Friday Shuffle - The "She's Still Alive!" Edition

I'm way overdue here for a check-in. Since there's a whole lot of random going on, I'll stick with the dots today.

• Where to start? Life is constantly crazy, but a heck of a lot less nuts since my foster kittens have been gone. I had them for five weeks, and now they're all in great foster-to-adopt homes (since they're too young to be fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered) . My favorite, Barolo, the only male, was the first to go along with his sister Syrah. I was happy for them to go out together, but it was really difficult letting them go. I called my Dad afterward, to tell him how proud I was for not keeping my 'Rolo, for kicking him out of the nest first! He was pleasantly surprised, because I think that he (and others) in my family assumed that I wouldn't be able to give up the babies. After all, growing up I was that kid: the one who dragged home strays, the one who cried after catching her first fish because she wanted to take the bluegill home with her to keep as a pet, the one who walked neighborhood dogs for money. But I did it, and it feels good. I've even been keeping in touch with the people who have my kitties, and have been emailing them baby photos. Empty nest syndrome has kicked in though, and I'm valiantly trying not to bring home another sick litter to nurse back to health!



• Exactly one month ago today I lost a dear member of my family. My great, great Aunt Louise was 99 years old, and no, her passing wasn't exactly shocking. But still, it was. I struggled for a few weeks, and fell into depression. I'm dealing much better now, but it's still hard to realize that we'll never talk again. I really loved to talk to her, to hear about life in Little Italy "back in the day". She was lucky to be in relatively good health until her 98th year, and her mind was sharp until the end. Aunt Louise was a first generation Italian, and made the most incredible sauce. In fact, she lived on her own and kept making her sauce until last fall. She was such a blessing.



• Grace Kelly made it through her tail surgery. It's been nothing but a pain in the ass since then, though! We've had a hell of a time keeping Grace from ripping off her bandages and fucking with her tail. E-Collars are absolutely useless with Greyhounds, because of their muscular necks being bigger than their heads - it just slips right over her head. We've resorted to keeping her racing muzzle on her whenever we can't keep an eye on her. She can drink with it on, and while she can lick at her bandage with some effort, it usually keeps her from doing so. But still, we've had issues, and her little nubbin is taking FOREVER to heal. Last time we were at the vet, we were being threatened with having to amputate another vertebrae off if it doesn't get any better. So send some super healing, "Gracie quit fucking with your stumpy tail" vibes, will you? I don't want to have to put her (and our wallets) through that again. Sheesh.



• I'm seeing Radiohead again on August fourth. *insert squeals of joy here*



• My buddy Lisa and I are flying out to Nashville August 16 to visit our friend Sarah. *insert squeals of joy here* This will be my first time in Nashville, and I'm looking forward to much gluttony, beer, music geek fun, and well, just a blast in general getting to have a full weekend with two of my favorite ladies!



• I think I'll be headed out for a matinee of Sex and the City on Monday. I'm excited, but am also preparing for the worst. Will get a lobotomy promptly afterward if needed to block out the film. Again, fingers crossed.



• Things are going well at work, and I've been promoted to management. It's comforting to know that I have something decent before embarking on the major job search next year. And I'll have more to tack on to my resume, along with my previous library experience...

Enough of the dots. Onto the shuffle!

1. Eyes Without A Face - Billy Idol: Greatest Hits
2. The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails: With Teeth
3. Party Out Of Bounds - The B-52's: Time Capsule
4. Turning Japanese - The Vapors: Living In Oblivion
5. Myxomatosis - Radiohead: Hail To The Thief
6. Isn't It A Pity - George Harrison: All Things Must Pass
7. Rejoice - U2: October
8. The Three Sunrises - U2: Wide Awake In America
9. I'll Buy - The Replacements: Tim
10. Rudy, A Message To You - The Specials: Grosse Pointe Blank

Have a good weekend all, and have some fun for me!

Weekend Shuffle - The Mass Chaos Edition

I started this post with good intentions on Friday, but these darned (cute) kitties have kept me away from it. Right now I'm trying to figure out what drugs I must have been slipped when I told our director of operations that I would like to take in foster kittens. As long as they aren't bottle feeders, how hard could it be? *insert delusion here*

This is not to say that I am not enjoying my first fostering experience. I love these little guys, and I fret over them constantly. I spend so much time with them (feeding, cleaning them, giving them their meds twice a day, cleaning their cage, washing the old towels that they muck up on a daily basis, giving them run time around my office, letting them snuggle with me because well, I'm mama to them and they're still young enough that they need snuggle time) that I've pretty much avoided all schoolwork since I've had them. And I've got two weeks of school left, with three assignments due (one tomorrow) in my difficult class.

