Opal is a hurricane veteran. She was raised in North Carolina and was evacuated more than once, including during Katrina. Service animals, by the way ARE allowed into shelters (pets are not). I had no Guide dog at the time Hurricane Juan blew through Halifax some years ago.  I do recall my cat being terrified, especially when one of our windows blew in.  The power was out for five days. The streets were dangerous and impassible because of fallen trees and power lines. I can't imagine what it would have been like to experience Juan with a guide dog.  In the last 12 months, Opal and I have dealt with bad weather, including tropical storms packing 120km hour winds and 150 ml of rain.   It's important to listen to weather forecasts. It is helpful when planning your dog's opportunities to relieve, because you can't expect your 60 pound animal to be willing and able to squat in a gale (there's always the bathtub...grin).

Plan your strategy for an upcoming storm. Obviously, you must have enough food and water on hand, for yourself and your animals. You should have a pre-determined   disaster plan for home, work or school. Create a communications and evacuation plan. and develop a support network of people. Your service animal's kit must include food, dish, labeled medication, identification, papers, toy, bone, play collar, small blanket.  Fill your bathtub with water. Make sure you have the following on hand: non perishable food, water, batteries, portable or crank radio, medication supply, important papers including a list or audio tape of phone numbers and insurance information, first aid kit, warm clothing, sleeping bags, and items specific to your disability. Remember that phones and  power may go out (have mechanical can opener). There is often a lot of noise and confusion during building evacuation which makes it difficult for people who are blind who can no longer rely on familiar audio cues. Be familiar with your plan and practice regularly.

It's not a good idea to use a land line when there is lightening ( My friend was knocked over while talking on the phone during a thunder storm as lightening hit the wires).  Unplug stuff, particularly computers.  Modems, monitors and so on, which can also become toast during a bad storm. On that cheery note, I am shutting down, unplugging and hunkering down as the weather begins to rage and we await the remnants of Hurricane Hannah.

Simon Reynolds reviews A Gilded Eternity by Loop. Taken from Melody Maker, 20th January 1990.

This for Andre who left a comment recently. Not sure I have any interviews Andre and this isn't exactly Loop's finest hour but hope it's better than nothing. Sad to reflect on the countless bands over the years you could apply Reynolds opening sentence from this review to- "It's clear now that [band] peaked with their magnificent brace of EP's in [date]".

Not now though. I miss the EP. It gave bands a chance to develop in a way they don't have now. Never got into Loop personally. Probably in no small part because I didn't spend my late teenage years in a permanent fug of marijuana smoke which did seem to be an obligatory requirement at the time. And besides, Loop always played second psychedelic fiddle to Spacemen 3 - sorry Loop fans.

Elsewhere Bob Stanley reviews Opal and also fails to pump up Technotronic's jam. Simon Patrick reviews Ozma, an early Melvins release, a band still going strong in 2008! Push reviews Divine Styler and In Goth Daze - lucky him! Finally Ian McGregor reviews The Corn Dollies, Wrecked.

There are many less memorable items which I would rather she NOT find; pop, beer and liquor bottles (some broken), cigarette butts and packaging, bubble and chewing gum,  medication bottles,  condoms (used), TONS (literally) of  fast food containers and wrappers (some with dregs of 'food' in them), and an astounding assortment of garbage which has found its way into OUR neighbourhoods. Sheesh, there are  a lot of pigs in the world!

NOW HEAR THIS!!! Keep your crap in your cars and in your backpacks and pockets and dispose of it appropriately instead of hurling it into OUR SPACE. If you insist on indulging in disgusting habits like smoking and  public drinking and sex, be resposnsible and haul the evidence of your little party away. Smokers are particularly irritating to us. Opal finally gave up a habit of eating butts. (Her nickname, given to her by some Brits,  was 'Fag Ash Lil' ). Frankly, I think YOU  smokers should eat your own butts.  Maybe you gum chewers should stick your gum wads into YOUR own hair. See how much fun it is to pick out, just as  I pick it out of my dog's paws, and fur.  As for the nuts who smash bottles on sidewalks?  YOU try walking barefoot over your expression of youthful nuttiness and/or drunkiness.

