Happy Joy

Cara's lost about half a pound. Yay! I am so glad "strangers" got to experience the tortitude Cara inflicts on me daily. She growled while the vet listened to her heart and lungs. Yup, fully functioning and as fiery as ever. When the doctor opened Cara's mouth to inspect her teeth, my darling baby spat a big hiss. Doc thanked Cara for showing her teeth and said they looked great.

In other news, the White House is getting a vegetable garden!!! The 1,100 square-foot garden will have 55 varieties of vegetables!

Terrible Twos

We celebrate two years with Cara today! She's not celebrating though. Cara grumbled all morning about how she is subjected to stupid humans and idiotic cats who don't understand her.

We absolutely adore our little baby. Cara is such a cutie when she allows herself to be loved. I think deep down inside, Cara loves me back. She is the rebellious teenager who is angry with the world. That's ok. I'll take her cattitude as long as she doesn't become a teenage mother or get arrested. HA!

Meowmy and Me

I ran out of yarn so Angel's sweater isn't as nice or shaped as I wanted it to be. She wore it without protest despite it not fitting properly. What a little trooper.

Fitted Knit

Here's my most recent project. I think it turned out quite nicely. It was finished the first time on Friday and officially finished on Sunday. What a difference 8 rows made! I haven't knitted since Sunday morning. I am incredibly restless.

Eight is Great

Wow. Where to even begin. We brought Angel home eight years ago today. I can't believe it's already been eight years! Angel is the most perfect cat ever. She is so patient, loving and sweet. She taught us how to be good cat parents and endured lots of suffering before we wised up about her medical needs. Maybe that's why I don't mind pampering her now. Words can't even begin to describe my adoration, admiration and fondness for my little best friend.

Better Days

Happy Birthday to my little Cara! Two years ago today, Cara was turned into a high-kill shelter. On February 12, 2007, Siamese Rescue saved her. I think today is indeed a birthday of sorts for Cara. It was the beginning of a new chapter in Cara's life. She was freed from the horrible human(s) who gave her up. No reason or explanation given. Well, she is our little bundle of joy now. We cherish and celebrate her every day. Cara is such a delight. I think she secretly loves me back.

Cara is so intelligent it is ridiculous. The worst part is that she knows she is smart. She can actually process logic in her brain. If I hide a wand toy under a towel, she will wait for it to emerge on the other side. Just last week, she managed to unscrew the cap to the brand new container of treats. And ate them all. That was a $12.99 container of treats that was supposed to last a month. Our little one is simply amazing. I still need to share a video of her eating treats. It quenched all of my motherly nursing and nesting desires. Cara is so adorable when she's not mean.

Here are two photos showing how Cara's coloring has changed significantly. The second one was taken in October. She has actually gotten even darker since then. We think Cara is in her rebellious teenage goth phase.

Knitter's Block

I have not knitted since Saturday. I am going crazy. Waiting for yarn to arrive in the mail. Maybe I should start a small project. Although I hate having WIPs laying around. This sucks. I feel so lost.

I've also decided that I won't take my knitting to Paris. Don't want to risk having my needles and tools confiscated. Plus, I don't want to feel the urge to knit while in Paris. Oh, the Jardins des Tuileries would be an awesome place to knit, too!

Next project is a vest for me. I should have enough leftovers to make Angel a vest too.

Souvenir

I cut myself on Inauguration Day. This was three days later. Dad didn't let on at the time, but he said it was pretty deep. I'll spare the bloody details. Having experienced his share of bad cuts, dad said to keep it dry for at least 2 days. I usually change the bandage if it gets wet, but I do allow wounds to get wet. Sure enough, dad's method worked. I was very surprised at how quickly my finger healed. I wasn't expecting this stage of healing for at least 5-7 days.

Kitties 1, Humans 0

Ever since my parents found out the kitties were going to the pet resort while we're in Paris, they have been lobbying hard to "save" the grandbabies. They started with comments about saving money and sending the cats to their house instead. Realizing cost is never an issue when it comes to our precious kitties, they tried to appeal to our hearts. Last time, my parents visited our kids at the resort. --Oh, you should have seen them! They looked so sad! Angel recognized us but was still miserable! It's still cages no matter how big! Please don't send them back there!

