Sunday, November 30, 2014

Back to the Usual

Our Thanksgiving break is over. Well, it's not quite over for Cal. He has tomorrow off as well. The rest of the household will be going to school and work tomorrow.

The next two weeks will see me working six days instead of five. For the next couple of Saturdays I'll be taking a class for work. I figured taking these classes during the month of December would be the least painful thanks to time off for Christmas.

Our snow isn't quite gone. Not that we've gotten more. The temperature has remained so cold the snow hasn't melted. Even with the cold, I think Max prefers it to rain.

Tamara

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Snow!

We saw some this morning. Our tiny bit has not really gone away due to our very cold and windy temps. Those will be sticking with us for a few days and snow is not a part of that picture. Good for those of us who have to drive, not so good for the younger group hoping to put school off a bit.

Tonight Em and I will be off enjoying Brandi Carlile at Benaroya Hall.

Y'all have great weekend.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Friday, November 28, 2014

Post Turkey Day

My turkey day was a blur thanks to the onset of the allergy attack from hell. November and April are traditionally the months that will kick me in the butt with an attack. Fortunately daily allergy meds keep these to a minimum but a few times out of the month I'll succumb and sometimes they're like yesterday's.

If it hadn't been Thanksgiving I would have knocked my butt out with actifed and slept it off but there was food to be cooked so I sneezed and wiped my watery eyes and managed to make it through the day. I even enjoyed the food.

By 7pm, however, I was in bed and dosed with more allergy meds...enough to knock me out. I did sleep sneeze free but not deeply. Actifed can kick the attack but leaves me a bit wired. I woke up frequently and tossed and turned throughout the night.

This, of course, led to a wonderful night of sleep for E. Next time I'll try and sneak off to the couch.

Today we relaxed and went to pick up comics. We stayed far away from Black Friday madness and plan to keep it that way for the weekend.

Tamara

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Giving Thanks

To all you folks outside of the USA, hope you have a wonderful day and evening and to the ones inside the USA, here is hoping you got to enjoy the holiday with those you care about most. We had a good meal with all the kids and the boys' dad.

Seems like this year should be one we actually give thanks for. 2014 has flown by with its ups and downs throughout the year. But for tonight it was just filled with good food and family and that seems right.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Feasting

Big feast day tomorrow in the USA - Happy Thanksgiving to all our US readers - and especially to E & T and family.

And if you're one of the US citizens who don't celebrate (Native Americans or others who feel it's not something to celebrate) have a great Thursday.

Enjoy your updates. See you next week. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Jill Jabs

Shatterstorm are taking sign-ups for their latest FemSlash Advent Calendar

Had to take Snow to the vet today for her "jill jab" - she's in oestrus. Ferrets can't come out of oestrus on their own. They either need to mate, or have the oestrus artificially ended. Without this, since they bleed a little whilst in oestrus, eventually they die from the anaemia that results.

So they have to have their jill jab. (A female ferret is called a jill). This is a hormone injection that usually ends the oestrus within a few days. I say "usually" because it can stop working. It has an effectiveness rate of about 85%.

If the jab doesn't work I'm going to see if I can get a vasectomised hob (males are called hobs) to mate with her and end it that way. I'd rather not because it could be a little stressful for her, hobs can be a bit brutal. And he would have to be vasectomised because a) I don't want kits and b)she's a little old for a first pregnancy. Unfortunately she's a little old to be spayed, too. Otherwise I would have done that as it's the best choice for her.

So she had her jab. She didn't like it. But I think the bill hurt me more than the jab hurt her. Blimey, that stuff's expensive. She sulked all the way home. I could tell she was sulking because she stopped chattering to me and she hid her head in her blanket.

She forgave me when I put her back in her house - with a handful of treats. Slave to her stomach, she is!!

Ze

Monday, November 24, 2014

Short Week

Little e is out of school all week. Cal goes until Wednesday and then for only half the day. I get to leave work a full hour early on Wednesday then have the rest of the week off. E is taking Wednesday and Thursday. She'll head in for a bit on Friday while the kids and I sleep in.

I'm looking forward to the break.

Tamara

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Weekend Wrap Up

The sleep in days come to an end for another work week is ahead. This one will be busy and short with the holiday taking a chunk out of the middle for us folks in the USA. All you others, enjoy! I get to eat turkey and stuffing though so I am happy.

