Bloomin Show Off

Here are some garden pictures I just took: apricot cannas (third bloom), Cosmos (blooms all summer and fall), Iceberg Roses (I moved them last year and they love this spot!) Irises (second bloom--I need to dig them up and divide them after this bloom)

The bunny was in my yard eating my parsley, when I took some pictures he took off across the street. Little does he know that I don't care if he eats my parsley. I planted it for the neighborhood bunnies and butterflies.

Saturday

1. It's supposed to reach 88 degrees today. In October. I like sweatshirt weather--not just sweat weather.

2. My irises and lavender plants are reblooming! My roses look fab. How am I supposed to go shopping for pumpkins when the weather is hotter than Hell?

3. I like this new show on HGTV. Fun Shui. This feng shui expert decorator helps a couple out in a room they don't like. Last week is was an unrelaxing bedroom. Last night it was a dowdy kitchen. She says you're not supposed to have too many books in your bedroom--a lot of books create too much fire energy and it's not relaxing. Uncluttered . . soothing colors . . . photograps or decorative items placed in twos are calming for a bedroom. In the kitchen last night, she painted the ceiling red! Red? you say? Yes, red. I thought it would be god-awful, but with the other colors and some new appliances it looked fantastic. And did you know that the stove was one of the most important pieces of "furniture" in your home? It's where the family is fed and nourished. My stove is older than dirt and looks it. I want this stove
But before I get that stove, my whole kitchen needs to be gutted and redone. BP has told me that I am forbidden from watching HGTV ever ever ever again.

4. Today I'm doing my regular Saturday chores: laundry including bedsheets (I love sleeping on fresh bedsheets) grocery store and damn it, I'm going to sit my butt on the porch and read too!

Office Recap

1. Love that Jim and Pam came out about their relationship. Was that the first mean thing Toby's ever done--the memo thing?
2. Creed's being 29 was funny--the dye job hair was great.
3. We saw Phyllis' claws come out when she pretty much threatened Pam about giving new clients on a random basis.
4. Dwight trying to make peace with Angela by giving her a feral cat.
5. Ryan the Temp has turned into an asshole.
6. Kelly Kapoor---- ::::rolls eyes::::
7. The gift baskets were a stroke of genius! Too bad none of the clients were women--we suckers for gift baskets---full of money!
8. Ryan hitting on Pam was just creepy.
9.Dwight & Michael driving into the lake because "the machine told me to" was hysterical!
10. I want me some more Andy, 'cuse me "Drew", Bernard. I love when he sings a cappella.

Rock Hall of Fame

I don't know if rock needs a hall of fame--aren't rockers supposed to be anti-establishment, and besides music is a very personal thing either it speaks to you or it doesn't--but here are the most recent Rock Hall of Fame nominees:

Dave Clark Five (don't like them)
Ventures (who?)
Leonard Cohen (masterful)
Afrika Bambaata (evidently this is a person and not a group)
Beastie Boys (fall into the Dave Clark Five "don't like them" catagory)
Donna Summer (Yessssss! Love to love you, Baby!)
Chic (who?)
John Mellencamp (a genius, a nice guy, a Hoosier--need I say more?)
Madonna (the original Boy Toy)

Read a Banned Book this week!

Oh shit. I'm getting forgetful in my old age. We're smack dab in the middle of National Banned Books Week and I didn't give it a Shout Out.

Banned Books

This is the time to remember how stupid it it to ban or challenge books at the library or even in your own home. The Freedom to Read should be coveted by all.

BBW was started by the American Library Association and now encompasses other pro-reading organizations, including EmmaWrites, Inc and Emmerica (all rights reserved).

Next time you hear a Stupid Person say that they don't think Little Johnny or Little Brittney Cristina (or you or me for that matter) should not read a book because it contains any or all of the following: witchcraft, anti-religious characters, menstruation talk, masturbation chat, homosexual references, etc. --just do society a favor and bite them on the leg. While they're sitting in the ER getting rabies shots their children can be reading!

Squirrel Chat

I was getting in my car, going back to work after lunch. I look up and see a squirrel snatch an ear of corn from my neighbor's gourd, pumpkin, corn Halloween yard display and carry the whole freaking ear in his mouth across the street. Big pig.

The Cyborg & Me

When I was waiting in the doctor’s examination room the other day I heard a commotion outside. When all was quiet again I thought about that scene in The Terminator where Arnold plows through the police station in search of Sarah Connor and goes room by room looking for her.
In this little exam room there were two big thick windows. I lifted up the blinds and there weren’t locks. The windows weren’t even functional so the only way I could get outside would be to smash them and jump out. I looked around to see if there was something metal to use to break the window, but there was only the Blood Pressure cuff attached to the wall, a pc monitor, a box of Kleenex, a chair, and some other assorted doctor-type things. Would a pc monitor break a heavy window? My best plan would be to use the chair and ram one of its legs through the window and use the exam table paper sheets to knock out the remaining glass and then I’d be out. My exam room was at the end of the corridor but I wonder if I would have enough time to:
1. Hear a life threatening commotion inside the medical office itself
2. Acknowledge to myself that the indestructible Cyborg was in the medical office, wreaking havoc and looking in each of the exam rooms, and working down the hall towards my room.
3. Then hop off of the exam table.
4. Pick up the chair and ram it into the window several times, enough to smash it.
5. Use that same chair to climb on and hoist myself outside to freedom.

Maybe my best move would be to hope that Sarah Connor was in the exam room two doors down so that when the Cyborg located her, he’d either kill her on the spot, or carry her off to finish the job.

Saturday

1. No, Kath, you may not speak about CSI here, because if I recall, you like that awful CSI Miami and New York better than my Gil Grissom, so just hesh up.

2. Spidey and Tree, I loved The Office episode--I liked Andy Bernard's sensitive nipples, and that Michael barely finished the Fun Run. The opening sequence showing Michael's condo and Jan sprawled out on the bed was hilarious, "Jan made me breakfast--well, she bought the milk. It's soy." HAHA!

3. I guess I do have plans after all . My sister called last night and she and Mom want to meet LP and me for lunch and shopping.

