It’s Up and It’s Down

Is that a line from a song?

I realized I haven’t blogged in a while, then I realized I haven’t done a thing in a while. I am recouping from Christmas.

I got the chair reupholstered. Now that was good. But I don’t have  a picture as of yet. Well, I do, but it doesn’t do said chair justice. Suffice to say, chair is feeling it’s stuff right now. The guy brought it in and put it down and I oohed and ahhhed and immediately threw a blanket over it. Upholsterer looked a little crestfallen, and I’m not sure he took that as a compliment.

Dave said “Cover it up and beat the first animal who throws up on it”. Good in theory but seriously, can you really, without sophisticated DNA testing, tell who laid down a barf? Jack’s thing is to dry heave loudly while the other cat runs over and throws up in secret under the bed. They work it out that way. So, we covered it up. But it looks great. Trust me.

The sadness was that, after 15 years of life, Elvin, aka Yeltsin, aka Yeltsie, aka ad nauseam**, had to be  put to sleep (terrible term) because she was end stage kidney failure. I knew it was coming because Fuzzy, who was just about 20, died of the same thing.

The problem is cats never die. They fight and linger and look terrible. So before the worst could happen, I decided, at the vets office, to have her euthanized. I actually, at one point, thought she had died because she was so still and was doing a face plant in the blanket. When you can barely tell the difference between life and death, you have to let go. But here’s a little memoriam.

Look, I have no tail. I used to have a tail, but then I broke it and then it was gone. But it’s all good. Don’t miss it at all. And, by the way, this is the best pose you will get today so take the stupid picture and be done with it.

I still don’t have a tail but I’m much more compact. I can get under this chair because you irritate me with that camera.

Seriously? I get no peace.

I will mess up your computer, leave me alone…

Really? I’m old, I’m sick, get out of my face.  But thanks for setting up a blanket with a heating pad so I can relax here with you. Now, go away.

I hate to admit I took a last picture at the vet while we were waiting. Sad but true. She was like-I will play dead to get you to quit taking pictures of me.

I surely miss her little standoffish ways, and then her insistence on being in my face when I was busy eating, working, writing, sewing, knitting. I’m sure you get the point. She was a little cat with some attitude. Jack was scared shitless of her.

Sigh. I had her cremated and she will join the others I keep here with me. Hey, like none of you have ever kept a cremated pet around. Don’t judge.

Anyway, it’s sad and a little lonely here. Jack is treading lightly and keeps looking around for her to jump out at him. We try to take up the slack now and then just to keep him on his toes. Chat doesn’t care at all.

Laura, my ever faithful blog muse, sent me this yesterday. And, if you knew Laura, which you must if you have read this blog more than once, is so true to form I must post it.

Sometimes, when I tell Laura something, especially something that involves cattle, cows, or calves, I can FEEL her eyes roll. Feel it. That’s the power of her eye roll. She’s a little famous for it.

Monday is Grampa’s birthday dinner. Yay for fun. I got a cake. I’ll take a picture. Of the cake. Before I eat it.

Otherwise, there’s things happening around here, but not things that are in a sure enough mode to be anymore than a nebulous cloud that is following us around. We are almost there, but not quite yet. By next week we will have plans.

I hope.

**This is the meaning of ad nauseam because I had to look up the spelling.

“Ad nauseam is a Latin term for a discussion that has continued so long that it has continued "to the point of nausea" “

And besides making me laugh a little, it struck me that I reach the point of nausea after only brief conversations with the general population. I can’t even get to the “continued so long” part because I am already nauseous. May have to adjust tolerance so I can continue to use this term correctly.

Happy Birthday Dave

Dave had a birthday on January 4th. It’s too close to Christmas in my opinion. I am awfully tired, and probably a little hung over from sugar and all the other stuff I put in my body that was bad for me over the holidays.

It was a big birthday-six-oh. He went through a little depression and kept saying how old he was. Unfortunately, he was barking up the wrong tree on that one because I absolutely agreed with him.

Please, never look for sympathy here. You think you got problems? Nuff said.

Anyway-to celebrate we went to the beach on Friday.

“I’ll thank you to give me privacy to decide if I will be carsick.”

