RIP Eileen

One of our lorikeets, Eileen, has died. We spotted her in the bottom of the cage on Saturday, very weak, and thought that maybe Archimedes was hogging food. So, we brought her in, kept her warm, spoon fed her and it seemed she was going to be ok. She perked up and seemed ok. Found her dead this morning. I think all we did was delay her passing.

We got her as an injured adult bird, so she could have been anywhere from 1 yr to 15 yrs old, there's no telling. Her injuries were tended to. She couldn't be released as Rainbow Lorikeets are 'vermin' in this area, so she would remain a pet bird.  She was the shyer of the two keets, and was terrified of people when we got her.  With gentle handling and training, I had gotten her to climb onto hands without biting, and taking food from fingers. Not bad for a wild caught bird. She was with us for 7 years.

Eileen ? - 2010

She will be missed.

Rehabbed Foster Bengal, Update

Lucy is gorgeous now, and very courageous. We like how she 'supervises' what goes on around her.

Now *this* is irony

PETA is using "Octomum" Nadya Suleman to urge people to get their pets desexed

Well, it *seems* to have fixed the problem

With help from Alan, we have testing my computer to see if the same error/crash occurred when he accessed the network drive.

And as timing would have it, Iolo has finally admitted there is a problem (*insert gasp of surprise*) and are working on it, and it should be solved in a few weeks.

If not, I am going to to Paypal and get the cost refunded and stick with the NON pro version.

I've been doing too much

And my lower back is singing out in a concert of pain... with a few Arias just for giggles. My hands are showing signs of too many cleaning solutions, all rashy up under rings, and incredibly itchy.

Wasn't able to do the Big Clean Out I had wanted to so, but I did get some house repairs attended to, and got to use my new yard toy (Leaf blower/vacuum)

Also been hammering away at a persistent Windows 7 problem. Keep getting BSODs with APC_INDEX_MISMATCH as the error on the itty bitty blue screen. (What's up with that Microsoft? You think if you make the screen so tiny, that means it isn't as annoying? Guess again). Dove into the registry and prevented auto reboot so I could write down the coding. It seems that my newly purchased System Mechanic Pro (Should have stuck with the older version) is the strongest contender as the cause. So, it's been uninstalled, and I have reinstalled NOD32. Here's hoping!

Well, it's been signed into law

So, has Rush Limbaugh booked tickets to Costa Rica yet, as he swore he was going to do?

"To Promote the General Welfare"

This doesn't mean pad the pockets of CEOs of health insurance companies.. I mean, seriously, how many 9 to 15 million dollar houses does someone need at the expense of letting someone die? or to deny payment (and with what was the standard practice, if you have to pay before treatment meant a death sentence), nor does it mean fat donations from special interest groups and insurance lobbyists giving to the bought and paid for politicians (you can tell which ones, they voted no over and over for health care reform since the days of Nixon).

Finally, something has been done, a small step, to "Promote the general welfare" of American citizens. With luck, this will grow so no family has to go through what I did, having a sister and her baby die because denied health insurance and no doctor wanting to treat her because she was a cardiac patient aka had a pre-exisiting condition. Even those who who voted against it.

As for the politicians, seeing as their health care is covered by taxpayers, the ones who voted no are beyond hypocritical.

Internet Anonymity

Makes for really brave comments. Up yours and f**k you, oh cravenly cowardly one!

Took this photo after the storm yesterday

No, I didn't enhance the color, everything appeared as if I was looking through orange tinted glasses.

The flash brightened up my lime tree, but the orange coloring is still very obvious.

More storms are expected again this afternoon. Lost power yesterday, and didn't get back until around 4am. Here's hoping no landslides, no one gets hurt.

Too close to snow for my liking

But with the thunder and lightning coupled with the deluge ... no doubt about this not being snow.

Front of the house before the soakwell

Down the driveway

Side Gate

Past the hanging garden

One of the smaller hail stones (courtesy of my either idiotic or brave son, Alan)

Loki is clinging very close, Lucy is yowling, Ziggy is hiding in a closet, and Simba is bounding all over the furniure. Keito, he is in his usual place sleeping. I swear, sometimes you have to shake Keito to make sure he's all there.

