Icky bugs!

So we're just getting home from a BBQ now (midnight). We left before the mail came so we got it now. It was dark and Hubby didn't know what he was reaching his hand into until he got in the house and felt crawlies on his hand. And then looked down at the mail. And saw ants all over the mail and his hand. And didn't scream like a little girl, at least, but still was not pleased at all. So the ants were flicked into the sink or squished, the spray was got and used. And we went out to the mailbox to see just what in the Sam Hill was going on in there. There were trying to build a nest, as there was a big pile of eggs in there!! And so they were sprayed. And it was good.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

My weekend

Had a pretty good weekend, meaning lots of lazing.

Friday: stayed home and played Evony all day, then finally made some beer bread and dips for BBQ at 10 or 11 pm. Hubby rented some scaffolding to put a blown off piece of siding back up. (Been getting harassed by HOA for maybe 7 months to get that up.)

Saturday: played Evony and went to a BBQ for like 10 hours.

Sunday: played Evony, got surprise tickets to AAA baseball Ironbirds, so went to that. Hubby got the siding piece back up. Took all of 30 minutes with the scaffolding up. Played more Evony after baseball.

Monday: played Evony. Gave two cats baths, flea problem not as bad as I thought, as I only saw one flea. Mowed the lawn while avoiding rain (it decided not to downpour). Played Evony and did laundry.

Man I like 4 day weekends!

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Stuff in my yard

These have been played with some in Aperture, the sky turned out no where that bright in any of the pictures.

f/5.6 at 30sec

Trees are blurry and funny looking because with the long exposure there were multiple flashes that would light up the clouds, and it only takes a slight breeze to rustle the leaves.

Speaking of Apple products 10.6 is purchased and on its way.

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Thanks Obama

Jut tried to eat at our local pizza/sub/pasta joint. Closed forever. It's a pity because that place was really good!


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Random

Got one Beardie sparkling clean just now, and picked up two water/crapping dishes for both. They are supposed to soak in the dish and it is supposed to induce crapping and also help with shedding. We'll see about both of those. [not even done typing this post and the little guy is already in his dish!! No sign of poop yet] [the next morning: nice big turd!]

If that doesn't make you want to read to the end, then nothing will...

I've been working on putting together some pictures and frames to see if I can get into a quarter auction to make some moolah! I bought five frames at Michael's, and spent too much but not as much as I expected. Too much in the sense that it only is harder to make any profit. So maybe I shall fulfill a friend's dream of accompanying her to the thrift store to find some nice cheap frames. But I guess that's only if the lady likes my stuff enough to let me in. I am going to one as a participant Sunday, and will show her my wares then. Fingers crossed!

We had some fantastic thunder and lighting for a good portion of the night last night. I was laying there trying to sleep through it, but kept thinking I needed to set up the camera to try and get some lightning. It was ideal because all four or so cells passed right over the house, and with it being pitch black outside I could have set the camera for long exposure. Sleep won that round, as usual.

My avocados are doing well, still in their cups. One still hasn't cracked so I wonder if it's a dud. But three though. That's pretty good odds of getting a set that will pollinate each other.

There's a dove nest in the tree over the driveway, so whatever car that's parked there gets a steady stream of pooplets in one spot.
I have not seen a pair at the nest; just one, and don't know if it's the same one all the time.

Was going to put this is a separate post, but it will be your reward for making it to the end: I was throwing away my glass bottles into the dumpster at work today. I always throw the stuff through the side port, and it was open so I could see when something scurried over the pile as I approached. As I rounded the slight curve to come straight at the side port, I was face to face with something that was alive and very much not garbage. It only took me a second to recognize the crazed psychotic look of a Rabid Plague-Carrying Squirrel, and when it made a move towards me I about shit myself. I wasn't totally blocking the port, but apparently RP-C Squirrel thought he still had to go through me to get out. So a few fakeouts by him and more near pant-shitting by me, and I finally figured out he wanted to GET. OUT. NOW. So I moved over a step. He really looked like he was going to go for my head (he was right at eye level) but he did manage to steer around my noggin and out onto the ground. Then he ran away. Also, let me just say that in the middle of the near pant-shitting, I was trying to figure out a way to get a picture. This all happened fast enough that I hadn't even opened my purse to get the phone.

