Chester and Stuff

We’ve had to increase Chester’s meds after 2 quick seizures again.  He had a seizure on February 18th (3 weeks after the one before) and then again on February 22nd (just 4 days later).  So, on the 23rd he was back at the vet’s office for more blood tests.

Without waiting for the doctor to tell me to increase, I added another 1/2 pill into his food starting Thursday morning and on Friday afternoon, I got the phone call to increase so this way he got started a day and a half earlier than if I had waited.  There was a possibility that I wouldn’t get the results until Monday – so that would have been 4 1/2 days head start.   His regular veterinarian was off work on Thursday, and last time, she ok’d the increase without another blood test.

This still has to balance, so I’ll have to be watching him for the next couple of weeks (actually, I’m always watching him).  At $100.00 per test, plus the meds this illness is getting very expensive – but he is so normal and happy when he is not having seizures.

I’ve had a couple of problems with the car in the last month or 2 also – so between the car and the dog, they are sure making it hard to save for my trip.   I’m getting full use out of my line of credit at the bank. 

Actually, most of the cost of the trip has been looked after (through the line of credit) already.  I still have to pay for the other 2/3 of the cost at Kruger, but I have 4 1/2 months before I have to worry about that.  I also have to pay for the balance at Nkorho, and I can pay that when I check out.  The only other item is the car rental and I pay for that when I book it.  I don’t have to book it for awhile yet either.  I should have more than enough spending money as that is being saved in a tax free savings account, plus my pay cheque and pension will continue going into my account while I’m away.  When I first started planning this trip, I hadn’t even stopped to think about how it would be paid for – I was just going to let the money add up on my credit card – but the interest on the credit cards would have really increased the amount I would end up paying.   The interest on the line of credit is very low, since it is using the equity on my house.

To complicate financial matters a little more, the Royal Bank just took a payment out of my account for a loan that was paid off almost 2 weeks ago.  Luckily I checked the account yesterday or a scheduled payment today would have bounced.  I phoned the bank when I noticed it, and their answer was that the payout was not received until the 22nd and that was after the scheduled payment.  I thought payments went electronically, so I’m not sure why it would take that long for them to receive it, but they have already scheduled the refund to be sent and apparently it will be about a week before it is back in my account.

They have just changed our health benefits at work and I will have to check to see if I still have travel health insurance once we get the documents on that.  I sure don’t plan on having to use it, but can’t take a trip like this without it – just in case.  There are lions and elephants and snakes there – along with the fact that I’ll be driving on the wrong side of the road.    Of course those critters are many of the reasons I am going. 

Of course, I have a couple of pictures of Chester that I took out in the yard this morning.

Chester Feb 25

Chester Feb 25

Things are almost back to normal at Africam now after the storms that knocked out 2 out of the 3 cameras and damaged the 3rd as well.  There is still work to be done, but the admin have been working tirelessly at getting everything back up and running.  Its so good to be able to watch all 3 of them again. 

Because of all the water still in the bush from the storms, the sightings are not back to normal yet, but we are seeing many of the critters grazing nearby anyway.  Grazing critters will attract the predators too.  So far today, we have seen Waterbuck, Kudu, Elephant, Nyala, Wildebeest, Warthog, Impala, Baboon, Cape Buffalo, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal and Egyptian Geese.  Click here to see all of today’s pictures.

Interview Day

Have I mentioned before that I don’t like interviews?  I think I might have – but here I am getting ready to go to one.    I have enough confidence in myself that I know I can do the actual job – but I’m not sure I will survive the interview.

In 4 hours there will be no turning back. 

Chester had another good day, followed by a good night last night.  He loves his meds!  The Phenobarbital is a small pill and to give that to him, I take 2 small pieces of a cheese slice (1/2 inch square each) and put peanut butter on them.  I place the pill in the middle and make a sandwich.   The milk thistle is a capsule and to give that to him, I take a piece of wiener (about an inch), heat it for a few seconds in the microwave and stick the capsule into the middle.  Both of these go on top of his food dish for his meal and both are gobbled up first.