So I've much to do. But dammit, these little guys are so cute and fun. When I got home from work last night, I immediately made them up some dinner. Usually they're mewing like crazy for the food, but yesterday they all ignored the food at first and ran to me. After a few moments of purring and crawling all over me, they remembered the food and went back to their cage to eat. Later, as I was taking turns with them to give them both their eye meds and their shot of amoxicillin, they all gradually made their way to my lap to go to sleep after they were done running around and wrestling in my office. All but one of the kitties (who has been named Precocious) were a little shy at first, but now they've all claimed me as mama.

But the kitties, schoolwork, family problems and work drama isn't all that's going on right now. Drew and I now get to deal with Gracie and her Ouchie Tail:



Friday I had a lunch date with Sarah, one of my best friends whom I have not seen since last February or so. She was in town on business, so we were both excited to have the afternoon to catch up. When Sarah arrived, I was upstairs and Drew greeted her at the door. At some point, Drew decided to take the dogs out. In between (I think) Cosmo barking wildly at Sarah (because visitors are scary! she might murder us all!) and Drew trying to get the dogs outside, Drew slammed Gracie's freakishly long tail in the door. I heard her horrible doggie-scream and made my way outside. I held Gracie's bloody tail while Drew ran inside to get some paper towels. A few moments later I finally got to say hello to Sarah, as I watched Gracie's blood splatter over some of the gravel in the driveway.

When we finally got the bleeding under control, we wrapped up her tail. I called the vet, and Drew had to cut the damn bandage back off so I could attempt to describe the injury to the tech. I was freaked out about Gracie, but in the back of my head all I could think about was how all I wanted to do was just have a good time with my friend and here was another fucking crisis. Calgon, take me away already!

The tech told us to bring Gracie in at three, so Sarah and I were at least able to get some lunch around the corner and spend about two hours catching up. Gracie seemed a little less freaked out when we got back home, which was good. I gave Sarah a big hug, then Drew and I left for our appointment.

At the office, our vet shaved more hair off of the tail, despite Drew having done the same thing at home trying to get a better look at the wound. A hanging flap of skin was removed, and Grace howled in pain. The vet pointed out the exposed tendon, said it was damaged beyond repair, and that on Tuesday Gracie will have to have the bottom portion of her tail amputated, probably three or four inches of it. Not a big deal, in fact this sort of thing happens to Greyhounds quite often. But still, we're bummed about it. Drew is so upset with himself, and feels horribly guilty about the situation. Gracie is on pain meds and antibiotics and is doing fine. I'm going to be a trainwreck Tuesday though, because of the risks associated with Greyhounds and anesthesia. So send some good vibes our way for a safe surgery...

Onto the shuffle!

1. Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead: Kid A*
2. Easy Rider - Janis Joplin/Big Brother & The Holding Company: Live At Winterland
3. Mr. Sandman - The Puppini Sisters: Betcha Bottom Dollar
4. I Could Die For You - Red Hot Chili Peppers: By The Way
5. The Sun Also Sets - Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger
6. Pistol Of Fire - Kings Of Leon: Aha Shake Heartbreak
7. Certain People I Know - Morrissey: Your Arsenal
8. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead
9. 88 Lines About 44 Women - The Nails: Living In Oblivion: The 80s Greatest Hits
10. Numb - U2: Zooropa

*I have a date with these guys August 4th.

Officially Insane

Today I brought home five kittens from work to foster for a little while. They are four weeks old, and their mama was hit by a car. Aside from needing meds for some minor eye issues, they're pretty healthy. Oh, and me? Completely batshit crazy. You know, because there's just not enough going on right now. Did I mention that it's also the end of the semester?

I'm doomed.

Actually, I'm hoping that once I get into a routine with these guys, it won't be too bad. The hard part is keeping them separated from the other two cats and the dogs. They're living in my office, where the dogs usually sleep at my feet as I'm doing work at my computer, and also where the cats steal my chair when I'm out of the room. So far, the cats have been ignoring the closed door, though the dogs have been scratching and whining. Hopefully I can a) get some work done, and b) keep these little guys healthy. That's the whole point of getting them out of the shelter at such a vulnerable age. There's no way I could handle bottle-feeders, but these guys are able to eat kitten formula and wet food.

Would you like to see some photos?







Now I need some caffeine and to be all studious for the next few hours...

Friday Shuffle - Random Dots Edition

• I was thinking about this blog the other day, and how I used to make an effort to write or to at least make people laugh with it. Now it's just a generic way to throw myself out there. I'm wondering if it's worth keeping up after all these years. There's life after grad school, right?



• My friend Robin is doing the coolest thing to help me raise money for Bark in the Park, a pledge walk to benefit HSGA. She's making homemade peanut butter doggie treats, along with hand-knit catnip toys. All proceeds will go to Bark in the Park! How great is that? If you'd like to put her to work (wink, wink) drop her a line on her blog. Or, if you'd like to help out by sponsoring myself and Drew, let me know! It's going to a fantastic cause, and we have until May 10 to raise money for our hundreds of homeless animals.



