Signs of Spring

Lo and behold..... with all the snow we had I didn't expect to see the lawn until May.... but all our snow has gone except the crusty, icy stuff left in the deep shadowed ditches and woods. In both the front and back gardens bulbs have sprouted wee shoots an inch or so out of the soil. A few of our songbirds are back; cardinals have been around for a few weeks and robins have just arrived. There were a group of 10 or so jumping about on the greenbelt feeding this afternoon. Lots of chickadees and wrens take turns at the feeder. Although lots of geese winter over here their numbers appear to be increasing. Every brook, stream and river is rushing with run-off.

We've had a couple of mild days together so Lynda and I have spent some time in the yard picking up after the dogs and getting the yard raked. Milo, being part Jack Russell, is a digger and a chewer. The yard is still sporting craters from his digging efforts back in the fall. Through the winter he has pruned every shrub and tree branch that he could jump to - quite a height considering the depth of the snow we had. I swear his daddy must have been a beaver; not a dog at all. He eats as much wood as he does dog food.

Milo

In this shot Milo is enjoying being spoiled and sucked up a bit. Short haired dogs chill quickly in -20C temps. He's been on meds for his ear for almost 2 weeks and is showing marked improvement. The vet thought the problem might be due to food allergies because Milo had been scratching at his ears and chewing at his nails and pads. Apparently that is generally how allergies show in dogs - feet, ears and coat. So, between the pills, drops and a different formula food he is better than before. He's leaving his ears alone, not chewing at his feet, his coat is even more thick and lustrous, and his behaviour has improved. His diet may have been causing him some stress as he seems more settled now and less likely to be into everything. He's a great dog and one thing is for sure; he couldn't get any more handsome.

Random Pic's

I have a few minutes on my hands here and thought a splash of colour would be a nice change. This first one is Freedom and Milo in the yard last winter when Milo was still a pup. He hasn't grown a great deal but is a little longer, a bit taller and has filled out and become more solid. Freedom is a husky / border collie mix. Milo's mom is a purebred Jack Russell but we don't know who daddy was.

I'm getting ahead of myself by a couple of months at least but I can't wait for vivid abundant colour and warm breezes.

Buddy is the younger of our two cats and although he isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer he does get along well with his playmates. To the point of being a willing pillow at times.

Slow Motion Man

By the time I got home this morning I had been up for 21 hours and surprisingly felt pretty good. I had gone through a tired stage through the night and that was why when I posted I kept it on the short side and to the point - a bare bones account of the weekend. It seems that tonight is when I'm paying the price. The dogs had me awake around mid-day and I've been up and around ever since. Ever feel like you're slogging along wearing a heavy damp cloak long after your energy has run out?? That is me tonight on 4 or 5 hours sleep. During the day I kept busy with household stuff - laundry, dusting and vacuuming, and cooking - and managed to get away from the house to make it to work a bit early.

Primarily for our youngest dogs benefit (Milo), Lynda and I have adjusted our work schedules so he is well tended to. We had a talk tonight and decided we've done this long enough, he is grown enough that this shouldn't continue to be necessary. So, at long last she and I will have some common time at home instead of an hour here and there spotted through the week. Hallelujah!! Lynda will go back to her regular day shift and occasional rotation into a week of afternoon shift instead of every other week. We will enjoy having the chance to actually go out and do things together again.

We haven't had any sun since getting that dumping of new snow but I did get a couple of pictures that could be alright to post. There also hasn't been a breath of wind so everything has an 8 to 12 inch hat of pristine snow atop. Looks pretty damned cool. Really must get back into posting photos on a regular basis again - there's a worthy goal.

Today marks 6 years since Lynda quit smoking; or 2192 days.... and she has never looked back. Doesn't miss it and has no cravings. Pretty remarkable since she went along with my sister and I to the hypnotherapist not really intending a serious quit attempt. Right time; right place; right outcome. Sister Linda is coming up on a year soon via a different method. I'm back pretty well where I started; smoking daily but not as heavily as before.

Family Times

It's been a busy weekend spent with Owen and his Mom, Mom's friend Lynn and then at Saturday night's dinner both of Lynda's other 2 sons, plus one of their g'friends. Owen's Dad will be in Australia for another week working on a project. He finally had a day off for sight-seeing Sunday after a solid week of 16 hour days.

Owen and I coloured and drew pictures, counted, read, played with cars, planes and helicopters. Between times I shovelled snow. He decided again to sleep with his Gramma and I, and once again made it through the night. Owen and Milo are best friends except when Owen decides to cuddle up to Freedom. Then Milo and Freedom put on a play wrestling demonstration that is hilarious to hear and see.

It started snowing late Saturday afternoon and didn't let up until tonight. In total we had about 14 inches and it had me leery about attempting the drive to work tonight. The roads were lousy but funnily the worst part was getting off our own street - the drive took double the usual amount of time. Then I got to work and found our plowing contractor hadn't been here to do the job and almost got stuck in the driveway. Oh joy!! I managed to slide the car into a spot and will be moving it if he ever gets here tonight. The plus side of this is that the very cold weather is over for awhile - the milder temps brought the snow. That cold snap was a trans-polar airflow straight out of Siberia, btw, and it felt like it, too.

Back at work here for another week of nights so I've organized myself and reviewed the new admission's files. Very unusual but we have three new guys straight out of jail so there is some posturing going on, lots of street talk and gangsta stuff. (Knock, knock, knock.) 'This isn't jail, so knock it off' is the general message. Good house, growing in numbers finally.

Although I'll be sleeping during the actual ceremony I'm very much looking forward to Obama's inauguration on Tuesday. (Is anyone truly disappointed McCain didn't get in?) I can catch the highlights on the news or CNN when I get up that afternoon. Lots of good wishes to my Obama backing friends south of the border. Cheers to a brand new era in American politics.

Golden Slumbers

Owen would have been completely insulted had we suggested he have a nap because, 'naps are for babies, Pops. Big boys don't have naps.' "Okay, O." On this afternoon he climbed up on the windowseat with Milo and after chattering away for a few minutes, then daydreaming for a few more he promptly fell deeply asleep. On awakening he was one very surprised little guy. What happened?? 'I dunno!! I sleeped, I guess!!' A shrug of the shoulders and off he went again on another adventure.

Sheer Laziness.......

..... and loving every minute of it.

Lynda is back on days and needed someone to tend to Milo for the day yesterday. (Pick me, Pick me) He is a perfect angel when sleeping as you can see. When he isn't sleeping it is difficult to get a shot of him as he is a busy lad - everywhere and into everything; where you want him to be, he isn't. Our visit at at mom's was a quick one as he was into all manner of stuff - balls of knitting wool, piles of papers - everywhere we were, he didn't want to settle.

Once over to my place he had to give the place a thorough inspection but eventually found a sunny spot of a carpet and used my shoes for a pillow. After he had settled it didn't take me long to find the couch for a rest of my own. (I can't seem to conk out at night but give me anything horizontal during the day and look out) You see, REST, that is the theme for the week. I didn't know that back on Monday and it is only becoming clear to me today, Friday, but that's okay. It may not have been the intention at the beginning of the week but that is how it has turned out. Ah, well... Sleeping hasn't been a great deal better but I've hung in there like a trooper with those sheets swaddled around me winning all the debates as to why I should be up out of bed.

Milo and I snoozed so Al, my boarder, cooked and we had eaten when Lynda arrived from her dinner date. Despite being stuffed she joined in and had a cuppa but declined the biscuits. Chicken!! Lynnie didn't stick around for ages - we had a nice visit but before too long she felt like getting on home. We continue to help one another with day-to-day pressures, outside relations, work stuff, finances, our kids stuff. Hmmm....sounds just like being married, doesn't it?

I just had a check-in call from a friend knows why I missed Mondays meeting and who hasn't seen me at meetings since; there's a 'men's only closed discussion' happening at noon - let's go. There will be some new idea floating about the room that I need to hear today.

Gotta go.... likely check-in later.

*Update* I can see I hadn't been up long enough to be writing anything here. Even after editing it's a mess. Mea culpa. Shut up Norm.*

Low Profile......

Another shot of Milo - pretty pup.

Spring is on the way (at long last) and the big melt is on.

I've been keeping myself to myself this week - lots of mixed up feelings and perceptions associated with having stopped smoking...... and I guess this qualifies as an 'official' quit now. Things have gone well but I haven't felt like inflicting myself on those closest to me, or distantly through this blog. There is plenty positive to say but I can sometimes put a negative spin on just about anything when I'm feeling off.

So - no one is more surprised than I about how easy this has been. Not a single cigarette since before walking into that office on Tuesday. Not that I haven't felt like one from time to time - I certainly have but, not as frequently or as strongly as I had imagined those cravings would be. Mom is pleasantly surprised and supportive; Lynda is shocked and pleased. One thing that worked in my favour is that I had the entire week off for a change - no distraction, no upset, no demands. I had one quick check-in call from the hypnotist to see how I was doing Friday afternoon. She was pleased to hear how well I felt and that I also have a referral for her.

I'm back to work tomorrow night - Sunday - so I'm hoping to be back in the writing groove again. I feel like I've been slacking. Giddy-up & go.

Recent pictures

Lynda took this one at Owen's birthday party Saturday. It was well attended and Owen had fun dragging Gramma around playing with all his toys.

This is Milo's reaction to Lynda whimpering and whining behind the camera. While Lynda was in the pet food store she ran into someone who is familiar with Milo from before his adoption. Speculation continues as to daddy's identity and breed; the groomer came out and said he's a dead ringer for another pup she had seen recently that was the offspring of a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Could just be with that confirmation and colouring; we'll see.

Yesterday was a lazy day - I slept in, got cleaned up, dropped in on Lynda to see if she needed any groceries to hold her through the week, and then enjoyed a couple of quiet Sunday night shopping hours at the 'evil empire'. It was glorious just putzing around the store checking out the merchandise with no one wanting or needing anything from me. (It's amazing when you hit the checkout just how much money you can run through though.) For a change I didn't run into anyone I know during the outing and didn't have to do anything but occupy myself with my thoughts. I dropped a couple of items off to Lynda at the house, beat it home and started to eat, ate some more, continued eating and then had some dessert. Mea culpa, I couldn't stop and that might have had something to do with why I was unable to sleep. I had a lot of plans for today and I'm way behind but have made a couple of arrangements by phone for tomorrow's appointments.

My home group meeting is tonight and we're having elections for a variety of positions prior to the actual meeting for our group members. It doesn't involve me as my term is 2 years and it'll be nice to see more involvement from other members on a regular basis to ensure things run smoothly.

Time to get cleaned up and get on with the day..... what's left of it.