So this post is going to be a hasty one, and at an unusual time at that. Exam day is here, so within the next nine friggin’ hours I need to be on the way to the city so I can go stand in line waiting for the proverbial ax to fall. Yuck. I’m just going to keep my fingers crossed.
Last night wasn’t too pleasant, and I don’t even want to contemplate what tonight’s going to be like?
I get called from a solid sleep six time by some asinine twat (or two) from an unfamiliar phone number that–after surfing the Net–turns out to be a known number of a telemarketing or scam company in Madrid. Aaargh. I wish I’d used every foul word I ever knew by the time they phoned me for the 3rd time disturbing a rather particularly interesting dream.
They stop calling, around the time I get up and let the pack out of the cabin and start on the morning rituals. After reading for about fifteen minutes I get dressed and head on down to the house, Yadzia and Bommel, once again bringing up the rear. I shake my head when Trin Trin and Knight II dash into the courtyard ahead of me, practically tripping over their own feet along the way.
The knee is doing well enough, and with that in mind I do a partial workout. I have to skip the left side hits, I can only do about sixty jumps and knee kicks don’t go too well either but at least I got through most of them without too much discomfort…or at least so I thought. Afterwards I am sore like heck, but feeling decidedly cheered.
Of course I am stupid enough to postpone taking a painkiller…I plan to do it later, just before leaving…and spend several hours going over our lesson material before it is time to head towards town. I am in fact running late, so by the time we arrive at school, I’ve forgotten the painkillers and seriously uncomfortable. Slowly I hack my way through the tests, wondering how much time I’m going to have to waste on hobbling towards the Pharmacy around the corner, but I decide to wait it out instead.
I end up doing four tests without error, two with one, and one with three. I would have passed, but at the end of those two hours I am starting to seriously fade out and am very happy that the night has come to an end. Heading home, without any detours for a change, we discuss tomorrow’s plans, realizing, as we’re driving up the mountain that twelve hours from then we’ll be hacking away at the exams…if no disasters strike.
Little sister cooked, gratefully, so both big brother and I stuff ourselves with spaghetti and sauce, stocking up on carbs, and basically trying to shut our brains off for the remainder of the night. Luckily Tuesday is a good day for TV entertainment. First up is a new episode of “NCIS”, which was brilliant a usual, of course. So intense, poor Ziva. Caught me by surprise, but good.
Next is “Flashpoint” which I find to be boring, but this is followed by “Burn Notice”, a show that I’m loving more every time, which bleeds into “Las Vegas”. This is our last entertainment of the night, since right after this I’m going to have to rush to get ready for bed and zonk out.
Not that I mind. I am rather tired, but usually when I try to get to bed early, I will start worrying about practically anything…and I doubt that tomorrow’s schedule will be an exception.
If all goes well, this time tomorrow I’ll know if I’ve passed the exams.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
One day and counting.
A rather fantasy like dream played through my head this night. Prairies that swayed and twirled as the wind swept over the grass that stretched out as far as the eye could see. A flock of swallows silhouetted against the bright blue sky and small white clouds, flying intricate patterns as two men ran through the knee-high grass, full speed.
Loosely sewn clothes encased their wiry bodies, animal skin-like designs fluttering around them with every movement when deep browns and tans made them fabrics rather than leather in the bright setting sun that cast a vibrant red over the planes.
They looked peculiar, a bit elfish I would say, with pointy ears, long flowing hair and narrow faces emphasized by patrician noses. Their eyes were intense blue, as they ran, and ran, a narrating voice pounding impressively as the view zoomed out, showing a magnificent panorama of prairie stopping in a straight line to announce a boundary of a thick dark forest.
“They were as ancient as the land itself, their souls a part of the woods they protected as much as their bodies were,” the narrator booms, the impressive panning view spinning and showing a massive army coming in the two men’s pursuit.
“Their hearts pounded like a battle drum, deep and heavy as fear urged them on. The enemy was near and all they loved was threatened. Haste was their drive and yet time was running out faster than their feet could carry them.”
The two men reached the tree line then, bursting through the thick under brushes and disappearing with an impressive burst of speed that leaves only the approaching army in view as the sun begins to set.
