It's a go

We have found Simba and Lucy's forever home. J & C are wonderful cat persons, and have already started gettting cat supplies (tower, heated pet bed, deep deep litterbox), researching CatMax Enclosures. Simba and Lucy haven't had any of the stress related behavior like they did when the first couple came for an interview. They liked J & C, and J & C had love at first sight.

I don't think we could have found better people unless we designed them.

I passed along the suggestion of them getting a blog to keep everyone informed about Simba and Lucy. They like that idea, and I have sent them the information.

Simba and Lucy will be here with us for about 2 weeks while their new forever home is set up.

This morning, Lucy was very curious about the lump moving under the blanket.

That lump was Simba! :D

In the vernacular of LOLCats

"I haz a happy, but I haz a sad too."

J & C, adoption candidates for Simba and Lucy, came over for their interview.

Not only do they know about how Bengals behave, understand that Simba might have a few 'stress' issues with a move so there might be accidents, know that Lucy has a mild heart murmur that needs to be checked every 6 months, are 100% behind them being indoor cats only (J&C both loved the pet enclosure and were already making plans where to put one) they also passed the Simba/Lucy "Play with me" test. On top of that, Miss Priss Ziggy liked them, too. J&C would like to beat the snot out of the previous humans that were nominally Simba and Lucy's first home.

We are waiting to see if they repeat the behavior they did the first time a potential forever home couple visited. Simba and Lucy were stressed, and 'accidents' happened on a daily basis for a week, that started hours after the people had gone home. All the kitties did was hide after they had left.

This is what they did after J & C left:

Then they played, and climbed into bed as usual.

I haz a happy because we are sure we have found the perfect forever home people. I am sad because I will miss looking up and seeing them on top of the wardrobe looking down. I will be sad because Simba won't be climbing up the kitchen drawers as if they were a ladder to snoop at what was on the counter. Ah, the double edged sword of fostering needful and hurt animals.

Pardon me while I go wipe my eyes and make Loki wonder why I am hugging him.

Keeping fingers crossed

We might have a great candidate for Lucy and Simba's new forever home.

This couple have had Bengals before. They lost their Bengal 2 years ago and are looking to adopt again. They know what Bengals are like, how energetic they are, how they can be destructive if bored. They also know Simba and Lucy's history, including all the umm 'toileting' problem Simba had (took almost 6 months to fix that) and they are still interested!

"Hey! I was sleeping!"

I will miss them, I will cry when they go. We had to invest a lot of our hearts into them to make them whole and happy cats. I will be sad when they go, but I will also be happy that they have a loving forever home.

This isn't good

While pillaging in Coles with Aikidomayland today, the heel of my shoe landed on something on the floor and my foot slid forward, throwing me off balance.

I managed to keep my balance,but it might have been better to have fallen. I have wrenched my right shoulder, and the area around the vertebrae spacer is very sore and spasming.

Headed to the pharmacy to get some Nurofen + or generic equivalent. Turns out the large economy size is no longer available because some assholes decided to abuse them, and then blame their bleeding ulcers on the medicine. So now, 30 tablet packets are the only ones available without pharmacist consult.

I hope I didn't do any damage.

Cold can be enervating

Got some weeding done in the front yard, and did a few load of laundry. The problem is this house is like meat locker. Stone floors and brick walls make for cool summers but the cold settles in this place, and it's exhausting.

Want, or should I say wanted, to do to SupaNova. Someone has been a it of a buzzkill the past few days, but only about things I enjoy... as usual.

After getting the same run around from Acer Support

I decided to grab the bull by the horns and do something a bit differently. Instead of hammering away with Acer for weeks, I just called DiscWorld and talked to the owner. I explained what the keyboard was doing, and he right off said something is wrong with the keyboard, not with settings or software. He called Acer as a proprietor of a store, and then Acer called me.

After repeating the same things I said in my support request, I was informed a new keyboard will be shipped to me right away.

Go me. And thanks to Paul at DiscWorld.

Howzat again?

Lesson: Hire literate proofreaders before heading to the typsetters/printers.

Hmmm

My cordless keyboard started throwing out odd characters, and doing other strange things. Swapped batteries... still kept doing it. Did the proper cleaning, and it's still doing it.

Using old corded keyboard. Chances are I will have to get the other one replaced, probably as keyboard/mouse set as they both operate off the same USB receiver.

*grump*

Well, at least they are still under warranty.

Did I ever mention how much I don't like cold weather?

Everything seems to want to hurt. My knee and where the implant is in my spine hurts like hell. It's as if the cold settles in there, and then the pain flares up. Trying to ignore it just doesn't really work that well.

Still, I went out with Meegan for a bit of hunting and gathering, and pillaging. Aikidomayland needs a camera bag to take the Canon to Africa on his next trip. So, I got the one made for the Canon with the twin lens kit.

Had lunch at La Porchetta with Meegan .

