mollymouser's Journal

SAVING WHILE SNUGGLING!!!!
Oct 13 2008 16:13

One of the many ways I plan to save money on our cool weather heating costs is by NOT turning on the heat at night and just staying warm n' snuggly under our cat-covered covers! So far, so good! We've hit the low 40s at night so far (and since I tend to sleep with our sliding glass door wide open, it's pretty gosh-darned chilly in our bedroom) and last night I went to sleep with FIVE kitty cats on top of me, lol! (Daniel, Miss Cricket, Tigger, Emily and Scampi). Throughout the night I definitely felt the pitter patter of not-so-little feet (ok, more like cats in siletto heels) ... and when I woke up this morning I STILL had three cats in bed with me (Daniel, Cricket and Emily!)

While Marsha is continuing to settle in, it's not without some growly-hissy kitty drama, that's for sure. Part of the problem is that Emily and Fuzzball just don't back off when Marsha so very clearly doesn't want them to come any closer. Some nights I end up locking up Fuzzy or Emily (or Fuzzy and Emily) in their own room so Marsha is less stressed (and less vocal.)  Last night (when I didn't lock any one up) was peacefully calm and quiet until 4am when Fuzzy and Emily had Marsha cornered in the linen closet. Well, THAT woke me up. I shoo'd everyone away and liberally used the squirt bottle. Eventually Fuzzy got bored and wandered off and Emily came back to bed with me .... I returned to bed about 5:15am .... Zzzzzzzz. 

Even though I still have an impressive hip-limp, I ventured out to the grocery store today, mainly because I decided I HATED the trash bags that were left (no ties) and really wanted ones with ties. I also picked up some basics ... tuna, apples, turkey, chicken, carrots, onions, chicken noodle soup, Fiber One cereal, sparkling water and roasted red pepper hummus.  I ate the last of my Trader Joe's egg salad for lunch today, so will probably make a Trader Joe's run sometimes in the next few days. (I took Fiber Cakes out of the freezer, so the only thing I really need is egg salad ... and I can always make some, if I want!) I also got gas for my car (next to the grocery store!).

I filled bird feeders in the front and back yard today, scrubbed out the bird baths, and swept the front sidewalks, too.  I was going to put out some plant food and non-toxic snail bait, but got distracted -- so I've written those down to do tomorrow (Tuesday). Our pest control service, "the spider guy" is also scheduled to come tomorrow, so perhaps THAT will jog my memory and I'll remember "snails!"  Wednesday is payday (yay!) which also means bill paying, too. We'll be back up in the 80s as of tomorrow and for the rest of the week.

SATURDAY MORNING WITH THE CAMERA
Oct 11 2008 10:34

Marsha strikes a regal pose on the family room table.

This morning was one of those delightful, chilly, autumn, stay-under-the-covers-and-snuggle sort of mornings ... all green and golden and gorgeous. The sun is shining and the birdies are twittering and the squirrels in the backyard were DEMANDING to know why I hadn't put a new seed cake out for them in their feeder.  Since I was awake anyway, I threw on some clothes and tended to the squirrels first thing, lol! (You can see where my priorities are, can't you?) Next up was putting out a new can of wet foof for our front porch feral cat, LimpyCat ... no sign of him in his house and bed ... but I am sure he's around somewhere. Since it's now getting cold at night, I got his insulated dog cat house out of the garage and placed it on the front porch for him -- with his snuggly fleece bed inside -- yesterday. I smile as I think of my wonderful DH lovingly "insulating" the inside of that little house for me last winter so I wouldn't worry so much about LimpyCat getting cold.

Fuzzy keeps an eye on Marsha from the OTHER table.

I decide to grab my camera and snap a few around-the-house shots for posterity, Photobucket, as well as for my wonderful DH. Sometimes it's nice just to SEE home, even if you can't BE home, ya know? Anyway, my eye is drawn to some of our stained glass windows, and to our kitty-filled kitchen, and our bright and cheery guest room, and our bedroom. Since I actually made my bed this morning, I just HAD to snap a shot for posterity, LOL!  And what photo collection would be complete without Emily drinking water out of the kitchen sink???

My plans for this sunny Saturday are to get dressed (easier said than done, some days!) and then to head out to (1) get my hair trimmed (I feel scraggly) ... and then I promised my girlfriend Susan that I would help her with organizing and getting one of her condo bedrooms all ready for a new roomie that will be moving in shortly.  I turned down requests to volunteer at a kitty cat adoption event today, as well as the chance to walk precincts for one of the local mayoral candidates.... I am just not in the mood for either, it seems.  I've already cast my absentee ballot (and sent Ron his in Iraq), so I think that satiated my political urges for the moment. (Though I may do some phone banking next week, who knows?)

My blood sugars were inexplicably high this morning ... about 30 points higher than normal ... and I did not eat anything unusual yesterday or last night. Gosh, my body is so WEIRD sometimes.  Then again so many things seem to adversely impact my blood sugars ... my time of the month, stress, weather changes, secondary illnesses and infections -- you name it.  Oh well. I took an insulin shot (darn!!!!) and then I went ahead and had my normal breakfast of a low carb bagel and some Fiber One, since I refuse to live a life without ANY carbs and I'm pretty gosh-darned tires of egg whites, cottage cheese and turkey.

I heard from my wonderful DH Ron yesterday by telephone, which was wonderful. It is a bit strange to have a conversation with someone who really isn't allowed to say what he's been doing. So we discuss the weather over there, the food over there, and his laundry. (YAY! No missing laundry this time ... remember last time when his underwear was kidnapped?) We also spent some time discussing the possibility and logistics of enclosing our small bedroom patio with two-by-fours and chicken wire to make an indoor-outdoor cat enclosure ... with a cat door insert installed in our bedroom sliding glass door. I really think we can make it work -- and our patio is 100% in the shade and would be safe for Miss Marsha. We'd put a 6 ft kitty condo/cat tree out there, too. Doesn't that sound like a GREAT Home Improvement Project?  Now if only we can find someone who can help Ron with the construction since I am absolutely inept with power tools!

HALFWAY THROUGH THE WEEK . . .
Oct 08 2008 20:49

heh heh heh .... I can sooooo identify with this photograph today! Well, I am not exactly sure HOW I managed to do it (other than by being a doofus klutz), but I seem to have REALLY wrenched my hip -- and it looks like a torn or severely strained muscle. Can you say OUCH!??? (I think it was from getting out of slippery bathtub earlier this week.... I didn't fall, but I really wrenched/twisted it trying to stay upright.)  Anyway, it hurts to walk, it hurts to sit down, and it pretty much hurts when I am not moving!!! Anyway, I'm treating it by being very careful and with regular doses of Tylenol. (I'm allergic to both aspirin and ibuprofen, and cannot take any anti-inflammatory.)  And I'm staying out of the bathtub for a while.

My friend Anita picked me up today so we could run errands (it REALLY hurts to get in/out of the car and to drive) ... it was nice to get restocked on some basics (hummus, cat food, sunflower seeds, laundry detergent, radishes, etc.)  And I also made it to the Post Office so I could send my wonderful DH his absentee ballot by Priority Mail so he can vote and get it mailed back in time for the November 4 election.  Then, after dinner, my friend Susan called to see if I wanted to go with her for some sugar free Italian Ice at NeeNee's .... so we made a quick run over there before it got too late.  YUMMMMMM!!!

I went online today to check out my wonderful DH's pay stub for his next paycheck (Oct 15) ... and ..... (brace yourself!!!) .... it was CORRECT! (You could've knocked me over with a feather, woooooooo hoooooo!) Anyway, we don't get paid until next week, but I was pleasantly tickled PINK to see that it was for the normal, correct amount! Tomorrow (Thursday) my friend Stacey is coming over, we're going to grab dinner out some place casual (I have a taco craving, I think), and then we're going to watch the musical CATS on DVD.

THIS IS  MY FAVORITE SCENE/SONG FROM CATS

AROUND THE HOUSE ....
Oct 07 2008 12:51

The morning glories really seem to love the weather this time of year ... not quite so blisteringly hot as summer, but plenty of sunshine and warm weather to bloom and grow! Anyway, they are the most gorgeous shades of purple I've ever seen ... especially against the backdrop of their bright green leaves.

I watched The Fugitive on cable the other night, with some special assistance from the fluffballs that I live with. They can. of course, recline ANYWHERE in the house, but seem to prefer RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SCREEN! Cats, lol! And if I am trying to read a book, or pay bills, or even type on the computer ... guess, just GUESS where they always want to sit!

Marsha ignores the train wreck

And she bathes during the escape

At least Smudge was standing NEXT to the screen (not in front of it)

At least she looks comfy, right?

