new additions

We brought two sweet little girls into our home today.  The top one is Arizona and the bottom is Kagali (emphasis on the second syllable (a city in an African country)) and both have chosen which of my daughters they belong to, or vice versa, I'm not even sure how that happened.  Arizona is very timid and shy now that we have her home .. she spooks quite easily too, but yet when we were holding her at the shelter she only showed signs of affection.  She is really lovey and lets her purr motor run loudly.  I adore her little raccoon looking tail and her huge eyes and how she rubs the top of her head into the palm of your hand, turning it like it's a baseball.

Kagali is just so snoopy and although a little leery of her new environment, she is very sweet tempered and adores the girls.  She just lays there and lets you pet her, but she also has a spunky side to her and will play bite and get a little pep into her step.  She explored the basement (where the litter box is) for quite awhile and then when checked upon, was just lounging on the wooden steps going down there.  If she's this comfortable here already, I'm sure she's going to do just fine!

And both kitties lick when you put your face near them.  Its simply adorable and tickles!
So far its been pretty hard getting decent photos of them.  I took some on my cell to upload to facebook, and these ones are with my camera but at night when the lighting is horrid.  I hope eventually I'll get some good ones!

Secondhand Serenade - Fall For You

<3

Last night was a big night for the high school symphonic winds and percussions .. it was concert night! Alissa and I joined my sister, hubby and kids to watch both of our oldests play a night of music. I've explained before that Hailey is one of two bass clarinet players in the intermediate (grade 7/8) band and just from hearing them play in their December performance, I noticed a great improvement. Again, it was a proud moment to hear the bass clarinets play their little piece above the other instruments .. such clarity and without a squawk. Makes my Mama heart beam with pride! (no photos were taken this time around .. I wanted to sit and enjoy the sound instead of worrying about gym lighting, and perfect shots) As much as Hailey wanted to drop out along the way because after school practice twice a week interfered with other activities she wanted to get involved with, I think performing made her proud! They had an inschool performance today and then one more yet before the end of the year, but practices have dropped down to once a week now. I just keep thinking how much my parents would have loved to hear her play. Music was in their soul and they loved watching their children and grandchildren work hard to make a beautiful sound. In other news .. we hope to be visiting with a kitty in the next few days. We really long to have the companionship of a cat in our home and are excited about finding the right match for us. I'll of course share pictures as soon as it all takes place.

shedding the winter

After our Tuesday goings on, I haven't felt much like doing anything other then the mandatory .. but I had today off and had already booked a hair appt so I figured I better go.  It turned out to be a really nice distraction.  The gal had such a bubbly personality and was just so nice, I think I'll go back to her!  My style didn't change a WHOLE lot, but I wanted it shortened up abit, dead ends cut away and layers defined again as well as a shorter bang and that's what I got.  I'm loving it!

rip meesha

Our beloved kitty of nearly 16 years had to see kitty heaven today, and it was a heartwrenching day in our household. The night was extremely tough to get through and by the time it was late enough to call the vet, I had a gut feeling this was it.
I think an owner knows their pet well enough to know when things are just not right .. and I knew. My heart ached for my poor sweet kitty that disorientedly paced around while breathing so heavily he had to pant through his mouth, the kitty that later became so weak and drained that he laid helplessly in my lap and couldn't even lift his head, the kitty that would have felt shame for leaving bodily fluids on the blanket could no longer help it. My heart ached, the tears streamed, my body shook because all I wanted was to save my poor buddy.

I try to console my girls .. who have lost their lifetime friend .. the kitty they grew up with, who was a part of our family long before they entered the world. Their sobs were enough to kill me. And yet in the consoling, we try to remember what a sweet unique cat Meesha was, that for selfish reasons we wanted him to stay but for the sake of doing what was right for him, we had to make the hardest decision of my lifetime.

I believe in heaven, I believe my Dad was at heavens gates calling Meesha's name and when he saw him, he lifted him up under his arm and carried him off. I really don't care what other people believe, but this comforts me knowing that animals can have a place in heaven just like they do here on earth, and they can be mans best friend.

And as the evening turns into night, I miss him that much more. I no longer have my night time snuggle buddy. :*(

italia

Hailey has been presented with a great proposition .. a grade 9 spring break trip to Italy!  She brought the information package home and after I've reviewed it, I'd really like to make this happen for her.  When I was in highschool, I never had the opportunity to take any class trip abroad, and because Hailey's studied Italy in the recent past .. she is stoked to go.  She even came home with ideas on how she would help raise the money to send her.  After some thought I asked her to present the idea to her Dad and ask if he'll help contribute to the costs .. he says now that he will (time will only tell since he hasn't contributed to any extra curricular activities over and above his mandatory child support before) but one can hope.  I told her that if he'll cover half then I'll squirrel away the other half (thankfully there's two years to do this) and she can work at getting her spending money saved.  I think it's a pretty sweet deal and an experience of a lifetime. 
I only wish I could go along with, or afford that kind of trip for myself .. one day I suppose .. its on my bucket list! (not Italy .. Holland rather)

It's another busy month around here with band this, and band that.  Never a dull moment it seems but if it's for music then I'm all good with it. Now I understand why my parents endured hours and hours of listening to me practice my trumpet .. all in the name of having their children be musically inclined.  It makes a parent proud. :)

With the days turning longer, its making it harder to keep the girls bedtimes because we end up prolonging homework and baths because its so nice to be outside.  Alissa's been walking our neighbours dog for two reasons.  1. Alissa LOVES animals and this is her way of getting doggy time without having our own dog. 2. The neighbours son had knee surgery recently and appreciates the extra help in exercising the dog without doing his knee in.  But I'm pretty adament about getting my evening sanity time so rush through things to get it all done.  What's with 7nth graders having so much homework tho?!

And last but not least, I need you to hear this song. 

reflection

Yesterday morning, I awoke to a blanket of fresh snow covering the earth. The little bit of it all came between the hours of 11pm and 7am, and it was so ccccold I woke, my nose was frigid. It all gone again, but the temperatures are still so cold and breezy and just not what I expect for April. The locals say that after the seagulls return in the spring, there usually is three more snowfalls, and the one yesterday was the third .. so we should be in the clear now.

I feel like this blog has become a big boohoo party, or filled with useless junk that's not really interesting to anyone other then myself. And I know there's not many that read this, so for me I can just go on and on, right? Right!
There always seem to be curve balls flying around, and if its not one thing I'm emotionally having to get through, its another. For the last two and a half years I feel like I've been a puddle. And right now I'm going through yet another loss .. a loss of something that had me sharing most aspects of my life with and I hope I was there for as much in return. Please tell me this missing will dissipate in time. :(

peaceful

I've been dealing with some emotional stuff had me suddenly in great need for clean spring oxygen in my lungs so to the water front we went to take a walk. The sun was shining and albeit a little breezy, it was just so therapeutic. The water front here does not compare to the seawall in Nanaimo, but no matter where I go, I know that being near the water helps my inner girl.

On the Island, I used to take a coffee and go walk any local beach no matter what the season. I'd let the salt water breeze cleanse my brain and set my problems out to sea on the waves. Yesterdays little walk reminded me that I truly need nature to help me with whatever I'm going through. It seems to ground us, and give us something greater then ourselves to appreciate.

*the seagulls are smaller here. And it seems so weird to see bare docks with no boats tethered. But its early and the ice has just melted.

ear candy

The more this song plays on the radio, the more I love it.  I love how it builds and gets louder, I love Jason Mraz' voice, however I'm not crazy about his longer hair do. :P