These cats are going to be the death of me

I love my little kitties, but they drive me nuts. All day there is at least one underfoot at all times. I guess this is why most normal people only have one cat. However, I've never claimed to be normal and I guess neither is Mike so three of the little buggers seemed like a good idea.
Anyways, we locked the cats out of the bedroom a week ago due to some, ahem, litter box issues which have since been resolved. Luna was quite upset at the time and managed to pick the edge of the carpet out by the door. Now everyday she sits there and picks at it. The bare patch is getting bigger and soon our damage deposit will be down the drain.
I've tried tin foil (she plays with it) and lemon juice (she scratches at it like it's in her littler box). Le sigh. I swear it's like having kids.

Whee! Tequilla sunrises and the High Museum of Art!

And not in that order. Megan and I went to the High Museum of Art today, which was, uh, fun. Sorry, it really was great but I've had a few and can't come up with any creative synonyms. The hightlight was the Andy Warhol (sp?) paintings (or whatever they technically are, prints, screenings? anyways). I love art galleries, although many of the exhibits totally escaped me and I just didn't get it, but they were very nice and far beyond what I could ever hope to make myself.
On to this evening. Mike went to a bachelor party and I went to Megan's and got drunk. I also spoke with A&A and they have sold their house and are moving by the end of April back to Ktown. I envy that they will be close to friends and family again. I would honestly move back in an instant, but it's not going to happen at least for a while. I think Mike would like to take advantage of his education for a few years. He deserves it, that boy works harder than anyone I know.
So I am now forcing down a glass of water in hopes of heading off a vicious hangover. Wish me luck my darlings.

Walk the Line

We watched this last night and looooved it. Seriously, I didn't know anything about Johnny and June, but Hollywood couldn't have written a better love story if they tried. It was amazing. Joquiun (sp?) is such an amazing actor, and Reese is adorable as usual. I thought it would be good but I was pretty much swooning by the end. I don't know how much was fabrication, but man it was good. Rent it! Doooooo it.

Baby Couture

A few weeks ago I was telling Mike and Megan about the hip moms I saw at the park when with my friend and her baby. I know nothing about baby strollers and the like, but my friend informed me that the women there all had high end (hah hah) stollers that cost approx $600 apiece. Wha?? I was honestly shocked that something that will be useless in just a few years can cost so much. I mean, my parents carted me around in one of those flimsy fold-up strollers and I think they did just fine. Anyways, sorry to offend you if you either have one of these haute couture strollers or plan on getting one, but it just seems ridiculous. But, if you have your heart set on, I guess $600 is doable.

So anyways, I normally don't check out the stroller posts on my fav message board, but now that I know that this bizarre vouge baby culutre exists, I curiously opened one asking for opinions. Here is a portion of the post that was made:

I recently had a relative come in wiith the Mountain Buggy and I LOVED it. She spent $1200 after getting the accessories the bugaboo had. Originally, she was going to get the Bugaboo Frog but it didn't pass the Canadian safety standards and the kids store she ordered it from couldn't get it in. She was told about the MB and seems really happy with it.


When we were out in public, so many people stopped us asking us where they could buy it. We can't get them here. That's another reason why I want one.

Jeeezus. $1200?!? Are these people on crack? I mean, if you're loaded and can afford it, whatever, but this girl seems to want one beacuse "so many people stopped us asking us where they could buy it". Oh God, why would you openly admit you're that vain? I mean, sure most of us are concerned to some degree how we look and appear to others, but this is madness. I guess baby brain does strange things to people, but I hope spending over a grand on a stroller is something I'll never get.

Destroy the Box

I'm reading The Treehouse by Naomi Wolf, which is a book about her father and his teachings as a poet and a humanist. He basically beleives that there is an artist inside each of us and it is vital that we let them out.
So one of the chapters is about the boxes that we create for ourselves and allow ourselves to be put in, and in order to be ourselves and allow our inner artist to thrive we must destroy these boxes.

So that got me thinking. I love to sing, but I won't do it for anyone unless I've had a few and am at a karaoke bar (and convince someone else to come up with me). Oh, and for my parents because I feel guilty if I don't and really they're not going to say anything mean. I used to write poetry, albeit probably not very good but who should care as long as I like it. I used to write short stories. I used to try and draw (okay, I really do suck at this but it's fun). I used to do a lot of things I don't anymore. Why?
Even as I type this I'm making excuses for why I would never show anyone. Do I think that if I wouldn't show anyone why bother in the first place? I dunno.
So what box have I constructed for myself? It's not a house wife because I'm pretty much chomping at the bit to get a job now that I've been thinking about it. It's not a comptuter tech since I've left that in the dust and don't intend on ever looking back. So what?
If you thought I might have some answers by the end of this post sorry to dissapoint but I really don't. The first of Mr Wolf's lessons is to be still and listen. Maybe if I spend more time in peace and quiet, without the tv or music blaring I'll find the answer to what this box is before I can destory it.