I've been hearing from my wonderful DH fairly regularly, he's working hard and even went swimming today.  We talk a lot about the small little crisis or two that keep my life interesting back home ... the closet door fell off the track in the guest room ... and there are SLUGS in my guest bathroom. (Correction ... there WERE slugs in my guest bathroom ... there are now heaping piles of salt in pretty little snow drifts all over the bathroom tile. Take THAT you silly slugs!) Can I just shriek now? EEEEEEK! Anyway, my wonderful DH has promised to re-attach the wayward closet door upon his return ... for the time being it is propped decoratively against the wall.

HEH HEH HEH .... wonder if my wonderful DH is finding cat fur over in Iraq?

MARSHA UPDATE (WITH PICTURES!)
Oct 05 2008 16:03

Well, it's been 3.5 weeks since Marsha's ear cancer surgery, and 4 weeks since we swooped down on her in our backyard and proclaimed her an "inside only" kitty cat!  She's been recovering alone in our spacious office, with brief interactions with the rest of our kitties through the locked-but-see-through cat door. For a few days I let occasional other kitties in for visits, and then on Wednesday I started letting her out for supervised visits.... returning her to the office at night. Last night (Saturday) was her first night left out with the rest of the kitties ... with no huge CATastrophes. (Sure there are boundary issues with hissing and growls, but I am optimistic things will work out okay!.) Anyway, I couldn't find her this afternoon (Sunday), so I went on a hunt and found her hanging out in the guest room with a few other cats ... YAY!

Watching birds with Emily

 Hangin' with Smudge

Emily and Daniel nearby

     Grand Central Station!

Pretty darn adorable!

LOVE AND OLIVES
Oct 04 2008 16:59

My Newest Red T-Shirt ... looks just like this one, lol! I ordered it online from Alaska and it arrived in time for me to wear it to the Big Fresno Fair, woo hoo! Think I will wear it with my denim shorts and my red Crocs. (I have little red white and blue American Flag Jibbitz decorating my Crocs, too!) In between volunteering for our local no-kill animal rescue, I've also been volunteering for some local political campaigns, too. (We have an awesome female candidate running for Mayor!)  The deadline in most states to register to vote is coming up in the next week or so .... so be sure and get registered so you can be sure and vote!

Weird Trivia Du Jour ... I've had the weirdest craving for olives in the past 24 hours or so.... and I think I've eaten about a dozen or so garlic-stuffed olives. (That's the only kind we have!) I can say that the cats certainly don't like the smell of garlic olives ... they come scampering to the kitchen to see what I'm eating, take one whiff, wrinkle their little noses, and FLEE! Anyway, even Miss Marsha Mellow isn't too thrilled with my newfound craving for olives.  Speaking of Marsha, I am now letting her have free run of the house during the daytime so she can hiss and growl at other cats to her heart's content. I'm still putting her in her own room at night (at least for the last 2 nights) so she can get some peace and some rest. Hopefully soon I can just leave her on her own.  She's been a bit grouchy the past few days, so I need to be really careful in dealing with her.

I overseeded the front and back lawns today (focusing on a few bare spots) with some perennial winter rye. I will try to give the lawn some extra water this week, too. I'm actually pretty happy with how the grass looks right now .... and I'd like to keep it looking nice (at least until my wonderful DH comes home in November, ya know!?)  I know it's silly, but keeping the yard looking as nice and green and tidy as I can is one of the things that I do to keep me busy and focused while he's away.  So far, so good .... all is nice n' green.

  OCTOBER LAWN (SO FAR)

I spoke to my wonderful DH on the telephone Saturday afternoon -- he reports that my Care Packages have been very popular ... and that the plastic spiders I sent attach very nicely to the upholstered chairs over there, lol! So far he's received three of the six boxes I've sent ... yay! He's working hard, staying very busy, but seems to appreciate that the October weather is much more "doable" than July's 120s and August's 130s.  As always -- he said thanks for the good wishes, the hello's, and the prayers.

 WHAT I PLAN TO DO!

