SLAMBO

Squird and Birrel TV

2012-01-24T22:18:00.004-05:00

One of my clients likes to ask me if I have "any new cat stories" every time I visit. She finds my high maintenance feline adventures to be very humorous.

Today I was describing to her about how much the cats have been enjoying real life television thru the deck windows because I've been feeding the birds and the big fat juicy squirrels have been butting in - 7 of them today, going after the stale cashews I'd sprinkled all over the deck yesterday morning, damn fatties (I didn't use these exact words with her!) kept taking turns dashing around the deck and after grabbing a big cashew, shoving it in their mouths, they would drive-by the window putting Moo in a hunting frenzy as they jumped off the edge to go bury them in the snow which means I'm going to find cashews all over the yard once it melts, poor Moo tried so hard to osmosis himself thru the glass! I tried to tell her they were watching the "bird and squirrel TV" channel but my tongue got all twisted up and it came out as "squird and birrel TV". We laughed and she told me I should write it down. I did and thought it would make a great post title.

Moomin finally decided biting a distracted Doodle was WAY more interesting than the juicy squirrels he couldn't catch.

Angry Birds

2012-01-22T10:57:00.004-05:00

I DID it.

After playing from 11pm to 4:20am, I did it.

I completed all 3 levelsets with every single level in each of them on the free Angry Birds game! Level 13 on the third set was a major bitch with just three birds and buttload of concrete but after an hour+ with no hints (not going to pay .99 cents) I managed to get the four nasty sneering little piggies.

I thought there was going to be a big celebration, you know: music, lights, maybe some fireworks, some bruised/battered/contrite green pigs, and some dancing Happy Birds at the end...

But no,

All that happened was the credits. boring with a lower case "b".

At the very least they could have had confetti.

Alcatraz

2012-01-16T23:11:00.002-05:00

Giving this series a whirl now that I have plenty of time to myself and can watch all and any friggin' show on TV that I want to watch for as many hours at a time as I want to watch.

Yeah me.

It's got the elements I like: supernaturalistic possibilities, science fiction, crime, murder, mystery, strong female lead, humor, did I mention crime?

We'll see, first two hours weren't bad.

JJ Abrams (Bad Robot) produced it, so we have lots of time-switching/flashbacking. I don't mind but it does make for one of those shows where you have to start watching from the beginning or you are just... LOST (yeah I went there! Bad pun, I know, couldn't resist, I can do these now too, all I friggin' want.)

Me being gritchy. New word I made up, cross between grouchy and bitchy, that seems to be my state of mind right now.

High On Book Crack!

2012-01-02T20:12:00.003-05:00

And do I mean BOOK CRACK!

I went to my favorite local used book store today. Wandered around, found a few books, no big deal, but my book radar was still pinging like mad so I was confused as to why I wasn't finding anything. I woke up this morning with the very strong urge to go and it wasn't panning out which is strange because my book feelings are always on target.

The owner swung around the corner and let me know he'd recently been to a home of an 80 yr old man with the beginnings of senile dementia who's now living in nursing home and some lawyer-y executive-type hired by the family came in and took all the hardback books (mostly first editions/signed = lots of moolah for the family) and left all the paperbacks which the owner bought.

Paperbacks from the 50's, 60's, and 70's.

30+ boxes.

My time zone and categories of interest: science fiction and mysteries!

OH MY GOD - I was there from 10am to 3pm going through the 15 or so boxes the owner had brought to the store.

I found some absolutely fabulous finds (looking at you Solar Pons/Basil Copper), things I'd been looking for for years (SF anthologies edited by Judith Merrill), many things I didn't even know I was looking for (mysteries by romance authors), and just random awesome books (medical mysteries, ooh).

I left there with the smell of books up my nose, the taste of books in my mouth, and box of books in my arms. No better feeling in the world to a book lover like me.

Mom, thanks for the Santa Cash, could not have been a better gift. I am so highly happy right now.

My Version of the NewYr's Ball and Fireworks

2012-01-01T12:01:00.002-05:00

It may not be a million dollar+ crystal ball with built in light-display but it's much prettier!

Since we have a ban on fireworks in our town AND it was rainy, these color bursts work just fine.

Happy New Year!

Hope this year is much better than last although the Mayans had some pretty serious predictions for this year, life-changing - I'm not sure if it's going to be on an individual level or a human race level. I guess we'll just have to see!

NewYr's Eve Amendment

2011-12-31T13:03:00.002-05:00

Moo is done with the crows so he's wiggled his way into a two-way catdonut with Doodle.

Here's How the Crew is Spending NewYr's Eve

2011-12-31T12:38:00.005-05:00

Huddling for warmth and sleeping with nose tucked into blankets.

Curled up in a catdonut and sleeping with nose tucked under paws.

Gazing raptly out at crows.

And I'm still in my PJs.

Busy Christmas Day!

2011-12-25T23:30:00.001-05:00

I had to wrap some more gifts, seems to be a tradition with me: waiting until Xmas Day morning to wrap my parents/Riley's gifts. I like it, feels holidayish. Then jumped in the shower and got ready to go have Chinese food lunch with Mr. L's family: that's one of their traditions and they invited me along. Then home to get gifts. Then off to my parents' house. It worked out for them, they got to dawdle, walk Riley, have lunch, and relax before I came over. Mr. L came over for Xmas Burritos which he loved but he LOVED my mom's pulled pork more. I can make him practically swoon with some of the things I make, but I don't have anything on my mom's pulled pork.

Here's my mom's tree, she dubbed it Fatso. She likes vintage-y ornaments, ones that are slightly worn and tarnished.

Riley got his "smart dog" gift from me. He didn't do what the dog on the box was doing (using his paws to move the covers over) but tried to bite them off and the combination of his wet nose and super-saturated tongue started to break down the less-then-quality wood the thing was made of. I'm sure my father could make a more awesome one with better wood to withstand nipping teeth that can disembowel a stuffed animal in less then a minute.

Riley got his bone finally which made him very happy and he worked on that for three hours straight! One tired pup! You can see one of the Hello Kitty-stuffed Hello Kitty bags I got my mom - just filled with all sorts of HK items. I had so much fun shopping for her. I'm SOOO glad she loves the wristlet purse, that was one of my last finds and oooh was it a good one. Hope she posts a pic of it! I made my dad his usual bucketloads of pretzels, Heath-bit flavored. He'll be in Party Pretzel Heaven 'til Easter!

A view of my parents' living room. I was trying to get the tree light reflections in the window, sort of succeeded but the photo set-up is nice, inviting, like you just want to crawl in the photo and join us.

I got exactly what I wanted this Christmas:

A mini feather pillow
A new sturdy ladder
Dark chocolate malt balls
Cozy mittens
Scarf
Sparkly aqua earrings from Mr. L
Time with my family
Time with Mr. L and his family
Time at home with my kittos

It was a lovely holiday. I'm happy.

Catmouse Eve with Tissue Paper

2011-12-24T09:48:00.005-05:00

Here's the most beautiful Christmas tree I've had yet. So straight and symmetrical for a wild tree, hard to believe no-one snapped it up. When I look for a tree, I tend to exasperate the sales people because I make them show me a bunch before I find "The Tree", I can't tell you what it is exactly because it's not perfection or symmetry (although I lucked out this Xmas) that determines "The Tree" but a "feeling", a feeling that this particular tree was meant for me and to grace my home for the holidays.

Now this tree... quite a little story. I arrived to find the selection of wild trees was very small and I thought I might end up with a tall version of the Charlie Brown tree or sometree that did not "speak" to me. The DooBee helping had shown me 6 trees that were no-go and one that was meh-be when we started a second go-around the wild tree pile. A tree practically threw itself at our feet, it was too tall, but I said since it fell at my feet I had to look at it. DooBee propped it up and my immediate reaction was NO! I always feel bad about taking so long so I said "let me see the tree that was behind it" (still leaning up against the wood frame). He moved the NO tree out of the way and brought the behind tree up.

OMG, that was "THE TREE".

Just stunningly perfect - straight trunk, every branch in place and perfectly balanced with other branches all around, tons of nooks and crannies for ornaments, and just the right shape going from skirt to tip. Now, I firmly believe it knew it was the tree for me and just kicked that NO tree out of the way so I would find it. It was way too tall, but I had him take some off the bottom and ended up taking about 5 inches off the top (boohoo), but it was gorgeous. I got it home, set it up, watered it, and just stood looking at for a hour. Then, to give it time to settle, I put lights and ornaments on it about 4 days later. I don't know how, but I improved upon perfection and spent my days hurrying home so I could get lost in looking at it. And smelling it.

The poopers have been enjoying the tree, zooming under it, messing up the sparkly tree skirt, and knocking off the random icicle, but not having as much fun as catnipped-up tissue paper! As evidenced below. This is how they spent Christmas Eve as I wrapped gifts.

Can't wait for Christmas Day!

Weekend Wildlife

2011-12-18T17:38:00.008-05:00

It's been a LONG time. Just too much time on the computer at work, so much so I can't bear to be on it at home. But the weekend was good and I wanted to share the wildlife that I have been feeding! I will let you guess who the uninvited diner is...

This is the Lman in a "meat stupor". Trader Joe's American-style Kobe Beef Burger stupor...

This Post Brought To You By The Letter "B"

2011-06-06T22:42:00.002-04:00

A BumbleBee enjoying the weekend sun on a red Bloom. Finally!

My newBie Bush has Blossoms and it's not even a year old. Yippee!

And finally I managed to Bake my Bits on Sunday and got a Bit of a sunBurn on my arms and Butt. I forgot I still have fishBelly-colored skin. That will learn me!

Moomifer Settling for Fake Sunshine

2011-05-28T09:47:00.005-04:00

Moomin dreaming of the sun he should be catalounging in.

I don't think it's going to get sunny today, so here's some fake sunshine to brighten things up.

Yellow flowers and blue skies.

Yin and Yang: As Interpreted by Doodle and Hobbes

2011-05-28T09:32:00.003-04:00

It's cloudy AGAIN today, not sure if it's going to burn off or not, the last few mornings it has, but cloudy doesn't stop the Miss Bug and Mr Bear from both trying to be in the napper under one of the bedroom windows.

I managed to stay in bed til 9am. I needed it. I hate getting tired so easily after what seems to be so little because I've always been one of those Energizer Bunny people who can be moving and doing the whole day (I chose not to do so all the time, but I had the ability) but I know the golden side of the coin is that my immune system is no longer in overdrive 24/7 (which it had been for years thus the butt-dragging-can't-get-out-of-bed feeling every morning) so my current fatigue is due to not having any reserves built back up. Trying to eat more protein myself per the doctor/nurse's post surgery healing recommendations. No where near what my mom Wednesday's Child is doing, but more so than usual for me. I have to say, Cashew Butter ROCKS, I'm on my third jar! So yummy with Apple Butter on crackers. It's a great lunch - easy to bring and easy to make and there's lots of it. Dinners have been mostly chicken with something, right now sweet potato fries from Alexia, all natural with just sea salt, crisped up in the oven.

So Many Blog Posts in My Head

2011-05-27T08:08:00.002-04:00

But just not getting on the blog.

Case in point, this photo is of my recent local find... what a wonderful rocky cliffy vista of the coast! And very close by!

Some other examples of titles of entries that didn't get shared:

No More AM Butt Dragging Since Surgery

Short Term Disability is a Fantasy

Still Enjoying Some Fat Free Finds (but not FFRanch, can you say Mucus?!)

Chickadees and Duck Butts

There's a Tick in My Head

The Diva Bitch Has Left the Building

I Killed My Neighbor's Mower

Finds at a Yard Sale

MrL Has Hooked Me On Jeopardy

Why Are Guys Like They Are?

What's With the Snakebite and Scorpion? Seriously!

My Summer Goal: DeepDish ExtraBaconTopping Pizza

Spring Has Finally Sprung (would show kaleidoscope pics of my early flowers)

Sorry you missed them but after going back to work and being on a computer practically all the time, I don't want to be on it when I come home. And I'm wiped when I get home. And all I wanna do is read, watch Jeopardy, and spend my evenings with MrL. Oh, and curl up with the cats. That's the thing I miss most going back to work, laying around with a pile of cats on me and all of us napping in peaceful quietitude.

It's a Wild and Wooly Day

2011-04-17T10:00:00.004-04:00

The wind has been very blustery, so strong it pushed my heavy plastic Andirondack chair away from the house and into the middle of my driveway. MrL said his parents have lost their awning and "there's shit all over the place." Not to mention a huge fire on the block of apts/businesses where I get my hair cut that re-routed him from getting home to shower and to work this morning. I tried looking the fire up but it's too early for anything to be posted or reported on. MrL said the flames were pretty intense from what he could see. Will have to check later.

I have my post-surgical appointment tomorrow. Looking forward to what they will find and say. The glue on my incisions is starting to come off, already off on the incision towards my side, rubbed off in my sleep is what I'm thinking. The itchy bumps are not so itchy and subsiding, yeah!

My dinner did not agree with me last night. One of the nurses told me that there is a good chance that what doesn't agree with me now may agree with me in a month, several months, or a year from now and I should keep tabs on it. It's nice to have hope, but I think my problem yesterday was that I may have had a little too much too soon. I'm trying very hard to stay between 5-10 grams of fat per day and I think my dinner pushed me over the edge a bit last night even tho I ate less then a fourth of it. It was either that or the headache. I'm thinking it was both. I feel much better today but then I TMIed quite a bit before bed and this morning. Anyone want a massive serving of chicken and peapods? I'm definitely not going to finish it!

Hobber has taken a leaf from Riley's "not eating" manual. After not eating Friday, he did finally scarf down his dinner of liver/beef feast (wet food) last night so on my way back from my appointment tomorrow I'm going to pick some more of that up for him as he didn't eat much of his bfast this morning. Rassin'Frassin' picky eaters... Doodle's still hoovering, no issues there.

Well, I've got a book yelling my name and as I'm still not feeling 100%, I'm going to plunk my ass down to read and watch the wind blow. Later.

Gall Bladder Surgery 2.0 Is Complete

2011-04-10T09:04:00.004-04:00

I'm not going to say "and a success" just yet for two reasons...

1) My gall bladder was VERY swollen/inflamed and when the surgeon had finally cut thru all the scar tissue/connective adhesions my body had produced over the years trying to wall it off (which is what a healthy immune system is supposed to do and my immune system is apparently top notch/super effective/did it's job almost TOO well!) and tried to grab it to start removing it, it burst and a "whole bunch of pus came out" and they had to flush me three times with saline to make sure they got all the "messy" stuff out. One of the nastiest operations he's had to do and all the nurses knew of me... I was the "nasty gall bladder operation patient, the messy one, and the second worst gall bladder the doctor has operated on", the first being connected to that patient's liver where mine was just connected to everything else but the liver. Small things can be massively good things. So they kept me over night to monitor me for signs of infection, intravenously gave me aggressive antibiotics, and took bloodwork in the morning. I am on an antibiotic regimen for the next seven days. Once I've been cleared of having any infection, then I will label the surgery successful.

2) Also waiting for my post-surgical check-up appointment which is on the 18th. Really, I have to wait for the doctor to give me the "successful" word.

Last night I found that I seem to have developed small itchy bumps on my abdominal region. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with what the OR staff swabbed on me before cutting me open, I could be sensitive to it. I'm not going to worry as the itching is not constant, the bumps are small, seems to not be getting worse, and some of them are going away. I've got a wicked bruise on my side from the last of my heparin shots, the two in my belly weren't bad but the last one was a doozy, burned and stung for about 5 min afterwards and Lman noticed the bruise yesterday, same place as the last shot. I wasn't able to take a shower until yesterday. God was I icky. It wasn't so bad the afternoon after the surgery but the next day, my hair was crispy, I was itchy, dying to put some deodorant and underwear on, and by the time the Lman had come to get me, the washcloth bath (most of which was administered by me, the nurse did my back) was ridiculously ineffective (just made me itchier) but I finally got to have undies/deodorant on. By the evening of the 8th and the morning of the 9th, my hair was the consistency of bacon grease. Thankfully Lman said I was still beautiful to him: greasy hair, "pink belly" (that's what he calls my poor twice-operated-on abdomen), and all.

I certainly had to face my "modesty" issues this time around. The nurses all saw my butt numerous times whenever I exited the bed to use the bathroom, they needed to escort me so that my IV came with me/that I didn't fall and nicely made sure my backside was properly covered, but still! They also had to note "how much urine I produced" which is a nice way of saying they needed to see my pee every time. And one nurse liked my productivity so much she kept giving me "high fives". And we are not going to talk about the gas. Let's just say I'm GLAD my roommate was deaf.

