Team Gray!

I've moved

2008-07-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Come and visit me at my new blog: Not Like Other Kids.

Kashi is on a Mission

2007-02-26T16:19:00.001-08:00

Hello Friends. Remember me? I'll try to be like big sister Susie Cupcakes and blog more often in 2007. Anyhoo...let's move on to more important matters.

This arrived via UPS this morning.
I know it looks like I put Stevie there on purpose to be cute, but he really did climb in himself. So Kashi is trying to woo me. Why? I don't know other than the fact that I'm a dietitian. Maybe they think my nutrition skills are far reaching and by sending me $40 of Kashi samples I will recruit many Kashi eaters. Weird, no? The granola bars might be good. I hope they are good. I have 80 of them now. High fiber, anyway.

In more exciting news- I'm engaged! I'm to be wed! The cats will have a real daddy!
Here's the ring:

We're very happy. Planning a small destination wedding in Mexico next December. Woo!
India wedding TBD.

Hairdos

2006-06-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

Toonses and I both look like we just stepped out a salon. This is because we indeed did just step out of salons in the past week. His: PetSmart. Mine: First Impressions.

Toonses' new look:

Ahhh!! So creepy and cute all at once. It's called the Lion Cut. Definately "The Rachel" of the Feline world. Please note the following: (1) Toonses does not have string coming out of his mouth. Rather, he is standing next to the cable line which is randomly placed as if it is coming out of his mouth, (2) I had a hard time doing this to my cat. It was only because he was getting nasty hairballs, hates the hairball medicine (Stevie's totally hearts it), and also runs and scratches when I try to brush him and (3) Toonses LOVES his new look. Always preening and srutting about.

Another view.

Who knew Toonses was so tiny??

So now Toonses will probably have regular sessions with the groomer. He is turning into a society cat.

My new look:

My new look was also motivated by hairballs and a dislike of hairball medicine. And that it was really dry and damaged from years of blonding myself. I thought I was going "back to my roots", but ended up going even darker than what I have reason to believe my natural color is. It's fun. I have intended to go darker for a few years now. I'm sure in 3 months I'll be bored and go back to blond. Everyone has a comment about my hair. Even the Muffin Man. Do you know the muffin man? It's a cafe at the hospital where I work. I go maybe once a month, but the man who works the register said to me, "Weren't you blond last week?". I suddenly felt like there were spys everywhere.

Here is another view of my new color. How demure I look holding the posessed devil cat.

CSI is on now. I can never get enough CSI. Bye all.

Life in Pictures

2006-05-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

Gentle Readers,

I deeply regret to inform you that there will not be a "Weekend: Part 2" post. Blogger and I had some serious troubles back in March. We tussle over whether I should be allowed to upload pictures. Of course, this may have something to do with using a computer that was a free gift with a Toyota purchased in 2000. But that is neither here nor there. Let's catch up!

Visiting the Arboretum

It was still pretty cold when we went to the Arboretum (March-ish) and we were deeply in need of a flower/green thing fix. Unfortunately, we got there just before closing so it was a pretty short visit. Afterwards, we went to Boyfriend's most favorite restaurant.

Spring!

We (this includes Boyfriend, the cats and myself) were thrilled with the air getting warmer. The cats could stick their noses up to the window screen and boyfriend and I were able to finally get back outside to walk and run. We trained for and completed a 10K race and also completed a 5K midway through our training. Stevie has also spent some time working on his pull-ups. He hopes to win the Presidential Physical Fitness Award this year.

Farm Time

We had Boyfriend's Nephew over for a sleepover a couple weeks ago. We watched Spy Kids and ate popcorn and then went to "Hugo Animal Farm" the next morning. It was an animal filled sleepover for the Nephew between the farm and Stevie being glued to his side the whole visit.

Festival of Nations

I have been meaning to go back to the "Festival of Nations" (FON) since I moved to Minneapolis. After 8 years, I finally made it. I forgot how fun FON is. FUN FON! Boyfriend and I tried out some Asian noodles, a gyro, humus, carrot & yogurt dip, and assorted pastries. We also bought some inexpensive sushi dishes at the Japan booth. I wanted a 6 foot tall giraffe at the Kenya booth, but alas, it was $650. Maybe next year.

