Happy Raturday!

Our two new baby rat girls! The sisters are approximately one year old.
No official names yet, our silvery-blue gal is really dainty and gentle.
And the chocolate brown/black gal with white tummy and mittens is a bran flake piggie.

Today is Raturday!

We're planning on venturing to the SPCA to get us some cutie-rats this afternoon.
I miss having fur-babies in the house.

Went out last night to the bars - got our drink on with J.
Danced like fiends, chased skirts, played some Irish Snap, the usual.
Celebrated his new job! Starts in April so we'll be celebrating all month! Haha.

I'm a smidge hungover but no worse for wear,
a couple too many Jägerbombs! And a double... eep!
Haha.

At least we didn't start drinking multiple tequila shots again.
Tonight is a G+T night (Gin and Tonic) should keep me plenty merry for my dancy-dancing.

on my mind?

a bit messed up this week,
stressed out at work, we're trying so hard to get to our goal.
*big bonuses if we do* some people are getting really weird though - a negative vibe is hanging over the clinic and it doesn't make me feel very much like being there.

our second rat-baby marshmallow died, same way as her sister 12 days later... I'm inclined to think it was genetics. broke my heart though. I'm only just able to look at the cage the last day or so without bawling.

we're rescuing another 2 girl rats this weekend gods willing, hopefully they'll do well with us.
I'm feeling really broody, I want nothing more than to start a family... I think my biological clock is ticking.

feeling really off this week though - pretty sure it's just hormones and stress but I can't be certain. I've been eating too much sugar and caffeine too so that could play a role.

just looking forward to the weekend off - going to hide in the apartment, except for on raturday when we go get the girl rats.
play some city of heroes and sleep lots.
i'd like to sleep now but that's not about to happen - have to head into work early today...

Happy Year!

Well here it is, the twenty second of February.
I married Adam one year ago in a teeny tiny ceremony at my Grandparents house...
and I've never been happier.

Today has been low key and wonderful.
He brought me breakfast in bed and we've just snuggled all day.

He's making himself useful - cleaning Marshmallow's cage, organizing kitchen cupboards and keeping me happy and relaxed on my day off.

I'm planning on making a Risotto for supper tonight. I found a great recipe on Jamie Oliver.com that I'm excited about trying.

Today is also the fourth anniversary of Danny's passing, sadly I never got to meet Dad but I feel like I know him through his family. I owe this man a lot for raising Adam to be such a wonderful person... he's touched a lot of lives including my own.

It's an interesting day for us.
I'm just so glad to have Adam home with me.

Love, light and little blessings
Monster.

Go Figure

Getting mad does get stuff done!
I made a list of my concerns and some solutions I came up with for work - sat down and talked to one of our owners about it and presto! things are running smoothly again after a brief team meeting. We're doing really well as a clinic and thinking of expanding further.

Adam cutie made some delicious honey-lemon chicken stirfry with vegetables and some brown rice tonight. Made my tummy ever so happy. I love snow-peas.

Today was a quiet day off, I played lots of "city of heroes" and we went to the library. I picked up Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" I've been meaning to read it for some time.

Going to go spend some time with Adam and The Marshmallow Rat.

Entertainment and Work...

I watched CHOKE last night (Based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk)

Seriously one of the best films I have ever seen! It was the perfect visual accompaniment to an already amazing story. We will definitely be purchasing this DVD - perhaps today!



Feeling a bit frustrated with work - things aren't getting done and I feel like I'm getting (taking?) the blame simply because I'm the one that actually cares. Today will be an ass-busting get-shit-done sort of day. I have tomorrow off so I can work myself to the bone. I can be a hard-ass when I want to... you've been warned!


Haven't had much time to play City of Heroes or World of Warcraft lately but I'll get into it when I don't come home late (been working through lunch hours and pulling overtime simply to get things done at work *SIGH* damn good thing I love my job!)

More stoopid quizzes

More foolishness!

Some of these are pretty bang on - the kid one and the valentines personality for sure.
I'll have to check out some new martini flavours, never had blueberry before!
and given what I do for work at the moment the lily / healing / nurturing makes sense I guess, but I don't think I'm saintlike or anything.

What Kind of Kid Were You?

You Were a Creative Kid
When you were a kid, you always had to be doing something with your hands.

Whether you were painting a picture or just doodling, you had to be creating something.

You were too busy thinking about your future creations to listen in school.

It's likely that every part of school was a challenge for you, except for art class.

What's Your Valentine's Day Personality?

Your Valentine's Day Personality is Practical
As far as you're concerned, Valentine's Day is simply a commercial holiday.

You don't place any real meaning on it. You don't think it deserves too much celebration.

For you, Valentine's Day is just the day you avoid restaurants and candy stores.

If you love someone, you already show it. You don't need to go all out for a silly holiday to prove your love.

What Flower Are You?

You Are A Lily
You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist.
People see you as their rock and they are able to depend on you.
You are a soothing influence you can make people feel better with a few words.
Your caring has more impact than you realize.

What Flavor Martini Are You?

You Are A Blueberry Martini

You are a restless drunk. You like to change drinks and venues often.

