The Window People Called...

at 8:00 this morning.

They wanted to come this Thursday and Friday which I'm not able to do as I have client meetings scheduled those two days (people and their last minute fitting me in, sheesh!). The Window People are “not so overbooked at this time of the year” so they were able to work with my schedule and They will be descending on me for 1/4/07 and 1/5/07.

I’m taking those two days off to run interference with the cats (I have worry-wart visions of Moomin “helping” Them and escaping and both Doodle and Hobbes running scared and accidentally jumping out a window and I’m a nosy parker who just can't leave her belongings with others without the supervision of said nosy parker/busy body). I have a tentative plan of action mapped out… I will wake up at the butt-crack of dawn on those days so I will be showered/made presentable and the cats will be fed and “stuffed” into the bathroom by the time They arrive.

I would like the Window People to complete a back room first so I can move the cats into that room to free up the bathroom in the event the Window People need to take a piss. I wasn’t thinking of their needs (due to being a hermit and sort of self-centered) but my mom reminded me that they are MEN and they will need to go at some point or at several points during the job. She’s right.

I’m excited and nervous. It’s the biggest house undertaking (other than the uncompleted kitchen which I have learned to deal with and don’t notice anymore and the removal of my asphalt diving board and replacing it with grass - now that was some fun with a sledge hammer) which I’ve done. I’m looking forward to being vacuum-packed into my house for the winter. I’m looking forward to being able to open all and any windows in nice weather instead of just select windows because I can’t be bothered with the tedium of removing and replacing the weather insulation stripping every winter. I’m looking forward to not having to prop windows up with books/sticks/or other implements because the rope weights have given way and the potential to chop a cat’s head or my hand off is ever present. I’m looking forward to not going on everlasting "paint chip patrol". I’m looking forward to being able to actually clean my windows. And I’m looking forward to the energy benefits of lowering both my oil and electric bills (heat and AC).

I will take pictures of before and after to share coz I know all of you will be waiting with bated breath to see them. Starting the New Year off with new windows… I can hardly contain myself.

Found Verse for Christmas

I found this verse in "Murder for Christmas" edited by Thomas Godfrey, page 323.

If Christmas on Monday be,
A great winter that year you'll see,
And full of winds, both loud and shrill;
But, in summer, truth to tell,
High winds shall there be and strong,
Full of tempests lasting long,
While battles they shall multiply,
And great plenty of beasts shall die...
-Traditional

This struck me on Thursday when I came across this in the book I was reading (mentioned above). Doesn't sound too positive or promising, does it?

And if we take Denver and Mt. Hood and other snowstorms already (some people still have no power), the Iraq-Middle East-Korea situations, and the all the animals we are in the process of exterminating into account, the rest of the winter and the summer should be interesting.

A Shot of My Kitty Love

I had to share the unconditional love I get every morning from my Moomie-pants.

Ach! I'm Such A Mess Today

I’m veering back and forth between wanting to sob and a state of high piss-off. Not only am I riding the rapid mood swing merry-go-round that goes from 0-60 in seconds flat, but I’m feeling shlubby as well. Throw in creative ideas constantly springing forth in my mind, one after the other, that my hand cannot jot or doodle them down fast enough and you can get some idea of how my day, not to mention my week is going. Tho the past three days have just been confined to cranky.

So far today has been …

I’m in the bank trying to cash my Christmas bonus and I get a whiff of the guy’s behind me cologne and I want to cry. I get in my car and my aura sends out the signal for all drivers without a frickin’ brain cell to go ahead, cut me off, and meander in front of me for a good long while so I get good and mad. I read a Christmas story of someone who commented on my blog, read it out loud, and I and my co-workers started sniffling. I tried to print said story, the printer proceeded to print 39 frickin’ pages and I couldn’t get the print job to cancel, thus winding me up again with computer rage. One of my co-workers had me read a letter someone wrote to her about her disabled cousin helping make a child’s Christmas wish of touring a real-life fire engine come true and I puddled up again along with her. I’ve been thinking about how I’ve been yelling at the cats all week and how if I had any kids I’d most likely be a yeller and a smacker and I get very angry with myself. I’ve been thinking over some memories and getting all vehklempt. And it’s not even lunch-time yet.

Feeling shlubby so I’m wearing my glasses. Couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of my contacts tho I did manage to blow dry my hair and not twist it up like I initially was going to do. I like my outfit (wearing a favorite and flattering color – aqua), no bag lady clothes for me even tho I am feeling like a fright. Could be my inner frightfulness making me feel outerly frightful. Yeah, that’s it.

I started a really cool project, very secret, can’t give any details as it might end up as a gift for someone who reads the blog tho pictures may be forthcoming if it’s successful. I spent yesterday evening (after dropping the meal off to the new parents) running around hardware stores finding supplies. Along with the project materials, I found big honkin’ cardboard tubes for Moomin to zoom thru. He loves them. They are nice and long and he’s dragging the tissue paper pile into them so he can rustle undercover to his heart’s content.

I have to make another loaf of Spaghetti Bread tonight for tomorrow’s office potluck. And wash 3 kitty chins. And work on the above mentioned project. Hope there is something mindless on TV to listen to while I sew and try to lay a bread loaf egg that needs 2-3 hours to rise after being thawed in the fridge overnight.

