Blue

Boo-boo face, aka Chloe, aka The Booze is sick. Which makes me sick. I am just eat up with sick.

We are taking her to the vet today. Mr. Penguin is coming along for moral support. Her ear is bleeding and she is losing her hair. She has also been throwing up.

Do you know how much I love this cat? Mr. Penguin is the quick charmer. Chloe makes you earn her attention. She is 100% sass. Very meowy. Very picky. I am worried. Down right worried. I could just cry.

You can get the best deals on the internet this time of year . . .

Penguins love Creamsicles

I don't get to check my email as much as I used to. I never realized how many mailing lists I was on: J. Crew, The Ferret Store, Red Envelope, Amazon, Women's Health, Unison, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Crate and Barrel, West Elm, Sephora, Stein Mart, Omni Hotels, DWR, Shoes.com, Bluefly -- the list goes on and on. I am now on a mission to unsubscribe from them all. Every one. They aren't going down without a fight.

First they want me to confirm my address and then they want to know why? Its like a bad breakup. I'm not waivering - out they go. I just have to persist through the 10-day "unsubscribe" period.

I have learned that . . . wait for it . . . marketing actually works. I don't want the things until I see them. Until they find their way into my inbox. Then I need them. Tricky. Sneaky.

I could tell a big difference when we quit cable. No more commercials to tell me about new movies to watch or new, magic kitchen cleaners. When we went to my parents' house for Thanksgiving we drove them crazy by watching infomercials. They really are catchy. The draft dodger still haunts me. You just stick it under your door and viola! it holds cold air and debris at bay. We have a small crack under the door. Its not a big deal really. We have an interior door that is inside of another interior door after you get out of the elevator. Still - the draft dodger just sounds so necessary.

This morning at 4am Mr. Penguin proved (I thought) that I had to break down and buy the dodger. He was so intent of getting something behind the nightstand that I had thought it had to be a mouse. A clever mouse who got through the interior doors or even the WALLS and scurried under our front door - then navigated its way into the bedroom. Trust me - at 4 it made sense.

Turns out Keith woke up in the middle of the night with the munchies. He ate three miniature creamsicle cupcakes that I made for my office party. He didn't stand in the kitchen and eat them though - he brought them back to the bed. After consuming said cupcakes he laid the wrappers on the nightstand. Mr. Penguin was alerted to the sniff of creamsicle sometime later. Delighted with his find he no doubt tried to carry them off. Thats when one fell behind the nightstand. Mr. Penguin went into retreiver mode. And now you know the rest of the story. :)

Its foggy outside and I did it myself. I just went out and let out a really big sigh.

Shhhhhhhhhh. I can't find my phone. Truth be told, I really don't feel like looking for it. I feel lazy. Wonderfully lazy. These past couple of months have been so hectic. Blah, blah, blah - you know the story. So lets sit for a little minute and think about the new year.

I have several resolutions. I am going to have to put Mr. Penguin on a diet (his face is REALLY round, as is his belly). I also plan to choose one name. Less confusion all the way around once that is done. I will be in a parade in 2009 (hopefully). Perhaps most important, I just want to slow down.

Its amazing what not driving can do for you. Now that I have taken my car out of my normal daily routine, I find it necessary to do a weekly menu just like my friend Jen. What a difference a menu can make! My grocery stores trips now have efficient purpose. Fabulous.

I don't want to be tied to my phone in 2009. I already don't like chatting on the phone very much. With work it became such a ball and chain - or a rope around my neck. I had to carry it around everywhere. I panicked when I didn't have it with me. I was constantly checking it. Now I can't find it and truthfully, I could care less. For the moment, anyway.

I can breathe.

Astrology Zone

I have been reading my horoscope lately. Not the daily ones - just the monthly one. Susan Miller is neat-o. Problem is that I think I am being sucked into the whole "omg how uncanny and dead-on" brainwashing. Ms. Miller said that forces beyond my control would prevent me from getting anything substantive done this Christmas season. I absolutely, positively had to get all my Christmas shopping, decorating, wrapping, shipping, baking, etc., done by December 9. I tried, but failed. Now I am in a panic that nothing will get done before Christmas. Its silly, really. Wednesday is our last day of Court so I know I will be able to get some stuff done next week. Dang you Susan Miller. You have me panicking for no good reason.

