Three cat-related items:

0. This weekend marks one year since the cat climbed into our car's fender. He's settled on the name Bubby, although I call him pretty much anything that pops into my head and he's okay with it. (I still need to make a Bubby userpic.)

1. The dish of cat food we keep outside has developed a regular. This morning Bubby and I were laying on the couch watching the morning news when I heard a cat meow at the front door. They were gone by the time I realized it wasn't Laurel or a stray TV noise, but the dish was empty. We suspect it was the friendly brown tabby we've seen around recently.

2. Now that the Sea Hag is gone, I can tell you the cat pee story! Several weeks after Biko ran off, we were parking after a late-night snack run when I spotted a cat curled up on the roof of her convertible. The cat looked light-colored like Biko, so Vogon walked up to the cat slowly while I stayed with our car. He was a few inches away from being able to touch it when the cat startled awake, urinated, and ran off. It turned out to be the tortoiseshell-colored longhair we think is feral.

Now that I have caught up on sleep and feel (mostly) human again, there are a few things I want to note before they fall out of my head.

- Our holiday travel dates are 23 Dec and 3 Jan. If you're in Colorado during that period and want to get together, let me know.

- We went to Tokyo One for Thanksgiving dinner. It was, as always, made of win.

- We haven't seen Biko at the outdoor dry food bowl in a few weeks. What I have seen: the ragdoll tom that's been outside for 3+ years, a little brown tabby, a young raccoon, and one visit from a [redacted] opossum. I'm sure none of them appreciate that they're chowing on Iams Weight Control, but hey. Bubby's inside and he's a hefty boy.

- I finally fished out the spare webcam and where is the one person that keeps asking me when I'm going to set it up? Not online tonight. d;

Vogon felt a pull to stop in at Radio Shack today. The pull was being issued by a floor model Roboraptor marked down to $32. (Figures.) We had to buy batteries and download a PDF copy of the manual, but it was pretty funny to make it roar at Bubby. Bubby's reaction: "I'm not messing with that sh*t." Laurel loves it.

We saw Biko again today, but the firbolg turned tail and ran into the shrubbery when she saw us. One of the local cat rescue groups lends out humane traps for a refundable deposit, so we're doing that this weekend.

Saw the doc today for a regular meds checkup (I get a new scrip every 3-4 months) and discussed ( a lump in my breast. It's probably benign. Feel free to skip this part. )

Vogon saw Biko outside in the wee hours of the morning today. He reported that she looks fine, had probably just finished eating from the bowl of dry food I set outside the door, and was on the stairs when he saw her. She ran off when he called her name. Hopefully one of us will catch her in the next few days.

In consumerism news, I went to the SIGG website to buy a replacement mud cap for Laurel's water bottle and bought a new bottle in the next size up while I was at it. With a new bottle top and mud cap, I plan to pass her current bottle on to my nephew. I found a Hello Kitty design available two sizes up from her current bottle, but it was out of stock. So were both of the designs I'd like for myself, but I like SIGG bottles more for their durability than worries that my current Lexan water bottle is leaching chemicals into my water. I'll spring for a SIGG once my Lexan bottle bites it.

( Laurel's current, in-transit and not yet purchased SIGG bottles, 25 kb .jpg )

I survived Cub camp. Yay! We stowed the canopy, cooler and water jugs in the storage unit. Haven't decided whether to take the cart or not, but I put it out on the patio for now because the rubber-tire smell was pretty strong when the cart was sitting up on end in the entry over the weekend. Next up is setting dates for the summer committee meetings; outside of those, I'm pretty much free for the summer until Laurel comes home.

Other semi-interesting developments around the house...

( Cats, plants, a couple of product plugs and a recipe for gluten-free onion rings that taste so good you won't hate me after you eat more than you planned. )

Yesterday I volunteered at a neighborhood Washington Mutual location's grand opening. Got to meet interesting local people, fed breakfast to a team of cheerleaders, and was frequently mistaken as an employee of either the bank or the local deli that delivered the food trays I was tending. A couple of DJs from Mix 102.9 were there with swag; they hooked me up with copies of Charlotte's Web and The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack. I also traded cards with a balloon twister, jumped in a bouncy castle, and opened a savings account for Laurel. In the midst of my three back-and-forth trips that day, Laurel and I found a geocache, Cliff Hanger (GCMRA6).