4. The weather is absolutely gorgeous here.

Stuff

1. Spidey, I taped The Office and will watch it today. I had to see if CSI's Sara Sidle survived Natalie Davis, The Miniature Killer's, attempt to murder her by throwing her under a red car and leaving her bruised, battered and half lucid in the Las Vegas desert. With the likes of the sexy Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows, Warrick Brown, Nick Stokes, Greg Sanders, Lt. Jim Brass and the goofy lab guy Hodges all looking for her, there was little doubt in my mind that she'd survive. I did cheat and switch over to The Office on commercials and gathered that the EVIL DWIGHT SHRUTE caused harm to Angela's cat Sprinkles, and The Temp Ryan seems a little too big forhis britches now that he's the new Jan Levinson-Gould (no Gould now.)

2. Schell, liar! There are Capricorns of importance! Jesus was a Capricorn. Not to mention Richard Milhous Nixon and the loveable Sassytmbr from the Book Shelf! So you can just take back that little statement.

3. It's Friday.

4. I went to the doc's office yesterday. He wanted to see me before he gave me another blood pressure prescription. I told him about a two-month-long cough I had. He immediately said that it was a side effect of the brand of BP medicine, so he switched me to another kind--which made sense because that's how long I've been on the BP stuff. He said that the cough should clear up within a week. Praise the Lord and pass the gravy!

5. I have no plans for the upcoming weekend other than to help LP fill out work applications, and to clean my living room. I'll probably rearrange the furniture too.


Have a pleasant day.

They got my goat

Capricorn is symbolized by the goat. Your ruling planet is Saturn and your element is earth. Capricorns are often excellent in matters of business. You are extremely protective of your loved ones and belongings, but you have a tendency to overthink things and worry too much. You are very stubborn, especially when you think you know best, but with this come a great passion for all things. Your best romantic matches are Taurus, Scorpio, and Leo.

Attention Clanks

Your fav--Dolly Parton--will be on the Dancing with the Stars results show tonight. Do you get that TV show over there? If not, I'm sure it'll be on YouTube tomorrow.

I just got my eyyees dialated and I can't sees up close.
How AM I suppposed to woerk today?

I feel like Charley before the meedicaal experriments

Fun Book

I bought this book for my son. Since he's shown no interest in reading it, I picked it up on Saturday. What a terrific tome!

What naval flags mean

Seven wonders of the ancient world

How to tie knots

How to build a treehouse

The parts of English language

What ciphers and codes are

I'm enjoying reading it. Despite the title, everyone can learn from this cool book.

Choices

Inspired by a previous Tree post here are some questions:

1. You are on a remote island with the following people and had to choose two to sacrifice to the volcano gods so the rest could get rescued. Which two would you toast? (If you don’t know them—Google ‘em)

Ryan Seacrest
Regis Philbin
Kelsey Grammer
Wayne Newton
Ty Pennington


2. Describe your favorite pair of shoes.


3. Cost being the same, which would you rather have:

A complete wardrobe from your favorite high end fashion designer,
Your house redesigned and refurnished.
A new car of your choosing.
Six months off of work to do whatever you want.



4. If you had to do one, which would you choose? Living a year without:

Electricity
A car
A computer
Any kind of hair products (shampoo, combs, brushes, etc)


5. If you could wipe one of the following off the face of the earth which would it be:

Hunger
Alcohol
Illegal drugs
Obesity
Alzheimer’s disease



6. You have to live in one of the following for one year, which would you chose:

A planned community with people who are like you and your family, absolutely no diversity.
A tiny 300 square foot loft apartment.
The cold unfinished basement of a friend’s house.
A convent.



7. You were offered one million dollars to have sex with George Bush. Would you take it?

8. Name an appliance you love.

9. Which would you choose:

Tickets to the next Super Bowl game
Tickets to Game 7 of the World Series
Tickets to the Academy Awards
Lunch with your favorite singer (name the singer if you choose this one)


10. Which of these groups would you most like to have dinner with:

Mike Ditka, Pete Rose and Barry Bonds
Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears
Reba MacIntire, George Strait and Boxcar Willie
Queen Elizabeth, Maggie Smith & Camilla Parker-Bowles

Real Quotes

I think I got a B in Econ 101. I got an A, however, in keeping taxes low.
GEORGE BUSH in a press conference September 20 morning

Me: And you kept the deficit high, and the body count higher




We sound like we don't want black people to vote for us.
JACK KEMP former Republican Congressman, criticizing his party's presidential candidates for skipping debates on minority issues

Me: Jack, unfortunately you're very perceptive. To paraphrase Kanye West "Republicans don't care about black people."





I'm probably one of the four or five best-known Americans in the world.
RUDY GIULIANI, U.S. presidential hopeful, on his international appeal


Me: Puhleeze, Rudy. What an ego.





The cockiest guy I have ever met in my life.
VICENTE FOX, Mexico's former leader, describing President George W. Bush in his new memoir, Revolution of Hope, due out next month

Me: B-b-b-ut Vicente, he got a B in Econ 101!






That's going back in history. I don't remember the details of it.
FRED THOMPSON, Republican presidential hopeful, when asked about Terri Schiavo and the right-to-die debate her case stirred in 2005

Me: Fred, 2005 is "back in history"? I won't even bother asking you about Roe V. Wade, Civil Rights, or the Civil War for that matter.

Just Awaiting Autumn

Not too much to update about. As I type LP is on the couch with an achy throat. I gave him some decongestant and honey vanilla tea and told him to sit quietly, but he put on CNN.
I think it's allergies because the weather's affected me too.

I don't like the fact that it doesn't get lighter until later. Shorter days means colder weather and eventually, winter. Would someone please talk to Mother Nature about this?

Lately I've been reading the online posting about real estate and houses in my area (oh, shades of Sparky!) Most usually comes with pictures. If a person puts up his home for sale, and he know the realtor will be stopping by for pictures, don't you think he could take the time to pick up clothing and/or toys off the floor?

We all went out to dinner last night. Sometimes my teenager can be very pleasant. But he was talking about joining the military. Talk about wanting to shit a brick! I am going to get him some career books and see iof I can interest him in some other kind of work. I don't want my son joining the fucking military! ESPECIALLY in this day and age.


Maybe you can help me---he says he wants a job where he can travel--nationally as well as internationally. I suggested sales--commerce. I suggested working for a cruise ship. I suggested writing--writers can work anywhere---of course it would help to write a big fat juicy mega-hit your first time off, but that's doable. Do you have any suggestions? Come on now, help me keep him out of the military. I told him that's he'd need Plan B because with his history of heart surgery, they probably wouldn't take him (thank God!)

Patron Tequila & Wenis Penis

Girl's Night Out was fun, but I only stayed a few hours. The food was so-so, but I have a new love: Patron tequila.
I'm not much of a drinker but there was a margarita special: $7.50 for a margarita made with Patron tequila. My. Oh, my was it tasty.
I looked up this company. Here's the website. But don't click on it if you're woozy--there are a bunch of tequila bottles and they're all moving. But it's made with 100% agave tequila so that's what makes it special. Try it.
There were ten of us, and one brought her husband with her. He's a cop. But he's a fun cop so it was okay.
We played Wenis Penis. You name a guy--mostly guys at work, or you could do celebrities.
Say a name. Go around the table. If you'd fuck the guy you say "Penis." If he's unfuckable you'd say "Wenis."
I wouldn't do one guy at work, so it was all "wenis" to me.
Now, if I worked with a PTBunkum, or a Naggypoo, my answer would have changed.

Saturday

It got very cool overnight—down in the 40’s. It’s refreshing outside now and I turned off the air conditioning.

Today’s chores include the ever-present laundry and straightening up the kitchen.

I have to go to the grocery for:

1. Dawn dishwashing liquid. (I’ve tried them all and Dawn wins hands-down. It even cleans plastic food storage containers like Glad or Rubbermaid.)
2. Olive oil
3. Laundry detergent
4. Large trash bags
5. Milk
6. eggs
7. bread and English muffins

This evening is Girls Night Out. We started it a few months ago with only four of us, and tonight we’re expecting around 15. We’re going to this local Mexican place for margaritas and dinner. It should be fun!

Gino Vannelli and Valerie

Old Gino














Young Gino



I saw an informercial ad for a CD collection of "Soft Rock." It featured the two Air Supply guys who I didn't like back when they were popular. Anyway, this collection included some Rod Stewart, Elton John, Chicago, Leo Sayer, Christopher Cross, Fleetwood Mac, and various One Hit Wonders. Probably had hundreds of songs on 13 CDs and cost just four (five) easy payments of $29.99 each.

It also featured a song by Gino Vannelli--who I haven't thought of in years. I lived in Clearwater Florida in the early 80's and my best friend was named Valerie. I think I've mentioned her in this blog before. She was the one who encouraged my first smoking of clove cigarettes. She was very funky and extremely cool and dated Arab men, and dressed in long flowy things and smelled of patchouli. Valerie adored Gino Vannelli and had posters of him in her Bohemian apartment.

I alsways used to tease her and say "If you married Gino Vannelli, you'd be Valerie Vannelli." It sounds lyrical.

Judging from the "old" Gino picture--he doesn't look half bad even today.

Bird Update

The Saved Bird
graced my yard last evening.
Still no Howdy-do.
But she did sing.
What a thing
to hear a bird sing.
If I had a parrot
I could hear it talk.
If I had a hawk.
I could hear it squawk.

Wednesday

Nothing much exciting to report. I think I'll stop on my way home from work today and buy Powerball tickets at the Village Pantry.

wireless mouses and 28 fucking lotto tickets

BP had the bright idea to hook up one of his computers to our flat screen TV in the living room. He also bought a wireless mouse and keyboard (We had to take the mouse back because the range was like, two feet.) Now he can sit in “his” chair—he calls it “his” chair even though I had that chair before we were married---and surf. I asked him to increase the text size because I couldn’t read that little assed text size from 6 feet away.

He’s in his glory. Now if I’d only let him smoke upstairs here, he’d never leave “his” chair.

I’ve tried it out a few times, but I prefer being on the computer here at my desk.

------------------------------
Here’s another thing:

On Sunday I stopped at a little store----It was a Village Pantry, but you probably have Seven 11, or a Milk Barn, or something like that. I went in to get a quart of milk. I was in line behind a raggedy older woman who was buying lottery scratch off tickets.

ROW: I’ll take three of number 2, one of number 7 and four of number 6. No wait. Four of number 2.

Clerk: Four Number 2, one number 7 and four number 6. Nine dollars.

ROW: Nine dollars?

Clerk: uh huh.

ROW: Here’s a ten. Don’t give me a dollar back . . . I’ll just take another of number 7. No. Number 6!

Clerk: Okay

(Me being exasperated)

ROW: Okay. Now I want 28 Hoosier Lottos, each on its’ own ticket.

Clerk: 28 Lottos each on an individual ticket?

Me: Oh, Good Grief!

I put down the milk and left.

I mean, Jesus Christ. There were two people behind me and this old raggedy woman wants 28 lottery tickets, each on its’ own ticket??? That’s fucking rude!

Emma: Bird Rescuer!

I wasn't even going to go out and work in the garden today because it's so freaking humid. Plus it rained about two inches yesterday. But I wanted to cut down some coneflowers and move some gay feathers and Shasta daisies. As I was finishing up I noticed some nearby rustling. I looked down at the Black Eyed Susans that had gone to seed and saw a female yellow goldfinch. Its' wing had gotten caught in the thorny seed and couldn't get away. After talking to it for a minute and asking if it needed my help (she did,) I went to get my camera and gardening gloves. I gently held it and disengaged its wing from the seed and branch, and it flew across the street and in my neighbor's tree with nary a "Thank You" or a "Howdy do."

The Dave Building

If reasonable people could put my name on a $21 million building, anything is possible."


Story

Lunch and Bashing

BP and I had lunch with his mother today. We took her to Chinese. She brought over these two ceramic churchy angels (each about 12 inches high) that she’d ordered from a catalog. They’re made to be hung on a wall. She said that didn’t look good in her house and she asked me if I wanted them. They were uglyass things but I was polite (I can be, at times) and declined. I said that I didn’t have an wall space plus I was into de-cluttering. She took them back home with her and said she’d give them to a gardening club friend. It’s the thought that counts.

During lunch we were ragging on BP’s “collection” of broken down vans (the one he has in the back driveway here has three flats, rusted out floorboards and barely is driveable) and other assorted vehicles. He has a blue Volkswagon Rabbit Diesel that’s been sitting in her yard (she lives in the country) for TWELVE years. The body’s good, but he wants to find another diesel engine and drop it in. She wants it out of her sight. Who can blame her? She said that occasionally guys drive by and stop and ask her if it’s for sale.

I told her “Tell him’yes’---sell it to him and keep whatever money he gives you as a storage charge for the past 12 years.” She said that the idea occurred to her, but she didn’t have the title. I asked BP if the title was here in the house somewhere. He said yes—so I told them that I’d make it my project to find it and sign it over to her so she could sell it.

Needless to say my husband was not pleased, but my M-I-L laughed. She told me that he also had a dump truck and an antique riding mower behind her barn too—she said that she’s sure that a family of groundhogs have taken up residence there in the dump truck’s cab.

Aside from the BP bashing, it was a nice lunch.

Hummingbird Lady

The two-doors down neighbor and her husband and I had a very nice chat yesterday evening. They credit me with bringing hummingbirds into our neighborhood. I showed them the plant that did it all: a mountain hyssop-type deal which I’ll post a picture of later. It’s not a spectacular plant at all, but the hummers love the small tubular flowers, and it blooms all summer long.
The lady said that she’d noticed hummers in my yard so her husband went out and bought 9 hummer feeders and put them in their backyard. They said they sit out there and see about a dozen birds fighting over feeders. Very cool.
I told her that I was planning on buying two more of the plants from the catalog and she asked for the catalog when I was finished.
Her husband is the guy who snowblows the whole block in the wintertime and won’t take any money, so I think I’ll buy her a few plants as a Thank you.
Please don’t post a comment “I see hundreds of hummingbirds in my yard.” Or “Hummingbirds are mean.” Or “One attacked me once, I hate them.” Hummingbirds are a pleasure and fun to watch around here so don’t piss on my parade. Besides they'll be gone in another few weeks.

Monday

Labor Day with not so much labor

Quiz

Who is your Movie Star Boyfriend?

Mine's Brad Pitt

A Man for blu or Respighi

''Here's a fascinating story: there's a man in Australia and he spent the last 15 years of his life typing — typing — the numbers 'one' to 'one million.' Fifteen years of his life typing the numbers 'one,' starting out with 'o-n-e,' fifteen years, 'one' to 'one million' — and, guess what, girls? He's single.''
--DAVID LETTERMAN, ON THE LATE SHOW

Garden pictures

1. The frilly zinnias Schell likes--only they're just about spent

2. Regular zinnias that are just butterfly magnets. everytime I walk by ten-fifteen buterflies fly up and away

3. This is just ONE single sunflower--with about twenty different flowerheads!

4. Another angle of same sunflower

Happy Mid Week

I'm tired of looking at the handsome Jonathan Rhys Meyers so I'm posting a new entry.
Nothing new or exciting, let me assure you. I wrote Spidey an email loaded with lots of nasty words insisting that she post to her blog. She is disrupting my morning routine of reading her blog.

Off to work in awhile but I might stop at Panera Bread for a coffee and one of their Asiago CHeeses bagels, sliced and well-toasted. I like my toast well-toasted--none of this lightly- toasted crappola. I WANT BROWN. MAYBE EVEN CHARRED.

Side note to blu and Tree: More fucking tears from Amber--even on Power of 10. haha--she defended Michael Vick when Drew Carey made a joke. She doesn't even know! Dumbass. "I don't know what 'scrutinized' is." Dumbass

Eric's a weasle. Jameka need to live atop a mountain so she can pray and contemplate her naval and/or navel and/or oranges. Jessica and Eric in bed made me vomit a little.

Match Point

This man is beautiful.

I just watched Woody Allen's Match Point starring Scarlett Johannson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. This man is beautiful---I couldn't take my eyes off of his lips. The movie was very good and you should rent it.

Despite being a pig in his real life, I love the way Woody Allen directs movies. The shots are incredible. He wrote and directed this one and it's set in London. The main theme is how luck plays into life.

Muggy Saturday

I've got four of the six "Things to Do This Weekend" things done already!

1. Clean back porch
2. Clean the bathtub
3. Clean the toilet
4. Clean bathroom and kitchen sinks
5. Go to Target for plastic tubs and cat food
6. Laundry

2, 3, 4, 5 DONE

I'm doing laundry right now and the back porch later or on Sunday.

Since I'm going to win the Powerball jackpot ($300 million) tonight, instead of Spidey. I'm going to give her a consolation prize. I'll send her and BigJoe on a two-week dream vacation anywhere in the world--all expenses and travel money included. (I'm sure they'll pick Indiana to visit since I'm here!)

Where in the world would you go and where would you want to stay? No fair saying a non-specific "Beach", or "Europe," or "Hawaii." Be specific, include a link if you'd like.

And no, Schell--you can't say "Naggypoo's bedroom"!!

Sex at 5:30 in the morning doesn't appeal to me.

Yesterday some of the schools got out early because the heat index was about 106.
Perhaps if school started in September like it's supposed to and not mid-August they'd alleviate this problem.

It's humid.

My husband tried to have sex with me at 5:30 this morning. I don't know about you, but my pussy does not want to be played with at 5:30 in the morning. I told him that if he wanted to have sex at 5:30 in the morning, he'd have to go solo---or maybe I'll suggest that he IM Meme.

Good news: It's Friday.

Bad news: We'll be busy at work.

I hope your day goes well.

More cute cat pictures

The cat climbed up onto a desk and took a nap and just looked darned cute!

5:02 PM

Work sucked.
It's sunny outside.
I'm eating a chunk of hot pepper cheese.

And I await Big Brother tonight because I read on one of the spoiler pages that Jen and Dick have a knock down, drag out--she destroyed all of his cigarettes. He called her "fucking bitch" numerous times. And she took herself off of slop and may be evicted by BB for breaking the rules. She probably won't since she'll more than likely be voted out soon anyway.

This cheese is very good.

Rain

We finally got some rain today.

Rain, rain, rain.

Downpours, actually but man do we need it!

You know you want me to have this

As I've posted before, I enjoy watching House Hunters and especially House Hunters International. Friday I saw a couple searching for an apartment in Portugal. I got online and found THIS HOUSE in Ireland. I want it. And I know you want me to have it too! So cash it your CDs, IRAs and your retirement savings and the money to me. I'd be ever-so- grateful.

Thanks in advance.

Pissed Cat

LP had thrown a sleeping bag up over a book case. Nesta of course jumped up there and fell asleep. I said "Kiki Marie!" and woke her up. She was not amused.

Updates and Stuff

1. The bathroom. The shower, bath, vanity and toilet are functional. BP had to go back to work so he still has to do the ceiling light and vent, the walls and trim. I told him that if I felt like it, I’d clean the baseboards and the door, and paint them. We’ll see.

