Things That Make Me Happy

So, as it usually happens, I've been in a bit of a funk - feeling that I've not the best blogger, pet mom, friend, wife, sibling or child. I've decided to not be in a funk anymore (well, till the next one happens). I've also decided that the best plan of attack is to think about the things that make me happy, little and big things that get me through the day.

1. Scott - yeah, he's a pain, but you've just gotta love a guy that will put up with me (well, I do anyway - you guys are on your own). He's been a champ lately, doing a surprising number of chores and things around the house and being very supportive of cranky, moody me. He's even gone so far as to suggest I go buy shoes to make myself feel better!



2. My Nieces - these two little girls make my heart swell. I think they are spectacular, they can do no wrong and they are most definitely the cutest things on the planet. All right maybe not, but they make me about as happy as I get - even when they are busy being awful and their mom is reconsidering giving them up for adoption.


3. My four-legged kids - These little buggers make me smile like nothing else. And even when they aren't make me laugh they're helping me out in other ways.
Bad day? Well at least the dog is happy to see me.
Don't want to wake up? 16 pounds of Maine Coon sitting on you bladder will solve that.
Sorry you didn't have kids? Cleaning the litter box is way easier than diapers.

4. This blog - yep, you all rank in my things that make me happy! I love having my own little corner of the Internet to bitch and whine and then have you all tell me 'it's okay, you're not the only one'. So thank you all.

5.My iPod - shallow, yes but I love it and it makes me smile and dance around my house like a dumb commercial (yes, an iPod commercial!).

6. Scrapbooking - oh I know it's a bit silly, but I find it so relaxing and fun. How can it be bad playing with beautiful things and looking at all your favorite pictures?

Sadly, I can't think of a full top ten, but 60% isn't bad. I guess I still only get a D for happiness, but I'll study harder next time.

Current Music: Molly's Chambers - Kings of Leon

Yes, and your point would be...

Right, so I signed up for the March NaBloPoMo, because I'm a joiner and I lack the ability to maintain a blog on my own without some faux-authority overseeing me. As noble a cause as it may be, apparently I can not handle the freedom of "Blogging Without Obligation" (do you think they'll make me take my cool little badge off?).

Ok, so that's not the real reason, but I haven't been doing much blogging lately and I'm bummed about that, so maybe March NaBloPoMo will give me the kick in the a** that I need - we'll see...

In other news:

It's my sweet, fuzzy, little one's birthday today - and being a "sad, overly excited, has no kids" kind of gal that I am - I am indeed overly excited! I got him a new cat nip mat and some fresh cat grass (cause who doesn't need a little fix from time to time!?). So happy birthday Bert (he's a handsome little devil isn't he?)!

Also in the news of cat parenting, we managed to lock Jake out side all last night. On the upside he seemed fine (and highly pissed off), on the down side I'm not really sure how to identify kitty frostbite - so we'll see how things go.

Oh yeah, in not cat news, I turn 36 tomorrow. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet, but I'll let you know.

Current Music: Same Mistake - James Blunt

Reason Number 72

Yep another reason why it's probably a good thing we don't have kids:

Me: What's that noise?
Scott: What noise?
Me: That noise.
Scott: Oh that? Umm, Pearl's into something.
Me: It doesn't sound good - what is it?
Scott: She's chewing on the basket
Me: Well stop her, she shouldn't be chewing on that.
Scott: Oh she's got some kind of plastic thing. Wait, no that's bad she shouldn't be chewing on that - I think.
Me: Well stop her.
Scott: Oh, should I?
Me: Ya think?

Yeah - kids might not survive Scott, there are some days I'm not sure the animals can.

Current Music: You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse

Snow Freakin' White

Yep - that's me! Every morning I get up and feed our little zoo. Starting with the cats, then the dog and then finishing up with the birds and the squirrels.

I head out front with my mix of peanuts and sunflower seeds and toss it to my little crowd. It's a serious Disney moment, everyone gathers round - black and grey squirrels (we have both, and red ones periodically), blue jays and a wood pecker or two. They all wait at a safe distance and then hop in to chow down, though there are a few really brave ones that will get close to beg. In any case, it's one of my favorite times of the morning - Scott calls it my Snow White Moment.

I have a long history of feeding squirrels. Years ago I got my parents a squirrel feeder - and we'd put out apples, corn, fresh berries, nuts, even peanut butter. On our honeymoon Scott and I were walking through a park in London and we saw a guy feeding squirrels, he'd train them to come and climb up his pants (the outside of course) to get food. So Scott, being the good sport that he is, managed to get a few squirrels to climb him too. And of course we have two squirrel feeders in the yard, along with a number of bird feeders.

I will admit that feeding the squirrels has caused me some trouble. One time when I was feeding them peanut butter (at my parents house) one of the really brave ones came over and actually started eating off the spoon I was using to serve them. The brave squirrel was sort of holding onto my hand to get a better lick - and somehow I got bitten! It didn't hurt, but I had to go get a tetanus shot (I didn't really know that squirrels carried tetanus) - the worst part was the embarrassment I suffered at the hands of the doctor. She asked why I was in for a tetanus shot, I said I was bitten by a squirrel while I was feeding it. She started snickering and said that they usually only have to treat little old ladies for that!

I am a bit worried that Scott won't feed them while I'm gone - it drives him nuts (ha! no pun intended) that I feed the squirrels. He doesn't mind that I feed the birds so much, but the squirrels, well we'll just say he's not a fan (he says they are just rats with good PR).

Stalker Clock says 1 day, 11 hours, 59 minutes and 31 seconds - getting very excited, but I'm still not packed!

Current Music: The Sun is Shining - Bob Marley

Happy Birthday Pearl!

