Floating My OWN Boat

Due to the wonder of modern technology, while I myself have moved spaces, you can always find me at www.getsoutmore.com

No matter where I actually am hanging my hat.

Which means, no more feeds, unless I work out a way to make one for the url. And right now? I can't even begin to imagine the undertaking.

I'm really tired of not being able to design this site the way I want to. There are really a million great things about Squarespace but ....

Testing a new place for a little while. Stop by and tell me what you think of it.

I am in the midst of dealing with a ton of things that are making me angry and that I can't really talk about SO, someone else to amuse you...

In honour of a tradition that dates all the way back to the beginning of this sentence, let's begin the new year by reflecting on some of the words that, based on events of 2006, ought to be added to the dictionary:

caruso n. a medical condition that compels the victim to remove his sunglasses for dramatic effect in the middle of seemingly every sentence.

federline n. 1.an abrupt reversal of fortune: I was up $240 at blackjack but since the new dealer arrived it's been a real federline. 2. a vaguely comic musical noise unpleasant to the ears 3. the actual sound of one's 15 minutes of fame collapsing.

ingatieff v. 1. to embark on a doomed quest: His feet bare, armed only with a butter knife, he ignatieffed into the jungle at dusk. 2. to smile in a manner that suggests the very act of smiling is causing you tremendous discomfort.

rumsfeld v. to fire someone way too late for it to do any good: Our CFO had already fled to Tahiti with our pension fund when the chief executive rumsfelded him.

From Maclean's back pager Scott Feschuk.

Hearing some prolonged crashing about outside my door last night, I opened it to find....


for a larger version go here.
Kind of a quick 'no! don't run!' picture, although suprisingly, he/she didn't. Instead (let's call it a nice gender neutral name) Rowan just shimmied back and forth along the bit of fence, occasionally stopping to dig a hand into the garbage can whose lid had just been shoved aside in hopes of grabbing a bag and stopping to stare at the cat and human who stood in the doorway not four feet away.

They're not usually so bold - the unusual weather here must be driving them from the park in search for food.

But, oh so cute. I've always wanted one for a pet. I doubt Cabot would like that, however, and so I contented myself with putting out some of the cat-disdained 'dental formula' food (concern for wildlife teeth, that's me).

Cabot took the opportunity of the relative safety of the open door behind him to hiss at Rowan before coming back in to pace and scratch at the door every four minutes so he could check to see if the intruder had returned.

Which is a little annoying. But my fault for showing him the raccoon in the first place. Cabot abandoned his usual night-time place on / around my head to stand on guard at the end of the bed in clear view of the bedroom door.

Something tells me he's not going to be too happy to find that I plan to keep feeding Rowan.

Whew, today was a long one. And I'm pooped so I'm just updating in point form rather than going on like I usually do.

First, to the doctor.

Who tells me that if the Lyrica's not working by now, it ain't gonna, so I can stop taking it (yay, no more confusion!) Like when the doctor's office called the other day to set up my appointment for my PAP test in February and for a full 24 hours I couldn't figure out why they were calling three months in advance. God, it was like a terrifying full-clarity preview of my not-so-golden years.

My biceps reflex is hyper-reflexic and I guess this is an indication of something or other to do with my spine. No one had tested my reflexes before but I guess that's what happens when you see two locums at three different points in between seeing your own doctor - no continuity.

SO, next I'm heading off to a neurologist (well, in 2 months or so when I can get an appointment) and in the meantime, getting an MRI to help rule out the next possible diagnosis - cervical spine compression of the nerves that run down my arms.

According to my doctor's note to my unit, I'm unable to do any activity that requires physical exertion until at least after I'm re-assessed in three months.

Which means that I'll need to see a DND doctor to confirm that who'll put me on a medical category which will put me into a holding pattern. What that holding pattern means is that during that time I can't go on courses or be promoted.

I guess I'll be staying home this summer then and then everything else will be a year behind. Not that a summer at home is such a bad thing, though. :)

Then, the lawyer. Not too much detail here, sorry, just the basics.

It's no fun listening to your own 911 recording when you don't remember any of it. Trust me on that one.

However, one of the charges has been dropped due to some term I can't remember at the moment. AHHH, technicality.

We're hoping to plea bargain me down to something that doesn't involve a criminal record. Since that will be very bad for my security clearance and any future plans to deploy for the military.

Which, really, is the entire reason I'm going through all this.