Speaking of my roommate... I don't want to give the impression that I wasn't empathetic to her situation - she was in a bad state: has been thru 3 different cancers, on her fourth, just had a kidney removed, gout in her toe, obese, all her extremities were swollen due to retaining water, she was unable to move herself without assistance, partially deaf, gassy, and the afternoon I had been put in her room, they removed her to do an ultrasound and found a blood clot in her leg. So, yeah, in a bad state, but my God was she uber-annoying. When I was telling my mom about her, Mom reminded me of Gramma. That's why it felt so familiar but so annoying at the same time. My roommate had her TV on the ENTIRE time on Talk TV (inflammatory Fox news shit) similar to Talk Radio (just like Gramma) which is highly highly irritating to me, the only time she turned it off was when the hospital doobies were with her. She talked very loudly: I got to vicariously participate in her conversation (obviously while the TV was still on) with her two daughters about the fact she hasn't "pooed" in 2-3 days, how the "urge" left her every time the nurses got her and the bedpan positioned (which by the way she tried twice, I was mortified she was going to take a shit with me in the room to share the joy with her, albeit separated by a curtain but that curtain wasn't going to do much to keep the 2-3 day stench away if she had taken one, thank God she didn't), her daughters' suggestion to the hospital staff of filling their mother up with "the recipe" consisting of warmed prune juice, applesauce, and some other ingredient that my mind has since blocked out (I was thinking the whole time they damn well better not fill her up with that, I didn't want to hear or smell the result), and finally the use of diapers (which is what I was secretly rooting for). Her daughters left and then her son came at 9pm (after visiting hours were over I believe because I heard an announcement before he came asking all visitors to start leaving and this was around 8pm). She talked loudly to him with the TV on for about an hour, so loudly I kept having to turn my TV volume up because I couldn't hear it. Roomie kept her TV on until 1:30-2am with what must have been some Gadawful black+white movie from the 30's or 40's that was a "real people" version of the Jungle Book complete with non-stop screaming, howling, growling, roaring, yelling, hissing, and numerous crowd scenes. When the night nurse came to check my vitals, I'd had it, just had it coz it had been going on for a f-in' hour and a half. When she asked me how I was doing, I was very frank with her - I hadn't slept the night before due to nerves, I was extremely tired, and was sorry to have to complain about the TV noise but I couldn't take anymore and was becoming extremely cranky. The nurse escorted me to the bathroom and while I was in there, she approached my Roomie with headphones. Blessed peace. I was able to doze on and off the rest of the night and didn't watch the clock anymore until the sky lightened outside. Whew. Then it turns out that my Roomie was offended that I said something, I "heard" her say something to the morning nurse and her daughter who came in later. Oh well, as my mom said, when someone is partially deaf they think everyone else is too and keep it loud. I didn't care, I was leaving anyway.

I'm home: having trouble sleeping as I am normally a tummy sleeper and having to sleep in an elevated back position is quite frankly pissing me off and making my shoulder blades ache like the frickin' dickens but I'm happy to report I'm off the Vicoden and just taking Tylenol Extra Strength now. I was given stool softener advice because the narcotic in the Vicoden can result in constipation so I really wanted to stop it as soon as I could because... TMI here, some of you may want to look away: between Auntie M (who thankfully held off until yesterday to arrive, I was so worried she'd come the day of surgery or while I was in the hospital going commando in their ridonkulous johnnies) and the antibiotics, I should be having the Big D, which I did finally yesterday night so I am not going to end up like my ex-Roomie. As Lman said "I have a lot going on down there."

I'm thankful

1) the surgeon was able to remove it laproscopically, I can deal with 3 new holes and a new two inch "smile" added to my belly button.

2) I'm home.

3) I have wonderfully caring people supporting me.

4) I pooped.

5) recovery seems to be moving along like it's supposed to.

And my kitties are very happy to see me. Plethora of purrs for me.

Who Does This Stuff Happen To?

2011-03-27T23:14:00.004-04:00

Me. Me. Me, that's who!

It's finally sunk in this weekend... the Murphy's Law Event...

Waking up from your very first surgery EVER to find out that the planned "you'll be just fine" organ removal did not actually take place, you still have the organ plus four new holes, one of which is thru the bellybutton which makes you nauseous every shower, and now you have to go thru another surgical consult in another hospital with another doctor with another pre-op nurse and have another surgery scheduled where two doctors are going to attempt to remove the organ thru four small holes but if they can't, you'll be cut open. Can you say tweaked, to say the least?

Just had my very first sneeze since the surgery. Ever since my dad mentioned how fun sneezing was going to be when I told him how coughing felt, I've been dreading it. Sneezed right after talking to my friend J... about allergies of all things. Go figure.

The Universal Being's Court Jester is ROTFL @ My Sitcheeashun

2011-03-25T09:58:00.005-04:00

So I had a gastritis attack end of Jan into Feb. 14 days of Prilosec and invalid food. Done.

Then on Mar 8th at night I had what I thought were the beginnings of another gastritis attack, same pain just not as bad...

which led me to think of nipping it in the bud myself, so I started a home treatment of Prilosec and invalid food remembering how well it worked last time,
which ended up not working because all hell broke loose Sunday night into Monday pain-wise,
which led me to go to the doctor on Wed the 16th to be poked and prodded,
which led to an ultrasound on the 17th where I got to see my kidneys, liver, spleen, bottom of my heart, aortic artery, bile duct, and gall bladder with two stones,
which led to being told that I needed further testing because not only did the ultrasound find a possible gallstone in the neck of my gall bladder which was "very inflamed", they also found a "shadow" on my liver,
which meant a surgical consult was scheduled on the 21st (Mon) for the gall bladder issue and an MRI was scheduled on the 18th (Fri) to determine the nature of the "shadow",
which meant I had to wait the weekend to find out the MRI results,
which meant a very rocky start to my weekend as the pain was VERY bad,
which led to me calling the on-call doctor Saturday who gave me the max doses of Aleve/Tylenol I could take in a 24hr period,
which helped immensely as I was being "too cautious" and was then able to work out a pain med regimen and stop thinking of taking myself to the ER,
which led to finding out Monday that the "shadow" on my liver is benign and something I was born with so no worries,
which meant I was then off to my surgical consult to learn all about what's going on, worst and best case scenarios, surgical procedures, etc, and that they couldn't get me into surgery until Thurs 24th as gall bladder surgeries are only held on Mon/Thurs and I told them if I had to wait until Mon I was going to start crying,
which led to meeting with the pre-op nurse to be further educated about the surgical procedures, detailed instructions of what I had to do the night before and morning of the surgery,
which then led to having pre-op bloodwork,
which meant waiting until Thursday for my surgery,
which came faster than I thought,
which meant I was thoroughly tweaked all during the pre-op waiting time answering redundant questions, forgetting the plethora of people's names, getting hooked up to the IV, waiting, waiting, waiting,
which ended and I was wheeled off to the OR where apparently I was all loopy from the "happy juice" and introduced the surgeon to MrL "in absentia" (the surgeon told me this afterward, I have absolutely no memory of this),
which led to me waking up in the recovery room where the nurse told me that I still had my gall bladder and that the doctor had explained this all to me after the surgery
which I did not remember,
which led to my first reaction of "are you fucking serious?" but because the hospital is Adventist and prayer-positive, I managed to not say that out loud and just croak out "I'm sorry, I'm confused, I still have my gall bladder?" to
which the nurse replied yes and that the doctor would explain it all to me again once I was back in the ACU,
which meant waiting and waiting again while sipping water and eating applesauce and Jell-O while my father and MrL waited with me,
which led to the doctor finally coming in and telling me that my gall bladder had been very sick for a long time, connective tissue has built up around it, and he didn't feel confident in doing it by himself lapriscopically so he was referring me to another doctor so both of them could do it together lapriscopically and if they were unable to be the dynamic duo, they would end up having to cut me open,
which made me upset to say the least.

And so I have to go to another surgical consult next week and find out when they can schedule me for the dynamic duo surgery.

How's that for Murphy's Law? I had a feeling this wasn't going to be easy but everyone was telling me that I was going to be fine, the surgery would be fine, and everything was going to be just fine, so I just told myself to stop being pessimistic but that little voice wouldn't go away. Guess I was right...

Golden side of the coin at least it's not life threatening, just a pain in the ass and I made it through my first surgery even if it wasn't finished.

And Snow It Goes...

2011-03-10T19:25:00.005-05:00

These were taken before the rain started last week. Notice how the snow pile is as tall as my Fit? Super. Fun. Shoveling. My ass! Glad it's going down. I can actually see a strip of lawn below the bush that is featured next to the car. Not to mention my asphalt...

The lovely town plowers had a grand ole time making my life abysmally miserable. I was way too angry to even think of taking pics of the immensely high messes they would leave at the bottom of my driveway. All I can say is they were lucky I was asleep when they pulled that shit coz I woulda flicked their auras out of the stratosphere. My wonderful neighbor with his riding snowblower helped out several times and he and his wife will be getting a gift certificate to eat somewhere nice from me!

Sorry for not posting, bro o' mine. I spent all of February being sick: The first two weeks of February I had a severe attack of gastritis (I seriously considered taking myself to the emergency room several times coz my upper tummy hurt so bad) and once I was done with the Prilosec and invalid food 14-day regimen, I got one of the various flu strains and was sick for another two weeks. I think my immune system was compromised by the gastritis because everyone around me had flus/colds etc going on the beginning and middle of winter and I was fine until I enraged my tummy.

And just this Wed I had tummy pain at night which told me the gastritis was revisiting. I'm on Prilosec and invalid food again. Yeah me. I plan to cheat on Friday when Lman takes me out for Chinese food and to his parents' house on Saturday for a family dinner. I will be careful, but I'm not going to say no to something I like, just eat it in moderation. I've been asked to make a dessert. I'm thinking of making a spring-colored checkerboard cake with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles. When the cake is cut, they will see a pink, green, blue, purple, and yellow checkerboard - so cool!

Some New Photos for the New Year

2011-01-04T21:20:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

Firework-y photo courtesy of a blurry daylight no-flash picture of my Xmas tree.

My new year has begun with a pretty even mix of positive and negative and finding the golden side of the negative coin has been a good thing.

If how you go into the new year is any prediction of it's going to be, apparently my new year is going to consist of :

1) lots of out-of-the-box problem-solving

2) being a source of help and comfort to close friends

3) getting projects done with minor procrastination and pajamas (Mom passed the spend-your-day-in-jammies gene onto me and my brother, only he favors his robe)

4) mucho reading (nice!)

5) not much actual TV but lots of movies

6) laughing

7) shoveling (in the winter) which will translate into yardwork in the spring

8) making/creating things

9) not doing much in the cleaning realm but the bare minimum

and finally

10) getting a move on photo presentations so I can show my pics since an IDEA finally presented itself fully formed (thanks SubConscious) in my head about two months ago but my home DIY project trumped starting it.

Compromised Heating System

2010-12-29T22:34:00.005-05:00

As if the world needs additional proof that cats are all about themselves and getting their wants met before anybody else... here's the trio placing themselves strategically in front of hot air registers simultaneously around the house when the furnace comes on, baking their furry little biscuits to the utmost maximum and blocking the flow of warm air into the rest of the house. As I said, it's all about the cat. Humans? Eh.

Meowy Christmouse! Happy Tissue Paper!

2010-12-25T22:23:00.004-05:00

Oh, the fun one can have with tissue paper! I gave this to my kittos for their present and they were all most happy. As you can tell...

One of their best Christmas mornings ever!

Off Road and Off Leash for Xmas Day

2010-12-25T22:06:00.005-05:00

I spent the day with my parents. I got perfectly cooked/crisp and buttery Pierogis for lunch - heaven! A wonderful walk in the woods. Talking, laughing, brother called, dinner, Farkle (which Dad tolerated better than Scrabble coz it was faster although he didn't much care for the noise factor the shaking of the dice created and Riley was one confused pup as he wanted his dinner and thought we were shaking treats!), and pumpkin cheesecake (which is hugely more delicious than pumpkin pie!).

A suitably snowy Riley.

A super fast dog is he bounding out of the woods.

Getting a treat coz he came back on his own.

And we walk while Riley (aka Tigger) bombs ahead.

Tree Finally Finished

2010-12-24T14:01:00.001-05:00

Today I finally took off the dud lights and put the new LED strands on. Typically I decorate in a massive "red and gold" theme but as I only had dregs for lights to choose from, I picked the best of the lot which was multi-colored minis. Which are pretty, don't get me wrong, we always had multis growing up. It's just that my tree is usually redNgold everything. But tis the season this year for all things different. Out with the rigidity and inflexibility and in with the totally flying by the seat of my pants. Lighting and decorating my tree on Xmas Eve is a big first, and very seat of my pants. The only reason it's decorated is because it has to stay up until New Year's for luck and I couldn't have a nude tree going into the new year. (See, not entirely gone, the rigidity and inflexibility rear their heads for that tradition!) Anyhoo, I couldn't take a non-blurry photo of the tree, so here's the best of a smeary lot and then an experimental one which looks very cool!

It's like candy cane lightning!

I have to get ready, going to Mr. L's family for Xmas Eve. Another first!

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-23T09:34:00.000-05:00

So this is what I woke up to this morning!

Just finished shoveling and showering, off to work I go! HiHo HiHo. HOHOHO!!!!

Crafty Christmas

2010-12-22T23:00:00.002-05:00

I've already posted about the Party Pretzels.

Here's my Secret Santa gift to give at tomorrow's Xmas potluck. Who doesn't like a bit of sparkle for the holidays. I made the wreaths out of wire hangers (which I will be actively soliciting for thruout 2011, wanna make some more) and garland.

I made these for Mr. L's boys - all three of them love Zombie movies and Mr. L's Z-shirt that I made for him went over bigtime with the boys this summer... so now they can be the the Zombie Twinkies!

It's Not Really Feeling Like Xmas

2010-12-16T22:42:00.003-05:00

I'm having a hard time catching the holiday spirit this year. All of my friends are having a really difficult time this year emotionally, financially, and family-wise.

I got a whiff of it when J2 and I managed to connect last week, lots of laughs and looking for that perfect gift for special people and finding unexpected perfect gifts. And another whiff when I got my tiny wild tree with tiny needles that is absolutely the cutest tree I've had since I moved into my house. And a small charge when I hung packages of party pretzels on my two neighbors' doors this morning before work as well as dropping off a beautiful Xmas card/pretzels off at Mr. L's parents who'd sent me a card earlier in the month.

Saturday, I got my Xmas tree after walking the dog. I didn't think it would fit in my stand but it did.

Sunday, was a pajama day all the way. Developed a minor breakout which is oh-so attractive.

Monday, I procrastinated and watched taped TV shows and tried not to think about the home things I needed to do.

Tuesday, I got halfway up my Xmas tree when I ran out of lights. I tried three pre-LED era light strands and all three strands only lit up half way. I spent two hours trying to find the damn light that was preventing the last part of each strand lighting up before I got so frustrated I rolled them up in a big ball and put them in the dump pile in the basement. Let me amend that, THREW them in the dump pile.

Wednesday, the head cold I'd been sort of flirting with the beginning of the week, stopped flirting and slammed me. Snot and headache and post-nasal drip and tired and cranky and behind at work and no attention span and irritated beyond measure that all the stores do not have any Xmas stuff other than dregs coz I tried to find the same lights to finish my tree but no such luck. Had to buy 4 new sets. A store DooBee gently suggested I start my shopping for Xmas decorations in November. NOVEMBER! Humbug! At least the tentatively predicted messy weather didn't arrive.

Today, still battling the head cold but I think I'm making some progress. Not to mention I'm feeling downright fugly right now - mood-wise and physically! Still behind at work. Still have to remove the lights from my tree and put the new sets on it.

Off to bed.

Party Pretzels 2010

2010-12-16T22:12:00.005-05:00

I've been invited to this year's Yankee Swap Xmas Party at L's friend's house. L relayed a "strong" request from the party-goers that I bring my Party Pretzels again. I can't resist such enthusiasm! This year's pretzels are as follows:

White chocolate covered pretzels dipped in mini choc chips and festive holiday sprinkles.

White chocolate covered pretzels dipped in mini choc chips and Andes Peppermint Candy bits.

And for the grand finale for which I cannot take any credit for, the chocolate covered pretzels dipped in mini choc chips and crumbled bacon.

Click on the pic for an upclose experience that you can almost smell right thru the photo! Idea courtesy of the Food Paradise show on the Travel Channel, featuring Bacon Paradise, a show all about restaurants that just have bacon items on the menu. One of the places was a candy store and they featured choc-covered bacon strips which is their best seller. All the eaters of this treat said it was the perfect mix of sweet and salty. I decided to take it a step further and put the bacon on an already sweet-salty mix of choc-covered pretzel. I tried it and it was good. L told me to not tell them what they are covered in, just surprise the party-goers and see what they think after they've tried it. I'll keep you posted!

