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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Like Yule? 

I missed doing a Monday post. I was busy. Plumber over, homework, getting news on my Nanny... She is in the hospital and now has a pace-maker.

My Sunday to do list did not get done... remotely. I did get homework done... bunches of reading.

Today was more reading and writing my report while I volunteered at the MPRC before class.

Why did it feel like Yule? I got mail! In the mail came the lovely huge art print for our bedroom. Now we need to frame it and mount it. Also, I got my Amazon.ca books! Huzzah!

I stopped by the school bookstore and bought a notebook (yes, I needed one) and highlighters (cuz I ran out) . Then up to the library to get a bunch of books. One I forgot to get, and one is only on 3-hr reserve, but the rest I got. I am almost all set for my paper on Taoist sexual practices. Class was great as per usual. I am really liking it and I think I am doing ok... so far. Next on the schooling list is to write a paper proposal for the class, read a book for my comp and rewrite my history for my thesis... and schedule the damnable interviews. AARGH! Where am I going to find the bloody time?!

Anyways, I am going to enjoy a night off now that I am also done planning tomorrow's CMS class.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Fall Now 

Happy Mabon to all!

We have now thoroughly moved into Fall. It is damp and chilly. The gloom seeps into the bones and makes everything ache. I am temped to put on a heater. And the season of colds has started. I had a small one last week, and not my older black cat, Bagheera, has a cat cold. Poor sneezy kitty!

Today has been a heavy ritual and testing day in the home. We did a banishing and a house blessing room by room. Folks were over to help with all that and do write their own respective study tests.

We have the marker board finally mounted in the kitchen and I already feel a bit better to have a visible to-do list. Budget ran out sooner than expected so the to-get on special list will be abandoned. I do have school books on order though! I did something practical with my funds. Now to tackle some of the to-do's:

- mount a shelf over the stove
- mount the narrow shelves to display the bottle collection
- clean the fan over the stone
- clean out the fridge
- finish sorting kitchen stuff
- put up art in the kitchen

Then I have to do the homework stuffs, reading about Taoism and the Body. I have to have a report on my reading sent into my teacher by Monday night. Once done that, I need to write up a paper proposal for my term paper. Then over the week, rewrite my thesis history and schedule interviews. And, read a book for the exam.

Busy. Busy busy busy!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Half... just half? 

Half of Monday's list got done. Did laundry, garage clean-up, moved the bedroom around and removed stuff that did not belong there, cleaned and fed lizards, made dinner and did my response paper. I did get a little relaxing in there too. It just feels like i did not get near enough done.

Today I have again lots... always lots:
  • mount that marker board
  • set-up lizard heater
  • sweep the house
  • read homework
  • emails (GG & CMS)
  • train two new volunteers
  • go to class
  • plan CMS-L2
  • review thesis and plan rewrite
Mabon is HERE! Happy Harvest! My garden is late, except the bloody grape tomatoes that took over.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Monday's Spots 

So this is supposed to be my day off for me to do nothing or to do personal catching up. For a change, I kinda am getting that! I have nowhere i have to be today. OMG!

I had spotty sleep due to pulling my shoulder badly carrying heavy stuff for a few days back and forth from home/school/work. So sleep happens in 3 hour spots with painkillers. I will try to nap later.

Someone called me about spotting my spotted cat! She sees him in the mornings around Behrens and Francoeur a couple blocks from me. So this is the second call (an old spanish woman called be about seeing him the other night on 90th corner Red Cross). They all swear it is just like the photo. But since both were on their way to work, they could not catch and hold him till I got there. Each time I have gone out, I have seen no cat at all. I went this time even in my jammies this morning. No kitty. The girl who called said she would keep her eyes out for him and if she sees him again when she is not in a rush, she would catch him till I get there. She said he did not look injured and was just "chillin as he walked along the street" . I hope it was him.

My kitchen sink is GROSS and spotted with gunk! I come home from looking for Tsuki to burbling and glugging noises in my kitchen sink as the upstairs neighbors are doing their laundry. The washing machine drains and water bubbles up to fill my kitchen sinks 1/3 of the way with disgustingness!

This is not such a peaceful morning.

On today's agenda:
  • trash crap from garage
  • finish laundry
  • move stuff into storage (or better placed in garage storage)
  • remove things in bedroom that don't belong there
  • clean and feed all lizards
  • sweep house
  • mount marker board in kitchen
  • email CMS offensive/defensive teacher to try to schedule 2 practical classes
  • plan CMS level 2 class
  • catch up on Gaia Gathering Volunteers emails and such
  • finish reading the articles for class and post my response
  • make supper
  • rework thesis history section

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Different Kind of Saturday 

Well, the basement dude (almost called him basement cat) was blissfully silent last night. He used his headphones for a change.