St Croix River Inn

Boyfriend and I went to a B&B this past weekend. We have felt like we've been running around like crazy people pretty much since January between the move and India and busy jobs. And in keeping with my track record of B&B experiences, we both came down with a cold last week. Always sick at the B&Bs. Emergen-C, why did you let me down? Overall, though, it was nice to lie around and watch multiples episodes of Felicity. Speaking of...

Felicity

I'm obsessed. I could BE Felicity. I feel such a kinship because we started college at the exact same time. Felicity was a little painful to watch during her freshman year - so awkward, so creepy! Was I that awkward and creepy? I really think I was. If only I had had access to the WB in the dorm, I might have seen her disasters and saved myself from repeating them. Finished Sophomore year today. Only two years left! Must savor. Boyfriend is also very caught up. He loves Javier. Always chuckling at Javier's antics, that boyfriend.

So there it is. I like my life in pictures.

The Weekend: Part 1

2006-03-20T19:49:00.000-08:00

*Blogger is being tricky so I'll do this post in two parts.*

Conclusion of Toonses Trip to the Vet
Turns out Toonses has FHV (as does Stevie and most cats in the US apparently), which is feline herpes virus. A little ew, yes, but it is not contagious to humans. Toonses is on an antibiotic and both cats are on some lysine paste that suppresses FHV. This paste is so goopy and gross and each cat needs two 2 ml doses each day. Many scratches will ensue over the next week.

Toonses spent the rest of the weekend resting...

...while Stevie worked on his gangsta look.

Boyfriend's Haircut

Before

After

Sushi Saturday!

Grossest looking nigiri I've ever seen!

This is a teaser to keep you hanging on for "The Weekend: Part 2". Are you asking yourself where we went? What we ate? With who? Probably not. But stay tuned and I'll let you know as soon as blogger allows me to upload pics again.

Vet on a Saturday

2006-03-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

Toonses has been snoring and wheezing for the last day and a half and after googling "cat cold" on the internet last night, I think it is high time to get him in. But now the vet isn't answering or calling me back. Ah! Want to get my kitty help!

Here is Toonses:

Wheezy, breezy, beautiful.

In this picture, Toonses and I were stretched out on the couch, working on the blog while simultaneously watching TV. Nevermind my bizarre "work meets J-Lo outfit" - this is merely the result of changing into my velour sweat pants (fondly nicknamed "santa baby" as they were an x-mas gift from my mom, totally victoria's secret catolog) and not wanting to deal with changing my shirt, too. Sometimes the smallest things are too much after a work day. And the ubiquitous pashmina (bought 9 in India, each $2).

Vet just called! There was a cancellation for 11:00. Earlier, vet boy Jeff had told me they were only seeing clients for one hour today due to meetings. I think Toonses is so beloved at the vet that they made up a cancellation to squeeze him in. Toonses is featured in not one but TWO pictures on the wall in the waiting room. This is out of a total of maybe 40-50 pictures. He is their rescue kitten superstar. Sister (aka Susie Cupcakes) also won them over long ago with her cat volunteer work at Feline Rescue. Hooray Sister! Hooray Vet! Hooray Toonses crazy wheezing/snoring being cured!

In other news this week:

Bought bedroom set - so adult! Huge armoir. Come visit and see it.
Sleep Number bed arrived. I'm a 45. So is Anil. But my 45 doesn't = his 45. The sleep number is a complex and unique formulation, so says the salesman.
Going to the orchestra next week. The show features all ABBA songs. Anil is not thrilled. But it was my b-day present, thus, I choose the show.

Ok, must prepare Sir Toonses for the vet. Good thing he hearts car rides.

Snow Day

2006-03-15T16:59:00.000-08:00

Monday was a snow day for me. Well, technically I had to count it as a vacation day (sucky), but it would have been a hideous commute getting to work ("one of the worst storms in people's memories" - so dramatic!). On the other hand, the 3 co-workers who did get to work got to leave after 4 hours. However, if you count their commute times, it probably brings them closer to the appropriate 8 hours. I'm trying to make myself feel better about using one of my very limited vacation days (India took up 9!!!!! days).

