Dead bird discoveries

I'd like to bore you with details of the 8 dog encounters I had today while delivering the mail. I really would, but I won't.

I will, however, bore you with details of the dead birds I've been finding along my mail route. The running total is now at 3 dead birds - 2 magpies and 1 unidentifiable baby (featherless, pink and looked like a mouse at first glance).

The most interesting part of my dead-bird-discoveries comes from today's find. I approached the front steps of a home when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a bird standing on the walkway that leads to the backyard. Upon closer inspection I came to learn that the bird standing on the walkway (a magpie) was dead, yet still standing upright on both feet. How that's possible I'm not sure. The disturbing part of the whole experience was the fact that this magpie, much like the first dead magpie I saw a week ago, had no head.

Lori is convinced (and is trying to convince me) that cats bring dead birds to homes as a way of saying "I like you and as a token of my appreciation for who you are, I bring to you this dead (and headless) magpie."

Just for fun: Our pets heads are falling off!

Konservation is Key

We recently heard that, in a year, a microwave uses more electricity to power the little clock than it does to cook food. Every time I go to "zap" something I have to plug in the microwave. In an attempt to save the $50/year, that is apparently used to power the little clock, we're unplugging the microwave when it's not in use.

And in an attempt to save water I've decided to shower only once every 4 days.

Last night while going to bed

Lori: Don't sit on the plate of food.
Me: What?
Lori: Don't sit on the plate of food.
Me: What food?
Lori: On the chair.
Me: Why is it on the chair?
Lori: Because it's hot.
Me: *lauging*

30 seconds later

Lori: That was supposed to be for Oliver.
Me: *more laughing*

Then I think Lori kind of woke up a little. I was probably laughing quite loudly and she got mad at me. I don't think she was mad at me for laughing at her because I don't think she knew what happened. She probably thought I was laughing at the TV. Whatever the case it made for an entertaining few seconds.

Grace by Emma

Dear Jesus, Thank you for our supper and that Oliver's trying a new food that he likes and that it's not spicy...that mommy thinks it's not spicy but it is a little bit spicy. Amen.

The beginning of the end

The phone just rang.

Hello?
Hi, is Emma there?
Emma?
Yeah. Is Emma there?
Emma? There' s an Emma here but it's probably not the one you're looking for. She's only 5.
Oh. Bye.

The phone rang again a few seconds later.

Hello?
Oh, wrong number again.

The girl on the other end sounded young but it never even dawned on me that someone could actually be calling to talk to my daughter. She's too young for that. Right? The girl hasn't called back so she either really did have the wrong number or I've scared her and she doesn't want to call again.

Dog owner blames victim for attack

The owner of two dogs that attacked and bit a letter carrier has spoken out for the first time since the incident.

Natasha Bosse says the mailman surprised her dogs and he was to blame for the attack.

On Tuesday the mail carrier was bitten in the upper right arm during an attack by two of Bosse’s dogs.

He required stitches.

“That dog is there is there to protect me and my daughter. Know what I mean? My gate was open not even an inch, that man was coming around the corner,” said Bosse.

Calgary letter carrier attacked by pitbulls

Being bitten by a dog while delivering the mail is one of my greatest fears. This story does not make me feel good at all.

Reader from Crossfield

Who are you? I'm curious. You come to here via a search for my blog at YAHOO! search and you always seem to leave by clicking on the link for chrisandevey. Do I know you? Just wondering who you are.

Actually, I'm curious to know who all my remaining readers are. Nobody leaves comments anymore. I don't give reason to leave comments as I don't post often enough. So what keeps you all coming back? And who are you?

Close Call

The peacock came extremely close to these kids. I didn't capture a shot of them and the peacock together but I've pieced these two images together to give you an idea of what happened.

Update Mania

Halfway through my last week of vacation.

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Been very busy over the last while. Well, last week was busy anyway. Dad was here and we busted our butts cleaning up and purging a ton of stuff that has collected over the years. Took 4 trips to the landfill. Had to deal with a curve ball when we learned it was time to replace the fridge. Said goodbye to the "big green van" when dad and I took it down to give it to the Kidney Foundation. Another vehicle ("the old brown car") is going away on Monday and my "purple car" is going the Monday after that (all to the Kidney Foundation). Should I mention that last week I got to eat at Wendy's three days in a row?

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It's raining like crazy in Calgary. Many people have suffered from the storm(s) and flooding and lightening. Can't believe the images I've seen of homes and cars and roads that have been flooded. That home in Tuscany that was on fire from a lightening strike was crazy.

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Been playing my guitar (and the piano a little) over the past few days. I love when the kids start to learn the lyrics to the songs I'm playing/singing. It's like a big ol' family jamboree.

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Had a nightmare last week. It was my first day back at work after my holiday. I don't know exactly what happened but there was a backlog of mail for my route. I guess the person that covered my route wasn't able to keep up with the volume of mail. There was triple the amount of mail than I'd normally receive on a Monday. All I can remember about the dream was that I was sorting letters pretty much all day. Other letter carriers were returning to the depot (having finished for the day) and I was still sorting. I don't know if I ever finished sorting or if I got out to deliver because I woke up. Too scary. I hope it's not really like that when I truly return on Monday.