I haven’t seen anything of interest on our walks lately.  Today the rowers on the river were all on our side and any wildlife was nowhere to be seen.  It was 16C this morning when we walked and is going up to 25C this afternoon – so a nice day.

The block across the street has been (or is being) turned into condos, which doesn’t surprise me.  It is close to completion and units should start being sold at any time now.  It has taken a long time to get it to this point and I have no idea if the original owners still have it or if it had been sold and new owners finally got around to working on it again.  It sat there for well over a year with absolutely nothing happening to it, so it will be nice to finally have people living in it again.

Today on Africam, we have seen Elephants, Kudu, Giraffes, Wildebeest, Impalas, Nyalas, Rhinos, and more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

I borrowed one of the pictures taken of the Giraffes, since I wasn’t there to see them myself.

Giraffes at Elephant Plains

Another Ducky Day

It was 14C when Chester and I went for our walk along the Red River this morning.  Its good to get back to morning walks after the last 2 early morning shifts, which had us walking in the afternoon.  Its pretty quiet along the riverbank in the afternoon.

Anyway – we have Mallard ducklings and Wood Duck ducklings this morning.

Wood Duck and Ducklings June 7

I can count 11 ducklings now.

Wood Duck and Ducklings June 7

Mallard Ducks and Ducklings

Just seems to be 4 for the Mallards.

Mallard Ducks and Ducklings

Today we have seen Cape Buffalo, Zebras, Verve Monkeys Elephants and more at Africam.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Oh good – it just started raining here.  Just what we needed (NOT).

Registration Day

Today was the first day for registration for next fall’s classes at the Y in Winnipeg – - -  and I survived!!!!!  Everyone who came in at 6 am to register got the spots they were looking for.  By early afternoon, some time slots were filled and people had to take 2nd choice.  By tonight it will be getting difficult to get what you want and in a few more days, there will just be waiting list spots to claim.

We had 3 staff to take the morning rush and people were gathering outside the door before any of us arrived.  Phone calls started before we opened the doors also – but even if we had answered the phone, we could not have done registration, since the course codes did not become active until 6am.

The sound of the phones is still ringing in my ears though.  There are several lines and they were all ringing at once and we also had the line up that circled the entire front lobby and came back to the doors.  We each looked after one person at a time whether it was on the phone or in person.  By the time I left, there was no one in line, although the phone was still ringing.

Tomorrow, I start work at my usual time instead of 5:45 am (that’s not morning – its still night).

I haven’t seen anything on the walks along the Red River with Chester the last couple of days, other than the 2 male Mallards I’ve seen together a few times.  I didn’t get any good pictures of them – so I took a new picture of the Iris growing in my yard 

Iris June 6

Nkorho on Africam had a lot of excitement and sadness last night and this morning.  Two male lions (unknown at this time who they are), were following a large buffalo herd when an unfortunate hyaena got in their way and was killed.  Karin at Nkorho got some amazing shots that you can see on Nkorho’s facebook page.  Then this morning an unknown lioness was found in very bad shape.  I was watching her struggle before leaving for work and by the time I got home from work she had passed away.   You can find pictures from the last 2 days at Africam here.

Job Interview

Once in awhile I decide to use a topic sent out daily by Word Press  in case we run out of things to talk about.  I didn’t really run out of things to talk about, but I liked this one.

Today’s one is “Describe your first job interview.“

Now – there is no way I can remember my first job interview or even most of the ones after that – but I remember my last one so that’s the one I will use.

This was about 10 1/2 years ago, when I was working part time with the Provincial Government, but needed full time to survive.  I saw a small ad in the paper for the Y and dropped off my resume.

A couple of weeks later, I received a phone call from the Y on a Sunday.  I talked to Lynn for several minutes and pretty much had the interview over the phone, but set a date for an in person interview about a week and a half later  ( Lynn would not be at work the next 2 days and I would be at my other job for the week after that).

