Chester again

Chester had another seizure last night.  It was about 9:30 pm or so and this time I was beside him before he even went down, so I made sure he landed safely on the floor.  It lasted about 3 minutes, but he came out of it differently from the last time.  The other time, he looked at me obviously knowing who I was and was happy that I was there.  This time, he looked as me as if he had no idea who I was or why I was there.  I had to talk to him a couple of minutes before he realized who I was.

He was very agitated this time too – pacing and panting and wanting to go places he normally does not go.  He found his way out of the yard at the spot where the temporary fence meets my fence (while the neighbours build it) and he went into the front yard and under the front steps.  He didn’t want to come out, but finally did.  Once we got back into the yard, he tried to get out the same way again.  I had to adjust the fence so he could not get into that spot.  Over an hour later, he was still very agitated and still pacing and panting.

When I took him outside, he kept going back to where he got out earlier until he finally tired of that. After almost 2 hours he finally started to settle down, which is just as well, because by then it was already past my bedtime by then.  He slept fine and this morning we went for our usual walk.

It was 13C for our walk under a sunny sky – and the only critter we saw on the whole walk was one grey squirrel, which I didn’t get a picture of.  It is supposed to get up to 32C by this afternoon.

My picture is one of my rose from today’s date last year.  It hasn’t flowered this year.

Rose Aug 22/10

On Africam today we have seen lots of elephants, nyalas, impalas, the black eagle chick, rhino and oh yes – can’t forget the lions.    Click here to see today’s pictures.

This and That

It was 21C already this morning at 7 am when Chester and I walked along the Red River.  The chance of rain is now at 80% (although last night they were saying 100% probability for today).  The question is – will the daycamp go out to Woodlands for the day to Camp Y or will they stay in Winnipeg at the branch for the day.  I guess I’ll find out when I get to work later this morning.

I have been working at the Y for 11 years as of next month and always in the same position – although the days and hours have changed several times, and just over 5 years ago I moved to full time from part time.  With my summer of long weekends coming to an end soon, I really began to realize that I don’t want to go back to working there 5 days a week.  It is time for a change.  One of the positions posted a couple of weeks ago was a 1 year term for membership director at another branch.  This is my boss’s position, but in another location.

My boss asked me if I was going to apply and told me that she thought I should.  Now, over the years, I’ve had other boss’s  tell me the same thing when positions came up and my answer has always been “no, I’m not interested and I’m very comfortable where I am.  I don’t like middle management”.  I then did not apply, but this time, I actually started to think about it – after giving my usual answer, of course.  I’m going to have to do something different because I can’t afford to retire yet.

I started working on my resume and over the next few days, I was sure I would send it in one day – and the next day, there was no way I was going to apply.  Then I talked to a few co-workers and they all urged me to apply, as well as saying they would come downtown with me if I got it. I believe there is already staff there, so I obviously can’t take everyone, but it would be nice to pick and choose the ones that have already shown they know the job.

So – I sent my resume in a few days ago by email.  When I got an email back a few minutes later, I was sure that it would be to tell me that they had decided to close applications and just hire me on the spot – but instead it was an auto message saying that he was away and would not be back until Monday (yesterday).  I guess I’m going to have to go through the usual interview (and I really dislike interviews).

Anyway, I’ll keep you posted!

On our walk today, I saw several ducks, but they stayed right along the shore behind bushes and tall grasses and I couldn’t get a good picture of them.  I did get a good picture of the tall grasses, with some out of focus ducks behind them though.  The one thing about an auto-focus camera is that it doesn’t always focus on what I might want it to focus on.  Chester spied and stalked a bunny again, so today I decided to get a picture of the little guy.  He let us get very close to him because I’m sure he felt that we didn’t see him if he didn’t move.

Nice Tall Grass - too bad the ducks got in the way.

bunny Aug 16

Early this morning on Africam, we got to see a lone lion.  It looks like a young male, so many of us are hoping it is the young Styx male who has been out on his own for some time now.  With a couple of large coalitions of males in the area, he is doing well to stay looking so good on his own.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

More of This and That

It was 17C when Chester and I headed towards the Red River for our walk this morning.  The sun was shining and there was little (if any) wind.  The moon was up in the sky, there were rowers on the river, there were lots of ducks and even a couple of beavers.  So – I got quite a few pictures and came back home, even though I could have stayed out there much longer.  Chester didn’t like all the standing around while I was taking pictures, since he was seeing bunnies everywhere he looked and was much more interested in the idea of chasing them.

The Moon Jul 18

Big Tree July 18

The river is finally going down again – its good to see the ground around the tree.

Rower at my scenic spot

The funny thing is that when I looked at this picture, I wondered if this is someone I know.  I’ll have to find out if she was on the river this morning.

Ducks July 18

Wood Duck July 18 - a young male

Wood Ducks July 18 - 2 young males and a young female

Wood Duck July 18 - another young male

Wood Ducks July 18

Beaver July 18

None of the pictures of this beaver are fully in focus because of all the leaves and branches in the way – but he is there!

Beaver July 18

Beaver July 18

Then I found the other beaver swimming. 

Beaver July 18

Beaver July 18

We saw lions early this morning at Nkorho on Africam!     Click here to see the lion pictures, plus the rest of the critters who visited today.

Back to Normal (whatever that is)

I did not even check the temperature when Chester and I took our walk along the Red River this morning.  Now (around noon) it is 21C with 94% humidity and drizzling.  It was drizzling when we walked too.   It is supposed to get up to 25C by this afternoon.

We couldn’t find any beavers today, but did find one small Wood Duck family.  It was just the mom and 2 almost grown babies.

