Hannibal the Hamster

No, I did not name the hamster. Yes, I am starting a home for way-ward hamsters. No, I do not need another hamster - two is plenty. No, I do not have hamsters because Stephanie Plum has a hamster.

Now that I have answered the most common questions about Hannibal and Harriet, let me tell you the story of Hannibal and how the little bugger came into my life.

As you have previously seen, Harriet was living the life of Riley in her plastic, rainbow-vomited cage in my bathroom. Then Cousin Jamie asked me if I could take a hamster off of her Aunt Julie's hands. Aunt Julie's nephew (or maybe great-nephew... I can't remember) was not really taking to good of care of Hannibal and thus, Aunt Julie received Hannibal one day. Julie is a kind-hearted soul who is living with her mother, a cat and a dog. Her mom, Mother Mary, had issues with the hamster smell/pine shaving dust in her house, so Julie needed to ditch the hamster. So, she gave Cousin Jamie a call and Cousin Jamie prevailed on me to take poor Hannibal in.

So now I have a double vision of rainbow-vomited, plastic cage in my bathroom. I don't dare put them in the same cage, seeing that I don't want baby hamsters.

Now, if someone wanted a hamster, I do believe that I have a free one for the taking. And he already has a cage and a name.

Just to let you know, is all I'm saying.

off i go

I confess. I am a bad packer. Be it moving or traveling, I don't pack well. And thus my problem for today. I leave for Denver tomorrow and I haven't packed a thing. And I question myself if I have enough clean underwear. hmmm... glitch. So this evening is pack-a-poluzza and cleaning of the hamster cages. Cousin Jamie said that she would watch them and she hopes that they don't escape again.

Have fun and hopefully I'll have pictures, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you.

Canada, ay?

Amy H (my partner in crime for noodle stirring) and I went to Canada yesterday. To gamble. I felt delightfully tawdry and cheesy all at once. What a wonderful feeling! Amy picked me up and off we went to Windsor, Canada. We drove over the Ambassador Bridge and I finally made my first voyage into Canada. That's right, my first trip to Canada. I know, I know... I live in Ohio and am only one very large lake away from Canada. What can I say? I lead a very sheltered life.

And then I went gambling for the first time! It was so neat and just a touch scary. Casino Windsor had tons of people there just gambling. Playing the slots and at various tables. They had a whole room dedicated to poker. I kid you not. And the time just falls away from you. We played a ton of penny and two-cent slots, I lost a few dollars worth of quarters at the Elvis slots and in all I made money on the deal. Yeah! Beer money for Denver!

Speaking of which, if anyone has any suggestions on what to see or do in Denver over my 4 day excursion, please feel free to do so.

OH! Pics from Isis wedding will be coming forwith. Promise.

thinking about goals

I did not complete all of the goals that I set for myself a year and a half ago. And I'm alright with that. They gave me something to look forward to and something to mull over for the last so many months. The only one that I have succeeded at is the 'Learn to knit socks'. Now I plan on upping my knitting skill level and 'Learn to knit socks two at a time' before my 31st birthday.

As for the 'Learning to drive a motorcycle', I think that I will roll that goal over to the new year. Now, I don't plan on going out and buy a motorcycle in the near future, but knowledge is power. grrr...

As for the 'Learn to ride a horse' goal might be done this summer yet. I don't know and it strickly depends on the good graces of Cousin Jamie.

And the 'Learn to shoot a gun' goal... well... I just don't know. Yes, we have multiple firearms here at the office (properly locked up, of course), but the teachers don't seem to be too forth coming with their time or knowledge. So, that might have to wait.

Now, if anyone can think of a good goal for the ensuing year, please feel free to write in the remarks or to email me. My personal education goals are not here, but believe me that they are still in action.

30

30 came in quietly and I'm happier for it. The folks and I got home from Mexico a little after midnight on the night of the 23rd, so officially it was the 24th. Sweetie and I went out for Japanese and coffee.

As for Mexico and Isis' wedding.... she made a beautiful bride. Victor seems very nice and I think that everyone had a wonderful time. I just wish that I could have spent more time there and enjoyed Mexico more.

Other than that, life has been quiet around here. Harriet the Hamster made an escape while I was gone, but was found after a day of searching. No harm, no foul... right?

