St. Petersburg String Quartet

Well, it has been over a week since Diane and I attended this concert at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre. This group is from the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music in Russia. This touring group consisted of 2 men and 2 women. The 2 women played 1st and 2nd violin, while the men played the viola and cello. Besides being wonderful to listen to, it was great to watch the changing of voices of the instruments back and forth. Their encore was a fun polka with lots of plucking and intentional discord. During intermission, I purchased a 2006 CD featuring music by Mendelssohn and Dvorak. That CD was actually recorded in Canada and the 2nd Violin player was a man.
Take a moment to check out their webpage at http://www.stpetersburgquartet.com/

Finished my week of work

Starting days off tomorrow. Taking Peaches (the cat) into the Vet for bloodwork. It has been 7 months since it was last done. Need to check her numbers/health as we continue to treat her diabetes.

Saturday Highlights.

I started the day off early by attending the Men's Breakfast at First Baptist Church. This was the first breakfast in the Fall season.
I returned home and stayed with the animals and wrote a report for the K9Kidneys Yahoo Group.
I then went to the church for a hot dog and help the ACW Group pack up after their Rummage Sale.
This evening I helped chaperone the Church Youth Group. We started at the church with a Bible Study, then moved over to Minto Bowl for an hour of bowling. The adults including Percy Cunningham, Martin Sterling and myself and Matthew Hawkins played in the centre of 3 lanes while the kids played on either side of us. The best I could muster after an hour was 123 in the second game.
While I was away, Muffy had eaten her food and started drinking water.. It appears that she will eat Hill's K/D, but turn her nose up at the Medical K/D.

Thursday and Friday in Saskatoon

Muffy, our old dog had a 10:15 am appointment at the Veterinary College Small Animal Hospital in Saskatoon. I spent a whole bunch of time driving around the University Campus trying to find the right building. Even after stopping at the wrong building and getting a map and instructions, I still struggled to find the right building driving around constructions and detours. Muffy needed to have her blood and urine tested to compare the number 3 weeks ago when she was diagnosed with kidney disease.
After I left her at the Vet Hospital, I picked up Eric VE5HG and we went to the nearest A&W to try the new Uncle Sirloin Burger meal. It was nice to have the visit with Eric.
After checking back at the Vet Hospital and deciding to put Muffy on 24 hr. IV Fluid treatment, I met with Jim Mills, former Prince Albert resident at the Starbucks across from the University campus. That was my first visit to a Starbucks. I saw a poster of a Hazelnut flavoured Hot Chocolate which looked better than a coffee, so I order that. Seating was so scarce that we opted for sitting in Jim's Grand Cherokee for a 1/2 hour of sipping and chatting. The Hot Chocolate was delicious. Immediately afterwards, I went to visit my Aunt Ethel Myrah who is having a hard time recovering from her heart problems. She remains very weak and is in the process of cutting back on her medications to see if one of those is part of the problem.
I went to Martinsville for a delicious supper and an evening of visiting with the Connollys. Not to mention watching the antics of the pug and the cat. We retired to bed before midnight.
Thursday morning and afternoon, Garry and I went over to his daughter, Danielle's house to continue with the renovations. We worked in the cool weather putting facia on the garage. After another delicious early supper, I went back to the Vet Hospital to pick up Muffy and head back home.
Both the senior student and the intern vet who were assigned to Muffy were wonderful to deal with. They said they were grateful for our efforts to inform ourselves via the internet. They complimented Diane's care of Muffy's teeth. They wrote that Muffy was a sweetheart and a great patient. Muffy responded to their care by eating Hill's K/D and drinking water. The Vet has encouraged us to keep in contact via email with Muffy's progress and asking any questions.
Muffy and I arrived home before 7:00 pm. and she both and drank upon arrival.