A control freak, who me??

Well, okay, I know I'm a control freak to an extent, but I never really saw it as much of a problem. I was watching Dr Phil today (yes, this was off limits according to my no TV rule, oops?) and there was a girl who was asking how she could get rid of her controlling behavior. She was a little nuttier than I am (organizing her grocery cart, etc) but there were plenty of things that had me saying, that's exactly what I do!
For instance:

• the way she has her dishwasher organzied a certain way (I do this and will actually reorganize if Mike has put things in the wrong place)
• the way she has her closet organzied by clothing type (not so weird) and by color (I looove doing this but will put things out of order sometimes so it doesn't look so anal), but I still didn't think this was problematic
• the clencher was the way she orders the driver while in the passenger seat. Good lord, they had a camera on her in the car and it was like watching myself. I constantly tell Mike to change lanes, drive slower, drive faster, etc.
  

So anyways, the conclusion is that she does these things to supress anxiety. Oh! I never really thought about this but it totally makes sense, especially the driving. I often feel totally anxious and out of control when I'm not driving (for some reason more with Mike than anyone else, poor guy) so if I can at least tell Mike what to do it give me a bit of control back.
I'm also super controlling about the way dishes are washed, the way Mike's side of the closet is organzied, and the way dishes are put away. These are only things I can currently think of, I'm sure Mike could add plenty to this list. So I guess I'm a little OCD and would like to do something about this before I'm a lot OCD. I'm sure this doesn't happen overnight but I've definitely become more anal in recent years.
Any suggestions? Anyone? Bueller?...

Fricking mother nature

wtf happened to the lovely warm weather we were having last week? I've been cold and miserable for several days, and that's sevearl days too many. I don't think I realised before how directly linked the weather is to my mood. I don't think it's SAD since I clearly get enough sun, but I just get uber bitchy when it's shite outside. I have no motivation for doing, well, anything at all, and I'm just crabby as all hell. Anyways, there's really no point to this post, I'm just in a foul mood. Boo.

Well, I've decided...

To get a job. I've been considering this lately and after this unpleasant month of finances and unexpected costs, I think coughing up the $175 in hopes that my application is accepted to work is worthwhile. Well you may be wondering why I haven't bothered with this until now, and frankly I didn't want to. I make money from writing, albeit not much, but something, and if my application is accepted my money can't go to support Mike is any way. Yeah, I don't get it either but it pretty much translates to a minimun wage job doing something I hate.

But, I'm sick of having no money and if I want to cover 1/4 of my Mom's flight to come for a visit then this really is the best option. And since no one is coming for a visit after Kim until like October this will give me something to do. So I really don't want to work with food, it's just not my cup of tea and I have no experience waitstressing much less the patience. I figure a nice little part time retail job would be perfect, at a store where I can fully take advantge of a staff discount.

As far as I know this application process will take at least a month (plus the time it takes for us to come up with the app fee), so I won't have any updates for a while, and I'm not applying until Kim is gone because what fun would that be.

Anyways, to tell you the truth I'm actually sort of excited about the prospect of making my own money and working again. I guess I'm not cut out to be a house wife after all.

And the vet bills just keep coming

In a month where we're barely scraping by, Clovis' ahem, diarrhea problem really couldn't come at a better time. Why is it the cats always have issues when we can least afford it. Well, we sucked it up and went to the vet today, and she has some sort of parasite in her. Probably from Luna. Now we have to give her two different types of meds three times a day. Le sigh.

Happy belated St Paddy's Day!

Rather than going out for vile green beer, we went to the boys' place for Irish Carbombs. What are these lovely delights you might ask? They're a drop shot which consists of Guinness, Bailey's, and whiskey. Sounds heinous, but is really oh so good. And they kick your ass so after two of these babies I was feeling quite sauced. Add to that two Black Velvets, which are Guinness and cider, and I was done. I vaugly remember watching a muted Boy Meets World episode and inhaling potato chips (literally, my mouth is sore today so I think I stopped chewing at some point). And thanks to sleeping in until 1pm I have no hangover! Whee!

