Hey, Rescue Me fans – did you know that they’re doing short “mini-sodes” to tide us over until the next season starts sometime in 2009? The DVR caught the first one Tuesday night, and we watched it Wednesday. And then I watched it twice yesterday. It’s only a few minutes long, but it’s hilarious. I think the best part of the show is when they’re all sitting around the table at the station, shooting the shit. I hope all the “mini-sodes” are this awesome.
If you missed it, you can see it online, here.
I’m currently reading The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver. I’m about halfway through the book (maybe a little less), and it’s making me a bit paranoid. The book’s about data mining, and it’s kinda freakin’ me out, man.
I don’t know that I can ever think of Lincoln Rhyme as a white man, since Denzel played him in the movie.
But seriously? What do you do with pigs?
You spoil them rotten until they get big-ass, then you slaughter and eat them, of course!
I read about a book called “Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes” and thought about you. Have you seen it? read it?
Nope, I’d never heard of it. According to Amazon, it’s a recipe book. Anyone read it? Do I need it?
I’m sorry if this question has been asked before and I missed the answer, but do you feed the pigs sweets b/c it makes their meat sweeter? Or is it just b/c it fattens them up?
Actually, it’s (c) None of the above. We feed them sweets because they like sweet stuff and it makes them happy when we bring them chocolate. I don’t know if it makes the meat any sweeter (I’d guess “no”), but I’m looking forward to finding out for myself!
I am horrified that you would waste good chocolate on pigs. Then again, you will probably be making your ham sweeter. Feed on.
We might eat one or two of the chocolates from the box as we’re feeding the pigs. But I don’t know about “good chocolate” – it’s not like it’s Godiva!
While watching the pig video, I got to gigglin’. I understand giving the indoor pets snacks (I give them to my pets of course!) But I started wondering how many “farmers” go to give their livestock “snacks?” You guys are the best!
It’s the unspoken rule that any animal who steps onto Crooked Acres must be spoiled rotten for as long as they’re around.
Americauna, black crested golden polish – did you ever think you would know so much about chickens?
No! It’s kind of amazing, really – I didn’t expect to retain as much information about the different breeds as I have.
How do you trim the chicken feathers? Scissors or some exotic chicken feather shears?
I have a pair of nail scissors that I got from a manicure kit that I use only for trimming back chicken feathers. I never expected that I’d ever type those words. I was curious and had to go see if there are any such things as “chicken feather shears”, but Google gave me nothin’.
Have you been using your Ped Egg? My feet are looking a little nasty and I wanted to know if it was worth the money.
I think the Ped Egg is definitely worth the money. I have the tendency to use it for a couple of days in a row, my feet look a little better and less dry and scaly, and then I stop using it until the hideousness of my feet bugs me again. Probably if I used it every day, I’d have lovely feet, but I’m far too lazy to do that.
Robyn, have you seen this
I hadn’t – how cool is that!
Your rant about the side door being locked reminded me of Keith from KATG when he gets mad. “OF COOORSE it’s locked! That’s how I WANTED it! GOOOOD!” (read in a Keith- voice). LOL!
Every time they talk about Keith ranting like that, I laugh my ass off because that is exactly what I do. I don’t know WHY, but bitching and ranting like that always (eventually) makes me feel better.
And you should tell folks your scar is from a magic trick gone tragically wrong.
It goes well with the scars I have on my stomach and on my back from having moles removed. I tell people that I was running from the cops, they shot me, and the bullet went in my stomach and came out the back, but did it stop me? NO. Because that’s EXACTLY how much of a badass I am.
Did you have back fat wings before your LBL and if so, are they improved afterwards?
Yeah, I had back fat before surgery and it’s mostly gone now, because the surgeon reached up and liposuctioned the fat rolls under my shoulder blades. It’s much improved, but I think it’ll look even better next year when I have my upper body done.
Wow Robyn, you’re healing nicely! Just curious… do you enjoy swimming? When I manage to get about 30 more pounds off, I’m looking forward to buying a new swimsuit and a pass to the nearest pool. It’s not my size that’s stopping me from going now. My old swimsuit is beyond worn out and the reward of a new suit combined with the joy of swimming is my motivation.