Should be good times.

Let the Reindeer, er Reincat, Games Commence

Last night, I thankfully did not have to wash 3 kitty chins after I finished baking bread but Moomin did want to play his most favorite game ever... Tug O'War. So, him being so damn cute and all, I had to oblige. Who needs sleep anyway? And let me tell you, in those pics of him with the rope in his mouth, he's really hauling on the rope on his end, just like a dog. He braces himself low down and keeps inexorably pulling until either I let go coz I'm worried about his teeth or he lets go coz he needs to breathe.

As Promised With a Little Extra

Here is a picture of my candies. The flowers indicate the flavor inside. See the "Candy Filled Weekend" post for recipe and color key.

This is a picture of the Chinese take-out box I put the candies in. Decorations a'la SamStamping. You can see the key as well.

And here is my creation as of last night. I made Spaghetti Bread (recipe below) for one of our "newly delivered" co-workers. We each signed up for a week to provide food for the new parents so they don't have to cook and this is part of my contribution.

Spaghetti Bread (so named because it goes awesomely with red sauce meals!)
Ingredients:
*Frozen bread dough (2 loaf pkg)
*1 lb pkg of shredded cheddar cheese
*1 egg
*1 egg white
*1 tsp chili or cajun spice powder
*1 bundle of green onions/scallions

How to:
1) Thaw bread in fridge overnight.
2) Let dough sit in greased bowl at room temp for 2-3 hours until doubled.
*Preheat oven to 350*.
3) Punch dough down.
4) Roll out on lightly floured surface until 1 inch in height.
5) Cut into 1 inch cubes with sharp knife or pizza cutter.
6) Beat egg and egg white with chili powder in large mixing bowl.
7) Put cubes in mixing bowl with egg mixture and coat them.
8) Add chopped green onions and cheese.
9) Mix well so all ingredients are evenly distributed and coating the cubes.
10) Pour into greased and lightly floured bread loaf tins (one large or 2 medium).
11) Let dough mixture sit in tins for 20 minutes to rise a bit.
12) Put in oven and bake for 40-45 minutes at 350*.
13) Poke the bread with a clean chopstick to make sure the middle is done.
14) If nothing sticks to the chopstick, take out, cool, eat and enjoy.
15) If not done, do 5-10 minute increments until stick comes out clean.

Tasty Vs. Smelly

Okay, there have been times when I have said something tastes like something smells. Example: Ginger tastes like LemonPledge smells.

I just read an article on msn.com called “Taste Buds Key to Health” (AP 11/20/06). It talks about the relationship between taste/smell/eating. There are people out there who are classified as “super tasters who live in a neon taste world where veggies are bitter” and “non-tasters who like veggies, fat, sweets, and alcohol”. To test to see which you are, put a drop of blue food coloring on the tip of your tongue. If you see mucho pink bumps more than you see blue that means many taste buds = super taster thus typically a skinny picky eater. If you see much more blue than pink, you are a non-taster thus typically on the heavy side with a predilection for sweets, fats, carbs, and other just-duct-tape-it-to-your-thigh foods. Most people fall in the middle.

To get back to the taste like something smells, this is the reason…

“But taste starts before a food actually touches the tongue. Even more important than sniffing its aroma is chewing, which releases vapors up the back of the nose. You think you are tasting a flavor that really you’re unconsciously smelling. It’s called retronasal olfaction, and it sends flavor information along a different, more sensitive brain pathway than traditional sniffing does.” (from the article)

Now, I’m not saying I have chewed LemonPledge, but the smell is strong enough to shoot to the back of my throat and do the above mentioned “retronasal olfaction”. Ditto with bleach, cat pee, and any other extremely intense strong smells.

I love having things explained to me!

Candy-Filled Weekend

I make candy for my co-workers and friends. This way I don’t have to worry about spending oodles of money on oodles of people and they don’t have to worry about feeling guilty about what I may have spent or how they will re-gift without me knowing.

It’s typically a two-day project, not including the evening (in front of the TV of course) I spend decorating the candy boxes with stamped decorations and gift tags. Saturday is usually the day I pound the shit out of the cookies and mix them with room temperature cream cheese (now I know why women from the early to mid-1900’s had such strong biceps and hands before the advent of pre-fab food!). Sunday is when I cut, roll, and dip the candies in chocolates. This year, I left out rolling the cubes into balls, too lazy and I didn’t want to take the time as I still had to make the Martha Stewart-like key on a tag so the people can tell what color flower indicates what flavor.

I added a new flavor this year, the Vanilla Cream Sandwich cookie (white), to my typical flavors of Oreo (blue), NutterButter (orange), Mint Grasshoppers (green), Chips Ahoy Choc Chip (pink – they taste just like choc chip cookie dough encased in choc!), and Pecan Sandies (yellow). Next year I want to try the Lemon Wafers.

My brother called while I was in the process of filling the boxes so I think everyone got at least 3-4 of each flavor. I filled 14 Chinese take-out boxes to the brims and have a plethora of leftovers to pad myself with plenty of holiday fat.

