Finished another book!

Finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets book this morning. The weather was getting cool, so I went outside on the deck and sat in the chair, with warm blanket and curled up with the book. I'm on the 3rd book now. :-)

Had a good weekend. It was Miss Deaf NJ pageant on Saturday. I met some friends I haven't seen in a while. Sunday, Roy and I went to his brother in law's new house and celebrated his birthday. Roy's nephew really love Transformers and has a bunch of them, so I spent some time playing with them. I have always wanted one when I was young, (remember the cartoons?), but many boys would not allow me play with them. "You're a girl! Girls don't play with boy toys!"
Boy, these Transformers today seems a lot more complicated than in the 80's! Regardless, I had a lot of fun turning a robot into a 18 wheeler.

Finally my cold is gone, so is my butt to the gym. Skipped gym all week last week due to lack of energy.

Sorry, not much else to say. LOL!

Today was a good day!

Well, finally, after a few weeks of lots of downs, I had a really good day today, aside from one little thing.

First off - I use my iBook G4 all the time, everyday, and I pretty much leave it on 24/7. I think before yesterday, it has been about 3 months since I turned it off. LOL! Anyways, the power plug is a bit annoying. The first one that came with the computer got badly bended like below:

See where the exposed wires are? Well, because of all the bending that occurs with "normal" usage (yeah, I break things so shuddup). This is partially my fault. Well, it gets worse when it gets overheated and start burning off the rest of the wires after the first crack.




I was able to find yet another AC adapter (this is my third one), and told Roy to turn his inventing machine on in his head and come up with a way that it will be hard for that area to be bended. No matter how hard I try, I forget in a hurry to be careful of the wire. So, Roy found a heat activated "thing", that you normally wrap around exposed wires to keep them from environmental exposures.

So you can see that it will be HARDER for that annoying spot to be bended! Isn't that cool or what?!
It is about 5 inches long, so it should def protect it for a long time.





Another good note - My car is ready. How I miss my automatic windows, power locks, better stereo system! I have to wait until tomorrow or Monday to pick it up. Ugh.

The only small sad note of the day is that I got Jamie's ashes back. I will be doing the Memory Glass for Jamie, and scatter her ashes somewhere. We haven't really decided yet, but I really would like the Memory Glass.

Until next time...

FInished a book.

Finished Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone. Took only two days to complete! I'm reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets now.

Both Kat and Roy gave me a link about an amazing cat, Oscar who resides in a nursing home that can predict death in patients. I told both of them that this is not the first time that I've heard about cats' amazing abilities. Which reminded me the time that Jamie's first owner passed away. I came home from work sad when I found out that Jamie's first mom passed. Jamie was waiting by the door, and greeted me. I sat down, and Jamie just curled up next to me. She would look up once in a while, and looked at me with sad eyes. She knew. Somehow, she knew. Jamie is not normally a lapcat. She is very independent, and doesn't show much affection like Hobbes, but she did show her love during her last few weeks a lot more than she ever has been.

I frequent watch, How It's Made on Discovery channel. The factories are based in Canada. Why? I don't know, so don't ask. Anyways, on today's show, they showed how they made saintary napkins. Seriously. The name of the company is Incongito. Those pads are huge, long, bulky. Ew! They'll be better off naming it Sleepys. But, it was interesting to see how it was made though!

Harry Potter

Yesterday, I decided to start with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and finish the series. I was talking to Roy, and I remembered that for the last 3 or 4 books, I would start from the beginning, then finish with the newly released book. So, why break the cycle?

We'll see how long it takes me to finish all 7 books!

On a sad note, the Minnisota sextuplet is not doing so good. Only one survived.

What a month

Today I'm sick with a head cold. For two days, my throat has been sore. Drank some throat soothing tea. Used Zicam (which reduces the length of duration), and Breathe Right (oh this SO works for congestion). Woke up at 3am this morning. I just could not get comfortable. So I got up, drank TheraFlu drink, watched Cosby Show. Fell asleep on the couch...I was so comfortable....kind of strange that I'm comfortable on the couch, but not on the bed.

I'm a bit peeved. I got a new power adapter for my laptop about 7 months ago because the cord was breaking. Now, it's breaking again. Roy says because I "abuse" the powercord. I hate it when he's right...but he's right. I keep moving my laptop a lot that the cord gets bended under the laptop. This time I am asking Roy to come up with some kind of protection so it will be diffcult to bend. Yesterday, the powercord is on the fritz. I'm waiting to get it from eBay....of course, I have to win first. :-)
For now, I'm using OUR Gaming PC for internet. Ew. Windows. Ew!