 

It was like the highest of high tides (in the middle of  King Tides week-it’s like Shark week only more fun-unless you’re a shark)

So we really couldn’t walk on the beach because there wasn’t much beach to walk on. We only realized this after Beta was almost sucked into the drink. You can tell he’s feeling a little nervous in this picture.

This looks like a lot of beach but it’s not. Ask Beta.

So we walked on the paved path up above the beach which was also very nice. And we took lots of pictures of the same thing over and over again.

There’s a LOT more like this. I’ll spare everyone and leave it at two. You’re welcome.

Trixie also had a good time. 

 

We drove the long way to the beach-by Hood Canal which was also beautiful and was a lot of pictures out of the car.

The long and winding road (I didn’t make that up-no copyright infringement here)

I’ve posted this guy before, but he never fails to amuse

The Taco Bell rodeo sculpture bronco buster. I don’t know why.

And, of course, a birthday selfie.

Yeah. Crazy people at the beach. I wonder if I had longer arms if these would turn out better.

On Dave’s birthday, we went to Point Defiance and took the dogs-again. We are turning into the PNW people who take their dogs everywhere-to the beach, to the park, in the store, at the farmer’s market (you are weird if you DON’T have a dog at the farmer’s market).

Happy Birthday!

The view was pretty nice there too.

Fog spilling out of the harbor.

We came home and watched football.

Enjoyed delicious cake.

Dave got a Kindle. He knew he was getting a Kindle because he told me he wanted a Kindle. Then he changed his mind. Then he said-you already ordered it didn’t you?

In other words, he ruined his own birthday.

There’s a lot of cats around him too.

We all spent the rest of the evening watching TV. You know what’s great about being a bird? You can watch TV AND pose for the camera.

 

Are you looking at me?

Happy Birthday.

Happy New Year 2014

Another year.

I was feeling pretty good about it until I had to go back to work. 1 1/2 days every two weeks was just about right. I’ve been back two days and am feeling the burn.

However, on New Years Day I was still on vacay and blissfully ignorant of days to come.

I tried to be Mona Lisa. (Not so much)

I ran a race

Look-my bib number is my age.

Run run run……5K. 4th in my age division. Who are these fast old women?

I gave my sweater a bath and blocked it out-

I worked on my quilt. Oh man, I am already sorry I even started.

 

Pin that, suckah!

While watching football….

Ugh. I have one row plus one done. 41 “blocks” to go.

I cleaned out the bird feeders.

Did some laundry

And watched more football.

Go Badgers.

It was exhausting. But a happy new year just the same.

Christmas Holidays

Christmas came. The boys were here, we spent Christmas Eve with my sister Martha and the family. We spent Christmas at home relaxing. The boys left the day after. I return to work today.

Sigh. It was a really great time though. And I have a few pictures to prove it-

Martha decorated her tree. I took the picture from the window and you can see my reflection. Which I didn’t notice until this AM when I was reviewing the pics. Oh well. You get the idea.

Martha and Katie

The boys

The cousins playing Monopoly. I guess Cody dominated the game.

Christmas Day-

There was a burn ban starting at 5 PM, so we didn’t have a fire during the day. But we did have this-

We could barely look away.

Cody thinking about presents.

Blane, sitting by the fire, opening a present.

And, of course, Jack.

 

I didn’t take lots of pictures because I was too busy enjoying the time with the family.

Hope everyone else had a Merry Christmas and wishing everyone the happiest of New Years.

The Christmas Episode

I did a little Christmas Shopping with Laura the other day. She was at work and I was shopping over a thousand miles away. For some reason I felt compelled to e-mail every boring detail  the exciting events of my day--for example

Me-I have to go purchase a divot tool now.

Laura-Um…I was going to ask what that was, but then decided I probably didn’t want to know.  May the force be with you.

Me-I was charged for two divot tools and frankly, I barely wanted one.

A little bit of insanity slipped in (although some might consider that we even have these little conversations somewhat disturbing. Luckily for my 5 readers I am heavily editing-you people couldn’t handle  the content of all of the 15+ exchanges-and you’re welcome)

Me-Ugh. Where the heck are all these people coming from???? Costco was like a mad house. MAD HOUSE!