Here’s the recipe if you are interested in making some awesome homemade candies that taste like they should be in a mucho-expensive store…

Chocolate Candies

Ingredients:
*Rule of thumb: 1 pound of cookies to 1 pkg of room temp cream cheese
*Cookies can be any dryish or sandwich type cookie (see above for my flavors).
Note: DO NOT use any “double stuff” sandwich cookie – it’s too moist, wet is more like it.
*Chocolate for dipping the balls into (I typically use the Nestle’s Mini-Chocolate Chips – they melt faster than the big ones) and canning wax to thin the chocolate a bit.
Note: Plan on at least 1 ½ to 2 bags per flavor.
*Cat hair is optional (like I have a choice!!)

How to:
1) Crush 1 lb pkg of cookies in a tough plastic Ziploc bag until they are the consistency of potting soil. (A rolling pin works nicely for this.)
2) Cube the room temperature softened cream cheese into the bowl of crushed cookies.
3) Mix/mush it all together with your hands. Should make a nice solid ball a bit bigger than a softball.
4) Flatten ball out so it’s a rectangle or square about 1 inches high.
5) Put rectangle or square in bag you crushed the cookies in and chill in fridge overnight.
6) Next day… while chocolate is melting, cut up the cookie rectangle or square into 1 inch cubes.
7) When chocolate is ready, dip each cube in it and set aside on a foil covered cookie sheet.
8) Put completed choc-covered cubes back in the fridge so chocolate can stiffen up.
9) Once chocolate has hardened, you can transfer your candies to another more suitable container for storage.
10) EAT.

Twisted Holiday Words

There’s this yearly contest of tweaking words by changing a letter or two and coming up with new definitions that are humorous. I thought I would take that contest idea and run with it (with scissors!) by trying holiday words. Being up front and honest, I’m letting you all know that I intend to cheat shamelessly at this game by changing more than one or two letters if I have to…

Christmas
Christmac: getting your mack on during the holidays.

Holiday
Hokiday: having to hock assets to buy holiday gifts.
Holipay: paychecks that get signed over immediately to pay for gifts.

Reindeer
Feigndeer: those lighted decorative deer one places around one’s yard.
Reinseer: Northern psychic.
Neindeer: German for “no deer”.

Mistletoe
Fistletoe: if you attempt to kiss me, you’ll be kissing my fist.
Mistlehoe: a “ho” hanging from the rafters angling for a kiss.

Candycane
Candocane: self-explanatory
Randycane: candy that will make ya horny.
Candysane: craving for something sweet to get one’s sanity back on track.
Candybane: candy repellent, good for wearing during the holidays to help with weight maintenance.

Winter
Shwinter: shitty winter
Gwinter: good winter

OMG! Could I Be Any More Postal?

‘Tis the season to be gracious but goddamnit, when you have a loud juicy open-mouthed gum-chewer in your midst, gracious is next to impossible to feel. Add non-stop talking at supersonic boom level with repeated “like, you knows” and “you know what I means” sprinkled repeatedly after every other sentence and you have me trying my hardest to not go all ballistic on someone’s ass. Of course, PMS is also thrown into the explosive cocktail of irritability and low tolerance. Yeah me!

I have proactive measures, like wearing my headphones and listening to a CD on repeat, in place. But really, should I have to? I could be damaging my eardrums with how loud I have to play the CD to block out the noise level. It’s a place of work full of [hopefully] professional human beings and shouldn’t this behavior be confined to the privacy of that person’s home?

Is there some way to tell them that their farmyard noises are less than appreciated without offending them?

Is there some way to tell them their constant inability to control the volume of their voice, whether on the phone or in face-to-face discussion, is impeding my professional effectiveness?

Is there some way to let them know that I and the others they talk to are not stupid and we do not need the same sentence/idea/story/phrase repeated numerous times in only slightly different versions? And is it really necessary for me to hear the same story 5-7 times in one day as they speak on the phone (one after the other) to that many people involved with the case?

Is there some way to stop them from repeating “like, you know” and “you know what I mean” after every other fucking sentence? I’ve kept count and tallied 40 of them in 5 minutes. This is beyond jumping on my last nerve!

So… this is my dilemma.

Right now I am hiding a ravening sharp-clawed bitch with no filter system in place on her mouth behind a flat-faced affect wearing headphones with Danity Kane blasting in my poor beleaguered ears.

Maybe I need some holiday music…

And some real chocolate…

Which I do have now.

ChocoConversation

I am currently experiencing a craving for chocolate.

My nice and helpful social worker of a co-worker: "There are Tootsie Rolls in the goodie bag".

Me: "Tootsie Rolls not so much."

Co-worker: "I thought you said you wanted chocolate."

Me: "I do want chocolate. Tootsie Rolls are turds, not chocolate."

Co-worker: "What? They're good."

Me: "They aren't chocolate. It's a chewy cat turd with a hint of cocoa. My tastebuds are craving real chocolate."

Co-worker: "If you keep telling me Tootsie Rolls aren't chocolate, I'll give you some shit and you can call it chocolatey goodness."

Thus ends another fine high-minded literate discussion for the day. All our office conversations typically end up in the bathroom or about the ass region. Give us any topic and enough time, we'll bring it on down.