Thanksgiving Exhaustion

2010-11-25T22:36:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving agenda:

1) Wake up, dawdle, and then things get rushed.

2) Must bake: Have brainwave while mixing ingredients for pumpkin bites and use mini-muffin tins as this will be the easiest and shortest way to make 4 dozen (actually more than 4 but who's counting at this point?).

3) Get ready in between baking trays of pumpkin bites.

4) Receive call from Mr. L saying he's at his parents and when are you coming. Tell him you are finishing up the bites and will be there shortly.

5) Take a breath, pop the last of the bites in the oven.

6) Finish getting ready while fielding another call from Mr. L asking where I am as his family eats at 12:30pm and it's 12:35pm.

7) Bites done, cool, pack, and drive.

8) Arrive at 12:45pm, apologize for being late and Mr. L's sister said it worked out for her as she is a football fan and wanted to watch the game.

9) Eat Thanksgiving lunch with Mr. L's family (plate filled with little portions of turkey, stuffing, corn, peas, yams, squash, cranberry sauce, roll, mashed potatoes, and gravy). Chat.

10) Eat pie after playing with Mr. L's cat. His niece's Very Berry Pie is most excellent and even better when eaten with a slice of cheesecake!

11) Mr. L's cat makes a break for it to go under the boat across the street. Much chaos ensues. Mr. L sticks head out window, yells "hey" and his cat hightails it back home.

12) Mr. L leaves to go back to work and you get hugs and give thanks as you leave too.

13) Get home and make dinner rolls for family dinner.

14) Get to parents around 3pm.

15) Chat. Dad shows new blog and panty-wetting laughing ensues, must remember to put on favorites.

16) Parents have repair job for you, fixing the gingerbread house, 5 min tops.

17) Dinner (another plate filled with awesome turkey/gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, acorn squash half, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, stuffing, and rolls). Very Very FULL.

18) Watch clean-up, talk to Mom while Dad recovers.

19) Play BananaGrams with Mom. Ask for this game for Xmas.

20) Head home smelling like two turkey dinners, feed kitties, and then head to where Mr. L is house-sitting so he can enjoy the turkey bouquet.

Riley trying to rest after all the cooking excitement. See his paws peeking out from under the dino?

Hiding his face - warmth? Sleeping? Trying to block it all out? Self-soothing? All of the above? What a sweetie! and so good!

Pie and Ugly Sweater Party

2010-11-21T19:39:00.004-05:00

Mr. L and I were invited to a party at my friend J2's. Her hubby came up with the idea... he said that one never really gets to enjoy pie/dessert after Thanksgiving dinner because everyone is too full of dinner. So for his birthday, he wanted a party of pies, nothing but pies so one could eat all the dessert they wanted and enjoy it. AND he wanted everyone to wear the ugliest sweater they could find and prizes would be given to the fugliest. L and I got to the party late, but we were told we'd have been VERY strong contenders for first place and winning a prize. As you can see below.

I found Mr. L's at Salvation Army. Tomato red with pixelated golfers in various poses all over the damn thing - front, back, and sleeves. Mr. L was extremely excited to wear it... NOT! but he did it for me. Sweet right?

My mom found this one for me at Goodwill. It's like a Mexican fiesta threw up all over me!

Wonderful Dogwalkin' Day

2010-11-13T19:14:00.006-05:00

For November, you couldn't ask for nicer temperatures, more sun, bluer sky, a happier dog, or better company! Not to mention the puddles to jump/run in...

Mr. L is wearing orange so he doesn't get mistaken for a deer. I've got red on.

Sunshine smoochin'

Awesome vista of blue sky, left over green grass, and tons of sun. And not a cloud in the sky.

Riley was fascinated by the floating leaves coming thru the pipe... As you can tell by his expression!

It was a great day... no more of these til springtime.

Rainy Rainy Rainy Days

2010-10-28T08:14:00.003-04:00

Thought I'd try some wet web work. Not so successful but it gives some idea of how dreary it is here.

Fun With Fall Foliage

2010-10-12T21:35:00.004-04:00

Fall Festivities With My Pseudonephew

2010-10-10T18:00:00.000-04:00

So J2 and I tried something new this year. Our usual fall festivity venue has turned touristy, crowded, and unfun so we decided to give another town a try. We watched the Pumpkin Catapult launch large produce into the water where it satisfyingly splattered and the Pumpkin (air-compressed) Cannon which shot perfectly grown/measured produce at a car where it did some SERIOUS damage! Then we tried to watch the Giant Pumpkin races - basically hollowed out mammoth pumpkins made into boats/rafts/paddleboats/kayaks raced for two laps in the cove - which was next to impossible given the sheer amount of people. I lifted TJ up on my chest so he could see over everyone but he totally thought they were racing rafts and didn't believe J2 and I when we said the "rafts" were actually pumpkins. We ended up at a very cool farm stand and I splurged on two pumpkins (only $6 for both of them, who could pass up beautifully grown large pumpkins, not me!) and a bag of the last of the season's freshly picked green beans. Here are some pictures of our Grand Adventure which ended with us eating lunch at the third restaurant we stopped at, bowling one game, and stopping in at TJ Maxx where I splurged again but on Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark Chocolate Squares - 5 bags of absolute heaven which cost more than my two pumpkins but will last much longer.

Can you say Holy Giant Winning Pumpkin, Batman?

I just had to take a pic of it's mammoth pumpkin buttocks!

TJ's costume and "face" for the day.

Disturbing (hee) how TJ has no idea how much his expression resembles my favorite of all the decorated behemoth pumpkins scattered around the town.

Getting lost and found in a mini hay maze.

And a good day was had by all despite minor behavior bumps and less-than-met expectations, but then again, J2 and I always manage to salvage the day and have a great time regardless of what happens and how rude the enormous crowds of people are!

Ghost Cat

2010-09-22T20:44:00.005-04:00

I was messing around with my camera, gave up trying to take pictures of the almost full moon shadows, and started bothering the crap out of Hobbes. My bedroom was pitch black so I was shining my "lantern" in his face and snapping with slow shutter speed to catch what little light there was.

Feeling super prickly today, veering between okay and so not okay at the speed of light. Not in the mood to post anything delightful and witty.

Smooches for the SmartAss

2010-09-08T20:55:00.004-04:00

It's so nice to be dating someone taller than me:)

And looks amazingly similar to Mr. Clean! (snort)

Go Figure

2010-09-07T17:46:00.003-04:00

Who knew that you could lay out in the sun on Sunday and bake your assets off but wake up Monday with a full blown cold of major mucus proportions?

That's what happened to me. I got all nice and glowy, renewing my color before the laying out days end, which will be sooner than I would like, then Monday, BAM!

At first I thought I was having a serious issue with allergies coz there is something pollinating right now that has my nose in a tizzy but the apple cider vinegar suggestion from the wonderful newbie at work had put a stop to it. I thought it wasn't working anymore and was feeling mighty disappointed because apple cider vinegar tastes like utter crap, MUCH worse than green tea, and I just found a way to cover it up and sip it slowly as recommended - a shot glass amount of pineapple juice.

So I had myself a second shot of apple cider vinegar/pineapple juice midday yesterday to help alleviate the river of mucus and showers of sneezing. By the time I used up two thirds of a box of Puffs tissues (the big bulk box mind you), I did some rethinking and decided I had a cold.

Mr. L got much enjoyment out of making fun of me but he was also solicitous too. Men! A true mix of buttheadedness and sweetness.

Woke up this morning feeling poopy, I just went into work for a couple hours today to get some deadliney stuff done, had my annual check-up (called first to make sure they wanted to see my germy self which they did), got some bloodwork done (the lab was like lightning today, already got results: electrolytes are good, I'm not anemic, my thyroid is normal, and some other test I can't remember but it's all good), and came home and took a 4 hour nap.

Now the kitties are fed, my eyes are out, I'm having a small dinner, and headed for bed. Regular work day tomorrow so want to feel better.

And So the B'day Destruction and Mayhem Continues

2010-08-17T21:07:00.002-04:00

Everyone keeps asking me how my birthday went yesterday. I keep telling them the b'day weekend was way better than the b'day itself. Don't get me wrong, my birthday is essentially a good day, celebrating my arrival and continued attendance to this party we call life. Mr. L took me to dinner, my dad took me to dinner and a movie, and I got a bunch of cards.

But I could have done without the trail of mishaps, accidents, and breakages. I'm hoping this doesn't set the tone for the rest of my year...

First up, I had extreme difficulties getting out of my own way yesterday morning getting up and getting to work. Always big time fun when the inanimate objects conspiracy-ize against you.

Then at work, I knocked over a huge pile of paperwork and resources, busting several folders and mixing up the papers well.

Some computer hiccups.

Learned there was some miscommunication and the meeting I thought was scheduled for yesterday, the client thought was scheduled last Monday and considered me a no-show. I love coming across as inefficient and a slacker. Worked hard to rectify the mistake.

Then back at home, I was fixing the cats' dinner whilst simultaneously talking to my brother via speaker phone, I dropped the phone and Moomin's dinner. Moomin's 3 tablespoon's of water mixed with food dinner dropped directly onto the handset, filling every crack and crevice with watered down food and liquid. I hung up with him and spent the next 45 minutes cleaning and drying it off. Bro called me back and let me know the handset had a high-pitched buzz coming thru on his end, same on my end. Thank goodness I have a second handset in the bedroom. Used that for the rest of the night.

Learned from Mr. L that all of the main street going thru town was without power late afternoon which negatively impacted his ability to do his job effectively and he basically had a suck-a$$ day himself.

This morning, I woke up and preceded to break the thing holding up my bathroom fan so I had to take 20 minutes to dismantle the apparatus, clean the fan, and find a new hanger. Did and done.

Spilled the water for Moo's breakfast.

Managed to get to work in one piece, work day was fine despite two power outage hiccups, and got myself a b'day present after work at Target.

So all's well that ends well.

Closer to Being Older

2010-08-14T08:18:00.008-04:00

(J says I'm the only person she knows whose laugh you can feel coming right off the picture.)

Or closer to reverting to back to childhood due to senile dementia.

Or one day closer to death. (thanks PinkFloyd)

Whatever, gonna get there either way...

Anyhoo, as I sit here typing and drinking my cuppa choco-doctored green tea (which is going down fine every morning thank you), I'm thinking about how fortunate I REALLY am, especially in the things that make life meaningful and worthwhile tho we tend to take them for granted and forget how important they are when bogged down with the day-to-day shit: family, friends, cats, home of my own, books, interests, employment, transportation, overall health, and what passes for sanity nowadays.

I'm going to add a new "habit" this birthday to the other ones I started on other birthdays in an effort to keep things in perspective which the other two are helping me do.

The original two are: 1) finding the golden side of the coin and 2) counting to ten to stop the knee-jerk reaction of saying "no" immediately when asked or invited to do something new or outside my comfort zone. So far I've done fairly well with both although I have to admit my "inflexibility and rigidity" (description courtesy of friend J2 which she uses on both my pseudonephew and me) does still trip me up. But I have gotten better, I have.

The new one is going to be to learn something new everyday or at least identify something new I've learned, even if it is very small and seems insignificant, it might not be later on down the road.

So starting just this week, I learned:

1 & 2) Safety-Care - a two day course on safe behavioral interventions, so that takes care of Mon/Fri.
3) If the bread is dense and chocolately enough, I can eat zucchini bread. And zucchini brownies ROCK! And I HATE zucchini!
4) Safflower oil has a high burn doohickey (unit, rate, ratio, limit, something technical which unfortunately did not stay in my mind) so it is much better for you than all the other cooking oils, especially for frying stuff.
Aside: Someone told me olive oil is better for you and when I tried it, it tasted the way grass smells so I've not done it again. I'm hoping safflower oil isn't the same case, we'll see.
5) Organic dark agave nectar is way better for you then the light or any other sugar due to the low glycemic index.
6) Mr. L explained some building stuff to me in regards to the house he is sitting and while I got the gist of the heat/cooling premise, I have to admit I did not retain the more technical aspects:(

Wonder what I will be learning today?

I did see two shooting stars Thursday night, so that makes a grand total of three shooting stars I have seen in my entire life. No, I did not make any wishes. I read a story way back in my impressionable days about a boy who had a choice to keep/use his wishes or give them to charity (to ones who were in need). He chose to keep and make his wishes and things did not turn out well, at all. So I decided then and there to give all my wishes to charity. And I continue to do so. Besides, true change comes from within when you are ready and make the decision to change and I'd like to experience what it takes to make my wishes come true for myself.

Mr. L wants to take me to dinner tonight to celebrate my birthday since we both work long days Monday. He had his boys wish me happy birthday too when I ate dinner with them last night. Those are some seriously awesome kids and I don't say that very much in today's world.

I need to think about where I want to go have some birthday dinner - where we had our first date, second date, somewhere we go alot, or somewhere new. I have all day. Maybe it will come to me while baking in the sun before dogsitting or while I'm walking Mr. RileyPants.

Slowly Getting Back Into Experimenting

2010-08-09T17:42:00.004-04:00

I figured if I was taking mundane pics of my garden, I might as well take some other plant photos and play around with them. These were done by tweaking the temperature, tint, and saturation in iPhoto. The fuzzy pics are mold on one of my weekend harvested squash. Unbeknownst to me the baby squash had been harboring the mold and I just noticed it today.

I am LOVING the color intensity!

Garden of Mini Delights

2010-08-09T17:29:00.004-04:00

So this is my pumpkin plant. See how it is lush and green and filling my back landscaping bed up nicely. I did not have a pumpkin as of last week but there was a tiny unfertilized one I was going to keep my eye on. Lo and behold, today I looked and Houston, we have fertilization. I gotta pumpkin! Finally.

It's amazing how much they grow in a week. This one started off as big as my thumb. Now it's almost two softballs-big. Not to mention it's in a great position to grow unimpeded and big. Fingers crossed.

SunBaked Moomifer

2010-08-02T16:55:00.005-04:00

My Moomin knows his sunbeams and how to maximize their potential sunny goodness. That's a window he's got his head against which makes him look like an earless wonder.

I'm home having a mental health day today. Dental appt which involved appliances this afternoon and was too much of a basketcase til the appt to even think of being able to support others at work and afterwards, which is now, I'm exhausted and sore like I've just run a marathon which I kinda did with all the fine motor tremoring/shaking I did for the past hour and a half. Waiting for the Novocain to wear off so I can eat something to settle my stomach and then it's off to bed with loads of books. Thank goodness it's over and my dental buddy took care of me. The valium worked until I got into the chair, then all the adrenaline burned the shit right out of it. I'm going to have to take a break from listening to Depeche Mode - Ultra for a while, coz that's what I had cranked to 10 while the dentist did his thing. Again, it's over, I'm still here, and I have a filling to get used to. Gotta go make sure I'm not drooling...

Sun Day Doodlebug

2010-08-01T13:56:00.003-04:00

Doodle and I had the same fabulous lazy idea today... sunbathing to the fullest extent possible. I was outside in my portable hammock and she was in the window. I crisped everything but my pink bikini and she crisped all of her pink bits.

Gotta love a sunny summer day in the high 70's with low humidity and a nice breeze before the dog days of summer come.

Our White Water Rafting Trip

2010-07-27T20:48:00.008-04:00

You'll have to excuse the quality of the photos, they aren't digital but the waterproof disposables. I figured that was the best way to go so each of us had our own camera which the boys truly enjoyed as they could snap whatever they wanted.

Mr. L's good friend, the guide, did "dumptruck" us and I apologize there are no action shots of that wonderful experience. There are photos of the aftermath but I have to order them from the company that sits like vultures at each of the rougher spots on the river and takes photos of people flippin' and dippin' and nose+toesing it. Let's just say that when Mr. L told me that on all his trips with his friend, no one had ever fallen out of the boat, I KNEW it was going to happen to us. You don't bring Murphy's Law Girl along and not get dumptrucked! I've had it happen before in the early 90's when I went whitewater rafting with my best friend J. So when the boat tipped, we all fell out except the guide and Mr. L's oldest son. The guide was hauling people in right and left and I was the last one in the boat, of course. (That happened last time with J!) We lost three oars out of seven. I'd been sitting towards the front of the boat and when I fell out, that's where I popped up. I was able to open my eyes once to see where I was, heard the guide yell everyone to grab the boat, so I grabbed the rope along the side, and then promptly went under a wave which was the end of me having my eyes open coz my contacts were no longer centrally eye-located. I still had my oar at this point but the waves were so big that I made the instinct decision to "screw the oar and hold the rope with both hands". While I was doing that, Mr. L, his oldest, and the son of the other couple on the trip all were holding on to me but because we were still going thru very big rapids, they couldn't pull me in the boat. The front of the boat where I was is the highest in the water so they had to wait for calmer water. All I know is that my eyes were shut, I had a death grip on the rope, whoever was holding me had a death grip (I didn't know who it was until I'd been hauled in and they told me), I could hear Mr. L's oldest telling me to hold on and they had me, and I felt the boat tilting in the rapids before I would get deluged each time and my legs sucked under the boat. I was trying very hard not to hyperventilate once they got me in the boat. I did swallow quite a bit of river water and had some pretty big unladylike belches for about half and hour afterwards.