I do enjoy swimming, but I can’t remember the last time I went swimming! For a few years we swam at a quarry in Madison, but it’s since closed, and we don’t have a pool, we’re not near the ocean, and I have no desire to swim in the nearby lakes or rivers. I think we need a pool. And since we’re not in a subdivision anymore, we could have an above-ground pool and no neighborhood organization to stop us!
My mom had knee replacement surgery a few years back. The sutures thing – get used to it. She pulled sutures out of her skin for a couple of years. She mentioned it to her doctor and he said that it happens to some patients. It’s like your body doesn’t dissolve the sutures like “normal” people. My mom said she is just “too sweet”. Mosquitoes don’t attack my mom either. Do you have problems with mosquitoes biting you? I understand the cool gross thing. She’s pulled them out in front of me several times. She said when the sutures work up to the skin, they act like she has a black head. She would squeeze it to pop the suture through the skin and out comes the tweezers. Hers are normally only about an inch long.
I do occasionally get mosquito bites, but I don’t have a big problem with mosquitoes. I have to say, having sutures pop up and needing to be popped like blackheads, well, it’s gross but it sounds kinda cool, too. I can’t help it, I’m a popper!
So since the pet store had a bunch of kittens, sounds like you will get to keep custody of the young’ns a lil longer. I was starting to worry. I figure they will be going to the vet very soon and then off to the store for adoption. I’m sure you are willing to hold on to the kittens a little while longer! I cannot figure out why Kara is still so protective of her babies. You think she’d want to get them out of her “fur” for awhile. Are they still nursing?
The kittens and Kara are going to go to be spayed and neutered the week after July 4th. After that’s done, once there’s room at the pet store, they’ll be going. I expect that the kittens will be going before Kara, and that Kara will be hanging out here for a while. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get her socialized around other cats before space is available at the pet store.
I think it’s mostly habit that has Kara still so protective of her babies.
The babies had a long nursing session earlier this week. What happens most often lately is that they see Kara laying there, they go over and start sniffing around, sometimes they even get a moment or two of nursing in, and then Kara gets up and walks off.
“Seriously.”
My best friend and I are taking our kids (mine’s 9, hers are 7 and 6) to the Smoky Mountains for a few days. We know we are going to spend some time at Dollywood, but we’d like to do something in Gatlinburg, too. Since you’ve been there 30 gazillion times: What are the MUST see things in Gatlinburg? ARE there any must see things there? Or is it one of those places where just walking around for a day will do? Looks like there are a metric shit ton of Ripley’s-related things!
I’m going to cut and paste from an email I’ve sent out so that I don’t have to strain my brain to remember all this stuff.
I have no idea if this sort of thing interests you, but Zorbing has come to Pigeon Forge, and I’ve already told Fred that if he doesn’t take me Zorbing in Pigeon Forge this summer, I will go there ALONE, because it looks like the coolest thing on earth.
I always recommend that everyone take a day, go into Gatlinburg, park off the main strip, and just walk the entire strip from one end to the other. There are a billion little shops – if there’s something you want, chances are good you’ll be able to find it in one of those little shops. Also, the people-watching is really good!
Places we always, always eat in Gatlinburg are:
The Alamo (we usually go to the one in Pigeon Forge, though, I don’t know why. If you’re looking to drink with dinner (or lunch), you’ll want to go to the one in Gatlinburg, since Pigeon Forge is a dry… city? County? Whatever, they don’t serve alcohol in PF. Or they didn’t the last time I noticed; that may have changed.)
Blaine’s Grill and Bar (on the strip in Gatlinburg)
Bennett Pit BBQ (really good BBQ!)
That’s about it, actually – we try to try out one new restaurant every time we go, but the three I mentioned are our favorites. We usually eat lunch at a restaurant, then get a pizza or sandwiches in the evening because the restaurants tend to be busier in the evening.