On the day of my appointment, I showed up about 10 minutes early as I usually do, only to find out that Lynn had gone home for the day.  I’m sure my jaw dropped 6 inches, because I really thought the job was already mine after our phone conversation and the interview was just a formality.  The girl at the desk assured me that she would leave a message for Lynn for when she came in the next morning and that she would give me a call.

I didn’t wait for her to call me the next morning – I called her myself and spoke to Lynn.  She was very apologetic and asked me to come down right then if I could.  I did go down to see her a few minutes later and again, she apologized for not being there.   She had been doodling while we were talking on the phone and covered up the day and time so that she couldn’t read it, but thought we had agreed on another day.

Lynn and I talked a bit, she gave me a tour of the Y and then asked me what I thought.  My reply was that I thought she should feel so guilty about missing the interview that she should just hire me on the spot.  Lynn said “OK” and I was officially hired.  She worked the schedule around the days I worked at my other job and when I retired from the other job a few years I became full time at the Y.

Since I can’t post without a picture, I decided to pull one up from last year’s vacation to Banff/Jasper.

Athabasca Falls

The temperature is 11C and Chester and I are now leaving for our walk.

A Ducky Day

It was 10C when Chester and I headed out for our walk along the Red River this morning.   It was cloudy and humid and there is rain and thunderstorms in the forecast for this afternoon and evening.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the rain got started this morning.

I was still across the street from the river when I could see some ducks across on the other side this morning.  They were a long way away for pictures, but I decided to try anyway.  I didn’t get a good picture and I can’t identify them from the Ducks Unlimited site right now though.  I will have to look further after work if I get a chance.

Mystery Ducks for May 10th

Here they are, in case you happen to know what they are.

Before posting, I decided to look at various grebes – thinking that they may be grebes.  I found a Red-necked Grebe that I think may be what these are.  I couldn’t find one with a black neck that looked like this and I don’t know if it was just the slightly different angle that gives the different look along with the cloudy day or if it is something different.  Here is where I found the Red-necked Grebe.

I have to thank Barry, who has been great at identifying many of my mystery birds from other days. 

We also got to see more bumps on the log with a bump today. 

Pair of Wood Duck and a Mallard

Wood Duck

I think I got a pretty good picture of the male when he came out of the water and onto the log.

Night time viewing at Africam improved greatly starting with last night.  The much needed lighting was fixed up and visibility was wonderful at both Nkorho and Elephant Plains.  Unfortunately, the critters didn’t co-operate and come out to see us (other than a pair of  Hyaenas), but there are many more nights when many more critters will be dropping by.  You can look at today’s pictures here.  Daytime viewing at all 3 cams is always great!

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to day to all the mothers out there – whether your child is human, furred or feathered and not matter what the age.

If your children are human, I have found something true every year, if the mom has a husband – whether he is father to the children or not.  Mother’s Day means that dad has the kids – usually taking them out somewhere (like the Y) so mom can have some time to herself.  On Father’s Day – again, dad takes the kids to spend time with them.   In some families, the dad is the stay-at-home parent and I don’t know if these roles are reversed in those circumstances or not.  I’ll have to ask one of the stay-at-home dads that I know.

I spent the whole morning and early afternoon at work today – so I got lots of happy mother’s day wishes from many of the people who came in today.

After work, Chester and I had our walk along the Red River.  The water looked very similar to every other day for the last couple of weeks, so I didn’t take my usual big tree across the river picture today.  Then, I only saw one duck – a Mallard, who swam along beside us for a good distance.  Most of the time he was behind some trees and bushes and was difficult to see as well as impossible to focus on, but eventually the bushes cleared and I was able to snap a good picture of him.

Mallard May 8

Isn’t he a handsome fellow?

Africam’s Tembe Elephant Park had lions there again this morning.  It is so exciting hearing them roar just before dawn and before we can see them.  I had to leave before dawn due to the early start to work for me for today – but there were pictures for me to see when I got up this morning.     You can see the pictures here.