Though the dogs didn’t awaken me this time, that is the only scene I recall from the dream that decided to visit me this night. Blast! That could have been pretty darn impressive if I’d been able to remember more of it, I’m sure. Very “Elfquest”, and not to mention more than a little beautiful. It would certainly have made for excellent writing material. Ah well, there’s no sense in feeling miserable about it, I guess, nothing I can change about it anyway.
I’m only running a little behind today, so with that cheerful thought in mind I take the time to read a little, and take my time getting the bed made and dressing. When I do get down to the house I’m still ahead of grandpa and big brother, so I immediately start taking down laundry and hanging the new batch. The knee is doing well enough today, I barely limp and I don’t feel like I have to use the cane inside the house.
After the dry clothes and sheets have been folded and poor Yadzia is fed–he cried again during the night–I have a couple of slices of bread myself and set the coffee to percolate. After some quick chores in the kitchen, mostly involving setting stuff back in place, I head on to the table to get the computer ready.
Big brother is already going through our lesson material–exams are rapidly drawing near–so while I open the files we go over a few details before we do a final scan of yesterday’s work. It goes well enough and as the hours pass, of which the last thirty minutes are spent online with some chats, it is time to get ready for the lessons.
We arrive a little early, as was the plan, and spend about an hour in the classroom with other students as our teacher informs us of how the exams are done and what the proper protocols are.
The rules of conduct:
No looking at the tests before you get the “go ahead” mark, or you’re out.
Shut down your phone, ‘cause if it goes off, you’re out.
Fill in all the blanks and be sure to do it right, or you’re out.
Don’t forget to put your signature down, or you’re out.
Don’t take too much time, or you’re out.
Recheck your answers and the questions belonging to it because more than three mistakes and you won’t pass.
The list goes on endlessly, making me feel somewhat brain dead by the time she’s done with the instructions.
Afterwards we spend another hour doing test questions, which go well, much to my relief. Only three mistakes in five tests, yay. Meaning that if I got any of these questions, I would have passed. Phew.
Done for the evening, we head on out to the car and go to a massive department store to get some necessary items, along with baguette and cream cheese, since neither big brother nor I have had anything to eat in eight hours.
By the time we get home the evening has advanced considerably, and upon finding that no one was in the mood to make dinner, I bake some potatoes with veggies, which I pile on a plate so we can both eat from the same one. It will definitely save dishes, hah.
Clue (the pointer) is showing a slight swelling on his side, making us worried that the tunnel system problem is back, giving a rather daunting fear that we might have to visit the vet again to have it checked out.
Both of us are exhausted so for the remaining two hours we watch “Bones” and “CSI” just to unwind. By then midnight arrives, and is followed by some planning about how we’re going to handle tomorrow’s lesson and the information we still feel we need to cram into our heads before we feel suitably prepared.
What with all the warnings going on, I’m starting to get a little worried that it will depend on luck more than anything.
Ah well, we’ll see.
Loosely sewn clothes encased their wiry bodies, animal skin-like designs fluttering around them with every movement when deep browns and tans made them fabrics rather than leather in the bright setting sun that cast a vibrant red over the planes.
They looked peculiar, a bit elfish I would say, with pointy ears, long flowing hair and narrow faces emphasized by patrician noses. Their eyes were intense blue, as they ran, and ran, a narrating voice pounding impressively as the view zoomed out, showing a magnificent panorama of prairie stopping in a straight line to announce a boundary of a thick dark forest.
“They were as ancient as the land itself, their souls a part of the woods they protected as much as their bodies were,” the narrator booms, the impressive panning view spinning and showing a massive army coming in the two men’s pursuit.
“Their hearts pounded like a battle drum, deep and heavy as fear urged them on. The enemy was near and all they loved was threatened. Haste was their drive and yet time was running out faster than their feet could carry them.”
The two men reached the tree line then, bursting through the thick under brushes and disappearing with an impressive burst of speed that leaves only the approaching army in view as the sun begins to set.
Though the dogs didn’t awaken me this time, that is the only scene I recall from the dream that decided to visit me this night. Blast! That could have been pretty darn impressive if I’d been able to remember more of it, I’m sure. Very “Elfquest”, and not to mention more than a little beautiful. It would certainly have made for excellent writing material. Ah well, there’s no sense in feeling miserable about it, I guess, nothing I can change about it anyway.
