Violence=yoga

Yoga. It brings to mind a sense of peace and relaxation, calm and inner stillness. Or in my case, I want to punch the smiling yoga teacher in the face. I think I might not be into yoga right now. The first month of my yoga and Pilate practise went really well. I was doing it three times a week and in that time could feel my flexibility and strength returning. I was feeling good and enjoying it. Then I had a setback and for the last month or so – time does fly these days – I have been getting to it once a week if I was lucky. And in that time I have apparently lost strength, flexibility, ability and desire. It didn't help that I really didn't feel like doing it today, but thought I should has it had been a while. It didn't help that when I attempted to do downward dogs, the cat went into attack mode, biting my upper arm with ears flat and fur raised. When I attempted to lock him in the bathroom, where bad cats go for a timeout, he attempted his door-opening trick (my cat opens doors) and then bounced and cried until I let him back out. By that time, I my strength was failing, my mind was on anger and what I once thought was a smiling yoga teacher, began to feel like a smug yoga teacher showing me up with her ability to do the splits and sun salutations without pause. With those thoughts running through my head, the cat making his crying sound and my patience at an all-time low, I called it quits. Another day, perhaps a new exercise tape and a cat in the downstairs bathroom.

Random Thoughts Monday

• I thought my cat was staring at nothing. As I was typing that, I realized nothing was a millipede that had scurried its away out of the floor boards and into the hallway. I squished it with my slipper and let Cosmo enjoy the remains.
• It's been four weeks and I am still doing both Pilates and yoga. It's amazing how much my strength has improved in that little time.
• When my son and I leave the house at 6:10 a.m., the sky is lighter. It's still dark, but you can see the sky lighting the horizon. By the time 7 a.m. rolls around, it's light outside, as in you can see the sun. Taking my guy to swimming lessons this evening saw daylight at 5:30. Hello spring. I can almost see you.
• Of course saying that, we are expecting a snowstorm Tuesday night. I am thankful the front from Texas decided to come overnight Tuesday rather than what was originally forecasted – Tuesday and Wednesday, deadline days.
• My nasty cough has made a return. Why is it always worse at night?
• My stepdaughter was diagnosed with this weird thing called geographic tongue. It's the most bizarre thing. If you Google it, it will show you a tongue that looks like layers have been peeled away. It doesn't hurt for the most part, but she is supposed to avoid both citrus and hot stuff, which she doesn't. My son has the same weird tongue thing, but his comes out when he is sick. If you want to know if something is amiss with my little guy, you ask him to stick out his tongue. We once went the to the walk-in clinic and the doctor made the intern come look at my guy's tongue because, as he said, you don't see it too often. We like to be different.

Random Thoughts Monday

- It's been said of the people who claim they can't swallow pills that that inability is all in their heads, that there is no physical reason they can't swallow a pill, particulary small ones.

That may be, but I have a small pill lodged in my throat and I threw up the other one.

- My stepdaughter graduated from college on Thursday, earning herself a spot on the Dean's List along the way. She is likely moving to Ottawa, Ontario, in September with her boyfriend, finding work and completing her degree online. I am proud of her and excited for the new journey she is about to take.

- I grew up in a small town and when I was younger, the next biggest town, about 10 minutes away, had shops but if we wanted something specific, we had to drive at least 40 minutes to find a mall. I now live in a small town and after 10 years, the biggest town, about 15 minutes away, has most of the things I am looking for. In fact, I just finished Father's Day shopping without having to drive 40 minutes to the largest mall.

- That same bigger town also allowed me to find work sandals I like. It's really a shoe miracle as I have tried on about three dozen pairs and disliked them all.

- On the note of shoes, those sandals are called Taos. My sister-in-law called them surprisingly (for me) girly, while I call them comfortable, functional and practical, offering me the ability to wear them both casually and for work. The perfect pair of shoes.  Visit www.taosfootwear.com/ for details.

- Summer is here. I am excited for the heat and the relaxed atmosphere it brings, but sad as my guy is registered for kindergarten, has attended a welcome to kindergarten program and has visited his potential classroom twice. September will come faster than I will like.

- The kitten ate my cord for my camera. You can't leave anything out for this cat.

Seven Years of Bad Luck

Good thing I am not superstitious.

Merry Christmas

Wishing each of you a magical Christmas filled with wonderful memories and happy times. Wishing each of you a Happy New Year and a healthy and happy 2012.

LisaDay

Poor Thing

Cosmo, the cat, was looking quite intently in the backyard this morning. I opened the curtains, thinking he was interested in catching a shadfly or two, when I realized he had his eye on something much bigger – a deer.

While there is a forest about 10 minutes down the street, I am far enough away that deer usually don’t make a foray into our yard (except once before).