You are usually the first of your friends to find a cool new dive bar or cocktail.

You should never: Drink mystery drinks strangers hand you. Unless you want to wind up in foreign country.

Your ideal party: Is mobile, hopping from place to place.

Your drinking soulmates: Those with an Orange Martini personality.

Your drinking rivals: Those with a Chocolate Martini personality.






OH RLY? Haha I dunno about this one - but now I do want a martini - caramel apple please.



More sillyness another day - I'm sleepy.

RATLING!PHOTOS!

Steph sent me some cute photos of Marshmallow (and there is one of Shy-Girl too before she passed away later that night). Check out the cool maze Adam made for them! I've still been too lazy to upload my photos. Haha.





Thanks Steph! You managed to capture Marshmallow's Marshmallowy-ness perfectly.

Baking Cake

Decided to bake a cake for Valentines weekend.
(okay so I just wanted an excuse!)

I'm trying THIS recipe with Buttercream frosting.

Black Magic Cake - suits me! Haha.


Hopefully I'll be able to pull this off!

digging purple

Stephers made this pretty photo even prettier so I'm posting it here. I'm so sexy. LOL.
In case you're wondering - yes this is a photo from my wedding to Adam last February.




I dig the purple....

NottaCeliac!

Nope... TTG came back negative.
So why did I feel spontaneously better after eating wheat free for 3 days?

Not going to be strict on it but I think I'll eat more corn and rice derived products just for that reason. But OMG am I ever glad I can still bake and eat cookies.

hehe.

There is still a possibility my GI issues were related to wheat gluten or some kind of food allergy, but I've been okay since late last week!

basketcase

Cruising the archives of one of my favourite web comix. I thought some of you would get a LOL.

Killing Time with Foolishness

You Are an Astrologer

You tend to be a fanciful, spiritual person with many interesting theories. You are always trying to figure out how all the pieces of the world are connected. You have a knack for predicting the future and reading people. In modern times, you would make a good self help guru or a director of a non profit.

What's Your Medieval Profession?

Your Weight is Ideal

Your BMI is 19.9 - a healthy BMI falls between 18.5 and 25 Congratulations, you are the perfect weight for your height. Even though you may not be entirely happy with your weight, you are healthy. So gain or lose a few pounds if you want, but don't go too crazy! Don't agree? Blame the government standards we based this test on!

Do You Need to Lose Weight?

Your Life is 96% Green

Your life is totally green, and as far as your environmental beliefs go... your actions do speak louder than your words. Your lifestyle totally serves as an inspiration to others. Whether you know it or not. So keep it up!

How Green Is Your Life?

You Look Like a Leo

It's likely that you have great hair. No matter what the style is, it's the first thing people notice about you. Your hair tends to be a great color naturally, and it's likely you even get highlights from the sun. Overall, your body is slim and graceful. You seem comfortable in your skin. Your body is well proportioned. No part of you is unusually big or smile. Like most Leo people, you are probably lively, interesting, and fun loving. You are a good friend. You are naturally generous and hospitable.

What Sign Do You Look Like?

Awake...

Not sure what's going on, but I cannot sleep.
And so here I sit at 4am.

Think I'll try and read a bit of my book,
Happiness by Matthieu Ricard.

I also just realized he has a talk up on TED so I'll watch that soon too.

Quiet thoughts...

I have been thinking a lot these last few months about Buddhist philosophy, I hope to be able to delve deeper into this budding interest and perhaps gain a deeper understanding of myself and the human condition.

1. Life is suffering;

2. Suffering is due to attachment;

3. Attachment can be overcome;

4. There is a path for accomplishing this.

The Four Noble Truths







Trying to turn my thoughts inwards instead of to outside things, I've come a long way but there is still much to be discovered.





Photos by: Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it




On a more physical and less cerebral note: I had blood drawn yesterday to test for TTG antibodies. This should confirm or dismiss my suspicions of Celiac. The doctor I saw yesterday could not think of a better reason for my nausea, vomiting and other GI issues coupled with the severe itchy skin... He thought possible food allergy but as it came on after reintroducing wheat he wrote up the lab request for Celiac first.
Just waiting now.

Scared my nurse because I got all woozy after having blood taken hehe.

Late Night Notes

So it does look like wheat (and associated foods) are the source of the G.I issues.
(I'd prefer G.I Joe).

Now I just have to figure out how to stop being silly and eating things I KNOW I shouldn't.
Harder to kick old routines than I would have thought - I still threw oats (with wheat bran! Argh!) into my yogurt out of habit this morning (oops!) and the temptations of 'restaurant' foods was too great to resist.

Stoopid me.

Breaded chicken anyone? *sigh*
(Yes I still ate it - and yes I regret it ugh).

So now I am a very sorry very itchy me... again.




On another (happier and less itchy/bitchy) note!

It's Adam's Birthday!!
(as of only a few minutes ago).

I know birthdays mean gifts for the
"birthday-person",
but he's the best gift ever to me.

Think I'll go snuggle him now that my sick belly has calmed down.
(I'll use his scratchy beard to keep itches at bay! YES!)

Happy Birthday Honey!!