I’m only running a little behind today, so with that cheerful thought in mind I take the time to read a little, and take my time getting the bed made and dressing. When I do get down to the house I’m still ahead of grandpa and big brother, so I immediately start taking down laundry and hanging the new batch. The knee is doing well enough today, I barely limp and I don’t feel like I have to use the cane inside the house.
After the dry clothes and sheets have been folded and poor Yadzia is fed–he cried again during the night–I have a couple of slices of bread myself and set the coffee to percolate. After some quick chores in the kitchen, mostly involving setting stuff back in place, I head on to the table to get the computer ready.
Big brother is already going through our lesson material–exams are rapidly drawing near–so while I open the files we go over a few details before we do a final scan of yesterday’s work. It goes well enough and as the hours pass, of which the last thirty minutes are spent online with some chats, it is time to get ready for the lessons.
We arrive a little early, as was the plan, and spend about an hour in the classroom with other students as our teacher informs us of how the exams are done and what the proper protocols are.
The rules of conduct:
No looking at the tests before you get the “go ahead” mark, or you’re out.
Shut down your phone, ‘cause if it goes off, you’re out.
Fill in all the blanks and be sure to do it right, or you’re out.
Don’t forget to put your signature down, or you’re out.
Don’t take too much time, or you’re out.
Recheck your answers and the questions belonging to it because more than three mistakes and you won’t pass.
The list goes on endlessly, making me feel somewhat brain dead by the time she’s done with the instructions.
Afterwards we spend another hour doing test questions, which go well, much to my relief. Only three mistakes in five tests, yay. Meaning that if I got any of these questions, I would have passed. Phew.
Done for the evening, we head on out to the car and go to a massive department store to get some necessary items, along with baguette and cream cheese, since neither big brother nor I have had anything to eat in eight hours.
By the time we get home the evening has advanced considerably, and upon finding that no one was in the mood to make dinner, I bake some potatoes with veggies, which I pile on a plate so we can both eat from the same one. It will definitely save dishes, hah.
Clue (the pointer) is showing a slight swelling on his side, making us worried that the tunnel system problem is back, giving a rather daunting fear that we might have to visit the vet again to have it checked out.
Both of us are exhausted so for the remaining two hours we watch “Bones” and “CSI” just to unwind. By then midnight arrives, and is followed by some planning about how we’re going to handle tomorrow’s lesson and the information we still feel we need to cram into our heads before we feel suitably prepared.
What with all the warnings going on, I’m starting to get a little worried that it will depend on luck more than anything.
Ah well, we’ll see.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Workout. Ouch, big mistake.
So it’s an office building, typical of its kind. Desks everywhere, crowds buzzing, and those annoying fluorescent lights burning steadily overhead. In one word, horrid.
Not that it makes a difference what the surroundings look like as I walk through the isles that stretch between the crowded desks that are all ‘round. I have to be there, for some reason that for now I can’t figure out.
I’m dressed in a suit, why I decided to wear such a thing in the first place is another mystery to me while I follow a perky young woman across the busy office floor. Hers is a tight gray skirt topped by a white triped blouse that Vees just a tad too much for her ample bosom, but what the hey, she seems nice enough.
She’s talking to me, but her words don’t register when I get distracted by a couple of men near the wall of glass arguing heatedly. To their left a woman drops her paper cup, sighs and grabs a new one to fill at the water cooler that bubbles in slow motion. Too much noise and movement to my liking, that’s a fact, it makes my head hurt.
I stop, just in the nick of time when the woman leading the way pauses at the door on the other side of the busy space. She turns towards me with a bright smile on her face, her hands gesticulating wildly as she continues to speak. I still can’t hear her, the buzz of the employees like a loud roar in my ears, but I nod to whatever it is she’s telling me, just because that appears to be what she’s waiting for.
Apparently satisfied with my response, she turns away and opens the door, revealing a rather modern executive office with a big desk across the room, stretching out in front of an impressive wall of glass that shows the city outside. Two big indoor plants flank the desk, three expensive designer chairs face it, and a plush couch stretches along the wall right ahead of me.
It’s made of white linen, the fabric roughly weaved and immaculate in the mostly grayish and chrome surroundings. Thick comfortable cushions that will allow the seated to relax a welcoming lure when I enter the office and then stop when a sudden movement draws my attention.
He is standing beside the window, almost completely obscured by one of the large plants, and moves around it to step in full view. I’m astonished to see him here, my mind tumbling while I try to think of a reason why he’s here in the first place, when I don’t even know the reason of my own presence.
