Mindless Chatter Monday

Glenda one of my cats is a pig and a bully.  I feed my cats twice a day (not free fed) and each cat has their own dish.  Each dish is a different color and texture from that of the other cats' (glass, stainless steel, and plastic).  They always get fed in the same order.  Once the routine was established the bully cat stopped trying to steal food.  Well, now what he does is try to unlatch the food bin and steals from there rather than the other cats!

 

This morning did not start well.  I planned to start getting up earlier.  DH must've had the same plan b/c his alarm went off about 2 minutes before mine.  There was no sense in me getting up since he already had the bathroom and the shower.  Then he came in while I was in the shower and said he wasn't going to start my car b/c it wasn't that cold or icey.  I go out to leave and it's 12 degrees!  The windshield is totally frosted over.  I somehow smashed my head into the car trying to reach in and get my scraper, I dunno if I slipped or what.  So the I wanted to cry b/c my head was spinning and felt like it was bulging, I was more frustrated than hurt though.  Then I got to work (late, b/c I had to scrape and some $(*%9$%#$ was going 10mph and coming to a complete stop at every speed bump....hello the speed limit is 25mph, means that's how fast you can go over the bump!!) and my computer froze on Friday when it was shutting down.

February is my absolute least favorite month by a loooong shot!  I'm starting tanning this week because this is the time of year when I start to get really depressed and bitter (I snap at everyone, I won't talk to DH, won't do anything but eat and watch TV).  It is so effing cold, bitter wind and dry.  I need to go tanning and then swim in yogurt or something.

What a CRAPPY way to start the week!  Hoping it gets better!

My cats have identical bowls.  One set for dry, one set for wet.  They have a PLACE that their bowls are....Gypsy up on the vanity, Scamper (the pig) in the litte cubby behind the shower door, and Tessie right across from the toilet.  And they KNOW where they are supposed to eat. Even the pig and for some reason, he no longer bothers anyone elses food.  The food bin is in the bathroom too, but he doesn't get into that.  I know that he COULD, fortunately he hasn't....YET.

I agree glends. My cat eats at set times just like my dogs. He yells at me if I'm late though :)

I had the sweetest thing happen yesterday. I stopped by my office to do a few things after our playdate. Well a co-worker was ther also doing work. He had brought his daughter (7ish) with him and she was coloring. At one point I got up to go to the bathroom and she jumped on her scooter and followed me. She said "I got a new scooter for christmas!" So of course I talked it up like it was very cool. since I had the dogs in the car, I decided to bring neiko in to play with her. What kid can resist neiko? Certainly not this girl! Her face just lit up and neiko was very excited. He loves kids and was wiggling his butt like crazy. He and the girl made up a game. She would ride her scooter to the end of the building with neiko trailing behind her. Then they would both turn around and race back. Neiko always won of course! It was too cute. They spent an hour playing together.

When they were leaving, I heard "just one second dad!" . She came to my desk and gave me the picture she had colored and then said "can I have a hug?" Omg my heart just melted. How sweet is that. She even said thank you and she hoped she sees me and neiko again.

I'm also in the all I want to do is sit around and eat column!  I had a to-do list this weekend of which I think I got two things done.  I'm ready for baseball!!

We are supposed to have temps in the 90's later this week!!  Is this a big old country or what?  Hope Spring comes soon for those of you freezing your butts off. 

  My big old fat cat, Coconut is fed twice a day, diet food. He is always hungry.  He tries to steal from the dogs when they eat.  Yesterday, I was cleaning the walk in closet where the litter box is and where I keep the dog food, etc.  The dog food is in a metal trash can. When I moved it the lid came loose and the cat came running to see if he could snag a kibble or two.  The lid was in my hand and he jumped on what he thought was the lid only to end up in the food!!!  He was singing, "Heaven, I'm in Heaven"! 

Amanda, I am so glad you were right there when Shooter was choking.  That is one scary experience.

Lies, you are right about the fit on Belle's pack, it kept sliding too far back.  I think I have it fitted better now.  I don't like how far down the pouches hang.  If I have it up over her front shoulders, the pouches bounce off her front legs but it doesn't seem to bother her, seems like it would hurt. I saw a pack in Bridgport's catalog that I wish I had seen first.  Buyer's remorse strikes again. lol

Well, I think my day will be OK after all.  My head doesn't hurt anymore.  I was just so pissed at the world already and then had to slam my head into the car, grrr! 