We slept REAL WELL last night.

Today we got rid of lingering beer bottles on our way to the Old Port for a date. I went on a date with the hubby!! *two-eyed blinky cat grin*

We first went to the SPCA to see what the call was all about. It was just a follow-up to see if I had found my cat yet. They gave me the extension of the lost and found section so i can call in about pictures I see on their website in case one looks like mine (which one does!). I will call them tomorrow about it. Then we headed to the old Port to the the Tall Ships, including the one from the Pirates of the Carribean film. They were much smaller in real life and up close than expected. We could not get a tour or visit as all tickets were sold out by 2pm. So we wandered the "Maritimer's Village" which totally sucked ass. I expected to see kiosks of 16th to 18th century fare and people dressed up and stuff. We were very disappointed. It was a waste of our time completely and totally stupidly crowded.

So we abandoned that for a look into some of my favorite shops on our way to our favorite Tea House. There we sat and had tea. I came home with some Red Lichee tea...mmmm...

While home and eating, we mapped out what we would do furniture-wise for the bedroom.

About 10pm, an older woman called my cell to tell me she saw my cat. I dashed out to the location she said she saw him in, but there was no cat. The hubby made tea for me to ease me.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Maddening Part II-V 

So... *timestamp 5am* I have been up for the last 20minutes after waking a couple times this evening.

No news from the SPCA. No, I have not been able to get a human being on the telephone. and no, they have not called back after I left my message. I won't get to go there till Saturday due to work.

Why am I up? The same reason I have been up all fucking week. My supposedly quiet basement neighbor who is almost invisible is fucking loud in the ungodly hours till past 2am and this time till 4:30am. The mast few weeks he has had the TV or music loud, but we have been patient as we were still just barely able to fall asleep through it. But this week... argh! the husband has gone down a few time to speak to him. This time he didn't even answer the knocking of the door. We flipped his breaker to turn it off. Now though... I am awake, really awake. Kinda so is the husband who is seething and angry. Husband is trying to sleep more. I gave up for now. Maybe i will try to grab a nap in a bit.

I wish I was awake enough to focus on homework. Good thing my class tomorrow night will be more a social class. I have no idea how I will function tomorrow. I hate feeling tired and growlie all the fucking time.

This basement neighbor was supposed to be a quiet one!!

**EDIT 7:00am**
I got 30min sleep. Doorbell rang. It is the electrician that the landlord called to fix out kitchen light/fan. He was supposed to come with the landlord. The landlord was supposed to CALL before anyone just showed up. Today... I the world and everyone in it.

**EDIT 8:00am**
At least the electrician dude is very nice. He fixed the kitchen light/fan. Now he is trying to fix the hallway light switches so the light can go on or off from the two switches it is supposed to as opposed to working ONLY if both switches are in the same pushed down position. I made tea for the hubby who managed to shower and such discreetly with the stranger in the house. I refuse. I will wait till he is gone. I am having my own tea and planning classes and packing stuff for work. Focus is so hard. Hubby is super super grumpy, tho not at me, just grumpy. He leaves for work in a few. I leave in an hour. At least I am packed. I am just still in jammies with a sweater.

**EDIT 8:25am**
Electrician left 20min ago. Landlord showed up 15min ago. Hubby stayed till all strangers left, but is now late for work. Landlord spoke to basement tenant (who... oops is a Timothy not a Thomas). Landlord just left and graciously is giving hubby a lift. Now I can get myself cleaned up and dressed and out.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Maddening... 

Today was a series of maddening events.

It started close to 7am with the next door roofing construction that was SO NOISY! Isn't there laws against when such work can start? Can't they wait till sometime more reasonable-ish, like 8am?

So I dozed on and off from 6-8am after sleeping poorly during the night and was a mess when i woke.

Fighting with my printer to print way more than intended, it decided it was going to think between pages (for over 400 fracking pages!). I almost missed my bus and still didn't have everything I needed printed, but had to give up in order to get the bus.

I get to work to find the recycle still in the back and now ready at the bottom of the stairs. I manage to fight now 3 bags of recycling, asking customers who arrived to please be patient. They at least agreed to come back in 15 min so I can open. Little bits of chaos were all over the store (partly due to new kitten, partly due to projects being mostly finished but not totally). And I still had no breakfast. I am insane by 10am if I have no food, so all these things, on their own would have been fine, but together... I was about to lose my shit.