This post has a higher than normal mention of bowel movements. You're welcome.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

More Biscuit

Biscuit went to the vet, she found the puncture inside his ear and tried to see if the abscess would leak out though that. It didn't as well as it should, meaning the goop in the abscess wasn't as runny as it normally is. But they shot him up with antibiotics and also boosted his rabies (he was due next month). And also gave him more oral antibiotics: a pill this time! yay! So it's been a few days since then, his abscess in his head is almost totally disappeared. He had some swelling around the rabies shot, and I still feel some of that. I think the swelling at the injection site actually caused him more pain than anything else. But now he's happy.

I've been keeping everyone in and all the food off the deck after I witnessed La Chupacabra harassing Saffron. Actually I only saw it's back end as is sauntered off the deck when I opened the door. That sneaky bastard looked exactly like a 20 pound cat! That's how no one has discovered what La Chupacabra actually is yet. I also now know how a cat could get Biscuit's head inside its mouth, since the vet thinks it was probably a cat and not dog that nommed his head. It helps that this things is almost twice and big as Biscuit.

So anyway, everyone's all better, until the next fight he gets into.



~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Biscuit is a bad kitteh (very boring post)

The other day Biscuit was out all night or I hadn't seen home morning and evening or something, and when he showed up his fur was covered in something like dried spit. Now you know when a cat washes itself they end up very clean. His fur was sort of crusty. So he's got dried slobber all over his fur, one ear is very sensitive and has blood on the inside of it, and he yowls every time he would try to scratch his head (not a very bright kitteh). I was pretty worried, but decided to wait it out and, if necessary, would take him to the vet the next day.

Don't leave yet, there more boring cat stuff below the fold!

That must have been Friday, because I remember wonder about Banfield being open on Saturdays. Also, I was lamenting not putting him on the Wellness Plan. [Gravy is on it, and you pretty much pay per year, and a lot of things that normally happen to animals is covered. It's like a warranty, you're just hoping something bad happens so you'll get your money's worth. But in addition to some bad stuff being covered, all the vaccines, neuter/spay, etc. are covered.]

So anyway: Saturday. Biscuit had a swollen forehead, and looks like a Cro Magnon Kitteh. And it apparently was more sensitive, as he was really upset when he would try and scratch his head. Again, not a bright kitteh. But his ear didn't appear to have any tears or anything in it, I think there may be a puncture maybe inside, but I'm not sure.

Now Sunday: swelling down, sensitivity lower, haven't checked inside his ear. I was trying to figure our what animal has Biscuit's head in its mouth. Fox seem to leave Biscuit alone, also not big enough to get his big melon in their mouths. So that leaves dog. That means either there is a free range dog on the loose. (There are a couple near me, but they seem friendly enough. Check that. One chased Mittens under the neighbor's deck once. hhmmm.) Or, Biscuit roamed into a dog's yard, in which case he deserves to be nommed. Stupid cat.

So anyway, to wrap up this boring post. Biscuit nommed by dog, don't know what damage to his ear there is. I'm keeping him inside at night now.

In other kitteh news, Gravy is fixed so I've been letting her outside as long as Biscuit is there. Because he's such a good influence and definitely won't get her into trouble. She seems to have a great time in the yard, as there are lots of flying bugs and crickets in the grass to chase and pounce. She's been caught in monsoons a couple times, but I've gotten her before the hard downpour started. Just a few slow-moving giant rain drops that seem to freak her right the hell out. I don't know if it's the things hitting her from the air that she doesn't like, or her paws getting wet on the grass, or what. But she gets kinda freaked and then is frantic about finding a hiding place. Biscuit and Saffron know to head for cover under the maple or some other bush and stay put (if they are too stupid to come inside when I call them). Gravy hasn't learned that hunkering down thing yet.

[UPDATE Wednesday] Biscuit's ear is less tender, but he has a likely abscess in there. I feel a hard lump on his head (and inside smells bad). So now I get to go to the vet! Yay!