This is us at a MUCH calmer spot in the river. Mr. L is on the far left, then the couple we went with, Mr. L's friend the guide is in the sunglasses in the back, Mr. L's youngest is lounging in the middle while his oldest takes the photo, and all the other kids are the other couple's. Such super nice people. Not sure why the girl has that expression as that is not how she was actually feeling.

This was taken by Mr. L's oldest as he was drifting in the swimming part of the river. That's all of us in the boat. I'd had enough of being in the water so I passed on floating.

Me and Mr. L resting directly after our spill. I should have taken my life jacket off too, it reeked of mothballs.

Mr. L's youngest was experimenting before we got on the river and got us in the corner, I cropped the pic and made us front and center.

I had a blast, the boys and Mr. L did too!

So I Think I've Finally Found a Way to Drink Green Tea

2010-07-23T07:09:00.003-04:00

Sorry, all you tea drinkers and lovers, but tea totally tastes like nasty-ass dirtNgrass!

My friend J has done oodles of "research" and insists I start drinking green tea every day because it's so good for you. In addition to 2 cups of 100% blueberry juice. So on Tuesday I decided to go the "two birds, one stone" route and make a cup of tea, chill it, and put in frozen pureed blueberries to make a summer antioxidant smoothie.

Can you say GAG GAG GAG GAG?

I gave it the college try, I really did. I added agave to it to see if that would help. Nope! Just tasted like sweet blueberry nasty-ass dirtNgrass.

Called J and dropped the f-bomb numerous times while I tried downing the stuff in a hurry using her for a distraction. I was taking big spoonfuls and throwing them to the back of my throat to avoid tasting the crap. I managed to get a cup down before the back of my throat started to seriously rebel and the big gags set in.

Needless to say, I threw the failed experiment down the drain and told J, no way in hell am I a tea drinker.

I asked around at work the next day to see what other people did with their tea and while my reaction to tea amused them, no one had any good ideas on how to negate the taste of tea, basically coz they all LIKE it.

My ideas, like adding amaretto or key lime soda to it, were not any good coz the badness of them would cancel out the goodness of the tea. I finally came up with an idea very late in the afternoon yesterday... why not add Special Dark cocoa? That's strong, it's chocolate which I adore, AND dark chocolate has antioxidants too. (Special Dark is "dutch processed" so the container's caveat is that it has less than the unprocessed cocoa - I figure the green nasty-ass dirtNgrass tea more than makes up the difference.)

So I tried it this morning and while I definitely went a bit overboard with the cocoa (I will reduce it gradually to get the right ratio), I did not taste the nasty-ass dirtNgrass at all.

Hallelujah, praise the Universal Being, I have found a way to drink green tea in the morning and add it to my daily health-regimen of probiotic, turmeric, cranberry extract, Garlique, and 2 cups of 100% blueberry juice!

Land Sakes, Am I Living in Some Kind of Hell?

2010-07-20T19:25:00.003-04:00

According to the average extremely high temperature of Maine the past 3 weeks, the trapped-in-someone's-mouth humidity levels, and the weeds taller than me that need to be attended to - I would have to say...

Why, yes, yes I am, living in Hell right now.

I'm actually doing much better than I expected and I'm getting chilly when it gets to 70 degrees. I can't say I enjoy it by any means, and tho my hair is absolutely frickin' fantastically spiral-curled every day (no hair dryer for me this summer), I have been avoiding any and all yard work other than laying out in the sun.

I had to mow two lawns for three weeks coz my neighbor went away for a while. She left me her gas mower so I took advantage and used her mower on my lawn after I mowed hers. Paid for using it with getting headaches, but damn, my lawn was taken care of quickly and looked all nice and even. Now that she's back, it's back to using my reel mower (hand pushing, no motor). Greener for the environment and no headaches, but not as nice looking a lawn. Oh well.

I weeded for 3 hours straight on Sunday and managed to complete both garden beds, the walkway between and behind the beds, the 3 half wine casks, and the back landscaping beds where my pumpkin plants are spreading out along the entire back of the house. I sweated so much that it pooled in my glasses as I was bent over. I filled up four large wheel-barrow's full of weeds, not just to the brim but mounded several feet above the brim. Very heavy and unwieldy. I still have to do my side landscaping and front beds. Saving that for another hot day.

I have managed to sunbake myself four times since I got back from my May vaca to visit my bestest and oldest friend in Florida. I went before the tarballs hit any of the Florida beaches. We went to the beach every damn day. It was so wonderful. I did not want to come back. We did NOTHING but beach it and lounge and talk and laugh. It was supremely restful. And this time I did the sunbathing right, no burns and came back with a lovely start to my color.

I laid out this past Saturday and it was HOT and HUMID and I was just wiped. Had a migraine I was fighting all day that finally did me in in the evening. Mr L rubbed my temples for me which helped but he fell asleep while doing that, the heat's been kicking his ass too. He works with animals and comes home exhausted and the place he's house-sitting at is in the midst of re-model/re-construction so it builds up heat throughout the day coz there is no air conditioning, the windows are absolutely ridiculous in that most of them do not open (literally, they are perma-windows, just glass, not made to open) and the ones that do open are too small to cool this huge house, not one curtain so the sun just streams in all day, and while it's considered waterfront (river) the trees block most of the wind off the water. I'm letting him borrow some of my fans but whenever I spend the night I have to bring my box fan with me otherwise I'd never sleep what little I do when I sleep over (12 years of nights sleeping on my own, I have to get used to another person again, getting better but definitely not more than 4 hours at the most so far).

I harvested three squash so far. Pepper plants are busily being eaten alive, I've Sevin-ed them twice. Pumpkin plants have made male flowers but no female/baby pumpkins ready yet - needs a bit more growing time I guess. My new rose bush is doing well, I weeded where I want to plant it (possibly this weekend) and have had to rose powder it twice as the Japanese beetles (or Japanise bettels) are munching on it.

Mr L's boys want me to make my Chinese dumplings which I've promised to do on a cooler weekend. They thoroughly enjoyed my Plaza Toast (thick-cut slices of bread, honey baked hams slices, Swiss cheese slices, half pears all baked in the oven til bread is crusty and chz is melted and then served up smothered in Hollandaise sauce - YUM!). Turns out the boys like me, so that is a VERY good thing, I was worried but it turned out okay. Going white-water rafting with them this Sunday.

Gotta go, an awesome book is calling me.

Oh, if you enjoy British humor and need a laugh - I totally recommend "Death At A Funeral", the 2007 version directed by Frank Oz. OMG!!! it's immensely hilarious. Simon is by far my favorite character.

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!

2010-05-08T20:33:00.002-04:00

Mr. L took me walking in a park last weekend that he's been going to since he's been knee-high to a grasshopper. Now while there weren't any tigers or bears, there were plenty of black flies, turkeys, crows, and this one lone lion. Can you see it. It's in this huge dead tree with all these dead branches and vines twining around it. I've tweaked the photo in some other copies for contrast, color boost, angles, and blackNwhite. I'm sharing the original with the highlights up to 100%. Gotta love the fun you can have with iPhoto!

I always forget how fun it is to tweak my photos. I try for surreal effect, almost like I'm painting with the camera. Can't explain it any better than that.

Sorry It's Been Sooooo Long, but Real Life Takes Precedence

2010-04-18T10:27:00.003-04:00

Real life, like there is such a thing:)

Anyhoo.

Life has been busy with work, talking to friends every night on the phone (J is abubblin' over with good stuff finally happening), talking to Mr. L every night via phone and seeing him on the weekends when he catches me up on my non-existent movie viewing , kitty-cat stuff, new projects bubbling up in my head begging to be made into reality (or as close as I can get them to reality, I always miss by a big margin), cooking, and yard work.

Movie watching: Mr. L is a zombie movie fan in addition to comedies. I've seen in the past two months:

Comedies: Heartbreak Kid, Anger Management, Just Friends, I Love You Man, Good Luck Chuck, Knocked Up, The Hebrew Hammer, Hot Fuzz, Run Fat Boy Run, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.

Drama: No Country for Old Men (which can I tell you I was VERY upset at the end parts, so not what I expected and after all the dodging and running - all for naught and the creepy/disturbing guy gets to go on being creepy and disturbing which is fine but...).

Zombies: Shaun of the Dead, Fido, Zombieland ("Rule 1: Cardio" - this movie was very funny), I Sell the Dead, and last night I saw Dawn of the Dead (recent remake).

New out-of-my head recipe:

Chicken Slambo

Thin chicken breasts pounded even thinner with meat hammer.

Then dipped in melted butter and breaded with a mix of fine bread crumbs and Parm chz.

Then slices of maplebrownsugar ham and Swiss chz laid on the breasts.

Roll breasts up, secure with toothpick.

Bake until chicken is cooked thru.

About 10min before chkn is done, make Hollandaise sauce (I use the Knorr pkt, sooo good).

Pour Hollandaise sauce over chicken rolls - however much you crave.

EAT!

Side of roasted green beans works out very well.

Yard work - the entire yard has been raked, the landscaped beds have been as well so there should be less maple tree seedlings to weed out later, and all the branches have been put in their backyard pile. All the snowplow crap that ended up on my lawn is now back out in the street ready for the street sweeper (if that turns out not to come, I'll have to shovel it up).

Howdy Ho!

2010-02-13T12:08:00.002-05:00

Here's the trio trying hard to guilt me into turning the heat up more!

It's been a crazy week and I am exhausted mentally!

My friend J has been trying to find another apt to live in and she's been dealing with that all week and it's been stressful for her and for me knowing she's having a tough time. But she's been approved and will have a great place to live while saving some money which is sorely needed.

People at work seem stressed too. Lots of personal and work issues going around.

My issue has been PMS which is such a delight in of itself, no need for additional stress. And I've been craving junk food like crazy. Well, let me amend that, not so much junk food as SUPER tasty you-shouldn't-have-it-every-day food because it will end up on your butt and thighs and midsection! So last night Mr. L and I had these boneless chicken things from the local grocery store's a la carte and baked potato salad. When I stopped at the store, they hadn't put the a la carte stuff out yet. I got a DooBee to help me and while what I wanted wasn't quite ready, he offered to fill up the containers and save them for me while I got the rest of my stuff. Super nice of him. So my craving was filled and I had a wonderful dinner with wonderful company.

How are my cats doing with the company? After initial typical cat-caution, Moomin now rubs his head all over Mr. L. Hobbes comes out when we are quietly sitting on the couch watching Two And Half Men and stares at him. Doodle finally came out a few times yesterday and even jumped on the ottoman next to Mr. L's legs. Yes she did! I was very impressed. She stayed for a little while and then went back into hiding. It's progress!

Bits and Pieces

2010-02-08T22:33:00.003-05:00

- Got a new phone finally this weekend and set it up yesterday. My old one has been driving me absolutely batshit. Even jamming the receiver into my ear didn't help me hear the other person any better, my mother always thought I was yelling at her, and I kept getting a crick in my neck coz I didn't have speaker phone. Oh, and I misplaced the manual so I didn't know how to fix or change anything. So, new phone which rocks after charging it's happy ass for 16 hours. I've already tried the speaker phone which is such a relief and it works great. I already got my first message courtesy of Mr. L which was super nice to come home to. And I spoke to three people tonight who came in crystal clear and didn't complain I was yelling.

- I made Mr. L dinner Friday night which was a first for me, making dinner for someone I'm interested in and trusting the Universe wouldn't let Murphy's Law go all buck wild on me. Potstickers. They aren't a first as I've made them for myself before but I was trying to be efficient so I pre-made them Thursday night and discovered Friday that the filling caused the wonton wrappers to get soggy. And I didn't use enough oil cooking the first batch so they came out broken, sticking to each other, and just downright fugly. The second batch was a definite improvement. They turned out tasting good which is the main thing and Mr. L had alot of them!

- Moomin has been trying to eat Doodle's food and since he's managed to slip under my radar a few times, he is now suffering the result of straying outside his prescribed diet. Yep, the big D. And I'm paying for it too as he is friggin' scooting on my carpet. Not to mention Doodle yarfed up her breakfast this morning. I'm so not interested in vomit and shit this week. It was fine prayin' for poop with Hobbes but that was because I didn't want him to have a tumor. If Moomin keeps it up, he's going be fasting sometime soon.

- Getting my hair cut tomorrow. I'm very much looking forward to having my local Hair Whisperer "listen" to my hair and give me yet another fabulous haircut that I absolutely cannot mess up. She has yet to cut it the same way twice. I know, I know, this sounds crazy but it really works. And it's relaxing, and I like talking with her, and she's willing to show my photos once I get them printed and matted (working on this, truly I am).

- Turmeric continues to work. Even with little to no sleep, I'm not super-fatigued the next day. My seasonal allergies seem to have abated tremendously. I'm back to my weight. Waking up is not so much of a chore. I have more energy. And my skin seems to be better, even during PMS, even tho there are zits it's not the big honkers that last forever and are neon signs for troubled skin HERE! and HERE! and HERE! But I also attribute that to using Burt's Bees products which rock!

- Getting an oil delivery tomorrow. Last delivery I spent $202. I got a statement of sorts late last month and it took me a while to figure out what it was saying as I completely forgot I was suckered into a pre-paid plan last year (frickin' charged me $4.62/gallon when the price was lower because I was locked into a contract, never doing that again) and ended up with about $300 as a credit because of my new windows/doors and keeping my house at 55 degrees. I turns out I have a $500 some-odd credit. Whoopee! I'll be using it towards tomorrow's delivery and the furnace check-up which is scheduled for Thurs.

Doin' the Poopie Dance

2010-02-01T18:03:00.003-05:00

Some people do the "peepee" dance.

I've been doing the "poopie" dance all day today and not for the gastrointestinal reasons you might be thinking of, minds out of the toilet please!

See, Hobber (pictured in the heading, he is beautiful, thanks Anonymous) went to the vet last Monday and Dr. H felt an anomaly in or on Hobbes' intestine. He didn't know if it was a tumor or a stool, so we scheduled Hobbes to come back in to be felt up today. If it was still there, it was most likely a tumor. If it was gone, it was stool.

Results of the feeling up? It was POOP! Thank god! I have been crossing my fingers for poop for a week and I've had my closest friends prayin' for poop too!

And he's fine.

(Which makes my innards feel much better.)

New Year, New Scoop

2010-01-31T21:00:00.001-05:00

I've been keeping quiet about this but decided to give you a tidbit...

Mr. L is current news. And it's "new" news. Very different from any of the past editions which is a refreshing change. We're both being open to where this may lead, either friendship or otherwise, and it's the complete inverse of any other ---ship I've ever had. We have lots in common but enough differences to keep things interesting so we're not spending time with mirror images of ourselves (which would be "eeeuuuww" by the way).

And meeting Mr. L was very unexpected although my best friend J has had a feeling I'd meet someone since the new year started. What can I say, she's psychic and I'm having a good time.

Watch words are "we'll see".

And It Just Gets Better...

2010-01-12T18:45:00.004-05:00

This morning I was out the door at 7:15 am. Don't ask, I have absolutely no idea how or why I was up and moving and ready as early as that.

I backed down the driveway simultaneously pressing the garage door opener/closer. Avoiding the garbage cans, I checked to make sure the garage door was shut like I always do lately coz a month ago the door magically went back up without me pressing anything. I noticed it was a foot and a half open.

Sitting at the end of the driveway, I pressed the button. Nothing. Pressed it again. Nothing. Pulled up closer to the garage.

Pressed the button.

Nothing.

Button.

Nothing.

Button.

Nothing.

Button.

Nothing.

I know what you are thinking, why did I just keep pressing the button? Why do you keep pressing the damn mouse button for the computer, why do you channel surf, why do you keep poking your tongue in that sore part of your mouth? Coz you think it will work/fix itself/get better...

To continue, I got out of the car and heard this great grinding growling noise coming from inside the garage. I tried lifting the door to see if I could get it to latch or catch or something. Nothing but the grinding which finally stopped and resumed a few seconds later.

