Thanks Jenn, for the info. I'd like to come out tomorrow but unfortunately some kid tried to kill me tonight in his car actually his mother's car in front of the house where I live. He tried to come up the inside of me (between the passenger side and the curb) but unfortunately there was no room and he sideswiped me and put himself into a tree as I was trying to turn into the driveway. Only to live another day so he could try it again on someone else. I have zero ZERO read that ZERO tolerance for people who speed, drive dangerously or have road rage. If they all died I would not shed a tear. It matters not to me that he is only 24 years old and "sweet as pie". So I won't be driving anywhere far for a couple of days. I have to get the car fixed, get a quote, deal with his parents etc etc. Grief that I don't need or want or ask for. I drive carefully very carefully having had a very serious accident in 2007 from which I was lucky to survive (my fault: too much commuting, fatigue etc... i stopped the "Grand Commute" that very day and moved back to Toronto). I am a very defensive driver, always aware of what is going on around me and I can tell you I was damned aware of him coming up behind me very fast, very fast and I could see it happening just as it unfolded. I will be out next week; perhaps I'll come out with my brother but I don't trust him to drive and tonight he tells me that his tires are shitty! Shitty. What the fuck is he doing driving country roads with crappy tires. I'm kind of angry right now. don't mind the rant. Yes, I will direct deposit into your bank account if you want; you just need to give me that information. Ok. Let me go to sleep. I have to work downtown tomorrow and I'll be driving my mother's less than worthy car. So please, drive carefully and all the best in the New Year! enjoy. live. Judy

Do You Know?

Do you know what it is like to almost have life ripped away from you? Lose your lasting breath in a heartbeat by an unknown piece of carelessness, a 24 year old boy child in a hurry to god knows what on an icey street in front of your own house? You can drive as slowly as you want; watching behind waiting for others to pass a s careful as you please but it won't help it won't help an unknown assailant soaring out of the darkness in a tiny grey piece of crap called a Kia no he couldn't wait he couldn't wait for me to turn he had to come up on the right side between the car and the curb to pass me only he misjudged there wasn't room there wasn't room and he slammed into a tree. God if only he died then he'd know; precious life. how precious is life and what for what to run and ride in the blink of an eye it could have been over for everyone for all of us and for what waste, waste. waste.

We must remember them

In 2010 I saw a cat at WAH for rapid weight loss, dehydration, depression and weakness. In the history I saw that he had been neutered a mere one month before. One or two days prior to his surgery he had received an injection of depomedrol and lo and behold within the next month he developed full blown Diabetic Ketoacidosis. From which I was unable (because the client didn't want to pursue it) to save him. Subsequently I euthanized him in April 2010. There was no note of apology from the DVM who was the cause of all of this. I instead was reprimanded for talking rudely to him about it. Don't matter. The deed was done. I place this on the web because I don't want to forget this cat who died too young for naught. His family was devastated.

Glad Tidings...

...playing on my computer
Van Morrison
Heading down to the basement to root through boxes and find a single beaded silver lampshade for the energy efficient LED bulb hanging nakedly over my desk wearing a makeshift shade made from a piece of wallpaper.

Wallpaper is an amazing substrate for a lot of things. How do I know? From watching an Indie Film called Off the Map starring Joan Allen and Sam Elliot (not to be confused by some other movie called Off the Map currently showing stills alongside the original on IMDB).
In it William Gibbs (Jim True Frost) paints his water colours on the back of rolls of wallpaper.

What a great medium! In fact takes the paint really well and it is solid, really solid.
Going to try it myself for my first foray back into the world of paint after 40 years.

Glad Tidings to all!

Racing Season's Over- Yippeeee

10 hours sleep. Woke up at 7 am. Organized, cleaned. What could be better. Busy, active, industrious for the next 8 weeks. Find good places to keep the horses. So great.
I'm back.