Conan the Grammarian needed!

What's wrong with this news headline?

Crash thief: from coma to killer
LAST year a joyrider put himself into a coma after crashing a stolen car - now a family are dead.

Maybe just a proofreader?

Photoshoot

Was a perfect day for it today. Drove down the coast road, and found a great spot for some cliff/rock/ocean/beach shots. Even with a monopod, shooting telephoto is difficult in strong wind.

I got a great shot of Daggles and his father, a very nice candid one. Seeing that John is getting up there in age, a photo like this one will be a treasure.

I am amused

A certain conservative here on LJ has decided by virtue of my public posts, which tend to be fluffy and funny, or just blase, and that I live in Australia, that I know not what I speak of when it comes to politics and the current situations int he US

I almost feel sorry for him/her for confusing a personal blog with a political one. *gasp* Surprise surprise, I have a political blog somewhere that is not filled with my 'funny cats'*, or my opinion of the blonde bimbo on FAUX NOISE*, or my daily mental meanderings. I also have filtered lists, and those who have read the serious postings know that I am not ignorant or in the dark.

And on top of that he/she suggested I check out this friend of his/hers blog, someone who is a like minded Conservative, and I did.. only to find entry after entry of fluff.

Oh the irony!

*This person actually perused my blog to find said entries as proof of my unfitness to comment on what is going on in the US.

On closer scrutiny

I checked the new light fixtures, and I have realised the ceilings will need to be repainted. Oh it never ends! ;)

Before and after

Light fixtures before

Light Fixtures after

And as a bonus, he hung an oil painting that has been sitting on the floor since November '09. I spotted this painting and said "Abstract of Ziggy!" Looks great in the entryway.

Cleaning frenzy

Whenever Aikidomayland goes on a business trip, I go into overdrive when it comes to cleaning things. The reasons why are varied.

I won't be interrupted with him calling or if he is at home asking me where something goes every 5 minutes.
I throw things away, something he doesn't seem to like doing. (However, I do tell him if he can tell me what I threw away, I will admit we needed it)
I can't clean with someone hovering around. (holdover from one of my mother's abusive ex husbands. When I was 8 to 12 yrs old, he used to stand over me with a razor strop, and if I missed a spot on the floor... well, connect the dots)

So, today was vacuum and shampoo the front lounge rug, sweep up the stone floored area. Also use the Dustbuster to clear up cat fur and dust from behind the entertainment shelving.

Toss in a few more loads of fluff and fold, and I am done for the day.

Oh yeah, getting the 3 tract lights replaced as I type!

Done with the yardwork for today

Unfortunately it looks as if the patch on the pool might not be as good as I thought. It's not gushing water, but there is dampness on the ground where the leak is/was. Now, that could be water just seeping out from under the pool, but just don't know. Either way, if we know the hottest part of the weather is well and truly over, will use the garden hose to siphon the water out to the front garden area. And then when it's emptied, dry it off, clean it, and put a patch on it on the outside and inside. Should take care of it. If not, I will just get another pool! There is no way I will swelter in the summer if I can help it.

In an effort to stop fattening the snails

I have decided to make a 'hanging garden'

One Hanging Garden

4 hanging pots, 2 of them have three chili seedlings, and 2 have three basil seedlings.

Should this work out, I see hanging pots all around the pergola, even after the pergola is replaced.

h.t. to Alan for helping me with it. Mixing up the soil with 'other ingredients' is a messy job and he didn't twitch an eye when I asked for help.

Slowly he turns around, step by step, inch by inch....

Simba tries to creep up on Loki.

I need a shower

Well, now I do.

Meegan came by and we went to Bunnings (Yes, a dangerous thing to do, I know). She wanted to pick up some new herbs anda planter, and I needed exchange/return an item that wasn't the right size.

