Glimmerings

Hello again

saavik — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:06:55 GMT

Well, here I am again with very few people in my friends list. How do I find everybody else that I know from LJ?
I'd hate to lose track of friends who have permanently migrated, but I similarly don't want to lose track of all the effort I put into LJ over the years. This is kind of disheartening, IMO.

Galaxies...

saavik — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:12:02 GMT

Posted this elsewhere, as "Proof of Advanced Civilization - Hubble photograph reveals artificial galaxy!" (click to enlarge for better effect)

And Furthermore...

saavik — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:36:24 GMT

for anyone who is put off by the sheer venality of creatures like Pat Robertson, there are plenty of non-denominational and/or non-religious groups doing good work out there that can use our help: Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross being just two of them.
Or for people who want to make a point totally repudiating Robertson's idiocy, here is the alternative I chose:

http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/

"Speak of the devil...

saavik — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:16:13 GMT

...and who should appear?"

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-391134?hpt=Sbin

(Sorry I couldn't make the embed code work)

Auld Lange Syne (of sorts)...

saavik — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:11:13 GMT

Almost 26 years ago, we bought this house. One of the first projects was to redo the bathroom. So a quarter century ago Dave put up these tiles; now he's taking them down and replacing the tub with a 3x5 ft shower enclosure with sliding glass doors. The bathroom floor and walls will be tiled too. The new loo, which we bought the day before yesterday, will be white as will the sink. We will get a new vanity top as well. It's not terribly large so I hope we can get granite or corian.

But a quarter century...gone by in an instant. **sigh**

Blogging by Candlelight

saavik — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:29:21 GMT

A whole new experience for me. We are experiencing a power outage in our neighbourhood, but with my little netbook and a Rogers Rocketstick, I am here for as long as the battery lasts. Oddly enough, I can't see the keyboard without candlelight. The screen doesn't cast it's light in the right direction. Makes me wish I were a touch-typist. {:>D

Our furnace is off, but the gas fireplace is working fine. Good thing we have one because it's -20C tonight!

Renovating the Renovations

saavik — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:19:21 GMT

Dave's in his attic, all's well with the world. {:>D

At least, the leak that was dripping through the bathroom ceiling is fixed. Now he's fixing up the holes in the vapour barrier and the insulation that those so-called "professional" left in their wake *four* years ago!

We may yet have a new bathroom before the holiday is over. Yippeeeee!

ETA: Ooops! Spoke too soon.

The quick fix didn't stay fixed. But at least Dave knows what's wrong and how to correct it. Unfortunately, it will require the dismantling of the ceiling over the tub to give him enough space to remove what is essentially an S-joint that those lazy so-and-so builders kluged together, and replace it with a slope that doesn't collect water and drip at the seams.

Christmas Eve Revels

saavik — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:59:32 GMT

It has been our family's tradition to hold the Christmas dinner and grand gifting on Christmas Eve. Wendy has introduced this concept to the extended Townsend clan and it seems to have firmly taken root. Last night, we all gathered at Wendy and Andrew's house - all 25 or so of us.

The presents inundated the tree and a good part of the family room. Not hard to imagine with 4 generations present. There was much happy chaos, much delicious food and good conversation, to which everyone contributed as is the custom.

Even Shadow-cat was not forgotten. Wendy and Andrew gave her a catnip lined cushion. It was a huge hit, as the photo demonstrates. She took to it immediately and there was much rubbing, drooling and purring. Then she flaked out on it as if she didn't intend to moove for the rest of the winter. This is quite remarkable because this is a cat who normally runs and hides whenever she is confronted by anything new and strange. But not this time. {:>DD

I hope everyone's Christmas was similarly pleasantly satisfying and comforting.

Happy Holidays to All

saavik — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:10:12 GMT

The Solstice has passed and the days of celebration are in full swing. May your festivities be inspired by the realization that *sunrise is eternal in starlight* .

(Please to click through for enlarged image)

via gipsy_dreamer

saavik — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:50:37 GMT

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

This year I've been busy!

In September I saved a busload of nuns in Angola (326 points). Last week I farted in an elevator (-6 points). Last Thursday I bought porn for siliconshaman (10 points). Last Wednesday I gave katerinfg a kidney (1000 points). Last Monday summers_place and I donated clothes to the needy (11 points).

Overall, I've been nice (1341 points). For Christmas I deserve a pony!

Sincerely,
saavik

**grins**
I've always wanted a pony...

"...with glowing hearts..."

saavik — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:49:57 GMT

I love fire rituals *sigh* and it seems Andrew does too. He looks pretty happy carrying the Olympic flame for his 1000 feet of the relay. By the time the Flame gets back to Vancouver in mid February, it will have travelled a 45000 km route all over Canada

Andrew is keeping the torch and gets the official outfit as well, including the red mitts which had been on sale to the general public but are now sold out. Can't be had for blood or money anywhere.