Anywho, I did a bunch of my Christmas cards already but I don't have addresses to a lot more. I feel kinda bad for even sending out Christmas cards. Postage is up to almost 50 cents! I don't want to send a card to someone who in turn feels obligated to send me one. Plus, I really prefer e-cards. No tree killing goes on with an e-card. I just had a whole mish-mash of cards from leftover packs in years past. I figured I shouldn't let them go to waste. Then Overstock complicated the situation by sending me a free pack of cards. I don't know what they do that. Randomly I get free stuff from them. Last year they sent me flowers. Very odd. So now I will have even more leftover cards. I started a card box to keep them organized. Take that Susan Miller - I was at least able to get that project organized.

I must make banana bread now for Keith's office party. Merry Christmas!

Bite of the apple

My husband is obsessed with all things apple. Not the fruit - the computer. Today I got a new iphone but the reason for the new toy is because Keith finally broke down and bought one for himself. He has been talking about the iphone for two years or however long it has been out. He bought virtually every apple product BUT the iphone because of his cell phone contract. The day finally came though, and he is so happy.

He had to drive all the way to West Knoxville for it, which normally makes him grumpy but didn't faze him today. He had to stand in line - again, no complaints. He had to make a choice between colors - apparently it wasn't hard. He even went to the Mac store - IN WEST TOWN MALL. Only crazy people go to West Town Mall after Thanksgiving and especially on a weekend (or those truly dedicated to finding good gifts for people they love :)). I refused to go with him. There is no way in the world I was going anywhere near the mall this time of year.

Keep in mind that this is a man who cannot, I repeat CANNOT, wait in line at the grocery store checkout. Each time we are presented with that situation there is this shuffle, shuffle, shuffle behind me. Lots of sighing and looking at the ceiling. Whining AND whimpering. I actually felt bad for him until now. Its all a ruse!!! Now that I know he can brave West Town at Christmas - I feel an outlet mall shopping trip a comin - with the hubby. :) I love it when he gives me evidence I can use later against him. Ah, men.

Back to the phone, I must admit that it is pretty cool. I have a hard time texting on it so you may get some misspellings from me. Its graphics make the old Treo and Centro look like something made with the Oregon Trail software. Remember that game? So much fun. I wish they made it for the wii.

Falalalala lalalala

I am trying to make a list of Christmas songs to download for my ipod. I love Christmas music. Since we don't have cable anymore (though apple tv rocks), I listen to my ipod constantly. The parade was tonight and alas, I had no Christmas music. Thank goodness Debbie, Drew and Brian came up to chat. Still - I need to make a Christmas playlist. All ideas are appreciated. Definites include:

1. I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
2. Snoopy's Christmas
3. Chipmunk Song
4. Linus and Lucy
5. . . . . . . .

The Animal Shelter

So let me tell you all about the place. I went there for a meeting with the shelter directors, their attorney, the city and county law directors' offices, and animal control. They were not too happy with the da's office, but I think that is now straightened out. I'm new so they are excited about new possibilities I suppose.

Anywho, after our big meeting the director gave me a tour. I had been in the front of the center like everyone else. I've gone through all of the adoptable animals and their pods. The back of the shelter is much, much bigger.

Here is a rundown on the rooms (I do love a good bullet point list):

* Intake for strays and surrenders
* Quarantine rooms for new animals waiting on shots
* Adoptable cats waiting for room on the adoption floor
* Legal cats (legal holds for cruelty or other issues)
* Puppy rooms (waiting for room on adoption floor)
* Small dog rooms (waiting for space on adoption floor)
* Big dog rooms (waiting for space on adoption floor)
* Feral cat room
* Aggressive dog room
* Legal / Confiscated dogs (aside from cruelty this also included at least two dogs whose owner passed and they were trying to determine if the family was going to take the dogs).
* Euthanasia room
* Vet clinic
* Administrative offices
* Storage rooms

I think that is a pretty complete list. I didn't go inside the euthanasia room. They didn't offer and I didn't want to go. I met some lovely animals in the back though. There is a dog (whose name won't be mentioned because it is a legal dog) who was SO friendly. He had been there a long time. They showed me pictures of what someone did to him. People can be so mean.