I locked Cosmo in the bathroom and opened the patio door. I tried to talk in a calm manner to the scared creature while also taking its picture. It was only after I attempted to take video that I realized it was hurt badly.

I woke up my husband and suggested we call someone but he said realistically by the time anyone got here, the deer would be long gone. Instead, I opened the side door and the deer found its way out.

My pictures and video are awful – too dark out and too far away but here they are any way.

He IS a Killer

It turns out that Cosmo the kitty really is a killer, and I can’t be more excited.

I mentioned in this blog before that Cosmo was able to hunt and catch the mice in our house, but he seemed to be the type of cat who liked to torment and play with his finds rather than just killing them.

But this morning I went to the bathroom and there was a mouse – dead – on the floor beside the toilet.

I am lucky I didn’t step on it.

I am also lucky Cosmo didn’t decide to drop the dead mouse on me while I was a sleeping.

Way to go, killer.

He’s Not A Killer, Unfortunately

There was some action at our house yesterday.

My son was playing playdough while I was getting ready for work. I looked down and Cosmo, the cat, was running through my guy’s bedroom. After asking Cosmo what was up, I realized he was chasing a mouse.

I calmly picked my son up and put him on the chair and joined him there as Cosmo chased the mouse around my son’s desk, under the chair, down the hallway and into our bags I set at the door.

My guy wanted to see the mouse. I wanted to make sure the mouse wasn’t in my work bag. I told Cosmo to get the mouse, not to play with it but kill it.

The mouse ran out, through the banister and into our couch.

Great.

I pulled off one of the cushions and the mouse ran to the next one. I told Cosmo to be ready as I lifted off the second cushion and the mouse ran under the stairs and I can only assume down the stairs and into the basement.

Damn.

Our cat – the chaser and torturer of mice. (The first time this happened, the mouse was hurt. I have never heard a cry like that. I could hear it outside. It was awful.)

I told Cosmo that I expected to see a dead mouse when I got home, preferable sitting in the hallway and not in my shoe.

Sadly that didn’t happen.

Mouse traps are next.

It’s Been More Than a Week. How Have You Been?

Me? I have been sick.

Two weeks ago, my guy and I were off so I took him to a playgroup. When we arrived he saw a mass of children and tons of toys. His whole face lit up and he said ‘Mommy, I go?’ With my permission, he dashed into the fray and played with giant soccer balls, walked on top of turned over buckets, talked on a cellphone, moved a bus and played with various other pieces of equipment.

Several days later, I remembered why I usually avoid those types of places. My guy picked up a new bug complete with a hacking cough, of which he shared with me. I got a killer sore throat Thursday and Friday, hit with a cold Friday mid-morning and have also been hacking every since.

Last night, for the first time in almost a week, I slept more than a hour at a time. Good news.

Happy Birthday


Today is our kitten’s first birthday. Cosmo received three new toys and will receive a tag with his name and address on it. My guy wants to celebrate this evening with cake, candles and ice cream – for him, not that cat.



Boo to snow
I hear there is snow in Sunday’s forecast. In my heart I knew winter wasn’t finished with us yet but I am still sad. However, the warmer weather and the burst of colour popping through my garden makes me believe winter’s return will be short lived.

Happy Thursday, everyone.

Oh No!

I was really hoping my son wouldn’t get my sleeping issues. I have sleep parasomnia. I have self-diagnosed myself with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.

I like to call what I have action dreams, in that I play out the scenes running through my brain as I sleep.

I have been known to clear off dressers in search of missing items, walk throughout the house searching, in late, for my son who has disappeared and hold conversations with whoever likes to listen.

The worst is the terror. I have these realistic dreams, which cause me to shoot out of bed and when I eventually wake, my heart is racing. I figure one of these days, my poor heart is going to stop.

So I had hoped, even though I know these issues are hereditary, that my son would not experience the fear.

It’s awful.

But Monday night, I heard my two-year-old call out to me through the monitor. I came into his room and he was pointing to his stuffed animal in his crib saying ‘No Cosmo. No Cosmo in bed.’ I reassured him Cosmo, the kitten, was not in his bed as Cosmo was sleeping with me.

But the damage was down. It took me three hours to settle my guy back down and convince him he needed to sleep again.

I gave him the advice that, sometimes, works for me – think happy thoughts and tell yourself no bad dreams tonight.

Tuesday night, he was again up for several hours and a hour last night, but I think it was association rather than bad dreams.

For me, these terrors are worse when I am tired (a known trigger). My guy had a shorter nap Monday so I will be doing what I can to ensure he gets enough sleep so his dreams are peaceful.

Kid Talk

I didn’t want to be one of those people who talk about every thing her child has ever said or done.

Instead I became one of those people who talk about her cat.

Realizing this, I now I try to talk about neither.

Because while people often ask about the babe, when I begin to chat about what he did or said, their eyes start to glaze over so I know they really aren’t that interested.