2. Tomorrow LP and I are meeting my sister for lunch and shopping.

3. My assistant’s husband called her at noon today and told her to high tail it home and take him to the emergency room. She called 911 and got an ambulance to the house. Now you know it’s bad when a man admits to being sick and demands to go to the ER. Turns out his hernia was about ready to burst and his colon (or some other innard part) was twisting around his bowel and if left a few more hours could have ruptured----gangrene—and death. He had emergency surgery. So he’ll be in the hospital for at least 5 days—the second day and the third are the worst and will tell the docs whether or not they’ll have to take him to surgery again. Oy.

4. Remember that Hoosier Raffle I blogged about in June? I bought tickets with my oldest sister and my youngest sister and we won $1000. Split three ways. Hmm. Better than a kick in the ass, I guess.

5. I’m glad it’s Friday night.

For Spidey

My computer at home keeps shutting down when I turn it on, so something's funky. BP said he'd look at it--he said there's dust probably clogging it, so he was going to take the hard drive out to the garage and blow it out---but he's still working on the bathroom.

I used his laptop last night for awhile, but I hate not having a mouse.

I watched Last Comic Standing last night but wasn't too impressed with any of them.

I like your Question of the day thing--but the physical appearance question is interesting. Do most people think they are "average"? I don't think most ugly people will 'fess up to being ugly, and most physically attractive people will probably be too embarrassed to say so for fear of being called conceited.

I see a lot of people throughout the day and I 'd estimate that only 5 to 10% are what I consider attractive. the rest are average-looking, with a few fuglies thrown in.

At work

Talk about a work day that blows.

One co-worker got a call from her 13 year old cat's vet--he was doing surgery on the cat, found cancer and gave the choice of putting her down or letting my co-worker take her home for the few remaining days the cat would live.

Then at lunchtime one of my employees was in a car accident and her car was totaled. She just got a few scratches and a bruise. She didn't want to go to the hospital. I'm sure she'll be feeling it tomorrow.

Another employee was just plain nasty to everyone today. I finally told her "knock it off, or just go home!"

And I get home and I had to make dinner.

Free Iced Coffee

Every Monday in August McDonald's is giving away free iced coffee. All day.

I like the vanilla iced coffee.

I'm getting one.

For free.

Passport

As you may remember my passport (and BP's) came about a month or so ago. LP's was mailed about a week later than we mailed ours. We have yet to receive it. I just checked online for the status of his and learned that is has been mailed and should be here on 8/15.

That's more than five months since it was requested. If the government is going to change a rule about every American needsa passport to reenter this country, don't you think that somebody should have said, "We're going to be buried under applications. We need to hire A LOT of temporary workers so that people won't have to wait more than a month to receive a passport."?

If they have to charge a buck or two more for each passport--so be it. I think people would be willing to pay a few dollars more to receive their passports within a reasonable amount of time.

Make sense?

"And I helped!"

I helped BP lay tile yesterday evening—if handing him the tile squares and occasionally cutting them constitutes helping.

He has to grout today, and cut accesses for drains.

I’m glad it’s Friday.

It’s been hotter than Hell here all week—and humid. One step outside and I feel like a wet washrag.

But last night I bought an Entenman’s Honey Bun that’s the size of a small child’s head and I will be enjoying it with coffee this morning at work.

BP and I went to Meijer’s grocery store after work last night and supposedly bought groceries, but we came home with shit like:

Stouffer’s frozen entrees
FeBreeze room spray
Shampoo
Tampons
Bags of Flaming Hot Cheetos
Yogos fruit snacks
Cheese
Some hard pumpernickel bread shaped like a brick that BP found on the “international foods” aisle.
Frozen steak and cheese taquitos
Sunny Delight six pack
Paula Deen magazine
And two shitty DVDs: Man of the Year and something else
and, of course, the aforementioned Honey Bun

We spent over one hundred dollars in the grocery store and didn’t get anything remotely healthy

more about not having a toilet

In two more hours at least the toilet will be in. That’s the new tile around the toilet and that’s the box our new toilet came in.

I have a Sweet Husband story: Last night I went to bed around 10:30 and at 2 I woke up and had to pee. BP told me when I went to bed that he’d bring up the portable toilet from the basement. At 2 he was still working and I announced, “I have to pee! Where’s the portable toilet?” He said that it was way in the back of the coal bin area and couldn’t drag it out.
Me: I have to pee!
BP: Do you want to use a bucket?
Me: No. It’s 2am and I don’t want to pee in a bucket.
BP: Put your shoes on and I’ll drive you over to the rental.

Our rental house is still unoccupied until the 15th and it’s only three blocks away so we went out and he drove me over to pee. I thought that was very nice of him. He said he didn’t want me out groggy and driving at 2am with a full bladder (ha)
Someone please remind me of this sweet act when I post something bitchy about him.
He’s in the living room now watching an episode of CSI and then it’s back to working on the toilet/bathroom.

When I came home from work earlier, I saw a melted cup of a cookie dough blizzard from Sonic (it was LP’s) so I instinctively poured it down the drain. From the basement I heard a frantic “DON’T PUT ANYTHING DOWN THE DRAIN! DON’T PUT ANYTHING DOWN THE DRAIN!!!”
I had forgotten that he had the water off and some piping disconnected and the blizzard crap spewed out all over the basement floor.
YOU try not dumping things down the sink, or not peeing in your own home and you’ll understand my predicament.

Not for the faint of heart (that means men)

Any of you men who occasionally read my blog---you can just skip this entry.

I think I've written about my hot flashes before. They've subsided now, but I haven't had a period for four months.

BP's renovating our bathroom so this evening we won't have a toilet for awhile.

Guess who started her period last night?

Alanis Morrissette should have added this in her "Isn't It Ironic?"

Why is it most men get squeamish about periods and tampons and feminine hygiene?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA MAREGASE

It's my Mom's 83rd (?) birthday today. For as long as I can remember I'd call her Mama Maringese. I don't even know how you'd spell it; it's just a verbal word, not a written word.

I called her today and wished her a Happy Birthday, and told her that the card is on the way. Her response was, "Well I hope there's money in it!" For awhile she thought I was my younger sister Connie, so I said, "Sure Mom. Your youngest daughter Connie sent you $500, make sure and keep an eye out for it."
(My sister is gonna be pissed at me)

Anyway, Happy Birthday Mom

A New Day One

Day One of the bathroom renovation had to be postponed because the water heater in the rental house pooped out so BP had to go and buy a new one and install it, and move the refrigerator out because our new tenants, who’ll be moving in at the middle of the month, had their own and wanted to use it. So, hey. Good deal. These people seem sane—mom, pop and two kids.