He smiles, a bright flash of teeth in tanned features that are so very familiar to me. The sun shines inside through the windows, casting a golden glow through his shortly cropped hair and the stubbles on his jaw. He looks good, healthy, and happy to see me as he rounds the desk and comes heading straight towards me.
“What are you doing here?” I manage to ask, watching somewhat stunned, as he grabs my hands and holds them within his own. He’s about to answer too when noisy grunts and growls awaken me from a deep sleep and force me to open my eyes to see Knight II and Trin Trin tug the quilt off the bed. Drat!
What is it with the dogs disturbing dreams that I really want to have? It feels like genuine cruelty sometimes. Still, that tiny logical part of my brain realizes that they really don’t do it intentionally and I control the urge to scream my frustration. Instead I drag myself out of bed and head for the door to let them outside.
I’m much too tired to get up, and the knee is throbbing like mad, so with a sleep drunk stagger I head back for the bed and doze off for another thirty minutes with the faint hope that I’ll be able to get back to the dream. I can’t of course, but still, I got those extra thirty minutes. Yay.
After the morning hasty rituals and another search through the dirt around the porch for the key that got lost during the release of the dogs, I head for the house.
No laundry today I’m glad to find, and after depositing my bag on the counter and putting chicken to broil on the stove I decide to do a few minor workout exercises.
Big mistake! While working on the upper body I somehow manage to make a wrong movement with my leg to keep proper balance and feel the joint creak and grind as a painful stab slashes through it. Oh wow! If only I could describe that particular sensation in detail for a book, it would be grand for a torture scene, hah.
But anyway, after that particular disaster, I only manage a few more exercises, half of which I perform seated on the floor with the weights in my hands. That done, I hobble to the kitchen to prepare Yadzia’s breakfast with the freshly boiled chicken. The poor Labrador is decidedly uncomfortable since last night. The vet had warned that that injection he got during our last visit only worked for five to six days, but apparently for Yadzia it is shorter than that.
During the night he was shivering with pain, looking up at me miserably until I disobeyed the doctor’s orders and gave him a fraction of a painkiller, just so he’d make it through the night feeling remotely comfortable. It worked, up to a point, since he didn’t cry at least. He does walk stiffly into the pantry, bravely wagging his tail and digging into his meal while I smack the other dogs on the butts to get them out of the room.
After putting on coffee and eating my own breakfast in the company of big brother and grandpa, I set up the computer and quickly get to work on the editing project.
The knee’s acting up somewhat fierce, so while I pop a couple of painkiller, I prop a bag of frozen peas on the joint and settle in for the long haul.
All in all it goes pretty well and nearing the end of our work time we’ve finished a total of fifteen pages, which now read pretty well.
Yadzia has his appointment today, so as the day progresses I take him up the mountain towards the car and head for the vet hospital.
Once there he gets the injection he needs for his back problem, and the vet informs me that if there is no improvement after this last injection, all that can be done for him are pills, which I can give him if he gets too uncomfortable. I do hope that there’s an improvement, because if there isn’t, I will have to make that awful decision of having him put out of his misery, something that I’d really like to postpone for as long as possible.
By the time we return–Yadzia is already feeling better with the effects of the medicine he got– little brother is preparing dinner. I’m pretty glad that I don’t need to worry about that, and the evening progresses peacefully for the remainder of the evening.
Such a pity that I don’t have anything really interesting to report on today, but I guess it is just that time of the year.
In the end, I head for my cabin, Yadzia following slowly behind feeling decidedly better, and eats the meal I put before him as I try to keep the other dogs at bay. At last a rather painful day all ‘round has come to an end. Thankfully.
Not that it makes a difference what the surroundings look like as I walk through the isles that stretch between the crowded desks that are all ‘round. I have to be there, for some reason that for now I can’t figure out.
I’m dressed in a suit, why I decided to wear such a thing in the first place is another mystery to me while I follow a perky young woman across the busy office floor. Hers is a tight gray skirt topped by a white triped blouse that Vees just a tad too much for her ample bosom, but what the hey, she seems nice enough.
She’s talking to me, but her words don’t register when I get distracted by a couple of men near the wall of glass arguing heatedly. To their left a woman drops her paper cup, sighs and grabs a new one to fill at the water cooler that bubbles in slow motion. Too much noise and movement to my liking, that’s a fact, it makes my head hurt.