This week I will make some green jello and a pie. On Thursday I will rise a bit early and get our 22lb turkey in the oven. I will most likely do some of the prep the night before.

Have a splendid week everyone and I will give you an update on Thursday.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Hoops Saturday

Little e had her first basketball game today. They actually won. With only five players on their team it should be an exciting season.

One of the girls was elbowed in the gut during the last quarter causing her to throw up. She sat out and the remaining four players played even harder, scoring six more points.

Last season was their first playing as a true competitive basketball team. This year they look even better. Offensively they were well-matched with their opponent. In terms of defense, however, they blew the other team out of the water.

Keep your fingers crossed for very few injuries this season.

Tamara

Friday, November 21, 2014

People Suck

I get out to my car today and thanks to some dumbass it now looks like I am a crappy driver or parker and in reality someone hit my car pretty good and sadly not for the first time. Somehow there are a lot of crappy drivers up on the Hill where I work and unfortunately for my auto I have to parallel park next to them. I sure hope karma nails them.

Tomorrow may be Saturday but we will have to rise a bit early and drive down to Federal Way to see my daughter's first basketball game of the season.

May cat is gone or at least unknown, but most likely gone. That makes me sad. I also think I am a bit grumpy. Glad it is Friday.

Enjoy your updates.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Boring

Not much to say tonight so I'll let you get to reading.

Tamara

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Rosetta and Philae

So... is everybody in awe of Rosetta??

Isn't it Bloody Marvellous??

The ESA fired it off over ten years ago - ten years - to slingshot round the Earth and Mars, gaining enough power to travel several billion kilometres, and match speeds with a comet less than a quarter the size of London. And then land its little robot on said comet.

The precision that took... it's amazing... it's like me throwing a tennis ball in the air, whilst standing in my garden, and landing it perfectly on the "H" in the Hollywood sign in California.

I'm glad we still reach out into space.

See you next week. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Pushover

I bought a tube of vitamin paste, for ferrets, a month or so ago. I wanted to make sure Snow stayed healthy over the winter. I squeezed a teaspoonful or so over her supper kibble two or three days running.

She really liked it.

So much so that now she flatly refuses to eat her kibble unless it has vitamin paste on it!!

And she'll look at me with a pitiful look, plaintively making that "duk" sound, until I give in, like the pushover I am, and a squeeze some paste on to her food.

Got me wrapped right round her tiny little paw, she has.

Ze

Monday, November 17, 2014

Monday Blues

Beautiful day today. Little less cold and still sunshine all about. Unfortunately still no Hippy Cat. It feels sad but not fully unexpected as she was just getting older, grumpier and more removed. Still bums me out.

Seems like cats are fading away on us. Our inside kitty has some spinal issues and is taking inflammatories and thyroid medication as well. Neither of which is good for his long term outcomes.

So back to the regularly scheduled programming, enjoy your updates.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Movie Sunday

We took the kids to see Big Hero 6. If you've got kids or you're a kid at heart, go see this movie. It was loads of fun.

E is still on the look out for Hippy Cat. I won't be surprised if she strolls in one day hungry and a little worse for wear. I also won't be surprised if she doesn't show up. She's been with us a long time but at heart Hippy is a feral cat. She only consented to allow humans to take care of her because she was getting older. She was smart enough to figure out this house was safe and had plenty of food.

As the years have passed she's gotten more frail and quite deaf. She also started showing her independence more...disappearing when it came time to put her in the shed at night. If she doesn't return to us I know she went out the way she lived a lot of her life...free and on her own.

Tamara

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Simple Saturday

I drove the kiddo to her school so she could attend a math competition with her friends. T and Cal went and picked up the comics. I stayed home and got a ton of laundry done.

I am also waiting for one of my cats to come home. She has now been missing for a full 24 hours and her being old and the incredibly cold nights means it has me worried.

We have had her just under ten years. When she first showed up it took literally months for her to allow us to touch her. I am sad to think she may not return, but the reality is high that it could be that.

Here is hoping you enjoy the update and have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Friday, November 14, 2014

Brrrrr....

Our brisk weather continues. It's actually been kind of pleasant when I'm at work walking the track after lunch with my student. I'll take sun over rain any day.

Nights walking the dog are sure cold though. This weekend we're going full flannel on the sheets and adding the extra blanket.

Not too many updates for y'all tonight.