My "Visions of Sugarplums" Tree

I was attempting to take pictures "sans flash" so pardon the amateurish and slightly blurry photos of my tree.

I got a "wild string of lights" across my ass last night and went all out to light and decorate my tree. It looks like I had Santa vomit "visions of sugarplums" all over it. But I like the candy and Christmasy effect. Enjoy!!! I know I did and do!

'Tis the Season for Traditions

I’m a girl who loves traditions despite a mother who is busy trying to throw me from the tradition train.

To me, having these special things happen at the same certain times each year makes me feel safe, comforted, and connected to my family and friends. All the changes, strife, negativity, and general yuck are held at bay during these times. These times reassure and reinforce that I am loved.

Now, I KNOW my family and friends love me, but it’s good to hear it and see it sometimes and what more perfect time then traditionally?

Some traditions: Valentine’s Day cards, Easter baskets, Easter ham, birthday cake, St. Patrick’s Day wearing of the green and Shamrock Shakes from McDonald’s, Halloween costumes, trick or treating goodie bags, light-up pumpkins, Thanksgiving dinner with parents, going to see my G-pa in May, Sunday antiquing and then brunch at the Freeport Café, making holiday candy for my friends while listening to one carol after another, making Christmas cookies with my family, getting and decorating a Christmas tree, making and eating Pierogis, Christmas Day burritos, watching the RankinBass holiday animated specials, taking the tree down after New Year’s, and even the yearly medical checkups.

I miss waking up to chockfull Easter baskets and Toothfairy visits.

I miss choosing my Valentine’s Day cards, writing my friends’ names on them, and handing them out as well as making the Valentine mailboxes in school.

I miss scooping out pumpkin guts, cutting faces, and baking pumpkin seeds in butter and salt until they are all golden brown and crispy. I miss cuddling up on the couch or floor on Halloween night after an exciting time roaming the neighborhood for trick or treating (and sorting thru the candy to make advantageous trades with my brother), half-asleep, watching a scary movie on TV while my parents are puttering around the house or sitting with us.

I miss making decorations at school and bringing them home to show Mom and Dad and being so proud of what I made and seeing them up on the tree, the fridge, window, or wall.

I miss going out to pick out our tree, transporting it home, and waiting a couple days for the tree to “relax” and then putting all the lights on it. I miss opening the footlocker of decorations like it was a treasure chest and being instructed by Mom as to how to place the decorations for maximum effect (always hang a glass ball by a light so it will reflect and shine and remember to not place the same color balls too near each other).

I miss the family endeavor of making Christmas cookies and we each had our own job and specialty – Dad operated the Spritz cookie machine with much swearing, my brother and I were in charge of putting the decorations on them (cherries, sprinkles, colored sugar, and putting the filling in the Kolachkies – sp?), and Mom was the hub, the main cookie dough-maker and referee. I miss all the cookies, on their various plates and in containers, displayed on the Hoosier cabinet and sneaking cookies every time I walked by them.

I miss having a stocking, not so much for the stuff in it, but because of what it represents – someone who loves me that is thinking of me, my needs, and is taking the time to put something together for me that reassures me of their love and affection.

I miss that hushed anticipation time before my parents woke up and my brother and I waited in our rooms Christmas morning (the rule was we weren’t allowed to wake them up or leave our rooms before they woke up). I miss the quiet time after the gifts were open when house smelled of good cooking and everyone was playing and/or reading with their gifts or just sitting munching on Christmas cookies.

I miss sitting with my family in that quiet loving stupor after we’ve made all the pierogis and stuffed our bellies with plenty of artery-clogging goodness. I miss Dad cleaning up in the kitchen and Mom sitting down watching TV or with a crafty book and we all are exchanging family chitchat and jokes.

I admit to hanging on to them probably longer than I should, but wouldn’t you want to keep something that makes you feel loved and safe?

Some Sepia Memories

Here are two of those pictures you get taken at amusement parks when you are with a group of friends. The Old West theme...

This dated from my college days. You know, the sorority thing.

This is from the early to mid 90's with my BFF J and other people. Didja notice the change in my type of clothing? In college it was all about coverage. In the early-mid 90's it was all about dressing to conceal yet reveal.

Memories... December is that time of month for thinking about the past and what the future might be like come January.

Poems with a Natural Bent

A tumbly bumbly bumble bee
I would like to be
To smile
All the while
And buzz so busily

A listener of winds and friends
A growing of strength and endurance
A bower of health and refreshing vitality
An extension of roots to find water and attachment
is
A tree full of ever-expanding cycles

You would think I would learn…
Comes to naught
As per usual
The cycle…
Rise, fall
And swear never again
Only-
-with convenient amnesia-

To climb the next second

Tonsils Anyone?

In my quest to get cat pictures for part of JJM Handcrafted's ArtShare piece, this is what I got last night. I don't think I can use it, but gosh darn it, it's a damn funny picture!!