Today Vogon encouraged me to sleep late, so I'm /finally/ almost caught up on that nagging sleep debt from being sick this month. After a trip out for groceries and sundries, I marveled at how much better our feline houseguest is doing -- he finally seems to be really alert and is filling back out. Biko is still growling and hissing at him, but she's doing it less and letting him get closer to her. I got the kitchen prepped for Vogon to try his hand at sausage-making (he got the sausage stuffer parts for the KitchenAid mixer's food grinder attachment for Christmas) but he's been sleepy on and off all evening. I'm about to follow suit.

Here's photographic evidence of what Laurel did to her hair and an after photo to share how nicely the stylist was able to even it out.

( Before and after of Laurel's self-haircut, 108kb .jpg )

While I was unloading my camera before we leave, I put up Biko's Holiday Picture Party entry at Catster: http://www.catster.com/hpp06/holiday_page.php?i=263910 . No, she didn't like me trying to put a Santa hat on her.

I dropped off for a few days with some network issues: the Vonage line worked but the 'net connection through the computer didn't. It'll be a few days before I sit down and catch up.

Biko is now my jungle kitty (sung to the tune of "Jungle Boogie") since I brought the citrus trees indoors for the time being -- the cold wasn't a problem, but after the winds blew over the hibiscus twice in one morning I brought all the trees, my lovely hibiscus and the Thai pepper indoors. Vogon adds that there's a potato plant growing in our worm composter.

I have a post brewing about hearing Bob Ross in my head while looking at clouds on the walk over to the school in the afternoons, but it's really not that interesting.

Carry on.

After I woke up this morning, I noticed my computer had turned itself off sometime during the night. Pressed the power button -- nothing. Got under the desk and checked all the cords, the PSU switch on the back of the case, and reset my power strip before pressing the power button again -- still nothing. The numlock light on my keyboard /is/ on though, which I find confusing but hopeful. Until I call down to Altex for a quote on looking at Linden, I'm back to using Naess, my old computer, in Laurel's room.

Biko has pitched in her support by moving her stealth operations from under my computer desk (the "cat cave") to Laurel's bed while I am using her computer. This has led to me typing this and eating refried beans in the bedroom while Biko grooms her hind legs and shoots me "I'm gonna come lick your hairy legs" looks.

While looking at the usual suspects of kids' digital cameras (nice idea, but generally they have abominably low resolution for the price), I found one that Laurel would love: a Hello Kitty 3.0 MP Digital Video Camera. I'm really feeling that Hello Kitty is everywhere now. (:

...

Biko brought her first gift to me today. Vogon and I were both startled to see her trot into the room with something in her mouth, but when she put it down on my lap we had a chuckle -- it was a rolled-up grocery bag! She's been batting them around the house since discovering she could knock them out of the bag I keep rolled-up grocery bags in. (They make excellent portable garbage bags, so I keep a couple in the car, several in my Scouting bag, and so on.)

Now's she curled up "in the cave" under my desk with her paws against the side of my foot and her head on my foot. It's so adorable I took a few photos; we'll see how they came out later.

...

I saw a blurb on the midday news about clinical trials for a vaccine that could be used to prevent middle ear infections and sinus infections in children and bronchitis in adults. I /think/ they're talking about Streptorix, which was in Phase III trials in Europe this spring. The manufacturer is planning for regulatory filings in the EU and other international markets in 2007 with no date yet in the US.

I'm not positive, since to the best of my knowledge Streptorix is currently in Phase I trials in the elderly, but it looks promising. GlaxoSmithKline claims the 10 serotypes it covers represent about 80% of circulating invasive S. pneumoniae serotypes worldwide, which means Good Things for reducing the chances of your future children suffering from ear infections if you choose to have them receive that vaccination.

