Dogs Are Weird

Last night I went to the Dreamboat's house to hide from the Blues. The Blues have chosen a prime spot above my bed, so that whenever I lay down my head, I'm completely overwhelmed. I warned him that I wasn't up for much conversation, and that I really just wanted to knit. He was fine with that, told me to bring it over and we could just watch a movie.

It was kind of a big deal, as I've never actually brought knitting over before (and no, that's not some kind of metaphor). But we both snuggled in, and it was comfortable. That's the only way to describe it. Until his dog made things a little awkward....

She shoved her snout right into my yarn bag in inhaled so deeply I thought we were going to be pulling strings out of her nose. What a weird dog. The cats love the yarn. They sit on it and bat it around, but they certainly don't try to inhale it. To this dog, orange wool-blend yarn is like crack, and she couldn't get enough. She just sat at my feet and stared intently at my hands, watching every little move I made. Very unnerving, I tell you.

This is probably why I'm a cat person.

As My Life Flashed Before My Eyes....

Last night I was talking on my cell as I got out of my car, which I had parked in my driveway, and I nearly died. OK, fine. That might be a little dramatic, but I could have injured SOMETHING.

I slipped on a patch of ice wearing heels. I told the person I was talking to, "just to let you know, I almost died right then." Their reply, "Huh." Which I took to be 'Huh, wow your delivery was pretty calm, I don't know if I can take that seriously.'

And that could be the end of my little story, but of course, it is not. I slipped on the same effin spot this morning. Only I wasn't talking to anybody at the time, so now I feel the need to tell the story to the whole Internets. I think I pulled my core. (As opposed to two weeks ago when I BROKE my core while shoveling my driveway.) This slip was a bigger slip than last night, I think I might have exclaimed. Something along the lines of, "AIiiIkkgGkkkhhh...unhh"

I just picture my reclusive neighbor watching me out the window (as I imagine she often does, I'm fairly entertaining in my klutzy-ness), and giggling between puffs on her Virgina Slims. And I thought in that moment, please don't let me go out like this.

And the little incident sort of solidified what I've been thinking about lately. That is, I need to move. My lease is up at the end of March, and I just didn't want to think about moving again. Ever. In fact, I remember very clearly, stating as I moved the last box into the house nearly a year ago, "I AM NEVER MOVING AGAIN."

But with all the Spiders, the insanely expensive heating bill I got last month, and now the latest of being nearly brained by the driveway...I think maybe it's time this house and I parted ways. For my own continued existence.....

KeepOn With The PeepOn

My afternoon took a turn for the sad, and let me tell you, I needed some kind of pick-me-up. Then, as I was driving home, a Spoon song came on my ipod. Which reminded me of my favorite Spoon song, which is "I Turn My Camera On," which reminded me of this video I found a while ago on YouTube. Enjoy....




First thing I did when I got home was boot up my laptop and search this video. I like Spoon, and I love Peeps...and a Dancing Peep, well that's just funny. I played it twice and danced around the living room. The cats thought I had lost it, because there is a reason I don't dance in public. But I felt better.

January is almost over (THANK BABY JESUS), and February is almost here (with the anniversary of my Grandpa's death, and VDay, and more cold cold winter). So, let's just say I've had to add some new coping mechanisms to my arsenal. As Dane Cook says, "I just gotta dance it out!"

And did you know, that in OHIO, they cancel WORK for snow. Yeah, you heard right, they have work snow days. What a bunch of wimps!

Well Said, Little Troll

Say what you will about Mitch Albom, I know I have. It may be harsh to call him a "troll." He definitely is arrogant, but he sure can write. If you live in, or grew up in, Michigan, you HAVE TO read his article in Sports Illustrated. The Free Press ran it a few days ago.

It sincerely sums up most of what I feel about Detroit myself.

"We don't talk about whether Detroit will be fixed but when Detroit will be fixed."

"...To watch these lawmakers hand out, with barely a whisper, hundreds of billions to the financial firms that helped cause this current disaster, then make the Detroit Three beg like dogs and slap them with nothing? Honestly."

