Kodi turned 8 years old at 11:50 PM on Dec. 24.
..
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Corpse removal humbly requested
I woke up late this morning, after dealing with the before mentioned landlord drama late into the night, followed by some serious television watching.
I am home for Christmas, and until I find my own place (job, car, place, let's try to keep it in that order). I came down stairs around 11 am to find an empty house with no indication as to where anyone was. On my own way out I spotted a bright pink sticky note on the back door. Perhaps this was to inform me as to where everyone had gone.
This creates more questions than answers.
Thanks mum.
The bird was never located.
I am home for Christmas, and until I find my own place (job, car, place, let's try to keep it in that order). I came down stairs around 11 am to find an empty house with no indication as to where anyone was. On my own way out I spotted a bright pink sticky note on the back door. Perhaps this was to inform me as to where everyone had gone.
This creates more questions than answers.
Thanks mum.
The bird was never located.
Spoke too soon?
Sometimes I jump the gun.
I thought this was over. I thought I'd ended it on a slightly losing note.
I got a reply from the landlady.
I mentioned the BC Tenancy Act or whatever the BC equivalent to Alberta's is called, just sort of in passing, suggesting that they have a read through that next time they rent out a property.
Apparently she contacted them herself. I'm not sure what she was expecting to come from it, but they told her she has to pay me my $100 back.
She'd told me she can't do that until April, because her husband signs the checks and he won't be around until April. Again, I take this to mean that she is putting it off in the hopes that she can forget to send me the check, same way she forgot to send me the money she owed for the wiring repair on the electric bathtub. We'll see come April.
She tried to guilt trip me too. Saying I got off real cheap (for $200 more a month I could have lived in a basement! That would have be great) but I decided not to get petty and point out all the things that went wrong, like the fact they never skirted in the trailer as promised, or the grief with the electric tub, or the fact that the propane cylinder they gave me was nearly empty before I even got it, or the water lines not being insulated so they froze, or the heater being too much for the power grid to handle, or that one of the four plates they gave me was broken, and the coffee mugs all leaked out the bottom.
I didn't mention any of that stuff.
Like I said, we'll see come April. Ideally, it will fund my trip back to the Island to see Galen. In the meantime, I recall that it could be worse. Check out Gary: Landlord of the Flies over here at stranger than eviction now there's a landlord I wouldn't want to have to deal with. Warning, Gary's language is not child safe. It's also not very good grammatically.
In other news... oh what was it... never mind.
Where's my puppy?
I thought this was over. I thought I'd ended it on a slightly losing note.
I got a reply from the landlady.
I mentioned the BC Tenancy Act or whatever the BC equivalent to Alberta's is called, just sort of in passing, suggesting that they have a read through that next time they rent out a property.
Apparently she contacted them herself. I'm not sure what she was expecting to come from it, but they told her she has to pay me my $100 back.
She'd told me she can't do that until April, because her husband signs the checks and he won't be around until April. Again, I take this to mean that she is putting it off in the hopes that she can forget to send me the check, same way she forgot to send me the money she owed for the wiring repair on the electric bathtub. We'll see come April.
She tried to guilt trip me too. Saying I got off real cheap (for $200 more a month I could have lived in a basement! That would have be great) but I decided not to get petty and point out all the things that went wrong, like the fact they never skirted in the trailer as promised, or the grief with the electric tub, or the fact that the propane cylinder they gave me was nearly empty before I even got it, or the water lines not being insulated so they froze, or the heater being too much for the power grid to handle, or that one of the four plates they gave me was broken, and the coffee mugs all leaked out the bottom.
I didn't mention any of that stuff.
Like I said, we'll see come April. Ideally, it will fund my trip back to the Island to see Galen. In the meantime, I recall that it could be worse. Check out Gary: Landlord of the Flies over here at stranger than eviction now there's a landlord I wouldn't want to have to deal with. Warning, Gary's language is not child safe. It's also not very good grammatically.
In other news... oh what was it... never mind.
Where's my puppy?
What $100 ?
Wow, way to be a bundle of negativity in my corner of the internet, but here you have it people, another complaint.
What is it with my luck when it comes to landlords/roommates/neighbours? Why can't I have just one smooth housing experience? And my dad wonders why I want to buy in to a house so badly, well, dad, this is why.
I was shorted $100 on my damage deposit when I left the trailer on the 12th. Now, this was not because they found damages to the trailer, it was because the landlady decided on her own that my damage deposit was not the $300 originally (well technically not originally) agreed on, but that it was just $200.
Originally, if we go back to the very first communication via their kijiji ad, the deposit was to be $100. On being informed that I had a dog they raised it to $200. I agreed to that, because I'm used to being jerked around a little bit for having a dog and $200 was reasonable for a deposit in relation to my monthly rent. Not to mention, that this same email said that they would just count my deposit towards my rent, so technically, I was just paying some rent in advance and wasn't making a damage deposit at all. Great deal right? I thought so.
Two months later I got another email, saying that their insurance deductable had increased to $300, they were, therefore, increasing my deposit to $300. This would not, as previously stated, be included in my rent, and I was to pay a $300 deposit to be held seperately from my rent. I was told, and these are their words, not mine "you will be refunded $300 in cash" granted that I don't wreck anything in the trailer, which she acknowledged that I did not (I have a written note from her saying so).
So! I agreed to an additional $100 on my deposit, with the expectation that I would get it back, essentially it was being held until Christmas, like a forced savings plan that I depended on in order to be able to afford to buy my lovely family their Christmas gifts. That's right, I budgeted around that $300. A portion for the ferry and gas home, a portion for the hotel on my way home, and a portion to go to paying for my seasonal gifting habits. I only got 2/3s back.
I confronted my landlady about this descrepancy in person, pulled up the email from them that said specifically, "$300 in cash" she gave it a dismissive glance, told me she didn't have her checkbook with her and told me if I emailed her the email I had, she would send me the money in the mail. I had no choice but to leave (though I bet now she was lying, and she did have either the cash or the cheque book on her). She did give me some speech at the time about how they had raised everyone's rent, to which I argued that the email said nothing about a raise in rent, only an increase in my refundable deposit.
I emailed her the message, figuring that she was a fair and reasonable lady, and while she concedes that is what was written, that her husband was "out of his mind" when he wrote it and that it doesn't, well, to put it in the simplest terms, it doesn't "count". Then she gave me some random BS about how that money was for gas anyway, and that I agreed to pay $100 for gas. I did, I agreed to pay $100 for gas, $50 each way. I have an email from them that breaks it down like that, $50 there, $50 back. I already paid for gas. She is scrambling to find a reason that they charged me an extra $100. First she tried to apply it to rent, now she's trying to apply it to gas, but the only thing that she will fall back on if I continue to pursue the matter is that her husband wasn't thinking straight when he sent that email.
It is an insanity plea!
I can't believe that my first encounter with an insanity plea is over a damage deposit refund of $100.
I came back at her arguement with the whole series of emails exchanged from the very begining, I saved every single one, highlighting the important parts, the parts that prove they said deposit, refund, and the parts that show I never agreed to an increase in rent or gas price. I should also point out that each email contains both of their names in the signature, so prove to me which ones your crazy husband wrote and which ones you wrote (I didn't use those words exactly, that would sound all unprofessional and stuff). Then I told them to not bother contacting me again unless they were sending my money.
Does that sound like I gave up too easily? I don't think so. I could tell from her weak argument and her 'so there!' attitude that nothing but bringing them to small claims court will get me my $100 back. They want to plea insanity, I call stupidity on them. I'm tired of spending so much time arguing with stupid people. My time is worth more than that $100. I've seen very little of the Redline small claims case, but what I have heard about it also tells me that $100 isn't worth it. Those people aren't worth it enough to me.
I am starting a new part of my life. I am finished school, I am trying to get my head around building a business, I am looking for a car, a place to live, a job, and a new fuzzy family member. It is Christmas. I am not going to sour everything by beginning my life with this idiocy. I know I'm right, they know they are wrong. Happy Christmas Sari and Barry Marks, don't spend my money all in one place.
On another note, my unnamed friend who knows who she is recieved an extra $100 from her landlord when she departed. He owes her at least that for the hell he put her through while she was living there. But seriously? When it comes to the universe balancing itself... that's my $100 bucks, girl, hand it over.
What is it with my luck when it comes to landlords/roommates/neighbours? Why can't I have just one smooth housing experience? And my dad wonders why I want to buy in to a house so badly, well, dad, this is why.
I was shorted $100 on my damage deposit when I left the trailer on the 12th. Now, this was not because they found damages to the trailer, it was because the landlady decided on her own that my damage deposit was not the $300 originally (well technically not originally) agreed on, but that it was just $200.
Originally, if we go back to the very first communication via their kijiji ad, the deposit was to be $100. On being informed that I had a dog they raised it to $200. I agreed to that, because I'm used to being jerked around a little bit for having a dog and $200 was reasonable for a deposit in relation to my monthly rent. Not to mention, that this same email said that they would just count my deposit towards my rent, so technically, I was just paying some rent in advance and wasn't making a damage deposit at all. Great deal right? I thought so.
Two months later I got another email, saying that their insurance deductable had increased to $300, they were, therefore, increasing my deposit to $300. This would not, as previously stated, be included in my rent, and I was to pay a $300 deposit to be held seperately from my rent. I was told, and these are their words, not mine "you will be refunded $300 in cash" granted that I don't wreck anything in the trailer, which she acknowledged that I did not (I have a written note from her saying so).
So! I agreed to an additional $100 on my deposit, with the expectation that I would get it back, essentially it was being held until Christmas, like a forced savings plan that I depended on in order to be able to afford to buy my lovely family their Christmas gifts. That's right, I budgeted around that $300. A portion for the ferry and gas home, a portion for the hotel on my way home, and a portion to go to paying for my seasonal gifting habits. I only got 2/3s back.
I confronted my landlady about this descrepancy in person, pulled up the email from them that said specifically, "$300 in cash" she gave it a dismissive glance, told me she didn't have her checkbook with her and told me if I emailed her the email I had, she would send me the money in the mail. I had no choice but to leave (though I bet now she was lying, and she did have either the cash or the cheque book on her). She did give me some speech at the time about how they had raised everyone's rent, to which I argued that the email said nothing about a raise in rent, only an increase in my refundable deposit.
I emailed her the message, figuring that she was a fair and reasonable lady, and while she concedes that is what was written, that her husband was "out of his mind" when he wrote it and that it doesn't, well, to put it in the simplest terms, it doesn't "count". Then she gave me some random BS about how that money was for gas anyway, and that I agreed to pay $100 for gas. I did, I agreed to pay $100 for gas, $50 each way. I have an email from them that breaks it down like that, $50 there, $50 back. I already paid for gas. She is scrambling to find a reason that they charged me an extra $100. First she tried to apply it to rent, now she's trying to apply it to gas, but the only thing that she will fall back on if I continue to pursue the matter is that her husband wasn't thinking straight when he sent that email.
It is an insanity plea!
I can't believe that my first encounter with an insanity plea is over a damage deposit refund of $100.
I came back at her arguement with the whole series of emails exchanged from the very begining, I saved every single one, highlighting the important parts, the parts that prove they said deposit, refund, and the parts that show I never agreed to an increase in rent or gas price. I should also point out that each email contains both of their names in the signature, so prove to me which ones your crazy husband wrote and which ones you wrote (I didn't use those words exactly, that would sound all unprofessional and stuff). Then I told them to not bother contacting me again unless they were sending my money.
Does that sound like I gave up too easily? I don't think so. I could tell from her weak argument and her 'so there!' attitude that nothing but bringing them to small claims court will get me my $100 back. They want to plea insanity, I call stupidity on them. I'm tired of spending so much time arguing with stupid people. My time is worth more than that $100. I've seen very little of the Redline small claims case, but what I have heard about it also tells me that $100 isn't worth it. Those people aren't worth it enough to me.
I am starting a new part of my life. I am finished school, I am trying to get my head around building a business, I am looking for a car, a place to live, a job, and a new fuzzy family member. It is Christmas. I am not going to sour everything by beginning my life with this idiocy. I know I'm right, they know they are wrong. Happy Christmas Sari and Barry Marks, don't spend my money all in one place.
On another note, my unnamed friend who knows who she is recieved an extra $100 from her landlord when she departed. He owes her at least that for the hell he put her through while she was living there. But seriously? When it comes to the universe balancing itself... that's my $100 bucks, girl, hand it over.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Fras
Fras is a new word I learned today.
It means bug poop.
After sleeping for two days straight I am now making my attempt at being a tourist. Today I slept until noon, then I went to the Royal BC museum and was there until, oh... 4 ish. I recall having gone to the museum in the summer with my family about six years ago, but it was a completely different experience this time around because the place was nearly entirely empty. It made the totem gallery pleasantly eerie and the cave dance mask exhibit was truly chilling. I managed to enjoy both before the school tour group arrived. I escaped then to the empty century hall, where the old town recreation was decorated for Christmas.
After the museum I went to the bug zoo, where I held a giant millipede, some stick bugs, some leaf bugs, a preying mantis, some wicked huge grasshoppers, and I touched (ready for this mom and dad?) I touched a tarantula! Of course I wanted to cry while doing so... but I did it, and I'm still alive. Nightmares may occur this evening though. And despite what the tour guide suggested, no, I don't agree that it felt like a kitten. This is where I learned about bug poop.
Then I went back to the inner harbour, where I'd parked my car for the afternoon, and looked at the lights on the boats and the parliament building.
Pictures of these adventures are on the way. I'm just too tired to upload them right now.
Oh yeah. I passed.
yours truly,
Raven the transformer, raven the trickster, raven the bringer of light to this world
Monika
It means bug poop.
After sleeping for two days straight I am now making my attempt at being a tourist. Today I slept until noon, then I went to the Royal BC museum and was there until, oh... 4 ish. I recall having gone to the museum in the summer with my family about six years ago, but it was a completely different experience this time around because the place was nearly entirely empty. It made the totem gallery pleasantly eerie and the cave dance mask exhibit was truly chilling. I managed to enjoy both before the school tour group arrived. I escaped then to the empty century hall, where the old town recreation was decorated for Christmas.
After the museum I went to the bug zoo, where I held a giant millipede, some stick bugs, some leaf bugs, a preying mantis, some wicked huge grasshoppers, and I touched (ready for this mom and dad?) I touched a tarantula! Of course I wanted to cry while doing so... but I did it, and I'm still alive. Nightmares may occur this evening though. And despite what the tour guide suggested, no, I don't agree that it felt like a kitten. This is where I learned about bug poop.
Then I went back to the inner harbour, where I'd parked my car for the afternoon, and looked at the lights on the boats and the parliament building.
Pictures of these adventures are on the way. I'm just too tired to upload them right now.
Oh yeah. I passed.
yours truly,
Raven the transformer, raven the trickster, raven the bringer of light to this world
Monika
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Aspen Park Stables / Oak Meadows
Aspen Park stables, oak meadows, etc (they gave me like, three different names) in Victoria.