I wish it had been available when I was a little burrito, because I only hope for chronic sinusitis on people that really piss me off.

Wyeth's Prevnar, which has been on the US market for several years, is its main competitor. It covers 7 S. pneumoniae serotypes but does not offer the non-encapsulated H. Influenzae protection that Streptorix does. (Laurel had a Prevnar series as an infant because of her low birth weight and I have a chronic respiratory condition; Tricare paid for it, so I had no complaints. Incidentally, Laurel didn't have an ear infection until she was 5y10m old.)

It's been a busy day and it's not even lunchtime! We stopped at Starbucks after dropping Laurel off at school to meet up with K. to give her a bunch of CDs I'd burned for her upcoming road trip, came home and I whirled around printing things, stashed them in a brand-new folder I had earmarked for another project today (ack!), and ironed a shirt while Vogon got ready to head out the door for an interview (I've got my fingers crossed since it looks like it'd be a really good fit for him), then fielded my usual morning calls and e-mail, going over the stuff I'm taking to School Night For Scouting tonight and started lining up activity sheets to print when I noticed Biko wasn't in any of her her usual morning spots and went looking for my sweet old girl.

I finally found her stretched out across the couch in the living room -- usually my domain -- looking at the TV, so I turned on Food Network for her and gave her a little love. Now she's got her head on the throw pillow I use most and appears to be watching the TV through almost-closed eyes. She must be worn out from her little catnip-fueled fun this morning.

Today's moment of grumpiness: I love my DivaCup, but if I could just stop menstruating altogether I would be so darn happy I'd throw a party and invite everyone I know.

I was moderately grumpy at the noise level our upstairs neighbors have gotten to again (when an adult is not there, the 'tween and teen-aged children run amok) but now I have earplugs in to protect my hearing in case someone resorts to the blood-curdling noise that drives dogs crazy and scares grown men. I seem to see better when I can't hear very well. Hmm.

Now, on to some Biko amusement...

It was pointed out last week that I use the phrase "kitty crack" in place of "catnip" so much that when I say "kitty crack", Biko comes running into the kitchen and waits expectantly for me to take the bag of catnip out of the freezer and drop a couple pinches into her box.

While she has a nice carpeted kitty condo, a kitty tower as tall as me, and numerous plush cat beds, her favorite place to curl up is a cardboard flat. (That's the flat tray that small canned or jarred items are shrink-wrapped and shipped in.)

She is currently attempting to train me to differentiate between requests for ice in her water bowl and a treat in her food bowl. She will not eat treats out of hand or off any surface, only out of her food bowl and not when anyone's looking in her direction. Since I'm still learning, I just put ice in her water bowl whenever I get ice for myself and give her a treat when she continues making noise at her food and water spot after getting ice.

Biko has been attempting to appropriate my desk chair. It's fine when I'm not sitting there, but if she's in the chair and I want to sit there, she sprawls out so I have a space about 3" deep to sit on. I used to be nice and roll the chair out of the way and use a dining chair, but after Vogon pointed out that the kitty condo is just a few feet away from my desk I now either attempt to move sleepy cat to the top of the kitty condo or I just give her a stern look and tell her I need my chair, then tip her off it if she doesn't get down on her own.

I let her get away with sleeping on my pillow, my favorite blanket, and on my feet until I give her that space on the bed, but I draw the line at my chair. Besides, I'm a total pushover for Febrezing the carpet after we've had visitors (especially Grandpa's Yorkie, which she hisses at so it hides behind Grandpa) and any other time she 'complains' about the smell. I'm starting to think I'm her pet.

edit 2201: if you're on Catster, feel free to friend her: http://www.catster.com/?263910

If Biko could read, I would have written her a note over the weekend that read something like:

When I put my hands up and say "Truce!", that means I'm not trying to rile you up. Quit swiping at my bare legs or I'll give you some cool-off time in the bedroom, you senile old bat.