My Wooden Christmas Tree Display

Here are a few pictures of my Christmas trees that my father and I made. Triangles of wood (from an old sign) with holes drilled into them so the lights could be put in them so they don't fall out. If you look closely at the second picture, you can see Moomin's eyes glowing like Christmas lights. Oh, and yesterday was also our first snowfall of the year. Check out that inch worth of snow on the ground. Glad I raked my leaves and padded my Hydrangea!

You can barely see Moomin in the window here!

Weekend Kittie Pics

The one of Mr. Stripey Pants, you'll have to tilt your head. Sorry.

Weekend Check List Completed!

1) Friday, I got out of work early (3:30pm) and so I decided to waste it by transferring my digital photos to a CD at TARGET (90 pics, it was quite a process, and it didn’t help there was no CD in the machine to transfer them on and all the TARGET doobees were unavailable and/or not versed in the photo machines so I had to wait until someone was free enough to be walked thru by another busy doobee, I was told to come back in 20 minutes for the index which couldn’t be printed out at the machine I was at) and do some wandering around while refraining from impulse shopping (I did get some tights). Then I went to HomeDepot (so disappointed in their X-mas stuff) and Goodwill.

2) Because I’m single and not currently active in the local singles pool (this is a good thing), I did laundry after I got home. This actually worked out well because then I didn’t have to do it over the official weekend.

3) I woke up Saturday, took a shower, and raked up the 2nd fall of leaves. Making piles, putting piles in the wheelbarrow, and dumping them in my compost.

4) Then, I put up my wooden Christmas tree display (with the help of my neighbor).

5) I put my indoor line of matching-to-the-trees lights up in my big front window. I found I had to jerry-rig them at the top of the window as Moomin decided to chew on the cord. I typically have them light the bottom of the window, sort of like stage foot lighting, but Moomin showed me that he was planning on being “unsafe” which meant I had to be a proactive animal owner and string ‘em up high.

6) Sunday, I helped out an elderly neighbor. She was having issues with her tape machine (for books on tape) and I showed her how to operate it correctly. I had her run thru several trials independently (with some light prompting on my part), but I’m not sure how much she retained. She came by a second time an hour later for a refresher. She excused how jittery she was acting, she said she’d just taken a new medication and it “revs her right up”. I wrote the tips out in large writing and reminded her the machine needs to be closed in order to work properly. I may see her next weekend, she has help during the week.

7) I raked up some pine needles, wheelbarrowed them, and put them around the base of my Hydrangea. This will provide wind buffer and hopefully add some more acid to the soil. I’m all about the blue Hydrangea!

8) I made some veggie rollups for lunches for this week. This was a bit labor intensive, cutting the veggies and all.

9) Washed the kitties’ chins and got my ass bit for my efforts. Moomin got a bit rowdy while I was working on Doodle. I typically sit on the tub edge and yes my ass does hang a bit over the edge. Moomin was attacking the back of my sweatshirt coz it was moving back and forth with my arm and he got so hyped up and zooey that he bit my ass. Bit my ass! I had to giggle after my initial yell of indignation.

10) I read 4 books this weekend.

Woodland Optical Ilusions

These were taken over Thanksgiving break. I found them on my ArtShare picture quest. Let me know what you think they look like!

Frankenstein Cyclops screaming at the avenging villagers.

Evard Munsch-like face screaming.

Heart lying on it's side or a just baked acorn squash half (with plenty of butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar!).

Ostrich eye and beak maybe? Or a duck profile?

My nod to Easter Island's statues.

I don't know, it could be so many things, I just like to look at it.

Cookies Galore!

I, the Queen of Multi-Tasking, made my father cookies for his birthday while simultaneously watching Prison Break’s “Fall Finale”, keeping the cats from any and all ingredients, making my own late dinner and eating it, and cleaning up after everything. I also managed to fit in both household products (at Target) and food (at the grocery) shopping trips after work. Bow down before my immense multi-taskingness!!

Here are some pics of the fabulous GingerSnapless and Molasses Cookies I made for my dad. YUM!! My co-workers got to nibble on all the ones that didn’t fit in the container for my dad. I certainly hope my dad likes them; there was much effort on my part. You can find the recipe below the pics. Sorry they are blurry, I had to run interference and my hands were gooky.

GingerSnapless and Molasses Cookies

Sift together:
6 cups of flour
2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 ½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¾ tsp cloves (powdered or crushed)
¾ tsp ginger powder

Cream together:
2 ½ cups of sugar
2 ¼ cups shortening
3 eggs

Mix them together and add ¾ cup of molasses.
Work with hands.
Roll 1 inch balls.
Roll balls in sugar.
Put on cookie sheet 2 inches or so apart, they do spread a bit.
350* for 12 minutes, a tad more if you like super-crunchy.

Sorry Dad, Doodle and Moomin managed to lick a few of the done cookies and some of the to-be-cooked cookies. But I am not giving you those, I already ate them!

The Celebrations, Trials, and Tribulations of Being a MommiCat

1) I find that despite repeated crashings into walls and windows with his head, Moomin retains his native intelligence and showed me that he understands “cause and effect”. This is evidenced by his batting a mirrored ball in a sunny window this long weekend. After batting the ball, he chased the moving light dots (I didn’t say he was the sharpest tool in the box, but he’s not the dullest tool either by any means). Once the mirrored ball ran out of turning and swinging power, he ZOOMED up the couch, gave the ball another bat, and proceeded to chase light dots in crazy-man mode. He did this as long as the sun was coming thru at the right angle. Once the dots were gone, he was all done with the game.