So Day One was really today and as you can see by the pictures, things are going swimmingly. SIX layers of wallpaper and THREE distinct floors in various stages of decay and disrepair. BP said, “It’s probably a good thing we’re doing the renovation now because had things stayed they way they are at one point you would have gotten up in the middle of the night to go pee and you and the toilet would have fallen through to the basement.” (Did he just call me fat?)
He wants to save the medicine cabinet because “it’s an antique—people out east pay big dollars for crap like this.” He wants to save the old windows for the same reason. I think I might paint the small old window and use it as a feature thingy somewhere.


In regard to a previous comment—yes, blu. I’m very grateful BP is so good at home repair. I’ve posted before that he can do just about anything and everything that needs to be done around the house: plumbing, drywall, electrical, carpentry, and cabinet-making. That’s part of the reason I married him—I love a man who can do things with his hands (wink, wink.) I do things for him too. He hates doing the laundry—I don’t mind it at all. He will not wash a dish, or change the toilet paper in the bathroom, so I do. He doesn’t like to do yardwork and I actually enjoy it—so we’re a good match.

Anyway—tonight I’m meeting some friends for work for drinks and dinner. When I told LP this he said, “What? Is it two dollar cosmopolitan night?” What a sweet lad he is.

Day 1

Day 1 of the bathroom renovation. WTF would carpet a bathrom anyway??

My part?
1. Clean out the bathroom. Check. Did that last night and threw away one and one half garbage bags full of half-used shampoo, soaps, old combs, old medicines, and your basic crap etc. etc. etc.

2. Go to work.

3. Motivate BP to get up and go to Menard's for:

The floor tile
The bathtb/shower
Toilet
Vanity
Plumbing spupplies

We already bought:

Tub/shower fixtures
Vanity fixtures
Ceiling light/fan/exhaust
Electrical supplies


He and his buddy have agreed to work fast. I can live without a shower, but not without a toilet.

The Dave Building

MUNCIE, IN - Ball State University announced today that it will name a new campus building after one of its most prominent alumni, late night television host David Letterman.
On Sept. 7, the Letterman name will appear on a new campus landmark, when Ball State dedicates its just-completed, $21 million communication and media building in the entertainer's honor. The Ball State board of trustees authorized that recognition unanimously during a special meeting July 30 at the university's downtown Indianapolis Center.
"Millions of people across the country know of Ball State because of David Letterman's frequent references to his alma mater on ‘Late Night' and ‘The Late Show.' It is entirely fitting that the university should respond in kind with this public demonstration of our admiration and respect for such an accomplished and loyal alumnus," said Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora. "It's also appropriate that we seek to recognize Dave as a great role model for our students, not only in terms of his professional success, but also his generous establishment and support of the Letterman Scholarships.
"By naming our cutting-edge communication and media building in honor of David Letterman, we hope to provide another, somewhat more visible example of his inspirational commitment to Ball State." MORE


-----


Dave's given so much to Ball State and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis that it's nice to see him honored this way. Plus, he's my not-so-secret boyfriend.
PS: The Dave Scholarships are given to student with a C average--haha

Garden Update: What's in bloom

Coleus

















Frilly Zinnias--butterflies love them























Petite zinnias. One seed produces scores of flowers.






















white lily---almost past it. lovely fragrance






















Black Eyed Susans and another kind of coleus

Boring Post. You don't have to read it if you don't want to

***It is Saturday, and because I loathed this work week, I’m glad the weekend is here. Now I need to work on stretching these two days into two or three months. Anyone have any ideas on how to do that?

***I’m doing laundry as I type and I haven’t even had any coffee yet.

***Yesterday I showed the rental house to an actual sane person, so keep your fingers crossed for me. Meme, you keep your legs crossed.

***I’m going to look at tile at Menard’s today. BP is supposed to start my bathroom renovation this week. Yum, a whole week of not being able to use the toilet—I might explode. Since our bathroom is tiny I’m going to go full tilt and vanity on the tile I want.

***Hey you guys know I love HGTV. I watched a show called House Hunters International last night. This show follows a couple around to three homes they are thinking about buying. The International version follows people in Mexico or France or Italy, etc. Last night a couple wanted to find a place in Paris. Of course the places were very expensive, but the BATHROOMS. They were no bigger than closets. A stool butted up (no pun intended) against the shower and a tiny airplane-sized sink. I’ve noticed the same when they highlight a NYC couple. The woman always squeals with glee when showed a closet that is the size of a refrigerator carton, “OH!!!! SO MUCH STORAGE!!” This there no storage in New York City? I love this show because I can see the value of property in other parts of the country.


*****OH MY GOSH! I FORGOT--Today is my 8th anniversary of wedded bliss with the BP. How could I have forgotten that?

The End

I finished Harry Potter tonight. What a wonderful ending to a fantastic series. The book is very dark. Lots of battles. Lots of killings. Lots going on. I was fascinated to read some of the back stories of a few of my favorite characters. Rowling did a good job tying things up.

Now I can read Clanky’s blog. I didn’t read it while in the midst of Dementors, Death eaters, Aurors and Potters because I was afraid she’d blab something about it. Haha.
You know who I despised more than You-Know Who? That motherfucking Delores Umbridge. What a ratty old Nazi bitch she was!

The Book Seven movie will be quite interesting to pull off. Wonder what director will get that plum.

Job as Dementor

At times, work is like a Dementor just sucking my soul right out of my body.


PS: I'm almost done with HP--should finish it tonight

A Note

Please note:
I have an upset stomach this morning but I am still going to work. What a trooper I am.

"What's a sewage bill?"

Maybe Jilly can back me up, but most of the time being a landlord sucks out the ass. I showed the house yesterday to a woman. She was very overweight, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but she only could take five steps before she had to sit down. The house is empty so she sat on the fireplace ledge.

She brought with her Marilyn Manson. Well, I thought it was Marilyn Manson but I found out that it was her son. “He’s not goth,” she told me twice. “He goes to church.”
I asked who would be living in the house. Well: her, her 17 yr old son (Marilyn), her 19 yr old son and her dog and a cat. Uuh, no. This is a two-bedroom bungalow. Here is what else I learned in the twenty minutes I spent with her:

1. She doesn’t think kids are adults until the age of 20 “It’s eighTEEN. It’s nineTEEN.”
2. She has to have the air on at 60 degrees because she gets hot.
3. The doctor warned her not to have more kids after the first one because she has “back problems.”
4. She didn’t know the difference between gas and electricity”
5. She didn’t know what a sewage bill was.
6. The place she lives in now has a mold problem and “the board of health didn’t do anything about it.”
7. She likes the kitchen island.
8. She goes to three different churches.
9. Her mother will visit a lot.
10. She brought her son with her “for protection.”
11. Apparently all her son knows how to do is to stare at his shoes.
12. She was worried that she wouldn’t fit in the bathtub.
13. She didn’t want me to contact her existing landlord.
14. She told her two sons, “If you live with me until you’re 20, and mind me, you can do whatever you want with your body.”
15. She liked the big bedroom.