Friday Activities

I met with the Anglican Men coffee group at A&W this morning - Joe, Ken, Harold and I. Good Fellowship.
Meals on Wheels Purple Route - Marquis Towers and Carment Court. On the way back to the Starlight Restaurant I followed behind a small tanker truck that was both splashing out its liquid cargo out the top and leaking it the bottom. It had a Manitoba licence plate and its right tail lights for signal and braking was not working. I sure hope that was just water in the tank because it was splashing not only on the street but also onto vehicles alongside it while stopped at intersections. I was tempted to call 911, but never did.
I spent the afternoon preparing a home-made hamburger/rice recipe for Muffy, who did not appear very much to appreciate my efforts.

Pet Woes

We are still struggling to convince Muffy to eat meals. We have tried everything, but end up having to syringe pureed food laced with baby food orally. I spent the afternoon preparing a home-made hamburger/rice recipe only to have Muffy turn her nose up to it. There is enough prepared to last quite a few meals. She did eventually finish it in the late evening.
I went to the Vet Clinic today to purchase 2 ringers (fluid) bags because both Muffy and Peaches are receiving fluid injections. I also picked up a referral notice from our Vet to take with me when I take Muffy to the University Vet College next Thursday. We are getting Muffy more thoroughly examined and compare the blood and urine readings from two weeks ago. We are hoping that an iv fluid treatment will improve Muffy inappetite problems as it did years ago with our poodle, Sparkles.
Not sure what Peaches had for insulin yesterday morning. By this morning her blood glucose was reading 28+, but by 4:00 pm this it was reading 14.7, which for Peaches is a very good reading. Nothing wrong with her appetite. Diane usually has to lock her in the bedroom when she is preparing her meals.
Regardless, our most of our time/energy revolves around our pets, but it is a choice we have made because we love them.

Saturday Priorities

Thanksgiving Dinner Shopping will be a priority throughout the weekend.
Doing research on Canine Kidney Disease is a big priority now that Muffy has been recently diagnosed. We have joined K9Kidneys Yahoo! Group and finding useful information. Leaving our setup on the website to avoid overwhelming number of emails to sort through. We have also applied to join the K9KidneyDiet Yahoo! Group to help with diet issues. Muffy is not enthusiastic about eating or drinking water. We are feeding and watering with syringe and have used SubQFluid with 60 cc syringe once.
Started some housecleaning today in preparation of hosting Twyla, Michael and grandkids for Thanksgiving supper on Monday.

Wet Wednesday

It was a cool soggy day today with it either drizzling or raining. Most of the customers in the store complained about the weather, predicting snow in near future.
I dropped my car off at the Autobody shop this morning - no, there was no body work to be done - They replaced pins and bushings in the hinges of the driver's door. It was getting very difficult to close. I had talked to them when I first got it about the door and they said it was a GM problem... the door is too heavy for the hinges. I held off getting it done as long as possible, but in the end, it was less expensive than they had predicted.
I spent the evening at home with the wet weather. Around 10:00 pm, I made a trek to Walmart to buy a few items. Much more relaxing time to go there.
Will spend the rest of the evening watching TV and on Facebook.

Tuesday's Activities

I worked 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the CO-OP because the Manager had a medical appointment. As it turned out he never came in. There were lots of pallets of stock to bring down the freight elevator. By the time the day of work was finished, I realized I had overworked the inside ligament on my right knee and it was hurting.
I picked up the tool box I had selected as my prize for money raised in the OK Hjertaas Golf Tournament. It has all the tools one would usually need for emergencies around the house, so I stored it under the bed for quick access.
Arby's menu for supper.
Men of the Way Practice then I dropped a Christmas piece of music off at Twyla's with the hopes she will be able to play her flute for us when we sing in St. Alban's, Sunday, December 28th.
I came home and looked after the cat and dog and then signed Diane up for a K9KIDNEYS Yahoo! Group so she can receive information about Kidney Disease to help treat our dog, Muffy who was recently diagnosed.
Been catching up on Facebook since then. Found a couple of good Anglican Friends on Facebook tonight.