Wood Ducks

No relaxing for mom as she stands guard.

When heading out for breakfast after my workout at the Y, a large truck in front of me suddenly slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching halt in the middle of the road.  I couldn’t see in front of it, so I slammed on my brakes too.  Just then we could see a Mallard Duck and her tiny babies crossing the road and heading for the river.  That truck would have killed the whole family if the driver hadn’t done that.  The family had to get across the other direction too, but the first car coming towards them also braked quickly and I saw them all scramble up the curb on the river side of the street. 

Yesterday, I was playing with the settings on my camera and found a sketch mode.  Of course I had to try that out and took a couple of pictures of Chester in the yard.

Chester July 8 sketch

Chester July 8 sketch

On Africam today, we have seen Giraffe, Wildebeest, Duiker, Baboons, Zebra, Elephants and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

The Day After

I survived zip-lining yesterday    more to come on that later.

It was 12C when Chester and I walked along the Red River this morning.  I expected to be stiff after all the walking yesterday, but I was fine.    We found ducks and beavers and balloons.

Wood Ducks - first 3 young ones

Wood Ducks - more with Mom

Beaver July 8

There were 2 beavers and they were definitely working on the pile of sticks I reported on earlier.  I didn’t get a good picture of either one of them.

Beaver July 8

I did get a good picture of the CTV hot air balloon though

On Africam today, so far we have seen Leopard, Lion, Cape Buffalo and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Flower Day

It was 16C when Chester and I took our walk along the Red River.  It is not as humid today as it was yesterday – so it was perfect for walking – other than the fact that we did not see any critters (except bunnies).  Actually, the bunnies were everywhere and Chester was having a great time stalking them.  I did actually attempt one picture, but just as I clicked the button, Chester and the bunny both moved at the same time and the picture was of an empty spot where the bunny had been.

So I took more flower pictures in my yard when we got home again. 

Lilies

These lilies have a little bit of a story.  Many years ago, I gave someone some advise while at work.  It was the same advise I often gave out, but he was so pleased with the result that he came back several weeks later and brought a potted lily plant for me.  It looked like a regular lily, but was very short.  After they finished blooming, I planted them outside and the next year they grew up to the normal size and have been multiplying every year since then.

Mock Orange July 6

Impatience July 6

Flower

This is another plant I received from Freecycle and I do not know what it is. It grows about 3-4 feet tall.  Thanks to SueW from Africam, my flower is now known  It is Maltese Cross.  Thanks Sue.   You can find Sue’s blog at Sue Loves Cherries.

Flower

On Africam today we saw lions at Elephant Plains.  We hear them almost every night there and have named them the Teaser Pride – but early in the morning, we got to see them!  You can see them, plus the rest of the critters seen today by clicking here.

Beaver Day

Its raining and 14C, but Chester and I took our regular walk along the Red River this morning.  We were rewarded by finally finding the beaver!  Of course, he was in the water and swimming away from me, but I saw him coming towards the shore once he got into the trees and managed to get one picture with him a bit closer.

Beaver (1st shot)

Beaver (2nd shot)

Beaver (3rd shot)

Beaver (final shot)

Right after my last shot, he dove under the water and I couldn’t find him again.  But I’m excited that I’ve finally seen him.

Also exciting  lat night was that lions came to Nkorho on Africam.  I haven’t heard yet who they are, but it was 2 lionesses with a cub and zoomie did a wonderful job getting great pictures of them.   Unfortunately, I was not home at the time, so have no pictures of my own.  Just before I went to bed last night though one of them came back for a quick drink.  She didn’t stay long enough for me to get any pictures as I was just about ready to pack it in for the night.  It was a very exciting night, with two Verreaux’s Giant Eagle Owls (ended yesterday’s bird day for me) and a jackal came around them a couple of times and one of them got into a scrap with a white tailed mongoose.

Most of the lion pictures are on yesterday’s pictures here and some of them (including the lion that came to Tembe and the hyaena at Nkorho) are on today’s pictures here .  Take a look in the  recent posts and you will find some videos to watch also.

Now, the reason I wasn’t home to see all the excitement was that I was at Celebrations Dinner Theatre watching the Last Concert:  Buddy Holly & Friends.  It was a great show – the food was wonderful – and the service was excellent!

Another Day

Its actually another chilly day here at 11C for my morning walk with Chester along the Red River.  The sun is kind of shining though the clouds that are still hanging around after last night’s thunder storm.  We didn’t see a single critter, other than one bunny and since Chester saw him before I did, there was no hope of a picture there.

Just so we have some pictures to look at, I’ll take some from my last zoo visit. 

Flamingo

Peacock

Peahen

We had lions at Tembe on Africam again early this morning (of course shortly after I went to bed last night).  You can see those pictures and more from today here.

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.

Battery Woes

Thunderstorm with lots of rain last night.  The thunder was just rolling in when I went to bed and amazingly enough, I slept soundly the whole night.  When I first woke up I expected to find out that it had past without much rain or anything – but the huge puddles everywhere let me know that the storm didn’t pass – it was just that I slept through it.    I do love watching and listening to thunderstorms though.  It was still drizzling this morning when Chester and I took our walk along the Red River and the temperature was 13C.  That is about the high for today as the rain continues for the rest of the day.

Today we saw another Wood Duck mommy – at least I hope this is a different one because she only had 5 ducklings with her.  I wasn’t able to get any pictures because my camera batteries died just as I clicked the button to take the first one. 

So, today’s pictures are from my latest trip to the zoo here a couple of weeks ago.

comfortable camel

Arctic Fox

Lion

Flamingo

Africam has had lots of action again today, with Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Warthogs, Waterbuck and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.