Tamara

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Cold

Ze might be having weather that's mild with some wet. We are having dry, cold spell. It's a little odd for us this early in the year. It should be raining with a little wind. Not so lately.

I had a couple days off this week making my week go by quickly, unfortunately I cannot do that every week. Glad tomorrow is Friday.

Enjoy those updates.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Rain. And More Rain.

The weather is still unseasonably mild - warm even.

It is also, awful. Torrential rain since last week. And even some hail today. The river's pretty high and the seas have been swamping trains again.

Oh boy.

Hope your weather's better than ours.

Goodnight and may your God/s go with you

Ze

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Armistice Day

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Ze

Monday, November 10, 2014

Day Off

Tomorrow I'm off work. Hooray! I'm looking forward to sleeping until at least 7. Little e will spend the day with homework. Cal is getting together with some friends to play board games and geek out on their computers.

I'd kind of like to mop but it's more than likely I'll be a big slug.

Tamara

Sunday, November 09, 2014

Vacation Begins

Staycation time. Monday I'll get up, drive T to work, come home, and have a day to myself. Tuesday T and the kids are off. What we have planned is unknown.

Enjoy your updates.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, November 08, 2014

Rain Free Day

Today we accomplished a trip to one of the better craft shows in the area. We even found a few Christmas gifts.

We grabbed the boys for lunch. Then Cal came back with us and earned some money raking leaves. I ended up on the roof sweeping leaves and limbs. E stayed on the ground to sweep leaves in the back and repair our fence.

Tomorrow I get to reconcile my bank account. Always a fun time. At least I have a few episodes of America's Next Top Model to watch while I do it.

Enjoy the updates!

Tamara

Friday, November 07, 2014

Vacation Time!

I took off Monday and Tuesday to enjoy some time with the kids. Hopefully we can have an adventure Tuesday. It may depend on the homework load the kids get. One way or another I am off work and that is a good thing.

Here is hoping y'all have a great weekend. Ours will be filled with sunshine once again.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Dropping Temps

Wind and rain...that's our weather right now. Soon enough all of our beautiful orange and red and yellow leaves will be gone.

For anyone in the US who is depressed about the outcome of our recent midterm elections...remember that Republicans in charge means comedy gold. It should be a good two years for fans of the Daily Show.

Tamara

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Damn.

Late tonight. It's Guy Fawkes Night and we've been out at a display - and following our usual rituals.

USA - you have my sympathy.

I will never understand how any woman, LGBT person, African-American, Hispanic person, or low-paid working-class person can vote for that bunch of self-serving, greedy, misogynistic, ignorant, bigoted, racists, who have sold their souls to big business, and who have the nerve to call themselves by the name that once belonged to a political party that stood for something. Something grand. But, apparently, vote they do, in their tens of thousands

No, it's not my country. But, yes, I'm entitled to an opinion, because the things that the climate-change denying, GMO promoting, Creationist, war-mongers will do will affect the rest of the world. When America sneezes Europe catches a cold.

The bunch of political self-servers who have sat in Congress and for the past six years blocked every attempt to better the lives of millions of citizens. Refused to pay women a fair wage. Refused help for returning military personnel. Closed women's health programmes. Decimated schools. And favoured their rich bosses with bigger tax-cuts for shipping jobs and funds overseas. They may be celebrating their gains today but - guess what - the president is still black. And nothing will ever convince me that that isn't the chief problem they have with him.

Goodnight and may your God/s go with you

Ze

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Vote.

Hope the elections go well for my US friends and our US readers.

Hope you all voted. Voting isn't just a right - it's a privilege. Never take it for granted. Vast numbers of people in less fortunate circumstances around the world would love to be able to vote.

The weather has been bizarre this past week. Friday (Hallowe'en) the daytime temperature was 24c. Twenty-four degrees Celsius. In the UK. In late October. We get days in summer that aren't that warm!! And today it barely reached 10c. They've promised us a from for tonight, (which at least in normal for the time of year).

Climate change is real. Even if the politicians in one or two high-fossil-fuel-consumption countries refuse to believe it. They're willing to destroy us all in the name of profit.

So vote. And vote well. With your head and your heart.

Ze


Monday, November 03, 2014

Time Flies

I am not sure where all the time went, but we have a 14 year old. She went from this to this pretty darn quickly. Looking forward to the next 14.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa