Tuesday, August 08, 2006 , the wee hours

Vox

I have a couple of invitations available for the Vox blog service.  It’s kind of fun, even if you just use it as an alternative to your regular blog.  If you’d like an invitation, please just leave a note in my comments… I’ll hand out invites until I run out of them, so first come, first served.  People bearing rocky road fudge will be given priority.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/08 at 01:08 AM
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Monday, August 07, 2006 , late at night

How I spent Flippy’s birthday

Lucky me—it was Flippy’s birthday, so I got to eat sushi and go on a shopping spree!  We’ve reached the age where it’s tough for us to find gifts for each other (we also tend to just randomly make purchases throughout the year), so instead of me searching for a “big” birthday gift, I finished off the paperwork to incorporate Flippy’s first company and mailed that in to the Secretary of State.  That was my small, “aren’t I thoughtful and a hard worker” gift.  Then, we went out to Desert Passage at the Aladdin to have a sushi dinner, and to do some completely spontaneous shopping.  The dinner was excellent, and a bargain, because Flippy ate for free at Todai, a $26 savings.  We ate shrimp and clams and lots of eel and salmon and tuna and octopus, and I think Flippy even had a lobster tail.  There was an all-you-can-eat crab bar, but I find crab a pain in the butt to eat, so I passed on it.  They even had teppanyaki, but I stuck to sushi and sashimi as that was what I had craved.  Their desserts were lovely as well—tiny portions of cheesecake, tiramisu, crème brulée, and even fruit crepes made to order.  I think they would have given Flippy a free piece of birthday cake, but the place was crowded so we didn’t hang around very long.  I’d also had my fill of the people at the next table, one of whom talked at great length about all the food he didn’t like.  Otherwise, it was a good spot for people watching.

After eating, we walked off dinner by wandering through the many shops at Desert Passage, and we stopped to make a wish in the “Monsoon area” (I don’t know what to call it—every 15 minutes a man-made rainstorm springs up in one area of the mall to delight the tourists).  I only tossed a penny into the water, so I think that might make my wish a low priority—good thing I didn’t wish for world peace.  We saw great t-shirts at Crazy Shirts, but I was put off by the hefty price tags.  We then bought some cheap-but-pretty earrings at a store where the sales people ignored us and just gossiped, and coveted fabulous metal sculptures from Germany in another shop.  We ultimately finished the evening at The Sharper Image, where Flippy bought herself this for her birthday:  Anti-Gravity Recliner.  It’s not a fancy chair (well, I guess it’s built like a fancy lawn chair), but wow, is it comfortable!  You sit in it and you can feel your lower back floating, all the tension removed from it.  We get to sit in anti-gravity chairs at the back surgeon’s office and love them, but his are $800 each or so, and out of our price range.  This one was a good compromise.  I continued to be a good birthday host by carring the chair to the car, which was no small feat (I might need my own back surgery if this keeps up).

We finished the evening with two new beverages from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, neither of which was very good (they were frozen fruit smoothies, one mango, one lemon).  Then we came home, to rest up for day 2 of birthweek tomorrow.  I don’t think we have any major plans, although sometime this week we need to get gas (before we can’t afford it, and before driving to school next week), we need to get the oil changed (again, before driving to school next week), and we need to get glasses for Flippy.  The time has come.  Oh, we need to buy dog food, too.  Phoenix goes to the vet Wednesday afternoon for a T4 and urinalysis, so I think we’ll be kept hopping while Flippy is still young and limber.

P.S. Here’s what Flippy didn’t buy for her birthday but was fantasizing about:  iJoy Board Motorized Balance Trainer, and here’s what I fantasized about, except it wasn’t my birthday (small detail):  Razor Pocket Mod Bistro Electric Scooter.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/07 at 11:55 PM
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Sunday, August 06, 2006 , late evening

Go Flippy, it’s your birthday!

It about 30 seconds it will be Flippy’s birthday!  W00T!  I won’t say how old she is, except to give you the hint that she and Dante are the same number of “human years” for the first time ever :)  Go wish Flippy a happy birthday, and encourage her to go out to eat sushi, because that would make me happy ;-)

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/06 at 10:59 PM
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Saturday, August 05, 2006 , late evening

Strike two

Stray cat, 2; Leigh-Ann and Flippy, 0.

We just spent our second Saturday in a row trying to trap a stray cat at Jerry’s Nugget casino, and again had absolutely no luck.  I felt so prepared this time, too, with a better trap, a camouflage cover for the trap, newspaper to line the trap, ant spray, and a selection of tuna, sardines, catnip, and even prime rib to use for bribing.  I set the trap up in some bushes where the cat hangs out, and put a variety of food items out to lead the cat toward the trap, yet two hours later there was no sign the cat had even come over the sniff at what I’d left out for it.  We saw the cat around the parking lot a number of times, yet any time I even attempted to approach it, it would run away.  This is the cat that others report eats out of their hand, and follows them to their car, so it’s smart enough to know that I’m up to no good.

We unfortunately won’t be going after this cat again in the foreseeable future because it’s been expensive for us.  The casino is too far away for us to go there, set the trap, come home, then go back, and there’s nothing to do in the neighbourhood besides gamble.  So, every time we set the trap, we end up eating at the casino ($30 tonight because I had prime rib), and then we spend some money gambling while we try to kill time.  It would be great if the casino had a movie theatre, as so many do, but it’s quite small and we’re lucky they even have more than one restaurant.  I have to admit their coffee shop makes great food, but this isn’t really how I want to spend my Saturdays (or my money :)).

I really need the woman who wants to rescue this cat to meet us at the casino, as she claims to be able to touch the cat and to feed it from her hand.  However, she’s elderly and has trouble getting around, so the odds of that happening are minimal (I’m not completely sure how she encountered the cat in the first place).  I might just tell her to keep my phone number and to call me if she does get to the casino, and perhaps I’ll send a letter to the casino as well, telling them to call me if the cat has kittens again.

I feel badly I can’t do more, but I don’t even know what I’d try next.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/05 at 10:59 PM
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Friday, August 04, 2006 , the wee hours

“New” vet blog

Not really “new”, but “new to me”, is the blog Dolittler, written by a couple of vets.  So far, I’m enjoying it, and I’m sure many other animal lovers and animal welfare workers will as well.  Go by and say Hello!

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/04 at 01:12 AM
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Thursday, August 03, 2006 , late at night

Phoenix goes 12 rounds

Phoenix has finally had her eye surgery, and came through with flying colours.  Right now the colours are black and blue, and she looks as if she lasted 12 rounds with Rocky Balboa (I’m not sure who would have won that fight, as I could see Phoenix biting an ear when she’d had enough).  She seems to be handling the ordeal really well, and is on no pain meds, yet doesn’t appear to have any discomfort.  She goes back for a recheck in two weeks, and hopefully she’ll be on the road to healthier, more comfortable eyes.  The one disappointing thing about the surgery was that I don’t think our regular vet did it, I think another doctor must have performed it.  Our vet has promised for months to remove a growth on Phoenix’s back when she had her eye surgery, and also said he’d remove a tiny growth in her ear, but neither of those things were done.  I saw him write both items on her chart during her pre-surgical appointment, so I think one of the other surgeons must have performed the operation without reading the notes.  I guess I’ll ask about it in two weeks, because we didn’t get to see the vet when Phoenix was discharged.

I still haven’t heard anything from the immigration people about my temporary work authorization, even though my biometrics were done four weeks ago.  The wait is annoying, because all they need to do is stamp a piece of paper and mail it to me to give me permission to work until I have my Green Card hearing.  Given that my Green Card interview is in three weeks, the temporary authorization will be practically useless if/when it arrives, yet I had to pay $180 for it!  There are plenty of things I’d rather do with $180, and I’m sure there’s a “no refund” policy.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/03 at 11:26 PM
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The music meme

Eons ago, VetMommy gave me a music meme to do, and I’ve put it off and put it off because I couldn’t think of how to answer some of the questions.  Now I’ve pondered enough, and I give you, My Music Meme.  Consider yourself tagged if you’re so inclined!

Songs I Loathe: “Wonderwall” by Oasis, and that horrible song, “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado.  What happened to little, sweet, “I’m Like a Bird” Nelly Furtado?  I also dislike a certain song by Lee Greenwood, which I won’t name because it will sound rude of me to say I hate this song, but I only hate it because when I worked at a Canadian country music station we had to play it about once an hour (because it was a current hit), and the irony made us all insane. Artists I Loathe: All the artists who can’t really sing and who have to lip-sync their concerts, and then can’t even lip-sync well. Rolling Stones Songs I Love: Just not a fan, man.  They’re okay, but there’s no song I’d voluntarily choose to listen to. Beatles Songs I Love: I don’t know if “love” any Beatles songs, although I find many of them entertaining.  One which really sticks in my head is “Rocky Raccoon”, and I’m pretty sure I know all the lyrics.  I also spent a lot of time as a child listening to “Revolution 9” and allowing myself to be frightened by it. Who Songs I Love: Again, I can’t say I “love” any of them, although that “Baba O’Riley” song is catchy.  Who the hell is Baba O’Riley?  Reggae Songs I Love: Um… any reggae song, as long as I’m listening to it while on vacation in Jamaica?! Country Songs I Love: I’m such a crossover girl.  I guess almost anything by the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Wynonna, or Shania, and I also like Kenny Chesney, who may or may not be gay, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Movie Soundtracks I Love: When I was a teenager, I listened to the soundtrack from “Eddie and the Cruisers” over and over again.  Now if I buy a soundtrack, it’s more likely to be something amusing like “A Mighty Wind”, or eclectic, like “Bend it Like Beckham”. Musical Soundtracks I Love: Chess, Mamma Mia, Annie Cover Songs: VetMommy listed “American Woman” by Lenny Kravitz, which is excellent.  I also like Sheryl Crow’s version of “The First Cut is the Deepest”, because the old version by Keith Hampshire was a favourite song of mine when I was a kid.  I was horrified to recently learn that someone has covered “Life is a Highway”. No! Contemporary Top 40 Artists I Secretly Love: I don’t love them in secret :) Green Day, Better Than Ezra, REM, Shakira, Liz Phair, Pink, etc., etc. Songs that Bring Me To Tears: Hmmm… maybe, “Everytime it Rains” by Ace of Base, because that was the song on in the car when we drove to the vet to have Sweet Pea put to sleep.  It’s funny how that stuff sticks in your head.  Also, “The Dance” by Garth Brooks—that song is pure and utter emotional evil.  Oh wait, I did think of one other song—“Fear” by Sarah McLachlan.  It’s not the lyrics which I find moving, it’s the sound of the vocals. Songs that make me shake my Ass: I think I have a preference for mid-90’s dance music, and groups like Black Box with Martha Wash.  I guess Shakira, Gwen Stefani, and Madonna also fit into the dance music category. Classical Composers I love: I don’t know if I have a favourite composer, but I do enjoy classical music.  Probably Mozart, if I had to pick just one—his music was so accessible. Rap/Hip Hop Songs I love: Don’t hold your breath.  I started programming hip-hop and rap at a radio station in 1993, and 13 years later, I still don’t understand the stuff!  I’ll admit I like listening to some of Eminem’s music, even if I don’t like what he’s rapping about. 70’s Disco Songs I love: I’ve loved ABBA since I was 9 years old, but I still don’t think of them as disco. 70s Supergroup Songs I love: I just don’t know.  I was the oldest kid in my family, so I had no older siblings to get me to stop listening to ABBA, and to start listening to Supertramp, et al.  Maybe something by Fleetwood Mac? Metal Songs I love: “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead.  I also secretly like Def Leppard, but don’t think they’re “real metal”. New Wave Songs I love: Lots and lots of them, although many by Canadian bands, because that’s what we listened to on Canadian radio.  Sarah McLachlan was once “new wave” with her song, “Vox”.  Canadian artists which come to mind are the Spoons, Jane Child, Eva Everything, Jane Siberry, Northern Pikes, and Gowan.  I’d also have to list “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics.  Do “Katrina and the Waves” fit into this category, or do I only think so because they have the word “Waves” in their name?! Soul/R&B Songs I love: Nuh-uh. Powerballad Songs I love: I’m drawing a blank.  Maybe something by Heart? Pre 1950’s Songs I love: I produced a radio show about big band music for a few years and enjoyed it, especially the music of Artie Shaw and Glen Gray.  All of it was catchy, though, from the dance stuff to the more jazzy stuff. Singer/Songwriters I Love: Liz Phair, Lisa Loeb, the Indigo Girls, the Bangles, Gordon Lightfoot MTV Videos I Love: You can’t fool me—MTV doesn’t show videos! Songs I Can Totally Karaoke: Unless Karaoke is some sort of sushi dish, I totally plead the 5th. Artists which didn’t fit into this meme: Great Big Sea!