What I left with was:

1: Three chili seedlings
2: 6 Basil seedlings
3: Two pots of cat grass
4: 4 pots and hangers for the herbs and chilis
5: A proper vinyl pool patch kit that can be used underwater
6: An electric leaf blower/vacuum

But I did get a refund for the water feature fittings that didn't fit.

Just finished vacuuming out the pet enclosure.

Now I need a shower.

Fuck

Stepfather's cancer is back :/ the radiation treatment didn't work. Last attempt Chemo scheduled. Dammit.

I might not have a close relationship with my mother and stepfather (for personal reasons that closest friends know), but I don't wish them ill.

Windows 7 bug errr FEATURE #Umpteen

Note to self: Don't update the Bluetooth drivers on Prestige touch screen computer.

It disables the touch screen.

The Mission is over

'Mission: Impossible' actor Peter Graves dead at 83

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Actor Peter Graves, best known for his starring role on TV's "Mission: Impossible," died Sunday. He was 83.

While the cause of the actor's death was not immediately known, he apparently suffered a heart attack, his publicist said.

Graves had gone to brunch with his family Sunday morning. After they returned home and entered the house, one of his daughters began to wonder why he hadn't come back inside with them, said publicist Sandy Brokaw.

The family went outside and found Graves had collapsed. His daughter performed CPR but was unsuccessful in reviving the actor, Brokaw said.

This is getting old fast

Maybe it's the yo yo temperatures, or Aikidomayland 's upcoming business trip, or whatever, but I am so over this no sleeping or this getting up so damned early. Asleep around midnight, and up before 4am. I tried to get back to sleep, but then Aikidomayland started in with his whining and moaning whenever I tried to shift into a comfortable position. *sigh*

So, here I am, up before dawn again.

It's one thing or another

Well, the ac is up and running. Much easier to deal with 39.1c (103f), even on a muggy day. Cooled and humid beats hot and humid hands down.

But (you know that was coming, right?) the duct tape patch on the pool gave out. Alan spotted in early, so we tried to fix it again, but didn't have very good results. I put my brain into McGuyver gear, and came up with this: I put a kitchen utensil suction cup (the kind you use to hang things on the fridge) and placed it on the inside of the pool where the leak was. Ta da!

When it's time to take the pool down, and put it away, I will put a proper patch on it. I will get some water bed patches for it, as I think those would hold longer.

Oh joy

Power outage. Dinner is about half cooked in the oven right now. Air in the house is pretty much stagnant too, as we can't even use the fans.

It's a tad warm today

And that is an understatement.

The AC need minor upkeep, so can't use it today. Luckily, the pool is clear and cool. I did a bit of maintenance on it (chlorine, swap out filter cartridge) and an hour later, floated in cool bliss. Might not be olympic, or fancy, but it's enough. Have been in it twice today, and I have a feeling I will be in it at least one more time before I go to bed.

On a different subject, Simba has been very clingy since that visit with the prospective forever home people. Needless to say, we don't feel Simba and Lucy will be relocating to their home.

Insomnia is insidious

I did manage to keep myself awake until 9pm last night. Only to wake up at 1am from Wing futzing around and it being too stuffy in the bedroom. Wing has this idea there are assassin ninjas just waiting in the gutters to swoop in, so shuts every window down (even though they do have a lock setting that allows a breeze through) so this place is like an antfarm. I didn't get back to sleep until almost 4am.

I really hate this feeling as if I moving in 3/4 time and the rest of the world is in 4/4.

Far be it from me to disagree with the Academy

I have seen THE HURT LOCKER.

It wasn't unique, the storyline predictable, and the acting was meh ok. Why this bouncing, bobbling, rather strained movie won for best picture is beyond me. It was nothing special at all, unlike other 'sleeper movies' that took the Oscar.

Oh well.

So, I put the early rise to good use

Woken up way too early on Mar 9, 2010. Shortly before 6am I looked out the window and saw the “Lemons/Lemonade” parable

I should be sleeping right now

Although I have been going to bed at a decent hour, Aikidomayland and his odd need to watch the entire series of ST:TNG until the wee hours of the morning has finally affected me. This time, I wasn't able to get back to sleep when he finally decided "Hey, maybe it's time for bed!" at 3am

I guess I can always take a nap sometime if I have to.

