I've moved

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

Kashi is on a Mission

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

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

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

*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

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

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.