I wonder what it would have been like for all involved if all the puppy walkers COULD have attended. I think a Puppy Walkers Tea  could be a valuable and enjoyable opportunity for some people, but potentially awkward for others. I have yet to meet A.A. ( a then-15 year old) who raised Opal, though I have spoken to her many times, exchanged letters and gifts, and e-mailed her mum (a writer) hundreds of times.  I now have an arsenal of Opal stories that could curl your hair...well, that's for another blog... Sure, WE would have gotten along swimmingly at a Puppy Walkers Tea, but I have heard stories (maybe that's all they are) about such encounters that did not turn out quite so well. It is a tense time...gotta be. The new handler is stressed after a rigorous month of training and wants to get home and settled, the dog is transitioning from trainer to the new handler so it is probably  a little stressed too, and the puppy walker walks into the midst of it all?  I think that it would all go well, provided that everyone understands their roles; the puppy walker is no longer 'top dog' in the relationship. That dog is now in a special relationship with its blind handler. The handler must remain cool and know that their dog will recognize the puppy walker and want to express its emotion.  The trainers and staff have an obligation to keep everyone clear on the ground rules for the meeting. For example, it is no longer the puppy walker's role to give any type of command to the dog...not even 'sit'.

I am so pleased and grateful to hear from all the puppy walkers and puppy raisers who have written to me through this blog. Please realise that those pups are treasured after you 'let them go'.  Do not think for a moment that your role is not as important as that of the professional trainers who actually train the dog to do all the fancy stuff, like stop at curbs and go around obstacles.  These formative months in a dog's life (before it trains), are critical. If you take that dog everywhere and expose it to social situations, surfaces, noises and so on, then you will have done the grunt work from which will emerge a potentially fearless Guide dog.

Pale Saints

The Comforts of Madness (4ad 1990)

http://www.divshare.com/download/5210899-715

From the first moment I heard the angelic choirboy voice of Ian Masters, I was hooked. I've followed his circuitous career and always was surprised that more folks haven't come to appreciate his more spartan, ethereal work as Spoonfed Hybrid and ESP Summer. However, none of these projects ever compared to the brilliance of his work on The Comforts of Madness. His influence on the band is made even more clear by the blandness of Slow Buildings, the album they recorded without him. In fact, the followup to The Comforts of Madness, In Ribbons, is a lesser work because Masters was disenchanted with the poppy direction of the band and pressures to tour outside of England. However, their debut was entirely Masters' platform and it resulted in one of 4ad's best albums.

The Comforts of Madness is definitely influenced by Galaxie 500, Jesus and Mary Chain, AR Kane and My Bloody Valentine, but Masters' songs are much more delicate and fragile despite the swells of feedback that propel some songs. They also set themselves apart from their peers in the shoegaze scene with their sudden shifts in tempo and mood within each song. Plus, it kind of sounds like a member of the Vienna Boys Choir tinkering with twee and shoegaze by writing complex, but odd pop songs with tape loops and almost subliminal samples. They even cover Opal's "Fell From the Sun" and improve on the original by lending it a graceful quality lacking from the original. It's a thoroughly 4ad take on an American gem. I could listen to Masters coo the alphabet and be a happy man, so I may be biased in my praise of this vastly underrated album.

