Swift counting time at the chimney in the evenings, and peony hybridizing season going now during the day.
It's that time of year to get hooked back up with nature and the long term garden projects.
We don't get big numbers of swifts like these on our side of the mountains, but this short video should give you an idea of how they can be at places that do :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TT07lAdNaM
Me and a friend are the offical counters for a counting project that's happening on the west coast. Most nights it's just me down there. A great way to spend the dusk each evening, and get a stiff neck too.
So my weekend involves driving 170 miles to stay at my sister's house to babysit her 5mo old kitten, while I leave my own cat at home alone.
The big event of the weekend has been *finally* figuring out that the woman I date over here, and who I've been seeing off and on for like....15 years....has a drinking problem. I am *so* stupid about things like that, but the fact that we always begin by having a wonderful time together, and then somehow she turns mean and nasty as the evening progresses...it actually isn't about me at all, as she would have me believe, but rather has to do with how long she's been drinking. The whole thing has been this *total* mystery to me, as I'm nothing but kind and considerate to her, but after having the same thing happen maybe 12 times, in *exactly* the same pattern.....you'd have thought I'd have figured it out by now.
Other than that, cork-on-a-string is being a massive hit with little Alfie. Use a long string, on the end of one of those green bamboo plant stakes, and we're good to go. Stand in the middle of the stairs.....bop bop bop, up the stairs it goes, and bop bop bop, down we go again. Over and over again.
How can any one creature possibly have such energy !??
Maybe there's something in that dry cat food that us humans need to investigate ?
The big event of the weekend has been *finally* figuring out that the woman I date over here, and who I've been seeing off and on for like....15 years....has a drinking problem. I am *so* stupid about things like that, but the fact that we always begin by having a wonderful time together, and then somehow she turns mean and nasty as the evening progresses...it actually isn't about me at all, as she would have me believe, but rather has to do with how long she's been drinking. The whole thing has been this *total* mystery to me, as I'm nothing but kind and considerate to her, but after having the same thing happen maybe 12 times, in *exactly* the same pattern.....you'd have thought I'd have figured it out by now.
Other than that, cork-on-a-string is being a massive hit with little Alfie. Use a long string, on the end of one of those green bamboo plant stakes, and we're good to go. Stand in the middle of the stairs.....bop bop bop, up the stairs it goes, and bop bop bop, down we go again. Over and over again.
How can any one creature possibly have such energy !??
Maybe there's something in that dry cat food that us humans need to investigate ?
My new cat Buddy, for the first time today I saw him have some interactions with a couple of cats in the front yard (his territory) where he *didn’t* get in a big fight with them.
They just touched noses, and then laid about on the lawn together.
They were girl cats, of course.
They just touched noses, and then laid about on the lawn together.
They were girl cats, of course.
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him."
Attributed to Goethe and various others.
OK, I don't know how many weeks it's been now, but I was finally able to threaten and browbeat my friend into going to the hospital. Running 103* temp for two weeks or more, then having blood show up in your urine, and still refusing to go ? All the while wanting to chat on the computer with me for hours every day ?
As I understand, she's in the ICU now, where of course she didn't want to go either.
Having to sit and listen to someone with a death wish for days on end is draining, and it finally did cause me to loose my composure. Not something I'm proud of I'll admit, but at least she's in the hospital now, whether she likes it or not.
Personally I'll take a big flaming Russian fireball any day.
As I understand, she's in the ICU now, where of course she didn't want to go either.
Having to sit and listen to someone with a death wish for days on end is draining, and it finally did cause me to loose my composure. Not something I'm proud of I'll admit, but at least she's in the hospital now, whether she likes it or not.
Personally I'll take a big flaming Russian fireball any day.
The cops showed up at my friend's door this morning, and arrested her abusive BF, on what charges no one knows.
Her temperature from pneumonia continues at over 103*, with no abatement. No meds, and she resolutely refuses to go back to the hospital.
" I hate the hospital. "
I suppose the "rock bottom" thing is getting closer, as with him gone, now she's alone with no one to watch her at all. I made it clear that it will be up to her to make her own plans for herself now.
I'm pretty OK with the fact that there's nothing left I can do to help her. When you've said all you can, and none of it works, you kind of arrive at that point. But it's still kind of rough having to talk with her.
Her temperature from pneumonia continues at over 103*, with no abatement. No meds, and she resolutely refuses to go back to the hospital.
" I hate the hospital. "
I suppose the "rock bottom" thing is getting closer, as with him gone, now she's alone with no one to watch her at all. I made it clear that it will be up to her to make her own plans for herself now.
I'm pretty OK with the fact that there's nothing left I can do to help her. When you've said all you can, and none of it works, you kind of arrive at that point. But it's still kind of rough having to talk with her.
The saga of my friend continues, but I don't know for how much longer.
She has pneumonia, and has had it for weeks, was on an IV antibiotic drip in the hospital, checked herself out before the course of antibiotics were done ( "I just hate hospitals") thus assuring that only the most drug-resistant were left in her body, and was *not* able to fill the prescription the pissed-off people at the hospital gave her when she left, even though she knows I would send her the money to get them.
Ten bucks is her co-pay. ( "But I already owe you money from the last time you helped me get my meds")
She IM'd me yesterday, and just as I thought would happen, her temperature, which had dropped in the hospital, had spiked back up (102-103* ) and although I read her every sort of riot act, and told her she *must* have her drug addict BF ( he's got money for his drugs, but not $10 for hers ?) take her back to the hospital *now*, she refused to go.
Just IMed with her again this morning, and her temperature is even higher. No meds at all. After hours of ranting at her yesterday, today we just talked about the weather.
The string of poor choices she's made in the past is impressive, but I believe there is a good chance she will die from this one. People do die from pneumonia. ("Maybe it's just a cold.")
Perhaps her asshole BF will haul her to the hospital once he can't rouse her, but by then things may be to the point where antibiotics no longer work.
You hate the idea that someone you've put so much energy into will finally end up dying from stupidity.
I made her promise to leave a note for her father with my contact info in it, so someone will be able to tell me what finally happened.
She has pneumonia, and has had it for weeks, was on an IV antibiotic drip in the hospital, checked herself out before the course of antibiotics were done ( "I just hate hospitals") thus assuring that only the most drug-resistant were left in her body, and was *not* able to fill the prescription the pissed-off people at the hospital gave her when she left, even though she knows I would send her the money to get them.
Ten bucks is her co-pay. ( "But I already owe you money from the last time you helped me get my meds")
She IM'd me yesterday, and just as I thought would happen, her temperature, which had dropped in the hospital, had spiked back up (102-103* ) and although I read her every sort of riot act, and told her she *must* have her drug addict BF ( he's got money for his drugs, but not $10 for hers ?) take her back to the hospital *now*, she refused to go.
Just IMed with her again this morning, and her temperature is even higher. No meds at all. After hours of ranting at her yesterday, today we just talked about the weather.
The string of poor choices she's made in the past is impressive, but I believe there is a good chance she will die from this one. People do die from pneumonia. ("Maybe it's just a cold.")
Perhaps her asshole BF will haul her to the hospital once he can't rouse her, but by then things may be to the point where antibiotics no longer work.
You hate the idea that someone you've put so much energy into will finally end up dying from stupidity.
I made her promise to leave a note for her father with my contact info in it, so someone will be able to tell me what finally happened.