"Do you think if your main industry sails away to foreign countries, if the tax base of your city dries up, you won't have crumbling houses and men sleeping on church floors, too? Do you think if we become a country that makes nothing, that builds nothing, that only services and outsources, that we will hold our place on the economic totem pole? Detroit may be suffering the worst from this semi-Depression, but we sure didn't invent it. And we can't stop it from spreading. We can only do what we do. Survive."

When I first started my office job, I had to explain to people that I actually LIKED working downtown. I had to explain this to people who lived LESS THAN 15 MILES AWAY from the center of the city. I was constantly telling them that I never felt unsafe. And yes, there were dirty and abandoned neighborhoods, but you just had to be smart and aware, as with any major city.

Now, nobody bats an eyelash. In fact, they will tell me about the last time they went Downtown and had a great time. Sometimes I'm asked for the best places to park, or grab a bite to eat.

It seems that people are more likely to embrace The D. And as Mr. Albom wrote that piece for Sports Illustrated, it has a lot to do with the Sports Teams. But along with that is--all we have is each other. Nobody but a Michigander knows what it's like to live in Michigan, right now. I'll take it. And along with that, the promise of Hope from a new Presidency.

Co-misery and Hope. Yeah, I'm still working on that attitude adjustment.....

Bitter Cold To Linger...So Will My Bitter Attitude

I read this story this morning, and I just wanted to cry. And I would cry too, if I thought the tears might not freeze on my rosy little cheeks.

I just got our heating bill in the mail yesterday, and my reaction was to turn down the heat. But then I got so cold, I had to turn it up a little just so I could get some sleep. It's really hard to sleep when your body is shaking with the shivers. I tried to tent the covers and sleep in a little cave, but I felt like I was suffocating from the weight of the covers (that may be because I normally sleep with TWO down comforters. And an afghan. And two kitties. That's how cold my room is on a "normal" basis!).

One idea I've had, is to impose on the Dreamboat as much as possible. He'd rather I stay at his place anyway. And seriously, when your ass is freezing and you're trying to cut costs everywhere possible, what's a little loosening of the morals anyway? I'll just turn MY heat down on my way out the door.

Hey--it's every kitty for themselves!

Breakin' Hearts and Takin' Names

I realize this picture makes Pickle look a little "special," but all it demonstrates is that he inherited the Family's Very Expressive Face.

What The Crap! 2009 Edition

In homage to my Bro--What The Crap?!

What the Crap, '09!?? Can't I get just a little free time? Just a little? Please? We are going on Day 7 of the New Year, and I haven't actually had a day off yet. I won't have a day off until this Saturday. That is TEN DAYS IN A ROW of working and/or work-related-type obligations.

I've been a moody, emotional mess, who has said "I want to punch ____ in the Face!" at least once a day for the last week. And I don't sleep very much.

On the plus side, I've started knitting again. I'm bringin' Crafty back! I'm getting my knitting house in order! I'm going to make my yarn work for me!

That was a lot of exclamations.....serious bidness. Or serious crazy....ha ha....

Back on the Bus

I am again a Rider of the Transit. I ride the bus to work! Oh, Naps! How I have missed you. Now instead of dealing with Crazy Midwest Winter Drivers, I'll be dealing with what to watch on my ipod.

And perfecting my "I'm not looking at you, please don't talk to me" look.

Oh, and on my first day, I saved a fellow rider from a dead car battery for his drive home. Look at me--nice to the environment, nice to people. Its a positive change from wanting to punch people in the face.

....And a Happy New Year to all!

Ah, 2008 is over.

I was about to say "finally," but then I realized that last year wasn't all that bad. I mean, yeah, my heart cracked a little--but then it healed (maybe even grew a little bit). And I thought my contract for work would be over--but they extended my contract indefinitely. And, of course, there was Pickle.

2009 started off on a great note. It was spent with good friends and Love. I'm hoping for more of the same.

There will be new babies this year (the count stands at three). Hopefully, there will be new opportunities. And more Love.

And the Bourbon, it didn't fight back this time.