Doesn't he look a bit like a giant smurf? *giggles*

Olympic Torch Relay - Update

saavik — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:12:12 GMT

Mission accomplished in fine style.

My BIL, Andrew ran his 1000 ft of the Olympic Torch Relay through Carleton Place (that's about 4 blocks' worth). Pretty much the whole fam-damily turned out for it and many photos were taken by everyone except me. My batteries died despite the fact that I had charged them up just recently and had not taken any pictures... since. Then Dave's memory card turned up *Full* Can you believe it?!!

BIL did a fine job and we are all proud of him, especially considering that he had a heart attack last Christmas Day! Takes a lot of will power and self discipline to change his life around the way he did. He's keeping the torch he ran with (It's quite substantial and a very sleek design) and ...Dave will build him a shadowbox display case for it. He has earned it it. {:>D

Giftmas Spirit found...

saavik — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:58:25 GMT

Namely, my own. I seem to be getting into the swing of things and wrapping presents. None too soon, it would seem, if I want anything sent through the mail to get there on time.

Still have one more thing to get for Dave, but the rest is done. Phew!
Circumstances being what they are, it was both easier and harder to achieve this year. Maybe that's why I kept putting it off. Ah well, it is what is, and we need to be grateful not just for what we have, but more importantly, *who* we have in our lives. {:>)

The Olympic Torch Relay

saavik — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:48:12 GMT

I mentioned a while ago that my BIL was one of the people selected to run a prtion of the tTorch relay through our region. Well tomorrow is the big day:

"Tomorrow morning, my BIL gets to run the Olympic torch for 1000 yards through Carleton Place. It's on it's way, in a relay across Canada to the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Another 2800 miles or so to go." (from my facebook entry)

And his cousin added:
" For everyone going to see Andrew carry the Olympic Torch tomorrow in Carleton Place, as you are planning your departure to Carleton Place bare in mind that the torch will be in Kanata just before it moves to Carleton Place starting at 0808 at the corner of Eagleson and Hazeldean Road, then along Hazeldean to Terry Fox,..."

So for anyone who doesn't want to go as far as Carleton Place, you can probably catch a glimpse of the Torch as it wends it's way west through the city... {:>)

ETA for those who are interested:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/olympic-torch-relay-interactive-map/

Winter storm warning in effect

saavik — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:30:58 GMT

for our region. Looks like that storm from the States arrived here sometime in the wee hours. It's been snowwing and blowing all day, and it may turn into freezing rain (just in time for rush hour). But maybe we'll be lucky and it will stay snow.

Fortunately, school buses were canceled and many people stayed home. Dave's one of them, thank goodness. All safe and sound.

It's won't stop 'til sometime tomorrow. We're expecting anywhere from 15 to 30 cm before it's done. Dave's already had the snowblower out once this afternoon and it looks like he'll have to do it again, especially after the city plow goes by.

The little snow blower worked like a charm, has been in storage all year, but it caught on the first attempt!

Every cloud has a silver lining I guess, and in this case, it was that the Royal Bank Retirees' Christmas dinner tonight was canceled due to the weather. It's another one of those things that Dave and I feel obligated to take MIL to because *she* enjoys it so. I'm ashamed to be such a kill-joy, but there's just too much emphasis on who's there and who's not, and who's sick and who's died. Bleeaaarrrggghhh!

To be fair, there is also talk of weddings and grandkids and travel too, but I never was one for nattering gossip, especially with people I don't know from Adam.

So I managed to do some productive work - laundry and cleaning. A great deal more need to be done on that front however. And I still need to finish Christmas shopping, and wrap presents, and wrap MIL's presents (tomorrow), and, and, and...

/end ramble

Ping anigo

saavik — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:04:15 GMT

Hope you have a truly inspiring Birthday! May you sail on forever to your heart's delight, knowing that sunrise is eternal in starlight...

(clicky the image to magnify the splendour many time)

meep!

saavik — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:16:54 GMT

I followed siliconshaman's video link about earth with Saturn-like rings to You-Tube, where I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVV8_aBb-3o

Holy Crap! Not that I believe for a minute that CERN's LHC experiments will create such an outcome, but the visual imagery just makes my hind-brain gibber. To the point where I will not include the imbedded video, because I will at some point forget what it's about and replay it. I really don't need to see this again.

via halfmoon_mollie

saavik — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:13:53 GMT

Semper Saavik.

Generated by the Advertising Slogan Generator. Get more saavik slogans.

Insight (such as it is {:>))

saavik — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:13:49 GMT

Driving home from the airport...

Me: Why do geese fly in V-formation?