It was interesting to see all the places Mr. Penguin had been. I didn't ask but I think that once a cat goes into a cage there, it stays in that cage until it is moved to another one. Makes sense I guess, at least to anyone who has ever herded a cat. Its not easy. Dogs are all walked and go outside to play. Can you imagine being a kitty there though - no room to run and play. It explains why Mr. Penguin was so eager to run around our house full speed.

I digress - have I told you about how Chloe came to live with me? I was working a drug case with a US Attorney who lives on a farm in Sevier Co. Someone had put a box of kittens under his in-law's porch. He took them to his farm and offered me one. I needed one. I had just sold my house and moved into the Willows in a tiny, tiny apt. I was trying to find a job in Atlanta (hence the selling of the house) and was in a sad part of my life. I drove to Sevierville and picked her up. She stayed under the bed for three days. The third night she hopped into bed with me and slept at my feet. I fell in love. She is an excellent judge of character. In fact, she put the brakes on a particularly unhealthy relationship that went on for way too long. He was allergic to cats. Chloe was my divine intervention.

Have I told you about Keith and the cats? They love him. He makes up the best songs about Mr. Penguin. I catch him talking to Chloe and her talking back. Keith, the cats and I - we are a family.

I've gone way off topic here - but I did have a point. I saw so many animals in that shelter that may never have a loving family. We all know about that, right? Its so hard to see it. There are hundreds of animals in the back. Hundreds. I know people don't want to support shelters that implement euthanasia policies. I don't really understand that logic. Wouldn't you want to save an animal from that very policy? I have nothing against the humane society (different from Young Williams animal shelter that I am talking about) but they don't take stray animals. They also won't take animals that they deem unfit for adoption (animals with medical issues or physical disabilities, or aggressive behavior). Any owner wanting to surrender can only come there on appointment. Quite frankly - most people giving up their animals don't care that much. They just want to drop the animal off and get it over with. Owners surrendering their animals at the shelter are informed of the euthanasia policy and they still walk away.

Did you know that the humane society likely wouldn't have accepted Mr. Penguin? He has a broken tail. Please understand that I don't fault the humane society - they are a non-profit agency that works to save animals. They can't save them all. I just wish people would understand that the humane society supplements the shelter. It could never replace it.

If you are interested, the website to the shelter is www.knoxpets.org. You can see all the animals and all of the rescue agencies the shelter works with to mete out specific breeds, so those animals can be saved from euthanasia. Maybe, just maybe, you also might see the perfect dog or cat for your home. :)

P.S. You can also see the adoptable animals at the humane society at http://www.humanesocietytennessee.com/

Like a country music song -

I've been gone, but you knew that. So much has happened in the past two months. Here is a rundown:

- I quit my job in defense work.
- I started a new job in prosecution. (Said prosecution job means I am always in the courtroom and rarely on the computer)
- Keith changed law firms
- I burned out my ipod right after the warranty ended.
- Chloe lost a little weight.
- Mr. Penguin gained a lot of weight.
- I went to VA for Thanksgiving.
- I did most of my Christmas shopping.
- I made the best banana bread ever.
- Painters painted our sprinklers and we are still waiting on them to finish the walls . . . (blame the bird decal experiment went awry for the need to paint).
- TN fired Phil Fulmer.
- I missed so much bootcamp while in training for the new job that it hurts. :(
- I found out that two of my friends are pregnant.
- I was given a FULL tour of the animal shelter since I have a new role in the prosecution of animal assault thugs. (I have much more to say about that day).
- I have been cleaning the house since we are between housekeepers (I know, I know, but it does take time).
- and I have been SICK. A horrible sinus infection that made me lay in bed in the evening and pray to not go to work in the morning. I even went to the doctor and he gave me three types of medicine and told me to get two more over the counter. Blah. I am STILL on medication.

