5 posts from January 2007

It's been a few days since the last entry to my continuing dialogue on the local weather. It's not that it's been calm and warm, because it hasn't, but as often happens in life more important things have taken precedent.

Yesterday evening one of our beloved chinchillas, Bandit [aka: the Frito Bandito] passed away. We noticed last week that he had slowed down and wasn't really eating. We did everything we could to try and nurse him back to health but it was no use. He was shivering on the bottom of his pen yesterday so we snuggled him up in soft warm cloth and held him. We called around to what vets are available on a Sunday night here in the middle of nowhere land and were told that the best they could do for us was to agree to examine him but from the symptoms we described it was unlikely he wouldlast much longer. They were right.

We held him to provide warmth and comfort. He seemed to appreciate the warmth because he had been shivering in his little hutch. Usually not one for snuggling Bandit took full advantage of the warm dark bower we had created for him. He lay in our arms for several hours until he had what I can only describe as a seizure. After that he was still but for his breathing and we realized that Bandit had had a stroke, a not uncommon result when chinchillas have an illness, and he would not be coming back. He lay for a while laboring to breathe. That bothered me the most. All but gone, his body hung on as long as it could. I cannot stand the thought that he suffered at all. Thankfully he did not continue long after that. His breathing slowly subsided, he gave a shudder and finally was still.

We sat with him for a long time after that. Just patting him and talking to him and telling him how much we would miss him and how sorry we both were that his life had been so short. He was only four. Just an adolescent in the chinchilla world where they can live as long as 25 years and the average life span is over 10yrs. Bandit had black fur rather than the common gray. I can only imagine his breeding had contributed to his small size. He as only half as large as our other chins. But he made up for it with spunk. Chinchillas are quick, active and spry little animals. They're known jumpers and climbers and when they take off you'd better have your running shoes on. Bandit could run with the best of 'em. He was the quickest of all the chins and the most acrobatic. He also had a habit of forcing himself into tight spaces and falling asleep. Much to our surprise. Once we found him pressed between the pen and the wall asleep. From then on his nick name was "Pelt, the wonder chin". Our little contortionist.

Bandit was a sweet little guy. He came to live with us in the fall of '02 when he was only about 9months old.  He was friendly and personable but not fond of being held. Although he had no problem having a seat on your lap or next to you on the arm of a chair. He just didn't want anything to slow him down I guess. It is unfortunate that he was a bit of an outcast. Our other chins get along but none of them were particularly fond of Bandit. They would chase him and later bark at him when he got out to play alone. I never understood why he irritated them so much. But he made friends with our guinea pig and even had a thing going with the cat where they would play 'catch the tail'. She would sit on top of his pen and he would try to crab her tail through the mesh. She would curl and uncurl her tail and he would try to sneak up on her and catch it while she wasn't looking. I know you may be thinking .oO(they weren't playing) but I promise you, they were.

It's hard to accept that we will never see Bandit again. I loved him more than I can adequately express. The loss is deeply felt.
Unfortunately since Bandit was a pet I can expect no understanding or sympathy from anyone. I'm sure people will tell me they are sorry, those that don't laugh or make stupid ignorant comments about replacing him. It's times like these when I am reminded that the current convention in human society is not to acknowledge the sentience or value of any life other than human. Even those strange few who wrongly assume a pet is some kind of child substitute are devaluing the importance and individuality of the animal. They are not replacements for anything. They are important and loved and valued as they are. Besides, who in their right mind would want a kid?

Rest In Peace Bandit. I know you crossed the rainbow bridge to discover joy and friends and peace, but we who are left behind will always miss you.

Well it's Friday and the weather guy did not disappoint me. The rain has arrived. Unfortunately the temperature while certainly higher than it's been all week is not the originally promised high of 5°. It's actually only 1°. Which is certainly better than the -20° it was yesterday evening but it's not nearly high enough to assist the rain in melting the snow.
Well, most of the snow. Anything near a street has already been turned to a nasty brown soup of snow, ice and dirty water. Slush. Yet another of the many joys of winter.
I guess I shouldn't complain. It's melting although not nearly as quickly as I'd like. The good news, depending on how you look at it is that the forecast is calling for heavy showers over night. Meaning that most of the snow will be gone tomorrow... replaced by flooded sidewalks, slushy roads and swampy back yards. Not exactly the most ideal situation but as long as the end result is a significant lack of snow, I'll be happy.
It's not going to last though. I noticed that the long range forecast is calling for clear skies until next Wednesday at which time we're going to have a storm of freezing rain and ice pellets.
Hoorah.
It's at this point that my hopes lean in to the possibility that the weather guy is smoking crack and we're actually due for another stint of unseasonable warmth. Hey I can dream can't I?
In the mean time I guess I can enjoy the slightly melty weather we're having. Besides the horrible mess it makes of the roads it does create some extremely interesting ice art.  Icicles.  Which while fun to look at for everyone else speaks of a heat loss problem for the home owner in question. A common issue with the older homes in the area. They're all so large that most owners have cut them up into apartments. They add mini kitchens and new entrances but do nothing about the sinking floors and ancient roofs. The end result is a really nice little apartment with lots of character on the inside and something that looks like the picture on the right on the outside.
My next door neighbors. I can only imagine the size of the icicles hanging on this place. I may go out and check later just to take some pictures. But then again that would require going out into the mess and I'd rather avoid that if I can. One of the few perks of being a hermit.

