I'm tired. Very tired. It isn't just a body thing its an emotional thing. Working two jobs, planning the trip to India and the issues presently going on at my ft job. It's a lot the past few weeks.

For those of you not in the know I am looking for another job. There are a number of things going on where I currently work and while I am trying to keep my employ there it is looking more likely that I should and will need to have other employment very shortly after my return from India. The timing couldn't be worse and it is causing some of the stress in my like and that of course is turning into my mental tiredness.

I am trying to take next weekend off. Yep, totally off from both jobs. Plans for the days off--nothing. Just more hanging at the apartment with the kittens. And likely some packing of objects around the apartment (in preparation of the kittens living alone), a trial run of the suitcase and a check to see what other items of clothing, etc I will need to purchase in the next couple of weeks. 34 days and counting. There will be a very busy week of work at the theatre coming up during spring break and that will be my final push for cash before I travel. My mad money so to speak during the trip.

For the first few days I will be in Paris. Ah, Paris. I haven't really made any plans other than the booking of the hotel. Wandering around taking photos and eating croissants, cheese, bread and drinking wine doesn't require a lot of planning.

India is coming along nicely. The hotel information arrived this past week and I am very impressed. I need to put together an information package for my team this evening  and a number of other things...augh. I also brought home some work from my day job that I haven't looked at yet...simple work--hole punching. But I haven't gotten around to it yet. Farmers Market Saturday am, niece and nephew's b'day party Saturday afternoon, worked Saturday night, Sunday morning cooking lunches for upcoming week and shortly off to work for the rest of the day. Tonight is laundry and some cleaning along with the India information. With the 34 day countdown looming in my head India needs to take a priority on the to do list.

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Ahhh, how cute. Look at the kitten sitting in front of the fish tank. Funny kitty.

'Let me just sit up here and take a closer look at your nice fish tank.'

'Oh yes, I see the problem here that you were talking about with the tank. I can fix that.'

So far no fish have lost their lives in the making of these photos. Her fascination with the tank the past few days is comical. Yes, I should go over and get her down off the table--no, I haven't. But when I get up and walk towards her she jumps down--she knows its wrong. The paws dangle in the water on a regular basis but so far no actual fishing and no nibbles as far as I can tell...we will see how that goes.

Here are some kitten photos...I apologize if there are a few that you have seen before.

It's important to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. The trampoline has been a great source of curiosity--we just need to learn to use it one at a time.

This is what happens when the kittens are bored. The toilet paper gets attacked and distributed.

At least I may have discovered why they want it...a roll of their own. Yes, that is a piece of toilet paper in the cats litter box. Hmmm.

When sisters fight--the claws come out. They spent about 10 minutes one morning pummeling each other. It was quite funny to watch.

I love this look. "Mess? What mess? I have no idea who might have dumped that box out and spread your things all over the house."

Recent photo but I like the old black and white grainy look to it.

"I hate it when she does that." Always more cleaning up to do.

So tired but still cleaning.

If you look close under the chin you can see a few drops of milk still on Hudson's fur.

Curiosity killed the cat...they ain't dead but they sure are curious. The poor guy who  two sets of cleans the walks must have a complex...there are always 2 sets of eyes on him making sure he does a good job.

Yesterday was Islander Day. It is a Monday off in February. I think it is a great idea. Everyone needs a long weekend between January and Easter--which is in late April this year btw. I did my laundry and most of the dishes, etc on Sunday so I would have Monday as a work free day...it was great! I made a delightful pot roast, a chocolate cake with some caramel sauce and biscuits. Mmmm. The cats spent most of the day sleeping.

It's a short work week thanks to yesterdays day off...which I am very grateful for. 46 days until I fly away. YEAH!!! Looking forward to the trip. We are back at 12 participants so that is good. Now to get my visa back in the next couple of weeks, visit the travel clinic again for some travel precaution medication and the packing/unpacking of my luggage. It is so close I can almost taste it.

Don't forget it you or anyone you know would like to donate to help build a house in India please visit my giving page:

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=10698


Thanks. The money I am collecting will go directly to Habitat for Humanity and my goal of $650 will be enough to start a home in India. My trip is paid for by Habitat and the money I decided to collect will help start another home. All donations over $20 will receive a charitable donation receipt.


And now...off to work.