I stop, just in the nick of time when the woman leading the way pauses at the door on the other side of the busy space. She turns towards me with a bright smile on her face, her hands gesticulating wildly as she continues to speak. I still can’t hear her, the buzz of the employees like a loud roar in my ears, but I nod to whatever it is she’s telling me, just because that appears to be what she’s waiting for.
Apparently satisfied with my response, she turns away and opens the door, revealing a rather modern executive office with a big desk across the room, stretching out in front of an impressive wall of glass that shows the city outside. Two big indoor plants flank the desk, three expensive designer chairs face it, and a plush couch stretches along the wall right ahead of me.
It’s made of white linen, the fabric roughly weaved and immaculate in the mostly grayish and chrome surroundings. Thick comfortable cushions that will allow the seated to relax a welcoming lure when I enter the office and then stop when a sudden movement draws my attention.
He is standing beside the window, almost completely obscured by one of the large plants, and moves around it to step in full view. I’m astonished to see him here, my mind tumbling while I try to think of a reason why he’s here in the first place, when I don’t even know the reason of my own presence.
He smiles, a bright flash of teeth in tanned features that are so very familiar to me. The sun shines inside through the windows, casting a golden glow through his shortly cropped hair and the stubbles on his jaw. He looks good, healthy, and happy to see me as he rounds the desk and comes heading straight towards me.
“What are you doing here?” I manage to ask, watching somewhat stunned, as he grabs my hands and holds them within his own. He’s about to answer too when noisy grunts and growls awaken me from a deep sleep and force me to open my eyes to see Knight II and Trin Trin tug the quilt off the bed. Drat!
What is it with the dogs disturbing dreams that I really want to have? It feels like genuine cruelty sometimes. Still, that tiny logical part of my brain realizes that they really don’t do it intentionally and I control the urge to scream my frustration. Instead I drag myself out of bed and head for the door to let them outside.
I’m much too tired to get up, and the knee is throbbing like mad, so with a sleep drunk stagger I head back for the bed and doze off for another thirty minutes with the faint hope that I’ll be able to get back to the dream. I can’t of course, but still, I got those extra thirty minutes. Yay.
After the morning hasty rituals and another search through the dirt around the porch for the key that got lost during the release of the dogs, I head for the house.
No laundry today I’m glad to find, and after depositing my bag on the counter and putting chicken to broil on the stove I decide to do a few minor workout exercises.
Big mistake! While working on the upper body I somehow manage to make a wrong movement with my leg to keep proper balance and feel the joint creak and grind as a painful stab slashes through it. Oh wow! If only I could describe that particular sensation in detail for a book, it would be grand for a torture scene, hah.
But anyway, after that particular disaster, I only manage a few more exercises, half of which I perform seated on the floor with the weights in my hands. That done, I hobble to the kitchen to prepare Yadzia’s breakfast with the freshly boiled chicken. The poor Labrador is decidedly uncomfortable since last night. The vet had warned that that injection he got during our last visit only worked for five to six days, but apparently for Yadzia it is shorter than that.
During the night he was shivering with pain, looking up at me miserably until I disobeyed the doctor’s orders and gave him a fraction of a painkiller, just so he’d make it through the night feeling remotely comfortable. It worked, up to a point, since he didn’t cry at least. He does walk stiffly into the pantry, bravely wagging his tail and digging into his meal while I smack the other dogs on the butts to get them out of the room.
After putting on coffee and eating my own breakfast in the company of big brother and grandpa, I set up the computer and quickly get to work on the editing project.
The knee’s acting up somewhat fierce, so while I pop a couple of painkiller, I prop a bag of frozen peas on the joint and settle in for the long haul.
All in all it goes pretty well and nearing the end of our work time we’ve finished a total of fifteen pages, which now read pretty well.
Yadzia has his appointment today, so as the day progresses I take him up the mountain towards the car and head for the vet hospital.
Once there he gets the injection he needs for his back problem, and the vet informs me that if there is no improvement after this last injection, all that can be done for him are pills, which I can give him if he gets too uncomfortable. I do hope that there’s an improvement, because if there isn’t, I will have to make that awful decision of having him put out of his misery, something that I’d really like to postpone for as long as possible.