Dave: Because they don't have holding tanks on board...
{:>o

Update stew

saavik — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:22:03 GMT

Shadow-cat seems to be adapting to her disability. The tramadol has helped a great deal with her arthritis pain though she still gimps about when she walks. But she is mobile, and last night, she left a healthy deposit in her catbox downstairs. She also has one upstairs, just in case, because the arthritis won't go away. She's on special cat-food high in glucosamine which she really likes - thinks they are "treats" and we feed it to her by hand to encourage that illusion.
She rather likes the twice daily ritual of the ear gel as well, since she enjoys "ear-jobs". {:>D

So far so good!

The best part is, despite being stuck overnight in Detroit (after a week in Dallas) Dave will be home by 1:30, and I'll be at the airport to greet him, with bells on. And all my other clothing as well; it's cold out there!) {;>)

So I'm off to grab a shower. ttfn.

Shadow Update

saavik — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:36:26 GMT

Shadow cat has been making progress on the mobility front, and the pain front as well. The tramadol ear gel seems to be working fine and she seems to be tolerating it without any problems, thank goodness, because she is a cat that even I can't pill!

She's getting annoyed with me presenting her to the litterbox every 4 hours and growls at me (but not when I carry her to her food bowl or the sink for water {;>)). She has been moving around on her own a bit more, and I've put plastic step stools by the bed and the couch in the basement, and her favourite fold out sofa bed in the back bedroom. There is a footstool in the living room, and she uses that too.

Last night, she left the bed on her own and I noticed she helped herself to the food bowl, then came back to bed on her own too. We've been taking her downstairs once a day to use the original cat-box since it is roomier than the one in the bathroom upstairs. She even manages (prefers) to come up the stairs from the basement on her own, which is a very good sign too. Problem is, she hasn't produced a twinkie since Sunday night. She eats, sleeps, and pees OK, but no twinkies. If there is nothing by tonight, I'm going to have to call the vet.

Enough said about twinkies - I still haven't forgotten what happened the last time I talked about twinkies.

But thanks for your good thoughts and kind words. I think you may have swayed the Universe to show a little mercy this time. Dave and I and Shadow-cat are grateful.

Happy Birthday, ozarque!

saavik — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:02:42 GMT

May you have a restful and joy-filled day with many happy returns.

Best Birthday Hugs offered,
Margo

Happy Birthday kestrels_nest

saavik — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:49:03 GMT

Hope you have a perfect day and many, many happy returns.

Uh-Oh...

saavik — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:55:21 GMT

Shadow cat has had a tough week. Over the past month, she has been limping quite a bit, and it was becoming increasingly obvious that all was not well. At almost 19 yrs. it's not surprising that she might have a little arthritis in her hips, but she has always managed to get where she needed to go - chairs, beds, stairs, etc...

Then this last week, she developed diarrhea. That's happened before too when she has a furball or has eaten a bit too much grass for a tonic. Except this time, she was not making it downstairs to her litter box, not even trying - not a good sign. So we took her to the vet, worrying that there was something seriously wrong, some terrible disease process at work.

Poor Shadow had to endure the indignities of not only having her temperature taken, but a rectal exam! No excessive temp, and the vet said her butt-muscles are in very good tone! (He did use his pinkie, but "Ouch!")

The x-rays showed quite a bit of arthritic degeneration. There were no parasites in her stool as far as they could tell, but they wanted another sample for further testing.

All this poking and prodding only made her arthritis worse, and she could barely hobble a few steps without flopping over on her side. It hurt so much that she didn't seem to think it was worth the effort to walk to her food bowl or into the bathroom to drink from the faucet.

We have been giving her Tramadol in the form of an ear-gel since last night, and she seems more comfortable, but she still can't walk much. So we've been carrying her from food bowl to water, to litterbox, to couch, to bed, etc. Hoping that resting the joints will reduce the flare, and though she'll never be spry, hopefully she will be mobile once more.

She has fresh food, fresh water, and a new litterbox in the bathroom off our bedroom, so she doesn't have to negotiate the stairs, which must be excruciating if her hips are that sore.

When we turn on the fireplace, the heat helps too, and last night, after the tramadol dose, she relaxed, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out on the couch, and went to sleep.

Today, she has eaten some and drank from the sink, and pee'd in the new litterbox so she knows she doesn't have to go downstairs. No accidents, but nothing other than pee yet today.

Things are very much unsettled at this point - being immobilized and in pain is no way for a kitty to live. We are waiting for her to get better; we are waiting for her to decide that with the tramadol, the discomfort is manageable and it is still worth the effort to sleep, eat and excrete. And purr and be petted and loved by her humans. We are waiting for her to decide to live.

This weekend and next week will be crucial. Shadow is the last of our furbabbies. I petition any Powers there may be to let her heal, to let her stay with us in comfort and contentment for a precious while longer.

Hey, Madamgoodwench!

saavik — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:36:46 GMT

Hope you have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!
and many happy returns thereof. {:>D