...in the House

This afternoon, as I put some papers in our burn pile next to fireplace, I heard a sound. Looking over at the closed doors to the fireplace, I couldn't help feeling that the sound came from inside. Then I heard it again, a shuffle perhaps a scuffle? Was it a mouse in the house...ick! I really didn't want to deal with that. But then I didn't hear anything else so I begin to think I just moved the stack when dropping the last papers on top and heard it shifting. I walked away, turned on the tv and went to the fridge for a popsicle when a distinctive fluttering came from behind the fireplace doors...a bird in the house. How did it get down there...

We opened the patio door, while closing all other doors then opened the doors to the fireplace. Hoping the bird would fly outside but realizing that more than likely it'd circle bumping into our mirrors and windows before getting out. There, in the dark, covered in ash quaked a frightened black bird of good size. I don't know what we expected, perhaps a small starling or little sparrow but I wasn't expecting, certainly not this small crow? We stood back giving it room, the bird then took a couple of deep breaths before flying straight up and over our privacy screen and out the patio door to freedom.




A nice little read...
A BIRD IN THE HOUSE
By Margaret Laurence
1963

Truth nestles in the heart at first. It wants to live there but soon starves for lack of nourishment. Often, Truth is too soon pushed aside for, Lies, who settles easily into the space so lately occupied by Truth. Lies, feeds on a different fare than Truth and feeds well. Lies is like a cancerous tumour, growing bigger and bigger...wider, sapping the strength...

..until the heart stops.

Bo Bo's

Bo Bo's was much loved, much maligned and 14 years old. Quite old for a brown bear and only two apples high standing tall. Bo Bo's started life out with bright black eyes and a soft pink nose but slowly over the years through many adventures and misadventures was patched with whatever materials were at hand.

Bo Bo's ear was replaced several times, one of the bright black eyes became a purple button, the soft pink nose was sewn thread desperately trying to keep the stuffing in, the left paw had bits of fabric sewn in over the years. Bo Bo's had no mouth, belly button or tail by the time it came to finally put Bo Bo's aside as a discarded relic of childhood past. Though Bo Bo's always had a place of honour on the shelf.

But when it came time to send on the owner of this much cherished toy of the not-that-distant past, Bo Bo's was placed beside him with tears. And, it was deemed most appropriate by all who knew how important Bo Bo's was to Nick.

Irish horse

Sometimes a picture evokes an emotion that stops you where you stand and you react.

I held my breath, I was sad. I crave as this horse craves. I feel the pain of old bones and the comfort that food brings. But I eat with a blainful eye, life holds little for me.

This picture was taken on Aran Island in Ireland. Did you know that I am Irish?

Noooo...

How do you stop someone from saying or doing something? When its yourself, we have those controls, self-imposed mini questions that stay our tongue or our actions. Or at least we can hope! It seems ten times more difficult to detour someone from saying or doing something that we know is going to be a very bad idea.

I've been in this situation a couple of times in the last few weeks. And, time and again, I demur...protest are dismissed and am along for the ride to witness the wreck as it were. Normally, it isn't an issue for me because everyone has a right to live their life as they choose however I've been dragged into the middle of situations that I shouldn't have been in to begin with. Obviously, I don't know how to get myself out of these sticky uncomfortable senarios.

Question is how do I draw the line in the sand between being a good friend and being a shmuck?

Smoking Offense

I received an informational packet containing two pamphlets in the mail the other day and according to the BC Government, I have to stop smoking. Did you know that smoking is a disgusting, filthy and expensive addiction that can kill you? But I do not have to worry, the BC Government is there for me. They will help to quit my horrid habit, there are informational websites and organizations that I can get in touch with.

The catch? For there must be a catch? Nope, none...Though, my guess is that the BC Government is tired of paying for people's medical bills and are trying a different approach to get people to quit. Nevertheless, I am offended that I received this information at all. Considering no one else in my family received this packet, I take that it was sent to(though perhaps not exclusively) to those who had the classification of Persons with Disabilities. HOW DARE they assume I SMOKE! More importantly, assume that ALL Persons with Disabilities smoke or that most do. I found it extremely insulting.

BC Government, why didn't you send out your helpful packet to every British Columbian?

A Tribute

It's been a month since the passing of Quilchenia Pesto, Quil for short and she'd been a member of the family for over eight years. For a large pure breed dog, I understand that fairly typical length of life. Here are some of my own memories and highlights of her life...

I remember when we went to pick an Airedale Terrier out, she(meaning Quil as she later became known as) was squirmy, jumpy and all around rolly-polly. She also happen to be the largest female of the bunch and had the prettiest markings and as she rode home in my lap she squirmed and nibbled at my hands. When we brought her home she was disdainfully greeted by our cat, Miss Mittens. Immediately, the puppy wanted to play but of course, none of that shannagins would be put up with! Quil soon learned who was boss in the house and took after Miss Mittens in all things. Miss Mittens was Master but it was still very cute to see Quil trying to play with Miss Mittens and once in a blue moon Miss Mittens would indulge.

When Quil first arrived she weighed what seemed like at ton but perhaps, it was closer to 10lbs but already stout and once we got her home it seemed like all she did was try to grow into her long legs and huge paws. Her appetite was insatiable; for once she ate a Black Forest Sheet Cake that was on the kitchen counter, another time it was approx. a pound of Reece's Pieces chocolate candy. Some of her more interesting food choices have been mercury and lollipops; wrappers, sticks and all! Oddly enough despite these interesting choices she gained weight speedily and by the time Quil was 6months old I could no longer control her on the leash and she could have easily out muscle me if she wanted to(luckily she never really did.) Fully grown, Quil was a giant amongst most dogs but especially Airedale Terriers. Females being usually no taller than 21" at the shoulder, males are around 24"...Quil is a whopping 26" at the shoulder. Put a head on that and you've got one big curly-haired, big pawed bear-dog. However because she knew that she could out muscle me she took great delight in slobbering all over me with big sloppy doggie kisses of which I could not escape from. Partly due the fact that she would pin me down at the shoulders with her paws and use her bodyweight to hold me down and partially from the fact that I was usually laughing and crying so hard that I couldn't fight back. Trust me, an Airedale tongue is not pleasant. Very wet, sandpaper feeling and long...excellent for going up one side of the face and down the other and in one swoop. Oh, but if it only stopped there...my hair, my neck... Miss Mittens, as a matter of course use to bring us the occasional mouse because that's what cats do. The problem was that her gifts were usually alive and then released inside the house. One day we had been chasing one such gift, it slipped out under the bathroom door and when we opened it, there sat Quil smiling at us with a mouse tail dangling out of her mouth. And, then she swallowed.

Quil also has had another friend, Cosmos, or should I say partner in crime. This is from a few years back but it happened on New Year's Eve. A group of us were hanging out at our house playing pool, darts and chatting. When Cosmos Tik Piggy-Feet, the newest addition to the family grabbed everyone's attention by doing I know not what but during that time Quil took the opportunity to snag not one but two cinnamon rolls that were sitting on a chair. Quil did it so smoothly and silently and Cosmos distraction seemed too perfect that I am convinced that they planned it. Quil also has a strange knack for getting herself into knots, literally. Just a week and a half ago before she died, I opened the patio door to find Quil stuck at the fence line in vines, tangled and looking at me as her rescuer. I had to coach her through it and literally talk her out of the mess of vines that I'm sure in her mind were ready to eat her.

Quil was the first family dog and I will always remember the bear-dog that slobbered over me with her long tongue and how she smiled with her big, toothy grin afterwards. Bye!