Thankfully, most people like to talk about themselves so it’s easy to steer the conversation in a direction they are interested in.

A Gross Thing Happened One Morning…

The other morning I noticed a giant spider on our curtains.

Usually I ignore spiders provided they stay away from me. But this one was the size of a quarter and it couldn’t live.

My son and Cosmo, the kitten, were playing nearby so I quickly ran upstairs, grabbed my husband’s shoe in one hand, while still Cheese Whiz toast in the other, and squished it.

Before I could get something to pick up the carcass, Cosmo started to eat it, which promptly made me loose my appetite.

Telling the kitten that was gross, I headed back upstairs to throw my toast out.
Then I heard a voice.

‘Mommee.’

I looked down and there was the babe holding something dark with legs.

I thanked him, took the spider, which I hoped was really dead, and threw it out.
I may not be able to eat Cheese Whiz again.

Thursday Catchup

From He to It
Cosmo is now an It.

The kitten, who turns five months old in September, was fixed and returned home staggering but seemingly happy to be here.

My stepdaughter showed me a YouTube video about a cat that had obviously underwent its own surgery. The video was of the cat trying to get rid of the effects of anesthetic. My stepdaughter was killing herself laughing.

I suppose we could have shot our own video of Cosmo post-surgery, but I didn’t find it funny. I felt sorry for the guy who kept trying to jump but falling back down, who walked like he had too much to drink and who spent a lot of time not being able to do what he wanted to do.

The next day, the effects wore off and he was back to his old self, albeit a little calmer.

Wedding Day
We went to my cousin’s wedding in Gatineau, Quebec, on the weekend. I do confess I was completely stressed out about the drive and leaving poor Cosmo by himself after surgery.

I shouldn’t have worried.

My guy was fantastic in the car. We made two stops on the way there, both more than a hour long, and three stops on the way back. He laughed and played, read his books, coloured, played with stickers and chatted.

He had a complete meltdown as we were turning on our street. He screamed and cried and hit and refused to get out of the car.

I can’t say I blame him. If I wasn’t more than 30 years older than my guy, I would have behaved the same way.

Cosmo was also fine. My neighbour came in at least twice a day and spent at least a half a hour each time cuddling and playing with the kitten.

I think Cosmo was sorry we didn’t stay away longer.

Off to College
My stepdaughter is off to college this weekend. She is moving into residence.

I am excited for her. College, and residence living, was such a wonderful time in my own life that I am happy she has finally reached this new chapter in her’s.

I remember my mom telling me she remembered lying in bed after dropping me off at residence and realizing how many things she forgot to tell me.

I have my own list for A., which includes how to spot a cult, content insurance and the need to get enough iron in her diet.

Last Weekend of Summer
It’s Labour Day this weekend, which means the end of summer vacation for school kids and the unofficial end to summer for everyone else.

I have been reading many blogs by women who have talked about the end of summer for a couple of weeks now. Why are kids going to school in August? Does that mean they are out earlier in June or do they have longer breaks during the school year. Answers?

Weekend Weather
Sadly, this weekend’s weather is suppose to be cool and rainy. Rain likely can be blamed on Hurricane Earl. The cold? I am not sure whom we can blame but I am not happy about it.

Cosmo’s Big Day

Cosmo is being fixed tomorrow and I am really nervous about it.

I am more nervous about the kitten’s surgery than I was about Sylvester, who lost his manhood later in life.

I think part of the worry is Cosmo has been doing this weird panting behaviour when I make him chase after a string – up and down stairs, up and down the couch and the bed and in circles – for a period of time.

It’s possible I am working him too hard, but many of my pets died due to heart conditions, so it’s in the back of my mind that Cosmo will have troubles, too.

And then there is the fact I have to drop him at the shelter tonight for surgery tomorrow.

How do I explain to Cosmo we are not abandoning him and we’ll see him again soon? Won't he be scared being locked in a cage away from everyone he knows and loves? How can I leave him alone?

Cosmo is four months old. We have had him for three months, and while he bites and scratches and climbs the screens, I love him to pieces. I know he will be fine, but I will miss him.

Oh Yes, I Remember Now

Saturday night I broke many of my own rules. I went outside after putting the baby to bed and I went out of my house wearing only shorts, a T-shirt and sandals.

That will learn you.





Praise to Cosmo
On a non-itchy note, our four-month-old kitten got lots of praise when we got home from the grocery store Saturday morning.

Cosmo caught – and killed – his first mouse.

Way to go, Cosmo.

Tuesday Thoughts

Time Flies
I mentioned in a recent post how I know time flies, but I would like to reiterate that time really does fly.

My husband gave me a mini digital frame to bring to work so pictures of our son could surround me, and I just saw a series of photos of my guy when he was just born out. The day and the time leading up to that wonderful day is so clear in my mind. I can’t believe he will be two in October.