I'm working very hard on not getting as frustrated by the little things she does that annoy me. Today she jumped on my suitcase across the room from her cat tower, dumping my freshly folded laundry all over the floor. I should have put it away as soon as I'd folded it. I think a true hard-sided suitcase wouldn't react the same way to that, so I'll keep my eyes open for new luggage when I'm in Los Angeles next month. (I really should since the suitcase that holds my daily clothing is actually my mother's.)

...

Another thing I'd buy if I had a million dollars: lots of these cute baby hammocks. Why limit them to just babies? I'd get one for Laurel to use as a doll cradle, one for Biko to nap in, one to hold balls of yarn...

...

I am becoming obsessed with Wonder Pets!. I watched it twice last week (it's on at 11:30 Eastern/10:30 Central weekdays on Nick Jr.) and delighted Laurel on Friday by knowing the theme song. After I set my user icon for Windows to Ming-Ming Duckling, like the icon for this post, she asked me to make one of Linny the Guinea Pig for her computer. While I was thinking about it, I picked up a Wonder Pets! screensaver and watched the Behind the Scenes clip at nickjr.com. Why resist an operetta starring baby animals and teamwork? It's cute and good for you... but mostly I love it when Ming-Ming sings "This is ser-wious!"

I wonder what Biko is thinking sometimes.

This morning, when I refilled her food dispenser and thoroughly washed out her water bowl, she sat there and watched me while I took care of her water bowl.

Later on, when I was putting the cat food canister and the vacuum up in the closet, I heard her hissing and huffing. I found her standing on Laurel's kid-sized card table in the living room. Apparently she didn't like her reflection on the television screen.

Now she's sitting outside the bedroom door and periodically winking at me.

Yesterday was our birthday. caffeinediary, digitalusrex, greenisgood, tinder and I all reached our fifth fifth year, which I hope will be fruitful since I like square numbers. According to my Friends view, kafkadreams, storyofherlife and bugfish celebrated other-numbered birthdays as well.

Vogon took the midget and I to lunch at La Madeline, which was an interesting new experience (too noisy inside for my taste, especially with a cold) and I had a chocolate-filled éclair. That was good.

I found out later that afternoon that wanderingrogue, who I met last summer at a party ass_ hosted, was celebrating her birthday too, so I resolved to have another dessert for her. I had hoped to find some creme bruleé, but I wasn't quite brave enough to make it myself so I had some raspberry fudge from Knott's Berry Farm for her instead. Mmm.

I screwed up my birthday karma this year by spacing my sister's wedding anniversary, which I am now trying to absolve by finding something both tasteful and paper-related. Right now I am torn between two luxurious but practical items, so I hope Vogon's taste can help me decide that tonight.

As noted in past entries, my psoriasis was mostly in check before we went on vacation, but I forgot to pack the OTC treatments I was using in my bag. I've been alternately applying Psoriasin gel and Flexitol Heel Balm since getting home, but it's officially worse now. There were several clear breaks in the skin around my eyes today, so I've applied triple antibiotic ointment and am hoping for the best. It hurts to blink so much that I'd lie down and nap if Laurel had actually taken a nap today instead of playing quietly in her room.

On that note, we made a chart for the refrigerator marked with each time Laurel has to sleep before school starts. She puts a sticker over each number after she wakes up, so right now she could peek in and tell you she has to sleep nine more times (five nights and four naps) before the first day of school. It's helped a lot since "When do I go back to school?" seemed to be every other sentence from her after we finished school registration on Monday.

And since I forgot to blog it over the weekend, Biko ate people food for the first time in the several years she's lived with Vogon this weekend! After I finished a bowl of grilled peaches and ice cream, Biko was sniffing at the empty bowl so Vogon suggested I coat the back of the spoon in the mix of juice and melted ice cream in the bottom of the bowl and offer it to her to sniff (she sniffs the majority of what he and I eat at home). She sniffed it as I expected her to, then licked the back of the spoon clean. Weird.

revme always likes pictures of kitties.