The No TV Challenge

Well, how about the limited TV challenge, I mean, c'mon let's be reasonable here. Upon arriving home this morning after my walk with Mike to the bus stop, I reached for the remote as per usual. It occured to me that I watch entirely far too much television, and the hours spent comatose in front of the boob tube could be spent doing far more useful and fullfilling activities. Also, last night after a marathon of watching The Cutting Edge I and II, some of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Grey's Anatomy, Megan commented that we had been watching TV for 6 hours. Wow, this is really a typical night of TV watching for me but I have never thought of it in terms of hours, and well, I am a confirmed couch potato. So I have decided that the only TV I am allowed to watch includes:

Monday: The Gauntlet
Tuesday: The Amazing Race, The Real World, 8th and Ocean
Wednesday: America's Next Top Model
Thursday: Survivor, The OC
Friday: NOTHING!
Saturday: NOTHING!
Sunday: Maybe the Sopranos and Grey's Anatomy which is a kick ass show that I can't beleive I have never watched before

So there you have it. Looking at it written down that alone seems like a lot of TV, so no more Dr Phil, Full House, Entertainment Tonight, and the various E! True Hollywood Stories that somehow suck me in for two hours a pop. I'm going to do this until the end of March and hopefully by then I'll have found more constructive things to occupy my time. Wish me luck!

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

Whee! They rule. Mike, Megan, and I went to see them last night at the Variety Playhouse, and what a fab show! Dr. Dog opened for them, and while they weren't exactly my favorite they did a pretty decent job. Both Megan and I enjoyed the adorably nerdy keyboard player. Then CYHSY came on, and an even more adorable keyboardist/tamborine player/guitarist came on. Hah, he was a hoot, I've neve seen anyone so happy and enthusiastic.
They played a lenghty set of their self-released CD plus several new songs. The crowd was lively, and definitely ascribed to the "it's hip to be square" mentality. We had a great time and I would recommend seeing them if you can.

So, what's the weather like in Kelowna?

Because it's 24 degrees here suckers! Sorry my dears, I couldn't resist rubbing it in a bit. I thought it was going to be shitty and raining here today, but nope, the sun is shining, it's not humid, and it's toasty warm. I love it! I even had my first coffee cooler of the year, seeing as it's my free day and all. Speaking of which, the BFL is going very well despite a few extra free days here and there. Anyways, nothing else to report, I'm just in a wonderful mood today, I wish I always felt like this!

Happy fucking birthday

I lurve other people's birthdays. If I can afford it, I love buying other people gifts. I often have a little list in my head of things I'll see that I know a certain friend or family member will just adore. And so when a birthday of someone as important to me as Mike is coming up, I look forward to my well thought out gift and the overjoyed reaction I think I'll get (this probably says something about everything always being about me, but let's not go there ok?).
So anyways, Mike calls me the other day to inform me he would like a new mp3 player. Um, ok, but like I know the detailed specifications he wants. So he orders it himself. Wheee. Like thanks for taking all the fun out of the shopping. Ok, I'm not really mad or anything but I thought I had a good gift picked out and now I'll have to wait until Christmas to give it to him. Oh well, at least I have something else up my sleeve.... hee.

Damn Yahoo Mail

Everytime I log in to my yahoo mail I see the sensationalist news headlines that are going to eventually drive me insane. Why do I click on the various bird flu, Iran, and North Korea links? Gah. I shouldn't drive myself crazy with things I have no control over, but I guess therein lies the condunrum of the control freak. Things I can do nothing about are things I tend to obsess over. And really what better thing to focus on then the effing bird flu. Le sigh. Sometimes I wish I could shut my mind off.

Re-thinking my posts

Does anyone else ever do this? I quite often will start a blog entry, and then all of a sudden decide that I'm rambling incoherently or that no one wants to read this self-absorbed bullshit (although isn't that what blogs really are?). So I hit the back button and erase it. This is my third attempt at an entry today, I guess I just felt like putting something down. There.

Welcome to paradise

We had the most fabulous camping weekend evah! Fort De Soto is a little slice of heaven, and is one of the most beautiful places I've been. The weekend was filled with soaking up the sun, jetskiing, drinking, reading (hah), laughing, and fun silliness. We saw racoons, dolphins, a variety of strange birds, and a tortoise.

I can't beleive that such a gorgeous location is but an eight hour drive away, but I guess we're pretty lucky to be spending two years in this area. There really wasn't a low point in the entire three days we were there, and hopefully we'll be doing many more camping trips soon.