Rodentville

Talk about a busy social life - I have 6 major medical appointments/procedures between Nov 27 & Dec 05!! And then the really big results appointment with the Specialist on Dec 18. Wow. I remember when it took almost a year for my family doctor to even book the Specialist who would then book the Test later in the year. And if you were really lucky, you got on the Waiting List to get Something Done the following year  .   .   . 

 We have a terrible rodent problem here in Bridgeview because of the railway shunting yards & the closeness of the Fraser River. There was a time when otters & wild ducks filled the ditches which were several feet deep in some areas. Raccoons, skunks & coyotes roam the streets at night & compete with feral cats. Down here, if you don't have cats, you'll have mice for sure. About 15 years ago my Roomie became part of a Feral Cat Neutering program after the last dog died of old age & only one old cat remained. He was approached by the people trapping/neutering the cats when they needed someone to feed , water & keep the animals for two days after their surgery. They  supplied the food & cages. He has a big garage - it had space inside in those days too - & took in the cats after surgery & released them when they were ready. As a result, some stayed & he had a herd of cats for years. He has one cat left. She cozies up with him & lets him pet her but she's still wild & runs when she sees me unless the door is open.
Now that the doors are closed for the winter & she's outside most of the time, the mice have returned. We stuffed all the holes with steel wool & put out sticky traps. One big grey mouse climbs up the water tank pipes every evening & sits on top while I watch TV. Every Evening! That damned mouse knows where all the sticky traps are & goes around them. And, when startled, it avoided the shelf with the sticky trap & jumped to the one above. My Roomie was so pissed that he laid on his stomach for half the morning this morning stuffing steel wool into the narrow opening behind the hot water tank with a long tool. He thinks that's where they're coming in!!

I had to leave so I took my book & my knitting down to the Fraser River & sat in the sunshine. I was hoping the cussing & swearing yelling at home would be cleared up by the time I had to go back. We get so few days of really nice sunshine this time of year too.

By the way, no mouse sat on the water tank this evening while I watched TV. Roomie 1, Rodent 0

Wooooosh

How time whizzes by! Has it REALLY been over 5 months since I got out of the hospital??? And almost 6 since I decided to wake up & rejoin the world??? I have a busy two weeks at the end of this month  where I have to repeat all the major tests I had in the hospital. My new Respirologist - heart & lungs specialist- put me back on the puffers - yes, you DO have asthma, he said! - & ordered a CAT scan, Echo Cardiogram & Breathing test at the 6 month mark to see if there's any changes before he does anything else. But, my doctor & the Respiratory Therapist are happy with my progress so far.

We survived Halloween with only TWO kids. All the others on this street are too young for the excitement. Their fathers were doing all the celebrating with bigger & noisier fireworks instead. We have a ban on them in Surrey but they always seem to appear for Halloween, Diwali & New Year's from somewhere. I just wish they'd ban the noise bombs & bring on more colorful sprays, fountains & Roman Candles. Why is it that men need things that just make a lot of noise????

Knitting - finished my tuque & have been wearing it. And, of course, I didn't take a picture & it's in the car. One pair of socks are finished & gone & the second pair have a single sock so far. Haven't found my crochet hooks so far & it's a pain tucking in all the ends without one. I may have to go Thrift shopping to find a couple of small hooks.
Meanwhile, I have a shawl on the needles - it's cotton - And I have no idea why I bought the yarn. Lara's vest is part way down the front/back & I found the bin with my house sweater yarn in it!! Yeah.