For a while, Roy and I want to read a Manga. However, there's so many out there, so we searched (moreof, he did), for some Manga that recieved good reviews. We got "I Luv Halloween", which is read traditional English way. Roy is reading that now, and he seem to like it. I'm reading, "The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service". Okay..weird title, and that's what the book is about. Basically it's about one guy can talk to the dead (Sixth Sense type of thing), and "deliver" their bodies to places where they will rest at peace. This book...is..umm...weird. The drawings are a little bit crude compared to color manga, but it's pretty powerful. This is read Japanese way, from right to left. It is a bit getting used to, but easy. The only thing that is a little odd is that there's "sound effects", that are written in Japanese, so you have to go at the end of the book (which is the begining of the book for English readers), to know what the sound effects are. Such examples are "Sound of body thudding to the ground", "Buzzing sound", "sound of hand touching body", that kind of thing. If you like manga, I suggest you to read it.

After this, I want to reread Harry Potter: Order of the Phoneix, then I can read the 7th book. I'm in no rush into reading the 7th book. I've learned to ENJOY the process of life. Thanks Roy.

Other than that...SOS. :-)

Video Games

I love video games, ever since I touched the NES controller. I stopped a little during college because I felt that I "needed to grow up". Looking back, I wished I didn't care what people thought of me. Regardless, I'm making up for my lost time.

I have 8 or 9 game consoles (between Roy and I...he has the old school ones, while I have the newer ones). We don't have Xbox 360 and PS3. These are just the predecessors on steroids.

I'm glad that I'm a straight out Nintendo fan all the way. They have always been consistent. Sure their products/consoles are simple, considered "too easy" for hard core gamers, but if you look at the history of Nintendo...they kick ass.

Sony's Playstation 2, was probably the best console EVER made, and I do agree in some ways. They have such a HUGE video game library, the controllers were well designed. The only gripe I didn't like was no hard drive, but Nintendo did not implement harddrive in their consoles until the Wii. I was really excited for PS3, but then when I read the specs and the prices, it was WTF moment for me. First, Roy and I have simple TVs, and we ain't going to splurge on a Plasma or HDTV any time soon, so the Blu-Ray ain't going do much for us. Second, Sony kept putting off the release dates due to production problems. Dudes..just remove the Blu-Ray, and have it as an option for 2nd generation. (PS2 had Network as an accessory at first, then they had it attached for 2nd generation models, then it was inside for the 3rd, and much thinner model later on...do the same thing!)

Anyways, the point of this, is that I feel that Xbox 360 and PS3 is going to HURT the companies. Peter Moore - Head of Xbox is resigning. Ken Kutaragi of Playstation is resigning. This shows me that they don't stand by their products and that stinks.

Xbox Head Resigns

It really tells me that these guys were a bit over their heads, and if a major issue comes up with the product that they stood by, they freak out and resign, and put all the problems to the next person...can't they solve problems?! I thought Xbox 360 were doing really well, but I guess not.

Nintendo's Director Hiroshi Yamauchi has been involved since 1949 to May 2002 where he resigned due to his age. Heck, he didn't even accept the retirement pension! Now THAT is loyalty.

What a day!!

What a day. It all started at 3:30am....

3:30am - Roy shifts the bed, waking me up slightly. I have difficulty falling back to sleep, especially when I'm hearing Buzzing noise in my ear.

4:30am - Still awake, surfing the 'net, bugging people on Facebook, buzzing still in my ear.

5:30am - Found some good information about Game Design schools, Hobbes starts crying, and rubbing his face all over me. The bee is singing his song in my ear.

6:30am - I turn on the TV, and put on Nick to watch Jimmy Neutron. Fall asleep for about half hour. Had a weird dream where I met Reba in Disney World and she's dressed up in a Cinderella dress, and had a picture taken with her in a large white carriage. I woke up around 7ish.

7:40am - I check on Roy, nudge him awake and blame him for my insomnia. Then I kiss him and said, "Nah, it is not your fault", as I feel my ear drum vibrating in my head. I was able to fall asleep a little bit. The rain was POURING. I swear, it felt like flash flood. Thundering, lighting...which freaked out Hobbes.

8:20am - Watched Cosby Show for a little while, while Roy showered and getting ready for work. Made myself English Tea, and breakfast. Fed the cats as my ear starting to annoy the heck out of me.