By the time we return–Yadzia is already feeling better with the effects of the medicine he got– little brother is preparing dinner. I’m pretty glad that I don’t need to worry about that, and the evening progresses peacefully for the remainder of the evening.
Such a pity that I don’t have anything really interesting to report on today, but I guess it is just that time of the year.
In the end, I head for my cabin, Yadzia following slowly behind feeling decidedly better, and eats the meal I put before him as I try to keep the other dogs at bay. At last a rather painful day all ‘round has come to an end. Thankfully.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Boooooring. Hah.
Strange, barely cohesive dreams disturb me during this night. Conversations that came to an end a long time ago, letters that were never written, events that went different or never occurred, it is all very confusing when I wake up and blink at Chaos who is sprawled on the pillow beside me, his nose just an inch or two away from mine. (Aaagh. Talk about dog breath, hah!) He wags his tail in a lazy good morning and then drops his head to promptly drift off to sleep, even though the monster and giant are already making a racket at the foot end of the bed.
The alarm hasn’t gone off yet, more proof of the dreams throwing me off track, and determined to sleep at least the number of hours I’d planned–didn’t get to bed ‘till after six a.m. nonetheless–I roll over and close my eyes. Next thing I know the alarm goes off and I grimace at the full-blown cacophony of the pack, eager to head on out.
Quickly, I go through the morning rituals, reading the last chapter of my recreation novel “Moonstruck in Manhattan” and then getting dressed so I can go outside.
A different pain is present in the knee today–seems like it switches location and intensity every time–this one is located right under the kneecap and feels sharp and narrow…if that makes any sense?
Considering that I promised to take it easy, I use the cane again heading down the mountain and entering the courtyard—just barely throwing my weight on the good leg when the two black labs almost bowl me over in their rush to get to the front door first. Calling my disapproval at their big butts heading inside, I shake my head and tap Chaos on the rump when he’s about to follow the labs’ example.
I make it to the house without mishaps and deposit my baggage before heading out again to hang today’s laundry. I’m in the midst of today’s batch when big brother arrives, his pack colliding with mine…which isn’t disastrous for a change since I remembered to lock Knight II in the pantry prior to heading out, Hah.
Nothing to fold, due to a chilly night, so I’m back inside in record time to put coffee on and prepare Yadzia’s breakfast. He’s standing right beside me his tail wagging slowly (it pains him, I think) and his eyes huge with eager anticipation.
With grandpa’s arrival the usual morning talk commences, which is a ritual all by itself. A day just doesn’t feel the same without one.
For about and hour we chat around the kitchen counter, before I start to set up my computer to get online for a bit. After doing the usual rounds of messages, chats and just surfing, I switch to the files and get ready to dig into the latest editing session.
We work on the family romance for several hours, until at last it is time for the dogs to be fed and for dinner to be cooked. With that in mind I head for the kitchen and look around to see what’s available.
A potato, vegetable mix, Italian style is my final decision as I start peeling the potatoes, careful to keep the peeled veggies away from the dogs that are eagerly looking up for the treat they know is to come.
It’s insane, really. You’d think I’m preparing meat for the rapt attention I’m receiving. The dogs love potatoes and on the days when I’m peeling them, creating vast pile of the remains, the dogs watch my every move until I finally pick the stuff up and toss it in their midst.
They’re on the treat like buzzards, tails wagging, feet scrambling, and mouths pecking at the peels that are scattered over the floor. In less than half a minute all is gone and they’re turning back to me, staring and bounding expectantly in hopes of getting more.
I shake my head at their winsome looks, and toss the raw cubes into the hot olive oil that’s standing on the center burner of the stove.
Next come the carrots and cauliflower, along with spices and herbs that send delicious scents into the house. Onions, garlic, leek and peppers soon join the mix as I add a liberal amount of cream and let it all broil for a bit. Sweat corn and peas are the final addition to the vegetable mix along with a helping of cottage cheese which completes the dish.
Dinner is a quiet affair today. Plates get filled and everyone disappears to their location of choice.
My knee is killing me after the hour spent on my feet, and with my plate in hand I hobble towards the chair and settle with a bag of frozen peas on my knee while I enjoy my meal, watching today’s episode of “The Closer”.
Once the show draws to an end we put on a recorded episode of “Life” after which the evening is rapidly drawing to an end. I go through a few quick chores in the kitchen and then pack up my things to head on up for the night.