Just don't do it.
This is the place my classmate found and asked me to contact and book for a class trail ride.
They advertise safe horses for riders of all ages and skill levels, guided trails through Thetis lake park, and things like kids camps and riding lessons.
The first thing that bugged me about it was our trail guide for our ride was on foot. That's right, he was walking along on foot ahead of the horses. But, fine, if that's how they want to do it. Only, he didn't say a word to us the entire time, just marched along with his head down.
Not like I was doing much chatting. I didn't have the luxury of enjoying a pleasant chat, or the scenery.
In the first five minutes of the trip my horse threw me off. I've got a huge bruise on my side, a very sore neck and knee, and a headache that may be a mild concussion, so I'll be keeping myself awake for some time yet this evening.
I picked myself up, and immediately wanted to return to my car and go home, refund or not I didn't care at that point. The trail guide didn't even ask if I wanted to get back on the horse, he just assumed that I did, and because I didn't want to make everyone else return to the stable so I could quit and go home, I got back on the stupid horse. I should have gone home.
I was willing to believe at first that tossing me into a ditch was an accident. Then she tried it several more times throughout the ride. The reason wasn't because she was spooking either, it was because she was hell bent at getting up and biting the horse in front of me. Her skittering about underneath me, and her constant attempts to shake the reins out of my hands nearly dumped me in the dirt several more times throughout the ride.
And my horse wasn't the only problem, the third one up in the line kept snapping at and trying to fight with the one behind him, the same horse mine wanted to bite, and between the two of them this poor horse in the middle kept darting side to side and forward and back with nowhere to run. I suggested changing the riding order to separate these horses, but nothing was done.
I do have some experience riding horses I know what it feels like to be on a calm even tempered horse, and to have full control over that animal, and at no point did I feel fully in control of this horse. She threw a fit every time I stopped her, pulled against the reins every time I tried to turn her. Her ears were back nearly flat for the entire ride and all I had was 1100 lbs of pissy bitch beneath me. Even had I not been thrown, that horse would have been an issue the entire ride, and I wouldn't have enjoyed it. As it is, I can't tell you guys anything about the trail (other than that it was extremely slippery), or what we saw along the way, because I was too busy concentrating on keeping that horse away from the one she wanted to bite, and avoiding being killed by her whenever she decided she didn't want me in the saddle anymore.
I expressed my concerns to the stable manager. She didn't seem surprised, but was very defensive about her horse. Steer clear of the place. Safe reliable horses for riders of all ages and skill levels my ass. I'm lucky I wasn't seriously injured, and there is a good chance I'll never get on another horse.
Just don't do it.
This is the place my classmate found and asked me to contact and book for a class trail ride.
They advertise safe horses for riders of all ages and skill levels, guided trails through Thetis lake park, and things like kids camps and riding lessons.
The first thing that bugged me about it was our trail guide for our ride was on foot. That's right, he was walking along on foot ahead of the horses. But, fine, if that's how they want to do it. Only, he didn't say a word to us the entire time, just marched along with his head down.
Not like I was doing much chatting. I didn't have the luxury of enjoying a pleasant chat, or the scenery.
In the first five minutes of the trip my horse threw me off. I've got a huge bruise on my side, a very sore neck and knee, and a headache that may be a mild concussion, so I'll be keeping myself awake for some time yet this evening.
I picked myself up, and immediately wanted to return to my car and go home, refund or not I didn't care at that point. The trail guide didn't even ask if I wanted to get back on the horse, he just assumed that I did, and because I didn't want to make everyone else return to the stable so I could quit and go home, I got back on the stupid horse. I should have gone home.
I was willing to believe at first that tossing me into a ditch was an accident. Then she tried it several more times throughout the ride. The reason wasn't because she was spooking either, it was because she was hell bent at getting up and biting the horse in front of me. Her skittering about underneath me, and her constant attempts to shake the reins out of my hands nearly dumped me in the dirt several more times throughout the ride.
And my horse wasn't the only problem, the third one up in the line kept snapping at and trying to fight with the one behind him, the same horse mine wanted to bite, and between the two of them this poor horse in the middle kept darting side to side and forward and back with nowhere to run. I suggested changing the riding order to separate these horses, but nothing was done.
I do have some experience riding horses I know what it feels like to be on a calm even tempered horse, and to have full control over that animal, and at no point did I feel fully in control of this horse. She threw a fit every time I stopped her, pulled against the reins every time I tried to turn her. Her ears were back nearly flat for the entire ride and all I had was 1100 lbs of pissy bitch beneath me. Even had I not been thrown, that horse would have been an issue the entire ride, and I wouldn't have enjoyed it. As it is, I can't tell you guys anything about the trail (other than that it was extremely slippery), or what we saw along the way, because I was too busy concentrating on keeping that horse away from the one she wanted to bite, and avoiding being killed by her whenever she decided she didn't want me in the saddle anymore.
I expressed my concerns to the stable manager. She didn't seem surprised, but was very defensive about her horse. Steer clear of the place. Safe reliable horses for riders of all ages and skill levels my ass. I'm lucky I wasn't seriously injured, and there is a good chance I'll never get on another horse.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
How to organize group events
I am annoyed.