I pulled into the Fred Meyer and started on another fascinating e-mail (Laura could hardly wait). But while I was madly typing on my phone I felt funny, like someone was watching me. I looked up, and….

Hey-you lookin’ at me? Spooky.

When I got into Fred Meyer, well, this:

Me-Seriously-who hides peanut butter and jelly and honey on the back wall behind the bakery? Who. Does. That? I need to go home soon.

Laura-Well, not by the bakery, but Cub puts it over by the ready made bread.  Took forever to find it the first time.  Wouldn’t that go with other condiments?

Me-I know-right? What is wrong with people that they can't group their condiments correctly? 

When I left Fred Meyer the car in front of me had this hanging from the mirror--

Where do I get tickets?

The finale, however, went like this--

Me-OMG There are now 3 cat barf piles on the basement carpet. I ignored the first two because I am adopting the Dave Melde Cat Barf Rule of Law which states "One shall leave said cat barf where ever it is deposited (unless impeding on sleep or any other necessary bodily functions*) until they have evolved into such a state that they can be easily lifted off of said surface and disposed of properly.

*necessary bodily functions means necessary. If you can eat your meal around the cat barf, then you are able to adhere to the above rule.

However, three? Really? Again, barfapalooza.

PS Why am I compelled to send you these e-mails all day long? Really? Probably another reason why 1) you want to go home from work sooner rather than later and 2) you don't have e-mail at home.

Laura-At this point I would rather have intermittent cat barf than ringworm because if they are just puking every now and again I can still take them to events and hope to get some adopted out.  As it is, not so much.

It’s hard to believe that I actually admitted to having 3 piles of cat barf in my home, to which she replied that she preferred cat barf over ringworm. Then again, it’s not that hard to believe. Sadly, we talk like this almost EVERY DAY.

And when I got home, Beta was surprised because I was home so early and I wasn’t supposed to be home early so he didn’t know whether to be happy or mad. So he gave me his best snarly face

“I love you but I hate you but I can’t reconcile the whole thing and where’s my cookie and I might have to throw up now”

That’s a weird dog.

(We have a lot of throwing up here.)

On a brighter note-

That evening we (Dave, me, Grampa and Carol) all went out to dinner and to walk through the ZooLights at Point Defiance.

This is the dessert I ate

Bread pudding. Bread + Pudding=Best Dessert Ever!

And off to Zoolights-

Octopus on the aquarium

Mount Rainier

The Narrows Bridge, coming and going.

Tree.

And of course, the 12th man. We do love our Seahawks. While they are winning.

So, that was a fun time. Crowded though. I will rethink the Friday night visit next time….

We decorated the office week before last (this is going in no particular order)

 

Observe my lovely cubicle! I hid the drugs and alcohol that usually litter my desk.

Nina had her surgery a week ago at Harborview. And as I was making my way through the maze of skybridges and hallways I saw this out of the big windows…

 

It was so cool I had to get a few shots. It made almost getting lost in the bowels of a hospital worthwhile (Nina is quite well thank you, and I could post her arm incision but I think I might have to get a release before doing that. We did, however, stage said arm on a beautiful blue pillow background for effect. Sigh. That’s a little weird. But she was on drugs and I was all about getting the ambiance of the shot so it was actually all for art-oh, what the heck-WARNING. Nina’s arm.)

Nice backdrop, eh?

Moving on.

Company party complete with 200 dollar bonus promptly spent at Nordstrom, and then some. Really? I had to have the shoes-BOTH pairs. They read me like a book, those people.

However, my coworker was there too and we agreed they were a little off their game in the “waiting on us” department. Better pick it up a little Nordy, just saying.

Department breakfast two days later.

I am all partied out. (I am way in the back in the booth. It was the best seat in the house!)

Today it snowed…..

Everyone is late, running in the ditch. I, however, will be right on time.

So, I better go.

The boys arrive tomorrow which should liven things up. And I have the week off so I am anxious to get to work and get vacation started.

Everyone have a wonderful holiday season.

Jack, getting in to the holiday spirit.