So, I do my bit to show my appreciation to CGDB.  I  convinced the local Walmart manager to allow CGDB to place two plastic Guider collector dogs in his store. It's no skin off the manager's nose. These puppies take up only one square foot of floor space each.  They attract kids and people generally love them. I go each month to empty  the coins out of Buzz and Regina (named after Opal's mum and dad).  I clean them because kids often 'pat' them with grubby hands.  They will go to the car wash next summer for pressure hosing. Today, the haul seemed lighter than usual.  Maybe $150 or $160. I said to Opal, "looks like CGDB  can buy a Guide dog's toe today". You do the math.  One entire guide dog=$35,000.00 so $150. would likely buy a  toe. Next time you see the collector dogs? Put some money in them. If you're one of our regular contributors?  How about digging a little deeper into your pockets or billfold?

Today,  Jane, a trainer from Canadian Guide Dogs For the Blind in Manotick, Ontario came for our yearly aftercare visit. These visits ensure that guide dog and handler are still working efficiently and that nothing is amiss with the dog's care or health. I am one of several clients from CGDB that Jane visited this week. My concern, as expressed in a past blog, is that I might be getting a little sloppy with the 'rules' regarding guide dog handling. I CHOOSE to allow Opal on the bed and sofa. I give her a 'cookie' when she gets home....  however, when it comes to the meat and potatoes of my relationship and handling of Opal? Tickety-boo!  The girl saves my life every other day. She also adds a dimension to my life that I never thought possible. To put it simply, my life is more enjoyable because Opal is in it.  I still value Jane's expertise, so I was a little concerned about the impending visit.  Jane knows dogs. She loves, lives, and breathes guide dog training. I refer to it as,  'Jane's Addiction' , like the band of the same name. (see how I finally got to the pop-culture reference?!  Jane's Addiction, by the way, is an alternative American rock band that plays hard rock, punk etc.  They've had a spotty past, but are reuniting this year for the third time in their 'musical' history)

Opal adores Jane. She did a BIG happy dance when Jane arrived. My concerns began to ease when Jane commented on how well Opal looks; healthy and cared for.  We chatted for a while about my experiences with Opal over the last year. Then, we went for a walk over to the post office in the mall.   Opal constantly spun her head back to look at  Jane (trailing and observing us). Other than that,  we were fine.   There is apparently nothing wrong with this Guide dog team! My girl even went off-curb to take me round an obstacle I could not see. We returned home victorious (and sweaty).  Jane showed me a better way to clean Opal's ears. She checked Opal's equipment and put a new reflective sleeve over part of Opal's harness ( goes over the chest strap). We shared t-Touch tips (see Tellington Touch link on blogroll) and then, sadly it was time to say our goodbyes. Opal? She stared at the door for a minute after she left and seemed OK when I said, "Jane had to go home and train some more guide dogs".

One of my most favorite things to do is go for walks. At twilight. Twilight seems to be the time of day that is the quietest. The calmest. The time when everyone sits down for dinner, then retires to their room to sleep or read a book. The air is still and I can hear distant sounds a lot easier at this time. Some days, there are clouds still hanging over the horizon that were a blazing pink or orange at sunset, like opals. At twilight, you see that glorious fire die down to ashes, and your soul seems to lay down to rest with it. The details of the distant trees slowly fade out to ink black against the evening sky. Your eyes can rest now that the sun isn't threatening to blaze into them. It's such a wonderful time of day.

Another thing that strikes my fancy is blank paper. Especially blank lined paper. I like to write, and the sight of blank lined paper fills my mind with possibilities. The foreseeing of handwriting upon it excites me, but I still hold a ballpoint pen in my hand with great, trembling hesitation. The most disappointing thing about liking blank paper is that you hate it once you mark it up with your own penmanship. The magic of anticipation is gone. The paper has been soiled and deflowered. It will never be blank again. It has been marred by things that probably will never matter. Especially when your handwriting is less than tasteful, like scribbles from an inexperienced child's hand. And then you throw it aside to use the next blank piece of paper, angry to find that you pressed too hard through the first piece of paper, marring the next one with indentations or, in the case of using a Sharpie, ink that bled through.

