Cats 'n Cakes -Slash- Grooming & Grub (I was torn what to call the post so I used both)

The past several days (okay, weeks) I've been noticing that my cat is shedding quite a bit. It's summer. Animals do that. But I've been sweeping up cat hair every day, and when I come home on lunch and Spectra gives me love, I must use the lint roller before returning to work. Then it dawned on me. I need to brush her.

So, I brushed her. And I brushed her. And I brushed her. The hair was coming off in gobs. I made this huge pile, and yes, this is from one ten-year-old feline:

And then, there was so much hair,

I was able to make this kitten for Spectra to play with:

And then, I made peanut butter pancakes for dinner. I was tired of Mac & Cheese. Tired of 99-cent Celeste brand microwavable pizzas, Deluxe flavor. I was tired of tuna sanwiches. I was unhappy with the fridge. I was unhappy with the cabinet I keep my non-perishables, like all the pasta and rice and noodles and Ramen. What was I to eat? I almost scadaddled and headed to BK, but then I opened the big cabinet, where I keep baking stuff and the oils, and drink mixes and suddenly:

HALLELUJAH! Angels sang along with the harp in the background and what did I see? Aunt Jemima! Reses' Peanut Butter Chips!! Eggo Syrup!!! Spray Butter!!!! Does it really matter if you make pancakes at 8:30pm? Of course not!

So, I made four pancakes. I had some trouble with skillet because my apartment is quipped with a crappy stove, so they weren't perfect looking, but in taste. Holy freakin' cow. Delicious.

There is an even funnier story on why I had all these ingredients. If you can't tell that it was purchased while very drunk, then look closer. I had to chuckle to myself when I saw the picture I just snapped. It huge yellow letters in a huge blue banner, it says, "Easier Open & Close!"-- check out how I opened the box, haha. But yeah, the story is very funny. It may end up in my memoir.

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty

24 hours.

Alone.

In Redneck Territory, where everyone likes to shoot at things in their backyards.

I wish my nine-year-old cat, Spectra had a little camera attached to her head so I could see what adventure she had the past day or so. On Tuesday night after work, Dave was hard at work in the garage working on the Dodge Neon (my soon-to-be gas saver)-- so when I came home from the gym I made coffee and brought him out a mug. I then sat down on the couch, did some work online, read a little and then fell asleep. Dave came in, got ready for bed, woke me up and then we went up to bed. It was around 11:00. Something was missing. THE CAT.

Dave told me that when he came in from the garage, the door was open. I knew she got out. She's only ever gotten out once before, but we got her right away. She must have been lured away by a firefly or something and eventually wandered off. I looked around in the yard, but couldn't find her. I decided to sleep downstairs with all the windows open, hoping she'd meow and I'd hear her and let her back in.

I woke up Weds. morning very early and went around the yard and the woods looking for her. No luck. My neighbor to the left, Jean heard me yelling and said-- from her bedroom window- she thought she saw a cat chasing a rabbit earlier in the morning. So, she came down and helped me look for a little while. No luck. I had to get to work. On the way to work I called my other neighbor to the left of me to let her know. Before I left for work, I put food on both porches, as well as a blanket so she could curl up and wait for Dave or I to get home.

After watching the Secret a few months ago, I learned to not think negatively. So,even though my imagination was playing out all sorts of plots, I just focused on my day at work, didn't talk about Spectra and just thought positive thoughts. I came home, and my neighbor Doloris had put catnip on the porch for me to help lure Spectra. That was so nice. Dave and Doloris and I looked again for quite some time. I then continued, walking a half mile or so up and down the highway, looking along the side of the road for, gulp, Spectra. And called, and called for her. No luck. It was about 24 hours now. My positive thoughts were wearing thin.

Before I went to bed, something told me to look again. Cats are on the prowl at night. So I grabbed Dave's flashlight and headed to the yard again. Jean had said she saw the cat and that also her boyfriend thought he heard a meow somewhere in the afternoon. But Spectra didn't answer our calls, and she usually comes like a dog when you call her. So, I decided to try Jean's yard/garden one more time.

As I shined the light through some plants, I saw her scared eyes. She didn't come when I called her so I hd to just scoop her up and carry her home. I have no idea if she was there the whole time, but something tells me she was and she was just too scared to come out because maybe she didn't know how to get home, or maybe the traffic scared her....

At any rate, her adventure is over and she's back to bothering me as I type. ; ) She slept with me all last night and I fed her a feast of wet food- her favorite. I usually only give her half a can, or a 1/4 of the larger cans-- I gave her an entire can. And I gave her a good brushing to make sure I didn't see any fleas.

My Specky's home! Nine years I've had her, and now I guess she has at least eight lives left.