By fighting with the door and the machine (which was incredibly scary), I finally I got the door open enough so I could go in the garage. I was trying to check things out though I had no idea what in the hell I was looking at or for. Nothing but grinding, which I eventually stopped by unplugging the machine, which may not have been all that smart of an idea but it did stop growling.

I did some dithering around on a ladder and whatnot, still having no damn clue what I was looking at or for, experimented with the release which only let me open the door halfway and no more, and finally manually closed the door, went to work, and called a garage door company I seem to vaguely remember my father using but I could totally be mis-remembering that, oh well, they're local. They said they'd send a DooBee (well, they didn't actually say that, just that they'd send someone) out to check on what's going on and call me.

When I got home, I tested the button. Nothing. So I got out of the car, opened the garage, found the machine still (so I thought) unplugged, plugged it back in, pressed the button while standing outside the garage, and listened to the grinding/growling noise. After the noise stopped, I unplugged the machine. Then checked about 5 times to make sure I could open and shut it manually. When I got inside the house, I had a message that the repairpeople had come to see what was wrong, seemed to have written the wrong # down for my work, it looks like I need some gear something something burble burble, and to call them tomorrow.

Which I will do. At some point during my crazy Wednesday schedule.

Golden sides of the coin: I got the car out of the garage safely this morning. I can manually open/shut it at this time. I was able to put the car away tonight which is supposed to be COLD.

I am sooooooo looking forward to tomorrow. I have an hour's drive ahead of me first thing in the morning and an hour back. Plenty of time for "something" to happen.

Please don't. I'm running out of golden sides of coins.

A Balance is Always Struck

2010-01-11T18:11:00.003-05:00

No matter what.

I had such a wonderful Saturday evening out with my friend L. Laughing and talking while enjoying a Scorpion Bowl or two with chicken fingers and crab ragoons. Then off to the local tavern for more talking and laughing and happened to meet up with some of her friends I'd met at the Yankee Swap Xmas party. So we had a nice big comfy group that ebbed and flowed with a number of different people that was always fun and relaxed. The best:)

And then today.

Trapped in a 2 hour meeting that unexpectedly had a Part 2 of 2 hours that I had not been informed of up until 15 minutes prior to it. 4 hours of sitting on some superlatively uncomfortable chairs.

Then driving back to the office, I thought a rock hit my windshield and made a divet and then I thought I drove over something a bit strange but it sounded like I went over whatever it was with both tires so assumed it was a road surface issue. Turns out I couldn't find the divet but my boss told me at 4:14pm that I had a flatter than flat tire on the back passenger side. I rushed outside and what I could see of the metallic thing in my tire looked really nasty. Not at all like times I've run over a bolt or a fork.

Golden sides of the coin:

At least I wasn't driving on the flat.

I had access to a phone.

Could wait indoors for my rescuers.

I have Triple A.

Who came in 45 min and put my spare on.

VIP had been planning on sending their tire guy home but when I called and explained my situation, they said they could fit me in and they'd keep him until I got there.

They showed me the piece of jagged nasty metal that ripped a big ass irreparable hole in my tire. I was told small cars like mine need the same tires on all four wheels so they are going to find a Dunlop tire and call me when they do and "work around my schedule to get it on". So nice of them.

So a balance has been struck: the wages of a super good time on Saturday were an aching ass and a flat tire. In the grand scheme of really bad things that can happen, I'll take the ass and tire any day, Saturday cheer still holds and it's all good.

About Time, No?

2010-01-05T21:02:00.004-05:00

I see my mom has been the busy bee with positive new year energy with all her cleaning, sorting, organizing, giving away, and projecting.

I also have positive new year energy going but it's of a different sort than Mom's. I did dust, vacuum, and de-clutter some visible piles on the Wednesday before New Yrs along with a medium deep cleaning of the bathroom to start the new year off right. Let's just say I spent Thursday early morning and day doing things that I should do more of with the emphasis being on "letting go and enjoying the moment". Thursday night my friend J, who came up for the holidays, and I celebrated by having a wonderful time talking and laughing locally. She came over afterwards and was my "first foot" guest. Dark haired and dark eyed people as your first visitors of the new year are supposedly lucky. I fed her pierogis and she got back to where she was staying safely.

New Year's Day I maxed and relaxed in my PJs, sleeping in, and reading with the cats. Then on Saturday evening I shoveled. Then on Sunday morning I shoveled some goddamned more. Luckily my snow-blowin' neighbor helped out by blowing the pile at the end of my driveway that was up to my boobies and would have taken me another hour on top of the 2.5 hours I'd already spent. Sunday evening was spent popping Aleve curled up in my living room nest under a down blanket fighting with Hobbes who kept digging his bony paws into all the fresh bruises on my knees and shins courtesy of pushing the heavy snow-filled shovel over side-of-driveway piles repeatedly. Shoveling with me is an all-body experience thus the aches from a slew of brand new bi/tri-cep, back, butt, thigh, calf, abs, obliques, and even hand/wrist muscles. Think this means increased physical activity during the new year...?

This morning I found out that I'm a murderer. I bought a lawn treatment for getting rid of ants the beginning of last summer but never got around to spreading it on the lawn. I figured I'd do it in the spring. Well, it appears ant poison is looking mighty tasty to some neighborhood critters who have been breaking into my garage, busting holes in the metallic bags, and creating piles of the stuff all along the side of my garage. I shoveled it all into plastic litter containers with lids but I'm sure in my heart that it's too late and there are some dead little furries somewhere close by. What a way to start the day today.

Suffice to say - aches are gone, bruises still here, bathroom still clean, dust re-assembling as I live and breathe, the Xmas tree down and taken by the garbage gremlins, decorations all packed away, haven't found any little bodies yet, my hair is fabulous, turmeric still working, sleep continues to be elusive on alternate nights, my parents are great, my co-workers are funny, my friends are wonderful, and my cats still love me even tho I made them wait until 9am all New Yrs weekend for breakfast each day.

Somedoggy Was Liking Xmas!

2009-12-25T17:00:00.001-05:00

How's this for the Christmas spirit of anticipation?

I guess he is enjoying this present, courtesy of moi!

Christmas Bling Tree

2009-12-25T12:16:00.005-05:00

Meowy Christmouse! Here's the tree that be-sapped Moomin. If you look closely you can see him under it. I'm on my way out to visit the parental units.

I call it the Bling Tree coz everything on is is gold, glittery, sparkley or crystally.

Hobbes enjoying a quiet moment under the tree. He's thankful Moomin is occupied with chomping someone else's hindparts.

PS: I had no idea, but the shape and size of the pics makes a tree shape, what a coininkidink.

Golden Sides of Several Coins

2009-12-22T19:56:00.004-05:00

Coin #1:

Tarnished side: spent 20 minutes Sunday night looking for the stamps I knew I still had and did not find them. I found three old priced ones and a slew of old postcard stamps.

Golden side: didn't have to wait in line very long at the Post Office Monday morning despite a lot of people there bright and early, got my bills out on time, and got two new strips of stamps.

Unexpected bonus side: the stamps I was looking for turned up in my photograph folio while my hair stylist looked thru them in preparation for me showing my work at her salon.

Coin #2:

Tarnished side: not sleeping well lately.

Golden side: since I started taking Tumeric tablets, the lack of sleep has been considerably less of an issue. Although I am still not a morning person, I have actually been able to physically get out of bed and be awake shortly after my alarm clock goes off as opposed to a butt-draggin' cranky-ass that waits until the very last ever-lovin' minute to get up.

Unexpected bonus side: I'm not having cravings for junk food anymore, my appetite has decreased, I'm satisfied with smaller helpings of sweets, and have lost about 5 pounds since starting the Tumeric.

Coin #3:

Tarnished side: forgot to turn my bathroom dehumidifier off Monday morning and it ran constantly on high at the 7 setting for over 8 hours.

Golden side: the bathroom was good and dry (and warm), the driest it's ever been which is great and the dehumidifier seems to be fine.

Unexpected bonus side: my house is still here.

Coin #4:

Tarnished side: PMS is making my face break out.

Golden side: the zits are small and going away overnight with spot applications of powdered Tumeric mixed with real lemon juice and left on all night.

Unexpected bonus side: this potion seems to be making my brown spots and moles smaller and less prominent.

Coin #5:

Tarnished side: tonight Doodle yarfed up her entire dinner - multiple times - and she's going to be up-my-butt affectionate and a sink-drain surfer until she's fed her bedtime snack. And here she comes now.

Golden side: her dinner was colorless which made cleaning up the fabric surfaces she yarfed on easy and stain-free.

Unexpected bonus side: at least she doesn't have the big D.

Bonus, ChexMix, and Yankee Swap - Oh My!

2009-12-20T10:14:00.002-05:00

I cashed my holiday bonus yesterday morning. It's now residing in a bank envelope waiting for me to decide what frivolous non-essential fun item I want to purchase just for myself. Last year I didn't figure out what I wanted until almost March. I'm not in any hurry.

I made ChexMix for the very first time yesterday after dogsitting. It was way easier than I thought and I will be ramping up the butter, Wsauce, and seasonings next time. Just a little too mild right now, good, but I like more oomph. I was invited to a Christmas party and asked to bring an appetizer so I came bearing my ChexMix.

I also had to bring a "gently used household item" wrapped up for a gift for the Yankee Swap. I've never done a Yankee Swap before or regifted something I've used, so this was a new one on me. My gift was a Swiffer Carpet Flick. I got it because I thought it would cut down on my vacuuming but with all the litter the kittos scatter around my house, the Flick's adhesive strip would be full after 2-3 swipes across the carpet. I dusted it off, took it apart, and put it back in it's original box and packaging - hey, what can I say, I save boxes/pkging until I'm sure whatever I've purchased is a definite keeper, so I'm a little anal retentive, yes I kept the Flick's pkging for two years, and look how it came in handy and was needed after all.

So we all got to pick numbers, there were 22 gifts and I got #18. Each person went in order, picked a gift from under the tree, opened it, and then made an executive decision to keep or swap with anyone who already had a gift. Some of the gifts: mirrored tray, candles, inflatable mini snow globe, my Swiffer, bath products, cat bowl with belled lid, VHS movies, DVD movies, a printer (that one was the funniest), and a huge box that had a mini yard sale in it (books, jacket for kid, men's jeans, Ikea seahorse light, and plastic yard twirling ribbons). Until it was my turn, I was thinking whatever I got I would swap for the inflatable snow globe coz I thought my dad would like it, he loves that kind of thing. But my gift had two glittery ornaments, dark chocolate pomegranate seeds, Belgian chocolate minis, and sterling silver plated earrings. Dad lost out to sparkley and chocolatey. Sorry Dad!

Much humor and laughter. My friend L (it was her friends' party) ended up swapping to get the Flick. The printer will most likely come back next year as does the Fugly Santa Doll that has been swapped for 10 years and looks certifiable it's that scary looking.

Today, because yesterday was so busy (nice but not much time for reading), I will be curled up with my heat-deprived cats reading short story anthologies of Christmas crimes and murders. I have 4 of them plus a "More Holmes for the Holidays" anthology which has different authors offering up holiday cheer and mayhem that is Sherlock-related. I plan on not moving an inch, well, just to go pee but then right back to the warm cozy book/cat-lined nest.

Home Holiday Emergency Surgery of Sorts

2009-12-19T09:42:00.002-05:00

Apparently at some point during the still cold night when all the creatures were supposed to not be stirring, Moomin decided to love on the Christmas tree. And the tree gifted him with a good dollop of sap.

I did not know this until after the furry folk had their breakfast and were each busily huddled around their own hot air registers washing faces and paws whilst sending me urgent telepathic messages to keep the heat coming. I was sending verbal messages back that they have fur coats and to stop acting like I'm a penny-pinching-thrifty-assed mother. (I may be when it comes to me but not them, I pay for all their food, vet visits, litter, and toy/catnip habits).

So I picked up Moo to hug and kiss him all over his warm softy goodness when I did the typical cat-mom thing and cleaned his eye boogers. One booger refused to come off and was below his eye. Odd.

On closer examination, I discovered the wad of sap clumping the fur under his eye together creating a nice hurty mat. Caternal instincts to the fore! Hot water! Paper towel! Flea comb (coz it's very fine toothed)! To work!

Nothing, that sap refused to budge. I'll give Moomin credit, throughout the initial sap-removing phase he was a gem - passive, relaxed, tolerant, let me scrub and pull and comb and wash rinse repeat many times.

Then I realized I needed to do way more. Personal shaver? no, he wouldn't sit still for that, the noise would send him flying out of my arms and avoiding me for a long time. Scissors? yes, but oh did that idea make my heart and hands sweat. So close to his eye, no room for error.

But that's what I did. Moomin stayed physically still for this part of the operation but he expressed verbal protest through growling. I tried to lovingly reassure him but he wasn't having any of it. Finally I sternly asked his unhappy ass if he wanted to go to the vet. He stopped growling immediately and I was able to get a very close cut, almost a shave.

Operation accomplished. All the sap removed. Along with fur. I told Moomin his bald spot makes him look distinguished. He's disgusted with the whole situation.

Very merry holiday home surgery!

After Turkey Day Bliss

2009-12-01T20:45:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving holiday we all had something we loved and are thankful for:

Riley had two woodsy walks on Turkey Day and a playdate on Saturday.
I had four days of reading, rest, and relaxation.
Dad had two major platefuls of turkey + all the fixin's (with accompanying tummy issues) and lots of napping.
Mom had bread and wine and Scrabble.

"Take Charge" Sophie and big piece of wood. What more could Riley ask for other than turkey dinner droppings on the floor?

I Just Learned How to Remove Blemishes!

2009-11-11T19:42:00.002-05:00

From photos, not for shizzle.

Me and my pseudonephew...

Six Of One, Half Dozen of The Other

2009-11-11T18:25:00.006-05:00

Part One:

So I'm driving to work Tuesday morning completely on "autopilot". I get within eyesight of my building when I look in the rear view mirror and see blue lights aflashin'. I pull over so he can pass me. He pulls in behind me. I think, "oh, it's me? It's ME!"

Policeman: Do you know why I pulled you over?

Me: Honestly, I have no idea.

Policeman: What's the speed limit for this area?

Me (thinking really hard): 35?

Policeman: No, 30. Do you know how fast you were going?

Me: I'm sorry, I was totally on autopilot and have absolutely no idea.

Policeman: 51.

Me: Holy crap! (yes I did say this)

Policeman: Where you headed?

Me (pointing right across the intersection): Right there to that building.

Policeman: What do you do for work?

Me: I'm a -------. (field of Autism/mental retardation)

Policeman: Do you like your job?

Me: Yes I do, it's like getting a new puzzle every day.

Policeman: When was your last speeding ticket?

Me: Maybe about 2 yrs ago, I really can't remember.

Policeman: I need your license, proof of insurance, and registration. Thank you, I'm going to run you thru the system and I'll be right back.

Me: Okay.

Me sitting there looking at the building, waving occasionally in case co-workers happen to look out the window and see me with the pretty blue flashing lights.

Policeman (after coming back): Well, your last speeding ticket was four years ago and you've had two warnings since then. (Pause - hands me my stuff) I've seen alot of deer on this road, you need to be more careful. Your car would lose against a deer.

Me: I've never seen deer but the turkeys have scared the crap out of me several times.

Policeman: Well, you're doing God's work and I want you to be careful now.

Me: So I'm all set?

Policeman: Yes, you take care and pay attention.

Me: I promise to do my best to stop driving on autopilot. Thank you sir, you have a good day.

Policeman: You do that and you too.

I drive into the parking lot and a co-worker, who'd been getting something from her car, waves me down and says "that was you?" "yep" "do you know who that was?" "a policeman?" "no, silly..." and she proceeds to tell me who he was. Man was I one lucky girl telling him I enjoyed my job.

Part Two:

I have the day off today so I take my car in for it's "winterizing" appointment to get the tires rotated, wipers replaced, fluids checked, and a free super wash/wax at my Honda service which is about 40 minutes away from home. I spend my day wandering around the mall after the car was done, taking my time trying all sorts of things on and driving the sales people crazy coz I'm giving them a buttload to fold and put back, and finally homeward-bound I pick up food and litter for the kittos with my 10% off coupon. I get back in the car after loading the said food and litter, turn the car on, and lo and behold... my car informs me via the lit-up wrench symbol that it's time for an oil change! And I'm 3 miles from home! Rassin' frassin' sassin' @#$%^&! I was just there, dangnabit! So now I have to call tomorrow and schedule an oil change.

Just the way my luck works. Not complaining, just commenting. I love not getting a ticket and if I have to pay with two trips to the car place, sobeit.

