Musings on a Small Life

Gee, the drama's fast and furious. LOL.  See the previous post, then catch up with this one. Anne came over with a note of her own and we chatted for a fairly lengthy time. She's Lucas' biological mom after all, was embarrassed by my thought they were a blended family, but Lucas has a form of autism, hence the behavioral issues. They've moved twice in one year, are away from their families, are having marital difficulties, Isabelle is being tested for mild autism, etc. So, embarrassment all round, with her saying they're going to switch Lucas' room to the other side of their unit and me telling her that it's their home too, to fully enjoy it.  Apparently the husband's not happy with the house purchase--they bought it too quickly, they miss their old neighbourhood in town (guess they didn't just move from the Toronto area, they moved some time before and were living in another part of the city, which would be why the kids are not in e...

I wrote Anne (think that's the step/mother's name, but am not sure) a note in card this AM and put it in her mailbox, for good or for ill. Didn't have a blank card, so did one of my floral snaps with a photo card. I thought I was tactful, wrote that I didn't want anyone to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, but that they all should know there's no sound-proofing between the units, particularly now with the absence of carpeting for sound absorption. I suggested area rugs might help with that. Then I wrote that it seemed they had some serious blended family issues and I could hear how difficult things were for her. That we all live without much privacy in close quarters and that I hoped we'd be good neighbours. I added that if she ever needed a break for a cup of tea, a glass of wine or a shot or rye (and I added an "lol") she was welcome to knock on my door. I don't know if she got the card or read it, and if she did, I'm almost 100...

You would not believe the screaming from Lucas last night. He and his "mom" were upstairs and he wouldn't go to bed -- it was 9PM. I already had gone to bed, of course, given how early I get up. The decibel level was so high they might as well have been in the next room. They still must not have any area rugs down to absorb the sound. I could hear them clearly through my mostly-closed door and over the sound of the jazz on my radio. I briefly considered--twice--going to knock on their door and let them know how loud they were, then decided it might not be a good time, given the high level of tension and drama. So I got up and vacuumed the upper level instead. I suppose that was passive aggressive, but I needed to vacuum anyway. So the floors/carpet upstairs got a thorough cleaning, and I didn't hear a peep from any of them after I shut the vacuum off. Holy. Catfish. Boy, if/when my dad visits in the fall, he's going to get an ear-full, especia...

Have I posted a link to this blog before? I can't even remember how I came to have it, whether someone here sent me a link to one article or a co-worker did, or I stumbled across it via other means. But this blog has great tips and reminders about what's really important in our lives. Every article there is worth reading, so take a look: Marc and Angel Hack Life . Happy Friday and weekend, everyone.   Universal Blessings, Light and Mercy to All Beings.

I hate it when people can't take hints, thus putting me in a position of actually having to deal with things. That bus stop fellow (he's off today) just emailed me to ask if I wanted to get together to do something, blah, blah.  My answer to that was a resounding no , though of course I couldn't put it that way. So here's what I wrote--I think it was tactful enough. I can imagine that was tough, it's always tough to step out of one's comfort zone. I appreciate the offer, but I think my former neighbour was definitely more your "style."  :-) Frankly I'm at a point in my life now where I don't want any kind of entanglements. I enjoy the company of gay male friends because there aren't male/female "issues," and I enjoy the company of my female friends. But I really do avoid straight male relationships, even casual ones, and have done so for a long time now -- please be assured that it's not personal at all , you...

Okay, when a plastic container states the food item can be heated in an oven or a microwave, you might want to either keep an eye on it or stick with the microwave. Just a suggestion. Because I had picked up a container of shepherd's pie yesterday at a grocery store deli counter, while getting salad stuff, and thought it would do for supper, since I hadn't taken anything out of the freezer. Heat in the oven at 350F for 15 minutes, it said. Or microwave. Well, it was only lukewarm after 15 minutes in the oven yesterday evening, so I put it back in and cranked the oven up a bit more. Mistake! When I went to check, of course the plastic had melted and "supper" had oozed into the toxic mess. Yum. It probably stank to high heaven too, but of course I can't smell, so wouldn't have been able to tell. I had cheese and crackers to eat instead. And some leftover rice. In my defense, I do believe that's the only time in my life I'...