THURSDAY -- AND COUNTING THE DAYS
Oct 02 2008 00:01

My wonderful DH has been gone since September, returns in November, so -- in a rather weird way -- October SORT OF feels like the halfway mark. Well, maybe MID-OCTOBER, anyway! Still, he's in my heart, in my prayers, and on my mind as I sit down and write this ... I miss him terribly.  I got a wonderful card in the mail today from him, wishing me happy "Half Anniversary!" (October 12 will be 5.5 years of wedded bliss ... and I was so impressed that he remembered our "half Anniversary!")  Since he's arrived in Iraq, I've heard from him via email (most often), Instant Messenger (once) and by phone (twice).... which is really nice. He really does go out of his way to try to stay in the best contact with me that he possibly can. 

On his way to Iraq (with stops in a number of other countries), he was able to take some photos for me while in Ireland. (I've never been there, and would love to go there WITH HIM, someday!) Anyway, I know that he really made the effort to take photos that he knew that I'd like .... and since he emailed a few to me, I'm able to share his shots of Ireland with y'all. Here goes!

AN IRISH KITTY CAT . . .

 ... AND A CASTLE

  ... AND A GORGEOUS FLOWER

Didn't he do a nice job of taking pictures of things that he knew I'd like? After all, flowers, castles AND an orange kitty cat ... woo hoo! Anyway, these made me really smile! I'm married to quite the photographer!

* * *

HELLLOOOOOOOOO OCTOBER!!!!!
Oct 01 2008 00:01

OCTOBER IS HERE!
* * *

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  ~Albert Camus

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.  ~Stanley Horowitz

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~John Donne

LOL! OK, I'm soooo very ready for Autumn, can you tell? Cool mornings. Falling leaves. Brilliant blue skies. Pumpkins. Apples. The Big Fresno Fair. Football games. Harvest time! Bright orange moons! Cool evenings! Are you all as excited about October as I am??? These photos are of my Autumn-ready front yard ...   O ... C ... T...O ....B ....E ....R ...... !!!!

Today was one of those sunny summer days where all of our kitties were lounging around the house looking fluffy and adorable -- so I snapped some photos so I could email them to my wonderful DH. (Who, by the way, I heard from just this morning .... always makes me smile to hear his voice!)

TIGGER

MEGAN

DANIEL

EMILY

MARSHA

TIME TO SMILE . . . .
Sep 29 2008 21:44

It was 96 degrees here today and I'm grouchy. Same tomorrow. So here are some fun photos to make you smile!

MARSHA IS DOING WELL
Sep 28 2008 20:49

Marsha is doing better!

Miss Marsha Mellow is doing well. On Saturday she went back to the vet to get her stitches out, and to get her booster shots. She's been pretty unhappy with me since then, but she DOES seem happy to have her plastic e-collar off, after 2.5 weeks. This allows her to groom freely, and makes eating and drinking much simpler, too.  She is still not warming up at ALL to our other inquisitive kitties, (much growling and hissing)  but she otherwise seems to enjoy reclining on her carpeted windowsill ledge and either snoozing, or watching the birdies and squirrels in her beloved backyard.  She returns to the vet for a checkup in 6 months, or sooner if there are any problems.  By the time than my wonderful DH Ron returns from Iraq in November, she should be all healed up with nicely fuzzy little stumpy ears!

  They killed my bamboo tree

My girlfriend Susan and I had a nice afternoon together. First we headed up the hill to the mountains (Oakhurst) so she could buy a giant windchime at our favorite nursery. Then we had lunch at the Mexican restaurant Ron and I always like to go to! (We split carne asada nachos). Then we drove up to Bass Lake and looked at the house that Susan used to live in. We headed back down the hill, bought a silk ficus tree for our Yellow Room (the cats killed the silk bamboo tree) that USED to be there), then we ran another errand for Susan before grabbing some dinner (salad, steak, 'taters) at the Sequoia Brewing Company. OK, today wasn't my best dieting day ... but it WAS fun! Susan and I have been friends for years (I went to high school with her daughter, then we became neighbors at the condo, then I went to work for her at the Zoo, and now we're just great friends!).

Susan shops for windchimes!

On my agenda for this upcoming week ... volunteering at Valley Animal Center for Monday and Tuesday (outreach both days from about 9-3), then nothing else special except going to the Big Fresno Fair with my friend Laura next Sunday. Of course I will do other things during the week ... just need to check the weather and make some calls and get things on calendar, ya know? Wednesday Oct 1 is payday ... so bill paying will be on the list, woo hoo! I do need to go to Trader Joe's on Monday or Tuesday ... probably after I get my volunteering done. And several local campaigns have asked me to help with some political stuff ... which I may do, too.

BEE ON SUNFLOWER, IN OAKHURST