I should not be nearly as annoyed about this as I am, but I'm just that kind of person.
Back in September, probably about the second week of the course, it was suggested we come up with some exciting group event. Two ideas that were bounced around were:
a) whale watching
b) horseback riding
I believe price was the deciding factor, and inquiries about horseback riding began, or... should have begun.
To be fair, horseback riding was my suggestion, as I had seen a sign on my way to school advertising trail rides and I personally would enjoy a ride through the forest here. It was, however, the person who suggested whale watching who volunteered to call the place and book a trail ride.
Two months later, long after the pleasant weather has ended, on a Thursday afternoon, said organizer decides to go around and see who is actually interested in going for that trail ride. I say sure, count me in, and then don't worry about it anymore. Like I said, I wasn't the one organizing it.
So, yesterday, Saturday, I get this text message. She wants me to call the trail riding place, saying she can't get a phone signal (so, how did she text me?). I agree, and text her back asking her to email me all the information. Now, in my mind, the information required for such an event includes things like the name of the place, the name of the person I am calling, the day she wants to do this trail ride, and how many people I am making a booking for. That last point being one of the most vital, because I can't just show up with nineteen people and expect to have her saddle up nineteen horses without notice, nor can I show up with two people, when she has already saddled nineteen.
What I get is a phone number, that she wants to book for the next day, and that "a bunch of people will cost $35 each".
That's great. So, you want me to book a place with less than 24 hours notice, I have no idea who or where I am calling, and I tell them that 'a bunch' of people are interested?
So I call the place up. Explain that I am calling on behalf of someone else, and that I have very little information. I check that a date in one week, not one day, is clear. I get a time. I ensure that she has enough horses on the off chance that everyone in the class would like to go. Then I tell the lovely patient woman that I will call back and confirm numbers on Monday. Then I send out an email to the class list, giving the date, time, location, and price, along with the Monday deadline for RSVP.
I did, in five minutes, what took the other person to do in 2 months. This is how you plan and book a group event, folks. Set a prospective date with a minimum of one week's notice, ensure the venue is available and able to accommodate your group, inform the group of the date, the location, and the time, set a dealine for RSVP, finalize the reservation with the venue ASAP.
Most importantly:
Don't pass the buck to me! I don't like doing it!
I should not be nearly as annoyed about this as I am, but I'm just that kind of person.
Back in September, probably about the second week of the course, it was suggested we come up with some exciting group event. Two ideas that were bounced around were:
a) whale watching
b) horseback riding
I believe price was the deciding factor, and inquiries about horseback riding began, or... should have begun.
To be fair, horseback riding was my suggestion, as I had seen a sign on my way to school advertising trail rides and I personally would enjoy a ride through the forest here. It was, however, the person who suggested whale watching who volunteered to call the place and book a trail ride.
Two months later, long after the pleasant weather has ended, on a Thursday afternoon, said organizer decides to go around and see who is actually interested in going for that trail ride. I say sure, count me in, and then don't worry about it anymore. Like I said, I wasn't the one organizing it.
So, yesterday, Saturday, I get this text message. She wants me to call the trail riding place, saying she can't get a phone signal (so, how did she text me?). I agree, and text her back asking her to email me all the information. Now, in my mind, the information required for such an event includes things like the name of the place, the name of the person I am calling, the day she wants to do this trail ride, and how many people I am making a booking for. That last point being one of the most vital, because I can't just show up with nineteen people and expect to have her saddle up nineteen horses without notice, nor can I show up with two people, when she has already saddled nineteen.
What I get is a phone number, that she wants to book for the next day, and that "a bunch of people will cost $35 each".
That's great. So, you want me to book a place with less than 24 hours notice, I have no idea who or where I am calling, and I tell them that 'a bunch' of people are interested?
So I call the place up. Explain that I am calling on behalf of someone else, and that I have very little information. I check that a date in one week, not one day, is clear. I get a time. I ensure that she has enough horses on the off chance that everyone in the class would like to go. Then I tell the lovely patient woman that I will call back and confirm numbers on Monday. Then I send out an email to the class list, giving the date, time, location, and price, along with the Monday deadline for RSVP.
I did, in five minutes, what took the other person to do in 2 months. This is how you plan and book a group event, folks. Set a prospective date with a minimum of one week's notice, ensure the venue is available and able to accommodate your group, inform the group of the date, the location, and the time, set a dealine for RSVP, finalize the reservation with the venue ASAP.
Most importantly:
Don't pass the buck to me! I don't like doing it!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Additional requirements
Pat just reminded me, because I completely forgot.
Additional very important puppy requirements.
Age: 7 -8 weeks, Kodi won't accept a pup much older than this
Source: I would be just as willing to take a rescue as I would a dog from a breeder, if not more so.
When: Sometime in the new year would probably be best. I should probably, you know... get a job. Do you guys want to find me a job too?
Additional very important puppy requirements.