For similar reasons, I find great fancy in perfectly straight sticks and boxes. Straight sticks could be used for many things. They could be used to build something, to conjure something, to defend one's self, or used as mere decoration. Don't even attempt to mess with a perfectly straight stick. You will regret it for a long time. It will have naturally grown so straight, and then something not so perfect will have marred it out of jealousy of its perfection.

Where's the fairness in that?

My obsession with boxes seems to reflect to the world my curious personality. Like Pandora, I'm a tad too curious for my own good. I open boxes, hoping to find something amazing. Something unexpected. Something magical. If the box is empty (as it usually is), then I get all caught up in the possibilities of what could have been inside. If there is something in there, I have less happy thoughts, now knowing, for sure, what is in the box. No more guessing. No more surprise. I absolutely love surprises, and sometimes hope that they are never revealed. Only so I can keep on guessing.

Last week I entered Dr. Judy's office with another injury. I showed Judy my hand which had  a strip seared across the back of it that snaked through the space between my pinkie and ring fingers. "It's a friction burn. I think it's infected", I announced. "Hmm, how did this happen?", Judy asked.  Before I could answer, she spun in her chair as though a light bulb had gone off in her head, and directed her accusing remark to Opal who was passed out on the floor. "You again".  Opal raised her head and licked Judy's foot in confirmation. "What happened this time?",  Dr. Judy asked in a tone of voice that challenged me to come up with something good. "Umm, it was just one of those things", I began lamely. Then I jumped into assertive/rationalizing  mode and tried to sell her on the idea that Opal and I have bad play Karma.  I explained: " She was on her Flexi retractable leash and took off.  The rope crossed over my hand and..."   Dr. Judy sighed, picked up her prescription pad and started  to scrawl out an RX for an anti-biotic, musing out loud as she wrote. "Let's see, first there was the egg-sized bump on the forehead from a canine-human cranial collision. Then there was the torn quad muscle. Wasn't that another Flexi accident?"  Judy asked.  "Totally my fault", I protested. "I only used the support cane for four days and I stopped limping after six weeks".  I shut up, thinking I should quit while I was ahead. At least Dr. Judy only gets to see the serious stuff. I don't bother her with bruises and scratches that seem to happen on a regular basis when I play with Opal. It REALLY is my fault. I love roughhousing with her, and pay the consequences. But hey, It hurts so good.

Lloyd Price wrote and sang " (You've got) Personality" in 1959. I think he was singing about his sweetie.  Good enough, but I sing it to my guide dog, Opal. What makes Opal....Opal? Hmm. Plenty!

Opal licks her paws when she needs to relieve (some dogs would go to the door, some would bark, others would pee on the floor).  She ALWAYS pauses to scratch her left shoulder just before I put her collar and leash on to take her out first thing at 5 am.  It 's some sort of habit she developed, like a good luck ritual reserved to start her day. Opal has an EXTREME fondness for soft things. She once nimbly picked up a woman's glove from a seat at the ferry terminal as we passed by. Ditto plush toys at shops on numerous occasions. She enjoys licking toes, particularly the ones attached to women's feet within her range, like on a bus. Needless to say, I am on guard in sandal weather.  Opal insists on physical contact with me when she is gnawing her ritual after-dinner bone. We usually lie on the floor together so she can curl up alongside. Like other dogs, she does not enjoy getting her feet wet as she walks through puddles or relieves on grass,  though, paradoxically she loves to swim. Opal loves to dance, but hey, so does her mum. We went to see "White Christmas" at the Neptune Theatre last winter. Patrons were more interested in watching Opal watch the musical (she sat up in the front row of the balcony and was riveted to the stage full of tap dancing singers). Opal has in 'interesting' custom of having a go at the 'dominance pillow' every evening. The vet says it's not about sexual urge, but has more to do with frustration or dominance.  Opal has a stressful job and does not have much say in what she does with her day, so she expresses this primaly. The most totally 'Opalish' trait? The girl crosses her legs. She delicately puts left over right paw when she lies down.  Not just once in a while, but most of the time and everywhere. I hear people remarking about this on buses, at restaurants and everywhere else we go. It's endearing and cute as all get out.   Opal will sneeze a few minutes after she gets into a car. She does so with the same gusto my late father mustered when he sneezed.  It is a rather perilous habit (probably dust in the air?) that causes taxi drivers to swerve wildly in surprise.  Now,  when I get in the car, I caution the driver...sort of an Opal  PSA.  My girl is a busybody extraordinaire. I am convinced that she is the reincarnation of my grandmother. She is ALWAYS curious beyond belief,  looking out the window, rooting through any open handbag within range, gazing at anything different in our travels... she notices the decals that someone puts up on the glass door of our apartment building for occasions like Halloween, Christmas and Easter. She once stopped cold on the sidewalk when she spotted a few little boys across the street having a fight and bullying one boy.  I called out and they stopped beating up on the kid.  She finds interesting stuff too.  Opal has found a five dollar bill (we shared), three pairs of gloves, earrings, scarves,  a pair of tweezers,  socks,  toys,  mail and more. Despite the distraction,  I think this makes her a good guide dog. She is totally aware of her (our) surroundings. Yeah, she's got personality. She's a happy, quirky, curious social butterfly with delicate feelings and a complex mind. She's my girl.

