Dear Gods...

it's Cthulhoid doggie clothing.

Speaking of cats...

Here's one up a tree the fire department wouldn't like a call about...

Helping a kitty walk and jump again, through cutting-edge technology

Unlike a person, a cat isn't able to run about on a removable prosthetic--it would come off too easily. So this surgeon gave Oscar, a cat who'd lost his two hind legs in a combine accident, a second chance at life by implanting prosthetics into his limbs.

By the way, I had a horrible nightmare last night

It was set in some sort of underground building that was dim, with lots of pipes with water dripping, like a giant boiler area or something, but with lots of rooms (wasn't that one of the dream settings in one of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies?) Anyway, there was this thing that was killing women, and it only came out in the dark, but the people who ran the facility didn't believe it. My friend YKWIA had a key to the place because a friend used to manage the place and had given him one, and he and I were investigating the murders. Now, why there were about a dozen women roaming this place, I don't know--it never came up. But they were. The dream was incredibly detailed, visually, audibly--I think smell even came into play. But there was one part where the lights were going out (kind of like Doctor Who's 'Silence in the Library') and that's when the thing could get you, and we were trying to round up the women and get them to safety, and he and I were running hand in hand (and I could run in the dream, but I was a little behind him because he's taller), and then it felt like my head was disintegrating almost. I could see what was going on from outside my body and it was the spectral thing, white and glowing, and it was phasing with its mouth going into my brain and skull. But YKWIA pulled me into the light and we managed to go through a door where it couldn't follow--at least at that point--and I was alright. About that time I woke up, terribly disturbed, and YKWIA called, and I told him all about it.

I haven't had a nightmare in months. This one was really like being there (my usual for dreams, or at least the dreams I remember). I haven't watched anything, read anything horrible, or played any video games lately, although it would make a great scene in all of those. I'm just glad it wasn't real.

Feeling better

Today I did something uncharacteristic. I was working on the data entry and my back and neck were in spasm to a degree that I really couldn't concentrate on what I was doing, so I packed it in to finish tomorrow and went on home almost an hour early. The bus ride didn't help the pain much at all, and I realised I ached all over; it was just worse along my spine. When I got home I took a tizanidine tablet my doctor had prescribed for some neck pain I'd had back in March along with ibuprofen, and I went to bed for a couple of hours. I still ache a little, but the spasms have stopped and my back and neck can move without pain.

Now I've eaten a couple of veggie burgers and some grapes and I feel much better.

So it was a very short day at work today because I went to Frankfort from 10 am-3 pm for a Kentucky Medical Library Association meeting with a seminar on e-Books. I had a lady ask me about a book I'd reviewed, and I couldn't remember the exact title, but was able to look it up for her on my Kindle, which was pretty neat. I also discovered during the break that the number one selling paid product for the Kindle right now is actually a real Scrabble game, for $4.99. I couldn't resist, and had it within about 10 seconds and was playing it until the meeting resumed. Maybe my back messed up from riding in a car longer than I'm used to, I don't know. Frankfort's not very far away, after all.

On the way back, I'd closed my eyes for a second and my colleague, who was driving, suddenly said, 'Oh, my God!' I opened my eyes fully expecting to crash or something. But what it was was a full-sized Angus cow, dead, strapped on the back of a truck, which was rather odd. We also saw turkey vultures on a fence.

It was nice to get out of Lexington for a little while. We had the meeting at the Paul Sawyier Public Library and lunch was catered very aptly by a company in Frankfort called Artiste Catering. It was really nicely done; I heard only good things about the food. The boxed lunches all were named after artists; the vegetarian option was a Van Gogh, for example. It had avocado, herbs, cheese, and a lettuce mix on it.

The library was nice, too. I really wanted to hit their Friends' bookstore. It was small but inviting. The funny thing was in order to use the projector, you had to check out the cord and remote, meaning you had to have a library card. No one was actually there from Frankfort. But fortunately they let our president apply for a card without requiring her to live or work in the county, so it was a nice work-around. :)

Well, that's enough for now. I'm going to look up something for a friend. Good night.