By the time I got home, I was walking very slowly, as I didn't want to limp. Dose of two kinds of pain meds (same kinds I was given when I was in the hospital). Waiting for them to start to work.

Yes, he works for a mining company.. BUT

To all those who know Wing aka Aikidomayland works for a mining company, he wasn't on the plane, or part of that company.

Got slammed by the 'sleepies'

After doing some housework, and some yard work (weeding and such), I sat down in warm room, on a comfy chair. And promptly fell asleep sitting up.

I know it's tied in with the low thyroid, and high insulin levels, but dayam!

Oh, that smells so nice

The house smells of fresh limes.

Could have something to do with the home made lime cheesecake in the oven, and the flat glass dish with fresh lime slices in sugar.
Aikidomayland helped with the prepping.

Tonight, he is making curry. Yum.

I think I will keep him

We picked up my shoes, and headed to City Farmers to pick up the organic cat food that we have been feeding all the Bengals. This particular food was instrumental in Simba and Lucy's recovery to full health.

I was looking around, and couldn't find it. A very nice salesperson came over and she said I was looking in the right place, but it wasn't there. She went to ask the manager.

Turns out that Iams discontinued it, no warning, nothing. The only way City Farmers found out about it was 2 weeks ago when they tried to reorder. I was a bit annoyed, as were they. Had I some notice I would have slowly weaned the cats from one brand of cat food to another gradually to prevent gastric problems.

I swear, the guys who work at City Farmers are my heroes. You see, City Farmers has this guarantee.. if you cat doesn't like a particular food, you can bring it back for a refund no questions asked, and the cat food is sent back to Iams. Well, they had some upstairs, unopened, that were part of 3 bags returned. They gave me both of the unopened bags, free of charge. Now, with the new brand, I can mix it 3 to 1, then half and half, and then 1 to 3 until they are eating only the new food.

After all this, Aikidomayland made a great dinner of perfectly seasoned salmon, oven roasted potato pieces, and a delish fresh salad.

I think I will keep him.

First real day out in 10 days

Headed off to Ziggy's vet, to get the infernal pet insurance paperwork done. Bureaucracy is annoying. All Is dotted, all Ts crossed, all appropriate boxes ticked. Just have to write a letter to them about how 1: She didn't die, 2: We adopted her as an adult, she is no longer a show cat, and 3: a pet cat who just happens to be pedigreed.

Then went pillaging. Didn't need much seeing as 2 out of the 3 of us have been ill. Most of the supplies bought were household items, and sustenance for our furry and feathered cohabitants.

Stopped in at shoe store to get another pair of the shoes I am wearing now. I have learned the hard way, if I find comfortable shoes, get two pair because by the time I wear them both out, I might find another pair as comfortable. That particular store was all out of my size, but a store in Garden City has them in my size and is holding them for me. Will be getting those in about 30 mins or so.

Then, after we get back, I decide if I want to make a lime cheesecake, using the limes from my own tree.

Simba and Lucy Update

I think we have gotten them to their 'wellest'. Haven't had any 'improper toileting' issues with them, and they are both in top condition now. Simba has not only recovered his health, but he has grown. I have a feeling his reaching adult size was delayed due to poor nutrition from his previous home.

Simba on the left, Lucy on the right. Simba is a spotted Bengal, and Lucy is a Brown Marbled Bengal. Both are pedigreed. They are half siblings, same sire, different dams. But this picture just oozes love.

Available for adoption by the right home. Can't be separated, as they are very closely bonded.

Feeling a bit more alive today

No where near ready to enter any marathons, but not falling asleep sitting in chair, or lurching around unsteadily. Ribs and diaphragm still sore from all the coughing and hacking, but coughing not as deep and tearing as yesterday. Cough-lite?

Anyhow, improvement is there, and should be ongoing trend.

Did someone get the license plate of the truck that must have run over me?

Took some Mersyndol last night before bed, not only to help with the very painful muscles, but to help me sleep. It worked, but boy was I rudely woken up by some of the most painful bout of attempting to chuck a lung across the room I've ever experienced. I coughed so hard, I saw bright flashes of light in my eyes when I closed them against the pain.

After that was over I realised every joint injury I ever had felt as if I had been kicked in them, which leads me to believe this isn't just a 'cold', but probably some form of the flu.

I still feel as if I have gone through the gauntlet of Painstick wielding Klingons, but after 4 days of this, I am hoping I am over the worst of it.

*Blech*

The good news is, according to Aikidomayland, is that this cold is as bad as it gets. I've slept most of the day away, with bouts of painful wakefulness. Been coughing so much, my ribs hurt. Throat feels raw. Breathing sounds like cross between gargling and wheezing.

Think my family has given the makers of LemSip and Strepsil their profits for this week.

Time for more sleep.

Well, It's 'official'

Kept telling myself I refuse to get sick, I refuse to get sick....