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Ahh, finally back to the warm weather

My parents are turning 60 this year, and they just got done redoing their back yard, so they wanted to throw a big shindig to celebrate both. Hubby and I left Tuesday, even though the arty was Saturday so he could get in some face time with his parents. Also, he needed his drivers license renewed so we needed a business day to do that. Plus there was whatever helping needed to be done ahead of party time.

So we left the house in good hands paws:

I didn't take any pictures until I got to my parents' house Thursday, where I finally got to meet their newest additions:

Jenny Smudge. She is such a cute sweet little thing. I don't care what the pound says, I'm guessing her age to be 2.5-3 months old:

And Squeaker Stinker (she has a tummy problem). I think she's 3-3.5 months old:

They love each other, honest!

OK, maybe they love each other when one isn't taking up valuable real estate.

OK! Party Time! I just took a couple shots of the party. 

Not a lot of people in that picture, because most were downstairs hanging out with...

...some very lovely ladies.

So after helping with cleaning up the house, peeling shrimp (blech), putting together some focaccia creations, and eating candy I was too tired to do anything. Except it was so freaking cold, I had to do something to stay warm! It was 100F in Seattle not 10 days ago, and it was in the 60s when we were there. So I stayed in the kitchen mostly and played some outdoor games with Brother to keep warm. Also wrapped myself in an afghan that I'm pretty sure had cat pee on it.

But all in all it was a fun time, and Hubby was a hit because he was just a Chatty Cathy the whole time. (He claims agoraphobia only when kids are round.)

I feel like I am forgetting something, but I'm just end here with me enjoying the 90F 50% humidity. I never thought I would love this weather, but it was just so cold there! And then the flights home were cold! If I had known, I would have at least packed socks and shoes instead of sandals. And maybe a jacket.

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Working on my dandelion patch

Before we got our socks blown off by wind and hail, the day was actually very nice today. Nice hot and sunny. So I got out to start working on the plot for the avocado trees (only one of four has sprouted a root yet). The kitties helped in this venture. I put Gravy on the lizard leash again, and tied her to a shovel. She just got fixed, so she'll be outside pretty soon. I wanted her to start sniffing around before getting total free reign of the outdoors.

Biscuit helped from under the protection and shade of the Japanese Maple.

I think I spent half of my time getting Gravy untangled from underneath the wheel barrow.

So about that dandelion patch. I got to about where I had done for the failed rhubarb plant, and that stuff all came up pretty easily. Then I got to stuff that seemed stuck in there a bit better. Well yeah, it's weeds growing out of clay that hasn't been disturbed in god knows how many years! So I decided to quit. And no, I don't feel bad about being a quitter.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Stuff in work's yard

(click for bigger)

You can't see it here, but the buck's leg that he's holding up is completely effed. He was putting weight on it, it looked like, but he limped when walking slowly. Don't know how he put weight on it, as it looked like the bottom half was not connected to the upper half of the leg.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

random

Just got back from the big fish/lizard/pet store in PA, and I got a leash for (iguanas) Fatboy! So here I shall post a picture of Fatboy looking displeased.

Actually the top one he could almost be showing off his leash. Well the squirming he's doing right now makes me think he doesn't quite like having something tied around his neck.

These two were of Biscuit escaping from Gravy. He seems pleased with his escaping abilities.

Yes that's Evony on the computer. Don't judge me. (don't know why the ads around the internet made it look like a porno, it's not. Just MMORP... whateveryoucallit.)

And yes I put the lead on Gravy. What else do you think I'm going to do with it?

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Well, shit

So I checked the UPS site multiple times yesterday and today to see if they said anything about needing a signature (I know the box of computer parts coming next week will need a signature, as I've ordered computer parts before). It said nothing about needing to be there to sign. So I didn't worry about coming home early to sign. So what's waiting for me when I get home? The Failure to Deliver Notice, of course! Thanks UPS, you fuckin fuckers.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

hhmmmmmm

What does it mean when a dogfood truck pulls out of a street that only
has a Denny's on it?

I think I'll not be eating there ever again.