Spectra Kitty is my companion this week

When you are excited to do something, it seems like forever until it comes. I start my new job on Monday and am so stoked about it. However, this week is dragging. All day, I thought it was Wednesday. Then I realize. Crap. It's only Tuesday.

Dave thinks I should clean the house since I am home. Nah. I just wanna relax. So, I am playing the part of my cat-- just lounging all day. I don't even have the TV on. I am just kind of vegging. Well, when I am not blogging or working on my wedding website.

At any rate, it makes me think how good my cat, Spectra has it. Always a full food bowl. I also spoil her with some wet food. (Dave hates it. "It smells like fish!" he yells. "Well-- that's 'cause it IS fish!" I yell back... all in good fun, of course.)

She always has a sunny, warm spot to lay. And after dark, a nice, soft pile of laundry to lie on. (Thank goodness for lint rollers). She's a very happy, content cat. Kind of like me this week. I haven't relaxed like this in years. I have NOTHING that's pressing. Nothing that HAS to be done. I mean, chores sure. But no emotional baggage from work, no papers due, no stories due this week. I need this. But, my stint in a kitty-like state is over this weekend.

It's a shame it is raining because I wanted to start hiking at Rickett's Glen to get in shape. But the past two days it's been icky. And all that does is give me an excuse to be lazy like Spectra this week! Maybe it'll be nice tomorrow and I can get some exercise and lay out in the sun. I did get my three books in for my creative writing class in from Amazon, so I could start to read those. They must be read my the 22nd, so since I have this week off it'd make sense to read.

Then, Monday I begin a whole new career in the e-commerce industry. I am so eager to learn and get started.

Random Story from my Archives: Five Things I Learned From Being a Girl Scout

Rubber Chickens and More on Memorial Day '08

Dave and I attended our friends' Rob & Craig's Memorial Day picnic last night and it was uber fun. As most parties do, things started off a little slow until the drinks set in. And before you know it, we're kissing rubber chickens, talking into bananas, breaking lawn furniture and just having a grand old time.

There are two very memorable quotes from the evening. The first one was just upon our arrival. We were adoring Rob & Craig's Himalayan cats when we started exchanging kitty cat tales. Rob told us that their newest cat, Baylee ate a plastic bag, which was a chore to remove. So, I wittily said:

"I heard of letting that cat out of the bag, but not getting the bag out of the cat!"

Later, Birthday boy David (not my Dave) was getting picked on for leaving all his lights on-- he lives up the block and we could see is apartment. He said it was so he could find his way home. When someone commented that there is plenty of light from the streetlights in the front, he innocently exclaimed not even realizing how funny it was:

"I like going in the back."

Dave is a gay man, which is what made it absolutely hysterical. Toward the end of the evening we moved inside the house for seconds on the kick-ass food. Then, a party guest, Mark had returned with his daughter and rubber chicken it tow. That was fun. You can see the pictures on my MySpace page.

I met Mark and his wife Doreen for the first time at this party and they were really, really nice. While I like Miller Lite and will drink it if I have to, I have always appreciated a good, hand-crafted microbrew. So, I was thrilled when Mark said his cooler (which was a cool, insulated bag on wheels) filled with a variety of microbrews was fair game.


So, I had a mini beer fest. I tried Mojo Indian Pale Ale, some caramel-tasting porter stout (I'll have to ask), Sam Adams Long Shot Ale which won the homebrew contest this year (it was 10% alcohol!) and by far me favorite was the Orange Blossom beer. I think I am a fan of fruit beer. Dave always keeps Miller Lite in the fridge because if we have company, it's a safe beer to have that everyone likes. But, I think I am going to pick up a different microbrew each week as well. If I want to play drinking games or am going to be outside for a while, Miller Lite is cool-- but if I am going to relax after work, I would like to enjoy a good, flavorful brew.

And, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Debbie who makes the best Jell-o shots ever. She tops them with Cool Whip and then a cherry bomb, so it is like you are getting two shots in one. She had three trays and 120 shots, and they were all gone. No wonder things got a little out of hand!

I wish I saw Rob & Craig and their gang more often because we always have an absolute blast!

Happy Memorial Day!


RANDOM STORY FROM MY ARCHIVES:

Happy Tail Ale- Beer for Dogs

Beer for Dogs? Happy Tail Ale-- Buy Your Best Friend a Drink

I just wrote an article for Associated Conent that I think is worth a read if you have a dog-- check it out by clicking here.

It's about a couple in California that started making beer just for dogs, called Happy Tail Ale! Check it out, and share it with any dog owners you know!

Thanks for reading, and I'll have a 'real' blog post soon with some updates on me!