I was thinking about how incredibly lucky I am to have this little guy in my life and how happy I am to watch him grow and learn. And while I am close thankfully close to my niece and have watch many cousins grow, it’s not the same thing as having your own bundle of joy.

Time Flies 2
On Aug. 5, it will be a year since we put Sylvester, our cat, down.

I am looking at pictures of that beautiful creature and I am still sad he is not a part of our son’s life.

However, despite the work, the loss of skin and the 2 a.m. wakeup call by a licking tongue, a purring body and a batting paw, I am happy my son and Cosmo, the crazy kitten, are getting along so well.

How much can you get into a Mini?
I am not sure if this happens where you live, but often there is a fundraiser that involves seeing how many people you can cram into a traditional Volkswagen Bug.

I am reminded of that because of how much stuff my cousin could cram into her Mini Cooper.

My cousin, who is getting married in August, was at my parents’ house for her shower in June.

She drove five hours with her best friend and her mom in her Mini Cooper. She had to get everyone back, plus her gifts, in that same Mini Cooper.

I had my doubts, but she was successful.

Of course, I felt sorry for the person who picked the short straw and had to sit in the backseat, but the point is she did it.

Vacation time
Finally, traffic has improved. I guess enough people are on vacation.

I am looking forward to my two weeks off. I plan to do a whole lot of playing, colouring, swimming, colouring, stacking blocks, painting, colouring, playing with playdough, and camping where I will be doing the above-mentioned activities.

Kitten Tales

Cosmo the growing kitten, bites.

I have been trying to stop it because kitten teeth hurt, however, the husband thinks it’s cute when Cosmo attacks him in play.

I don’t think it’s so cute when any flick of your hand, twitch of your face or nudge of your foot gets a running, jumping, attacking kitten on an unprotected body part.

I particularly don’t like it when I am attempting to sleep.

I do, however, enjoy the distraction of Cosmo.

If my son is fussy in the car or at home, I can usually just mention Cosmo’s name or ask where the kitty is and my son will stop what he is doing to chat about him or call his name.

It’s also great fun to watch them play, although perhaps not always for Cosmo.

This morning, my guy was throwing Cheerios at the kitten and the kitten was chasing them, batting them and eating them.

Cosmo may soon have a weight issue because we have also discovered he likes milk and cheese and if my guy has his way, anything he doesn’t want to eat, the kitten is more than welcome to enjoy.

My little guy also kisses Cosmo good night, good morning and goodbye, giving him a kiss on the nose and a wave.

Friday Bits

No response yet
I emailed Air Canada my blog posting and other than a form email saying they received it and I don’t have to write again, I have not yet heard a response.

However, I also haven’t heard the commercial that tells me Air Canada only cares about those who travel first class on the radio again.

Apparently, Air Canada speaks the truth in that commercial as noted by Alex from Ma What’s For dinner, who said she did feel like a star. It does makes me feel better that someone is being treated fairly and kindly by an airline.


Payback’s a…
Cosmo the kitten found a new play-toy – my son’s feet as he bounces them as he nurses. Payback likely wasn’t that great. My son scooped up Cosmo as he was eating and I have a fantastic picture of baby holding dangling kitty. Too cute.

Family dance party at work
My coworker started singing ‘Everyone dance now,’ and that phrase is now stuck in my head, running over and over as I don’t know any other words.

Self-promotion
I don’t usually tie my work life into my personal one, but I wrote an article on sustainable fishing and I am quite proud of it: http://tinyurl.com/22o7q43

I think everyone should read it and learn how you can help save our oceans from overfishing.

Self-promotion 2:
My second article, which I think will also be fantastic although not as depressing, has been delayed for going on two weeks now. My second source is a busy woman and keeps cancelling. She ensures me it will be today so that article should be up soon and I will offer more self-promotion.

Good-day Friday
I stayed late Tuesday, which means I can leave early Friday to start what will be a great weekend.

My cousins and brother and family are coming over Sunday so it will be a party at the Day house. Three kids under five, crazy girls (boys, except baby, will be out of the house) and a kitten. Can it get better than that?

Happy weekend everyone.

Introducing…

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family – Cosmo.

After much consideration, we adopted this little guy from our local shelter.

He is two months old, was bottle fed by his foster family and loves to cuddle, play, chase your toes – and anything else that moves – attack diaper bums, lick and purr.

My little guy calls him Kitty and scratches and pats the floor to get Cosmo’s attention. My guy attempts to pick Cosmo up and almost squished him when he lost his balance.

Cosmo, as my husband told him, has big shoes to fill. We put our Sylvester down in August 2009.

Sylvester, who we still miss, was a wonderful pet. I think he would be happy with my son has a new furry brother.