Når først man begynder på det her frugtcirkus, så er et æble ikke bare et æbæe og en blomme ikke bare en blomme. Vi havde en mikro høst på vores ene blommetræ, nemlig opalerne. De står nu også alt for vindomsust og dådyrene elsker at gnide deres krone (det hedder det vel, det er jo ikke horn) mod opalblommetræets grene, hvilket afbarker en del af grenene og sætter træet tilbage i vækst. Men det var skønt at plukke blommerne, de dybt violet/blå - og putte dem i munden!

Our cat, little Lucy is a chatty cat most of the time. That's very helpful for us both. She learned very quickly when she came to live with me, that I can't see her, and she needs to STAY OUT OF MY WAY!!  Once in a while, she goes incognito and silent (sheesh). You can put a bell on your pet's collar. I always check the seat which my big butt is about to occupy. This is a good habit for blind people to get into. That way, you avoid sitting on your cat, dog, hairbrush, basket, aunt Mim etc. 

Independent living for a blind person is good and admirable. However, my wise advice? Don't be an idiot! If you NEED help, ASK for it. Don't waste your time and elevate your frustration level by worrying about stuff. If you are lost, listen for footsteps and ask the person attached to the legs where you are, or if they can get you  to a point you are familiar with. If you don' know which bus has pulled up or when to get off it,  ask. If you need to find a washroom anywhere or want a clerk to find something in a store for you...ASK.   Ask with a strong voice, not like a timid mouse. Ask politely but with conviction. It's OK. 

Lights on or off? check the switches routinely. Or, if you're feeling wealthy, you can buy a talking light detector. And knowing if your period has arrived? Mercifully, I'm menopausal, but I do remember a time when I used my nose efficiently to detect the distinct odour of blood.

Poniżej podaję kilka porad czego lepiej unikać, zwłaszcza w przypadku biżuterii z kamieniami półszlachetnymi i srebrem.

• unikaj wilgoci - wiele kamieni półszlachetnych pod wpływem wilgoci staje się matowa, traci charakterystyczną barwę (koral, howlit, malachit). Są jednak kamienie, które lubią wilgoć, np. opale.  

• zapobiegaj kontaktom biżuterii z perfumami i kosmetykami - zwłaszcza w przypadku biżuterii z rzemieniami nie wolno spryskiwać jej specyfikami zawierającymi alkohol (a wiec i perfumami), ponieważ rzemień zacznie farbować szyję i w niedługim czasie może się po prostu rozpaść. Również kamienie, takie jak koral, malachit czy turkus nie powinnny mieć kontaktu z alkoholem. Niektóre składniki perfum, lakierów do włosów i kosmetyków mogą sprawić, że metal zmatowieje, lub kamienie (np. perły) zmienią swą barwę.