Long story short, I've just been super busy adjusting to a whole new life. I am going to try my best to update my blog though. Stay tuned . . .

Wigariffic

Well, its done. I told my boss that I want to be a prosecutor. I don't actually have a job offer in prosecution, but I thought I would be proactive. Ummm. Not sure if honesty is always the best policy but lets just say that it has made the last two weeks very hectic.

So I've been absent from the blog.

Anyway, here I am! I am stressed out. Waaaay stressed. My house is a wreck and it is really putting me on edge. I am on a 10k training schedule right now and I really need to run tonight after work again. On the other hand, I really need to clean my house. I realize this makes for a very boring blog entry. Sorry. Apologies all the way around.

BUT ON ANOTHER NOTE:

J's Mega Mart is closing and I have to go wig shopping.

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/flory/2008/10/js_mega_martkress_building_for.html

So sad

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24329940-2,00.html

I'm glad this is getting international press because people are sick. The cruelty that has to be present inside someone to injure an animal is beyond me. I have handled murder cases, child abuse cases, all types of things. Still - I just don't get it. Granted, I've never worked with a serial killer (that I know of), but geez. Why hurt an animal?

From what I see day in and day out, people hurt other people over money, for revenge, and for power. Animals in homes are abused to intimidate family members or just because someone is a dick, but why why why would someone go out and hurt a random animal for kicks?

I'm tired of doing defense work. I think it is time to be a prosecutor.

Edit - there is now a reward being offered:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/25000-reward-for-kangaroo-boxer/2008/09/15/1221330735189.html

Here is another blog on it: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-82826

If you like pina colada . . .

I'm feeling better but decided to stay in all night. Better safe than sorry. Boredom took over and I started experimenting in the kitchen. I'm trying to come up with a recipe for pina colada cupcakes. So far, I nixed one batch that had pineapple preserves mixed into the batter. Too sweet. The second batch is cooling right now. It is a vanilla cupcake flavored with coconut extract, a small amount of coconut flakes, and a pineapple glaze that I made stovetop (pineapple juice, cornstarch, teaspoon of sugar with pureed pineapple). I have high hopes for this one. I'm topping it with a vegan cream cheese frosting flavored with Malibu, drizzled with a light topping of the pineapple glaze.

Jess is taste testing tomorrow. Yeah!

Adventures

In just a couple of weeks, Keith and I will be hiking Mount LeConte. I am excited. I bought new hiking boots today that I want to break in next weekend in VA. You can read all about our wonderful destination right here (and I suggest that you do because if I like it and you are reading this blog, chances are I will pressure you to go back with me):

http://www.leconte-lodge.com/

There is no electricity. I just found that out today. I'm not really concerned about it, but it would be nice to have someplace to recharge my garmin. The list of amenities is quite hilarious.

• Kerosene lanterns for light
• Propane heaters for heat
• Wash basin and bucket to take a sponge bath
• Linens (sheets, blankets, pillows and pillowcases)
• Table and chair
• Mirror
• Pegs for backpacks
• Covered porches with rocking chairs

Wow, a peg is listed as an amenitity. Interesting. Anywho, I can't find the exact length of the best trail. I think it is somewhere around 9 miles? I think this will be excellent training for my 10K.

I need to read about bears and buy a pack that smell proofs my vegan treats from bear nostrils. Any thoughts on what to pack?

Beware of germs!

They are invading!

Thursday after lunch it hit me like a ton o bricks. I could feel myself getting sick. I tried to ignore it. I tried to pretend it wasn't true. Around 10pm I left the denial behind. I was sick.

I hate being sick. I don't think anyone enjoys being sick, so that's not exactly a profound statement. Still - emphasis added - I HATE BEING SICK.

I had to miss bootcamp on Friday and work too. I went to the doctor and they said I had one of those viruses that has been going around. No antibiotics for me. I was going to have to fight this thing head on. I napped with the cats. I ate ice cream because my throat was screaming in pain (vegan rice dream, actually). I went through half a jumbo box of kleenex and slept on the couch.