There have been multiple phone calls from both parents (tag team!) pleading their case, begging us not to take the kitties there. It's a very nice place. The people love their guests. Today, I asked dad why they are so insistent about not taking our babies there. He said the resort is nice and they don't mistreat the animals, but it's not the same as being at home. Cats are living beings and have feelings too(!!). They were very sad last time and my parents don't want to see them like that again. Oh my. My parents love our kitties. This is awesome!

My mom is taking time off work(!) to babysit our cats. It was her idea. Dad fully supports it. She plans on staying at our house while we are away. This is nuts. I can't believe my parents would do that for our kitties. It's very sweet and I am deeply touched they love our kids as much as we do.

Masterpiece

Yeah, I know. QE is the true masterpiece in the photo. Or maybe he's just a piece of work. hahaha This is the sweater I've been working on for months. Since October 31, to be exact. I think it turned out great. Better than I expected, actually. We started with a pattern and modified it very heavily. The measurements are perfect (it's not for QE, so the extra-long sleeves were intentional). Math + gauge = precision. My best work yet!

Everybody Wants to Love Like That

(Too Funky is on) sigh...what can I say. I don't think a single day has passed where I haven't thought about the concert. I saw him. In person! He still dances the same. His mannerisms are the same. His songs still give me that adrenaline rush. I can SEE him on the stage! It's neat to hear how his voice and songwriting evolved over time.

In case you haven't heard, NKOTB is going to perform on a Ft. Lauderdale-Bahamas cruise the first week in May. I am oddly curious. I wasn't a fan back in the day but now I am just drawn to them. Maybe I'm making up for lost time. I spent all my resources on George back in the day.

I started my Clapotis this morning. I didn't have my tool pouch with me. No row counter, no stitch markers. Desperately rummaging through my bag, I managed to find three short pieces of yarn that I knotted to make temporary SMs. Pathetic, I am. Anyway, I am using Wollmeise(!!!) Twin 80/20 in Poison No.5, which is a purple/black combo. I'm starting to wonder if I should have gone with the Sockenwolle in Wilder Mohn. But it is so bright red that I'm afraid I will look yellow. Gyah. I wish I used the red though. Grass is always greener. I am obsessed with it already. I need to finish it in time for PARIS. Wooooooooo!

I already have enough hours for the week. Thinking about spending the next few hours in my office off the clock, knitting. Have to wait for QE, so I am stuck here. Yes, I must knit. That's more than two precious hours of knitting!

Going to Paris

QE is taking me to Paris.

Chimp Choc

I came home Christmas Eve to find clumps of fur in Davis' room. No visible injuries. The white fur belongs to Cara and the gray fuzz is Davis'. What's weird is that Cara doesn't have much white or cream fur anymore. Only a small section on her neck and a patch between her legs.

USA Network had a 24-hour Elf marathon on NYE. I was so excited. It was comforting knowing Elf was on constant loop. And it's so much funnier when I actually pay attention to the details of the movie.

We watched Stepbrothers and now QE will spontaneously crack up over some stupid scene. Boats and Hoes.

2008 was a bad year for most people, methinks. We still have our house and jobs so I guess we're lucky. Angel got her bladder stones removed, Cara got her ass whooped several times including one tail bite, and Davis started staying in his room until his evil sister was tucked in for the night.

Lifting from GP's bff, here's a list. I love lists.

Accomplishments: I managed to keep my job despite having a cloud over my head daily. I made some cute knitted toys.

Best new book read in 2008: Pet Food Politics. Further confirms that the US food supply is not safe and that the government does not care about us.

Worst new book read in 2008: Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck. It was so menopausal I didn't even finish it.

Best book re-read in 2008: Don't re-read books generally.

Worst book re-read in 2008: See above, but couldn't imagine that I would re-read one that I wouldn't enjoy

Best new movie seen in 2008: Dude, I can't remember what I wore yesterday. No way I can remember what came out or what I watched. I saw King Corn, so that can be my favorite since it's the only one I remember.

Worst new movie seen in 2008: Knocked Up. Katherine Heigl is a bitch and ugly to boot. She needs to get over herself. No talent ass clown.

Best decision made in 2008: Didn't walk out on my job, although I daydreamed about it constantly. I contributed to my first and probably last political campaign. I started volunteering.

