Random thoughts

We has a new cat! She is lovely and sweet, her name is Pandora and she's about 4 years old. She is the black one that I tried to home in late November, Phleep said we could take her if no-one else wanted her. She is fitting in really well, already taking up bed-space. She plays nicely with Puff, seems to ignore Nanuk but doesn't get on with Possum. I think they're too similar and fill a similar niche in our cat ecology. Possum is jealous of her and she is scared of Possum, which is really weird as Possum is the sweetest cat evar. I'm hoping it will get better, we've only had her for a couple of weeks. There's always Feliway (which I've been spraying around like air freshener, even though it really stinks and gets in my throat). It turns out she wasn't preggies, just fat. I brought her in to be spayed and after fighting with her to get the jelco in (it's the drip thing they put in the arm to inject into), and shaving her arms and her tummy, the vet saw her spay scar. Oh well, we didn't know. She was very very cross for about 2 days, not eating and hiding under the bed. I think the anaesthetic took long to wear off and she was feeling a bit ill. Her tummy is still all naked and chubby :P.

We have been watching True Blood recently, it is made of win. It's a vampire series set in a small town in Louisiana, where vampires come out of the coffin and try to "mainstream". It's based on novels, which are obviously a bit Mary Sue, but still has an interesting plot and believable characters and an awesome soundtrack. It's really recent (September 2008) so we'll have to wait a while for the second season to be made.

It really doesn't feel like Xmas yet, even though I have my tree up (despite Puff's best efforts at scaling the tree-trunk and trying to steal the ornaments). I think it's the lack of mass-shopping for presents and total consumerism, and the fact that I'm not that keen to spend the day with my extended family. We are all poor this Xmas, so I'm not buying presents for anyone except the children in my life. I'm going to take all the arb bath-stuff/biscuit/chocolate money and donate it to a good cause, then tell my family that on Xmas day. I plan to do the same for friends, btw. Maybe buy everyone a membership to the Animal Rescue Organisation or something. I remember a couple of years back wolverine_nun collected money at the annual Boxing Day Braai and donated it to various charities. Confluence and I have been discussing an idea like this and that's what will probably happen. For the price of a box of biscuits in a tin you can pay for a stray animal to be sterilised. Alternative gifts are the way of the future, no one needs more stuff.

It's a lovely day outside, even if I am at work. 


ps: This post courtesy of egadfly's meme, for which I did not have a sentence for December :P. But really, I have been wanting to post for a week or so, just haven't found the time.

ppss: go look at cute baby animals www.zooborns.com/zooborns/ !

Check out the SA Social Investment Exchange. It's so cool, you can buy "shares" in charities and all the projects are rated on various criteria, just like companies on the Stock Exchange. I love things that make it easier for people to donate to worthy causes! Also, Gifts 4 Good.

Both of these make excellent Christmas presents. Give something more meaningful than soaps or chocolates this Festive season. As an animal lover, I would far more appreciate a cat sterilisation kit than a book voucher.

What I did today to save the planet a little: washed my colleagues' fast food containers to take home for recycling. What did _you_ do today?

Random stuffs:

Link to eco-friendly yarns. Also, I might start a needlework blog, seeing as it's the thing to do, apparently. I never keep pics of the things I've made, though, so this might force me to start keeping a gallery. I want to knit a patchwork aran jacket from bamboo DK. I think it will be lovely but I'm not sure if it will be snuggly enough. I think the fact that I'll have a jersey made from bamboo is winning.

It's nearly Christmas! Omg. I love Christmas, I don't know why. Maybe it's the only time my family pretends to get along. Also, there's the presents and the tree and the general feeling of happiness. Christmas is also a time for charity and to think about those less fortunate. So, instead of giving material things this year, how about making Christmas matter with a Gift 4 Good? I think Greater Good's gift ideas are the best thing ever. Now, instead of thinking "urgh, what am I going to buy for this person, R50 doesn't go as far as it used to", you can get them something that will make them feel that they are doing something for someone else who appreciates that R50 much more than they do. Like Arrested Development said "2 dollars means a snack to me, but it means a big deal to you". I think we could all give up a movie and popcorn to feed a cat in a shelter for a month.

Here's a challenge to all bloggers (and others!) who read this: every time you post, include a ps on what you did today that made the world a better place, be it recycling or giving a meal voucher to a beggar (eg Loaves and Fishes, available at Obs Spar) or buying a Big Issue or putting a brick in your cistern or choosing environmentally-friendly products at the shop or taking your own bag to the shop or replacing a normal light bulb with an energy-saving bulb or carrying a plastic bottle to refill with water instead of buying a new one every time.

Check out www.treehugger.com for awesome tips on how to go green in just about every part of your life. Especially useful is the "Green your pets" section.

I'm not trying to be preachy here, just trying a little gentle encouragement :). It's not that hard to be green, despite what Kermit says.