Today I feel much better. My fever is gone and I planned a 10k training schedule. I am still sniffly but the environment is no longer hating on me for my kleenex usage. My only fear is that I am still contagious.

I am sad I missed bootcamp this morning because I was supposed to lead. I think I needed super sleep time though. Tomorrow we have training so with luck I will be there. I also want to check out the glowing body tomorrow (www.glowingbody.net).

I think I will eat an orange.

Weekend project!

Keith and I have had these tiles for a long, long time. We never installed them because, quite frankly, we were tired of weekend projects. This weekend, we got off our silly stick and put them up (actually, truthfully, Keith hung them all, I just assisted slightly). We still have a few pieces to finish and we are trying to decide whether or not to paint them (glossy white). The braille letters are raised and the tiles are made, I think, of bamboo pulp. This looks so much better than the crazy bird decal thing I tried to install. We also put up the cork tile behind the computer in the office area. I will have to post a photo of that in the near future.

Blissful cupcakes

For Bliss's grand opening out West I tried to make 6 batches of tiramisu cupcakes all at once, and 8 batches of vegan cream cheese icing (who doesn't love a little extra icing).

Efficiency, right?

There was so much cupcake batter that I had to mix it in my HUGE punchbowl. After dumping in about half of my required 16 cups of powdered sugar, my fabulous fancy mixer called it quits. The motor didn't die; the icing was just so thick that it could no longer stir. Not wanting to burn out my motor, I decided to mix in the rest of the sugar by hand.

Oh me, oh my.

Had I not been doing bootcamp for the past year, performing zillions of pushups, there is no way in the world that I would have been able to finish that batch (ahem, those 8 batches) of icing. My arms were shaking and my back started hurting. I splintered a wooden spoon. Moving onto a steel stirrer, I was finally able to get the job done. It took a while for my hand to unball from its fist position, but it was worth it. The cupcakes turned out beautiful. All 72 of them were gone only an hour or so into the opening. Yeah me!

Case of the Shedding Cats

I have two cats. Each weighs at least 13.1 pounds and as much as 13.6. Chloe stands 13 inches tall while Mr. Penguin is a tad shorter at 12 inches. Chloe is 13 inches long (not including tail) and Mr. Penguin is too wiggly to measure lengthwise.

For the past hour I have vacuumed my living room and bedroom. For purposes of clarification and general understanding, please note that I am using a standard dyson. Except for a few rugs, all surfaces are hardwood or tile. The areas in question were last vacuumed and mopped seven days ago by professional cleaning lady. Cats in question were last thoroughly brushed eight days ago and have had maintenance brushing through the week.

For these two rooms, I had to empty the vacuum twice. And, as stated, it took an hour.

How is this possible? I turned to google for answers:

Quote (Cozy Cat Furniture):

Hair shedding is considered a sign of health in the cat, because the sick cats do not shed. It happens for different reasons, but basically it depends from the time your cat spends outdoor or whether your cat is purely an indoor cat. The shedding is largely influenced by daylight, and this is called “photoperiod”. The number of hours a cat is exposed to sunlight in a day (photoperiod) triggers the shedding process. In addition, shedding varies considerably with breed as well as husbandry practices (i.e. bathing, grooming, activities, etc.).

Indoor cats shed at any time of the year. The amount of shedding hair is less than the outdoor cats due to the artificial light inside the house, but it depends and from the control of the constant temperature in your home.

End Quote.

Our house has big windows and lots of light shines in. A favorite pastime of the feline subjects includes seeking out sunbeams in which to pass out. Note exhibit 1, photo, attached above. I believe that this hobby of said kitties has put them into a classification of high-risk shedders. Evidence (i.e., vacuum cleaner pick-upins) strongly suggests that Chloe sheds more in this condo than she ever shed in the Old City or the Willows.

I suggest to you that cats exposed to hearty doses of sunshine are healthier than indoor kitties living in basements or even outdoor kitties living in alleys. Based upon my conclusion, I suggest Keith and I should purchase part of the floor above us allowing us to install sunlights or a rooftop garden filled with catnip. When he sees my data and research, I will clearly win him over.

;)