Anyhow, as you might have already guessed, I'm in a much more contented mode than my previous entry. Sam is home again, a place on the mantle for his ashes set aside. I fully intend to continue with my page of his pictures; a Taoist/Buddha shrine in progress I'm sure :).

For the moment, I think that's all I will attempt to complete in my mission to create a better webpage. We are switching over to a high-speed connection in a few days, with a different ISP than we are now using, so I will have to move the whole page anyhow. Hence, you will all be getting new e-mail addresses and webpage addresses for both Scott and I! Then, I will just take everything one page at a time.

Classes have been, for the most part, actually interesting. I say that now only because I've had the time to do the reading AND all of the work that should usually be done outside of class time. Having large breaks between classes always helps! My opinions might chance once the tests, projects and papers get underway, though I think most of the workload will come from only one of my classes: Building Science and Technology. It's mainly an information-drenched course, so plenty of reading, presentation of material and papers is expected. I intend to try my best, though I'm throughly convinced I won't remember a thing once I'm out of the course.

Latin is coming along quite nicely as well. The class appeared on my schedule as a spur-of-the-moment decision on my part, as the German class I was originally enrolled in was turning into somewhat of a nightmare. German was something that I intented to continue on with, seeing as I recieved fairly high marks in it at Mount Royal College. These high marks, however, were not enough to contend with what I was presented at the University. The professor bascially assumed that everyone remembered everything they'd learned the semester before (in spite of not hearing, speaking or writing German in over 3 months), and that his job was to challenge us with new words and abstract thinking about German grammer. I think it was the first time I actually panicked in the middle of class. Nervous, yes. A little scared, yes. But not absolutely and totally at a loss for what to do. So, I did what any normal, insane person would do - and took Latin. Et tu, Brute?:)

And, lastly, the workfront. After many weeks of searching, I finally found a position at the University that not only suited my schedule, but is something I actually look forward to doing every week. Being more than slightly profficent in computer applications and helping people with them, I decided that being a lab supervisor at one of the many computer labs might be a viable employment option. Luckily, I was right :). I now work 8 hours a week for the "MicroLab of the Faculty of Communication and Culture". Don't ask me why "Communication and Culture" sound any more succinct than "General Studies", but I guess it looks better on the name tag :).

Scott, however, has taken a turn for the worse on the workfront. As of two weeks ago, his position was downsized as a result of the company getting MUCH smaller than it used to be. I'm not sure how many of the details I'm allowed to type, so it'd be best to check his update page for the complete story :). Needless to say, he's searching for a new job. Updates on the progress will no doubt follow in later entries!

I do believe that's all I can muster for now, and you're probably already half-asleep from reading this, so I will depart :).

More will be added in the next entry...

I apologize in advance for any spelling and/or grammer errors you might encounter with this entry: hunting and pecking the keys with a sleeping Sam on your lap isn't the best way to avoid typing incorrectly. He's been really clingy lately, which is understandable, given all the poking and prodding he's had from various vets over the past couple of weeks. For a while we thought he was getting better, seeing as his Uvetis (a serious feline eye disease) was gone and he appeared normal and healthy. Then, a week ago we noticed that there something wrong with his legs. For some reason or another, he would stumble as if being tripped or temporarily lose control of his right leg. We knew it was serious when it persisted. Hence the many tests that have been performed to determine the cause. So far, nothing. However, according to the vet, some of Sam's medication (Cortizone drops for his now non-infected eye, prescribed by a paranoid eye specialist that's convinced that Sam's still going to lose his eye *grumble*) might be causing the lose of muscle control. We're giving him at least a week off the Cortizone to see if there's an improvement. So hopefully my next entry will be typed two-handed, with a content Sam sleeping somewhere else :).

As for the rest of life around here, it's actually pretty busy. Classes start this next week *oh-so-excited cheer goes up* and so does work! Scott's continuing on at the same place he worked during the summer, and I will most likely have a job supervising one of the many computer labs at the University. I guess that would give me more of an oppurtunity to work on my webpage, huh? ;) With any luck, I'll know if I've got it or not within the next few days,

And if not, that's ok - it'll give me more time to take care of the house because Lois and Jim (Scott's parents) are leaving for Toronto for a year and letting Scott and I take care of the house while they're gone! Yikes! I'm kind of excited and dreading it at the same time: Scott and I will have the place to ourselves, but that also means cleaning the darn thing and cooking food all the time! Not that we're inept at either by any means, it's just that we'd rather not have to do it while classes are in session :). The reason for the sudden move is that Jim accepted a project offer from Toronto, which requires him to be out there full-time for at least a year. I'll have to put in some updates about their goings-on as well I suppose ;).

Hmm, what else? I've stopped going to Tai Chi, at least until we can afford it and can I figure out if I have enough time to actually take a class whilst going to school. Luckily I can practice at home - otherwise my four months of training will be gone just as quickly! Hopefully I can still go into the building at least and get the information I need for the webpage...

Alrighty, I suspect that'll be it for the moment. My writing skills are steadily decreasing as the night wears on, and so is my focusing ability, so I'd best be off. 'Till next entry!

