Weekend Fun

It’s been busy around here, what with the snow, working Saturday (it took 45 minutes to walk it, but I got there and opened the library!), and dog sitting. Lots of things going on. And yet, there’s also been a lot of laying around and being lazy. Kinda like this:

That’s Huckleberry (doesn’t he just look like a Huck?), my kitting buddy Tiffany’s cute little dog. He’s been having lots of fun in the snow and playing with Kenai, my brother’s dog, who’s also been hanging out while my brother is in town.

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RIP, Old Washer and Dryer

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Zombie Apocalypse

I want my zombie apocalypse to be like this: Zombietopia: Best Case Scenario for the Apocalypse.

Except I also want Warren Zevon to come back, but not as a zombie, to assist in the soundtrack. He wrote a werewolf song, I’m sure he can write an awesome zombie song. Also, I want knitting and librarian-ish things to be critical skills for survival, so I’m essential. 😉

Snow in the forecast for Friday around here, so my previously scheduled grocery store trip after work today should look like one of those “end of the world” shopping sprees just to get milk and other things. Which reminds me of one of my all time favorite REM songs, which must be on my zombie apocalypse soundtrack.

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Laundry Reflections

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Cat in a Tree

So I’m waiting for the delivery people to get her with my washer and dryer, and Mac is looking outside longingly. I open the door, he runs out, and it’s only then that I notice a white cat roaming around the backyard.

I watched a live action version of a cartoon for a few minutes, as the cats chase each other and the poor squirrel caught in the middle. Then it turns ugly — white kitty runs up one of my trees. Mac looks smug.

Long story short, white kitty, aka Snowflake, belongs to a neighbor in the condos behind my house, loves tree climbing, and is stuck in my black walnut. Mac looks smug and bored, so he goes off exploring. Apparently his work is done.

Martha, a very nice woman, comes out with Snowflake’s brother, Haji, to lure Snowflake down. It’s takes food and me walking away (I guess I’m scary) to get Snowflake all the way down, with a few tense moments in between. Then Snowflake gets stuck on the wrong side of the fence — my yard — and is slightly traumatized by me trying to be friendly. He finds a spot to squeeze under the fence and runs home.

I come back in, realize I’ve stepped not only in mud (the yard is one big mud hole this morning) but in something bloody and feathery, and not necessarily fresh. Lovely.

Mac is still out exploring. Hope he doesn’t get stuck in a tree, because I’ve had enough adventures today.

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Some Random Thoughts

I know it’s been forever since I posted — so long, in fact, that my brother actually called me to see what was up. I think my blogging is his excuse to not have to communicate in any real way, because between the blog and my mom, he already knows what’s going on. 😉

I’ve been busy, and really haven’t had much to say, so I guess that’s why there hasn’t been a new post in almost 2 weeks. That said, I have had a few random thoughts.

Is it ok to give my monthly charity donation to Haiti, if my regular charity might have to go without for a month? Should I split it evenly, so both get something? I feel torn. If I give it all to the Red Cross for Haiti disaster relief, will my clothes donation to Goodwill be enough to act locally? The whole point of donating to Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee is so that my support helps local families first. That’s a decision I made early on — first give to those around me that need help — and I want to maintain, but I don’t want it to be at the expense of others.

I am soooo looking forward to getting my new washer and dryer tomorrow! My weekend plans are to do laundry, go through all my clothes, and give to Goodwill. I have too much stuff. I suspect this will be a good weekend for Goodwill, as I plan on donating a lot. What I keep is going to get washed and reorganized.

I’m on Team Coco, and plan on staying up tonight to watch Conan’s last show. I watched his first on NBC, might as well watch the last.

I miss Trooper, and find myself drawn to dogs. As in, I’ll slow down when driving if I see a dog being walked or in another car, so I can watch the dog for a bit and get a fix. A bit pathetic, I know.

Mac the kitteh has been my mental lifesaver. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, as even most cat lovers would say that cats in general are batshit insane.

You know what’s a really yummy snack? Mini vanilla wafers with Nutella. Also tasty: Nutella with raspberries on crackers. I love Nutella — it goes with so much, and makes it seem so fancy. Mmmm… Nutella…

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Outside Kitteh

Mac is an indoor / outdoor cat. (Before any cat lovers get all up in arms, my vet is aware of this and is ok with it — Mac was outdoors before he found me, you know.)

I keep him indoors as much as possible and he has a litter box that he uses, but he still likes to explore. I think he needs outside experiences for his mental health, because he always seems happier and less stressed when allowed out.

With the cold and snow, I hesitated to let him out, but he wanted to go. This photo documents Mac’s encounter with snow this morning. He stuck a paw in and promptly turned around (see: left side of photo paw prints). Before he came all the way back in though, he turned back around and ventured out in yard (see: right side of photo paw prints).