Age: 7 -8 weeks, Kodi won't accept a pup much older than this
Source: I would be just as willing to take a rescue as I would a dog from a breeder, if not more so.
When: Sometime in the new year would probably be best. I should probably, you know... get a job. Do you guys want to find me a job too?
Big Happy "okay!"
To answer Pat's question. I'll be coming back to Alberta, weather permitting, on about Dec. 20th. My course ends on Dec. 4th (2 Weeks!) and then I have a canine first aid course, so I'll be staying where I am in the trailer in Victoria until Dec. 12. Then I think I'll be heading up to Parksville to see my aunt and visit some other parts on the island before coming back on the ferry around the 20th.
Update on my hand. The doctor suggest that it would not heal (I almost typed 'heel' haha) until the course was over, but lucky surprise I was able to take the cast off two weeks ago. It is still sore sometimes, and I can feel the difference in the muscles but I have full use of the hand now, which is really lucky because we've been doing free training (that's training of random dogs brought in by clients, neighbours, landlords) and having two hands for that is really important.
At this point, let's just say I am very ready for this course to be over. That might just be the rain talking though.
Oh! I went and had a look at a litter of puppies yesterday, nothing there I was after (didn't like the parents so passed on the pups). Redline, you know what that means? I'm looking. I'm after a border collie, aussie, or another cross like Kodi. Start sending the links! My requirements? Approximate adult size of about 35lbs, middle of the road temperament, perhaps leaning towards submissive, male. Looks? Yes, looks are important to me too, but are of course secondary to temperament. I'd really love a black tri-colour, medium coat like Kodi's. Full tail or full bob.
This is your mission should you choose to accept it.
Update on my hand. The doctor suggest that it would not heal (I almost typed 'heel' haha) until the course was over, but lucky surprise I was able to take the cast off two weeks ago. It is still sore sometimes, and I can feel the difference in the muscles but I have full use of the hand now, which is really lucky because we've been doing free training (that's training of random dogs brought in by clients, neighbours, landlords) and having two hands for that is really important.
At this point, let's just say I am very ready for this course to be over. That might just be the rain talking though.
Oh! I went and had a look at a litter of puppies yesterday, nothing there I was after (didn't like the parents so passed on the pups). Redline, you know what that means? I'm looking. I'm after a border collie, aussie, or another cross like Kodi. Start sending the links! My requirements? Approximate adult size of about 35lbs, middle of the road temperament, perhaps leaning towards submissive, male. Looks? Yes, looks are important to me too, but are of course secondary to temperament. I'd really love a black tri-colour, medium coat like Kodi's. Full tail or full bob.
This is your mission should you choose to accept it.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Mould
About two weeks ago I went into the closet near my bed to pull out a brand new dress I bought before coming out here to wear out. But when I took the dress, black with a white hem, out of the closet I discovered that mould had grown on the hem, ruining it. As a result I checked the cupboard where I kept the rest of my clothing and found that the outside wall of every closet and cupboard was wet with condensation. I have since pulled all my clothing out of the closets, ensured it was dry and mold free, and am now living out of a laundry hamper at the kitchen table.
I thought my mold problem was resolved until today.
The blinds behind the bed were tied down with twist ties because the little plastic holders on the bottom are broken. This fact, combined with the fact that I closed the outside shutter to keep the bed area a little better insulated both meant that I just never bothered to open those blinds. But last night I tucked a hand in under my pillow and discovered it was wet, so I flipped on the light and found that the entire top edge of my bed was damp from water condensing on the window behind the shut blinds and there was mould growing on the wall just above the mattress. So my temporary solution at 1 am was to just turn around and sleep with my head at the foot of the bed, away from the mould.
Of course, this morning, I untied the blinds and opened them up to find mould growing all around the window frame, down the wall, on the little fabric headboard, and on the wall behind the mattress. I decided to change all the sheets and treat the wall and window, after wiping them clean, with a lysol mould and mildew killing spray. Then I pulled the pillow cases off the pillows and found along the edge of one of the pillows just a mass of mould.
Ew. And a saturday full of scrubbing and spraying for me. I don't think I can save the pillow. This trailer was not designed to be used in the winter, this is clear in more ways than this, but the mould was sort of the last straw. I'll be sleeping with my head where my feet used to be from now on.
I thought my mold problem was resolved until today.
The blinds behind the bed were tied down with twist ties because the little plastic holders on the bottom are broken. This fact, combined with the fact that I closed the outside shutter to keep the bed area a little better insulated both meant that I just never bothered to open those blinds. But last night I tucked a hand in under my pillow and discovered it was wet, so I flipped on the light and found that the entire top edge of my bed was damp from water condensing on the window behind the shut blinds and there was mould growing on the wall just above the mattress. So my temporary solution at 1 am was to just turn around and sleep with my head at the foot of the bed, away from the mould.
Of course, this morning, I untied the blinds and opened them up to find mould growing all around the window frame, down the wall, on the little fabric headboard, and on the wall behind the mattress. I decided to change all the sheets and treat the wall and window, after wiping them clean, with a lysol mould and mildew killing spray. Then I pulled the pillow cases off the pillows and found along the edge of one of the pillows just a mass of mould.