Oh! When I was in the area at Christmas a couple of years ago, we had lunch at a Japanese Steak house in Pigeon Forge and it was REALLY good. I can’t remember the name of it, but it’s on the main strip in Pigeon Forge (if you’re in Pigeon Forge headed toward Gatlinburg, it’s on the right side); I highly recommend it.
And a word of advice – if you’re going to eat breakfast, stick to Pigeon Forge and hit one of the pancake houses there (or one of the Cracker Barrels!). There aren’t as many in Gatlinburg, and they always have long, long lines.
Places to visit, off the top of my head – Gatlinburg has a nice aquarium; we’ve been there a couple of times, and enjoyed ourselves even when we didn’t have a kid with us. If you’re up for hiking, the Smoky Mountain National Forest has a lot of nice hikes (though I’ve really only done one, the Laurel Falls hike). If you’re just up for a pretty drive, the drive through the National Forest and into Cherokee is gorgeous on a nice day and there are lots of little waterfalls you can see from the road. Also, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve got a thing for waterfalls, and this drive has a ton of them.
Pigeon Forge has plenty of shopping, and they have the Smoky Mountain Cat House and Smoky Mountain Dog House near the Old Mill. We like to visit HHI (totally cheesy) and then walk back to the shops around the Mill, then cut across the street to the Cat and Dog houses.
While you’re in Gatlinburg, if they’re running the ski lift to the top of the mountain (and you’re not scared of heights), it’s totally worth the price; the scenery is breathtaking. And so is the view from the Space Needle in the middle of downtown Gatlinburg.
Okay, that’s all I’m thinking of off the top of my head. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, but those are the high points. It’s been more than a year since I’ve been to the area, and I’m really starting to miss it!
We’ve never been to any of the shows, but I understand they’re good in a kind of hokey way. If you go to one and like it, let me know so I can keep it in mind for the next trip!
Also, Kinzie added:
Been going there all my life. The kids will likely enjoy the rock shops. There are a ton of toy stores and knick-knack places. Pancake Pantry has the Best. Food. Ever. (I recommend the Continental French Toast and the Banana-Pineapple Triumph. INDEED.) and you get to watch them make taffy and candy apples next door while you wait in line. Get some cinnamon bread from The Donut Friar in The Village while you’re there. Go to Ober Gatlinburg and ride the Alpine Slide (3x should be plenty for the kids – maybe just one). There is a lot of people-watching to be done in the evenings on the main strip, if you’re into that. Keep an eye out for magic stores and the like. Indoor mini-golf is fun. And Pigeon Forge has a ton of outdoor places with go-carts and water slides and so forth.
GOD, I WANT TO GO TO GATLINBURG!!!!! Can’t the pigs and chickens and cats take care of themselves?!
Are you trying to lose more weight or just maintain?
I’m pretty happy at this size, so I plan to just maintain.
Will Kara be returned to the shelter along with the kittens?
She’ll be going to the pet store to be adopted, but she’ll probably stay here for a while longer. Hopefully she’ll chill out a little and be a little less feisty with our cats.
There used to be an Amish colony close by and every year they had a big fall festival and sold all sorts of things. I looked forward to going. They weren’t real friendly people, but that was their way. I don’t believe they would hurt anybody.
Yeah, the Amish are known to be very peaceful. I don’t think they’d hurt us, they’re just intimidating. It’s the lack of smiling, I guess. I really think they’re just very reserved and a little shy. Also, I worry about inadvertently offending them so I always make Fred deal with them – and they scare him a little, too. The unknown frightens us both. We are big scaredy-cats, have I mentioned?
Whatcha gonna do with all that junk
All that junk inside your trunk?????????
heh…just kidding! You look really great; and I’ve gotta say, that is a nice ass! Whenever I lose weight, mine just gets flatter and flatter. I got no junk, no junk, no junk inside my trunk…
Damn you for putting that song in my head! I’ve been singing Baby Got Back (because I just saw the episode of Friends where Ross and Rachel sing it to Emma to make her laugh), and it adapts nicely to a song I can sing to the cats (“I like THAT BOOG and I cannot lie, you other kitties can’t DENY, that when a cat stalks in with an itty bitty hate and a little stump in your FACE, you get HISSY!” and then it kind of breaks down from there, shaddup). But then, I suppose that My Hump, given that “hump” and “stump” rhyme, won’t be a difficult adaptation, either.
