Aikidomayland was playing with Ziggy. He put a piece of cloth over her, and was gently running his fingers over it. She rolled over and SWIPE went the claws. He tried it again and she turned and did the same thing. No biting, though.
I pointed at one foot wasn't under the fabric. "She's claws, not teeth. Freddy Krueger, not JAWS."
And I like software manuals/books. Yes, I am the type who will RTFM.
I have used Corel Paint Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for about 2 years, pretty much using it like I had with my old JASC v7 of the same program. I felt I wasn't really getting full use out of it. That there were things I could be doing with it and wasn't. That was brought home even more when I bought the software for a friend for a birthday present.
After some research, I decided to get a CPSPPX2 'how to' book. The good thing about this is now there is X3 out and all products for the X2 can be gotten on the cheap, therefore I got two copies. One for me, and one for the friend.
I've just been paging through it, stopping randomly and reading, and turns out I was right. There is a LOT this program can do that I wasn't utilizing.
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Ziggy tried some catnip about a year ago, and had no reaction to it. A year later, I decided to give it another try. Her reaction to this time was much different than the first time!
Was reading some of the rather inane comments on CNN about this game. Here is my comment about it.
Seeing as this game has been in development for years, and the graphic quality was well advertised, people should have expected to have to use an upper end machine to run it, with a kick-ass graphics set up. Trying to run it on an older machine, then complaining about the lag is just plain silly. Read what the recommended requirements are, upgrade your machine as needed, or wind the graphics quality back.
Also, there will always be the expansion packs in the future. Just like there was with Diablo, Diablo II, Warcraft, and the original StarCraft, so game playing won't get repetitive. I'll wait a while, as I am still enjoying The Witcher, Sacred 2, and WoW.
Have a lot on my mind. That and the wool comforter was too danged warm with two cats on either side of m! No, not a hot flash, as I cooled off immediately when I shoved said blanket and cats off of me. Also, my back/hip are giving me some grief again.
Of course, my shoving the blankets off was the signal to Keito and Loki that it must be time to go for their morning constitutional, so even trying to get back to sleep wasn't on the To Do list. *sigh*
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The good news is, 'the kids' are fine.
The bad news is their new owners have split up and now neither want the cats.
Why the FUCK did they take them when their relationship was rocky???
I don't really want them back because when we find them new people again, I will go through that heartbreak of them going all over again. That and I have cleared out the foster equipment, Ziggy/Loki/Keito are getting back to normal.
That being said, should there be no other option... *insert words here*
DAMMIT!
It took me the better part of 2 years to teach my daughter in law to stop forwarding me chain emails and stories, as they were old 5 years before she started mass emailing them.
Now I have to instruct my step father? Well, I have may email filter set to purge all emails that have the constant FWDs and dozens of >>>.
I don't mind the occasional one, but jeeze.. enough!
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Still feel kind of tired from the weekend, but I want to go. There's no law saying I have to do two sets. Good warm up, one set, and home.
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Today was the end of a good weekend.
Called Jascarine to see how 'the kids' were doing. Simba as adapted and adopted his new home and humans so well, that he is already sitting in laps. Lucy, like usual, is still a bit shy, but it's only been two weeks. Also, Simba showed them something we had told them about. If the sandbox isn't clean enough, Simba will show them. He dug, swept and scooped ALL the litter out onto the floor, deliberately and with forethought. Then stood there waiting for it to be properly tidied and refilled. Jascrine was amused by this, and not fussed as they have hardwood floors. Was easy to clean up.
A friends' cat is recovering, and back at home.
Archery was pretty good today. We had the state coach wandering up and down the line.. well coaching. Funnily enough, he didn't stop and coach me, as I was using a horsebow, rather than a standard recurve. Telling me to stand up straight, or not hold the bow so tightly would have had me telling him "With all due respect, sir, if I did that, the arrow would fall off the back of my hand." But he did give Aikidomayland a good tip about something I had told him he was doing. When he starts getting tired, he tends to lift his shoulder. I guess he believed it coming from an 'expert'.
Aikidomayland and I had a hankering for pancakes, so that's what I made for lunch. He was surprised at just how easy it is to mix up. He likes watching me make this as I just do it, no recipe book, just get it ready.
Aikidomayland umm 'grew a pair' and told his mother that he likes his job and has not plans to quit, but if a better job offer came by, he would 'consider' it.
He and I also cooked dinner together. Was very nice.
It always takes a while for Aikidomayland to get adjusted, time wise, when he gets back home. He was still on "Zambia Schedule", so I made him get out of bed.
Then most of the day, her majesty Ziggy demanded in very loud yowls and howls for him to attend to her. He is just so Pussycat whipped! Queen Ziggy is placated now.
Wing works for a mining company. This entails that he travels to Zambia.