2) The trio of furry goodness had turkey goodness for a special treat Thursday night. My mother saves me the “oysters” of the turkey for them. They loved it. Moomin was initially hesitant but once he saw how the others were chowing down, he followed suit.

3) They got two days of sunbeamin’ in and got nice and toasty!

4) I woke up Sunday morning to find that one of my cats (and my money is on Moomin) had dined on 4-5 inches of synthetic yarn that was attached to the rafters and to a toy (the toy was on the floor with a yarn segment missing). So now I’m on “poop’n’butt patrol” to make sure everything comes out okay.

5) I discovered over the long weekend that both my boys also have feline acne. I already knew Doodle did and she has been on the Kitty Stridex regimen for 3 weeks so far. Hobbes has a very bad case and Moomin’s is relatively light. Both Doodle and Hobbes’ chins are a mess. I thought Doodle’s was getting better so Murphy’s Law decided to step in and prove me wrong. I washed 3 kitty chins with Kitty Stridex last night. That was an adventure and a half. Doodle is used to the routine, pissed off, but used to it. I "burritoed" her up in a towel and that helped. She mellowed out some during the drying process when I shook the treat container in front of her (my mom’s idea, worked, thanks Mom!). Hobbes on the other hand, you would have thought I was trying to braid his whiskers, poke needles in his eyes, or jam a horse pill down his throat. I tried to “burrito” him up. That didn’t work too well. We finally compromised on a position that was truly funny. He was facing me pushing me away with his paws and I was holding him by the neck and shoulders, pushing him towards me. It was good for chin cleaning tho. I found he is missing quite a patch of fur on the right side of his chin. Poor baby. Well, the Kitty Stridex regimen has begun for him. I hope it helps. He does love the treat afterwards! I thought Moomin was going to give me a hard time. He was very well behaved and unsure of the treat. But then he decided he liked it enough to want to take Doodle’s place when it was her turn. I had to shoo him away. It’s lucky that he loves water! I hope it keeps going well with him. We’ll see.

An A-HA! Moment

-- Carsickness is caused by confusion in the brain over whether your body is in
motion or at rest. "There are several factors that contribute," says Dr. Karen
Belson, assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University Medical School in
Atlanta. "If the eyes see that you're moving but the body's pressure receptors
-- like your butt -- tell your central nervous system that you're stationary,
the brain can't process this input." – Excerpt taken from an article on
msn.com

Now it all becomes crystal clear… I get carsick because my brain and my butt are in mortal combat! My butt is interfering my brain’s ability to process. Nice.

I also found out recently that your gut has “a brain” of sorts, a collection of neurons, which is why we experience cravings, avoid certain foods, and have issues.

It’s an inner conspiracy. The organs are revolting, the organs are revolting! Save the cheerleader! Save the bodily universe!

What I Am Thankful For...

I’m thankful both my parents are alive and that I live near enough so I can get a parental infusion of unconditional love, support, and assistance when needed.

I’m thankful my brother hasn’t fallen into the ocean and that we have a great sibling relationship.

I’m thankful my Grampa is doing so well health-wise and has two people who regularly check up on him, do the heavier work he’s not able to do, and spend the holiday day days with him.

I’m thankful for my three furry felines who brighten my days, fill my ears with purring and growling, look forward to my homecoming, and comfort me when I’m sick or feeling down.

I’m thankful for my bevy of friends, who refuse to allow me to sink into hermithood and who provide me with a profusion of loving friendship.

I’m thankful for my home which is full of the things I love. Every time I come home, I feel wrapped up in comfort and safety, surrounded by books, cats, and family and friend mementos (pictures, furniture, gifts, etc).

I’m thankful for my health, things can go out of whack every now and again, but the basic foundation of healthiness is solid.

I’m thankful for having a job that interests me and provides me with a level of security income-wise.

I’m thankful for my car that’s bright red and tooting along just fine.

I’m thankful for my caseload, they provide me the opportunities to stretch my mind and be creative as well as providing me the outlet for being helpful.

I’m thankful for the ability to learn new things. I may resist the effort, but I appreciate the results and added knowledge.

A Triplet of Couplets

I may be physically alone
But my head is holding one hell of a party.


Hindsight is a cursed gift
The human race is blessed with.


I watched you romance the truth
When it had already fucked with me.