Ended up telling Aikidomayland that the next time he comes back from a trip to Margaret River, he is to bring me a bottle of good wine, or a box of chocolates. This is the 2nd time he has come back from his Aikido Wintercamp with some viral plague (cold or flu) and given it to me.

Retro Diner

I liked how the tiles reflected themselves back onto another wall of tiles, in a chrome and stainless steel retro style diner.

We invaded the city!

If you can call Meegan , her son Liam and I an invasion force. The mission was to take Liam's camera back to the place it was purchased because it had the dreaded, and well documented ERR99 that is the Canon equivalent of BSOD.

What was funny was when Liam was telling the salesperson about the problem. She looked at his receipt and warranty, and immediately started hemming and hawing about how they don't exchange or arrange for repairs.

This is where I come in. I told her I had researched about this error he kept having. I even contacted Canon AU about it. There are 4 things to try to see if it's caused by:

1: Battery
2: Faulty SD card
3: Lens contact points.
4: Shutter misaligned

It was none of the above, meaning faulty camera, as all the above mentioned items had been thoroughly tested, and that after speaking with Canon AU, I was told to return the camera from where it was purchased.

Well, I guess I spoke with such knowledge and authority, the salesperson was a bit intimidated. She called Canon AU, and said "One of your reps is here." (Whohuhwha?) And after about 30 seconds, we see and hear her taking down information from Canon AU as they said "Just return the camera for repair or exchange."

I fessed up that I am not a Canon Rep, but I am photographer who researched about this problem and contacted Canon about it.

The good news is, Liam's camera is headed off to be repaired/replaced and he should have it in 2 to 6 weeks. (2 weeks if exchanged, up to 6 weeks if repaired)

Sumatran Tigress

As much as I understand the need for the barriers, not so much for human safety, but to keep the tigers safe from humans taunting them, it can really mess up a shot.

I had to reduce/remove the cloudiness of the plexiglass, remove the reflections from it also, and then color correct the greenish cast on the animal, without reducing the greenery behind her. As much grain and noise was removed without losing detail.

Thpppt?

I so luff the big kittehs!

Went to the Perth Zoo again

Took hundreds of photographs. The reason so many was instructions from the Pro Photographer. He told me I needed to get used to the idea that with digital, take many photos, especially with AI Servo and continuous shooting, this way I will be almost guaranteed to get "THE SHOT". He was right. At least one out of the 5 continuous shots was a keeper.

The hard part? Deleted duplicates, or near duplicates, that also came out 'perfect'.

Some of the photographs needed post processing, due to dirty/cloudy plexiglass, and with this one, because of an obstruction in from of the subject.

How's this for a Before and After?

Have more to go through, but need a break for now.

Excuse me?

BRITISH Petroleum telling AMERICANS they can't photograph the damage in the US? Having local police turn photographers away from taking pictures of dead animals on the beach in a piss poor attempt attempt to cover up the damage? Maybe they need a reminder about what happened in 1776.

That was a lot of fun

The GREAT NUBBIN HUNT is over for me. Damina has been sent off to her next 'port of call'. Now I have to select some of the photographs to send to the organizer of this shindig.

I wonder if it will ever make its way back here. heh

She needs to put brain (if she has one) in gear before speaking

I want to know how Failin' Palin manages to intimate that someone, a respected journalist/writer, renting the house next to her is a creepy pedophile, only there to leer at her daughter and spy on them at their favorite swimming hole (one that can been seen from space because it's just SO small), and gets away with her lie? Slander and libel are actionable offenses. Freedom of Speech comes with responsibilities, something she hasn't come to grips with yet.

Worse yet, brain dead sheeple idiots swallow her line of bull$hit, start making death threats to said renter because of her lying. If, or is that when, her hate speech incites violent actions in one of those brain dead sheeples, she needs to be held accountable.

Helpful fashion accessory

Wore my corset most of the day. Not for the fashion of it, but because it helped with with the back ache. So, I wore it,and am better for it now. Not all better, but moving much easier.

Aikidomayland can be so sweet. I mentioned that the velcro shoulder pad that Bunny M let me use made using my black shoulder bag painless as the strap wasn't cutting into my shoulder or neck. So, Aikidomayland went to Crumpler in Perth, and got one for me.

I think tonight will be last dosage of pain meds. I should be ok for a while.

Now this is how support is supposed to be handled

Gives me hope that not all support tickets are answered by brain dead drones.
On 5/26/2010 at 6:23 PM, Sandra Chung <******@*****.au> wrote:
I have been using Forte for years, and I love it.. but there is one thing I kept hoping would change hasn't.
Click on Attachments, and then Add. The explorer window that pops open to select a file can't be resized. And that itty bitty one is just too small. Yes, I know I can drag and drop, but opening a Windows Explorer window when there is one built into Forte is rather silly.


Hi Sandra,

Yeah sorry for this. We've gotten this request before. I'll see what we can do for a future release. Thanks for your patience.

Regards,

Mark
--
Mark Prince
Forte Internet Support Dept.
www.forteinc.com