So I was back at work today - a little stoned on cold meds (whoo hoo!) but not too much the worse for wear. I prolly could have stood another day in bed, but there's that whole "rent" thing to consider. Kind of puts a kink in that whole napping all afternoon idea. (Not to mention the bloody vet bills we've piled up!)
We found another clinic that could take Bagheera yesterday...Beastie came home with way more stitches, and a lampshade on his head. Without even the benefit of a wicked frat party to justify it! We've taken to calling him Space Cat. I don't think he finds it as amusing as we do. It was definitely...interesting...when he tried his whole "walk all over your heads until I get comfortable and snuggle with you at 4:00 A.M." routine. A little scratchy, those plastic collars!
Off to drain the last wee dram of the Nyquil...again with the whoo-ing and hoo-ing. That's good shit, dudes! Woah. And then off to dreamland before a busy day at work tomorrow. Involving an old (non-functional) Super-8 camera, and 180 lollipops. Will fill ya'll in on the details if it works out.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Mondays suck
So...I'm home sick today and just thrilled about it. Not. There's been a nasty bug flying around work, but I thought I'd missed the worst of it. I was kind of right on the edge of it all last week, but I took it easy, and by yesterday morning, I thought I was good. I got dressed, went out to my Ravelry get-together, fondled yarn, slavered over my new knitting library...and at about 1:30, I just started to crash. Hard. By 1:45, I knew I needed to go home now and crawl into bed. Which I did, and was out for a couple of hours. Now - I love the idea of a nap, but in reality, I rarely ever actually sleep during the day. Unless I'm sick.
Woke up this morning - no doubt about it. Blech! I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say, I'm far better at home, in isolation, than in public and sharing. If you get my drift. I want nothing more to hole up in a cave of blankets and sleep all day.
Of course, I'm not getting off that easy. Having called into the school, and having put together and emailed a lesson plan for my classes, it was time to deal with Bagheera's meds. At which point, I discovered that sometime overnight, he has managed to pull out all of the sutures in his leg. And the vet isn't in today. So I'm waiting for a couple other clinics to open to see if I can get him dealt with. Though at this point, it looks like he might need to be sedated again, which, since he's had breakfast today, means waiting till tomorrow. Which means trying to get a bandage on him. By myself.
Fuck.
Woke up this morning - no doubt about it. Blech! I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say, I'm far better at home, in isolation, than in public and sharing. If you get my drift. I want nothing more to hole up in a cave of blankets and sleep all day.
Of course, I'm not getting off that easy. Having called into the school, and having put together and emailed a lesson plan for my classes, it was time to deal with Bagheera's meds. At which point, I discovered that sometime overnight, he has managed to pull out all of the sutures in his leg. And the vet isn't in today. So I'm waiting for a couple other clinics to open to see if I can get him dealt with. Though at this point, it looks like he might need to be sedated again, which, since he's had breakfast today, means waiting till tomorrow. Which means trying to get a bandage on him. By myself.
Fuck.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Post-op
Poor Bagheera has been having a rough couple of days. He isn't allowed outside for 10 days; the other cats are avoiding him; he hurts at both ends, what with the 4 teeth removed and the 2-inch incision on his hind leg. To make matters worse, he has quickly come to realize that the tasty dish of wet food is not so much a treat as a prelude to having vile medicines squirted down his throat. (We get to do this for 10 days, too. Fun!)
He seems to be in better spirits - and less pain - than he was yesterday. Also, he's been allowed out of detention, which has made him a little happier. Still, it can't be much fun to be him at the moment. He had a little snuggle with the laundry yesterday, and the look on his face says it all:
That is not the face of a happy puss! Poor guy. Mostly he's been sleeping on our bed, preferably mashed against one or both of us if we happen to be in it.
It's been lovely for the cuddles, but it's also been a little awkward with him taking over pillows or squashing his way between us. I think at one point last night, he was actually lying spread out over both of us. And of course, I didn't want to move and hurt his leg, so...guess who didn't get much sleep! This morning, I put him in the Magic Room with his breakfast. He ate half of it, and then as soon as he heard me at the door again, he went into hiding.