Ew. And a saturday full of scrubbing and spraying for me. I don't think I can save the pillow. This trailer was not designed to be used in the winter, this is clear in more ways than this, but the mould was sort of the last straw. I'll be sleeping with my head where my feet used to be from now on.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Bye creepy neighbour!
I woke up this morning and he was gone. They must have had a permanent site open up somewhere else and moved him into it, on the other side of the park.
Bye creepy neighbour!
Bye creepy neighbour!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Ruins!
So, remember the beach house? How cool and awesome and great I thought that was?
Well, somebody thought it would be cool and awesome and great to burn it down.
This is all that is left.
Well, somebody thought it would be cool and awesome and great to burn it down.
This is all that is left.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thetis Lake Pictures
Kodi and I Spent our Thanksgiving this year in Thetis Lake park. Here are a few snap shots of what we found.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Is it broken?
So, street hockey accident, complete loss of the use of my right hand, after several days I gave in and saw a doctor.
Doctor says he thinks it is broken, sends me for an x-ray.
X-ray comes back negative, but I go see another doctor at the walk in because a week and a half later I still can't use my hand.
This doctor takes a look at the report, says the other doctor requested an x-ray for the WRONG BONE. He thinks my hand is broken, but that it is a different bone than the last doctor thought. He writes me an x-ray request form.
It takes 5 days for the x-ray office to send x-rays to the doctor's office. It would be three days before I would have the chance to get to the x-ray place, that is open the exact same hours as I am in school. I decide I do not have eight more days to find out whether my hand is broken. I finally agree (thanks Dad) to go to the emergency room at the hospital.
I get awesome advice about a smaller hospital not too far away with far shorter waiting times than Victoria General (Thank Krista) and spend 3 hours there after school. I get the right bone x-rayed and speak to a doctor that actually seems to know what he's doing.
My hand is not broken, I have, in the doctor's words "Really messed up three of the four muscles that make your thumb work". It is not a break, it is not a sprain, but my thumb muscles are so beat up they would be marvelously tender to eat. Yum Yum.
He gave me a fiber glass half-cast to protect it at school, I can remove it at night. The muscles will probably not heal until I'm done the course, simply due to what I put them through every day, but there is no risk to the long term health of my limb. Perfect.
He was very impressed with the bruising, which he described as 'spectacular'.
I bruise spectacularly, so there.
Doctor says he thinks it is broken, sends me for an x-ray.
X-ray comes back negative, but I go see another doctor at the walk in because a week and a half later I still can't use my hand.
This doctor takes a look at the report, says the other doctor requested an x-ray for the WRONG BONE. He thinks my hand is broken, but that it is a different bone than the last doctor thought. He writes me an x-ray request form.
It takes 5 days for the x-ray office to send x-rays to the doctor's office. It would be three days before I would have the chance to get to the x-ray place, that is open the exact same hours as I am in school. I decide I do not have eight more days to find out whether my hand is broken. I finally agree (thanks Dad) to go to the emergency room at the hospital.
I get awesome advice about a smaller hospital not too far away with far shorter waiting times than Victoria General (Thank Krista) and spend 3 hours there after school. I get the right bone x-rayed and speak to a doctor that actually seems to know what he's doing.
My hand is not broken, I have, in the doctor's words "Really messed up three of the four muscles that make your thumb work". It is not a break, it is not a sprain, but my thumb muscles are so beat up they would be marvelously tender to eat. Yum Yum.
He gave me a fiber glass half-cast to protect it at school, I can remove it at night. The muscles will probably not heal until I'm done the course, simply due to what I put them through every day, but there is no risk to the long term health of my limb. Perfect.
He was very impressed with the bruising, which he described as 'spectacular'.
I bruise spectacularly, so there.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Creepy Neighbour
So, I have this creepy neighbour.
He moved in about two weeks ago now, and that is when I first met him, as I was exiting the shower house (back when my shower was electric and I couldn't use it) and I made two mistakes that probably could have prevented the whole encounter if I hadn't made them.
First, I stopped to read the poster about the "Lumber jack breakfast" for the 55 plus club (I am not invited... ageism) and then, I stopped to get a Dr. Pepper from the vending machine. Had I not stopped, had I just kept walking, I would not have been confronted with the friendly "Hello!" from the road. Net thing I know this short little man has run over to me and starts small talking, very awkward considering I am in my pajamas fresh out of the shower and mostly just wanted to go home and go to bed, but I'm not a total jerk, honest, so I allowed the small talk.
Unfortunately, through small talk, my new neighbour quickly revealed himself to be just plain old creepy.
Here is how he did it: by asking socially inappropriate questions out of nowhere, all within the first 10 minutes of us meeting, hidden among normal small talk, these were, in order but not in a row (he's clever you see, and has normal conversation in between creepiness):
1) "So, do you live alone?" I told him no, I have a very very large dog.
2) "Do you smoke pot?" Would you ask a perfect stranger what their drug use habits were?
