We headed down to Calgary on Friday night since I had a baby shower and Steve a funeral. Neither event is something the average person looks forward to, although I must say, the shower was really well planned. My good friend's sister is ultra-creative, and had so many nice little touches that it really was an enjoyable event. Sadly I didn't get to see the twin boys we were celebrating as they were born prematurly and are still in the hospital. However, Mom and boys are doing well and I'll see them soon enough!
At 6 o'clock Sunday morning I took Vegas for a stroll down the path behind my parent's house. The path follows a ravine that he enjoys running around in and sniffing everything in sight, as dogs are known to do. We were out walking for about 15 minutes when I returned to the house. The very bitchy neighbour that lives diagonally across the path from the back of parents house suddenly appeared on her balcony and yelled down at me that this was not an off-leash area. I knew that, I chose to disregard it at 6 in the morning when everyone was still cozy in their beds and completely unaware that I was so carelessly breaking the rules.
Her tone of voice pissed me off, but rather than get defensive and bitchy back, I thought I'd be nice and attempt to start a conversation. She is my parents neighbour after all (although, she's been making life a living hell for all her neighbours, she's just a bitch by design). I started to say that Vegas is scared of people and that if I came across anyone, he returns to me immediately to be put on his leash. He feels safer that way. She forcefully interrupted me to tell me, again, that it wasn't an off leash area. Fuck being nice, I responded with "oh he's fine" and continued walking.
She slammed her patio door, at which point Vegas started to bark at her house. I had to smile, although I could have killed him. A dog barking at 6 in the morning isn't going to make anyone very happy.
I don't mean to suggest that I don't think the rules apply to me. Dogs should be on a leash if they are in an area frequented by people, especially children. I have no illusions, I don't think I have some ultra special dog that doesn't have to abide by the rules. But let's be reasonable. It's 6 o'clock in the morning, there isn't a soul in sight, the path is flanked by unfinished houses with no occupants on one side, and a ravine on the other. The only creature you come across is a porcupine or a jack rabbit at that time of day. Honestly, its rare you come across a person on that end of the ravine at any time of day. Is it really worth coming out on your balcony at 6 in the morning, in your nightie no less, to bitch at your neighbours?
This is the woman that has called the police and told them a neighbour had a pot operation in their home (they don't, and they didn't appreciate the police showing up on their doorsteps questioning them very much). She's phoned animal control on my parents numerous times because my parents let their dog run free in the ravine. Animal control doesn't even bother to come out to the house anymore, they just call and say there was a complaint. They don't even suggest that my parents need to do something about it. And so on and so forth, you get the idea. She's made a hobby of bitching, I think her and her husband (who also goes out of his way to make life miserable for the neighbours) need to move out of the city since they tend to have a problem with people in general.
It's a little surreal to be sitting under the apple tree in my backyard in the morning these days as its buzzing with activity. Literally. The tree is covered with what seems like a hundred honey bees busily collecting nectar.
It's amazing to watch, but man, it's creepy. It's like being in the middle of a horror flick or something.
And with the onslaught of the bees comes the onslaught of the whitefly. I can tolerate the bees, the whitefly, however, needs to die. Unfortunately the pesticide that kills the whitefly will kill a honey bee and spidars which leaves me with a problem. Is anyone aware of any pest treatment (namely, whiteflies) that doesn't involve a chemical that will kill anything that wanders into my garden.
Hopefully people make it over here alright, what with the one day warning I gave everyone :). I mean, who doesn't read their blogs religiously everyday? I'm sure you all do.
The strange coloring isn't going to stay this way, it's an experiment to decide what I like the best. It's a work-in-progress. None of the links work yet, seeing as there is no code in there to support it at this time. It'll come though, it'll come.
It's a little like my real home. Things are always 'in progress'. You're getting a true sense of the real Amber! I may lose all my readers!
Back to regularly scheduled programming.
I spent my weekend with my godchild, which was a lot of fun. She's at a great age right now, so she's a riot. I think I'll be singing Hakuna Matata for the rest of the week. The great thing about having my best friend and her husband here is that they feel obligated to help out with things. I got my grass mowed, a lot of gardening done and a great deal of shopping out of the way. I should have more guests that earn their keep :).
it's a problem free, philosophy. Hakuna Matata.
Testing, testing, testing.
Steve and I are spending the weekend on Vancouver Island, so I had to drop off my devil dog at the kennel. It was heartbreaking, I just about cried. I bitch about the dog, but he's just a little baby and I hate that I have to leave him at a kennel. I wish I could leave him with family or friends or better yet, take him with me. He looked absolutely miserable. I know you're not suppose to project human emotions on a dog, but he does get anxious when Steve and I aren't around so it was pretty hard to leave him there. He looked utterly shocked that I was actually going to close the door and leave.