Otherwise, I go to trial.

On the way home I noticed that I'd lost my bus pass. But the bus driver let me come home without it. Of course, I still haven't found it.

To top a day of good news and bad off, about an hour ago whilst trying to fix a necklace with my teeth, I chipped off a big chunker of my front tooth.

*sigh*

Tomorrow, however, is a new day and today wasn't actually all bad news. So, there's that to get me through the night.

And, since I've been vetting some new music on the MP3 player this week, let's throw in some lyrics here. Cheers.

i'm a slow motion accident
lost in coffee rings and fingerprints
i don't wanna feel anything but I do
and it all comes back to you

What's this? Join in!



Vanessa's in Peru and I'm getting together a care package for her. Yesterday, whilst poking around in the Canada Post website, I came across the list of prohibited items - things I am not allowed to ship to her.

Sure, some of it I can kind of understand (contraceptives to an 81% Roman Catholic country) but the following really stumped me...

-calendars
-interior ornaments (here's a little knick-knack for your house, oh, NOT)
-linen, household
-soap, cosmetics
-pictoral novels and short stories featuring violence
-playing cards
-sound recordings
-stationary
-used clothing and shoes
-wooden utensils

I'm sure they have their reasons (ie: all paper products are imported) but as far as I'm concerned (I can't send a new journal?), they are probably all STUPID.


Read more about things that mystify others at participating Bloghuh?
blogs this week:

Alley Kat
Aprosexic
Blue Witch
bob's yer uncle
Changing Places
Depthmarker
In the Aquarium
Kitchen Witch
La Que Sabe
London Daily Photo
Pewari's Prattle
Purple Pen
Quixotic Evil
Santiago Dreaming
Tabula Rasa
Tiger Feet
Who Knows Where Thoughts Come From?
wintermute

What's this? Join in!



This may be an unfamiliar term to those of you who're 'international' to me (at least I hope to god it is). Although I'm sure there are parallels in every country, this particular term was coined on the west coast of North America. I say North America instead of Canada because, although the word itself is Canadian, we do have spillover down into Washington state in the US.

"Cougar"

Known as mountain lions, pumas or catamounts in other places, cougars are specific to North and South America and are, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and powerful creatures on Earth. To see one in the wild is rare and, all at once, breathtaking, awe-inspiring and deeply humbling. It is an experience to be cherished.




















In recent years, "cougar" has come to personify... well, let me give you the top three definitions from urban dictionary..

1. An older woman trying way too hard to look young. Usually heavy makeup and way too tan, sometimes orange. Generally has leathery, smoking damaged skin, short skirt, and may have obvious breast implants.
See: any big city bar scene.

2. Any older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a usually much younger man. The cougar can be anyone from an overly surgically altered wind tunnel victim, an absolute sad and bloated old horn-meister, to a real hottie, or milf. Cougars are gaining in popularity ( particular the true hotties ), as young men not only a fucking incredible sexual high, but many times a chick with her shit together.

"That cougar I met last night, showed me shit I didn't know existed, I'm goin back for more."

3. Has-been party girl/s who are now angry they are not married and prey on younger men; common traits include leathery skin from frequent tanning sessions, smoking, anti-depressant use, and a large collection of "massagers."

Cougar is one of the four "C" words you are to NEVER UTTER IN MY PRESENCE.

I hate that something so beautiful has been made into something so ugly in our language and our 'modern' times.

The term originally was coined to mean "a divorced woman (usually with kids) who has a stable career, is financially independant and likes to date younger men" but over the years it's been degraded into the utter vomit such as I've noted above.

What's the part I don't get about this?

I was once called a cougar in a bar by a (n ugly) young man who was utterly shocked that I didn't immediately fall at his feet...

And although I don't understand why a word he was using that comes with such impled contempt was something he thought I'd appreciate...

I am honestly baffled by the number of women I've spoken to wo believe it to be a COMPLIMENT.

What is wrong with this world? What is wrong with you women?


Read more about things that mystify others at participating Bloghuh?
blogs this week:

Alley Kat
Aprosexic
Blue Witch
bob's yer uncle
Changing Places
Depthmarker
In the Aquarium
Kitchen Witch
La Que Sabe
London Daily Photo
Pewari's Prattle
Purple Pen
Quixotic Evil
Santiago Dreaming
Tabula Rasa
Tiger Feet
Who Knows Where Thoughts Come From?
wintermute