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Stuff in my yard

I wonder when the SPCA is going to come take my kitties away? Today I used Biscuit and Saffron to lure out a mockingbird. She was barking at all of us all day today, but actually came out of hiding to dive bomb the cats. So I was able to get some pictures.

mockingbird

mockingbird

catbird (yes, it's a real thing, and sound just like kittens mewling)

mockingbird

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Eggy goodness

Was gonna clean the discus tank today, but they are laying eggs! Click the webcam link to watch them (in the sidebar) ----------------------->

[UPDATE] in the 1.5 hours since they laid the eggs, already over half were eaten! I watched the male do it! So I scooped up 10 or so and put them in the breeder bag. I'm sure nothing good will happen to them, but at least they have more of a chance than before.

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Day late, but I don't care

I went to the Tea Party in my town (sent a pic to Insty, and got posted!) Hubby estimated the crowd to be 3-400 hundred, which I think is pretty good. I wasn't really expecting many to show up, but they did! And they seemed like a happy crowd, not angry, or militant, or nasty or anything like that; just regular people who came to hear what was being said. I only took a few pictures, because I was paying attention to the speakers. Also, we were only there for a short time because we had to get ready for BBQ. But here are the few:

(a guy and a donkey sitting next to each other, guy holding the Cap and Trade Bill, donkey sez "I'm waiting for the movie to come out."

This Senate hopeful was the first speaker when we arrived. He seems like a good guy. Now if only I knew his name to vote for him!

Hey! That's me!

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

I'm starting to get suspiscious

Background info: We are current Verizon customer with a land line we don't actually used, but thought we should keep the account because we've been waiting to upgrade to Verizon's FIOS for Internet and cable. The line was installed earlier in the year, and we've gotten a few cards from sales reps trying to sign us up. I knew it would be a while between the lines being laid to when we could actually start the service, so we weren't in any hurry to contact anyone.

Current situation: a door-to-door sales rep came by last Friday or Saturday evening. We signed up for the triple play (phone, Internet, cable) even though we don't need the phone. But you sign up for all three then cancel what you don't want later. That's fine, that seems to be the way it usually works.

So anyway, the sales rep guy needs to use our computer to plug in the order on the Verizon site, I guess. I thought the whole process seemed a little weird, and they call a thrid party service to confirm you have knowledge of this guy placing an order in your name. I thought it was weird, but I saw he had other filled out slips in his folder, so we're at least not the only people falling for a scam. So we set an install date for a couple weeks from now.

Yesterday I got a voicemail from Verizon giving me no more information than call this number in less that 24hrs or your order is cancelled. So I tried the number. Invalid number.

I don't know my login or account number or anything for the website, so I can't really do anything from work. At least this evening I'll have an account number the plug in and see if the website tells me anything.

And the weirdest part? The computer the guy used to put in the order is dead as of two day ago. Wonder if he put a virus on it.

~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Kaput

Desktop computer dead. Probably clogged with cat hair and dust.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Making my list, checking it twice

I am putting together the list of food items to be at the 2nd annual Maya Papaya BBQ, along with what each item needs. I am moving a lot of the things to be made the day before, which is something I didn't do last year. Let's just say there -- wait -- corn on the cob -- OK where was I. Oh yeah: last year was kinda hectic day of BBQ. There's a lot of dips I can do up the night before; since they need to chill for a couple hours anyway, why not over night? But another reason I want to ease up on the amount of work day of, is there is a TEA party in my town in the morning. I really want to go and show off the Debt Star sign I'm going to make. Judging by the activities of our "representatives" of the last week, I think there are going to be plenty of things for people to gripe about. I just hope not a lot of people are leaving town that weekend. I think they did it in the morning so it wouldn't get in the way of any afternoon or evening activities we might have planned, so that was nice of them.

Anyway, back to thinking about food.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments

Yay Godzilla

(Godzilla is my preliminary name for the super lens)

Anyway, got a chance to look at the moon tonight:

By measuring, it is 30% more moon goodness than from the 300mm telephoto, as yet to be named. Godzilla's autofocus did a much better job of focusing than I did, and I seem to remember the autofocus on the 300mm lens didn't do a super job. I think my most crisply focused picture with that lens came from manual mode, so pretty much by accident.


~~END~~

Click for full post and comments