I stuck out a sign "back in 15min" and ran across to get a sandwich and try t0 be actually human. Once tidied and sorted, my world was hunky-dory. At least till the late afternoon run to Dossier where it became maddening again. More printing chaos with a guy who didn't speak English nor french very well. Took me twice as long as it should have. and in the end i gave up on one print job due to time... again!

I got lunch/dinner after closing where i finally sat for 20min to eat.

Class went great! Thanks the gods!!

The most maddening thing though... was that I had received a call... from the SPCA... at 7pm while teaching. Thus I did not answer of course with the phone off. They did not leave a message. I have no idea why they called. It could only be because of my lost kitty or the ad i left ther for the second time on Monday. I tried several times now to call back and only got their answering machine. My mind is going crazy with the many possible reasons for their call. I pray it is because Tsuki (my lost kitty) showed up there.

now it is nearly midnight when i finally have gotten home to the cat food locked in my office because the thumbed can opened it earlier and apparently made a mess (time to put a padlock back onto it). And came him to a chewed spider plant. I saved it nicely. Getting a hanging basket is top priority tomorrow.

I haven't gotten to either homework or Gaia Gathering stuff. I am so tired that I think I'll just go to bed and tackle this tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be better.
Tomorrow will be smooth.
Tomorrow will be a good and productive day.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Can't sleep... migraine 

So i am up.

No cat news. No cat.

I gave my dove to a new home too. The quiet is a bit disturbing. If the students I gave the dove to can't manage to keep him and thus returns him, that is ok. If she keeps him, I may consider getting another, maybe one of those mini-sized doves I saw at the pet store.

The week has been busy, hectic and thus I have not been home much. Just after setting up the kitchen, we had to take it apart so new counters and sink could go in. Now we can't even really set it up because a tiled back-splash is yet to be put in. I am going fucking insane with my home in half stages. It is a stress on top of my stresses and i am out of coping line.

This weekend:
Saturday - working, prepping for coven, reading homework for class
Sunday - cleaning and sorting and setting up some part of the house stuff, coven, house blessing? maybe?, post and mail new color fliers for Tsuki, finish any reading for class, make bibliography for exam
Monday - prep Gaia Gathering meeting, finish bibliography for exam, meet exam teacher, more homework reading and posting reading response, Gaia Gathering meeting, planning week

I want my Tsuki home and it is not happening.
If you ask how I am... I am NOT fine. I am just NOT. so don't ask... please...

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

More News 

Monday? I think I missed it.

Dad came and finished the door installations and collected plants from my garden for Mom.

We have learned that a little black kitty is eating the food out of the dish out front. So I guess I will give up on filling it. I plan to print more posters and fliers after my pay tomorrow and redistribute this week.

My new grad class is great! I like my new teacher. I was considering dropping it, but I think I will stick it out.

With stuff still packed, I can't find materials I need to teach with for tomorrow night. ARRGH!!! I have my teaching notes, just not the handouts to copy for the students. CMS level 1 is taken care of. They will get their workbooks tomorrow and the reading packs by the end of the week. CMS level 2 will be delayed till I can find the damned material. Also, I have to adjust the material due to the language barrier. They will never understand the material I have for them now. They need stuff that is easier to read or better yet stuff in French.

We are having an amazing storm. I hope Tsuki is ok. I just feel like he is never coming back...

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Is it good? 

I have some news.

1- Dad came over and installed the new French Doors. VERY PRETTY! We need to verithane them still.

2- something is eating out of the food bowl i set outside with Tsuki's carrier. A little tabby was spotted in the carrier this morning and the hubby chased her out. I am hoping the eater is Tsuki. I am putting food out on the usual cat feeding schedule.

Saturday, September 04, 2010

House Update 

The bathroom is set up.

The bedroom is as set up as it can be the the practically no furniture situation. Our clothing does NOT fit in the closet shelving. It is maddening and chaotic for me in the morning, making me hate where I am every time I wake up. On the list are: new mattress (which has been needed for the last 6 months but only now is the hubby complaining), dressers with drawers for our clothes because we have none, and art for the wall (awaiting the artist to pass printing apprval so i can buy his 30" x 40" art ( SEE IT HERE ).

The kitchen is still in half-state which is also mentally frustrating for me.

For me to function at a bare minimum, I need these first three rooms in a finished and clean and organized state. One of three is and that room isn't even the one I can lounge in.