Ducks, Ducks and more Ducks

Another beautiful morning for a walk along the Red River with Chester.  We saw lots of ducks and Chester was just so excited and wanted to chase them.  Of course thats not going to happen since he is connected to me with his leash.    It is currently 8C with a predicted high of 18C.

I found the Bufflehead ducks again, some Mallards and some different ducks.  I can’t find the new ducks in the Ducks Unlimited site, so will have to look further.  Until I find out, these will be the current mystery ducks.

The Big Tree

Female Mallard Duck

Male Mallard Duck

I think the Mallards are getting used to seeing Chester and I and its easier to get pictures of them now.

Crow

Bufflehead Ducks

Bufflehead Ducks and Eared Grebes

Bufflehead Ducks and Eared Grebes

Bufflehead Ducks

Bufflehead Ducks and Eared Grebes

Time for me to head for work now.  Have a great day!

Edited to add:  these mystery ducks have been identified as Eared Grebes.  Thanks Barry 

Mother Nature’s April Fools Joke

I guess Mother Nature decided that she can play her jokes any time in April – so she picked today.  We had snow here!  Of course, the temperature is above zero – so its not staying, but we really didn’t need any more moisture now either.  It rained and it snowed and it blew today – but the snow is still melting.  I do not know what temperature it got up to today, but at 6:30 pm, it is +3C and raining.

I didn’t see this, but one of my co-workers said she was at St. Vital Park yesterday.  It was a pleasant day – not shirt sleeve weather by any means, but nice and sunny and warmer than it has been yet this year.  There was still plenty of snow around and some of the people were brushing snow out of the way, so they could put blankets down to have picnics.  The ground is still frozen, so I am guessing that these are insulated blankets – but still, that seems a little extreme for a picnic – no ants though!    It was kind of an “only in Winnipeg” moment – where else would people have a picnic in the snow.  I would have been taking pictures if I had been there.

Now for my Africam moments! 

Last night I was closing windows and saying goodnight when I saw the word lion appear on my computer screen.  Of course that meant that I had to open the cams again to see the lion because just seeing the word isn’t an official sighting.  And there she was – a beautiful lioness, with another one moving towards her a short time later.  Who needs sleep anyway?  So, I watched for awhile and then closed everything up again, satisfied that I had watched lions before going to bed.    This morning, I open the cams to see a leopard sprawled out on a branch where we often see baboons playing.  I missed seeing her climb the tree, but I didn’t have to leave for work until after I had seen her climb back down.  It was amazing to have seen two of the big cat species within just a few hours of each other and I slept the whole time in between the 2 sightings.

Lioness at TE

Lioness at TE

Leopard at EP

Leopard at EP

There are lots more pictures from others posted in yesterdays sightings at Africam.  You can also find videos of both sightings too.

Chester

At the same time as I was taking pictures of Jewel yesterday, I was also taking pictures of Chester.  I figured they both needed a photo shoot day.   The big difference between the pictures of these two is that Jewel twirled and posed for her pictures and Chester stared at a spot on the floor in case it might move.  When I called him, he would quickly look at me and then very quickly back at the spot, so he looks exactly the same in all his photos.

He has always had an obsession with lights and shadows and I have always wondered if someone played with him using a laser light and that was the only attention he received as a pup.  He was only 7 months old when i got him, but right from the start, he would be looking for reflections off my watch or through my glasses or even just the sun shining through leaves.

Anyway – here is Chester’s photo shoot from yesterday:

Chester

Chester

The only change in position between these 2 photos, is that I moved over to get a slightly different angle – he didn’t move.  If the spot he had been staring at moved, he would have pounced on it.

It was a beautiful -1C when we went for our walk along the Red River this afternoon after work.  Even though the temperature has not made it above zero in about a week, the snow is steadily disappearing   : )   slowly but surely.  It is supposed to get above zero for the next few days, so we should really start to see a difference now.

Africam had another busy day with hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons and more, including a little striped skink.  You can see today’s pictures here.