Full Day

My day started at 5:15 am testing Peaches, our diabetic cat. I sort of doze off for another hour, then I am up and getting ready for work at the CO-OP Hardware by 9:00 am. Rushing home and looking after the cat and dog and grabbing a bite to eat before headng back to work. Off work at 6:00 pm, rush to pick up Quizno Subs for supper. Head off to Men's Chorus by 7:00 pm after eating and changing out of my work clothes. Fatique and lack of alertness started rapidly setting after the fellowship break. Practice complete by 9:30 p.m., but then I have to stay for an executive meeting. Immediately after the end of the meeting, I had to go and fill up Diane's car. I finally made it home by 10:30 pm and now I am struggling to stay awake in front of computer.. I think I should be getting to bed soon.
God Bless!

Order of St. Luke Study

At 7:00 pm Sunday evening I attended a Bible Study from the Mike Endicott booklet - Your Kingdom Come. It is definitely a new way of looking at the Healing Ministry. - emphasis on Proclaiming the Kingdom of God as our first priority. We closed with a short time of prayer.

Fall Supper - St. Mark's Catholic Church

Diane and I joined her sister Margaret and George for the St. Mark's Fall Supper. The supper was great as usual. The weather was spitting rain when we arrived at 3:45 pm, but steady rain when we came out after the supper.

Brighten my Soul

I just finished watching/listening to our Prince Albert Men's Chorus Spring Concert which was recorded on DVD. Overall it turned out very well and brought memories of the concert. I am getting a nice collection of our concerts on DVD, which make for a nice keepsake for years to come.

Our group this year has some new and old faces, which should make for an even better sound in our Chorus for this year.

The Monday evening of song and fellowship is an activity which I look forward to for many years to come, the Lord willing.

St. Alban's Youth Group

Early this evening I received a call from young Michael Lyons informing me that one of the chaperones for the youth group would not be able to come tonight and asked if I could come in on short notice. He informed me that we would be playing WII Games. I agreed to go and learned that other chaperone for the night was Doug Porcina.

I was not successful at Ski jumping, but was more successful with figure skating, and even more successful at bobsleighing. I held my own in the Tennis match and Martin Sterling and I teamed up to score 197 to win the bowling game.

Definitely an enjoyable evening with the youth of our church.

Fall Suppers

'Tis the season for Fall Suppers. This weekend there is a multiple choice, but we will be going to one of our favourites - St. Mark's tomorrow.

Time to get back to blogging.

Well it has been a long while since making an entry.
We have been blessed with above seasonal weather this past week. Sure would be nice if it decided to stay around for a while, but that might be too much to expect.
Back into the Fall activities of Men's Chorus, Men of the Way and Church Choir and Order of St. Luke.
Have been enjoying weekends off by changing my shift at the Prince CO-OP to Monday through Wednesdays.
Our 15 yr. old dog, Muffy has just been diagnosed with Kidney Disease and related liver problems, so now we are treating an old dog and an old diabetic cat.

Obscure but excellent DVDs

Diane and I recently purchased some bargain DVDs to watch over the holidays. Some were real treasures and a blessing (even spiritual) to view.
The Moving of Sophia Miles - starring Della Reese and Rue McClanahan. (2000)
Chasing Secrets - starring Della Reese and Ossie Davis. (1998)
Scattered Dreams - starring Tyne Daly and Gerald McRaney. (1993)
Going Home - starring Jason Robards, Sherry Stringfield and Clint Black. (1999)
Joshua's Heart - starring Melissa Gilbert, Tim Matheson and Matthew Lawrence. (1990)
Mother of the Bride - starring Rue McClanahan and Kristy McNichol. (1992)

We still have a few to view... but we definitely got our money's worth from what we have already viewed.

New Year's Resolution

Since I haven't posted since November 2007, I will make a New Year's Resolution to post more frequently in 2008.