked teachers for doing
>
>the job they themselves failed to do,
>
>in disciplining their unruly children.
>
>It declined even further
>
>when schools were required
>
>to get parental consent to administer
>
>Panadol, sun lotion or a
>
>Band Aid to a student -
>
>but could not inform the parents
>
>when a student became pregnant and
>
>wanted to have an abortion.
>
>Common Sense lost the will to live
>
>as the Ten Commandments became
>
>contraband,
>
>churches became businesses,
>
>and criminals received better
>
>treatment than their victims.
>
>Common Sense took a beating
>
>when you couldn't defend yourself
>
>from a burglar in your own home
>
>and the burglar can sue you for assault.
>
>Common Sense finally gave up the will
>
>to live after a woman failed to realize that
>
>a steaming cup of coffee was hot.
>
>She spilled a little in her lap,
>
>and was promptly awarded
>
>a huge settlement.
>
>Common Sense was preceded in death by
>
>his parents, Truth and Trust;
>
>his wife, Discretion;
>
>his daughter, Responsibility;
>
>and his son, Reason.
>
>He is survived by three step-brothers;
>
>I Know My Rights,
>
>Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim.
>
>Not many attended his funeral because
>
>so few realized he was gone.
>
>If you still remember him,
>
>pass this on.
>
>If not, join the majority and do nothing.

 

Gah!

She pooped in the computer room.

While I was in the shower.

About an hour after I took her outside because she wanted to go outside (she didn't do anything).

About half an hour after she ate (I should have known.) Dogs that aren't free fed usually have to go within half an hour to forty five minutes of getting their meal. Dogs that are free fed (bowl is kept full) it is harder to know when they will need to go. (Thanks to google.ca for the search on animal behaviour and a bunch of other information related to the attempted training of an older dog to not go in the house.)

I think we'll have to buy a crate. I just feel so bad when I put them in it.

And then, if we use it for punishment, we can't use it for travelling or anything else, because she'll think she's been bad.

Oh well.

Yeah, so life is pretty good.

Joy, Mat and Willy are coming to visit us this weekend!

Pretty sweet, especially since it was just last weekend (8 days ago) that Mom and Dad came to visit!

YAY!!!

Now, I just need to get Jarrod out here. (HA! Wild horses might be needed, I hear! JK!)

Apparently, the best way to get everyone to visit is to add a family member. Four legged or two is up to you, I guess! We're sticking with the four legged kind.

We've been in a bit of a cold snap (people from Cold Lake, please don't attack me!) It's gotten to -15 Celcius during the day, and it gets to about - 25 at night. We've gotten more snow lately than in most other weeks of this winter. (Chinooks help to melt it all.)

But we, in this 'lucky' part of the country/province, are also paying for it in other ways. The roads in and out of town are extremely dangerous. HWY 16 has seen many accidents this winter (though I don't know if it's more or less than normal ? just moved here, don't know the stats so well). The road to Jasper was closed a lot before December, and now I keep hearing that HWY 16 is bad from Edmonton to Hinton, the absolute worst being between Edson and Hinton.

So, anyone who talks to Joy, Mat, or Willy who reads this, please tell them to be careful driving, especially at night! And have charged cell phones! I am sure that they won't listen to my warnings, just like other people, when it comes to the roads here!

Lots of hills, lots of traffic, lots of animals, lots of friggin idiots...

All that plus a speed limit of 110 km/hr = DANGEROUS!!!

So yeah, if you ever some out this way in less than perfect conditions, please!!! Please!!!! PLEASE!!!! use caution. Plenty of it. Do the speed limit, or less. Chris and I have driven to Edmonton from here going between 60 km/hr and 90/hr depending on what the roads are like. There is two lanes, so anyone who wants to go faster can go around, and unless the visibility is squat, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to see you in time to slow down or go around. (Unless they are complete idiots and like to drive really fast in basically the kind of conditions that make you feel blind!

Yeah. So my little lecture about driving to Hinton to visit me in bad weather conditions and the idiots you will face while driving is over. Maybe. For now.

I read a meme that I think might be interesting, but am trying to come up with 6 weird things about me. That I can describe in less than 3000 words.

:) Maybe next post.

Marley is doing great. Her eating schedule is weird. She'll eat lots one day, a little the next, practically none the next, then kinda go back up again. And of course she poos like crazy during the part where she isn't eating very much.

I think she's just a little weirdo.

But I love her anyway!

I am making her little booties (the snow gets in between her toes and then she wants to come in because it freezes her poor little paws) since we haven't found any that would be anywhere near her size.

Going to go straighten my hair... trying to leave it down more, to see if having my hair up was the reason for my more frequently occurring headaches.

:)

Blaine

I don't know what to do.

Marley seems to think that several rooms in the house are for peeing, and even pooing, which she did once. She has gone 3 times in my computer room, once (today) in Chris' computer room, twice on the bath mat in the bathroom, and twice in the spare bedroom. Basically every room except the small bathroom (door is kept closed) and the rooms she sleeps/eats/plays in.

Save for making her sleep in all the other rooms, and playing and eating in them one by one, I don't know what to do.

Plus, a messed up sleep schedule has my meds side effects working overtime.

I feel like crap, and am on the verge of crying/freaking out/crying every time any little thing happens. Plus, the depression kicks in soon after that stuff, and it's really hard to deal with it all.

It's exhausting.

Plus the fact that if I don't clean up her messes (when I am on lunch and have very limited time), it apparently won't get done.

I am also frustrated. Can you tell?

On the plus side, I got the raise I was supposed to get at 30 days, plus the retroactive pay...

Still barely breaking even with bills and C. O. L. up here.

Gotta go eat something so I don't feel sick later.

:) Blaine