Subtle, isn't he? Note the look of surprise when we discovered his sneaky secret:
"But...but...how did you know I was here?"
He seems to be in better spirits - and less pain - than he was yesterday. Also, he's been allowed out of detention, which has made him a little happier. Still, it can't be much fun to be him at the moment. He had a little snuggle with the laundry yesterday, and the look on his face says it all:
That is not the face of a happy puss! Poor guy. Mostly he's been sleeping on our bed, preferably mashed against one or both of us if we happen to be in it.
It's been lovely for the cuddles, but it's also been a little awkward with him taking over pillows or squashing his way between us. I think at one point last night, he was actually lying spread out over both of us. And of course, I didn't want to move and hurt his leg, so...guess who didn't get much sleep! This morning, I put him in the Magic Room with his breakfast. He ate half of it, and then as soon as he heard me at the door again, he went into hiding.
Subtle, isn't he? Note the look of surprise when we discovered his sneaky secret:
"But...but...how did you know I was here?"
Thankfully tomorrow is the last day we have to give him 2 different meds in the morning. Right now, the A.M. dosing is a 2-person job. And he's already managed to lose a stitch. Also, he hasn't used the litterbox yet...which is not a cause for worry about his innards so much as a need to find out where he's going instead. Here's hoping it's just the basket of dirty laundry...
Friday, February 20, 2009
By request
Life seems to be returning to normal...whatever that is. I don't think it means the same for us as other people, anyway. The latest episode of Life with The Quimbys has made for a busy week. Baby Bro came back from the Island and spent a couple days here before heading east to see the rest of the family and getting back to "real" life. (Again - Whatever that is.) We dropped him and his S.O. at the bus depot this afternoon. I was sad to see them go...no idea when we'll see them again, and they're both cool people with good stories to tell. Perfect houseguests - it felt totally comfortable to have them around, not weird and awkward as it sometimes can when there are extra people in a small space. (Also, the panang curry was damned fine, and there's something to be said for coming home & finding the dishes magically done!)
Before they left, we managed to get them hooked on Firefly. It's good to know we're making a difference in the world!
Bagheera...had to go to the vet today for some minor maintenance and repairs. He's currently shut away in the Magic Room for the night. I anticipate great adventures trying to administer antibiotics, not to mention keeping him inside for 10 days. Woot. He had 4 teeth extracted, his fat lump removed, and his ear cleaned. Just his right ear - the left one was fine, but for some reason his right ear was full of dirt. (Don't ask me how. Mr.Q has started referring to the cats by rhyming nicknames - Singe, Whinge, and Unhinged. Guess which one refers to Bagheera?!)
Anyway, he's totally stoned and recovering on his own. I've set him up with lots of blankets on the futon, a placemat with his food and water dishes, his own litterbox under the desk...spoiled little beastie, he is! Well, I guess all those years of not needing to take him to the vet were going to catch up with us. (I just didn't expect it to be all at once!)
They sent us home with a dental care kit for him. Special food, a chewy treat...and chicken-flavoured toothpaste. Never mind the interesting dilemma (maybe I mean "life-threatening risk"?) of trying to brush a cat's teeth...who thinks of these things? It's the thought of chicken-flavoured toothpaste that blows my mind. And makes me feel a little queasy.
(Although...the potential for an April Fool's joke is unbelievably tempting!)
Before they left, we managed to get them hooked on Firefly. It's good to know we're making a difference in the world!
Bagheera...had to go to the vet today for some minor maintenance and repairs. He's currently shut away in the Magic Room for the night. I anticipate great adventures trying to administer antibiotics, not to mention keeping him inside for 10 days. Woot. He had 4 teeth extracted, his fat lump removed, and his ear cleaned. Just his right ear - the left one was fine, but for some reason his right ear was full of dirt. (Don't ask me how. Mr.Q has started referring to the cats by rhyming nicknames - Singe, Whinge, and Unhinged. Guess which one refers to Bagheera?!)
Anyway, he's totally stoned and recovering on his own. I've set him up with lots of blankets on the futon, a placemat with his food and water dishes, his own litterbox under the desk...spoiled little beastie, he is! Well, I guess all those years of not needing to take him to the vet were going to catch up with us. (I just didn't expect it to be all at once!)