Why brave the cold and snow when there is a nice warm house with a litter box?

Because Mac likes to poop outside and then hang out under a bush to jump out at unsuspecting passerby — until recently, Trooper or visiting dogs.

Who am I to argue with his kitteh nature?

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Winter Driving Tips

Nashville is in the grips of a major winter event (less than an inch of snow, some ice, really cold temps). I thought it is my public duty, as someone who lived in NY for 2 winters, learned to drive on curvy mountain roads in all conditions, and general nice person, to instruct my fellow Nashville residents in how to drive in this weather and conditions:

Get the hell out of the way!

Don’t drive if you don’t have the experience or know what to do.

That’s right, just stay off the road.

Leave it to the few of us out there that have a clue, please.

If you don’t know that you need to 1) slow down, 2) pay attention to the road even if it looks clear, and 3) know road conditions by how your car feels as you drive, then don’t drive. If the road looks ok, it may be fine, or it may be covered in black ice, or that fresh looking drift of snow may hide a layer of ice. You can’t go from nice clear road to a patch of that and expect it to be the same.

And don’t honk or flash your lights at me because I have the sense to drive the speed limit or a little slower under these conditions — trust me, I don’t usually go the limit, I tend to see the posted speed as only a suggested starting point 😉 — when I do slow my ass down, IT IS FOR A GOOD REASON.

Oh, and just because you have a SUV doesn’t mean you are safe. I also have a SUV, and I needed 4wd to get home last night, up and down my driveway, and through my neighborhood this morning. And I still had a couple of iffy moments, even expecting it and being prepared for ice. Yes, the main roads were clear enough not to require 4wd, but get off of those roads and you tempt fate, my friends. Your SUV is not automatically equipped to handle these roads — you, the driver, must be, and if you aren’t, you shouldn’t be driving.

Back the hell off my bumper, too. I’d rather not add another accident to my record, thank you. My vehicle has already had plenty of body work done because of being rear ended (on a NY interstate, no less), is paid for, and I’m itching for something new after 7 1/2 years with it. Don’t tempt me.

ETA: Oh yeah, and dressing for the cold is not rocket science, people. You don’t need the latest expensive gear that could get you to the top of Everest, you just need layers. LAYERS. As in, more than a t-shirt and jacket. If you don’t have a heavy winter coat, compensate with layers of clothes. Heck, you could even have a bathing suit under there and it would help keep you warm, if you layer it with other things. Also wear a hat and gloves / mittens. You’d be amazed at how much that helps with the cold and wind. Don’t have something for your hands and head? Email me — I’ll knit you some.

Thank you for your time and attention.

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“100% Acrylic”

For years (no exaggeration), I’ve been trying to remember a song — title, artist — that was about a sweater, but wasn’t Weezer’s Sweater Song. Even with all my crazy searching skillz, I wasn’t able to figure it out. It’s been on my mind recently, so I tried yet again to figure it out, and failed.

Today, I finally submitted a question on Ask MetaFilter to tap the collective knowledge of the internet. Within minutes (no exaggeration) — even with some bad data on my part, like being off a few years — I had my answer: Meryn Cadell’s The Sweater.

Thank you, askMeFi and the Interwebs!

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Cats!

You're going to read instead of giving me attention? O rly?

A friend rescued a cat! Kitty Stella (not pictured, that’s Mac) is a beauty, and very soft and sweet. My friend is really excited about her new addition to her family, and I’m excited for her.

I rescued a kitty myself — Mac just sort of showed up and never left. I wasn’t looking for a cat, but a cat found me, and turns out it was a really good thing. It’s definitely been an experience, having to adjust to no longer having a canine companion (something that will change this year — just waiting to find the right pooch) to having a feline master.

And master is the correct term, trust me.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. Mac — Macaroni, when I’m feeling loved — can be all cuddly and lovable. Sometimes. Then there are those times when Mac — or Machiavelli, so apropos — is a calculating, manipulative SOB that only does what he wants to get his way.

In other words, Mac acts like a cat.

I miss having a dog for this very reason. Dogs are in general so constant in their affection, disposition, and temperament.

Cats… well… are not. But that’s ok. They are still nice to have around. 🙂

(Speaking of dogs, I’ve been checking out rescues and other websites looking at all the dogs. I’ve pretty much decided against getting 2 dogs — just too much to handle on a daily basis, I think — and definitely want to get another lab. Probably black, since I know that black dogs, particularly big black dogs, often do not get adopted because of their size and color. I can’t replace Trooper, but I can give another big black dog a home. I just love the big guys, and I know what it’s like to have one, so why not? I just have to decide on a brand new puppy — not as likely — or an adolescent — most likely — or an older dog — maybe, but I don’t know if I can go through “old dog” again so soon after Trooper.)

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