Now, the 'middle' is this: Wing's mother has been on his case about his taking a more local job (aka NO TRAVELING). He has been offered and has taken a permanent position with this company. He hasn't told her that he as accepted, and he didn't tell me he hadn't told her.
That left me flat footed when she called the other day trying to recruit me into pressuring Wing quit his 'current' job and find something local. Luckily she was so wrapped into her plans to make Wing quit his job I was able to cover and make all the appropriate noises.
He can man up, grow a pair, and tell her himself.
Also, what bubble has she been living in? A good paying job, with a contract, isn't something to just throw away.
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Didn't get a decent photo of the red panda as it was once again high up in the tree, foliage blocking it, and back lit. I did get a photo of the wombat, but the critter had a wound over its right eye. I took photograph and showed it to one of the zoo staff. They got on that right away.
Got a great shot of the Numbat with his tongue sticking out. And some great shots of one of the otters, and sent them to SlightlySatan
Got my Zoo membership. Now, no more of trying to pack seeing everything in a rush. I can go, spend a hour, go home, go back another day and do the same thing.
I know I am going to feel the three hours of walking around tomorrow. Feeling it now but just as being tired.
And am going to just get a yearly membership. Not only because it's cost effective, but because after the horrible storms earlier this month, the zoo needs all the funding and donations they can get for repairs!
Going to have to take it slow, as the cold nights and not overly warm days are playing havoc with my lower back. The area around the surgical site is giving me some misery.
Hopefully, I will get some shots of the red pandas, and wombats this time. They were very uncooperative last time.
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I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!
I input a sample of something I had written, and this is what got kicked back. Rather honored, as he is one of my favorite authors. (bows head in respectful moment of silence )
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Ziggy has a thing for aluminum foil rolled into small balls, from the size of a gum ball to about the size of a golf ball. So, I was tossing them out the door, and Ziggy with her tail all exploded, had a great time chasing them down. Then Keito and Loki joined in.
Mayhem ensued.
I have been having a problem with my computer. It's nothing huge, but it's annoying. For some odd reason, the screen will occasionally go solid light grey and then hard lock. I Have to power down by holding the power button down for about 10 seconds. I reboot, all is well. The odd thing is Windows 7 Incident report doesn't detect it as a crash or problem.
I have done all the usual, uninstall software, make sure drivers are up to day, roll back drivers if they have been updated, scanned for virus/malware/spyware, the whole gamut.
So, after exhausting what I can do since I am no longer in a computer store/tech dept, I did the logical thing. I submitted a support request.
This guy's answer floored me.
Good Afternoon Sandra,
Thank you for contacting Acer's online helpdesk.
The problem you describe can be caused by a number of different possibilities; however as a first point of measure, I should like to suggest you run through a system recovery, in the event there are any corrupted system files.
I have provided some simple and easy to follow instructions to running a system recovery.
Please also note that all personal data will be deleted, and your system restored to factory default when performing a system recovery. We suggest you backup your personal files to either CD/DVD or a USB storage device if possible. We also recommend that you keep regular backups of your personal files.
WTF??!! Restoring to factory default is the last resort, not the first! And I have already checked the integrity of my OS. I guess he missed the part where I said that. *boggle*
My reply to him.
I don't know what school of tech support you hie from, but when I was working tech support for computer repairs/set up/installations, resetting to factory default, or formatting the HD and reinstalling the OS is the *last* resort, not the first.
You state at the outset there are other causes. Fine, list them, and let me go through the solutions you can provide.
Again, resetting to factory default is the LAST resort, not the first step.
They really make me want to knock on their foreheads and day "Hi, I'm from Earth... every heard of it?" Oy.
I have been re-arranging her known universe, and she does not like it one little bit.
So far, I have once again put things back on the shelves (taking wagers on how long it will stay there), took the rather cat fur covered blanket off for a wash, thereby depriving her of her 'sofa tent'. The amount of fur I removed from it before putting it in the washing machine.. cripes, I could have made Loki a new friend.
Because I have been emptying shelves and moving furniture, I have to vacuum the floor again, as and her majesty Ziggy isn't going to like it.
Aikidomayland has safely arrived in Africa and is now pestering me with text messages. Glad to know he's ok, but he should remember the time difference. I'm having dinner and would prefer it not to be cold. heh.
But I know exactly when he'll be back again. Yes, Aikidomayland is on his way back to Africa. I have my BOOK OF LISTS and am trying to decide what repair/maintenance I will have worked on while he is away. I was thinking about having the carpeting in the front lounge pulled out and the floor re-surfaced/covered with something a little more durable, but that will have to wait for warmer weather, and to time it to the next household waste curb side pickup.