In other house news, the hubby's office is pretty much set up. His fishies still live. My office is pending strong arms to remove the big shelf that did not fit. I am considering finding a home for the dove. The hubby doesn't like the sound, even though I do. The reason though is that my office is SUPER small now and no longer a reasonable space for the dove to fly about. My desktop computer is set up but not hooked to the internet. That needs to change this weekend. I found that the heater ate the cord that links my printer to my desktop, so I have to go out and buy a new one today. Why the rush on the computer stuff? School starts Tuesday. I need to print stuff. I am ALREADY behind in schoolwork! My office still has setting up to do. I have things mostly in the garage and stuffed in the closet for later sorting.

That leaves the hallway and the living room. The hallway is kinda done-ish. We built shelving inside the front hall closet, removed the doors, put in air fresheners and it now houses the litterbox and all the pet related supplies! HUZZAH! The linen closet in this new place is smaller than the one in our old place. I thought they were the same, but they are not. Thanks the gods no one was around when i discovered that. My string of curses was quite colorful. Now I have no place for the extra blankets. They could go into the bedroom closet... IF we have dressers for the clothes.

The ling room looks like... CHAOS! I am trying not to go in it or to look at it yet.

The garage is chaos too as it is housing several people's things and all the stuff that was "in storage in my office" awaiting sorting. The goal is to have it all cleared and sorted by Samhain.

The back patio needs some replanning as does the under-the-patio. The yard had its first mow with our new hand-pushed mower. Stupid soft rained on grass. It will need another couple passes till we tame it back to normal.

The downstairs neighbor is still almost invisible. We can hear his TV at night at ridiculous hours. I doubt he knows it is so loud at 2am. The upstairs neighbors are nice and remarkably quiet too. They are sharing the driveway with us.

No news on my missing Tsuki.

Today we will go out and get a new printer cable to replace the melted one, check out new mattresses, and set up my internet (writing this from the laptop which is getting fantastic wifi from the modem in the front office). Tomorrow my dad comes out in the morning to help us buy and install french doors on my and my hubby's offices and to take some garden flowers from the garden for their garden.

I am energetically wiped and emotionally drained. I have 2 days to get caught up on a summer's worth of homework. I apologize in advance for all the stuff I will be dropping and all the socializing I will be abandoning and for any moments where I drop the ball. I am at the end of my coping rope.

I just want to get my house done being set up and livable and find my cat and survive school.
Update done... maybe another on another day.

Friday, September 03, 2010

Week from hell 

Saturday, August 28th:
Moving and renovating and working

Sunday, August 29th:
Moving, errands, coven, more moving... finding out we have only a couple days and not all week to move, losing Tsuki, staying up all night looking for him

Monday, August 30th:
making flyers and posters and posting them, running errands, meeting thesis adviser to learn i need to rewrite, meeting multifaith chaplaincy about GG, home to look for Tsuki, more moving, tendinitis flares, looking for Tsuki every couple hours through the night

Tuesday, August 31st:
working all day, looking for Tsuki, moving, up most of the night looking for Tsuki, finished moving and cleaning, sleeping 2 hours to be up early to look some more

Wednesday, September 1st:
up before 5am to look for Tsuki, working all day, meeting someone for tea which i kept short, looking for Tsuki, unpacking some, waking every few hours to look for Tsuki (the neighbors must hate me now)

Thursday, September 2nd:
up early to look for Tsuki, working all day, posting to websites and contacting vets and such about Tsuki, home to look for Tsuki and unpack more, looking for notes for class i need to teach, gave up around 11pm due to the desperate need for sleep

Friday, September 3rd:
woken by landlord who needs to learn to call before showing up, working all day, teaching class, employing more search techniques (spread more cat litter around to try to attract Tsuki home), planning new posters and flyers, lamenting about money i owe school, trying to budget furniture i need and failing (why can't Ikea gift certificates fall from the sky?), putting out fresh food and water for Tsuki, resigning myselk to the need for sleep

The heat wave and the stress meant i ate little all week and took no breaks at work. I am a mess. The important rooms in the house are not set up as I need them and that contributes to my stress.

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Cat Search Help 

This is a call to those willing to come help me search for my cat in the late hours.
If you are willing to patrol with me, please let me know.
You need dirtiable clothing, be willing to climb over a fence or under a balcony, and have a flashlight.

My cat is probably hiding within 5 houses of home.

This is NOT a search aiming at catching him as that effort would only scare him more and he might likely bolt farther away.

If you think you want to help in other ways, I could use help with visiting the local SPCA or Berger Blanche in case someone drops him off, and maybe someone to design brighter posters and fliers... tho I have decent ones. I more need someone to patiently put them in everyone's mailboxes in my area. It is footwork.

I have done all this footwork along with work work and moving. Now my tendinitis in my foot makes it almost impossible to stand at all.

You should all know how to reach me.