I have to say, I don’t think my butt looks bad. It probably helps that I started out with a bubble butt, so I didn’t end up with the dreaded flat ass that people have the tendency to develop after a lower body lift.
Annnnd let’s move on from my ass, shall we?
I’m not a perv or anything (yeah right) but can we see a picture of yer can/tush/butt full on please? I’m curious to know if the ass matches the tummy!
No, I think you guys have seen about as much of my ass as you’re going to. 🙂
Hope there’s time to get this in for the Friday questions: Any ideas on what would cause a ~4 month old kitten to suddenly revert back to nursing behavior? We got Cassie at the beginning of May; she was listed as being 8 weeks and 3 (2?) days when we got her. She never exhibited any nursing behavior at all (except occasional kneading, which all my cats do).
In the last four days, I’ve noticed her being VERY aggressive in attempts to nurse on one particular pillow I have (it’s got a “furry” cover), to the point that I have to shoo her off of it because she’s biting into it and trying to rip the cover off. My first thoughts were that she was losing kitten-teeth and was just looking for something to teethe on, but the more I watch her, it seems like she’s trying to nurse and gets frustrated and starts biting and tearing at it as a result of frustration.
Yesterday and today, I noticed that she has been trying to nurse on the two more tolerant older cats – both male, and not appreciative of her efforts, to say the least. I had to break up a fight this afternoon when Packer finally lost his temper and whapped the crap out of her for several minutes – but Cassie still wouldn’t leave him alone. (Bill has hissed and spat at her a few times, but otherwise just keeps moving out of her way, and Lord help her if she ever tries it on Mr.T.)
Any ideas as to why, after nearly two months, she’s suddenly decided she wants to nurse again? And how I can redirect her to keep her from getting her ass kicked? Based on how viciously she bites, chews, and pulls on the pillow in between attempts to suckle, I can understand the older cats not putting up with her, but I don’t want her to get her ass kicked all the time. I don’t want to have to separate them, either, though, so… Suggestions?
I don’t know what would cause her to suddenly start trying to nurse again (maybe a reader will have some words of wisdom?), but I can tell you that of the nursing kittens I’ve had in the past, they all really like to go for the faux sheepskin beds we have all over the place, like this one. I’ve also heard that they really like anything made of wool. It’s certainly worth a try!
Kittens are doing fine. Kara, on the other hand, is about to drive me batty. She wants the hell OUT of the upstairs, she wants IN the rest of the house, so she sits at the bottom of the stairs and howls. She has a VERY piercing meow. I blame this on Fred, who lets her out for a trip around the downstairs every time she meows. Damn him. We let her out of the upstairs last night, and there were some tense moments, but she stayed out for a few hours, and no one died. Progress!
The kittens, cute as ever. Here they are in the second part of their “9 week old kittens” video. Now that they’re 10 weeks old!
And here they are in MPG format.
What a difference 10 weeks makes, huh?
River.
Inara.
Kaylee.
Zoe.
Lots of cute kitten pics uploaded over at Flickr today.
Newt keeps an eye on things.
Previously
2007: Is it just me, or do these look like weirdly posed scenes, like something you’d see in the JC Penney catalog? I imagine a photographer yelling “Frick! You WANT him, you want him with every feather on your body, but Sugarbutt! You don’t even notice Frick, you’re just standing there being beautiful. Be beautiful, Sugarbutt! Be beautiful and feisty and unattainable, and Frick! Want him! Want him badly, but sadly, knowing that you can never have someone that beautiful. He’s out of your league! PERFECT!”
2006: The meals sucked, but we got t-shirts that were pretty cute, so I guess it all worked out.
2005: Can I sue for emotional distress?
2004: No entry.
2003: I never said I had a long attention span.
2002: You can imagine the zany situations.
2001: No entry.
2000: Beggars can’t be choosers, I suppose.