The Man of the House

Four years ago when I moved into my apartment, I knew that once I got settled I was going to look for a roommate.  And by roommate I mean kitten.  I started frequenting the local animal shelter in search of a new feline friend.  During one of my visits, I saw that there was a litter of kittens along with their Momma all in a kennel together.  I loved seeing the mom in there with her babies.  It made me feel comforted that their short lives were a little less harsh since Mom was there looking after them.

I was the first person to request to adopt one of the kittens, therefore I got the pick of the litter.  I remember watching them scrambling all over their patient mom; so many little limbs all moving at once.  One little black and white tuxedo stood out to me, as I stared into the cage, he stared right back at me. He was an adorable tiny thing, with green eyes, four little fuzzy white legs poking out from a belly of white fluff.  He looked like a black and white cotton ball with legs. His facial markings were almost symmetrical, with a black mask around both eyes and a white nose with a cute perfect pink tip.  When I asked to hold him he looked up at me and cuddled right into my hands.  It was noisey in the shelter so I could not hear his purr but I could sure feel his purr motor going. 

Fast forward four years and that sweet loving kitty is seriously one of my most favorite things.  Whenever I get home and open the door to my place he is sitting on the table right next to the door waiting for me.  (My hand inevitably hits his head when I then turn on the light so he gets a free pat on the head by waiting for me like this.) He is a lover and would be happiest if someone was petting him incessantly.  He is the only cat I know who purrs in anticipation of being petted, and he loves having his belly rubbed. He is social and loves to be around people.  He comes when he is called or if a hand is left in a position that looks as though it may want to pet him.  He purrs while eating and boy does he have an appetite.  He weighed a pound and a half when I first brought him home and today he weighs in at a whopping 15 lbs!! (He gained so much weight at one point that Bubbles gave him the nickname "Tic-Tic". Get it? Little head, big body).  He has never showed interest in any of the cat or kitten toys that I bring home, instead preferring to play with my rubber bands for my hair.  His other favorite amusements include tissue paper, paper towels and toilet paper.  It does not fail - everytime I leave the bathroom door open he sneaks in and shreads/unrolls the toilet paper. The entire roll. This is his newest favorite activity. He sleeps on my bed at night and wakes me up in the morning with quiet little meows to get me out of bed to feed him.  He is the best to have around when I am sad or sick; the greatest couch cuddler I know.  I can't imagine my life without him. ♥

Quotes of the Day

A few good ones on cheating...

"When I’m not near the girl I love, I love the girl I’m near." - E.Y Harburg

"It is better to be told a hurtful truth than to be told a comforting lie.” - Unknown

"He who praises me on all occasions is a fool who despises me or a knave who wishes to cheat me." - Chinese Proverb

If you have never met my mom

This sums her up in a nutshell:

First Baby Shower

Today I am going to one of my best friend's baby showers.  I really cannot put into words how excited I am to help her celebrate this day.  There really is nothing in the world that I love more than seeing my best friend's dreams come true.  What is more special than that?  This is her first baby, a girl.  I know that her and her husband tried for awhile before conceiving so that seems to make the unborn babe even a little more special.  Since I am far away from having a baby shower thrown in my own honor, I get to live vicariously through her for the day. 

This is the first baby shower I have attended.  Since I have never been to one, I have contemplated what we, a group of all women, will do for 3 hours.  I'm thinking: great (read: fattening and greasy) appetizers, possibly some adult beverages so us non-pregnant guests can get a lil' tipsy, games that include melted candy bars in dirty diapers and guessing the circumference of my friend's pregnant belly (how mortifying! that game will absolutely NOT be allowed at my shower!!), and of course gift opening.  And that is what I think we will be spending the majority of the party doing.  Watching the mom-to-be opening gifts.