Good Day... Sunshine

2009-11-09T19:35:00.007-05:00

We had a great sunshiny weekend. The three of them did this while I was outside slaving and raking. I will try to get a pic of all the piles before this weekend so you can see how funny my yard looks. My arms still hurt like the dickens. Moomin's pooper is fine now, but Hobbes has constipation so I've been giving him little bits of skim milk to expedite his pooper. If it's not one thing it's another, brudda.

Reboot the Ole Poop Chute

2009-11-06T16:14:00.004-05:00

Turns out Moomin doesn't have a bladder infection, he's got the big D! Yep, he's got a bad case of diarrhea.

The vet had shot him full of SubQ fluids (subcutaneous fluids to those of us who had to ask) and I gave him a double helping of water for dinner and bedtime snack. So he was chock full of liquids.

I put him in the spare room with the sprinkling of non-absorbent pellets in an old litter box and water and our evening TV watching blanket. When it came time to let him out of the room yesterday morning, I saw that he did the big D once in the box and twice outside of it and those little black pellets were all over the place.

I was half right... and am still amazed he didn't pee at all. Believe me, I've gone over the room with a fine tooth flashlight and nose and there's no sign of pee. Super bright shiny side of the coin is that I just had to clean up poop which is easy and has no special long lasting smell remnants instead of cat urine which would have ruined my hardwood floors.

He held all those fluids all damn night. I followed him to the closet litter boxes and managed to catch an awesome pee sample. He let me slide that bowl right under him and he whizzed away, for quite some time.

I took the pee sample to the vet along with a fresh big D. They tested both, urine fine and poop is free of parasites. I'd already started the fasting regimen the vet suggested. Fasting for a cat is not having food for 24 hours which means they empty out their internal septic tank coz there's nothing coming in and the thought is as they empty the pooper, whatever is causing the big D comes out too. And hopefully, the next day the poop chute has been rebooted.

So Moo, along with Doo and Hobber (who had to join the miserableness coz it's not fair to eat in front of your fasting comrade) had no breakfast, dinner, or bedtime snack yesterday. They were all VERY happy to have breakfast this morning.

Apparently, things are on track now... yeah for me and my weekend!

I Have Had Quite the Day

2009-11-04T19:08:00.002-05:00

First, Moomin greeted me after my shower with "in and out" litter box behavior. I immediately checked the box and found numerous small pee clumps that Moomin had considerately scattered all over the boxes which made cleaning up a tremendous treat.

I worried all morning but could do nothing about it so off to work and meetings. Second meeting cancelled after I arrived. I'd missed the flea infestation message. I decided to reschedule.

Driving on my way back from the cancelled meeting, I heard this massive KAH-POW!!! and the ass-end of the truck in front of me did this lifting shimmy. I braked to slow down but I didn't see anything. While I was trying to decide what to do, suddenly all these black fragments came spewing out from under the truck. I executed a majorly fast lane switch! Then because the truck driver finally realized something happened and pulled over into the breakdown lane, I had to switch lanes again coz he hadn't fully committed to the breakdown lane.

Get to work, called the vet at 3pm, they strongly suggested I bring Moomin in due to his past history of bladder issues, I did, got him there, he got sniffed by a very old black lab with dribble issues, and come to find out the office gremlins have done away with Moomin's file. The vet's assistant said this tends to happen, the folders sometimes get put back inside another file, and she has a DooBee who comes in once a month to go thru all the files to look for stuff like this. She said the files have always turned up. I didn't mention my special Murphy's Law luck. Let them be perky and optimistic.

Tonight when I go to bed, I have to shut Moomin up in the spare bedroom with water and a box with a sprinkling of black non-absorbent pellets to catch a pee sample tonight. The vet's assistant thinks this plan of action is going to work. Again with letting them be perky and optimistic. I know that Moomin isn't going to pee in a practically empty litter box with some strange little black pellets that don't even cover the bottom of the box and he's going to yodel by the door all night. Doodle, Houdini girl that she is, is going to spend the night trying her damndest to get the door open. Sleep, HAH! I think I prefer staying up and following Moomin around all night to get a pee sample to the special kind of hell that will be tonight.

I Am the Sizzle

2009-09-21T22:13:00.006-04:00

On Saturday I met my newborn pseudoniece, spoiled my pseudonephew who will be turning 5 soon (5! OMG where has the time gone, he was just a newborn who snuggled in my arms like a nugget a minute ago and a toddler who I could coax out of a tantrum by doing a Joey impression and asking him "how you doin'?" a second ago), and spent some quality grown-up time with my good friend J2.

J2 and I and new baby went to Target so J2 could purchase some new momma supplies and I could follow her around having Target-induced ADD by getting distracted by this that and the other and Magpie-itis picking this that and the other up. We giggled alot and admired baby E alot.

So we stopped in front of the lingerie section and commented on some of the items on prominent display out by the main aisle. She was explaining for me, the total non-lingerie girl, the merits of a garter belt paired with stockings and the benefits of different lace undies. She said what guy doesn't like a lace body suit with a snap crotch. I responded by saying the snaps weren't very comfortable. She said they wouldn't be snapped for long and we giggled.

Then I pointed to what I think was a baby doll teddy - a black lace bra with black see-thru fabric attached underneath. Fabric testing the hem with one hand, I said "I'd prefer something that wouldn't get in the way" while simultaneously lifting the side of my sweater with my other hand and hitching my bootilicious low-rise jeans up (so called because they are close fitting and every time I bend over, it's a crackfest, so I make sure my shirts are long enough to keep me modest).

Thereby causing a passing male to trip over an invisible obstacle as he tried not to eavesdrop, stare, and keep walking past us all at the same time.

J2 and I of course turned towards him when we heard his sneaker skid and the stumble. We were good. We didn't laugh until he was out of range.

Ssssst. Sizzle. Someone flip me over.

Continuing in the Squashity Vein

2009-08-24T20:59:00.002-04:00

I just made a casserole using my home-grown squash and it smells freakin' awesome.

I tried it while I was putting it together and it already tasted heavenly so even tho I haven't tried the finished product, it. will. be. great!

It looks wunnerful too. I can't wait to have it for dinner tomorrow.

The recipe template (key word: template coz I took the recipe and did some major additions) came from a book sale find called "Country Casseroles". A paperback thin pamphletty type book. The original recipe is called Squash Supreme and is credited to Mary Fisher (Madison, Wisconsin) but with my tweaks it is now called...

Sam's Squash Supreme

6 cups sliced yellow summer squash

1 whole small to mid-sized Vidalia onion chopped

1 tsp salt

1 pkg Jimmy Dean regular sausage

1 can (10 3/4 oz) of condensed cream of chicken soup undiluted

1 pkg already julienned/shredded carrots

1 pkg (2 cups) shredded chz of your choice (I used a parmesan mozzarella mix)

1 cup (8oz) sour cream

1 pkg (8oz) seasoned stuffing mix

1/2 cup butter melted

*optional: Mrs. Dash's Table Blend to taste

In a large skillet, cook-saute the onions in butter while you are slicing the squash so the onions get slightly browned.
Add sliced squash and cook-saute until squash is tender, floppy, and sort of transparent.
Drain well, but don't turn off the burner.
While skillet is still hot, brown the sausage.
Combine soup, sour cream, carrots, and chz.
Add sausage.
Fold in squash.
Mix well and gently.
Toss stuffing mix with 1/2 cup melted butter.
To assemble casserole: spoon one half of stuffing over bottom of greased big casserole dish (I used the biggest Pyrex I own), top with squash mixture, and sprinkle top with remaining stuffing.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Mammoth Pumpkin To Be

2009-08-24T18:31:00.002-04:00

So this is the result of my mammoth pumpkin experiment so far, it's only been growing since about the 2nd week of August. Despite the suck-ass weather, it's growing quite well. Let's hope it continues to do well.

Glove for sizing purposes.

Can You Say "M-F'in H.O.T"?

2009-08-23T21:45:00.002-04:00

I knew that you could.

The past week and this weekend have been like living in someone's mouth.

If we lived in a big city, I'm sure it would be like living in someone's armpit.

Hot. Humid. Even at night. No relief.

I'm trying to stick it out and not break down and put my air conditioner in, but the fans are just about not cutting it.

It cooled down two degrees with a mild breeze on Tuesday so I sucked it up and mowed my lawn which was out of control. 3 weeks plus some days was almost too long to wait.

Saturday I dogsat. Riley and I had one fiercely hot walk. I told him we were going to walk slow and he listened. I also told him I was not going to run amok in the back yard and he accepted that. Basically all he wanted was for me to give him the frozen peanut butter filled Kong and skedaddle while he wallowed in front of the air conditioner at my parents' house. The life of Riley.

I went to my friend J2's baby shower today. Talk about a roomful of women and no air conditioning, just two fans pushing warm air around. I got to be the "present scribe" and the present list was sticking to my hands and wrists. Talk about UGH!

My car has air. My office has air. Some of the homes I visit have air. Stores have air. So I'm managing. Just barely (barely being an operative word).

On a positive note, my hair has been incredible - lots of body and curls with very little effort. Looks good with my summer tan.

A little TMI - I've started putting deodorant in places other than under my arms.

I've also discovered putting rubbing alcohol on cotton "rounds" (basically smushed flat cotton balls that are somewhat quilted) and swabbing my face before I go to bed to remove the schweaty film on my skin. I know, should be immensely drying and would never attempt to do this in the fall or winter, but with the humidity what's to dry out?

I've been working with different fan configurations in the bedroom and last night I think I've stumbled on a good set up. Last night I actually got cold towards dawn! We'll have to see about tonight because it's raining and I can't have the windows open like I did last night.

Yes, it finally started raining today about 5pm. Heavy at times. Which is good on one hand because then I don't have to water what little garden I have or the hydrangea bush but on the other hand, I don't think it's going to break the humidity cycle.

Well, my fingers are sticking to the keys and my wrists to the table. There's two fans with my name on them in my bedroom. Time to read and cool off.

Maybe.

Happy B'day To Me!

2009-08-17T18:39:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was my b'day! And while I did not have protesters a'la Madonna, I also did not have to suffer the "Elvis is dead" Syndrome like past birthdays.

It was a great birthday:

My parents were in town for a change.
I slept in.
I got to shop and have a great late lunch with my mom.
I browsed a book store for book crack.
I got homemade birthday cake and ice-cream and candles. (Aside note: if you put the Kaluha cake in the fridge, the Kaluha gets VERY potent, I almost have a buzz going on from my piece tonite).
I got two birthday calls from very good friends.
I got a book present from my brother.

My Top 10 High Schooler Summer Reads

2009-08-13T20:38:00.002-04:00

When I was in high school, we lived in Germany, West Germany that is. Before the unification of Deutschland. Anyhoo, the high school I attended was a mix of the American and British school systems with a definite listing towards the American. The school library was so very teeny tiny... an unpleasant difference from the big huge libraries back in the States I was used to spending hours in. It was extremely difficult to get my book fix and I usually ended up re-reading favorites every season or more. So figure one book got read at least 4x/year and 5+ times a year at the most. Summers we'd visit the States and I would stock up at book stores, snapping up these favorites if I saw them. These were the books I couldn't live without (and in no particular order):

1) Crystal Singer - Anne McCaffery (science fiction): I practically memorized this book I read it so many times. I so wanted to learn how to cut crystal, have a symbiotic alien enhance my strength/endurance and make me practically immortal, and eat all the foods they craved during "the hunger". Nothing like sci-fi with a strong-willed female lead character successfully overcoming her flaws to an angst-ridden teenager, balm to the soul.

2) Windhaven - Lisa Tuttle and George R. R. Martin (science fiction): Another strong-willed female lead character successfully overcoming her flaws only this time instead of crystal cutting, it's flying. And while flying is made to sound really really alluring, I was never once tempted to want to try sky diving or hand gliding. I usually devoured this book endless times right after Crystal Singer.

3) The Nursery - David Lippincott (horror): This very little known gem showed me that while I thought I had it bad with my parents, they were nothing like the psycho couple the lead character ends up dealing with. I bought this book in a Vienna train station one night on our way back from a weekend school drama trip and stayed up all night on the train ride home reading it to the end. Then promptly read it again when I got home, but slower this time.

4) Gloriana - Michael Moorcock (alternate reality): This book is wonderful, it combines an alternate Elizabethan I reality, fantasy, magic, murder, mayhem, conspiracy, sex, and writing I can only compare to a huge box of absolutely delicious chocolates that no matter how much you eat, you want more. And there's no fear of calories or nauseousness. Rich and wonderful.

5) The Long Walk - Rich Bachman (Stephen King actually although I didn't know it at the time - sci-fi/horror): This gruesome dark book was a perfect high school read. Fully realized believable characters that you either cared for or hated, just like the people you were going to school with. Very detailed which made my anal-retentive heart go pitter pat. Scary in that you wonder how well you'd do in the same situation and when you'd end up... A damn fine story with an unusual unhappy ending, finally.

6) Sphinx - Robin Cook (suspense): This was actually a find that our American neighbors up the street had. They generously allowed me to plunder their book collection and while reading Nero Wolfe was alright, this book was great. Light reading for me but the story was well-told, fast-paced, and set in Egypt with strong-willed female lead character on a search for ancient treasure. (Guessing you can see a trend by now?)

7) Banners of Silk - Rosiland Laker (historical romance): I read this book to tatters, bought a new copy, read that one to tatters, and am most likely on my 5th or 6th copy. I finally found the original hardback version and that's my "good" copy (I have a back-up HB copy as well, call me crazy, I won't deny it!). Something about this book... I could say it's the writing, the characters, the dresses, the story, but that doesn't get to it. It's all those things and more. It's a book that strikes a chord and I love it and read it over and over and over.

8) The Fortress - Gabrielle Lord (horror/suspense): IF this was treated right, this book would make a great movie. But then all really good books that you stay up all night to finish and then have bad dreams about are never made into good movies because they never match what your imagination accomplishes. This book rocks, still. I finally got an out-of-print copy and it is exactly as good as I remember it. A teacher and students pitted against terrorizing kidnappers in Australia - that's all I can tell ya!

9) Anne of Green Gables series - L.M. Montgomery: I love reading this series. I read the first book to the last and cram a lifetime in a relatively brief span. Again one of those books where the writing, characters, and story just click and I can't pinpoint exactly why. Wait, maybe it's because while I'm reading it, I'm in the story and not aware that I'm reading. That's it, that complete suspension of reality.

10) Moomintroll series - Tove Jansson: Yes, these books are on the younger side but the stories, writing, and pictures are so engaging that I still find myself coning back to them again and again.

Common trend (in most of the books): strong-willed flawed female protagonist who has serious issues/dangers to overcome be it on a different planet, alternate reality, outback, in the distant past, or modern day.

What these books did for me in high school (and do so even today): due to a combination of great writing/great stories/great characters/great details = suspended reality and made me leave my life for a while never once feeling like I was reading a story, but actually seeing it unfold before me (granted in my head, but still).

Moomin's Weekend Friend

2009-08-09T20:33:00.002-04:00

So Moomin was looking out the window when a huge fuzzy bumbly bee landed on the screen for a wash break. It hung out for about 10 minutes meticulously grooming legs/feet/wings. Moomin enjoyed every moment although as soon as the bee stopped moving, Moomin took to watching the crows across the street.

Here he is trying to make contact. I'm such an overprotective mamacat that I did not fall for his cuteness and open the window. Stinging is not fun. Ripped screens are not fun.

Two days of Slambo sunbathing this weekend! I am one delicious caramel fudge brownie! And yes, I'm being careful for all you sun-naysayers. I'm wearing sunscreen on my face and only staying out for short periods of time. I am feeling healthier this summer with all the vitamin D I've been soaking up and I'm definitely looking healthier too. Come this winter I will again fade to fish belly white. I might have to buy a "happy light". Huh (snort).

My Chimney Has a TopHat

2009-08-05T19:57:00.005-04:00

I finally got my flashing fixed/replaced.

With all the rain we've been having, mostly heavy and driving, Dad's jerry-rigged tar patch finally gave out and I've been experiencing a "River Runs Through It" on my living room wall.

My roofer contractor is reputedly one of the top guys in the area so he can pick and choose his jobs after playing golf and bar-hopping. Yeah, I know, doesn't sound promising, but he came highly and reliably recommended and if he's that good that he can do what he wants when he wants and everyone wants him, then I don't have any complaints.

Neither does my wall. No more leaks! And he guaranteed his work. And he was reasonably priced. He did say the local squirrels snacking on my lead are eligible for mental disability coverage. Well, at least the ones not run over by cars.