They sent us home with a dental care kit for him. Special food, a chewy treat...and chicken-flavoured toothpaste. Never mind the interesting dilemma (maybe I mean "life-threatening risk"?) of trying to brush a cat's teeth...who thinks of these things? It's the thought of chicken-flavoured toothpaste that blows my mind. And makes me feel a little queasy.
(Although...the potential for an April Fool's joke is unbelievably tempting!)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tuesday Twinges
Last night before bed, I pulled out the slowcooker to get dinner started for today - something I've been doing more of lately, and it's been lots of fun! I used to make this apricot chicken dish, aeons ago, and I've been craving it for awhile. I figured (with the help of the innernets) I could figure something out that would work in the slowcooker.
I picked a couple recipes that were pretty similar & kind of blended them. I cut up some chicken breasts (OK, Mr.Q did that part, coz I just cannot stand to handle raw meat) and dredged them in flour. I put them in the slowcooker with some mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower, a bit of sauteed onion, and a can of apricots. I put the slowcooker on when I left for work this morning, feeling quite pleased with my meal-planning-ness. A healthy one, a tasty one, and with leftovers for lunch tomorrow, even!
Mr.Q called when he got home, and I asked him to give it a bit of a stir before he started the rice. "Looks great!" he said. I got home about an hour later, and something smelled....well....funny.
I took the lid of the crockpot and - pee-yew! It smelled like cat pee. And kind of looked like barf. I thought maybe it was just me, since Mr.Q had said it smelled great. I mentioned, in passing, that I wasn't sure I wanted the chicken after all.
"Why not?" he asked.
"It kind of smells funny to me, doesn't it smell weird to you?"
"Oh, thank GAWD!" he said. "I wasn't going to say anything, but when I walked in the door, I thought - what's that awful smell?! Is there a gas leak? Did the cats pee somewhere?"
He, bless his heart, was not going to say a word - just doctor it with lots of hot sauce and eat it despite the stinkiness. While I greatly appreciate the sentiment (it is very sweet!) and his unwillingness to upset me....I have just told him, in so many words, that I would really rather know if he thinks dinner smells like cat pee, and he doesn't want to eat it.
(To which he responded: "You have to know where I was coming from! What was I going to do, greet you at the door and say 'Honey, dinner smells like piss.' How was I supposed to do that? You better blog that, too!")
So much for that apricot chicken craving. Pizza's en route....
I picked a couple recipes that were pretty similar & kind of blended them. I cut up some chicken breasts (OK, Mr.Q did that part, coz I just cannot stand to handle raw meat) and dredged them in flour. I put them in the slowcooker with some mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower, a bit of sauteed onion, and a can of apricots. I put the slowcooker on when I left for work this morning, feeling quite pleased with my meal-planning-ness. A healthy one, a tasty one, and with leftovers for lunch tomorrow, even!
Mr.Q called when he got home, and I asked him to give it a bit of a stir before he started the rice. "Looks great!" he said. I got home about an hour later, and something smelled....well....funny.
I took the lid of the crockpot and - pee-yew! It smelled like cat pee. And kind of looked like barf. I thought maybe it was just me, since Mr.Q had said it smelled great. I mentioned, in passing, that I wasn't sure I wanted the chicken after all.
"Why not?" he asked.
"It kind of smells funny to me, doesn't it smell weird to you?"
"Oh, thank GAWD!" he said. "I wasn't going to say anything, but when I walked in the door, I thought - what's that awful smell?! Is there a gas leak? Did the cats pee somewhere?"
He, bless his heart, was not going to say a word - just doctor it with lots of hot sauce and eat it despite the stinkiness. While I greatly appreciate the sentiment (it is very sweet!) and his unwillingness to upset me....I have just told him, in so many words, that I would really rather know if he thinks dinner smells like cat pee, and he doesn't want to eat it.
(To which he responded: "You have to know where I was coming from! What was I going to do, greet you at the door and say 'Honey, dinner smells like piss.' How was I supposed to do that? You better blog that, too!")
So much for that apricot chicken craving. Pizza's en route....
