Hello Fall

The leaves are falling, the air is chilled and the rain has returned (eventually to be replaced by snow). I’m trying not to be worried about winter, but I admit, it is hard. The minute I believe it is summer I start worrying about winter (which ends up making my summer experience less summery). Why worry about the inevitable? I’m starting to employ the mantra “If you can’t fix it then stop fretting about it.” It makes me worry less about silly things.

I am taking a library course on comics and graphic novels for my education option course this term. I’ve read quite a few comics and will probably post my reviews once I have some breathing room (probably at christmas). Also I don’t want my teacher to think I’m stealing off myself for the reviews. That would be awkward.

Otherwise work at the cafe is going swell, I’m becoming a better barista slowly, and I’m starting to get the hang of the daily tasks (well.. I’ve got sweeping and mopping down-pat). I’m also trying to find “my special drink” that I make and enjoy every shift – and it has to be low fat/sugar because I’m bloody overweight. I guess I don’t really look fat but if I wear something tight I definitely am chubby around the midriff.

I would also like to state that I have currently accomplished one big task that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I am living not just in the same province or city, but in the same apartment as my boyfriend! So exciting! AND as a bonus – my kitty is with us. These are my two prerequesites to being happy. Having Josh and Hiero – my two favourites – with me at the same time. We still have a few kinks to work out however (like the fact that he is allergic to her) but we’ll work it out. For now it is being handled with allergy pills, vacuuming and cat bathing. I am happy to wake up and always look forward to going home after school and work.

Holy over-weighted exams and essays Batman!

So I’m onto day two of school starting my new program – the After-degree Education program at U of A. And holy macaroni! Finals worth 50%?!? An essay worth 50%?!?!

What if shit happens and you blow it due to unforeseen circumstances?

Also, I feel super blown away by the multitude of things I have to do – assignments, essays, oral presentations, seminars… gah. How did I ever pull off 5 full classes AND labs?

Ah well – I’m going to give it a shot. And I’ll be working p/t this time too, so my GPA outcome should be interesting.

I got a free pen the other day from the Edmonton Transit System tent and it works pretty well! I’m pretty happy with it because give-aways are usually shit.

I’ve been making different lunches and breakfasts and while doing that I give a taste to the cat (a lick off the finger). She has decided that she fancies mild curry and rice, peanut butter, blueberry jam and tomato sauce from lasagne. She’s got quite the broad pallet.

Smitten with Kittens.

I recently acquired a new housemate in the form of a orange tabby kitten. My boyfriend came up with the name Hieroglyph as her stripes are very symbol-like and pretty. I came across her about a month ago whilst attempting to rescue a puppy from ignorant owners. After a bit of a fight with an orange hairball with teeth and claws I discovered that she was most likely tossed from a car a week or so earlier as the fur on her chin was pushed down to where her throat starts. The veterinarian described the chin as being ‘degloved.’ We had her vaccinated and de-wormed right away and got her on a kitten-diet recommended by the doctor.

She has developed into a very spunky and energetic young cat. Her chin is about 3/4’s healed and although another doctor said it wouldn’t heal any further, I hope it will. The minute you open the bedroom door after coming home for work she darts out and starts the purring motor up and INSISTS that you pick her up so she can rub her face all over your chin. Then after she has decided she’s given you enough love she terrorizes you and the house by attacking everything for at least 3-5 hours thereafter, pausing only for a short 20-30 minute nap to recharge. Thankfully dear Hieroglyph has discontinued climbing up our legs during meal preparation in the kitchen.

She will be an excellent nuisance for the other adult cats at home when she and I go there in 2 weeks.

Kitty Recharge Time

Watch Me

For the love of god, watch this movie you animal-killing bastards:

http://www.peta.org/content/standalone/StolenForFashion/default.aspx?c=weekly_enews

Humans are the most disgusting species alive on this planet.

Cat Humor

more animals

more animals

more animals

more animals

Have you ever rescued a plant?

It’s limp from a lack of water and pale from too much shade. The scrawny little thing barely sits outside of the dirt, it’s once beautiful big leaves now dead and dried spread around it on the dirt. Watching this little plant become strong and full over the months gives a feeling of hope and accomplishment. I did this with a poinsettia that my mom was going to toss. It lost all it’s red leaves and almost didn’t make it. It was nice company during my first (and loneliest) year of college. It became a gorgeous plant by the end of the year.

The feeling of accomplishment is multiplied many times when this is applied to animals (or humans, although I haven’t tried it yet). I tend to rehabilitate stray cats that we “adopt by default.” My favorite cat, Cougar, was amazing to watch. He was an orange tomcat that had been out in the wild for most of his life (as he had the battle scars to prove it) and we were his retirement home. It may sound lame, but having him nervously jump on my bed for the first time (after months of him living in my room) is like watching a baby’s first step. He was finally getting used to me. By the end of 2 years he was my baby and would sleep on the covers of my bed, stretched out between my legs. He would get this look in his eye when he wanted to play, and play he did! He may have been an old cat, but he was truly a kitten at heart.

I miss him so much. He died unexpectedly last year. He was in perfect health. I’m beginning to see that he has been replaced by Mulan, a chocolate point longhair Siamese. A gorgeous stray cat that we found about 3 years ago. She is incredibly timid and I haven’t been able to work with her until this year since we were moving around lots over the past 3 years. She has gone from living under the bed and scurrying from place to play to sleeping on my bed, walking (not running) to my room, and sometimes comes to her name. Just today I caught a glimpse of her playing with the straps on my backpack. I could NEVER get her to play a couple months ago. She used to turn her nose up at cat nip! It’s nice to see progress.

I realize I did just spend 2 paragraphs talking about cats and 1 about plants, but oh well.

I’ll even include pictures. Below is a picture of Mulan and Cougar. Mulan doesn’t look that good as her eyes are terribly good at catching the light.

They are sleeping together with Zoe, the dog, in the background.