Last First Day

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My birthday (there it is again, sorry) coincided with Jonathan's first day back to school This was also his last first day back to school in his life, at least regular school. Who knows what the future holds?

It would have been prudent to get a photo of the boy setting off on his Last First Day, but alas! no one in the family did. His girlfriend's mother did get ↓ this. I have already cropped it and eliminated the digital date display, but what can you do with a blurry photo?

I knew that I could replace the background, and in recognition of a return to school, I would ask AI for shelves loaded with books.

But could AI make JJ less blurry? I know that it is beyond normal photo editing, but I thought that I would try by asking AI to bring the subject into focus (I forget the exact words).

The Result was surprisingly good. While the hair is a little fuller and the eyebrows darker, the face is definitely recognizable as Jonathan.

I also made a mono conversion because I like to do that.

I think that Shauna may compose a new, genuine photo and designate it as first day back, and I'll probably update you if she does. However, this suits me in the meantime. AI did what I don't think any human could do, and it did a pretty good job, really. I don't think his grandchildren will know the difference.

My 79th

I confused some of you yesterday. I knew that I would. I celebrated my 79th birthday, which means that I began my 80th year, but I am not 80 quite yet. Of course, I have the pics to drop, but I shall try to make the dropping minimal by much combining, as in this first diptych. which I will elucidate below..

We had done so much celebrating already that there seemed little else that we could do. But we like our turkey bacon club sandwiches and we like walking at Riverside Park. While sandwiches in the car are more of a cold  weather treat, we were able to mitigate against rain which has fallen most abundantly recently. After the repast, the weather was good enough for a stroll during which Sue took this photo of me taking a photo.

Of course, there was pizza pie and birthday pie (in lieu of cake), and gifts. On the left I hold my apple pie, and on the right I am sitting on my new office chair and holding a bag of spring bulbs that JJ has promised to plant for us this autumn.

Danica dropped by long enough to say hello, and JJ appeared late after his shift at the grocery store. The photo of Jonathan was both over-exposed and blurry, so I am substituting an older photo, but I will get back to him in another post. The snap of Sue was similarly poor, but at least I have her up above from our morning lunch outing.

I had a good visit with Sabine and got a picture with Sha.

They weren't there, but in the morning I did receive a greeting from PJ, our other child who lives in Vancouver. They are presently in Italy with her choir and where they have swum in the Mediterranean Sea. We share the same birthday, 31 years apart.

 

Then and Now

It's finally here. I begin my 80th orbit around the sun today.

I look a bit different than I did about 77 years ago. You've seen this photo before, but it suits me to post it again today. I was cute then.

I think that was from 1963 when I was 16. Not too bad looking even then.

I had the boys take this one yesterday when they treated me to birthday lunch. As you can plainly see, I am no longer cute or good looking, and where the heck did my hair go? Isn't it awful what time does to a boy an old man? I converted it to b&w to go with the previous photos. I will probably keep the colour version on hand to include in some possibly far-off Orphan Photo post 

Tonight we'll head over to Sha's for birthday pizza. As you already know, Danica is unavailable. Jonathan will also be working for most of the evening, but we'll probably see him in passing. We'll do something or other today, even if it is just a coffee in the park.

Plugged

Walking with Sue these days requires an adjustment that may necessitate milady walking on the curbside. On one recent stroll in order to avoid having her walk on the outside, we deliberately chose a counter clockwise route, so that she could speak to my good ear.

If you don't already know that I have quite a hearing loss, I am, hereby, informing you that I am only about 50%. With hearing aids, I get by although discriminating some words can occasionally be problematic. I always choose to turn on the captions when I am watching tv. I started with the British programs and now employ captioning ubiquitously.

Unfortunately, I have run into an additional problem. To wit: my left ear feels plugged, and the volume that I am getting is greatly diminished with or without the hearing aid. I had the hearing aid checked and was told that it is in good working order. Then, I went to the doctor to check for fluid. I had fluid on my right ear earlier this year, and it took me three weeks of treatment for the ear to drain.

But no! they say that it isn't fluid buildup this time around. The doc feels that it has to do with allergies. I am to use a nasal spray daily and take an antihistamine tablet, but that hasn't worked yet. She feels that I may have to continue to follow the protocol until the first frost.

Oh good grief! The first frost is still three weeks off, and that is if the average holds. 

The extra kicker is that is has usually been my left ear that is my better ear, but now I would say that it is working at, perhaps, 25% efficiency or less as I rely on my weaker right ear.

As you might imagine, there has been a lot of repeating of whatever is being said. It is aggravating for all parties but perhaps more so for the speaker. What I discovered a long time ago is that people are used to speaking at a certain level. Even when someone knows that I have a hearing problem, and I have just asked for something to be repeated, their very next communication will frequently revert to their lifelong normal. It's just natural.

I try not to have Sue repeat everything. Sometimes, I make a judgement about whether or not something sounds important for me to hear, and I may choose to just let the sentence slide away into the ether.