And he let me know my chimney is NOT lined and advised me NEVER to use a woodstove. Makes me wonder how my home's previous owners avoided burning the house down around them because there was a woodstove hooked up when I purchased it. It's still in the basement, full of ashes, just no longer hooked up to the chimney.

He put a top hat on the top of my chimney to keep critters, debris, and rain out of it. Apparently I didn't have one of those either. Go figure, I've had this house since '99. He was concerned about "wicking" which leads to wearing and leaking of the chimney inside - brickwise but as the Universe looks after fools and drunks, I don't have any evidence of that.

One more repair down. Several more to go... but not right now, or soon, or even in a while. I need to percolate some more.

Giant Pumpkin Update

2009-08-03T20:14:00.002-04:00

Houston, despite my timely manual matchmaking efforts, we now have a rotting head-sized pumpkin that is beginning to resemble something halfway solid a child has upchucked.

I am SO disappointed but not very surprised given the insane wet weather we've been having.

On the up side, the vine is busy attempting two or three more pumpkins and with the male and female flowers finally in sync, I don't have to "show them the way".

But I'm not holding my breath for any pumpkins this year. My other regular pumpkin vines are just growing forth greenly, not having any babies yet.

I did manage to get 4 yellow squash.

My BiPolar Potato Salad

2009-08-03T19:35:00.004-04:00

Or "Hot/Cold Potato Salad" or even "Two Part Potato Salad" if you prefer my more PC names. I myself prefer the nonPC name - "BiPolar Potato Salad".

This is my new summer "catnip" recipe. I describe certain meals as "catnip" because I can't get enough of them and would roll around in them if I were a cat.

So...

The Cold or Manic Part:

One bundle of green onions - cut with scissors, oh so much easier
One bundle/stalk/set of celery - diced into nice little centimeter pieces
One bag of julienned carrots - chopped into little centimeter pieces
Optional: one yellow pepper - chopped into little centimeter pieces
Trust me, you are going to want to take the anal retentive/OCD time to make the pieces small.
One package of real bacon bits (Oscar Mayer) (optional, but you're gonna miss 'em)
One 5oz container of fresh shredded Asiago cheese (optional, I love me some dairy)
Mix all of these in a big ass bowl and refrigerate til potatoes are done.

The Hot or Lethargic Part:

One mesh bag of purple or russet baby/mini potatos
Boil them up while doing the Cold/Manic chopping part.
Once easy to poke with a fork, stop the water.
Take them out one at a time and put in a tupperware or other plastic bowl (with a top that fits)
Mash/chunk them with a fork.
Add Ranch dressing and Ginger Soy Sauce to taste. I can't give you measurements coz I just add and mix until the potatoes are a chunky-creamy texture and taste like heaven. One hint, more Ranch than Ginger Soy sauce, but it has to be Ginger Soy, god that stuff is yummy!

Putting it all together or BiPolar Part:

Bring out the cold veggie mix.
Ladle as much of it as you want in a bowl. I like pasta bowls for this.
Then take about a cup with a little + of the potato mixture and put on top of the veggies.
Mix the potatoes and veggies together, ideally you want each bite to have p's and v's together!
Put the cold veggies away.
Put the potatoes away.
DO NOT MIX THEM!! Keep them in separate containers.
Only mix together what you are going to eat. I can't stress this enough!

What makes this salad work is that the veggies stay crisp and cool and delish.

And the potatoes are warm and comfort-foodish.

Together=bliss.

If you work it right, there will be more veggies than potatoes each helping and you'll run out of both at the same time if you keep this in mind. If you try to make them equal, you will run out of potatoes very quickly. For us calorie conscious people, we need the veggies to be the bigger portion. Besides the potatoes are almost too good to have too much of, although I've gone there. The veggies really balance out the over-goodness of the potatoes.

Leftovers or Post Crisis Potatoes:

When you want more the next day, just heat the amt of p's you want in a bowl.
After they are warm, ladle on the cool v's and mix and you are ready to go.

The BugFest That Was This Weekend

2009-08-02T20:57:00.002-04:00

I swear I encountered every freakin' bug that lives in my yard, my parents' yard, and on the dogsitting walk this weekend. I had to bugspray myself good to just sunbathe.

You name it;

Mosquitos (poor Riley, if I hadn't coated his buttocks with Burt's Bees bug repellent... he sorely needed it while taking a poop in the woods. God they're ferocious!)

Earwigs

Big juicy black ants

Tiny red ants

Slugs (okay, so they aren't "bugs" but they are pests)

Flies

Horse flies

Deer flies

Bees

Wasps

Some other very large flying stinging creature that I did not care to investigate closely

Grasshoppers

Moths

Midges

Gnats

The striped bugs eating the squash and pumpkin leaves

Japanese beetles

Some other kind of beetle that was black

And spiders, tons of those too;

The Bad Ass Big Yellow spiders (BABYs)

Daddy Long Legs

The zebra-striped jumping ones

The brown nonwebbers that scuttle frantically when startled (usually found around the soil)

Tunnel spiders

And of course, the garden orb spider as seen below.

It's a wonder I wasn't carried off and sucked dry.

Out and About Doin' the Hooligout

2009-07-26T10:06:00.003-04:00

I went out with new friend, L, last night. When she came to my house to transfer over to my car (she drove last time we went out), my neighbor was out sweeping her steps. When she saw me, she said, "wow, you're smokin' tonight!" Of course she's only ever seen me in lawn-mowing mode and bedraggled after-work mode, so seeing me with smoky eyes, blonde curls, a crisp white buttondown showing some cleavage, and a short skinny jean skirt with heels that made my legs look like they started at my chin was a bit of an eye opener for her. L told her I don't go out enough and my neighbor agreed and said she hoped the smokin' effect wreaked some havoc on the male gender. And it did, but so not the way I expected...

We went to a neighboring town's restaurant/bar for a late dinner and some beverages. The waitress was super sweet, the chicken tenders were super crunchy, and the drinks were super weak. I convinced L that staying for expensive weak drinks and bad Karaeoke (sp?) was not how I wanted to spend the rest of the evening so we left and moved on to another local hang out.

The drinks were better but the live band sucked ass, literally and figuratively. We sat and chatted and texted my best friend J in Florida. We ran into someone L knows and chatted with him for a while. One of the locals hit on L.

Next thing we know, this spiffily dressed - and when I say spiffy I mean SPIFFY, he had on a sparkly belt, rhinestone pins scattered on his shirt, rings practically on every finger, I swear I saw several earrings in one ear, coiffed white hair, those old-time shoes that look like a cross between fancy one-color bowling shoes and blue suede shoes but his were white - older man comes waltzing (and I do mean waltzing and if it wasn't waltzing it was skipping, or floating, or gamboling) into the bar and immediately (after equipping himself with a beer) starts buzzing around the women like a bee dipping into each flower. He asked each of them to dance, some nice ones took him up on his offer but most didn't. He buzzed around our table and stayed to talk A LONG time after we both politely said no to dancing. L left to go to the bathroom and the man stayed and proceeded to regale me with mini risque stories, drop one-liners like "if you can keep up with me till 5am, I treat you to breakfast", tell blonde jokes with the blonde always coming out on top "because we blondes need to stick together" (he considered his white hair his blonde ticket), compliment me, touch my arm high enough up to cop a fleeting feel of my boobie, put his hand on my knee or my shoulder, and while it sounds like harassment as I write it down, it was truly innocuous due to how light-hearted and in the moment he was, and it wasn't threatening or icky. It was more like Puck in human form having a blast amongst the women-flowers. (He reminded me alot of Gpa out skating.) Anyhoo. After he left our table one time (he came back numerous times), these other two guys asked us if he was bothering us. We said no and they said he comes out all the time, looking to dance up a storm, in fact his local nickname is "Geezer Pimp" coz of all the bling he wears and his propensity for women. So my smokin' appearance led to being hit on by 78 year old Geezer Pimp!

Next up, much later in the evening, a man comes up and asks if we'd dance with his friend who's going off to Iraq in three days. Both L and said we weren't dancing but they were welcome to sit at our table with us. They came over and proceeded to joke and overshare - it was that time of night. Both of them were Navy, one was 21 and the other was 22 years old, and both were finding Maine an experience. First Guy was from California and had never experienced 50degree temps and saw snow for the first time last winter. Second Guy hailed from Ohio and it turns out his brother is attending my alma mater. How funny is that? First Guy said he was feeling funny about wearing shorts out to the bar because back in Cali you wear long pants out clubbing. I told him there is no clubbing in Maine, it's bar hopping and shorts are norm. L used the word "wicked" to describe something and they just about fell out of their chairs. First Guy said in Cali they say "hella" for "wicked". So we all had to come up with funny hella and wicked phrases with me topping the fun using the F-bomb. First Guy thought I was a riot and told me so several times. After much double meaning and risque talk, the bar was closing and we decided to walk over to another bar and see if there were going to be any fights. There weren't but First Guy offered to go back to my place and "do a little sumpin' sumpin'." I thanked him for his kind offer but had to decline as I was interested in someone else's sumpin' sumpin'. And so my smokin' appearance led to be hit on by a 22 year old.

Go figure, I was hit on by someone who could be my grandfather and by someone who could be my son all in the same night. Now that's got to be good for a drinking game.

Two And A Half Men Speak

2009-07-22T22:01:00.003-04:00

"There's not enough bowel movements left!"

"Shut-the-hell-up-shoe"

"Turd in the punchbowl"

"Did your blow-up doll run away with a pool toy?"

"Vodka, Scotch, Whiskey - blond, brunette, and redhead - Charlie's Angels"

"Deep down she's several people and they're all bent."

"I ain't hitting her positive attributes, so I don't give a rat's ass!"

"I now pronounce you fruit basket and nut case. May God have mercy on your souls."

"The head that made the promise isn't the head that broke it."

"It's not a sausage problem, more in the meatball area."

"Swamp ass." "You'd know if you had swamp ass." "A kid in my school had swamp ass and a cat followed him around for 3 weeks."

Just had to share the gigglefest.

VacaPics Using iPhoto

2009-07-21T23:21:00.007-04:00

Some belated postings of a few vaca pics. I finally got brave enough for the iMac to suck my photos off my camera. Tonight I've discovered two things I need help with: 1) how to get back to the original photo after I've tweaked it and 2) how to make my photos more blogworthy (read: smaller and crappier quality) instead of huge shiny glistening files that take a long time to upload to the blog. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Ah, whitish sand and turquoise water.

My bestest friend J, her daughter M, and two youngsters L and S.

And this is my youngster. Fortunately the zoo is taking care of it for me.

My haul on one of my two beach-going days. I mailed them back to myself.

Endless vista that I miss.

Male and Female Pumpkin Flowers

2009-07-21T21:50:00.002-04:00

The female flower is low on the vine growing off a mini-starter baby pumpkin and when the wide blossom opens up it has a very fat almost foot-stool shaped middle. I have no idea what the technical term for the middle is - stamen?

The male flower is on a tall stalk growing straight up from the vine, the blossom is not as wide and has a much thinner longer middle part - tech term pistil?

Anyhoo, the idea is to get the tall flower's pollen (located on the longer thinner middle part) onto the low flower's fat middle part - thus creating a fertilized pumpkin. How you can tell you did the procedure correctly is that the mini-starter pumpkin instead of not growing and rotting away, starts to swell almost immediately the day after you played matchmaker.

You can do this for squash, zucchini, and cucumbers.

So now you know. Happy fertilizing!

Gardening factoids courtesy of my Mom, Wednesday's Child, and her "gay zucchini story" which is not only educational but extremely pants-wetting as well. Thank you, oh, Master Gardner, you!

Like a Good Neighbor...

2009-07-17T22:46:00.003-04:00

Slambo is there.

Once again I'm in charge of watering my neighbor's plants while she is away. But this year I really haven't had to because of all the rain. I totally lucked out in that respect. Besides, the deer or some other wild suburban animals have been extreme-barbering the dahlias I injured last year.

On the other hand, I don't think she arranged for anyone to mow her lawn so I've taken it upon myself to be a good neighbor and mow hers when I mow mine. Our lawns merge after all and when I mow my side lawn, her unmown grass is VERY noticeable, not to mention unsightly.

So I mowed two yards (back and front) today after work before the rain settles in again this weekend. And it was very humid. And buggy. And I was a drippy schweaty mess. God how I dislike heat/humidity.

At work we are dealing with a salmonella outbreak in the downstairs part of the building. Adding diarrhea to hot and humid weather. Instant big time fun.

I was just informed yesterday that my famous or "infamous" (depending on what level a health nut you are) party pretzels have been requested for a bake sale for next week. I've been told that people buy them in bulk and are hugely disappointed when they're gone. In addition to the Reese's PB baking bits (crushed) flavor, I'm substituting mini choc chips for crushed M&M baking bits (what a pain in the ass crushing them is) with some sprinkles added for color and a new flavor of crushed Whoppers. I had an idea for a healthy version - fruit bits with mini choc chips, sort of like trail mix glued onto a pretzel - but the powers that be tell me no one wants the party pretzels to be healthy.

It's supposed to be hot and humid all weekend, I'm not really looking forward to spending time over the stove with a double boiler full of white chocolate and trays upon trays of candy coated pretzels.

I'm just too damn nice for my own good.

Pumpkin Artificial Insemination

2009-07-15T22:00:00.004-04:00

Yep, you read right...

Mom started my giant pumpkin seed from scratch and when I got back from vaca the beginning of June, it was a massive green healthy seedling.

I made a mound of dirt, compost, and manure-y mulch and planted it in my back landscape garden.

And then it proceeded to rain, and rain, and rain, and rain, and rain, and oh, rain some goddamn more.

The vine has been growing S.L.O.W.L.Y. and small yellow and black striped bugs have been massively a-munching the leaves.

About 4 beginning pumpkins failed because the girlie flowers were not opening the same time as the boy flowers - so no naturally occurring pumpkin-sex.

Monday before work, I noticed a female flower in open bloom and one lone male flower open and ready to go... but not a busy bee or bug to be seen. I took matchmaking matters in my own hands and proceeded to administer artificial insemination.

Meaning I picked the male flower, bent back the petals, and swirled the male flower parts around inside the female flower.

Today the fruit of my labors is swelling. Houston, we have a giant pumpkin a-growin'. Halleluyah!

Can I Get a WhooHoo??!!

2009-06-17T18:46:00.003-04:00

I am making this post from my very new computer!

It's a 20 inch iMac and it. is. AWESOME!

My head is bigger than the keyboard.

The monitor is WAY bigger than my head. Not to mention everything is stuffed into the monitor, so no more tower under the desk or taking up room on the desk.

I have no words. Just AWESOME.

Oh, and I'm going to have to spend some time getting to know the newbie because it is VASTLY different from the PC I was using and the laptop I'm using at work.

Apple did my data transfer for free for me as part of my One To One service package so I've checked and all my pictures seem to be in iPhoto. Apparently this computer is so smart, I just plug my camera in and it SUCKS them right out with not having to go thru my camera's program and then save to My Pictures folder to get pics on the blog. I also have access to free tutorials on the web and can sign up for 1:1 tutorials at the Apple store. All part of the One To One service package for a year.

Oh, and I can call AppleCare for help whenever I want and they can talk me thru probs as they occur. AppleCare will also replace my hard drive if something major unrepairable should happen. If that is at all possible.

Well, the cats have been super patient with me and I have to go feed them. And get ready to watch WipeOut and knit some more on my mom's Mother's Day scarf. I've got to unravel quite a bit as what I wanted to do isn't working and I gotta go with the basics so it looks much better and won't roll up.

Blog ya later!

Wow, It's Been a While...

2009-06-04T20:43:00.002-04:00

Sorry to all of you riveted readers who have been jones-ing for a current post...

But I've been flat-out at work,
Went on week's vaca,
Brother is in town,
And I'm still flat-out at work.

Good news,

I went to Florida for vaca to visit J and jammed A LOT into my week: M was there (which was VERY awesome!), thunderstorms, zoo, fondue restaurant, bbq party, beaches, shelling, pool, darts, 2 strip clubs, a casino, some shopping, used book stores, and found a Wii videogame that I finally like and can somewhat play. And I found the perfect perfume for my bestest friend who has been searching for two years to replace her discontinued favorite kind! I sum up my vacation as "Tornados, Casinos, and Titties, Oh My!"

Other good news,

With my baby brother in town, I get to access his vast computer mentality and I may end up with a new computer before or by the time he leaves. Can I get a WHOO-HOO!?

So, I promise to try to get back on the blogging track now that all my shows have gone beddy-bye for the summer but I can't 100% promise this as I'm pretty much doing 5-8 hours straight on my computer at work every day and frankly, I'm extremely sick of keyboards and monitors and mice and misbehaving servers when I come home.