Anyway, early Monday was spent glued to the news and the weather reports. Snow plows were going into ditches! Three city buses got jack-knifed on a major highway blocking traffic for over an hour.

The views from my windows:

So pretty! Boyfriend and I went out and got subs and "What Lies Beneath" and planted ourselves on the couch.

This morning, it's snowing again. Another 5-7 inches. Windy. Icey. No way am I using another vacation day so I have a nasty commute ahead of me. And I'm guessing most clients won't come again. Maybe I'll get to leave after 4 hours myself today!

Tomorrow is St. Patricks Day. Green beer will be in order.

Sushi Night

2006-02-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, boyfriend and I prepared a sushi feast! This was in honor of Valentine's Day, as on the 14th I had to eat a hot beef sandwich and green salad with 1 Tbsp ranch dressing in the hospital cafeteria. The meal on the 14th was god awful, but the meal we prepared on Saturday was fabulous. Look how professional from far away! Not quite so up close, but that was ok.

We made:

MISO SOUP

Look at how Stevie wants his own cat-sized portion of hot soup (or maybe he just wants water in a bowl...a luxury he never gets due to a cleft palate...poor Stevie!). I didn't have a recipe, but had bought some miso paste, scallions, tofu, and nori (the dried seaweed sheets) earlier in the day and threw it all together. It was great. Next time we'll add some shittake mushrooms for added flair.

TUNACADO This picture is too dark, but note the lovely sushi dish my sister bought me for my birthday a few years ago.

TUNA NIGIRI & PHILLY ROLL

The salmon we bought was really great. It was called "spearhead". I don't think I've ever seen that in a sushi restaurant, but I highly recommend it. I would like to mention that I rolled the Philly and did a halfway decent job, if I do say so myself.

SPICY TUNA ROLL & RANDOM SALMON/AVACADO ROLL

Boyfriend was in charge of rolling these; thus, I shrunk the picture a bit. They still tasted good, no worries. I couldn't find a recpie for spicy tuna (or really, I got bored trying to find one in my sushi cookbooks or online), so I mixed chopped tuna, horseradish (I didn't have mayo and had to substitute), chili oil, and a little wasabi. It worked out well.

THE LEFTOVERS Seriously people, there was SO MUCH leftover!! I tried to eat some for breakfast the next day and got gaggy so I gave up. During preparation (which took 2 hours or something crazy), we boiled and salted some edamame and ate a bunch. Sushi lovers, you must also know the trick of filling up on edamame and miso so that you don't spend so much on sushi. It was suddenly turned around on me...I had already spent $25 on fish and then couldn't finish it cause I was too full! Oops. Like all good pupils, we learned a lesson.

Real Busy

2006-02-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

Oh boy. Boyfriend and I have been crazy busy. So much to blog that blogging became too much. You understand. The recent highlights include:

1. Moving into a new home in Minneapolis, which entails boyfriend and I living together for the first time (Worry not, gentle reader, all is more than well. We are very happy roomies.) Outside of this window the cats enjoy watching your usual city animals: rabbits, squirrels, birds, and fox. Yes, I said fox.

2. Going to India for boyfriend's cousin's wedding. (Are all my apostrophes right?)

Prior to all of this there was a trip to Florida and a trip to NC for Sister's graduation (hooray scholastica!)

Anyway, the plan is to do up a separate, India- specific blog as a virtual scrapbook. However, being spazzy and impatient, I deleted all 160 pictures in one fell swoop while at the airport in India. I cringe as I write this. Why, why, why? Why must I do such things? The good news is that things may all be recovered, or partially recovered, using various magic software things. It's taking some time to get it all coordinated given my chaotic living situation (see #1 above). Also, the Indian relatives are sending pics too. Or "snaps" as they call them. Isn't that gross and delicious all at once? Take a "snap". I want to see the "snaps". Say it. Live it.

Ok, boyfriend and I are going to watch the opening ceremonies now. Ciao baby!