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Saturday catch-up
Busy week, not much out of the ordinary to report. I should (of course!) be dealing with laundry, but I'm stalling with the excuse of needing to turn in my House Cup homework. The cats are sleeping on the couch behind me, and I am sorely tempted to join them. Yesterday was an early morning, and then a late night - playing tunes at a friend's house, with some wine and a fantastic honeyed-ouzo-like liqueur that he brought back from Mexico. So waking up this morning was a bit more...challenging...than usual. There was, perhaps, some over-indulgence last night. Probably spurred on by the frustrating incident which preceded our night out.
Yesterday, somewhere between calling me when he changed buses on his way home from work, and getting into the shower after he got home, Mr.Q lost his cell phone.
(Why yes, he did just put his last phone through the wash just a month or two ago, thanks for reminding me!)
We both went through all his pockets and usual hiding places - and even the clothes that had just gone through the wash & his lunchbox - twice. No luck. We couldn't try calling it, because the battery had died while he was on the bus. He even walked up to the bus stop to see if, by chance, it had fallen out of his jacket pocket when he got off the bus. Again, no dice. So we left the house discussing whether to wait till Monday and call transit's lost & found office - or just replace the damned thing today.
Grrr.
Well, at 4:30 this morning, I woke up to find Mr.Q kneeling by my side of the bed. With his cell phone in hand.
"It was hiding between the stacks of 45s on the kitchen table!" he announced gleefully. (Far too gleefully, considering I'd only been asleep 2 1/2 hours, and was definitely feeling an incipient hangover.)
"I keep telling you all those piles of records are a problem," I grumped. "See?"
"Nope!" he said, getting back into bed. "I think the two stacks of records acted as a teleporter and brought my phone back from wherever it was lost. Like my very own stargate! I wonder what else they'll bring me?"
Way, way too early in the morning to deal with this! (First thing he did when he got up was clear the records off the table. Smart man.)
He was also smart enough not to argue when I asked him to come outside and help me take pictures of knitted FOs...
The socks I started last July, and finally wove the ends in last Sunday:
The yarn is a tasty merino-silk blend from Enchanted Knoll, in the Sedona colourway. I can't wait to wear them!
I guess I should get back to the chores now. Wah. But I'm bribing myself with an afternoon of knitting, after I finish. Considering how quickly the stole is knitting up (relatively speaking!), that's rather an effective bribe, truth be told. So. Mt. Laundry, here I come!
Yesterday, somewhere between calling me when he changed buses on his way home from work, and getting into the shower after he got home, Mr.Q lost his cell phone.
(Why yes, he did just put his last phone through the wash just a month or two ago, thanks for reminding me!)
We both went through all his pockets and usual hiding places - and even the clothes that had just gone through the wash & his lunchbox - twice. No luck. We couldn't try calling it, because the battery had died while he was on the bus. He even walked up to the bus stop to see if, by chance, it had fallen out of his jacket pocket when he got off the bus. Again, no dice. So we left the house discussing whether to wait till Monday and call transit's lost & found office - or just replace the damned thing today.
Grrr.
Well, at 4:30 this morning, I woke up to find Mr.Q kneeling by my side of the bed. With his cell phone in hand.
"It was hiding between the stacks of 45s on the kitchen table!" he announced gleefully. (Far too gleefully, considering I'd only been asleep 2 1/2 hours, and was definitely feeling an incipient hangover.)
"I keep telling you all those piles of records are a problem," I grumped. "See?"
"Nope!" he said, getting back into bed. "I think the two stacks of records acted as a teleporter and brought my phone back from wherever it was lost. Like my very own stargate! I wonder what else they'll bring me?"
Way, way too early in the morning to deal with this! (First thing he did when he got up was clear the records off the table. Smart man.)
He was also smart enough not to argue when I asked him to come outside and help me take pictures of knitted FOs...
The socks I started last July, and finally wove the ends in last Sunday:
The yarn is a tasty merino-silk blend from Enchanted Knoll, in the Sedona colourway. I can't wait to wear them!