Baby's Got Her Car Butt Back

2009-04-17T17:39:00.003-04:00

My car's butt has been fixed and now looks just like it should - new and red and shiny and scratchless. Priceless!

Basically they just took the back bumper off like a Lego piece, buffed, repainted, and baked it. Now it has to "cure" for at least 30 days before I get the ResistAll put back on.

I got to drive a Chevy Cobalt for two days as my loaner-car. This car was like driving a brick with behavior issues - clunky, hard to steer, and it always wanted to go to the right and when I made it go to the left, it took it to extremes. I'm surprised I wasn't pulled over for erratic driving.

So, yes, my car is "devalued" while still "almost new", but as I plan to keep it as long or longer than my old car (13 yrs) and it looks like new again (shiny butt!), I'm not really all that concerned about it's value to anyone other than moi.

My Fit Got Hit A Bit

2009-04-06T17:53:00.005-04:00

I got swiped in the car-ass today coming back from a meeting by an impatient teenager.

Fortunately it wasn't the flaming fireball flip-over accident that I lucidly dreamed this morning before actually getting up. I guess the Universe likes to send me overly dramatic forewarnings.

I'll take scratches over a totalled car and being fatally crisped and barbequed any day.

Even tho I was upset coz my car is still NEW!

I'm waiting for my claims adjustor to call me so I can decide if I want Geico to take care of it or if I want my insurance to take care of it. The Geico person was pretty aggressive about having them take care of it. I'm thinking I just want to speak to "my people" and then make a decision coz I'm not really psyched about having every last thing overseen by Geico. I'd rather have where I bought the car handle those details. But I'll keep an open mind and make a decision by tomorrow. Mom? Dad? Any input?

I'm hoping that the door whanged into my side, me backing into my garbage can, and this are considered the official grouping of "three" and it will stop here.

I could just be being overly optimistic.

UPDATE: I'm having the teenager's insurance take care of it all. As my neighborhood insurance agency explained - if they're willing to cover it all, have them do so. So I am. Car is being inspected by the claims adjustor and repaired the same day with a covered rental thrown in if I need it. I may need it as paint is involved, I guess there is a "curing" time. "?"

"Prepare to Wet Thy Pants"

2009-03-25T22:18:00.004-04:00

So you know there are videos to teach you all sorts of "things",

To "fill in the gaps" of missing skills.

So there's this video called "Hand Made Love".

I kid you not.

It's been non-stop nonPC joking all day...

The video "came" in the mail.

"You can stop at any time."

"Prevent breakage."

"Sensitive Narrator"

"Hands-on Instructor"

"Visual Supports"

"Hand-Over-Hand Guidance"

This could just "keep going and going and..."

I think I'm done...

"Oops," I totally forgot to mention it comes with a "manual".

I have to stop now or I'll just "explode".

Seriously, turn off the computer...

A Bit About My Fit

2009-03-18T22:20:00.002-04:00

This car rocks.

It's averaging about 40 miles/gallon.

It defrosts like a demon.

So far it has dealt extremely well with snow, slush, and mud.

(Aside: Mud Season is headed our way very shortly. There is no "spring" in Maine - what the rest of you folks fondly call "spring" is divided into two delightful parts here in the upper Northeast: Mud Season and Black Fly Hell. The first means entire towns smell like cowshit consecutive days on end, unpaved driveways composed of deep mucky ruts waiting for unwary drivers who will need hours of help, a few boards, or a tow to get unstuck, and your yard resembles a manure quagmire loosely covered with a bad toupee made of last season's grass. The second means exactly what it says, the black flies are out and about and jonsing for freshly thawed out and unwrapped humans. Their bites raise bumps that resemble goiters. It's loads of fun.)

It's comfy.

I can open the back windows for fresh blowing air and my hair won't mess up. (My old car didn't have this option and with no air conditioning, my hair was always a mess.)

My parents' dog is ubercomfy in the "magic" seating fold-down maneuver.

Dusting it is a breeze so far.

It thinks for me. It let me know my tire pressure was low and just today it let me know it was due for an oil change. I'd already anticipated the oil change coz I got tired of waiting for the wrench symbol to show up and scheduled an appt earlier this week for tomorrow at the crack of dawn. Yeah me.

I love driving it.

It has intersection balls,

it turns nicely,

it fits into really small parking spaces but I can put a buttload of stuff in it,

and it's damn cute.

Moomin is the Big Three Today!

2009-03-17T18:49:00.003-04:00

Happy birthday to my munchkin monkeybutt smarfypants ScoobyMoomin! And it's been an exciting three years. I don't know what I'd do without my morning headbutt-kisses, chainsaw purring, and shoulder-surfing. I know the other cats could do without the Chomping of the Hindparts!

Snap Crapple Poppie

2009-03-11T22:29:00.004-04:00

I dare you to say "snap crackle pop" now without messing up. I haven't been able to say it right since I've said it wrong.

So. It's not been the best work-wise and while brushing my teeth just now, I started to dwell on the absolute negativities that have been my recent and present experiences. Then I put an immediate stop to that because there are things that are bright shiny spots, small but extremely bright. And they are:

1) I have found this wonderful line of products for my face and my emerging lines are practically non-existent. Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless (with pomegranate) and Radiance (with royal jelly). I am glow-y, softer, no break-outs for over a month, no dryness, and practically line-free.

2) Burt's Bees products for body lotion and face washing too! Amazing!

3) My mom is home safe from her recent trip.

4) My co-workers made me laugh really hard today. So very needed!

5) My car is great.

6) I have a wonderful home that is no longer leaking somewhere in the basement.

7) I've managed to keep the weight I've lost off for little over a year and all my "gage" clothes still fit.

8) All of the kittos finished their dinners tonight. I've switched foods on them again and am trying a healthier wet food and there's been some resistance from someone striped, dawdling from someone dark and chocolatey, and yarfing from someone spotty.

9) I've done ALL my laundry.

10) I'm concentrating on those bright spots to get me thru the rest of this week.

Pfffftttt. Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T17:25:00.002-05:00

Whatever.

Totally jerry-rigged consumer-driven holiday emphasizing loneliness or disfunctional relationships.

I prefer to surprise and be surprised throughout the year at meaningful moments. Not when someone tells me to tell someone I love them with expensive debt-laden or guilt-inducing gifts.

In the anti-spirit of V'sDay, I am going to sleep late, exchange no cards or gifts, hang out with my mom, hang out with my cats, read, nap, knit on my new project, and rest/recharge during my three day weekend.

My people know I love them. And most of them have showed me how much they care with all the support they provided during an extremely trying week. Truly wonderfully blessed am I.

Thank you.

Vent-ilation

2009-02-09T18:17:00.003-05:00

Oh my, let me tell you. That movie clerk almost had himself ripped a new butthole, on his face. I went to the movies with a friend on Saturday. We made these plans on Friday afternoon after checking the paper that comes out, every Friday, that tells when the weekend movie times are. We chose "New In Town".

So I get to the theater and I'm waiting for her. She's a bit late and I decide to get my ticket coz it looked like things were going to get busy. I plunk my money down and say "one for New In Town."

He said, "The next showing is 7:20pm".

???????????????????

Me: "What?"

MovieJerk, sorry, Clerk: "The next showing is at 7:20pm."

Me: "It's supposed to be 1:20pm."

MovieJerk, errr, Clerk: "Well, it's been cancelled due to the Opera."

Me: ????????????? "What do you mean, it said the showing was at 1:20pm?"

MovieJerk, I mean Clerk: "The live Opera is showing in that theater."

Me: "It didn't say that in the paper."

MovieJerk, Clueless Clerk: "What paper?"

Me: "The paper that comes out on Friday so you can plan your weekend movie viewing."

MovieJERK: "Well, it wasn't in the paper."

My Mind: "Lissen you sumbitch, you tellin' me my movie's been dumped for some dumbass Opera gig? No head's up in the papers? Are you frickin' serious? I'm about to come over that counter and put an extra orifice where the sun does shine!!!"

Me: walking off because I'm about to lose an extremely bad temper and I'm not interested in playing with Security.

I waited for my friend, she finally arrived, and I not so calmly explained the asinine situation. She and I talked, well, she talked and I fumed, and decided to see our second choice "Push".

We get back up to the counter and she paid first. While waiting for my ticket, I told MovieClerkJerk that they really needed to consider advance advertising and to think ahead more when they do events like the Opera that cancel movies like "New In Town". He just nodded. It'll never happen. But I was delighted that a woman behind me asked him in a trumpety very irritated voice, "What, New In Town's been cancelled?"

I wasn't the only one, there were lots of couples who came in after me and ended up leaving coz their weekend plans were stomped on as well.

As for "Push", it had a good premise with some interesting special effects but it fell far short of a "wow" movie as it had a lot of unused and underutilized potential with lots of room for improvement.

CatFood Experiment Has Ended

2009-02-09T18:09:00.004-05:00

I've tallied the data...

And the results are in...

5 different flavors of Brand 1 (small-sized breakfast cans) and 5 different flavors of Brand 2 (big dinner cans) have made it thru - half of the flavors involving "beef", the other half "chicken", and one lone "turkey with cheese bits". All involve "gravy".

Whatever. I have happy cats that are official members of the "Clean Plate Club", pooping up a normal BM storm, peeing good sized pees, and I've even caught Moomers drinking water out of the non-fountain water bowl twice. Oh my!

I went to the store today to stock up on 5 cans of each flavor - 50 cans total, which came out to be about $20! Way cheaper then the Science Diet guggy food.

Day 3 and Still a Happy Experiment

2009-02-04T22:36:00.005-05:00

Chalk today up as another success. Beef seems to be the catnip flavor so far.

Meglet asked what's my feeding procedure, so here it is: (those of you who babysit the cats while I'm away will already be familiar with the basics)

Hobbes: he gets a shotglass full of dry food (3 varieties mixed together - Nutro Weight Maintenance, Adult chicken, and Senior) in a small bowl along with a dish of 1/3 of a can of whatever wet food I'm serving up.

Doodle: she gets basically the same as Hobbes but because she gains weight faster than him and Moomin, I tend to reduce her dry food if she's getting chunky.

Moomin: he gets a shotglass full of Science Diet c/d dry food (prescription food for cats prone to urinary tract infections, poor baby) and the biggest third of the can of wet cat food mixed together (took me long enough to figure that out, he was taking forever with eating each tiny dry piece one at a time). He's the most active kitto of the bunch and he really needs the water factor in the wet food. Not to mention he takes after his gigantic tomcat father.

Everyone gets a bedtime snack of a sprinkling of dry food to prevent hanging over me like a vulture too early in the morning.

Dr. H said dry food is higher in calories and carbs, along with all the grains/veggies filler (he said it is difficult to make an all-meat dry cat food), than wet food, so he recommends I feed them more wet then dry. Dr. W did an experiment with her own cat and found if she fed it 16 dry pieces of the food she was feeding it, her cat never gained weight - if she took some away it lost weight and if she added more to the 16 it gained weight. I like to keep dry food in the mix as we as humans are supposed to eat crunchy/harder foods to keep our teeth exercised and strong so I figure the same goes for cats. Not to mention if they were out hunting their food, they'd be crunching on small bones. Yuck but true.

Taking this all into consideration, I tend to keep the dry to the minimum I've worked out with my cats to maintain their weight which is a shotglass full and not the jumbo shotglass, just the regular straight alcohol shotglass size. The reason I'm not giving them more then a third each of a large can of catfood is that they barely finish that and I can't have food laying around all day because a) eeww and b) Doodle would be 500 lbs by now. The bedtime snack helps with the hungries.

Of course, Doodle is ALWAYS hungry so it doesn't matter how much I feed her. She literally has no shut-off switch. Plus she eats so damn fast sometimes that she yarfs her entire meal up and 10 minutes later she's all super-affectionate to me which means she wants more food because she's on empty.

Day 2 Of the Great Catfood Experiment

2009-02-03T18:42:00.006-05:00

(I love these pics with my HobberBobber!)

I took Hobber, the eldercat, to his annual checkup last week during our bleezard and learned:

1) a limited diet for cats is NOT good

2) having them eat the same thing all the time is NOT good

3) cats are one of the purest carnivores and we are making them eat food with grains and veggies in it

4) eating fish has not been scientifically shown to cause the crystals in cat bladders

5) kittens should be given a wide variety of different kinds of wet foods so they learn to tolerate eating most anything which will come in very handy when a cat gets sick n' picky

6) stick to the bigger better known brand names

7) and it's okay for Moomin to have any kind of wet food coz it adds much needed H2o to his body (I still don't ever catch him drinking water).

So, on Dr. H's recommendation, I have purchased a gazillon (well, not really a gazillon, but a lot) cans of catfood.

We've got turkey, chicken, and beef in a variety of different preparations, like:

"meaty bits"

"savory shreds"

"prime filets"

"feast"

"gravy"

"grilled"

"gourmet"

"chunky"

"with cheese"

and finally "bite-sized marinated morsels".

And the feline herd is LOVING it. No picky eaters in this bunch. They have joined the "Clean Plate Club" with huge enthusiasm. In fact, I was practically hijacked when I said, "treats dinner!"

I have a ratings system set up so I will know which ones are the all time favorites, but if things continue the way they are, I will end up just getting all of the flavors I bought with some new ones added in to keep the "novelty factor" in play.

I have them pick the flavors they want. Well, I array the cans in a line and open whichever they sniff/touch first (yes I know they can't smell thru the can, but I believe in giving power of choice when appropriate, after all, I've been forcing them to eat the same bland guggy Science Diet Mature Cats Savory Chicken paste). Moomin picked beef but he picked that for breakfast so I took Doodle's choice of turkey in gravy. Hobbes isn't choosing, he's staying on the Hoosier waiting with baited breath.

The kittos also seem happier around meal times. More relaxed. I know I am. Keep you all posted.

Caught An Eyeful

2009-01-22T18:50:00.007-05:00

I was home sick the past two days and to amuse myself in between trips to the bathroom, I tried some things out with my camera. Each eye has a mini reflection of my windows and their views. Pretty neat huh?

Blue sky, curtains, one lone tree.

Trees, sky, shadow of my house on snow.

If you look closely in this one, you can see the white house that's across the street.

I'm Declared A Heath Hazard to Postal Workers

2009-01-14T22:41:00.003-05:00

It's official.

See, up here in the North in the wintertime, if we forget/weather happens while we're at work/don't have time or tools/don't get around to shoveling, chipping, salting, sanding, clearing away, or doing any other form of keeping our mailboxes from being easily accessed, we get a nice little polite mass-produced note from the Post Office basically telling us we need to shape up and become a better contributing member of society.

Today I came home to find the notice in my mailbox declaring me a health and safety hazard to my mailperson and they'd appreciate my immediate action in making it safe for them to deliver my mail directly to me.

I would if that was AT ALL possible. We had some drizzle the night before and since I'd done such a painstaking job of clearing all the snow off the driveway this weekend, the driveway turned into a sheet of ice when the temperatures dropped overnight. This morning I boot-skated to my garage.

Now when your driveway is a smooth, shiny, solid (meaning impossible to chip away unless you want to damage the chipper or your arm), half to 3/4 inch thick, sheet of ice with single to low teen digits forecast for the rest of the day and the wind gusting like nobody's business causing major windchill factors and you've left yourself just enough time to leave for work and clock in on time IF you leave right now, the driveway is not going to be put into any sort of slip-proof shape. As it is, my little car shimmied to Eddie Money singing "she was shakin'... movin' round and round, just ashakin'..." Truly, any car was gonna shimmy on my driveway. Chains wouldn't have helped. Spikes, maybe.

So I came home and admired the slickness that is my driveway and found my notice and made sure I laughed after I'd entered the house. No sense in me falling on my ass.

I got some left over play sand (what? it's cheaper than salt and better for the environment) from a summer project and sprinkled a path right down the middle of my driveway and next to my stoop where the mailbox is. Hopefully that will satisfy the "contributing community member" requirement.

We Gots Chilly Willies All Up In Here

2009-01-13T23:11:00.003-05:00

What do males do when it's this friggin' cold? Do their male parts try to do the whole male bird maneuver and tuck themselves up into somewhere warm? Do they even make underwear with warm padding that insulates the family jewels from freezing right off? What happens to male self-esteem when it's this cold?

Seriously, if I wasn't PMSing, my boobilicious parts would be at least 2 sizes smaller.

And as soon as I walk outside, my boogers get all ice-crackley in my nose. Not the most comfortable feeling.

I just saw on the news a place so cold, a guy threw water into the air and it came down as snow. How fun is that? Snow you make right in front of yourself? Too bad it has to be that f-in' cold for you do that little amazing party trick.