After feeding Yadzia his nightly portion of kibble with tuna, and feeding the other pack members as well in the company of big brother who appears sometime in the middle of it all. We talk for a bit, planning, discussing and in the end tackle Knight II so I can treat his tail with disinfectant. This is something the Great Dane doesn’t appreciate, but we manage without any permanent damage to his mighty struggles.
Tomorrow I need to take Yadzia to the vet for his shot, but other than that we should have more than enough time to do the remainder of the editing.
The alarm hasn’t gone off yet, more proof of the dreams throwing me off track, and determined to sleep at least the number of hours I’d planned–didn’t get to bed ‘till after six a.m. nonetheless–I roll over and close my eyes. Next thing I know the alarm goes off and I grimace at the full-blown cacophony of the pack, eager to head on out.
Quickly, I go through the morning rituals, reading the last chapter of my recreation novel “Moonstruck in Manhattan” and then getting dressed so I can go outside.
A different pain is present in the knee today–seems like it switches location and intensity every time–this one is located right under the kneecap and feels sharp and narrow…if that makes any sense?
Considering that I promised to take it easy, I use the cane again heading down the mountain and entering the courtyard—just barely throwing my weight on the good leg when the two black labs almost bowl me over in their rush to get to the front door first. Calling my disapproval at their big butts heading inside, I shake my head and tap Chaos on the rump when he’s about to follow the labs’ example.
I make it to the house without mishaps and deposit my baggage before heading out again to hang today’s laundry. I’m in the midst of today’s batch when big brother arrives, his pack colliding with mine…which isn’t disastrous for a change since I remembered to lock Knight II in the pantry prior to heading out, Hah.
Nothing to fold, due to a chilly night, so I’m back inside in record time to put coffee on and prepare Yadzia’s breakfast. He’s standing right beside me his tail wagging slowly (it pains him, I think) and his eyes huge with eager anticipation.
With grandpa’s arrival the usual morning talk commences, which is a ritual all by itself. A day just doesn’t feel the same without one.
For about and hour we chat around the kitchen counter, before I start to set up my computer to get online for a bit. After doing the usual rounds of messages, chats and just surfing, I switch to the files and get ready to dig into the latest editing session.
We work on the family romance for several hours, until at last it is time for the dogs to be fed and for dinner to be cooked. With that in mind I head for the kitchen and look around to see what’s available.
A potato, vegetable mix, Italian style is my final decision as I start peeling the potatoes, careful to keep the peeled veggies away from the dogs that are eagerly looking up for the treat they know is to come.
It’s insane, really. You’d think I’m preparing meat for the rapt attention I’m receiving. The dogs love potatoes and on the days when I’m peeling them, creating vast pile of the remains, the dogs watch my every move until I finally pick the stuff up and toss it in their midst.
They’re on the treat like buzzards, tails wagging, feet scrambling, and mouths pecking at the peels that are scattered over the floor. In less than half a minute all is gone and they’re turning back to me, staring and bounding expectantly in hopes of getting more.
I shake my head at their winsome looks, and toss the raw cubes into the hot olive oil that’s standing on the center burner of the stove.
Next come the carrots and cauliflower, along with spices and herbs that send delicious scents into the house. Onions, garlic, leek and peppers soon join the mix as I add a liberal amount of cream and let it all broil for a bit. Sweat corn and peas are the final addition to the vegetable mix along with a helping of cottage cheese which completes the dish.
Dinner is a quiet affair today. Plates get filled and everyone disappears to their location of choice.
My knee is killing me after the hour spent on my feet, and with my plate in hand I hobble towards the chair and settle with a bag of frozen peas on my knee while I enjoy my meal, watching today’s episode of “The Closer”.
Once the show draws to an end we put on a recorded episode of “Life” after which the evening is rapidly drawing to an end. I go through a few quick chores in the kitchen and then pack up my things to head on up for the night.
After feeding Yadzia his nightly portion of kibble with tuna, and feeding the other pack members as well in the company of big brother who appears sometime in the middle of it all. We talk for a bit, planning, discussing and in the end tackle Knight II so I can treat his tail with disinfectant. This is something the Great Dane doesn’t appreciate, but we manage without any permanent damage to his mighty struggles.
Tomorrow I need to take Yadzia to the vet for his shot, but other than that we should have more than enough time to do the remainder of the editing.
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