The animals, they are out to get me.

There's an intact tom who's been hanging around my neighbourhood the last few weeks, begging for some ladies to come out that he can seduce. Thena's told him a few dirty words, but that doesn't seem to have discouraged him too much at this point. On Sunday, when I was about to leave the house, he was right at my front door and trying to get in. Then, when I went to the garage to get my bike, he followed me there, nuzzling me, and followed me into the garage before he wandered off and explored a little. I didn't want him to get stuck down there or get hurt, so I called him over and convinced him to leave. Maybe he realized there weren't any ladies to seduce in the garage.

On my way to my friend's place, I kept getting stuck behind Sunday driver slowpokes, so I decided to head to the next street I needed a few blocks sooner, which is a route that takes me by my work. As I was slowing down to make the right turn onto the street that goes directly in front of my building, I noticed there was a dead mallard drake right on the curb -- it looked as though someone hit him while he was crossing the street, or getting ready to cross. I've seen a mallard mated pair across the street in the big field, and we're quiet near some locks that are a popular attraction, so it's quite possible he's the one I've seen on previous occasions. He's even acted as the greeter at the building across the street. He was still there this morning, and I found it very upsetting.

At times in my life, I've had to take antibiotics for various conditions; we all have, it happens.

Many antibiotics have warnings on them about what you should or shouldn't do when you're on them, or advice about how you should or shouldn't take them. Things like, take with a glass of water, or with a full meal -- advice like that makes sense. Some antibiotics require more water to be absorbed, or might be hard on the stomach if taken on an empty one.

The antibiotics I had to take more recently had three warnings on them: one, take with lots of water. Two, avoid dairy and iron supplements for an hour before and an hour afterwards -- again, understandable because it's possible that the drugs bind with calcium or iron and aren't absorbed by the body as they should be.

My most favourite of the warnings, however, is one that I've encountered several times with drugs, and that's avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Now, while it's most likely due to something simple like increased likelihood of sunburn or something equivalent if you're exposed to too much sun while on the drugs, I choose to believe that I will be subject to a new and yet unheard-of side effect. The one I've chosen is invisibility; essentially, if I'm exposed to too much sun, I will become invisible.

I think this is a valid notion, and I look forward to my new superpower -- provided I don't negate it through doing something like eating yogurt a half-hour after taking the drugs, and thereby ruining any chance I had of being invisible.

So, if you don't see me -- you'll know why.

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me.

It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.

My family thinks I’m insane, but I don’t care.

Short version: Digger, the male family cat that lives with my parents (and is brother to the disappeared Chloë), got blocked up yesterday. For those not in the know, this means that he got crystals in his urine that blocked his urethra and made it so that he couldn’t pee.

Having worked at an animal hospital, I’m all too aware of just how serious this condition can be, and how quickly it can progress – and neutered male cats are the most prone to it.

Luckily it was caught early, and he should be okay, but I still went racing out to the house last night to see him… and that’s why my parents think I’m insane, and I still don’t care.

In other news, my life progresses. The PA and I are back to friends-only status, which is going to be an interesting challenge to maintain. Curse me for being the way that I am, basically. I’d go into more detail, but… I wouldn’t know what to say or how to say it; again, curse me for being the way that I am, meaning I want to protect feelings and so on. The short version of that one is that I’ve started seeing someone and that’s about all I’ll say about that.

I’ve been socializing a fair bit lately with various groups of friends, and that’s been nice. I saw some of the zone crew last weekend, and had a nice chat and semi-cuddle with a couple people in that group. R threatened to bite me, but never carried through on his threat, meaning I win. Of course, that’s until he reads this and gets revenge on me at a later date; as I’ve learned through personal experience, bites can leave lasting consequences. :P

I’ve been back to the gym a few times in the last few weeks, minus the trip to New Brunswick. I’m coming out with sore muscles, but fewer than that first visit, which is good. I still remember the strength I used to have, and it frustrates me to have lost it, but I know it’ll return eventually. I’ve also started up a new exercise regimen with a friend, and although I doubt I’ll be managing half as well as he does, I’m still intending to get through it.

I’m also trying to figure out how to work skating or swimming into my regimen, and possibly even some biking if I can. Apparently I don’t want to leave any time leftover for school or anything like that, but I’m okay with that. :P

I’m planning on getting my bike out on the road tonight, provided the battery is okay. I’m tired of this ridiculous back-and-forth weather, and I just want to go for a ride.

Finally, I’ve been working – for the one millionth time – on eating better in general. I was doing okay before I went away, then got stuck eating a bunch of junk and sandwiches. Once I got back, I got to buy some more groceries, and I’ve been trying to focus on eating my fruits and veggies, ‘cause my body likes me best when that’s what I’m consuming.

Ah, it’s rough being so dull – or at least having much I’m thinking or feeling that I can’t put into words for various reasons, not the least of which is writer’s block. How have all of you been?

