Christmas 2009

Well, it's been a shitty year. Flying from Heathrow with a hangover on New Years Day is not recommended. Especially when Vancouver is embroiled in a three week long snow storm. I was stopped by Customs and questioned. Not interrogated or searched, but questioned. C'mon, can't you see I have a hangover, just spend $200 on a cab, $100 for overweight luggage and a took a trans-Atlantic flight?

Arriving home, my very much missed and beloved cats ignored me. On purpose. For about 60 minutes.

Then I got a job. The worst boss ever. I could tell you stories. Oh my god. If you need a veterinarian in your neighbourhood, please call me. I have inside information. And working in this clinic gave me a new and interesting (read: horrific) insight into the neuroses, greed and ego of professionals. And to think I worked for lawyers before this!!

Luckily, I went old school and sent my resumes in the mail and ended up with a job I'm liking. Not loving, but liking very much. With the clinic comes two cats, and a Labrador retriever. I especially love when I can have a special dog friend but not have to be the primary caregiver. Perfect.

Sad news in August.. My beloved and much talked about cat, Phillip, aka the Pirate,was diagnosed with renal lymphoma. He died a month later despite all our efforts. Oh god that hurt.

My oldest cat (and less talked about) Henry, was diagnosed with nasal lymphoma the same week (by way of endoscope, which was pretty cool) and I was trying to prepare myself to lose two cats at the same time. However, Henry seems to be a bionic cat. Let me list his issues: Cancer, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart murmur. He also suffers from FAD - flea allergy dermatitis and has had pemphigus foliaceous (an auto-immune disease). Count those: 7 things. Yet here he is, fast asleep at my side. BIONIC!

I hope for the best in the coming year. More prosperous would make Sue happy. And if anyone wants to know what I want for my birthday (Jan 14) I would like an IPod or new shoes, or dinner at a fancy restaurant or anything you care to give me.

I enjoyed writing that. Merry Christmas.

xo sue

Oops!

Played pitch & putt with Jay this afternoon in Burnaby. I hit many trees, but the best shot by far was dinging the side of the port-a-potty.

I completed my first week at my new job. Work is exhausting! I'm working with dogs again, and they are rangy, heavy, nippy and challenging. Oh, my aching back. Gotta start stretching in the morning! I fell asleep on the couch last night and nothing Jay did could dissuade me from staying there (i.e. all night). I woke up bright and early having to pee. No doubt because Phillip (who now weighs a hefty 17.5lbs) was on my stomach. I thought I would go back to Hastings Park and see what the new developments were.

It was obvious immediately that my supposition that the fish were up to no good was correct! There are literally millions of minnows populating the pond now. In just a week! Incredible.

 
 

No wonder the two Great Blue Herons have set up shop. I have never seen a heron hunt successfully before so I was thrilled when I espied one of them on the the opposite bank doing just that. Around this time a lovely Asian couple approached and I pointed out the minnows and the heron. The lady immediately started clapping and shouting - trying to scare the heron away so he wouldn't eat the fish. He gave her a withering look and kept on about his business. Nothing I or her husband said could deter her from attempting to stop the natural order of things. And nothing she did or said could keep the natural order of things from happening. Finally the heron started delicately wading deeper into the water and I was sure I would get to see the action, but just as he was about to "pounce", a red-breasted blackbird stormed towards him and started pecking at his hind end. Whaaat? No fish today! Or at least at that moment...


 

I'm Back Part II

As I was observing the fish, I heard a squawk and looked to my right. A Great Blue Heron was eyeing up a Canada Goose. The amount of action going on was just amazing. That park is a real gem.

 
 

I love this picture of Phillip - he spills out of the doughnut and has to rest his head on my jim jams!

 

I'm Baaaaaaaack!

As you all know, I'm back in Canada and have been since January. I was pretty bummed out to be back and wallowed for a few months. But, I'm feeling much better and since I really loved doing the blog before, I thought it would be a good thing to start writing again. Actually, it was my trip to lovely Hastings Park that inspired me. The whole pond was teeming with spawning goldfish and I really wanted to share that experience. So, thanks little horny fishies!

I also wanted to post some photos I think are cool...

Dead Things:


 
 

I can't seem to get all of the pictures I want to go in, so will put them in a separate post.