Musings on a Small Life

Image from a Google search Hi to all. We're hunkered down, cosy and warm, as we're in the middle of an ice storm today (since last night, actually). The power flickered a couple of times, but so far, knock on wood , has stayed on. (It's gone out in a couple of areas of the city, though.) Derry and I survived Christmas, but I did find it challenging, more so than I anticipated. I had bought the Smoochy Bear some toys and treats, but most of the toys have been a "fail," which is so typical of cats. He went into the tunnel once or twice, first pic below, but then ignored it. I've packed it away for another time, perhaps. I did buy a cardboard "bed" after Christmas, and that has been a success (second pic below). I had one for the cats years ago, when Annie was still with me (she passed in Feb 2011), so it's been a long time. For the first time in my 19+ years at the university, I've found our Christmas break to be long...

A very Merry Christmas from Derry and from me. Or, as a local business sign says, "Merry whatever doesn't offend you. Just be kind."  :-) Photo frame via a Google search; pic from last March. We wish all who celebrate Christmas, whether in a secular or religious sense, a wonderful holiday. May Universal Divine White Light shine upon you and bless you, keep you safe and healthy, and bring you much Joy in 2020. Peace to all Beings. Kim and Derry *Comments are off*

Derry getting (and giving) cuddles last Saturday. 💖 Peace. *Comments are off*

First and foremost, Derry's blood work results (from last week) came back great, such a relief! He still seems sad and lonesome to me, but then, so I am. I hope Nicki's energy is around, looking out for his "brother." *** As for other things, I survived yesterday's office holiday lunch at the university's conference centre. It was combined with another office, so a large group, and I ended up sitting with two of my co-workers, but also with two of the top people in the administration. They're quite pleasant, but I was distinctly uncomfortable, and a co-worker and I made a "French exit" after we finished eating (i.e. left without saying anything and went back to the office). I'm a social introvert, and I don't know how to explain it, but when I have to be in a group of more than a few people, I feel trapped and rather like I want to crawl out of my skin. Maybe that's some sort of anxiety? I don't know, I don't need ...

I had Derry to the vet yesterday afternoon, because when I got home from work on Tuesday he was having a problem with his left eye. (See very blurry pic to the right.) He kept pawing at it in the evening, and though he was able to open it partially later, I could see it still wasn't quite right yesterday morning (Wednesday). I don't mess around with eyes, human or non-human. So off we went to the vet yesterday afternoon, and fortunately the snow squalls had stopped shortly before, so I was able to get a taxi to and from the clinic without much of a wait. The vet did the stain-thing so the eye could be checked, and fortunately there was no indication that anything was amiss, no scratch, no evidence of other issues. And because Derry hasn't been sneezing or having any symptoms of a virus, it likely was something in his eye, a hair or piece of dirt or whatever, that irritated him. I had blood drawn for a full senior panel while we were there, since Derry's last...

I'd like to start the week on a cheerful note and post our holiday greeting for all. (In full disclosure, it's a scan of a card I bought, I certainly didn't design it myself. My abilities extend only to adding a caption and a border. LOL.) Whether you celebrate the Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, or all three, and whatever you may be going through in life right now, we hope this season brings you joy, laughter, peace and Light. Wishing everyone a happy holiday, and all the very best in every way for the upcoming new year. Kim and Derry *Comments are off*

Nicki's remains are home with me now; this morning I picked up his urn, the tummy fur I requested, and his paw prints. The paw prints are especially lovely, more than I expected, and maybe I'll post a snapshot at some point, but not today. Not when my emotions are so raw. *** Last night, in a quiet moment, I had asked the Universe/Spirit/God (whatever you choose to call that energy) for whatever I would need to be able to do this alone, to pick up his remains. *** I had to go back out to the emergency pet hospital, because that's where I had gone with him two weeks ago and where his remains were returned. It's far out in the west end, past our Walmart store and pretty close to one of the exits onto and off the 401 highway. I bused to Walmart and called a taxi from there, had the cab driver wait at the emerg clinic. Went in bawling, came back out bawling even harder. But. It turned out that the taxi driver was (is) a cat person, has had cats all ...

So last evening, around 6:45 PM, I heard my screen door open (I stopped locking it some months ago, though I used to keep it locked when home). I expected a knock on the door, but the next thing I knew, I heard someone fumbling at my door. Then I heard and saw the deadbolt turn, unlocking the top lock. More fumbling, someone trying to open the door knob lock. I'm sure you can imagine the kinds of thoughts racing through my mind at this point. Only a couple of people have keys to my house, and only my current pet sitter would be using them.  I went to the door while the person was still fumbling, trying to get the other lock open, and I hauled open the door, expecting to see L and wondering why on earth she would be entering my house for some completely unknown reason. Uh, no , it was a strange man with a key ring full of keys in his hand. Turned out that it was the pet sitter's boyfriend, thinking he was at "Pat and Tulip's" house (obviously other c...

It's up and down here, as we continue to try to settle into a new routine. Every now and again I have a sob session in my cubicle, or on the bus, or in a store; I don't have control over when that happens, and while I do try to be discreet, I frankly don't care if anyone notices. Actually, people don't really look at each other anyway. Or care, if they do. It was bitterly cold on the weekend, with a snowstorm on Sunday afternoon/evening. (Some of you in Canada might have heard about the 30+ car pileup on highway 401 in our city on Sunday afternoon, with one fatality and a few still in critical condition.) Derry spent much of the weekend doing a face-plant into the cosy blanket on the couch.  I made a batch of chili on Sunday, not vegetarian, but with added zucchini, fresh mushrooms and green onion for extra flavour. Yeah, once in a while I do cook easy stuff.  :-D Below, the view on campus on Monday morning. We got 13 cm of snow all told. I...