Weddings A-Plenty

2005-10-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

I have been MIA in the land of blogging, but now I'm back! So, the weekend before last (October 1-2), Boyfriend and I attended two weddings. And coming up in January, I will be going to India for a week-long wedding celebration! Very exciting, a little scary. The bride-to-be is Boyfriend's cousin, who is a fashion designer in India. Tres chic! And now, a pictoral history of wedding weekend.

Wedding #1
My friend Susan was married on October 1st. I met Susan while we were both dietetic interns in Minneapolis. Being the only two interns under forty (there were four interns total), we bonded quickly. It was fun to get all ready; very prom-like. Most prom-like of all - my updo! So delightfully hideous!

Here are Susan and I, all gussied up.

Boyfriend and I at dinner.

Try not to let Boyfriend's tucked-in tie distract you too much.

The reception took place at the local Elk's club in Albert Lea, MN and there were fantastic elk outside. I attempted to shimmy up and get my picture taken with the elk, but being the fool I am, I tripped climbing up. Who trips going up? Me. A lot. So we went back the next day and got an elk picture.

I forgot to mention that I technically caught the bouquet and Boyfriend technically caught the garter. No worries about upcoming nupitals for me - I don't think picking these things off the floor counts. Here is Toonses modeling the garter.

2nd Wedding

A far less formal affair, I wore a sweater and long skirt and Boyfriend wore jeans. It took place at "Near Wilderness" park. I don't like the "near" business in that name. Why not just commit to being the Wilderness? But the ceremony was nice and short and outside. Unfortunately, at this point, Boyfriend and I were a bit weddinged out, so we left about an hour after the dancing started.

My casual wedding attire:

There was a song for all the "men" at one point. Someone blew up a gigantic microphone and each man had to take a turn singing into this fake mike. I'm not going to lie - I was frightened.

Boyfriend singing into the mike:

I don't think he minded his moment in the spotlight too much.

Rachel Ray and H & M

While I was writing this blog, I was watching Rachel Ray on the Food Channel. She is ALWAYS drunk. And always annoying. Yet I watch her again and again. So that is my bad.

Yesterday I went to H & M and loved it. I'm wearing an all new outfit today. I will probably be made fun of at work for this because I have been rotating only 5 outfits for the past 3 months. And now I suddenly have a 6th to add to the rotation. But I will be strong against the teasing cause H & M is the bomb diggity. I heart H & M.

Pot Pie

2005-09-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

Pot Pie

Boyfriend and I made pot pies yesterday night for dinner. Boyfriend chose the heartier Marie Callender turkey pot pie, while I stuck with a standard Banquet turkey pot pie. How delicious they smelled cooking in the oven. Simply look at our joyous faces after plating the pot pies (the upside down style was something boyfriend insisted on).

We both thoroughly enjoyed our Sunday night feast. Mmmmm....pot pie.

Weddings

This weekend will be wedding intensive. First I will be a bridesmaid in my friend Susan's wedding (I was an intern with her a couple years ago). We (meaning boyfriend and I) will leave for Albert Lea from Minneapolis on Friday morning. We'll stay in Albert Lea through Sunday (bonus of tiny MN towns- very cheap hotels!) and then we shall drive back through Minneapolis to check on the meow mix before heading to a small state park about 30 minutes outside of the city for a wedding of a friend of a friend of boyfriend's. Boyfriend is very popular and jovial so he is invited to friend of friends' weddings. I would like to mention that I have been growing out my nails for wedding #1 (the one for which I am a bridesmaid). Note: I have not had nails this long since maybe 5th grade? Take this nail-biting habit! Boo-ya!

Bit of a monster hand there.

Cats

Now, I leave you with some cat images...my most favorite subject to photo.

Monsieur Gray, the cat who sleeps at least 20 hours each day.

Ooh! Regardez le chat gris qu'il attend sur le parapluie! Il est tres grand et magnifique. J'adore cet chat gris! Vraiment, j'adore! Est-ce que je peut ecrit le langue francais? Non! Absolutement non!