Picture of Mexico to come. Promise.

is it time to move yet?

I have the boxes ready. I really do. I didn't pitch them the last time, since I have learned that I move way too often and have tons of stuff. Actually, I have less stuff then I did back in 2002 and I still consider what I have to be too much.

sigh.

Last night at a very late time (I was fast asleep) a train came through Ada and honked it's horn very loudly for a very long period of time. Then, after the train left town, various truckers came through and hit their airbrakes right in front of my apartment. You ask 'why?'. Here is why: I live about 1.5 blocks from the traintracks. Truckers like to buzz through small towns that have rolled up their sidewalks for the night. This is fine until they notice the elevated traintracks in the middle of town and know that if they don't slow down that they will be airborn.

Large semi-truck + being airborn = bad things will happen to truck/load.

It's a proven fact.

I might have to move. Sleeping with the windows open ('cause some freaky girl thought that she could tough it out without a/c) is for the birds. And you can quote me on that.

grrrr....

group knitting

Group knitting can be such a fun thing! Linda H and I have been doing some group knitting as of late since 1)we're both single in a very married/child-filled community, 2)have the itching to do so, 3)it's a good way to catch up on gossip. I have learned many a thing and it's enough to make your hair turn white! Somedays, I realize that the 'desh was just a ginormous (I'm sure that probably isn't a word) small town in Ohio. Like my hometown in Ohio, for example. Gossip is rife with various misgivings, bad deeds and that ilk. With that said...

So, hopefully, I will be going to Colorado this coming year for a Year Of Education. My masters. It'll only take about 80-85 grand to make the dream come true. Then I will have to pimp out my services to the highest bidder afterwards to pay for all of that fun. My mom's only request is that I 'go to a nice 3rd world country'. I hope that her request isn't too much to ask. After all, who wants to go to the bad 3rd world countries?

the prayer must have worked some

Grandma F is doing better and is on the mending list. Surgery is still a possiblity, but every week that goes by means that possiblity grows smaller. Yeah for her!

I'm getting all geared up for Mexico! I can hardly wait!!! Isis wedding should be a ton of fun! And then the goal is to go to Colorado and see if I can go to grad school there. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

As for knitting... well, I have completed a whole bunch of nothing. I did, however, find the lost ball of yarn for the boy stripey sock. I was down to turning the heel when I figured out that I had casted on the wrong number of stitches and that is why it was smaller around than the already finished mate. glitch. So, I frogged it and started again. I'm getting close to the heel. I need to really get this done quickly, seeing how they are a birthday gift. shhh....

say a little prayer

Yesterday was bad exciting.... Grandma F fell and broke her wrist. Dad took her to St. Rita's and they determined that she broke it in two places, put a temporary cast on and sent her home with the good drugs. So, Grandma and Dad are visiting St. Rita's again and Dr. VanAtta is putting on the real cast. They have to get Visiting Nurses in again (putting on pants single-handed is not easy, especially not for shaky ladies) and getting things set up for Grandma to stay at home with minimal interference.

I just got an update from Dad: No surgery this week, but they will re-evaluate her next Wed and see it it's needed. Come to find out that she crushed bones and it is not a clean break. Not good.

So, say a little prayer for Grandma. It sounds like she needs it.

Troy and Miranda

A couple of days ago, I received an email from Miranda asking if I was up for guests, namely herself and Troy. OF COURSE! How fun would that be? Tons. I was stinkin' excited!!!

So, Miranda and Troy showed up the night of the 6th (actually the 7th, since it was after midnight) and stay for two nights. I got caught up on everyone (RPCV/'desh) that Miranda knew about. The next day, I introduced them to my family and we went around to various Amish farms searching for strawberries and came home with eggs, maple syrup and a little more gossip. We also saw Shrek the Third and walked around Ada (it wasn't that big of a walk). They left this morning for St. Louis and then to New Orleans. Keep your fingers crossed that they keep safe.

But what leads me to write about this visit is how much I do enjoy having folks show up and letting me cook them breakfast and just visiting away the time. That is one of the good things I really believe that I learned from PC. It was also good to remember some of the better times that we had in the 'desh. It is so easy to dwell on the negative, that the good can be dwarfed in your memory.