Those of you around the Cat Blogosphere and who read the daily news and updates, will know that one of the long-timer bloggers has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We knew it was pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago, and of course the immediate thought, at least for me, was, "Uh-oh." But I think this news has killed any hope I was harbouring that it was caught in time. Because life expectancy in stage 4 is "grim," according to the Livestrong web site. And I have been told she has chosen to forgo any treatments (presumably nasty) that would extend her life by 6 months or a year and is opting for hospice care. I'm just beside myself and I don't even know her, except via her blog and a few emails. But she's always seemed like a wonderful lady with a heart of gold, one who has had a difficult life, at least in terms of financial challenges. So I can only imagine how her family and friends feel. I know I feel useless and ineffectua...

It's been a typical Monday, what with my coffee-spilling this morning, dropping Toby's kibble all over my front step at 4AM (in the dark of course), miscellaneous small "challenges" to get out the door to catch the 6:15AM bus, then not being able to get down the step and away from Toby, who was in the mood for cuddles, plus dropping one of the Easter cards I'm sending to a family member in Toby's water dish. Oh, and putting my foot in my mouth (in a small-ish way, I do hope) at meeting this morning (not just our staff, we're part of a larger group), and so on. Just a series of trivial things that provided a bit of normal silly Monday frustration. Including being back in long johns due to the abnormally cold temps today and tomorrow. Toby, by the way, has had a sampling of shredded and chunky food in gravy and now refuses to touch the paté he's been eating for the past three years. Yep, he's now become well-fed and finicky, a far cry from t...

I've just been shamelessly eavesdropping in the basement, as the mother and "flea", Lucas, fight about money (he's 7, remember). He was screaming at her, telling her to "eff off," (at least he said "eff"), etc. Shouting he couldn't even call his mother, with her telling him to go do just that. If I heard correctly (and it's pretty clear down there), that would mean she's the step-mother. And that would explain why there are huge problems, though that doesn't excuse his behaviour or the lack of discipline on the part of the parents. (I'm pretty sure she's Isabelle's biological mother, though, from her telling me that she's worked part-time since Isabelle's birth, wants to get back into full-time work.) Poor woman.  Where's the schmucky husband this afternoon, to step up to the plate? You know, I like my own quiet, child-free little life. I think I'll go have a shot of rye in sympathy. ...

I finally got around to doing the draft copy of my income tax this morning. I'm still waiting for one official receipt, but that doesn't impact the amounts because it's the same thing annually. And if--a big if , I'll have to double-check my calculations--I did it correctly, I'll get a small refund this year. For the first time in eleven years. I'll take it! Even a little bit back is better than more paid out. LOL. And yes, I know there are lots of software programs that make this easier, but because I've always had to pay and because my taxes are fairly straightforward, with no investments, it's not worth spending the money. In fact, paying to be told I owe money is just adding insult to injury. I hear the "fleas" returning home as I type this. They've been gone since Friday sometime, were gone when I got home after work that day, so it's been a blissfully quiet weekend. Oh, yes, I can hear Isabelle shrieking now...Yay. An...

There's a fellow about my age who takes the bus at the same time I do in the morning, at my stop. He has a young daughter from a previous relationship that he's trying, through legal channels, to see. (I saw them together once and it's very obvious how much he loves her and she him.) He's quite creative--makes stained glass ornaments and lamps, does leather-working, bought himself a heavy-duty Kitchen Aid appliance recently and makes his own bread and cinnamon buns, etc. Creative but not focused, perhaps, given that he has an admitted history of job-hopping. He's a bit rough, certainly has uh, lived . He has zero interest in me and I have zero interest in him. He did have a thing for my former neighbour, who herself was about a size zero. The one with the two scary dogs. He'd almost salivate when she'd go by in the mornings, chat with her if he could and "subtly" ask me questions about her. So I'm at a loss to understand why he bothers...

It boggles the mind of this Canadian! Quickly snapped on the way home yesterday afternoon. (After which I accidentally dropped the little Canon Elph on the pavement. No damage, thank goodness, other than some red paint being chipped off.) I hope you have a mind-boggle-free weekend.  :-) P.S. I could hear the older "flea" next door giving his mother grief again yesterday afternoon, after school. I wanted to knock on her door and offer her a beer or a shot of whiskey. Universal Blessings, Light and Mercy to All Beings.