Need I say more?

Midnight with Harry

About 11:15 BP and I made the trek out to get Harry Potter. The Little Puddin was supposed to go with us but was too tired, but wanted us to bring him back chicken nuggets and a small Frosty from Wendy’s later. Sheesh.

We were going to Meijer’s (a Midwest type of WalMart, blu) but BP said “Let’s go to WalMart and get it.” I hate WalMart. I feel the same way about that store as Allie does (read her comment in the Sparky post about “phone machines.”)

Anyway we got there and there was a long line down the middle of the store. WalMart had a shitty set-up (but what else is new): They had people go to the head of the line and ask the woman for a bracelet. Those with bracelets could buy the book. She gave us both a red “Gryffindor” ala the Lance Armstrong LIVE bracelets. She eyed us suspiciously and snipped, “The bracelets are only for people buying books .” I told her, “We’re buying two books.” She begrudgingly handed over two bracelets and looked at us as if we were lying. She also gave us promo HP posters, promo bookmarks and flyers.

We moved away and I wanted to go stand in line, but BP said, “I hate lines (well who doesn’t?) After the Air Force I promised myself I wouldn’t stand in another long line.”

Me: “But it’s Harry!”

He wanted to look at electronics so we went to the other ended of the store and looked at electronics.

About 5 ‘til 12 I said, “Let’s go stand in line!” We went over to the line and it had grown three times longer. We were now standing near the cash registers 25 -28. Over the loud speaker, a voice came on, “Here’s how we’ll do this. People with bracelets. Starting at the bracelet table I will take three groups of ten over to registers 25, 26 and 29. You will wait in line and the cashier will ring up your book!”

Then we saw three huge skids come rolling down another aisle on way to the registers. I swear I couldn’t help myself. When a skid came rolling by I shouted, “GRYFFINDOR LIVES!!!!!” This bitch two people in front of us, turned around and glared at me. AT ME! Can you imagine? This was supposed to be a Happy Event.

Then I got a scathingly brilliant idea.

Me: Don, the registers are right there. (By this time the groups of ten had been escorted.) The people have no other identification except the same bracelets WE have. Let’s just nonchalantly get out of line and go over in a register line. We won’t have to wait more than a few minutes!

BP: (looks around) Nah.

Me: Come on. Or else we’ll be here until 2 am!

BP: Nah. Let’s just wait. The line looks like it’s moving fast.

Me: (disgusted) What’s the worst that can happen? An eighty year old Greeter comes over and kicks our assses out? If that happens you throw him to the floor and I’ll kick him in the nuts.

BP: Puddin! No! Let’s just wait in line like good lil soldiers.

Me: Damn, Don. You told me such stories about your wild escapades when you were younger and now you’re all conventional and afraid of a WalMart Greeter.

BP: (laughs) I didn’t realize you were such a rebel.

Me: God, we’re such old farts.


Well, we waited in line and it did move fairly fast. At the winding ‘round part of the line, a kept seeing a huge bearded young man wearing a red shirt with a picture of the Buddha on it. The writing said, “RUB MY TUMMY FOR LUCK.” I really considered doing it.



Long story short. We bought two regular books and the special big dollar illustrated book set in a box. We got out of there about 10 til 1, and Wendy’s was closed, so LP had to settle for two plain cheeseburgers, fries and a Sprite. I was in bed at two, and I’m up now because I promised a friend I’d go to Panera Bread and to garage sales with her this morning. Why did I do that?

Harry

My hometown of Crawfordsville, Indiana has a Harry Potter connection.

Story

My brother-in-law works for Donnelly's and he said that during the printing of all the Harry Potter books security was tighter than Fort Knox.

My sister Connie called last night (she and her oldest son are WILD about Harry):

"A friend who works in a bookstore just called and said in a conspiratorial voice, 'Guess what we got into the store today? HARRY!!! But my manager put a big black curtain around the boxes with a sign that read: WARNING! LOOK AWAY! EMPLOYEES CAUGHT EVEN LOOKING AT THE BOXES WILL BE SENT TO AZKABAN.' " haha

Home

I got home at 11:30 pm yesterday—that wasn’t bad but our meetings ended at 3 so one of the attendees and I walked around downtown Pittsburgh for a few hours the went back to the hotel to hang out until 6 when we headed for the airport. To occupy ourselves, I bought a copy of Real Simple magazine, and my friend bought a Stephen King book . . Lilse something or other, which she pronounced “crap” after reading the first three chapters.

Back to Pittsburgh . . . the parts we saw were actually lovely. The view from the ball park of the skyline was very spectacular. There’s one building that looks kind of glassy and castle-y.

I actually enjoyed the Pittsburgh Pirates game! (they lost--the final score was 8-10, and the Rockies got FIVE runs in the first innings alone) It was a beautiful night, we had excellent, excellent seats and I had a foot long hotdog with peppers and onions, a beer, cotton candy, some of some guy’s nachos and a $3.00 bottle of water! They also gave us free baseball caps which I gave to LP when I got home. Sitting in back of us was this all-American family: mother, father and two cute little boys who were kept very busy recording the stats of every player and every move of the game. On our row, people were continually standing up, leaving to go pee, get food, stretch, etc. and the littlest kid—probably aged seven—once said under his breath, but loud enough for me to hear—“aw, c’mon, sit down and enjoy the game whys don’t cha.” I glanced back and winked at him and he turned red. So cute he was!

I hotel was nice, and I loved the mattress and told BP that we have to buy one for our bed at home. I had to share a room, which I hate to do but it was only for one night and I held in a fart until I couldn’t do it anymore so I went into the bathroom and cut loose. I’m sure you wanted to know that.

If you ever want to have a pleasant flight, fly from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh and back. Not one child on either flight. Not one obnoxious person, no one even trying to engage you in conversation—just a quiet, relaxing short flight.