Worst decision made in 2008: I try not to have regrets. Everything should be a lesson learned. Hearing about all the animal abuses, abandoned kitties and meezers who died was heartbreaking though. I only knew about cats who died and were mourned by their humans. Millions more died alone, scared, and in a shelter.

Best purchase made in 2008: Cat toys that made Cara happy and kept her entertained, Angel's heated bed. Thanks to a Ravelry spoiler, I discovered my favorite chocolate. It's 72% dark choc and proceeds goes to help protect species, environment, etc. The wrapper has chimpanzees on it.

Worst purchase made in 2008: ugly yarn

Best month of 2008: November--Obama won. He gave me hope. Then he decided I was rich and should get a tax increase. Still love him though. Maybe June too, since Wegmans opened. QE and I decided we would hug Danny and his wife if we ever met them.

Worst month of 2008: pick one. They all sucked. How about March. That's when I turned a year older. This year will be worse. Acknowledgments of that horrible day will get you smacked. hahaha

Gift

Cara purred for me today. Not sure what got into her, but she plopped herself down in front of me as I worked on the computer. In addition to making the screen go nuts will all the tricks her belly does to the keyboard, she purred as I scratched her neck and face. It wasn't like Angel's I-am-so-happy-my-belly-rumbles purr, but it was lovely. Just a tiny hum with minimal rumbling even when I touched her throat. I'll take it. I think this makes it her third purr since we adopted her.

Duh-nce

Ok, I know I'm not the brightest person in the world, state, or even my county. I have odd random thoughts a lot. Here's a question for you...

Our culture doesn't generally revere older people. They're fine and all but we don't adore them the way, say the Japanese, respect and cherish their seniors. Many of our seniors are essentially put out to pasture in theirs 60s from the workplace, subtly or not. We claim that they aren't as quick thinking or innovative or whatever. True or not, we don't think older workers are as productive or efficient. If that's the case, why do we elect politicians who are often in their 60s and 70s? Wouldn't they be just as slow as Betty in Marketing or Harold in Engineering? I mean, wouldn't Senator Age 72 be just as slow or tired? Is it because Congress isn't really run by the politicians but their staff?

Santa Claws

(sniff) You stink. You smell like beef and cheese! You don't smell like Santa.


Santa came early this year. Our kids are so spoiled. We won a raffle held by our favorite store, PetSage. I love the knowledgeable staff and how the owner cares about our kitties' well-being and not just her profits. Earlier this year, she removed most of her dry cat food because they didn't meet her standards. She's got a degree in animal nutrition or something like that. Anyway, we won! This picture doesn't show the gift well, but I love Davis' facial expression. More on Flickr. I thought it was a sleigh shaped scratcher but it's not quite that. It was displayed very high up so I didn't get a good view of it. We won't talk about the price sticker on it, eh?

We put up a tree this year (didn't last year bc of travel) and the kids love it. Davis has this ability to be quietly laying down somewhere and quickly slip into the library when he hears the doors open. He's really good at it too. Like her nemesis, Cara loves to chew on the pine needles. Despite them being FAKE. She's much slicker than Davis though. He goes "ooh, tree!" and starts chomping. Cara takes her time. "La la la...I'm just laying her like a good little girl, mom. What? I can sniff the tree if I want." nibble nibble, CHOMP!

Tree Decorating 101

Oh Christmas tree...

My Special Someone

I love Bri. :) Pretty much sums it up, eh? Applicable in so many different situations!

I have no idea how she did it, but she found me measuring cups AND spoons made in USA! I'll be placing an order once I figure out how many to buy of each. Gotta share the love, you know. I suddenly feel the urge to hoard...BUT it's really to maximize the cost of shipping.

Thank you Bri!!!!

Christmas Wish

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." ~Buddy the Elf

My Christmas wish this year is for someone to find me a set of measuring cups or spoons made in USA. That special someone doesn't have to buy them for me--just tell me where I can find such items. Material type unimportant. Cost is no object. They just have to be semi-normal measuring cups or spoons. Not the gaudy ones "as seen on Paula Deen" on Amazon. Mission IMPOSSIBLE.

PSA

I got this from a group/forum. Not sure of original source. Pretty cat.