Getting ready for

a Kentucky Medical Library Association meeting on e-Books in Frankfort. It should be interesting. Our president is coming to pick me up in just a couple of minutes. After the meeting I'll go into work and do the data entry. Hope you have a great day.

This weekend

is the re-enactment of the Battle of Perryville at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site (also a National Historic Landmark). I was born in nearby Danville, also in Boyle County, Kentucky.

The Battle of Perryville was the largest Civil War battle in Kentucky and it was one of the bloodiest of the War. Union casualties totaled 4,276 (894 killed, 2,911 wounded, 471 captured or missing). Confederate casualties were 3,401 (532 killed, 2,641 wounded, 228 captured or missing), according to Kenneth Noe in his book Perryville: The Grand Havoc of Battle (2001). Although the Confederacy technically won the battle, it was a Union victory in that the Confederate general withdrew from Kentucky, which remained in Union hands throughout the War. (Although part of the South, Kentucky never seceded from the Union, but was considered a border state).

The park is over 650 acres and the event includes (besides the actual battle re-enactment) a museum exhibit on the cavalry of the war, a presentation on the ghosts of Perryville, a medicine show, an antique and relic show, and more. For more information, see the Perryville Battlefield website.

Thanks to Angela for reminding me of the event.

A humourous quote from Jody, my friend from elementary school

something she posted as her Facebook status:

When attacked by a circus troupe, go for the juggler.

As many times as carnivals come into play with Call of Cthulhu, I'll keep this in mind. :)

I wish I had DVR'ed the WEG opening ceremonies

I had no idea they were orchestrated by Dr Everett McCorvey, of the UK voice faculty. It was apparently a blend of opera (including Lexington-based Greg Turay), bluegrass, country, and other regional music. Woodie Guthrie's daughter, according to a Twitter posting I saw, led the audience in singing her father's 'This Land is Your Land', and many voices rose to sing 'My Old Kentucky Home'.

I've always liked Dr McCorvey. I auditioned for him once and actually could have taken individual voice lessons at the school as a result, but didn't have the money to really put into it at the time.

One thing that happened (and it wasn't mentioned on any of the news channels that I saw, just on Twitter, was a rider fell and was receiving medical treatment during the show. (Apparently they moved some potted plants to block the view of the audience somewhat.) Here is the official statement on the Games website:

Near the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, a performer had an acute medical problem which required on site care. The University of Kentucky medical staff responded immediately, the patient was transported to UK Medical Center, and doctors have confirmed that he is in stable condition. No further information is available at this time.

That sounds better than it did making the round on Twitter, where CPR, possible fatality, etc. were bandied about. I hope all goes well for him.

I got up for a drink and an update on the rider. I guess I'll go back to sleep for another couple of hours, hopefully. Good night, again. I'm glad the opening ceremonies received generally very good reviews, although several people were upset that the full programme was not available on local television, and it apparently cut out about the time things really got going. But there is streaming video online as well. Just wish I hadn't missed it after all.

One Saturday night down, one more to go

and my feet are killing me. I'm so looking forward to not standing for eight hours at a time. The first six or seven aren't so bad--it's once you go to stock the cooler and there's just concrete and no relief mat under you that it gets bad.

I did go to Kroger's afterwards and got a few things but otherwise did nothing on my list. I forgot to call Brenda about her guppies, and it's too late now. I didn't set the DVR. What I did was sleep until almost 1 pm then got ready and went to work, went to Kroger's and now I'm home, having a snack. (I had an honest-to-goodness meal from Texas Roadhouse tonight, although it seemed odd not to be getting it with Brandon. Much quicker, though--the man is fairly picky about his food and it takes awhile for him to decide on what to get.) I'm already ready for bed. I just need to get things ready for the game (transfer the notes, gather up the stuff that goes with me like the voice recorder and batteries).

Okay, I'm going to check the news really quick and then get things situated. Good night.