Small Poems, Big Ideas

There is emotional dust
Covering the memories of you
No matter how hard I try
I cannot remove the residue


If I cried in front of you
You would get drunk off my tears
Each tear is 100 proof
And everclear


Desiring
Once attained
Changed

Wanted to Share a Blast from the Past

I just wanted to share a picture that reminded me of the superfun times I had with my friend J! We always were up to something. That's her hand by the way! We're playing "Asshole" and I'm it coz I'm wearing the beer hat. Asshole always wears the beer hat, low man on the totem pole of levels in this game. "President" was the highest. If you are wondering what "Asshole" is, it's a drinking card game and for the life of me I can't remember the rules. I seem to recall they were pretty complex for a drinking game, but once we got rolling, it was actually tons of fun. My nose is red because we were on a two-day white water rafting trip. Can you say cold October water? I knew that you could and yes we were crazy. But we wanted the "big release" day and we got it in spades. Raft overturned and everything. My happy ass needed to be hauled in the boat by the back of my sweater because I popped up looking in the opposite direction of the raft (with my sunglasses still on because they were bungee-corded tightly to my face!) and all I kept thinking about was "nose and toes, nose and toes, and hold onto the oar for God's sake". Nose and toes coz you wanted them pointed upwards so nothing got caught in the rocks (you know, for the safety factor) and you had to pay for the damn oar if you lost it. Ah, those were the days. Can't say I miss the danger factor of some of the things we did...

To the Exclamation Point (!!!)

1) BORDERS is open! BORDERS is open!! Books galore! 5 minute ride to get there! Two bookstores in same area! Books! I think I’m going to overdose!

2) New clothes! I got some fabulous clothes at the Eddie Bauer Outlet this weekend! I wanted to use my 20% off coupon but the Outlet doesn’t take it! So I used the 10% off stamped thingie instead!

3) I ate a real 100% red meat hamburger this weekend (well-well done of course)! With a fried egg and bacon and lettuce and cheese and mayo on it! Called the Royal Red Robin! RED meat! No usual after-effects!

4) Got a letter telling me that my “internal” doctor is leaving and I have my choice of two unknown female doctors! Gonna call about that! I hate change! Talked to my mom and she comforted me and gave me a good idea! I love my mom!

5) My dad is now working closer to home! No more scary 1-2 hour drives to work and home in the dark or bad weather conditions! He doesn’t have to spend huge amounts of money on gas anymore! And if we see something at the store and tell him about it, he gets 10% discount! I love my dad!

6) I woke up in the wee small hours of Sunday morning with a killer migraine that felt like the back of my head was going to explode! Took some Aleve! I love Aleve! Because my head still felt “fragile” later Sunday morning, I didn’t go to the beach to take ArtShare pics! BUMMER!

7) So I spent the day in the Chair of Death with three very concerned and warm and fuzzy and loving and purry cats! I napped! I read! I had something for lunch that very much disagreed with me! Fragile head and stomach cramps! What a combo!

8) Woke up Monday morning (today) still feeling head fragile! But got to work anyway! Feeling better! Although I am experiencing some computer rage right at this very moment!

9) 3 day work week!

10) 4 day weekend!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memo To Cats

Re: Potty Time

Moomin, Doodle, and Hobbes:

As your delightful and bend-over-backwards owner, I understand curiosity is a defining factor of the feline nature. I understand that when I leave a room, you MUST come and seek me out to make sure I am still present and accounted for. I totally get that you love me unconditionally unless I am doing something directly opposed to your wants like taking you to the vet, clipping your claws, or washing your chin with Kitty Stridex using a toothbrush to get to your skin under the fur.

As your owner, I have certain responsibilities outside the realm of providing you breakfast, dinner, and the coveted bedtime snack. I also do more than amuse you with my blonde human antics. I need to “scoop the poop” to keep your unflushable toilet clean and fresh for your use. One: to keep you from using other parts of our home as a urinal and Two: to prevent illnesses that can result from dirty litter boxes.

I make sure I do this at a time when none of you are using the litter boxes. I give you your privacy to make with the evacuations. I expect the same in return.

I’m a girl who values her privacy and I’m feeling like I am back in college with the group bathrooms. Having all three of you roaming in and out of the bathroom when I am otherwise engaged, is not flying with me. Especially trying to get behind the toilet, eating terry cloth strings hanging from my robe which you created by jumping on me after my shower, dumping over the trash to make used Kleenexes into jerry-rigged toys, and attempting to climb the shower curtain.

I don’t hover over you while you are digging to China and I would appreciate if you would leave me the fuck alone when I am trying to do what I need to do.

Having said this, I know in my heart-of-hearts you are going to completely disregard my memo and continue on your merry way of irritating the piss out of me. No pun intended.

Respectfully submitted by:
Your owner who is having her last nerve jumped on.

ArtShare - Out w/ Old, In w/ New

Well, I just visited an elementary school and what I saw there has made me chuck my original ArtShare plans for my 3 people!!

I am going to do what I saw up on their hallway walls!! It's the coolest thing ever and I can totally personalize for each person. Whooo hoo!!!

JJM Handcrafted: you may end up with a few cats too. I made one yesterday and discovered I have to do one a day coz by the second cat I've lost the oomph and it ends up a big mess!

Yippee for ideas!!!

Brain Update

My doctor called me on Saturday. Yes, he called me on the weekend so I knew it wasn't "an all clear" call. He said the doctor that reads the MRI discovered what may be a little abnormal magnetic resonance and they would like me to have a Contrast MRI done to see if it is anything. I liked how my doctor put it. "We're not sure what it is at this time and we're obligated to follow up with it." Let's just hope my insurance company agrees with the proactive approach.