When I die I want a beautiful headstone.
I don't care if you wrap me in duct tape and throw me in the hole upside down just give me a beautiful headstone.
I want it to have that old world gothic factor. Skulls or skeletons should be present. Reaper figures a plus. I don't want a cross. But a cross on the stone is ok I guess as long as it is integral to the art. Though I don't know how that will fly with my current "I'll believe in god when it tells me to." attitude.
I don't want a flat stone. Those ridiculous new little stepping stones that they force people to accept so the keepers of the boneyard can save on upkeep and grooming. No way. When I die I want a proper upright standing stone. No size or height restrictions. Though I'd never want anything too large. That would beas bad as a flat stone. After my name and the pertinent dates I'd like it to say something witty or wise. Perhaps done in the style of the rhymes found on old English headstones.

Death is a debt
by nature due
I've paid my shot
and so must you.
--Surrey, New Hampshire, 1800

Stranger, stop and cast an eye,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be,
Prepare for death and follow me.
--Unknown

I'd like the artwork to hide some secret. A message within the message. A hidden meaning. An inside joke perhaps. A thing that might be noticed but not always seen for what it really is.
Finally I'd like to be buried in a verdant grove with trees and green vines and history. A park like setting of natural beauty. Nothing so far away that it's forgotten. Nothing so close that it has the potential to be rezoned as a golf course in the near future. Not a precision manicured lawn with little metal vases stamped to each stone to allow for a flower or two and no more to be placed there. Not a wide lawn where the only green nearby is in the grass. Why is it the cemeteries with names like "Forest Grove" have no trees? Cemetery 'rules' be damned I'll not allow my final repose to be predicted by the convenience of others. I'll find my place. I'll have my stone. And perhaps in death I'll have my peace.

Well it's finally winter here. I reported yesterday that we had only gotten minimal snow and some chilly weather in the face of the storm front that was sweeping across the continent.
Today I must report that we have now received approximately 1.5 feet of snow [more or less depending on where you live in the area] and the mercury is currently settled at -20 !!
The weather site is also saying that it "feels like" -40 !! Now THAT'S more like it. This is what winter in Atlantic Canada is supposed to feel like. Not all the time. But the middle of January is supposed to feel like... well the middle of January and not like the first buds of spring are around the corner.
I may sound happy and even thrilled about it but that's only because it's not going to last. No the forecast has already predicted that by Friday it will be +5 and rainy. So I'll 'enjoy' the snow and the nostalgic ride down frozen memory lane for a day or two. That's enough for me anyway. Like taking a vacation to the arctic. "Wasn't that fun? Wasn't that cold? Sure am glad we're back to warmer climes though."

Here's hoping that the weather guy has his ducks in a row. I'd hate to be disappointed. As much as I enjoy watching my southern husband deal with the cold I'll be glad when we get back to the 'globally warmed' winter. Not only is it more comfortable, it's a lot easier on the power/heating bills.

People laugh about it but it's true. While the rest of North America digs itself out from a recent ice/snow storm that has killed 30 so far and left large parts of cities without power we enjoyed a snowfall that produced 4 inches of wet snow that will be gone if not in the next day or two then certainly with the rain on the weekend.
After years of winter that lasted from October to April I can honestly say I'm not at all perturbed by the change in the climate. Summer is warmer, starts earlier and lasts longer. Winter is shorter and produces less and less snow every year. What's not to like?

Don't misunderstand me. I'm concerned about global warming. I'm more than a little concerned about the fact that a large chunk of the arctic recently broke away and started drifting and melting into the ocean. I'm upset about the continuing dependence on fossil fuels and the fact that no real progress or efforts have been made toward finding a new source of power. I'm very bothered by the fact that the corporate community seems determined to undermine all efforts to make any kind of change in the world.
But I had an epiphany recently and because of it I decided to give up worrying about the planet and let it take care of itself.

It doesn't matter how many petitions I sign or politicians I influence or marches I take part in or pop cans I recycle. The tiny piece-meal efforts made by green groups and various individuals will make no difference in the long run. Not because the efforts are worthless, but because the conglom that is the global corporate society and it's government butt-buddies are using all their money, machinery and influence to undermine all of us.

So I stopped worrying about it. I stopped watching the news and in general, I stopped caring. The world is on a path to destruction. When it happens their will be global catastrophes like pandemics and mass deaths and extreme earth changes like floods and earthquakes.
Sure, it's going to kill a lot of people. Maybe even all of us. But that's when I pause and realize that it will take all those "more money than brains" corporate/politico jackasses with it. And if that isn't enough to make a pessimist smile, what is?

Yes, the earth is changing. It's more than likely we could do something about it if the right people changed a few things. But it won't happen. The desire for power and money are greater than all other motivators. They'd rather spend the next 20 years suing people for daring to suggest global warming is a reality rather than doing something to stop it.
Only when the reaper is at the door will they finally look around and realize the opportunity to help themselves has long passed.

I've decided not to spend the next few years worrying about climate change. Instead I intend to enjoy it. When the waves of the rising ocean cover my home, I'll just surf the apocalypse into the sunset.