Set up the new 13 port USB hub, and have shifted the external drives from the desk to the floor, as Ziggy did a flying leap landing behind my computer, and knocked them off the desk. Their not being damaged is a tribute to Aikidomayland and years of fast reflexive actions. He got them before they hit the floor.
After cleaning the bookcase, I found several 1 and 2 gig SD cards. They will make great video SD cards to transport converted videos from one computer to another.
But a sorta good thing about 'the kids' being re-homed... I can finally vacuum the lounge room, as both Ziggy and Loki can run out when the dreaded machine starts its noise!
Of course, re-shelving everything Ziggy knocked off the shelves is a lesson in futility, but it looked tidy for 10 minutes.
I called Jascarine last night to see how Simba and Lucy were doing, and if J or C managed to get any sleep due to excitement, or the sound of ponies gallumping across hardwood floors. (chuckle)
The good news is, the kids are settling in there as if they have always been there. All the prep work we did achieved what wanted. Short adjustment period, and little or no stress. It also helped that they had a cat tower exactly like the one they were used to sitting and climbing on here.
And with no further ado, Simba and Lucy in their new Forever home.
Yes, those are full sized, but you can see they are together, close and very happy.
Should hit in about 20 to 30 minutes. Hard winds, gusts up to 104kph.
hatches still battened down, all light objects secured.
Here's hoping we don't lose power, or if we do, after dinner is cooked.
Simba and Lucy knew something was up.
We packed up their 'haz a box' , some toys, and an article of clothing that each of us had worn. Then came the fun part of getting them into pet carriers. Who knew that Simba could be squirmier than Ziggy!
Arrived at the new home around 11am, and unloaded everything.
Simba was the first one to start exploring, but he would go back to Lucy if she yowled.
Then he started calling to Lucy to encourage her to come out and explore.
Simba enjoys some "CatTV"
Simba demands that this door be opened. It was, and he and Lucy explored the hallway.
He is really enjoying the view.
Widescreen "CatTV". Lots of birds, butterflies and other things to keep him entertained.
The house seems so diminished with them gone, as they weren't just cats, but a force of nature. I will miss them terribly, but even knowing then, what I know now, I would it all again.
To have over 20 yrs of computer experience, and know how, to have some idiot talk to me as if I don't know where the effing power up button/switch is located or how to use it.
Well more like clear the gutters, put a sheet over my just starting to flower and fruit lime tree, ahead of tomorrow's predicted heavy weather. Every year we get an hellacious storm just as my fruit trees are in their first full flower of the season. This year, I'm hoping to have more than one crop.
Simba and Lucy had another visit from J & C yesterday. Simba came trotting right out to them. They brought a grooming glove for the cats, and also to bring some of their fur back to their new forever home to put on their soon to be new bed. Simba thought it was a fun game, and Lucy totally blissed out. J & C will be here tomorrow with new pet carriers for the two of them to get used to, as they will be transported in them to their new home on Saturday.
My back isn't getting over the almost slip and fall at the grocery store as quickly as I would have liked. Probably has to do with the very cold days and nights, and the side effects from them (4 large cats pinning us down at night because it's a very warm bed!).
Alison and Peter came over to check Simba and Lucy's rehab progress and has given two thumbs up on their being adopted. Also showed photograph of Simba when we first got him
This was when we brought him to the vet back in November '09
And this is Lucy on the same day:
Their coats were dull, sparse almost all over, brittle and they were terribly underweight and in extremely poor condition. Simba was so malnourished, he looked more like an Oriental cat than a Bengal, and Lucy wasn't much better.
This is what they look like now:
Alison and Peter took many photographs of them, and have asked me to email the photos of the vet visit, and others along the time line showing improvement as an example of a successful rehab.
Day started off with good conversation with long time friend, ShadoutCarver. Then Aikidomayland and I headed to archery range. Was good time. :)
Off to "Americans in Oz" 4th of July fair. Was a lot of fun.
Then J & C came by for a Simba/Lucy visit. The kittehs were very comfortable with them, playing and romping around everywhere. I baked a cake (white chocolate this time, with vanilla buttercream frosting) and we had a nice 2+ hr visit. They will be great forever home for the cats.
Kinda tired now, but in a good way.
I understand the need for the RSPCA in Western Australia doing something about the feral cat populations, and removing animals from hoarders, or removing abused/neglected animals from homes, but this is stupid.
The RSPCA is supporting a drafted law that will allow them to enter anyones' house, if they have more than 2 cats, with no exceptions for pedigree breeders or people like me who are fostering and remove 'excess animals'. This could seriously impact people like me who foster, or want to foster rescued animals.
I got this from Ziggy/Simba/Lucy's breeder. I have told her if she needs any signatures on a petition, let me know.
Simba and Lucy enjoying the warmth of our heated bed.