If I ever wished for a week to end this would be at the top of my list. Why is February always such a bad month? You would think that being the shortest month of the year would give it some sort of karmic break.

I'm not ready to share on here just yet..but lets just say the countdown to my trip has just turned into another countdown of sorts and not a positive one. I have well meaning friends telling me everything happens for a reason and I have always felt the same way...but when you are still caught up in the moment it is hard to understand that sentiment.

I work tonight and that will keep my mind busy for the evening and then again all day on Saturday. Hopefully we will be super busy--because of the Jack Frost festivities just around the corner from the theatre--and I won't have time to dwell on what is going on with my life.

On a positive note I have an interview this weekend for India and a potential back up person as well...so I'm happy about that. We should be able to maintain 12 with little difficulty. (Fingers crossed). And if I don't get my butt in gear I won't be going to India--need to send in my visa application...keep putting it off. Ah well.

I love my cats. They test my love for them everyday. But I know they still like me...how could they not like me...I'm the one that gives them food. And they give me unconditional love...and messes to clean up. LOL

Happy Friday.

Did you ever wonder how far that spool of thread would go if you unwound it all? How many times could you wrap it around the table, the chair, walk it down the hall, into the bathroom, back to the hall, maybe the bedroom and then the spare room or vice versa. Have you? Maybe? But have you ever unwound that spool? I'm thinking not.

Dumb and Dumber did. There are a ton of toys in this house for them to play with and yet they manage to find the one or two things I have accidently left out and cause mass destruction. There is brown thread connecting most parts of my apartment at the moment. Sigh.

I want to read the ingredient list for those cat treats you see on tv. The one where they shake the bag and the cat crashes through walls to get at it...cause they aren't stretching the truth...there must be something in the food to make the cats go nuts. I have to keep the bags in the fridge or the cats find the bag and help themselves. I'm not talking opening the bag and then re-sealing it when they are finished...nope. I'm talking about chewing through the plastic or foil type bag to get at the treats inside and then once the bag is open and empty, chewing on the bag, licking it and generally destructing it until you wonder what the tiny bit on the floor is. Crack for Cats.

The intensity of play is a thing to watch. Two cats running wild in the house, leaping from one thing to the next barely touching the ground as they make laps around me and the apartment. Then suddenly the room goes silent and they are curled up sound asleep.

I am planning to pack away most of my art work, carvings, etc while I am out of town n April. I suspect the mass destruction that will happen when they are essentiall alone for that time would be great. Anything that could fall or be tipped over will be packed away in one room or removed from sight.

59 days and counting until I depart. Can you say excited? Still lots to do and more energy to be expended with organizing the team, the trip, etc.

The picture is the elevator at the hotel in Paris. I took it looking down at my feet to show the size of it. With my back to the wall and feet pointing in towards the center of the elevator. That is my tiny backpack--not a regular size one.

Tiny elevator---many stairs to climb if it is in use.

Welcome to February.
Hopefully the January blues or blahs have left and you are now focusing on how close Spring is. Maybe? Maybe not.

Life continues to be busy. I was riding a bit of a high over the weekend as I had filled the 12th and final spot on the team. And then Monday night that came crashing down. One person dropped out. It is only one spot we will recover quickly, but it was a wee bit heart breaking--I spent a LOT of time on Sunday sending out final information to all of the team and making the 'final' preparations. I already have one person who has shown interest in the spot and I'm certain it will be filled by the end of the month. So close...

A very funny kitten event on the weekend. Hudson flushed the toilet. Yep..all on her own. I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth and out of the corner of my eye I saw the paw on the handle and second later heard the whoosh. She watched in fascination--as she always does when I flush the toilet. I laughed very loud for a very long time and called a lot of people to share...yeah...maybe it wasn't that funny if you weren't there.

I'm off to the PAP clinic this morning....the first official one year exam since the issues of the past few years. I can't believe how quickly time flies.

66 days until I leave on my trip. YEAH.

The tickets were officially booked on the weekend. I arrive in Paris on Sunday, April 10 and fly to Chennai, India on Thursday, April 14 and then depart for Canada on May 2. Whooo hoo!! In an interesting turn of events I was able to book in at the same hotel in Paris that I stayed at in 2005. I didn't have the name or any other information on it...but when searching for 'cheap' hotels I saw a picture of a hotel that looked familiar and am 99% sure it is the same one. I will know forsure when I get into the elevator.