My First 5K

2005-09-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday I got through my first 5K. I must admit I was scared beforehand, because there simply weren't enough elderly women there to ensure I wouldn't come in last. In the end, I was definitely not one of the last. Whoo-hoo me! Boyfriend was very proud. Here is a pic:

I look very much like my Mom in that picure. On Friday night, boyfriend and I went to see Flight Plan. Here is what boyfriend wore to keep warm.

He's real handsome, isn't he? Homecoming is next weekend and I'm super excited. He will be the starting quarterback in the football game and I'll be proud to wear his letterman's jacket. Go boyfriend!

How much did they schtupp you for?

2005-09-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

This morning I laced up my running shoes and did a mile loop in preparation for my first ever 5-K run tomorrow. I also brought some money to treat myself to an iced non-fat vanilla latte afterwards. I justify my excessive espresso purchases based on 90% of my meals being paid for at work. I dare-say I need not justify, most would find my coffee habit pure logic.

Anyway, after purchasing my latte from the coffee shop called Butter, I happily headed down the street to my apartment. Suddenly, the doors of a mini school bus swung open and an old lady with white hair and an embroidered sweatshirt called out to me. Did they want me to get on the bus? Was there a mix up and they thought I was meant to be a passenger on the bus? I walked over and the bus contained an additional elderly lady.

"How much did he schtupp you for?", the old-lady driver asked. It transpired that the old ladies were quite upset about the $1.40 coffee prices. They were used to McDonald's. The whole experience was delightfully random. Why were these women on a bus? Some sort of geriatric adventure?

After I got home and was looking for the correct spelling of "schtupp", I found out that it means "to fornicate". Hmmmm...

Other big news: Stevie is practicing his witch cat look for Halloween. He has plans to sit on the front stoop that night and frighten children and passerbys. Here is the look he is contemplating. Have you ever seen such a precious cat?

My Very Own Blog

2005-09-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

I have been having some issues with Blogger. But after many attempts, I think I got it! You see, when big sis "Susie Cupcakes" got her blog, I became very middle sister and wanted a blog of my very own. It's only fair. But no blog for Danny (Danny is the wee one in the family).

So who am I? A crazy cat lady? Yes, and so much more. I just turned 25 and live in a classy one-bedroom apartment (pics to follow someday soon) with my Team. They are stray, gay, and most importantly gray. Besides my meow-mix, I work as a dietitian at an Eating Disorders treatment facility. It's interesting work and I was thrilled to get the job two months ago. I have a boyfriend who is a scientist/garage builder/property owner. He suits.

And now, some history. The acquisition of a team.

Team Gray: The Backstory

Toonses was a cat I decided to foster back in the day (circa 2000). This was after a roommate and I had killed two hamsters and felt bad in a dirty way. We needed to foster a cat to prove we were not some sort of mammal killers. So one day I came home and there was Toonses with his rugged good looks (i.e. puffy fur) and scrappy ear (bit of an ear mite situation when he was living on the streets). We bonded intensely. He loved me and only me. I liked that a lot. Sometimes he would even spit on people he didn't like. Over the past five years he has become far friendlier, but still reserves the occasional spit for a select few. I should mention Toonses' original name was Puddy 2. This was gross. Toonses still doesn't know of this indignity, as I think it would be truly distasteful to him. Hopefully Puddy 1 was also re-named.

Stevie came along a couple years later. Big Sister, aka Susie Cupcakes, had been fostering him, but was moving to Raleigh, NC and needed to find him a new foster home. I had met Stevie and found him delightful- a charming gray kitten. Stevie and Toonses fell in love soon after meeting. They enjoyed making cat piles, cleaning each others ears, and generally being gray together. I brought Stevie to one adoption fair and ended up adopting him myself at the end of the fair. My Mom had previously forbidden me from adopting any more cats. So for the next two months she would ask, "When is Stevie's next adoption fair?" and I would say "mmm...two weeks". How tricky I was! But she has since fallen in love with the Stevie and often tries to convince me to leave him with her when I visit home.

So for the past three years, I have lived in gray harmony with my team.

Go Team Gray!

Meet the Team!

2005-09-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

Senor Stevie is on the left and Monsieur Toonses is on the right. Precious, non? And a bit multi-cultural.