Happy Birthday Sweet One! It's hard to believe that you are two years old - you're still such a tiny thing, and so crazy and playful!


Not that we actually know Pearl's actual birthday, but since Purdy was put down on the first of September in 2005, and the vet estimated that Pearl was born somewhere around there, we decided to make her birthday on the same day. Bitter-sweet I know, but we figuring we're just balancing out the universe.


Pearl spent her birthday playing in the yard, bouncing around and chasing after bugs, birds and squirrels. A perfect kitten day. Later we gave her some new toys, which she promptly ignored in favor of going back outside! In any event, I think it's safe to say that she had a good day!


Current Music: In My Place - Cold Play

Sad, sad, sad...

I am pitiful! For some insane reason I want another cat! I don't know why, just seems like a good idea. Scott is against it, of course, as are all the other cats I'm sure (though I think I've got the dog on my side) - but I want one none the less.

I want an orange tabby (or maybe a solid grey, but I'm thinking orange), probably short haired and I want to name it Sammy. Sammy, because we already have PB&J and then the final cat will be Sammy (which is what I call sandwiches). Not that it will be the final cat, but we'll go with that so that Scott doesn't stroke out or something.

Since I won't be getting this new cat for a while (a really LONG while if Scott has any say in it), I adopted the super cute flash plug-in to the left. So there's our new kitten!

Seriously, how sad am I?

Current Music: Rehab - Amy Winehouse

Happy Birthday to Georgie!

Today is my dog's second birthday. Now to most people that isn't a big deal, but for us it's a HUGE deal for two reasons:

1. we don't have kids, so that means that we are those crazy people that are overly into our pets

2. she is an Airedale terrier, so it's been a long two years!

For those of you that have had a puppy, you realize just how trying those first two years can be. If you've never had the "joy" of a new puppy, here's how it goes: You bring home your sweet little ball of fluff and for the first few days you're taking it for walks, brushing, washing and taking out to go potty - loving it at every turn. Then you come home to find your favorite book (shoes, sofa, rug, wall, etc.) chewed to bits - that sweet little pup is now an evil spawn and you're wondering what you were thinking. You sign up for obedience, only to find that your puppy has selective hearing (much like your husband) and only chooses to sit, stay and come only when she feels like it. On this goes, the destruction and mayhem and you're just about to kill the dog, when that magical day comes - the puppy turns two and all of a sudden you have a normal dog, just the way you always expected it to be.

So that's how it goes if you DON'T have a terrier. By definition, terriers (any breed) are "feisty and energetic dogs, typically have little tolerance for other animals, are always eager for a spirited argument, and in general, they make engaging pets, but require owners with the determination to match their dogs' lively characters." So what that means is that it's been a LONG two years, and there are more to go. I say more, because many Airedales don't mature till they are 3 to 4 years old!

So now we're on the downhill side of puppy-hood and looking forward to many years of normal adult dog (here's the part when you knock on wood!).

Here's a poem that I thought was so cute - until I actually got a puppy!

The Life of a Puppy

This morning, I woke up & kissed my dad's head.
I peed on the carpet, then went back to bed.
"The life of a puppy, oh my, this is great."
Then I thought about breakfast, "I hope it's not late."

Mom took me outside, we walked for a while.
This never fails to make Mama smile.
I sniffed of everything, that we did pass,
I ate something weird - it gave me gas.

I'm sure God loves me, I know that is true.
He gave me so many great things to chew.
Rugs, plants or rocks, I really don't care.
What I truly like best, is Dad's underwear.

That obedience book, was sort of yummy.
Though it didn't sit well on my poor puppy tummy.
I threw up a bit, but that was all right,
When Mom found it later, I was well out of sight.

I made streamers of T. P., while running at full speed.
Mom is pretty quick -- but I was still in the lead.
I flew under the bed, and Mom flew past,
She stopped-shook her head, and breathed,
"You're too fast."

Mama later phoned Daddy, and said, "It was frightening!"
That afternoon, she was sure I'd pooped lightning.
She'd sat at the computer, while I chewed the cord,
She thought I was mad, but I was just bored.

When Mama had enough, couldn't take anymore,
That's when my tushy got shoved out the door.
I love it inside, but outside is best.
Lay in the cool grass, and had a good rest.

That didn't last long, there was too much to do--
Can't quite remember where I hid Daddy's shoe.
I found an old bone, and scratched at a flea,
I watched the dumb squirrels as they jumped in a tree.

I barked at the kids, when they got off the bus.
I can't figure out why this makes Mama fuss.
I barked at the neighbor, I barked at the wind.
I barked and barked, till Mom yelled, "COME IN."

The sun dipped in the west-soon Daddy would come!
I sure love my daddy: we always have fun.
I barked at my daddy, then turned on my charms,
I woo-wooed, "Hello," then jumped in his arms.

Sitting under the table -- it's sooo hard to wait.
Daddy slipped me a goodie right off his plate.
I raced through the house, and scattered my toys,
Ricocheted off the furniture, and made lots of noise.

Mom found her purse - the one I abused.
Daddy let loose a chuckle. Mom asked "Amused??"
I cowered down low, I must be in trouble.
Dad said, "Wasn't MY boy, it must be his double!"

Mom turned off the TV, and said,"Time for bed."
Dad said "Let's go boy," and patted my head.
I got in my spot, between Mom and Dad,
I thought 'bout my day and what fun I had.

Mama kicked out my bone from the covers below,
Then let loose a sigh -- a sigh deep and low.
She gave me a kiss, and snuggled me tight,
And whispered so softly, "My darling goodnight".

--Unknown

Current Music: Ohio (Come back to Texas) - Bowling for Soup