( Four photos, 170 kb total )


If you'd like to make a request for me to photograph something, please comment to my 15 June post.

angelpez wanted to see pictures of our house and how it's decorated. We haven't really decorated this place, so you get the highlight reel instead. (:

( Six photos, 257 kb total )


If you'd like to make a request for me to photograph something, please comment to my 15 June post.

To further readying things to go in the mail this week, we put in some digital photos for one-hour printing at Walgreens after lunch. I was told it might take a few hours but I was ready for that possibility, so we popped over to the bank and spent over an hour in Kroger.

Highlights include:
- Being thanked by a lady in the bathroom for reminding her of when her daughter was younger (Laurel was afraid of falling into the toilet so I reassured her she couldn't fall in while I was holding her up),
- Laurel solemnly telling a younger girl not to put a toothbrush in her mouth until it came out of the package while we were looking at bubble bath and facial masks, and
- Calling Mom from the greeting card aisle to confer on whether it would be better to get Grandma a Mother's Day card in English or Spanish.

We found a nice bench outside after checking out where Laurel ate a banana and some sugar-free gummy bears while I addressed the cards and had a drink... speaking of which, the new limited edition Mint Mocha flavor Frappucino is like crack.

Our photos were coming off the printer as we approached the photo counter at Walgreen's and the technician laughed at a print of Laurel looking through her hands, so I think I made a good choice in photos to go in this year's Mother's Day cards. (The other photo going in them is a close-up shot I took of her last week.)

About halfway through the walk home, Laurel announced she had to use the potty _right then_. She jogged half the length of the block after I told her we'd get home sooner if she walked faster, then slowed down and told me she needed to rest and maybe sing. I think we surprised a maintenance man coming out of a building on the other side of the fence with our enthusiastic rendition of the Sesame Street theme, but we made it home without a potty accident and Biko has been loving up on me since I walked in. She hasn't sat on my lap in weeks and now she's even tight on my heels when I go to the bathroom. Hee.

I screwed up earlier tonight when Vogon took a nap and I forgot to wake him in time for Enterprise. In my defense, I was learning that Benadryl and Tavist taken too close together makes me light-headed and spacey, though I'm glad it worked after my usual nasal sprays barely made a dent in blasting the sinuses on the left side of my head into draining. Luckily, the episode will be rebroadcast at 2100 Sunday.

He was getting Biko all wound up with a feather toy earlier tonight when I commented that it'd be interesting if there were feeder birds available, like feeder fish, at the pet store. He replied, "Like finches?" *ahem*

A sticker machine gave me the most unintentionally sexual stickers of Spongebob Squarepants I've ever seen.

( It's too bizarre for me to make up; 65 kb .jpg )

I wouldn't recommend it as a weight-loss aid, but I think the clove oil I've been using has helped me lose the couple of pounds I was fussing over earlier in the month. The downside is that it tastes awful and kills my appetite because when my mouth isn't hurting, everything tastes like clove. Bleh.

Vogon offered to go out to Benedict's for brunch on Sunday to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Laurel's and my arrival here, but I wasn't feeling up to going out. On that note, I finally gave him and Biko their own pages in the about us section of my site. There's not much content on his page yet, but it's there. I wrote most of Biko's, but you were expecting that. *g*

Since I am cheap and Laurel can't really tell time yet, I'm stretching out Easter activities across this week. This afternoon we pretended to be rabbits and hopped around on the patio. We have an egg dying kit but I have to buy more eggs, after which you can expect photos of eggs she dyed and eggs I plan to paint to look like ¡Mucha Lucha! characters (Laurel likes to pretend to be Buena Girl).

In other good news, she peed twice in the potty today -- a huge leap from the handful of times she's peed in the potty in the past couple of months. That earned her a potty reward (a light-up Astro Boy figure) and an after-dinner bubble bath, which Vogon thought might be a good incentive for her after she regressed and stopped using the potty after that cold we all had a few weeks ago. We'll see how she does the rest of the week with potty use, but I'm cautiously optimistic again.