Lucky to have Lucky

Our beautiful cat, Lucky, was attacked by a large animal last Wednesday night and killed. My neighbor saw the animal and thinks it was a mountain lion, which I've read may be returning to NJ. The NJ Wildlife told me it was likely a coyote. "No way!" says my neighbor. Either way, when Don went running to get Lucky, he was already gone. My neighbor's headlights had scared the animal away and it was she and her daughter who recognized Lucky. Very traumatic for them too as they were his prime catsitters. We are grateful to them for spotting Lucky and telling us right away, and also for their concern. (Article on mountain lions in NJ.)

It is so nice that so many people in our neighborhood have said how sorry they are to hear about Lucky. Many have their own Lucky stories as he visited many porches and backyards. Most remember him as sitting on our front step. People would say, "Oh you live in the house with the black cat on the step." Yes, we lived in Lucky's house! We've heard how people on their walks always looked for him as they walked past our house.

He often slept at the foot of our bed or always somewhere where he had a good view of the household comings and goings.

Here he is waiting to be seen and let inside. In fact the hardest thing these last few days is walking past the front door and looking for him, expecting that he's there waiting to come in.

Carolyn and Lucky were very close. He tolerated all kinds of lovin's from her! And spent most of his time in her room. He was born in Maryland around June 1, 1998. We got him just after Carolyn's 6th Birthday. He was the last of his litter - not sure if he started out as the runt, but he grew to be a very healthy 15-1/2 lb cat!

He was definitely an outdoor boy though and quite the hunter taking out many a poor little chipmunk. I've also seen him chase after a racoon and leap at our neighbor's beautiful dog, Buttercup, when she encroached on his territory one day.

Here he is rubbing my legs. He was always rubbing past us. Whenever I was out gardening, he'd get himself in between me and whatever part of the garden I was trying to work on. He ran across our deck last summer before the paint had dried and left cute little Lucky pawprints on the stairs.

Thanks to all of you who have called, emailed, or stopped by to give us your sympathies. I really didn't think it'd be so hard to lose a pet. Our handsome Luckykins, Luckster, Lucks, Lucky.

Facebook: Not for over 40 crowd?

More on Facebook for the over 40 crowd versus under 18 crowd here. It is fun to discuss ... and add 'friends'! Feel free to invite me to be your friend. Lol.

Facebook

I am obviously not the target market for Facebook because I don't get it. If I want to talk to you, I'll either phone, email or, if you're on msn, I might IM you. I can leave a message or send a text if calling. I can attach all kinds of info and photos or enclose links if email. Ditto with IM. I can even expound on minute details of my life in this blog. (Which is fun for me, if not my reader(s)!)

Now I have a Facebook account and I get 'invited' to be 'friends' with other people just like I got invites to be on LinkedIn. I've checked out a few friends' profiles, added a map, sent 'gifts' ... so far its not fun. Is this an age thing or am I not getting it?!

Final Kitchen Photos

It has taken me a long time to take a few final kitchen shots mostly because there's always so much going on in there. Below are a couple of shots at nighttime before we had picked out lighting by the windows and the electrician had made his final visit, and a few from this morning. We are really enjoying our new kitchen - so glad we bumped out and got the extra space!

Visitors and feedback welcome.

Happy Anniversary to us!

I should note that today is our 22nd wedding anniversary!

If I had a chance to do it all over again, there's not a thing I'd do differently. xoxo

"Old" Friends from The Hat

This is one of my oldest friends, Colleen, pictured here with one of her very cute granddaughters. I met Colleen back in grade 1, I think, in Medicine Hat when she moved into the yellow house across the street from us. We have stayed in touch off and on since then, even after we moved back to Toronto and she later moved to various places within B.C., now living on Vancouver Island. (Can you tell her background is Irish!?!) The last time we saw each other in person was in 1980 in the Okanagan, where she had her first child. I was still at Western then. Different paths but still we've managed to cross into each other's lives a few times along the way.

From my days in "The Hat" I have kept in touch with 3 girlfriends - still, after all these years. Colleen is one. Then there's Maureen who I keep in touch with less often but whenever we talk, we talk! She is my very first friend - apparently we were friends at 2, calling each other "Baby!" And the other is Marleen who I have seen the most. She went to UBC in Vancouver and has stayed there in a great home not far from the beach. It has been easiest to stay in touch with Marleen because I used to go to Vancouver on business with AT&T, and we vacationed out there a few times. We have always enjoyed getting together.

Our communication has changed from strictly letter writing, to the occasional phone call, to the occasional email. Face-to-face is rare unfortunately. I have great memories of my childhood in Medicine Hat and so nice to know I can still keep in touch with that time through these 3 good "old" friends.

Funny thing is that years later, while working at Ontario Place one summer, I met another Colleen. One day we found out, quite by accident, that we both lived in Medicine Hat, Alberta at the same time! We learned that our parents knew of each other though various "dos" (as my mom would say) - I think we'd say PARTIES! Colleen has remained a good friend too even though we have both moved many times ... and you think its tough keeping track of me!

The Medicine Hat chapter of my life will always be a part of me. Thanks girlfriends!