I've been having a lot of foot trouble for the past couple of years, at least. Used to wear orthotics a number of years ago, but they gave me pain elsewhere and I stopped wearing them--it's been oh, probably about four years. So I've been discussing all this recently with my physiotherapist (who really is a gem) and she did a scan on my feet at yesterday's appointment. There's nothing quite like seeing a graphic representation of how you're standing and walking versus optimal feet.  :-) My feet...ouch! That was the standing scan. The walking scan gives you a complicated-looking line graph that no one needs to see. Heck, I can't even make sense out of most of it. The bottom line is that there are valid reasons for my foot pain and she does feel new orthotics would be of benefit. I trust my physiotherapist and believe that she wouldn't recommend them otherwise. There was no charge for the scan and she's left it up to me to decide wha...

I noticed that the parents kept the "fleas" playing out front yesterday afternoon and evening. Perhaps to keep them away from the crazy, abusive, middle-aged lady. LOL.  Well, Lucas was on his little scooter on the road (it's a townhouse complex remember, not a high-traffic area), he can't do that in the back space. I went out front after cleaning up my little garden, to put the bag of decaying vegetation in the garage, and saw them. Chatted with the mom for a few minutes, no reference to anything that had transpired the day before. I said hi to Lucas, asked him how his day at school was and that was about it. Said hi to Isabelle too. While I was chatting with the mother, Isabelle went up to her, and the mother insisted she say "Excuse me" before she'd respond to her. She had to insist upon it three times, but Isabelle finally did say it. And it just slipped out of my mouth, "Good girl." Oops.  :-) When the father came home and the mot...

OMG, I was out on the back step just a minute ago, chatting with the mother and with the boy, Lucas. He was misbehaving and the mother grabbed the hoola hoop from him, somehow inadvertently banged him in the mouth (not hard). She put her hand over her mouth in horror and said she was sorry (!) and his response was, "Bitch." Good god! I said I'm a neighbour standing here and I didn't ever want to hear him say something like to his mother again in my presence. She said something to Lucas and his reply was, "Go to hell." Gaagggh! She hustled him inside and I told him, as they were going in, that if he were my son he'd have his mouth washed out with soap. Can you believe it?  I would have had the belt taken to my butt for anything like that, and rightly so. He's 7 years old! BTW, he was tossing around his hoola hoop a few minutes earlier and it ended up in my back space. I gave it back but warned him, in front of the mother, ...

This is the day which the Great Mystery hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. [Edited to reflect my view that the human mind, bound by ego, cannot understand or define cosmic consciousness. But whatever one's beliefs, this definitely is a day to rejoice. :-) ] So this is a bit of Monday mish-mash. First, it's glorious out. Absolutely. Glorious. Ridiculously warm for March. Yesterday's high near the Lake was 17C, and it was warmer inland. Heaven help all our plants if we get a freeze, because our normal daily high temps for this time of year are about +4 or so Celcius. It feels like April or even May. My hostas are sticking their "noses" up out of the ground already and my wild ground cover is coming up. I got my lawn chairs out yesterday. The tussles for the preferred throne have started, I've scheduled a post for tomorrow over on the boys blog. Nicki's sniffing things out while Derry has claimed the "throne." The blue ...

Just my leftover snapshots from yesterday's jaunt to Lemoine Point. The main paths were okay, the ones that are wheelchair accessible, but some of the other paths were pretty mucky. I had my winter hikers on, but even so I ended up turning back at one point, not able to go on without rubber boots. Such is "spring" in our part of the world!  The moss is doing well. LOL.  Better walking here.  Looking back the way I came.  You can just see that the willow tree in the distance is starting to bud.  In between two trails, i.e. not part of any path.  The moss on the rocks caught my eye again. Really, moss was the only green happening!  Some of the damage from one of the wild wind storms we had this winter. The wood "feathers" caught my eye. It seems odd to me, to have something so innocuous catch my interest again. It's good , though. I'm glad I'm coming back to life. I hope Annie doesn't mind. I don't think ...

"Whatcah looking for?" Said by one of two somewhat scruffy middle-aged men to me early this morning, as I stepped off a path at Lemoine Point to let them pass. I had my Fuji camera with me. "Anything that catches my eye," I replied. "Like two good lookin' men?" the one asked. Slight pause. "Hmm..." Another pause. "Anything four-legged or winged that catches my eye," I clarified, meanwhile thinking, asshole . And off we all all went on our merry way, after he mentioned there were some large woodpeckers in a certain area of the Point. I hope that wasn't a euphemism.  As an aside, a passenger on the bus this morning (known to the driver, obviously a regular) said that because I was a "pretty woman," I ought to be careful out in the woods and stick to the main paths. Apparently there must be perverts who hang out in that area, though I would think there are too many people jogging, bike-riding and wal...