3) "When do you go to sleep" Insert wide eyed stare here O_O
So, if those odd questions weren't enough to convince you, his parting words to me were. "I have a .22 in my trailer"
I think to myself, that I should complain about these things, these neighbours I always end up with, then I remind myself... I'm cheap. That could be taken two ways, it could mean I get what I pay for in my housing, or it could mean at least I'm not paying twice as much to live next to this guy than I already am. Unfortunately he is here for awhile, his trailer even has a semi-permanent porch and is now all skirted in for the winter. I'm stuck with the creepy neighbour.
Nalts here wants to help me with my problem, what a thoughtful fellow with his youtube video
He moved in about two weeks ago now, and that is when I first met him, as I was exiting the shower house (back when my shower was electric and I couldn't use it) and I made two mistakes that probably could have prevented the whole encounter if I hadn't made them.
First, I stopped to read the poster about the "Lumber jack breakfast" for the 55 plus club (I am not invited... ageism) and then, I stopped to get a Dr. Pepper from the vending machine. Had I not stopped, had I just kept walking, I would not have been confronted with the friendly "Hello!" from the road. Net thing I know this short little man has run over to me and starts small talking, very awkward considering I am in my pajamas fresh out of the shower and mostly just wanted to go home and go to bed, but I'm not a total jerk, honest, so I allowed the small talk.
Unfortunately, through small talk, my new neighbour quickly revealed himself to be just plain old creepy.
Here is how he did it: by asking socially inappropriate questions out of nowhere, all within the first 10 minutes of us meeting, hidden among normal small talk, these were, in order but not in a row (he's clever you see, and has normal conversation in between creepiness):
1) "So, do you live alone?" I told him no, I have a very very large dog.
2) "Do you smoke pot?" Would you ask a perfect stranger what their drug use habits were?
3) "When do you go to sleep" Insert wide eyed stare here O_O
So, if those odd questions weren't enough to convince you, his parting words to me were. "I have a .22 in my trailer"
I think to myself, that I should complain about these things, these neighbours I always end up with, then I remind myself... I'm cheap. That could be taken two ways, it could mean I get what I pay for in my housing, or it could mean at least I'm not paying twice as much to live next to this guy than I already am. Unfortunately he is here for awhile, his trailer even has a semi-permanent porch and is now all skirted in for the winter. I'm stuck with the creepy neighbour.
Nalts here wants to help me with my problem, what a thoughtful fellow with his youtube video
Friday, October 16, 2009
Change to comments
Changed the settings so anyone can comment, so you folks don't have to register anymore
Smart Dog
My class dog, the poodle, never showed up for class today. A mix-up with the house sitter I guess. So come 9 am I was without a dog for class. I pulled Kodi out of the car and on to the field expecting the worst since I have done almost no training with him since coming out here. But in about 10 minutes he was performing at the same level as the dogs that have been in the program for the last 5 weeks, and doing way better than my regular dog.
Good boy!
Good boy!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Things in my trunk
Things in my trunk that don't belong to me:
-spray bottle
-muzzle
-lunge whip
-megaphone
-kong toy
-left shoe
If these are yours please claim them.
My trunk is the new lost and found.
-spray bottle
-muzzle
-lunge whip
-megaphone
-kong toy
-left shoe
If these are yours please claim them.
My trunk is the new lost and found.
Monday, October 12, 2009
More PTP Pictures
Willow, Belgian Shepherd female, owned by Shane
Comet, Border collie cross male, handled by Shane
Rhubarb, male Pitti, handled by Shawn
Megan, female Pitti, owned and handled by Chris
Quincey, Rotti male, handled by Sean
PTP Pictures
Pepper, Border Collie male, handled and owned by Julie
Lexxie, Border Collie female, handled by Crystal
Crosby, Bernese Mountain Dog male, handled and owned by Taylor
Emmie, cutest Blue Tick Hound in the world, handled and owned by Galen
Spencer, Shepherd lab cross?, owned by Antje
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Smarties and Crayfish
They have changed the dye for the purple Smarties. They are no longer that nice easter purple, but a different sort of reddy purple. Why did they change the colour the purple Smarties?
In other news. Crayfish at Thetis lake. Met a father and son there tonight when I went to check out the park there. They were pulling their dinner out of the lake. Wish I'd had my camera.
In other news. Crayfish at Thetis lake. Met a father and son there tonight when I went to check out the park there. They were pulling their dinner out of the lake. Wish I'd had my camera.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
More pictures
Look out! Sea monster!
I don't know about you, but I want to ride that train.
All Kodi really does at the beach is eat kelp and roll in dead things.
I don't know about you, but I want to ride that train.
All Kodi really does at the beach is eat kelp and roll in dead things.
Just Pictures
There are a bunch of old battery remnants at this one dog park. This is just one of them, viewed from another.
These people made for a decent picture, but boy were they complaining about the number of dogs running around. Apparently they didn't understand what the sign meant when they read it. It says: "Entering off leash area"
Yes, that duck is standing next to a pair of underpants.
These people made for a decent picture, but boy were they complaining about the number of dogs running around. Apparently they didn't understand what the sign meant when they read it. It says: "Entering off leash area"
Yes, that duck is standing next to a pair of underpants.
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