8:45am - Roy leaves for work, opens the door, a business card falls. It says, "Call us regarding issue with your vehicle." From the Police Department. Convinced Roy that I will call and take care of it. Roy leaves. I call the police via VP. "Ma'am, your car was broken in."
WHAT?! I was thinking to myself, I live in a dang gated community, how the hell can someone steal my car. It was not stolen, just broken in. As I was in shocked about this, Roy came running to the door and towards me...and said, "Your car was broken into!"

And that's the start of a very long day.
Found out that my car was the third car to be broken into overnight. Each of our cars had the GPS stolen. I normally put the cover on, and put it under the seat of the car, but I didn't do that the last time I used it, so I just left it on the dashboard. The police came, and they asked me if there was anything else stolen. I immediately thought of my iPod.
Went up to my car, I cried inside my heart, I could not believe how bad it was. The driver side window was completely destroyed. The front seats were covered in glass, the upholstery was completely soaked. There was some interior damage near the gear shift. I looked around, and saw my iPod. It was still on the passenger's side seat. Sure, take the GPS, not the iPod.
Everything else seems intact.

Called my insurance company, called rental place, called Auto body, called Lowrance to see if there's any chance of recovery (I thought it may be able to send out signals to tell where it was....it doesn't.) All the phone calls took me all morning. Had to get my car out of the weather, otherwise it would be a lot worse. Car rental place dropped off the rental car, my car was taken to the Auto Body under a roof.

Went to Barnes and Noble to relieve stress. Roy decided to stay home with me to make sure everything is okay and going without a hitch. We came home, had to clean up all the glass shards so I can park in my parking space. We had dinner, and I'm tired, and the damn bee in my ear is still buzzing as ever!

Yes I'm a little sad that my GPS was stolen, but it is a possibility that I can get it covered under my auto insurance and homeowner's insurance. Hope the guy doesn't use it and go to my friends' houses! But you know what, that's life. Shit happens. It could have been worse. My car could have be completely stolen or smashed up, my iPod could have be stolen, my old license that was in the car could have been stolen, the cat carrier could have been stolen, a tree could have fallen on my car, my tires could have been busted, but you know what...I'll still have the damn buzzing in my ear. :-) Life goes on.

On to another day. :-)

Reflections

Tonight I had my traditional Summer dinner with a teacher of mine way back when I was 11 years old. We've been friends for quite a long time...17 years! We reflected on the past, talked about our current lives, friends/past students. Before we met up, I sent her a picture above from a yearbook. Talk about a blast from the past! Of course, me looking bored as ever. This was taken when I was 11 years old, and a smart ass. I was telling Mrs. R that I remember that I cheated my way through book reports by just writing a little bit from a chapter, and reading the back of the book and never fully reading the book. She said to me, "Yeah, I know you do that!" I was laughing because I couldn't believe that I got away with it, but at the same time, I don't think she wanted to deal with smart mouth! Anyways, I've changed...mostly. :-D

A Day of my life...

Yesterday Roy and I went my Mom and Terry's house. It was his birthday on July 3rd. It wasn't until in the evening that I realized it was his birthday, and Jamie left this world. That must have been a crummy birthday. Regardless, we got him Armor All "stuff" for his spanking brand new truck. He's going ga-ga over it, and personally, between you and me...it's his midlife crisis, and better getting a huge mo-fo truck, than a woman with huge mo-fo frontals. :-)

Anyhoo, we had our funny moments, just like we always do when we go over their house.

"Mom! Roy unhooked my bra! Can you please hook 'em back together?" - me, after Roy shows off his one-hand-bra-unhooker

"I got rabies!" - after filling my mouth with whipped cream, and letting it drip out of my mouth (oh c'mon, don't tell me you don't eat whipped cream out of a can)

"D - you need to take your vitamins! Take your calcium! Take it every morning! I'll remind you" - mom nagging me, then Roy chimes in, "Yeah, Mom, I tried so hard, but she forgets or she doesn't listen to me!" At this point they're both talking about me not taking my vitamins. Since when did I turn 6?

For some ODD reason, Terry started a Pea fight. He is normally quiet and composed during dinner. Yesterday, he just flicked a pea on me, and we all were acting like 10. I think that's another notch in the "Midlife crisis" board.

I'm sure there's more, and maybe...JUST maybe Roy can refresh my memory.