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/03 at 12:41 AM
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Wednesday, August 02, 2006 , late morning

Dogs killed in China

China has slaughtered 50000 dogs in an effort to prevent an outbreak of rabies.  Apparently a mass vaccination program would have been too difficult.  The story is just… stunning… I barely have words for it.  Be forewarned that one photo is front and center in the story, so you won’t be able to avoid seeing it:  Dogs killed in China.  It makes me realize that while I often have complaints against the US and Canadian governments, and think they make mistakes, there’s just no way they’d ever try to pull a stunt like the Chinese did.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/02 at 11:49 AM
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Sunday, July 30, 2006 , late at night

One more for the coffee fans

We bought a Nespresso Aeroccino a couple of weeks ago, and as I know there are quite a few coffee fans here, I wanted to write a bit about it.  The Aeroccino is a “small kitchen gadget”, about the size of a large coffee mug.  You fill it with your desired milk or milk-like substance, plug it in and push a button, and it automatically makes either steamed milk or foamed milk.  It does this absolutely silently, in about 60 seconds, and then you just pour the prepared milk into a cup, add a shot of espresso (or whatever you’re drinking), and you’ve got an instant latte or cappuccino.  Clean up is a breeze—just rinse it under water and wipe out the inside with a paper towel and you’re finished.

We’ve tried a few different drinks with it and have been impressed with what a good job it does, and it has saved us from a couple of trips to Starbucks.  It hasn’t paid for itself yet, but in time, I’m sure it will.  What prompted me to write about it today was that we were out of milk, so I made us some small (6 oz.) cappuccinos from some half-and-half we had in the fridge, and they were heavenly.  The foam was so light and creamy that it was like eating a cloud, but it was solid enough to hold its shape and stay foamy until the drink was finished.  I ate the residual foam out of the cup with a spoon.  I know brevé cappuccinos aren’t healthy, but wow, it was tasty, and it will definitely be on my list of of “things I love to consume which are bad for me”.

So, I had to share my adoration of the Aeroccino with you all.  Maybe you’re just plain coffee drinkers, which is fine, but if you go to Starbucks to get lattes and cappuccinos, you might be interested in this fun little gadget.  We also own a Nespresso espresso machine (we’ve had it for a couple of years), but I’m sure you could still make a great drink with strong coffee.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 07/30 at 11:17 PM
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Collateral damage

Stories about “collateral damage” to animals are starting to emerge from the fighting between Israel and Lebanon.  While not pleasant to read, I think they help keep us aware and in touch with the world around us, and show that the battle is so much more than just a few headlines.  Best Friends has a webpage devoted to news about animals in the middle east, and you can even check out the actual website of a group called BETA, Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  If you can send a few dollars their way, I’m sure it would be welcomed.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 07/30 at 03:50 PM
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