Amy Winehouse, You Know I'm No Good:

Meet you downstairs in the bar and hurt,
Your rolled up sleeves in your skull t-shirt,
You say "Why did you do it with him today?"
And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray,
'Cause you're my fella, my guy
Hand me your Stella and fly,
By the time I'm out the door,
You tear men down like Roger Moore

I cheated myself,
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good

Upstairs in bed with my ex-boy,
he's in a place but I can't give joy
Thinking on you in the final throes,
This is when my buzzer goes
Run out to meet you, chips and pitta,
You say "when we married,"
Cause you're not bitter,
"there'll be none of him no more"
I cried for you on the kitchen floor

[ Lyrics found on http://www.metrolyrics.com ]

I cheated myself,
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good

Sweet reunion Jamaica and Spain,
We're like how we were again,
I'm in the tub, you on the seat,
Lick your lips as a I soak my feet
Then you notice little carpet burns,
My stomach drops and my guts churn,
You shrug and it's the worst,
To truly stuck the knife in first

I cheated myself,
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good

I cheated myself,
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
Yeah you know that I'm no good

I miss you.

Sometimes I post here.

Why no, I'm not bored at all. Or avoiding anything.

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
ONE.
Word.

(Not as easy as you might think.)

1. Where is your cell phone? Table
2. Describe your boyfriend/girlfriend? Imaginary
3. Your hair? Red
4. Your mother? Strong
5. Your father? Knowledgeable
6. Your favorite item? Paws
7. Your dream last night? Vivid
8. Your favorite drink? Diet
9. Your dream car? Hatchback
10. The room you are in? Livingroom
11. Your ex? Around
12. Your fear? Alone
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Secure
14. Who did you hang out with last night? Stefan, PompousAss
15. What you're not? Skinny
19. The last thing you did? Drink
20. What are you wearing? Clothes
22. Your favorite book? Many
23. The last thing you ate? Ice cream
24. Your life? Frustrating
25. Your mood? Unquantifiable
26. Your friends? Incredible
27. What are you thinking about right now? Food
28. Your car? Motorcycle
29. What are you doing at the moment? Procrastinating
30. Your summer? Pending
31. Your relationship status? Complicated
32. What is on your tv? Nothing
33. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday
34. Last time you cried? Saturday
35. School? Stressful

Nanny and Puppy's cat, Penguin. His brother Snoopy, who looked exactly like him, died quite young (hit by a car across from my uncle's place), and his other brother Licorice, who was solid black and shorthaired, had a heart attack on my Nanny's bed a few years ago, poor man.

A store in the MacAlister Place mall, where I shop when I visit my Nanny and Puppy.

Thena's fuzzy belly. Touch at your own peril.

Venus from her last vet appointment. If she doesn't stop annoying me, I might bring her back. :P

This was one of the sights from our travels. This was parked in front of a hotel at a rest stop. Tell me you don't think it's dirty, too!

So, is anyone on fire near me? I just heard a whole bunch of trucks and sirens going by.

Also, I am back. I've even managed several nights of good sleep in the last while (not including nights before travelling), and I feel semi-refreshed as a result. Which means that tomorrow will be painful when I have to get up to go to work, but... at least it's just before a four-day weekend, which is always nice.

I'll write more later, including some of the funny moments from the trip (self-defense mechanisms, I'm guessing), but the summary right now is that I'm glad that I made it back intact, and my sister is lucky I didn't kill her and throw her body out the car on the ride home. Of course, then my parents started snapping at one another, and having my dad yell at me for the way I came off the highway at the stop closest to my house -- the one I've taken four hundred million times more than him -- was a bit tooth-grindingly annoying, too. I didn't say anything though, and I think my mom gave me a sympathetic look.

I love my family, I just don't want anything to do with them for awhile. I said as much when they dropped me off. That works until Sunday or whenever we're having Easter dinner. I told Stefan I wasn't sure if this was a sign that my family was annoying me, or if it's a symptom of living alone for too long. He said I'm not crusty or crotchety, so we've agreed my sister is the problem. :)

Anyhow, thank you to everyone who offered their sympathies and support. I haven't had a total breakdown yet, so I know that fun is still pending. Mostly what I wanted was distractions and people to talk to, and some of you provided that. Others told me things like, 'Go be with your family right now!' which is all well and good, but... ;) My Nanny's a rock and I think she's going to be okay; my mom sounded pretty beat-up when we were on our way down, but she seems to be holding together, too.

I have to wonder sometimes when someone says, "So-and-so is really taking it hard" -- does that mean that they're suffering more than the others, or just that they're showing it more? Hard to say.

I also appear to have turned into some kind of a girl. Before I left, I bought shoes (which I hate doing) and I bought some purses (which I do on a semi-regular basis, when I tire of the ones I have, or when I want one for a different purpose). I bought a rough felt purse that had penguins on it because it made me smile to look at it; it was priced at $10, and actually rang up for $7. While I was away, I also bought some make up -- and headphones, an Amy Winehouse CD (love it), and the Leisure Suit Larry collection -- which annoyed me because it didn't include LSL7, and it's my own fault for not checking. So I'm a girl, but a geeky one; and one that's unlikely to be using that much of the makeup anytime soon, either.

Anyhow, enough rambling. Time for a shower, emptying of the mailbox, and then schoolwork. I got a nasty email from my prof while I was away, and it's long past time to get serious about my schoolwork, and I'm planning to use today and especially this weekend to do so.