Archive for January, 2007

What a strange place for a business convention. Niagra Falls isn’t really “home” for anyone- none of our offices are here, so everyone has to drive at least an hour or so to get here. It was particularly odd driving past the wax museum or whatever it was that had speakers blaring spooooky sound effects on my way to the hotel. But I’ve made it safe and sound to the other side of the country, and that’s what counts.

If Irene was here, we’d go do something like see the Falls or … something. Instead, I’m about to turn off the TV after three hours of Discovery channel. At least I can confirm that I was able to get reasonably priced ($25 for a week) Internet access from my room. And I’ve been educated via Discovery channel regarding FutureWeapons and 2057…

I have to do a bit of travel soon for work, and I’m not looking forward to it. 

It’s not that I haven’t been through the routine before: in fact, for a few years I was away from home for work probably three or four months out of the year.  It got so that the check in counter attendants at some airports recognized me as I walked up, and “bumped” me into first class…that was nice, if uncommon.  I’m not complaining about the travel, at least not really: some people face daily travel as part of their work routine, and I’m very fortunate that I’ve been able to make career choices that have reduced this to the bare minimum for myself. 

But at the very root of things, I think I’m someone who really, really likes his routine.  When I travel for work, my stress level shoots through the roof: every little thing, like what to eat, whether it’s safe to walk a couple of blocks to a convenience store, or whether my toothbrush is where it should be, takes on menacing overtones. 

Oddly, I am much less upset by vacation travel.  I’ve pondered about this quite a bit, and I think I’ve figured out a couple of reasons why this is so.  If I’m on a vacation, then I can defuse the pressure by

a) not having to be at a specific place at a specific time with specific resources ready; this combination of things is *always* part of business travel
b) being able to take along part of my “home” in the form of my wife, who can be there to anchor me

I think I’ll survive this trip, but I’ll be much happier when it’s done and I’m back home. 

I live on the Wet Coast- webbed toes are a pre-requisite for living here.  So you know that it’s a strange thing when I’m *happy* about the fact that it’s raining. 

We’ve had a couple of weeks of strangely cold weather, with an accumulation of snow that has stuck around for well over a week.  But the temperature has started to go up a few degrees, and the precipitation is no longer the kind you need to shovel.  A couple of days will erase the winter wonderland and restore our normal soggy greenery. 

Yay! 

Okay, that’s enough celebrating…

On Thursday Iris woke up with a limp.  She was favouring her right front paw, and was acting somewhat depressed.  We took her to our friendly vet, Doctor Michelle, who couldn’t find an obvious problem, but suspected a puncture wound hidden somewhere.  Dosed with an anti-inflamatory and a prescription of antibiotics, we took the little one home.  She perked up, had a big dinner and seemed much happier.   I gave her the first dose of antibiotic. Part of the “prescription” was to keep her calm…yeah, right- Iris is a million mile an hour kitten, so slowing her down was about the best we could do.

On Friday morning, Iris refused to eat and was very lethargic.  Her limp was pronounced again, but had migrated to her left front leg.  She was shivering uncontrollably, and it took a lot of cuddling to get her to stop.  She seemed stiff and uncomfortable all over.  I ran her in to the vet, who checked her again and was puzzled: Iris’ temperature was now elevated a couple of degrees, and the “migration” of the pain from right to left leg suggested something other than a normal injury.  The vet asked to keep Iris at the clinic for observation and to begin rehydrating her.  Blood tests and a change in antibiotic was also part of the plan.

By Friday evening, Iris was resting comfortably at the vet: one good thing about being born at the clinic is that it seems like “home” to her, and she knows all the people there.  The best guess at that point was that she had experienced a systemic reaction to one of the vaccines she had been given the previous week.  Basically, all of her joints were irritated and inflamed, and she was reacting as if her body was fighting an infection. 

Iris is still at the vet this morning- they just called to say that she’s eating again, and seems to be doing well.  They are going to observe her during the day, and we might be able to pick her up tonight.  The vaccine reaction seems pretty certain as the cause of her problems.

The house seems empty without Iris, even though we have six other cats.  Nimbus has been (by his normal standards) very friendly the last 48 hours: I think he’s wondering where Iris is at.  A tiny little 1.3 kilogram critter surely can disrupt my life, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Nimbus has noticed her absence as well.  The last week or so, I’ve been laughing every day as Iris discovers new things and finds different ways to cause havoc.  I think the laughing has been good for me. 

UPDATE: Iris came home with us Saturday night, and is back to her usual self (I.E.: getting into all sorts of mischief).  She’s eating well again, and bouncing around with nearly the same energy she had a week ago.  A week or so of medication should clear up the last of the problems.

I admit it…I’m weak.  Put a tiny little kitten in my hands, and I toss all reason and logic to the wind.  Nimbus came into our lives through Irene’s volunteering at a local pet shelter.  And now Iris has joined our catty household due to a visit to our friendly vet…

Click the above picture to see a folder full of kittenhood! 

Iris’ Mom was sadly given up to the vet when her owner realized they couldn’t afford the bills.  Five kittens were born at Langley Central Pet Hospital, and were raised there with plenty of love and attention.  But they needed homes. 

I was there with Nimbus a month or so ago, and was invited to see the kittens.  No one suggested that we might take one, but I was smitten.  They were all very cute…and a few weeks later, just before Christmas, I put my name down for one.  Five kittens, and a six person waiting list.  Some others apparently dropped off the list, though, because I got the call a week or so ago to come in and pick out our new kitten.  And I picked little Iris up today. 

I’m the first to admit that we don’t need more cats in the house.  With Iris, we now have seven, which is a crazy number.  But I love them all, and Iris…well, sometimes my heart is my undoing.

It’s a little past midnight, so that means it is now officially 2007 here on the Wet Coast.  Irene and I got back from Chilliwack about an hour ago, and my wife is already off in dreamland.  I’m sitting here in front of my computer with a glass of cognac at hand, pondering the deep imponderables.  Actually, I’m just experiencing a mild buzz from the cognac fumes as I upload a handful of photos from Judy and Bryan’s New Years fondue party.

Dennis successfully gave us something new to talk about by almost burning down Judy and Bryan’s house while lighting the fondue burner.  No harm done- Judy got to be the hero of the day for grabbing the fire extinguisher Shane insisted they buy a couple of days ago, and which Bryan had installed just in time for use.  The fondue itself was great- the last time I cooked with fondue was…oh, probably 30 years ago.  Chicken and beef bits, and Irene was frying up zucchini.  Lots of snacks were around as well- Judy never permits an empty tummy. 

All in all, a great way to spend the last few hours before the turning of the year.  I expect great things from everyone in 2007: nah, scratch that- I just want everyone to be happy, great, small, or indifferent.