Inky and Sam are doing quite well! Sam's eye is doing wonderfully - it's not even swollen that much anymore. His medication must be doing the trick, though his weekly sessions of Reiki no doubt helped as well ; ) Scott's wondering why the CAT and not anyone else gets a massage therapist! Hopefully I'll actually get a page together with some more pictures of him and Inky. I'm actually coming along quite nicely on my Tai Chi page that I'm working on, so I should find time in the next few days to work on it. Right now I'm just taking it one page at a time! (sounds like a bumper sticker of the internet help group)

Anyhoo, I can't think of much else that's going on. Scott has his last week of work this week before starting his pre-session field school. I can't say that he's too excited about it because it involves a lot of strenuous climbing. At least that was his experience before. This time it might not be too bad, given the professor is pushing 70 ;).

Then classes start again! I'm sort of looking forward to it and sort of not - I'm enjoying having most of the day to do stuff that I want, but after 3 months it can get a little monotnous! And meeting new people in my classes is also going to be a good thing.

Alrighty, I should stop before I start babbling incoherantly.

First off, after 6 weeks of living here, Sam has been offically accepted by Inky. Chasing each other around the house is now considered "play time" and the only thing she insists he does is stay put while she gives him a power groom. His ears are now the cleanest ears I've ever seen. We hope each time that Sam is still somewhere underneath! He doesn't seem to mind it though ; ) He's already claimed a number of prime "sun spots" throughout the house (when Inky lets him) and is a certified Dorito fiend. Sam's also a fighter - we just learned this week that he has quite a rare case (at least in cats his age) of a disease called Uevitis. It's a form of eye infection that could lead to eventual blindess . Luckily, it's only in one eye and may be curable. We're still waiting to hear what the exact cause was and how sick he really is. But he's still extremely active! You can see his antics here with Inky :).

As for other things, well, they're going. I'm now doing a webpage for the Taoist Tai Chi society, which is going along fairly well. I'd show a link to it, but it's not quite half finished :) I've finally finished learned all 108 steps of the set and recieved the official T-shirt. Only another month until I finish Beginer's and go on to Continuing ; )

Scott's still working, and will probably still be (at leaat part-time) through the school year. I myself have had very little luck in finding positions on campus, but I'm sure something will eventually become available.

We picked up Sam on Saturday and brought him home with little trouble. Then, of course, trouble with the name of Inky , happened. We tried to put him in a box so that Inky could find him, but unfortunately, Sam is quite a jumper! So the past couple of days have been full of hissing, chasing and batting with paws (mostly on Inky's part), but I think they're going to be ok. Once Inky knows what to do with him. I think it's because she's not used to being around other cats and needs to brush up on her inter-personal cat skills. When that happens, everything will be ok. And we can actually eat and do other things in peace! We'll see...

Mom's up this weekend and we've been having a blast! Yesterday we went down to this really neat open-air market (that just happens to be inside a mall - so it would better to call it an open-mall market), and went into some interesting shops. Today she's out in Banff enjoying the mountains. And who could resist them anyway?? : )

Scott and I now have a webcamera! Courtesy of me mum. We're having fun taking pictures with it - in fact, we should have some up soon of Sam. As soon as we get him to calm down enough - he likes shoulders ; )

Let's see, what else? Oh, I'm almost done with that summer class finally. I handed in the paper today and in a week and a half I take the final. Too bad I didn't find out till AFTER taking the class that it's not required for my degree, but ah well. At least I get to go on an in-class field trip to see some ancient coins!

First off, I finally got into the university!!!*applause in the background* Yup, I'm now in General Studies with a minor in Architectural Studies. The classes I have planned for the fall and winter look pretty good - they include: German 227 (a continuation of the german I took at Mount Royal), Building Science and Technology I (a core course for my minor), General Studies 300 (another required course), Science 311 (a yucky technical writing course, but it's better than any "Communication Studies" class and I'm taking it with Scott ; )), and Archeaology 205 (sort of an introduction to the feild of Archeaology). I'll survive, with any luck :)

Secondly, we get Sam this weekend!! Finally, after the poor thing had to go through a bout of ringworm from a can of Friskies cat food. He had red splotches all over his body and the the women we're getting him from had to keep him quarentined with his brothers and sisters in a small bedroom! I can understand her caution though, and after waiting for 2 months, we can finally go get him! I'll have to update again and tell you what Inky thinks of all of this :)

My mom's coming to visit this weekend - yea!! I haven't seen her since the wedding last year, so we should have a good time together ;)

Scott's still working away at his job; you can see his rants about it on his personal update page (linked at right) :)

And Tai Chi is still moving along rather nicely, though from now on I'll be extremely tired when coming back from a class. Tonight happens to be one of them, so I'll have to leave off now. Till next time!

Just a few little things to tell you about:

1. We're getting another monkey! Yes, we've finally gone COMPLETELY insane and have decided to get a feline companion for Inky. He's so cute though - like Inky (a tiger) only cream and red. We've named him Sam, after the hobbit Sam Wise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien : ). Click here to see a picture of the little guy!

2. Well, finals are thankfully OVER! Scott and I were more than a bit stressed out for the last two weeks - copious quantities of chocolate, soda and chips were consumed. But we did well and hopefully our grades will reflect that! : )

3. I've gotten all the neccesary paperwork done to apply to the University of Calgary. Now comes the waiting! I'll probably know if I've made it into the program I want in a couple of weeks. 4. New things are happening on the rest of my page! Due to Scott's incredible ingeniousness with graphics, I've decided to change a the menu icons and titles on every page. Needless to say, this will take me a while, so the page might look a bit incongruous : )