• Drew and I will be 28 on Sunday. I've been so preoccupied with school and family-related problems that I have yet to get Drew anything resembling a birthday gift, not even a card. So yeah, I feel like a shit girlfriend. Lately I've been in a funk, and my head's just not together...



• During said funk, I've realized that it's perfectly acceptable to live on chocolate and caffeinated beverages. Got to get that energy up somehow when you're living on junk food, right?



• Tomorrow I'm having a few margaritas with my favorite co-worker. Then we're going to hit up Thursdays with some other assorted buddies. Do you know how long it's been since I've gone out and been all social? I'm embarrassed that I have to think about the answer.

That's all I've got for now. I'm hoping to shuffle out the sounds of my neighbor's band practicing in their basement next door...

1. Live Forever - Oasis: Definitely Maybe*
2. Every Picture Tells A Story - Rod Stewart: Almost Famous
3. Interzone - Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures**
4. Sugar Sugar - The Archies: Billboard's Top Rock & Roll Hits 1969*
5. She Is Beyond Good And Evil - The Pop Group: No Thanks! The 70s Punk Rebellion
6. Impossible Germany - Wilco: Sky Blue Sky***
7. Detective - No Doubt: Rock Steady
8. American Girl - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Greatest Hits****
9. Vanity Kills - ABC: The Best Of ABC*****
10. Electrical Storm (William Orbit mix) - U2: Electrical Storm******

*Mmm...pop goodness!
**This album has been playing nonstop in my car this week.
***Sweet, sweet Wilco.
****This song never gets old. Ever.
*****Drew makes fun of me for liking horrible 80s Euro trash like this.
******I can't hear this song without thinking of the video. Mmm...Larry goodness.

Time For Some Laughs

Oh Larry...what would I do without you?

Friday Shuffle - The Neil Young Edition

It's been a bit of a crap week here. Emotionally, I'm hitting the wall I hit every year, because I cannot handle another day of winter blahness. I think I need one of those sun lamp thingies, but obviously I'm much too cheap to buy something that may boost my mental health. My best buddy Lyndsay got one when she moved to Alaska this past year, and has said that it's really helped her out. But I'm lazy. Or something like that. I'm also terribly sick of school, and I'm dealing with some family health issues.

So...whenever I have the blahs, I listen to Neil. That being said, onto the shuffle!

1. Cowgirl In The Sand: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
2. Throw Your Hatred Down: Mirrorball
3. Old King: Harvest Moon
4. Mr. Soul: Decade
5. Cortez The Killer: Decade
6. Unknown Legend: Harvest Moon
7. Powderfinger: Live Rust
8. Shining Light: Chrome Dreams II
9. It's A Dream: Prairie Wind
10. Silver & Gold: Silver & Gold

Okay, group hug!

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

I guess it's good that we don't drive this one.

Blizzard Watch 2008

The nastiness (i.e. snow) started to fall quick and fast yesterday around 10:30 a.m. We got five inches or so in Akron, before it let up for part of the night. This morning the cars were buried, and Drew and I were cursing ourselves for wasting the effort of shoveling the night before. We knew the snow would start up again, but I thought it would be coming again later in the morning...

So we dug ourselves out. Our road had only one lane plowed, and it looked like it hadn't been touched in hours. The main road off of our street was disastrous. Drew and I left for work at the same time, and as I was inching down the street in the hopes of making it to the freeway, this truck was stuck in the road and spinning out in front of me. My poor Cavalier could barely make it over the mounds of snow in the street. Finally the dude in front of me got a grip, and was able to straighten out and drive again.

There was a slow crawl to the freeway (which was ick), and I was terrified of making it to the horrible, hilly, winding road that leads to work. It's bad during normal snowfall, so I had no idea how I was even going to make it the two miles down the Crappiest Road In Existence to the shelter. Thankfully my phone started to ring, and it was someone from working telling me to turn my ass around. Snow day! Sucks because I need the money, but I'd rather be safe at home, not having to worry about making it back from work in the evening because this snow is not going to let up today.

When I made it back home I called my Dad in Florida to get the status on my brother, who is supposed to fly from Orlando back into Cleveland today. He had spent 8 days with Dad, going to Indians spring training games, golfing, etc. Yeah, I hate them both. Anyway, as I called, Dad and Shane were at the airport and just found out that his flight had been canceled. Much relief on my part, as I would have been freaking out over him landing into Cleveland safely, then making the long trek back from Hopkins to the snowbelt.

I'm going to spend my free day getting some schoolwork done. I'm also going to catch up on some laundry, and watch an episode or two of The Sopranos. Snow days rock. A few photos...

This is the current view out of my office window to the house behind ours:



Mr. Cosmo, who loves every second of this:





And Grace Kelly with her naked Greyhound bum, who is thankful that we shoveled by the door, but who secretly hates us for making her pee and poop outside in this weather. Here she is thinking, "Get me the fuck back inside, assholes!":