I have a thing for gifts.... and I love watching people opening them.  I find it to be much more fun to be on the watching end rather than the unwrapping end.  As a watcher you are not required to fake it when you open something that is [chose one: ugly, stinky, humongous, out of style, useless, cheap, something you already own, or (the worst) something ambiguous....ie. is this a doily, a tablecloth, a curtain or a hand towel?].  

I picture how different this would be if our culture practiced New Dad Showers and there was a bunch of men sitting around watching their guy friend opening gifts for his soon to be born child.  I think instead of ooohs and aaaahs you would be hearing more of "what the fuck do you use that for?" and "what's a onesie?" and "you think you'll actually USE that wipe warmer dude?"  

When you're in a group of all women and the giver is watching the opener's every breath, everyone is basically required to ooooh and aaaah over ev-er-y-thing.  I think there is a part of us women who are not only trying to make the mom-to-be happy about her gift, but are also trying to impress the rest of the women there too. 

Which is why I made damn sure my gift would be the cutest one there.  No really.  Look.

Today I am thankful for...

Ice Cream!!  

(preferably of the vanilla-mixed-with-some-sort-of-chocolatey-thingy-type).

Oh sweet Ice Cream, I simply love how you melt in my mouth, cool me off when I am hot and cheer me up when I'm down.  I find it a shame that whoever invented you did not instantly become famous and into the ranks of George Washington, Shakespeare, Mozart and Ghandi.  You will always be a front runner in my book. 


So today I salute you and thank you, Ice Cream. Best wishes and hopes for you to continue to bless my life.

Thoughts on Cohabitation

I have some pretty strong thoughts on this subject based on unfortunate past experiences as well as some new emotional developments.  Now before you get any crazy ideas, let me reassure you that I am NOT about to be moving in with anyone, man or woman.  Here's why...

....that whole “We’re going to see if we’re compatible!” excuse?  What a superficial thing to say.  There are no guarantees when it comes to the institution of marriage, no beta-test, no half-measures. Marriage is another word for trust. It is full of doubts and shortcomings; it's two people holding hands and jumping together. It’s a risk, and has the potential to fail, and that makes it beautiful. If I love a man enough to marry him, compatibility is moot.  I love him unconditionally, and flaws are an expected part of that equation.  In my mind, waiting to move in together until there is a marriage commitment on the table means there is no "maybe we'll work it out", but rather "we WILL work this out and we WILL get through it".

....marriage is a big deal to me and I want it to feel like a big deal.  Cohabitating while in the shuffle of wedding planning, and then it's The Big Day, then you're honeymooning and then poof!-- back to reality, but oh wait it's the same as before other than we now have rings on our fingers...that doesn't sound very special to me.  Marriage is the hinge to the rest of my life and I want it to feel special and new and different. 

....there will be many many perks that come along with cohabitating and honestly I am not ready to give all those things to a man unless he is ready to be with me forever.  These things include (but would not be limited to): the house being cleaner and generally smelling better (I'd imagine somewhat like unicorn farts), pretty living flowers in the garden and even in the house sometimes, fresh fruit in the fridge, healthier more complete meals (that include that foreign food group also known as vegetables), having clean underwear and socks at his disposal, and let's not forget having my nice warm body to kiss him goodnight every night and cuddle with every morning.  That all to me sounds like a pretty good deal and one that should be reserved solely for my husband. 

....break ups suck.  No matter how they happen, they are terribly painful and emotionally draining.  A break-up coupled with a move out (and loss of a roommate) is even worse.  Whoever is left living in the place that was once jointly "yours" has a painful daily reminder of what once was.  Not something I ever want to go through again nor put anyone else through.

....don't do it just for financial reasons.  That should be the last reason you move in together.  Of course it is a perk, however I want to move in with someone because I am starting the rest of my life with him and not to save money on my bills.

....finally, I love living alone and it's going to take a pretty amazing offer on the table to convince me that I am ready to give that up.  Like a proposal...

Love Quote of the Day

“All love that has not friendship for its base is like a mansion built upon the sand.”


—Ella Wheeler Wilcox