• nie chowaj biżuterii od razu - najpierw przetrzyj ją miekką szmatką, by usunąć substancje wydzielane przez ciało. Dzięki temu ozdoba dłużej zachowa swój pierwotny wygląd i blask.

• nie trzymaj biżuterii w jednym miejscu - metale szlachetne są stosunkowo miękkie, więc łatwo je zarysować. Najlepiej przechowywać ozdoby w osobnych pudełkach lub przynajmniej owinięte w miękkie szmatki.

[gallery]

Gewonnen hat ihn Sandra und so sind am Wochenende diese Socken mit ihrem inzwischen mehr als bekannten Lieblingsmuster "Uneven Ribbing" von Charlene Schurch fertiggeworden.

40/2008

In Größe 37/38 mit 60 Maschen, Verbrauch gerade mal 64 Gramm. Morgen früh hat sie zum ersten Mal Frühdienst auf der Kurzzeitpflegestation, wo sie für ein Jahr ihr FSJ absolvierten wird. Da sie schon um 5.00 Uhr aus dem Haus muss, wird sie die Socken auch jetzt schon gut gebrauchen können.

Ein paar Neuzugänge gibt es auch noch zu verzeichnen. Ich wollte gerne verschiedene Qualitäten testen und so habe ich bei Marianne so richtig zugeschlagen.

Trekking Batik und Brazil, Opal Herbstmelodie und Sommernachtstraum und Lornas Laces Seaside.

links: Country Color Luft und Feuer, Trekking dégradé

rechts: Schoppel Kiwicocktail, Flakes Black and white und blauer Engel.

Die Brazil musste noch mal mitreisen, da Lisa auch gerne die Farbe gehabt hätte. Bis zu ihrem Geburtstag am Donnerstag schaffe ich es nicht mehr ein Paar fertigzunadeln, also wird der Strang mit auf dem Geburtstagstisch liegen.

Jetzt werde ich mal meinen Boyfriend-Single aus der Wollmeise vollenden, den zeige ich dann morgen.

Yesterday, I woke at 4 am to the unmistakable sound of Lucy (our cat) vomiting.  Sigh. I got up and took care of my little calico. This involved cleaning up, cooking brown rice to settle her stomach and giving her fresh water (in Opal's dish,  of course).  The radio news really put a spin on my mood too. It seems that a man was stabbed and decapitated  in an unprovoked attack by a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus in Alberta.  It's been a violent week in this world.  Unitarian Universalists in Tennessee were killed in their church by a shooter who did not approve of our UU 'liberal views'.  I mourn with my fellow congregants.  In local news,  a  bus driver was attacked on her bus by a man who tried to sexually assault her.

I thought that work might reset my mood. It did not. My computer coughed up a cyber hairball and refused to operate. The arthritis in my hands, neck and spine seemed intolerable.  Step out, I thought. I saddled Opal and off we went.  I am in desperate need of orthotics and new shoes. I know this because of the shooting pain in my feet as I walk. No wonder I've been so cranky lately! Opal and I went to purchase a small birthday gift for my sister at the mall. In Basket Emporium, we stood near the counter and waited for assistance. A shopper came into the store and exclaimed, "You're beautiful!".  Her comment was meant for Opal, of course.  I replied, "thanks, but I have a sweetie".  She  did not seem to appreciate my humour.  It's all about the dog some days. I just happen to be the woman attached to the end of Opal's harness.  I hobbled home and prayed for the day to end. Mercifully, it did.

So, when I woke this morning, the promise of a better day was intoxicating and induced me to sing. I tried "A New Day has Begun"  (from Cats), but I could not recall the lyrics and it brought Celine Dion to mind, which is deffinitly not the way to start anyone's day. I chose Van's tune..."Brand New Day".

-Porkie Pup