By the way, the meeting itself sucked and was so boring and unnecessary and I sat through the whole thing thinking about all I could have gotten accomplished had I stayed home and worked in the office. I did, however, meet a new York dude by the name of “Rocco” who regaled us all with stories growing up and getting chased around the house by a hockey stick-wielding mother. Funny stories. Thanks, Rocco, for bringing fun into a boring ass meeting.

See ya

See you sometime on Wednesday

At the Movies

Sat through commercials for:

Coke
Fruit of the Loom underwear featuring a song by Vince Gill and the FOTL Apple man
Will Rogers Institute featuring Geena Davis
Mountain Dew
The National Guard
On the Lot TV show
Madmen HBO series
ABC Fall series called Pushing Daisies
A local college


and previews for:

Bee Movie
The Golden Compass
Steve Carell in Get Smart
Underdog
Some end-of-the-world movie whose Title I've forgotten

after all of that we got to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. BP and I enjoyed it. LP sat behind us and said he fell asleep.
I thought it was very dark---but the book was dark too--what with all the teenaged angst. It was well directed and I thought Imelda Staunton as the sinister and sadistic Delores Umbrage was just wonderful. My only complaint: Too little of the magnificent Maggie Smith. I just adore her.

Pittsburgh

Schell’s going to the beach. Next, Tree will go on her adventure. Where do I get to go this Monday and Tuesday? Pittsburgh—that’s where. I’m going for a business meeting. I got the itinerary today and Monday night we’re going to a Pittsburgh Pirates game. Oh, yay. I don’t like sports but it’s kind of a “have to” thing. So give me reasons why to be interested in a baseball game.

(Did you notice--when I don't have a lot to post, I post it using a BIG FONT.)

Is the landlord a Christian?

On a post on the main Comments page Jilly mentioned that she was a landlord. I am too. I rent out the houseI lived in before I got married. (Jilly, it's in the rental agreement that the renter pay all utilities except Sewage Wastewater. I pay that because the city could put a lien against the house if that one isn't paid.)

My present tenant moved out--That's a long teary story and she still owes me over $200. Anyway the guy I pay to do handy work over there was on the property when a middle-ages couple came up to him and started asking about renting the house--how many bedrooms, square footage, does it have central air, etc. Here's the topper: "Is the landlord a Christian? Does she go to church?"
When the handyman relayed their question to me, I said "What the hell? You should have told them 'Yeah, she goes to church. She's the High Priestess in the local White Witch Coven'."

I wouldn't rent to them if they paid me double rent each month. This is America. I can remember when a person wouldn't think of asking another a question like that. Stuff like that is private.

Dead: Charles Lane 1905-2007

Charles Lane, character actor, dead at age 102. I blogged about him a few years ago. He's been in It's A Wonderful Life. Countless TV episodes like I Love Lucy, Petticoat Junction, The Andy Griffith Show.

Obit

Trivia:

He was born in San Francisco and was one of the last survivors of the great 1906 earthquake.

Can you imagine living that long of a life and doing something you loved for a living? What a lucky man he was! He was one of my favorite character actors.

meme, don't look!

Can you spot the new gnome?

Of Bras and Elephants

It was time. I needed new bras. I hate buying bras, but I bought three Lily of France bras yesterday. I also bought two new pairs of dress pants I can wear to work and about ten new shirts—everything was on sale. I don’t buy a lot of clothes for myself, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

I couldn’t figure out how to make bird feeders from my old bras, so I threw them in the trash.

When we had the cookout last week, my oldest sister brought me a cook book that had been put together by local people to raise money for the Special Olympics in Indiana. Although I love to cook and I like to read cook books, I rarely use the recipes in them. I’m more of a recipe inventor than a recipe follower.

Anyway, I was reading the recipes when I came upon this one:


Elephant Stew

1 elephant
1,000 tsp. salt
950 to 1,000 cups of brown gravy
2 rabbits (optional)

Cut elephant into bite size pieces, this should take about two months.
Cover with brown gravy. Cook at 450 degrees over open fire for about 4 weeks.
This will serve about 3,800 people. If more people are expected, the two rabbits may be added but do this only if necessary as most people do not want to find a hare in their stew.


You can thank a woman named Sue Crawford from Union City, Indiana for that recipe

7-07-07

It's 7-7-07.

Do you feel lucky?

Well, do you , Punk?

Me? I'm buying a Hoosier Lottery Raffle ticket. It's the best odds of winning (Austin Powers' Dr. Evil voice here) ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Only 325,000 tickets will be sold. There will be two million dollar prizes, 5 $100,000 prizes, and 770 $1000 prizes.

If anyone wants to send me good vibes, email me at emmabookshelf@aol.com sometime today, and if I win one of the million dollar prizes, you will receive a personal check from me in the amount of one thousand dollars. Yippie kaiaay. I will post the raffle number here later.

Nesta Miss Kiki Marie

Thanks, Clanky

I emailed my husband that weird boob picture Clanks posted on her blog with "Be thankful I don't have boobs like this." He emailed me back, "NEVER send me anything like that again!"

haha

Happy 4th of July, too!

For those of your faithful readers you’ll remember that I make Nesta aka Kiki Marie the cat sleep on the enclosed porch. She’s very comfortable out there, but BP and LP have whined at me for a year and a half to let her stay in the house at night. Well, since the cat is almost two years old, they finally wore me down and I let them give it a try.

Me: But if that cat jumps on me or our bed during the night---out she goes!

They---BP, LP and Nesta-- all agreed.

The first night around 3 am she jumped on me about three times and scared the shit out of me.

Me: Don! Take the cat OUT!

He did.

Since that first night things have improved. She’s only jumped on me once and started playing with/batting at my hair

Me: Don! Take the cat OUT!


Lately she knows what time I wake up, so at 6 am she’ll come and sit by the bed and meow or bat at my hand if it happens to be hanging over the bed.

Last night I told BP, “Please tell the cat that I get to sleep in tomorrow, so don’t wake me up so early. Tell her to let me sleep until 8.”

And before I went to bed I picked her up and told her the same thing, “Listen Kiki, I don’t have to work tomorrow so I want to sleep longer. Don’t get me up at 6! Hear me?”

And, by golly, she didn’t disturb me at all. About 8:30 she comes trotting into our bedroom and meowed a wake up call.

She’s the new Kitty Alarm Clock

Freak of nature

On this coneflower clump there is one pure white
flower blooming. See the lower right one? It might not be so noticable in my picture (I'm not a great photog) but trust me, it's white