Painting and stuff

I feel very at peace since the passing of Jamie. I know I made the right choice because I wouldn't want to make her suffer much longer. I gave her 2 more years than the doctors thought. Sometimes I can't help but look in the bathroom where she sleeps in the tub to see if her spirit is there...and you know what, her spirit is there. Yes I am sad to see that she's gone, and the apt feel slightly empty, but I can reflect on the happy memories and the stuff she taught me through the short time I've had with her.

I started my Painting class yesterday, and I must say, I'm really excited to start! I adore Bob Ross, and we'll be learning a few of his techniques. I have never painted before, so it will be interesting to see how well I do.

That's pretty much it...back to my magical world.

Create A Caption

This is a friend of mine, Paul. Create a Caption for this picture!

My most favorite picture of Jamie

Jamie

Today is one of the saddest days I ever had to endure. Jamie, my beloved 14 years old cat will be going over the Rainbow bridge. I had her for only a little over 3 years. Her original mom was a client of a Veterinary hospital that I worked at. She was dying of ovarian cancer, and was more worried about her cats than herself. I was unable to take in both because one of them was FIV positive. No body else wanted a 11 year old diabetic cat, with almost no teeth, overweight, and a bit of a priss cat. I took in Jamie fully aware that I will try to get her adopted out. At my vet hospital, we focus a lot on dental health, and I'm the primary technician for dentistry. I gave up one Saturday to do a dental on Jamie, it took me over 2 hours to work on her teeth. Reason why, she had ALL of her teeth, but more than half was rotten, or broken or in a really bad shape due to diabetes. She was the longest dental I've ever did. Little did I know, she'll be in my life.
Three days after I acquired Jamie, her mom passed away. Needless to say, my softie heart gave out, and I decided to make Jamie my own. It was tough because Mocha, my other cat that I adopted from Rochester, is the alpha cat, and with the two of them....they fight. Jamie is not a lap cat, or affectionate. In a way, she acts like she's just a wandering cat swatting at any cat that crosses her path.
I've learned to separate Mocha and Jamie. After I started dating Roy, he wanted to know about cats as he never owned one (in fact, he was allergic). Jamie was perfect because she had the classic signs of a neglected health type of cat (the previous owner just used her as companionship, and never really took care of Jamie's health, weight, diabetes, etc). Due to Jamie's diabetes, I have to give her insulin twice daily. Roy got over his fear of needles and was able to be a pro at giving insulin when I came home from work late.
Less than a year after I got Jamie, Jamie started to show signs of vomiting a lot more frequent, and it was unusual. I know she gets hairballs frequently due to obsessive grooming habits. I took her to a Internal Medicine specialist of where I worked. They did an ultrasound of her abdomen. Found a small mass. It turned out to be Mast Cell Tumor. In other words, Cancer. After talking to several doctors, I was given 4 to 6 months for this type of cancer, and 6 to 8 months if I opt surgery. I felt that Jamie has lived a full life, and deserved to have more full life instead of being in pain. So I opted out on surgery. The good news was, because I got Jamie's weight from 17 pounds to 10, she's not diabetic anymore.
Months went by, and Jamie was showing no signs of slowing down. I moved in with Roy, a few times during my first summer living with him, Jamie started to get sicker and sicker. She was getting sick on a daily basis. Her tumor became more visible. This has been over a year since the diagnosis. We were expecting this. Then we decided to give her another couple days. After those couple days were up, she bounced back to her normal bubbly self.
Fast forward, yet another year, to May 2007. Jamie started to show signs of slowing down. She started to breath funny, breathing with more effort. I took her to the vet, and discovered that she has congestive heart failure. It won't be much longer.
The last week of June 2007, she refused to eat, and would just sleep all day, wouldn't walk around anymore. It was getting really obvious that she was losing more weight, not interested in catnip - her favorite treat. After talking to Roy, I made the decision that it's time. I called for an appointment for Saturday. After I called, Jamie walked up to me, and just stared at me in the eyes saying, "I'm ready now. I cannot wait 5 more days."
I called them again, and made the appointment earlier.

Roy and I said our goodbyes last night, and I'm saying goodbye today. She's special because she was the cat that no one wanted. She was my first special needs kitty, she was my first cat that had cancer, and now she's my first cat that I had to say good bye.

Today, I'm taking her out for a little walk, get a breath of fresh air and let her eat all the grass that she wants. I will reflect on the memories that's always going to be in our hearts.

I love you Jamie.

Jamie April 1993 - July 3, 2007. Have a good journey over the Rainbow.

R and D