I am happy b/c we went shopping yesterday (for clothes) and got everything we needed.  Usually DH HATES this but he comes along b/c he knows I love to shop, but really I hate when he comes b/c he follows me around, like if I stop to touch a shirt he bumps into my back.  He needed a suit (the whole shebang) for this job fair that's coming up.  It's an out-of-state teacher recruiting fair and they will hire on the spot.  Our Career Services told him to play it safe and wear a suit.  First we went to Nordstrom Rack, but the suits were still really expensive.  Instead, he got some new nice shoes and I found the North Face denali fleece jacket I've been wanting for half off.  I have a Denali jacket but it's hot pink and brown so when I zip it into my black shell it looks funny, brown on black.  My new one is the jewel/plume blue.  A cat peed on my "nice" jeans (dark wash, trouser fit) so we went to Old Navy at that mall but they had nothing.  Instead we went to another mall and went to the suit section at JC Penny.  This saleslady must've seen how lost we looked so she helped us get DH's size.  She could not believe he's never worn or owned a suit, lol!   I picked out 4 outfits, we were somewhat limited by pant size b/c DH is so tall, he's a 38/34.  All four of the outfits fit him, the saleslady was very pleased.  The last one we liked the best b/c I liked the black with tiny pin stripes and I insisted he get a 3-button instead of 2.  Also the last outfit had flat pants instead of pleated and the pants were the perfect length.  Maybe I'm old fashioned but I think a well-fitted suit on a guy is really hot.  DH had bugeted $250 which I know is not really that much for a suit but that's a lot for us.  The outfit was half off so it was less than $200!  The saleslady said he did not need a vest for job interviews, and he already has socks, shoes, and shirt/tie combos.  Last stop was Gap, I had to return some swim suit pieces I ordered online.  I tried on tons of jeans and DH was getting really impatient but luckily I did find ones I like that replace the nice ones my cat peed on (I think he did that b/c he got locked in our bedroom for a long time by accident).  Luckily those jeans I got $9.99 on clearance so I wasn't too disappointed that he peed on them, I wanted better ones anyway.

Woohoo I LOVE shopping!

JackieG

Lies, you are right about the fit on Belle's pack, it kept sliding too far back.  I think I have it fitted better now.  I don't like how far down the pouches hang.  If I have it up over her front shoulders, the pouches bounce off her front legs but it doesn't seem to bother her, seems like it would hurt. I saw a pack in Bridgport's catalog that I wish I had seen first.  Buyer's remorse strikes again. lol

 

Keep working at it and I am sure you'll get the right fit, in the pictures that pack looks fairly adjustable.  And I think on most packs the pouches/panniers are too darn big.  I wound up buying B a medium ruffwear pack and adding to the front strap that goes around his chest under the arms.  All the rest fits fine and the pouches aren't too big.  Plus I think you said Belle is only about 18 mos old she'll still fill out a bit I would think.

My tendinitis is getting so much better so that is a relief.  I am having early symptoms of DH's infection so hoping to stave off the full hit on that.  So Lori I definitely just want to fill by belly and have a nice sleep.

We are cold again too today and most of this week - now not northern MI cold - but in the twenties with a frigid wind this morning

Lots of paperwork today and I really should go shopping - but doubtful at the moment

I also had a mile long to do list and got maybe three things done this weekend. oops.

It's back to being cold and windy here. I'm so ready for spring and summer. It won't be long now though I hope, just another half a month to a month of snow I would say. 

I am looking forward to Wednesday, the inlaws are coming to take us out to dinner before they head off on vacation (they are going to Australia - lucky ducks!). I think we will try out another restaurant in this town. So far we have not had much luck in this town. We have found one good restaurant, which is good but overpriced. Hopefully whichever one we choose on Wednesday turns out well. Fiance used to be a sous chef at a few different fancy restaurants, so we are rather picky when we go out.

Also, I went grocery shopping on Friday, so I don't have to go this week - YAY! oh last night for dinner we made two delicious stuffed pork tenderloins and I have leftovers for dinner so we will have that and asparagus -  I love asparagus, and we will have some rice I think.

.stacer.

I love asparagus,

Me too and I bought some when I went shopping yesterday. I swear I could've eaten the entire bunch of it by myself. I did roast it with quite a bit of garlic so I hope no one gets too close to me today.

I was off on Friday and will play catch up all day today. I'm taking this Friday off also, so that'll make for a busier week but it'll be worth it. Ever since we started a new policy of not being able to accrue vacation if you have more than 160 hours, I've been having to take a couple days off a month :)

I put split pea soup in the crockpot when I left this morning and it already looked yummy when I left. I added a lot of onion, carrots and ham, so it's almost more like a stew than a soup. I also made cornbread yesterday but it seemed really dry to me. I guess it doesn't matter if you're having it with soup though. Trader Joe's has a really good Jalapeno cornbread mix but DH thinks it's too sweet. I think it's delicous though and not dry like the stuff I made yesterday.

 I love asparagus, too. My favorite is with hollandaise sauce - mmmm mmmm good.