Newly discovered territory

Simba and Lucy discover the top of the wardrobe together.

Of course, there was a stack of items on top of the wardrobe that I ended up picking up.

I'm very very naughty

<a href="http://Aikidomayland.livejournal.com/"><b>Aikidomayland</b></a>  was 'picking on me' about how I can remember stuff from when I was a kid (Bullwinkle trivia).  He said I was 'tragic', as I could recall things with such detail.

Maybe he shouldn't have said it while he was in the shower, as I reached in and turned the hot water off. His back was to the shower taps so didn't see me, but yowza did he <i>feel</i> it!

 <b><i>YEEEEEEEEEEEEEOW!</i></b>

New Tai Chi move?

Ziggy demonstrates "Head plant of Happiness"

Ok, I admit it

I am a bit grumpy today.

I pushed myself hard at Tai Chi last night, making sure I wasn't relying on just the right leg for weight bearing, and I felt it. Last night, I took some Nurofen + before going to bed, and I think had the best night's sleep I have had in weeks.

Imagine my grouchiness when Aikidomayland insisted on waking me up at 6:45 am. Why? Because he didn't want to feed the felines all by himself. *facepalm*

I tried to stay in bed, even hugging his pillows to me and burying myself under the blankets. No joy.

So, after getting up too early wasn't enough to make my grumpy. The pain and weakness in my left leg (3 loads of laundry, sweeping up the leaves in the front yard [I did get help from Alan] and other assorted household chores have pretty much sapped my energy reserves, and my patience (that's the grumpy part0. I raided my "Pharmaceutical Strength" Red Bull and mixed a half bottle of it with lemonade soda. Yes, I know when it wears off, I will feel even more exhausted, but if I crash this early, I will be up at 3am. Thank you, but no.

Not everything in the past should be left there

When I left the 'mistake', I ended up losing contact with many good friends. One of them I had tried to keep touch with after I moved to Australia, but as luck and a harddrive crash would have it, I had no way to keep in touch with them.

By sheer luck, and stubbornly trying to locate, I managed to reconnect with who was my best friend when I was living Florida. It was like the time missed disappeared. She is still working as a law enforcement officer (she knew what the ex had done to me before he was the ex and offered to have him arrested. I opted to just pack and leave. Smartest move I ever made)

We traded info, and this time I have it not only on my computer, but hard copy too.

Like mother, like son

Ziggy, appearing slightly psycho, on top of the wardrobe.

Not to be outdone, her son Simba, also appearing a bit psycho, on top of the wardrobe.

Now, if we could only get them to do this together at the same time.

Well, that didn't go as planned.

T and B came by to visit Simba and Lucy, as a prospective forever home. My Spidey sense went off a few times, leaving me feeling rather neutral about them.

. My Spidey sense is seldom wrong. Turns out T doesn't like the idea of using sandboxes, and she has this idea that Simba and Lucy will be ok to be let out to roam free after a few months. *headdesk*

They're also not too thrilled about Simba and his 'inappropriate toileting' when stressed. (He's done it twice since their visit. I busted him 'assuming the position, and chased him out to the pet enclosure, and today let's just say I didn't catch him in time. Glad I have have rug shampooer. Alison and I agree that he felt threatened and on edge about the visit) It's something he will do if shifted to a new home, no doubt about it. But they were hoping to bypass this by allowing them to roam freely outside. *again headdesk*

We really don't want them to go to a new home, only to be brought back here because Simba does what he does when scared or stressed. (I'm not too thrilled about it when he doesn it) We would end up starting from square one again.

Letting Bengals roam freely isn't safe for native critters, which is another reason they have to stay as indoor animals.

Now, for your viewing pleasure: Simba and Loki chillin' out together.

That was most amusing

I watching the response of one of the blonde bimbos that pass for 'reporters' on FAUX NOISE to the question "Just what freedoms have you lost or have been taken from you under the Obama administration?"

Duck dodge weave segue avoid change subject, but did not answer!