Rainy Grey November Day

It's a grey and dreary day in November today. So was yesterday but I was able to stay in my PJs, read all day, nap with the cats, and had nothing scheduled. The Best. Today is not the best weather-wise, but I am slowly catching up at work. Just one more plan, a gazillion thank-you letters, and some visual picture schedules to make (this involves using a co-workers computer, a color printer, and a laminator - ah, brings out the teacher in me!).

This is a picture of my mom and me. It's a fall day. I thought it fit today's grey theme.

I am still in the planning stages for the ArtShare, but things are starting to gel. I should have started one of them this weekend, but the Laziness Demon had me in it's grip.

ArtShareMeme Mini-Update

JM Handcrafted: Your sister answered for you and you will be receiving the art a la cat project!!!

ArtShareMeme Update

Wednesday's Child (Mama-san): The colors have come together as well as the basic overall theme and the multi-media concept. I'm still working out the logistics of the theme and need to get materials.

JMHandcrafted: Do you like cats? If not then I can certainly adapt the idea above and make one of those. Let me know!

The Edward: I know what technique I will be doing, I just don't know what item to apply it to. I'm going to make you something arty yet functional (I hope).

Still swamped, so no witty repartee from moi!!

That's Not Something You See Everyday!

Yes, folks, I have ventured into the strange world of MRIs.

And I have seen MY BRAIN! Not the actual grey spongey stuff, but a MRI of it.

I got to see that although it appears pretty symmetrical, it’s not really. I have a swirly something or other on the left side just under the middle that isn’t on the right. But the lit up part was on both sides like a one-lobed two-wing butterfly.

I also noticed that my skull is not symmetrical at all. If I shaved my head, I would have a large hillock on the left side right above my ear area and two hillocks with a valley on the right side over my ear area. Not sure why they are there and what happened to create them. I also noticed that my jaw area is VERY unsymmetrical. Nice.

I just can’t get over the fact that I have seen an image of MY BRAIN! Yes, I have had X-rays of my arm (broken in two places), foot (bone spurs), and head (for wisdom teeth removal) in the past. Yes, I had some sort of radioactive body scan (for stress fractures and I never got to see it). But we’re talking MY BRAIN here.

I had to go to this little moveable detachable building attached to the hospital. I wasn’t allowed to take the stairs (not safety regulated) so the MRI person and I rode the honking huge ramp up to the sliding-garage-doorlike door. The whatever-you-want-to-call-it was divided into two sections – the MRI section and the desk/computer/music section. They asked me to remove all metal prior to coming (the questionnaire was truly interesting, I can see a be-pierced person having to list all their piercings on another page, I only had to list my ears) and to bring a CD. Glad I remembered to do both. Those machines are LOUD. I can see why people with issues have a problem with being in there. I just kept my eyes closed, listened to Fleetwood Mac, and tried not to shiver (not much insulation in the little traileresque thingie). I also concentrated on not having my cold fill up my nose and make it impossible to breath. I blew my nose thoroughly before lying down and being wedged in so I didn’t have any stuffiness like I had anticipated.

I’m feeling a bit naked at the moment. I forgot to put my jewelry (earrings, rings, necklace) back on when I stopped at home to grab my lunch on my way to work.

I got to see MY FREAKIN' BRAIN!!

Quick! Some Random Cat P*rn

I caught Moo and Doo together this weekend. Without me! Totally on Doodle's initiative. She was chilly and wanted to snuggle. Moomin loves when she does, well, he does when he's not in "I'm chomping everything in sight" mode!

Hobbes was up wandering around at this point which made Moomin on "are you playing anything I want to join alert" which made Doodle on "neck chewing alert".

Can I Be Any More Swamped?

1) So Halloween is over. All the trick-or-treaters got to meet Moomin. He was very interested in all the people coming, he even tried to sniff them thru the window a few times, and he got lots of compliments (mostly on how "he was a black cat on Halloween"). At one point I had a lull and he fell in the typical kitten coma. I had to lift him off my lap when the next wave came and the girls oohed and ahhed over him coz he's just so damn cute!!

2) I've been in a training for two full days.

3) I am so behind at work that I am doing the escape/avoidance technique of doing everything but what I SHOULD be doing.

4) And I have had 2 people jump aboard the ArtShareMeme. Edward, you can create something! I know you can. So while I am creating something for you, you be all creative and stuff and we'll do a swap. I have faith in your arty abilities! I still need 3 more. This doesn't have to be hard, the "art" can be in any medium that you feel comfy in. And I'm not an art critic so don't worry about what my fluffy head is going to think of it. I'll be thrilled to just get something in the mail from a real live person that isn't a mass mailing or pre-approved credit card.

5) I haven't heard back from the window people to confirm if they received my signed contract.

6) Work Work Work Work. So much backlogged paperwork, so much to print and sign, so much to complete and send out, phone messages to listen to and answer, so much to do and only one day to attempt it in!

I have to go, I really must get started!

What the Ghouls, Goblins, and Ghosties Will Be Getting At My House

My trick-or-treaters are always spoiled by me. I load up the treat bags below with one of each of the candies (keeping my favs in reserve of course). I only filled the mummy and the black cat bags (40 of 'em), saving the green background ones for next year. Trick or Treat!! Happy Halloween.