I've also made some progress on my February House Cup homework, including a project for Defense Against the Dark Arts - the assignment was to create something related to my patronus. I figured the obvious patronus for me is a cat...but while cats have many abilities that I admire and would like to emulate (like....sleeping!) one thing I refuse to do is lick myself clean. Yuck. So I made myself another washcloth:
(Ummm...can I just point out my cleverness in finding a yarn that could conceivably be called silver? Since it's a patronus and all? Why, actually, since it's my blog, I guess I can point that out! Look! I made a silver patronus! Oh, the cleverness of me!)
I also had to get 25% of my Print O' the Waves stole finished by the end of this month, for more O.W.L. points...Here it is so far:
I think this equals over 20 inches in semi-blocked non-ramen-noodle lace, so I'm closer to 30% done. Which means it's possible I will actually finish by the end of next month. I sure hope so - I can't wait to wear this, either! A closer-up shot of the stitch pattern (and a bit truer to colour):
I guess I should get back to the chores now. Wah. But I'm bribing myself with an afternoon of knitting, after I finish. Considering how quickly the stole is knitting up (relatively speaking!), that's rather an effective bribe, truth be told. So. Mt. Laundry, here I come!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Short & Sweet
This week's radio silence has been largely due to the arrival of my brother & his girlfriend, returning to Canada after 16 months in India & southeast Asia. They stayed with us for a few days before heading over to the Island to visit some other friends and family. We had a great visit, got to see Sis from the 'burbs twice in one week! (not having seen each other since Boxing Day, this was an extra treat) And it even happened that Mom was in town for a workshop, so we had a big, marvellous fambly dinner one night. But mostly, it's been the kind of mellow chilling-out that doesn't make for exciting blog posts, nor does it leave much time to do anything else. A great week, but of the "you had to be there" kind of experience.
I managed to book a day off work to hang out with them. Took them for eggs Benny at a local cafe, then for a walk down near Stanley Park & English Bay. We did see this guy up close, which was very cool:
Before I go, a pic of the intrepid travellers, for the benefit of fambly members who haven't yet seen them:
(I should have got a shot of him with both feet behind his head, but I was too mind-boggled to think of it at the time!)
And so life returns to normal (such as it is!)...heading off for a Rav get-together shortly, will post pics of knitting progress soon. (I can't wait to wear the new stole!)
Monday, February 2, 2009
PS
Thanks to beentsy for reminding me of this annual event, that I seem to miss every year. In honour of Brigid (after whom our diva kitten is indeed named!) I give you one of my all-time favourite poems:
JABBERWOCKY
(Lewis Carroll)
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird,
and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
JABBERWOCKY
(Lewis Carroll)
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird,
and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Oh, the horror!
Mr.Q came home from work today, and immediately upon coming through the door, got down on his knees with a pleading expression. "Honey...?"
"What?"
"You know I love you...."
"Hurry up and spit it out, I'm in the middle of making dinner. How much did you spend on records this time?"
"Nothing!"
"So, what happened, then?"
"It's only one box. They were free!"
It seems that on his way home today, he went into a record store he hasn't been into yet...and they knew him by reputation. They gave him a box of doubles that they weren't going to sell.
"I can't wait for you to blog about it!" he said as he put his work clothes in the laundry. And as he was getting ready for his shower, he was giving a running monologue, gleefully composing the post he imagined I'd write.
He is such a wingnut.
One of these days, I might have to start asking what it says about me, having spent nine years with the loon! Someday, someone's going to find our bodies buried under a landslide of vinyl.
"What?"
"You know I love you...."
"Hurry up and spit it out, I'm in the middle of making dinner. How much did you spend on records this time?"
"Nothing!"
"So, what happened, then?"
"It's only one box. They were free!"
It seems that on his way home today, he went into a record store he hasn't been into yet...and they knew him by reputation. They gave him a box of doubles that they weren't going to sell.
"I can't wait for you to blog about it!" he said as he put his work clothes in the laundry. And as he was getting ready for his shower, he was giving a running monologue, gleefully composing the post he imagined I'd write.
He is such a wingnut.
One of these days, I might have to start asking what it says about me, having spent nine years with the loon! Someday, someone's going to find our bodies buried under a landslide of vinyl.
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