As soon as I leave you, I will apply the nasal spray and take my antihistamine and hope, likely against hope. My wish is that I don't have to wait for three weeks or more until the first frost for relief. And what if it that doesn't solve the issue? What then?

Early Birthday Scones with Danica

Danica went back to the city yesterday but not before meeting with us. Since she won't be attending my boisterous and rollicking birthday party, she joined us at Blue Spoon for scones. I think it was very nice of her to think to make special time for her grandfather in her busy life.

Sue took a photo of us. Her half was so cute and mine was so uncute that I cropped it.

This is or will be her gift to me. I had mentioned to Sue that I would like a Carlton U sweat or tee shirt, and she has passed that on. Since Danica will be working in that store, starting today, she can pick out something using her discount.

When I struggled to get the three of us in one selfie while we were sitting around the table, a nice lady offered her services. I had been hoping that would happen.

I really appreciate that Danica made the time for me.

Pre-Birthday Brekky

We meandered over to Dark & Deadly on Sunday morning for a pre-birthday (mine) coffee and breakfast sandwich. Anything for an excuse, eh? Actually, we've been almost overusing that excuse lately.

I sat beside the figure which have seen before. A lady asked if that were our son. I replied that he looked like his mother. lol

Unrehearsed, we both found in-between shots: hers between legs, mine between hands. I like hers a lot.

A couple came in with a guide dog. I so dislike dogs that I decided to shoot it. Kidding: I don't dislike dogs, but I did shoot it.

I also shot another member of the D&D family. Sue said that he wasn't new, but I don't think I have photographed him before.

Now, what other pre-birthday treats can I wangle?

Caturday 94: Forrest and Shelly

It's Caturday, and though I have photos of Sabine from a recent visit, I am going to post about Forrest and Dickie's Cause 4 Paws -kitten rescue, which is a local fb page that you can find here.

Shelly Dickie is a local lady who does her own kitten rescue, but she helps older cats as well if the need arises. This is what she posted about the kitten, Forrest.

Just brought Forrest home and getting him settled.

This poor kitten has been through a lot of stress and pain. He was found literally in the middle of nowhere , deep in Limerick forrest.

His hind leg was broken aprox a month ago and he’s endured this pain and suffering on his own.
He has severe ear mites, and a neck wound where a cuterebra was located , along with being skin and bones from starvation and upper respiratory infections.

How long was he in the Forest? How did he get there? Would someone be so cruel as to dump him where there was hardly a chance of being found ?

I’m so thankful he was found and brought to us. He is such a dear kitten of aprox 10 weeks old .

He’s safe now . And I’ll cuddle him as long as he needs to feel safe .

Thank you to all who donated to his vet care .

Shelly does so much for the cats and never refuses them. She raises funds through online auctions and many readers support generously. From time to time, we make a modest donation. We did so for Forrest.

This was a follow-up post.

Forrest is such a good boy. After lots of cuddles yesterday he settled down for a long nap. 

His ear mites are being treated, he’s on antibiotics for his neck wound and upper respiratory infection. 

His hind leg break was from a month or more ago and has since healed in a crooked position . But we are hopeful as he grows it will straighten out a bit more . He can use it and isn’t in any pain anymore .

I hope he recovers quickly and finds a wonderful loving home .

He deserves to be spoilt . 

Thank you all who donate to save kitties like Forrest

 Forrest

The rescues goes on and on and on, but I will add just Ramsay and Apollo 

Ramsay almost died of starvation and infection. He is an orange male kitten of 6 months of age. Showed up in a ladies back yard begging for help.

We almost lost him but our vets worked hard and here he is, eating on his own and slowly recovering.

He is fiv/Fel negative but has upper respiratory infection . I’m thankful he is a fighter and wants to live.

He will be staying in clinic until he’s strong enough to neuter and then he will go to his foster home.

Apollo had a set back with some diarrhea and vomit . He also has a urinary Tracy infection.

He came back to stay at the clinic to receive the help he needs. It’s easier to give him medication while at the clinic than in a Foster’s room.

He too is on the mend and should be going to his foster home next week.

I’m grateful for Almonte Veterinary Services for taking such good care of our rescue cats and kittens. Without them I could not save lives.

I’m grateful for fosters willing to give scared cats a chance .

I’m grateful to all of you who follow, comment and donate to help save lives. Without all of you there would be no rescue.

Thank you

Shelly does so much. If she helps older cats that cannot become pets, she practices TNR: Trap, Neuter and Release. But she doesn't abandon them. She has a farmer or two that provide for cats in barns, and Shelly supplies the cat food. Occasionally, she calls for help when the food runs out. Some people help a lot. We have helped a little.

However, this is primarily a kitten rescue, and she takes them into her home and adopts them out to those who meet her rigorous standards. Cricket and Calamity are bonded and are just about ready to go. Hopefully, they will be adopted soon as a pair.

I am in awe and deep in admiration of Shelly and thought that Sabine wouldn't mind giving up her place in the sun this week. My blogging family is mostly from far away, so I am not fund-raising, just posting about a worthy person working a worthy cause that I thought some might like to read about.