I'm trying to find some good crock pot recipes. I've only cooked a few things in mine so far - I'd like to make it something I'd use more often. I'm considering trying to find a lamb curry recipe that might go in the crock pot.

I woke up this morning with an awful cold/cough. :( I've had a lingering sinus type thing going on for about 2 months now - it will get a little better, then worse, then I'll think it's done, then it gets bad again. Ugh!! I just want to curl up in bed for the next several months. I'll come out when it's summer, ok?

After Rascal's peeing extravanaganza last week he hasn't had any more "accidents" (they weren't accidents!), so I'm glad for that at least. We're treating him like an un-housebroken puppy and keeping him confined and/or supervised at all times. And he's no longer allowed in the bedroom at all, after peeing on the bed and in the master bath twice. (And before we'd moved, he had juuust graduated from crated-in-the-bedroom overnight to free roam of the bedroom at night!) Now he sleeps in the hall bathroom, either crated or loose (with his 3 dog beds, stuffies, and blanket) depending on how much he's crying.

In better news, I got a new job offer. It's another temporary position - my current job was to expire in May, and this one will bring me through until the end of August. It's working on a project to reduce the "achievement gap" between otherwise-comparable white students and black/minority students. Should be a cool project, but a LOT of work. I'm also getting a raise of $8/hour *more* than I'd been getting!!! No benefits or anything, still, but the pay will be very nice. I'll be paid for 40 hours a week (though I'm guessing I'll end up working more than that). I'll still have to commute, too. Oh well!

Cita

 I love asparagus, too. My favorite is with hollandaise sauce - mmmm mmmm good.

I'm trying to find some good crock pot recipes. I've only cooked a few things in mine so far - I'd like to make it something I'd use more often. I'm considering trying to find a lamb curry recipe that might go in the crock pot.

Hollandaise sauce? weird! hehehe. actually I don't like hollandaise sauce period, but I'm going to tell fiance to try it on asparagus! I usually either grill mine on the BBQ with some sesame oil or steam it and put just a touch of lime juice on it and salt and pepper. 

I would like to find some good crock pot recipes as well. I know a few good ones, but they get tiring after awhile. Here is a good pork one:

Pork roast, Beer, Maple Syrup, BBQ sauce, apples, onions, garlic - throw all of that into the crock pot and out comes a super taste-y roast! As for amounts, just wing it. It depends on the size of the roast. You can't screw it up. 

My cats are free fed dry - with wet on occasion. I have 2 cats that never touch the wet, and one that hit and miss - depending on her mood. I have 6 cats, free feeding is just much easier. Everyone is consistant on weight and appiteite - so nothing to worry about there!

Apparently I was not moving fast enough this morning... Casey started herding me to the back door for potty time... I'm hoping this does not become a regular thing - I almost fell a boatload of times!

Smokey is at the vets getting his tail ampuated... I ripped of a good chunk of it last night - so I called this morning to see if they could do him a day early. *fingers crossed everything goes well!*

I have a lot to do... and 0 motivation to do anything.

Cita

In better news, I got a new job offer. It's another temporary position - my current job was to expire in May, and this one will bring me through until the end of August. It's working on a project to reduce the "achievement gap" between otherwise-comparable white students and black/minority students. Should be a cool project, but a LOT of work. I'm also getting a raise of $8/hour *more* than I'd been getting!!! No benefits or anything, still, but the pay will be very nice. I'll be paid for 40 hours a week (though I'm guessing I'll end up working more than that). I'll still have to commute, too. Oh well!

Congratulations!! $8 an hour more is huge and particularly in this economy.

 mmmm asparagus. i love veggies. I got to eat at the whole foods in SF while visting my sister, loaded up on satueed veggies & mashed potatoes. mmm..  Nothing worse than coming home to a dirty house. ugh.  we stopped by ikea on the way home from SF, fun fun! got some storage bins for the doggie & kitty food, some uber cheap hanging lamps,and new doggie food bowls ( ya can't beat 99 cents!).  Put one lamp in my new sewing room, soooo nice! makes it feel nice in there.  Set up my mini laptop & started a small project while watching / listening to a moive on hulu. 

I think i'm gonna try to regulate the kitty feedings. We let ours graze all day & only one cat is overweight.  Itd be nice to see her a little lighter, everyone thinks she's pregnant.  So I'm gonna start having feeding time, then maybe kick em all outside to play for the day & to 'poo' OUTSIDE, cuz I hate cleaning the litter box.  

 i need to start working on the chicken run, no more free range 100% chickens, only part time here pretty soon. Basically any place you want clean in your yard, thats where the chickens like to poo. Getting sick of cleaning it up. Plus I know they'll be safer in a pen & only let out for a small portion of the day. Gotta figure out when this rain is supposed to stop though.