It rained for a good part of the day yesterday, and I have to say – I didn’t notice the sound of the rain on the roof being any louder than it was when we had shingles. Even in the closets, where there’s no attic space to act as insulation against the sound, it was about the same.
I’m starting to really like the look of the green roof on our house, now that I’ve had a few days to get accustomed to it.
Okay, I’ve got nothin’, and I’ve got to leave in a bit for a doctor’s appointment on the other side of Huntsville (my three-year checkup with the surgeon who did my weight loss surgery), so I’m going to slap up a meme local reader Jean sent me via email, and call it good. Fair enough?
[Have you ever…?]
Gone on a blind date? Nope.
Skipped school? God yes. I skipped so many classes my Senior year of high school, there’s no way on earth I should have been allowed to graduate.
Watched someone die? No.
Been to Canada ? Yes, several times – but not since I was 18 and went to very Northern Maine with Liz.
Been to Mexico ? I don’t believe so.
Been on a plane? Many times.
Been lost? Many times! (Which is why I think I need a GPS!)
Been on the opposite side of the country? I’ve been to California, but I think the true opposite side of the country would be Washington state, and I’ve never been there.
Gone to Washington, DC? Twice, both times with Fred.
Swam in the ocean? Many times.
Cried yourself to sleep? I’m sure I have, but not any time recently.
Played cops and robbers? If I did, I don’t recall. God, it’s horrible getting old.
Recently colored with crayons? Nope.
Sang Karaoke? Never. I would never inflict my horrid singing voice on an unsuspecting public.
Paid for a meal with coins only? Yes, in my youth. After we closed at McDonald’s, we’d go to Denny’s for a late-night meal, and on the night before payday most of us would pay for our food with coins.
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t many times? Yes.
Made prank phone calls? Yes. The last time was years ago when Debbie and I lived together in Lisb0n Falls, and I don’t remember who the guy was, but he’d done something to piss her off, so we called him over and over and over again, and I played the Adam Sandler Thanksgiving Song over the phone. I perhaps needed a life.
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Yes. The last time was when Nance and Rick were visiting at some point last year and we were playing Catchphrase, and I had to get Fred to guess Jazz, and I couldn’t get him to say it by yelling “You hate this kind of music!” (because that was too broad a clue, obviously), so I scat sang. And then afterward, I started thinking about the fact that I – the whitest woman in all the universe – had scat sang, and I was drinking water at the time, and I started laughing, and water came shooting out my nose.
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes, many times.
Danced in the rain? Nope, never. I am boring.
Written a letter to Santa Claus? I’m sure, but I don’t recall the experience.
Been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes. Once by a boy I had a crush on, who went on to date a friend. Bastard.
Watched the sunrise with someone you care about? I’m sure I have.
Blown bubbles? Yes. Who hasn’t?
Gone ice-skating? Yes, but not in years.
Been skinny dipping outdoors? Yes, when we had our pool at the first house we skinny-dipped frequently. Though, as they say, for me it was more like chunky-dunking. Har.
Gone to the movies? Yes – but not in a month or so. I always think I’m going to pick up and go to the movies by myself during the week, but I never actually do it.
Saved someone’s life? Nope.
1. Any nickname? Fred calls me Bessie, Liz calls me Robbie, and some of y’all call me Bitchypoo.
2. Mother’s name? Brenda.
3. Favorite drink? Water!
4. Any Tattoos? Not yet – maybe this’ll be the year I get a small, tasteful cat-themed tattoo on the back of my shoulder!
5. Body piercing? My ears are pierced – have been since I was 13, but I rarely actually wear earrings.
6. How much do you love your job? I adore the fact that I don’t have one!
7. Favorite vacation spot? Maine or Florida. I’m also partial to Gatlinburg.
8. Ever been to Africa? Nope. I’d love to go one day.
9. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Of course.
10. Been on TV? Yep. I was on Penn & Teller’s Bullshit! back in its first season. It was the episode called Eat This!, and it was the experience that ensured I never particularly want to be on TV again. (The next year, Fred was on the CBS morning show, whatever it’s called, and the reporter was stunned that I didn’t want to be on TV and tried to talk me into it. NO I’M OKAY THANKS.)
11. Ever steal any traffic signs? No – stole a couple of traffic cones once, though.
12. Ever been in a car accident? Just fender benders.
13. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? Four-door – a red Suzuki Reno hatchback.
14. Favorite Salad Dressing? I don’t have a hard-and-fast favorite. I’m partial to honey-mustard, blue cheese, balsamic vinaigrettes, and French dressing. Depends on my mood.
15. Favorite Pie? Pecan or blueberry.
16. Favorite Number? 73.
17. Favorite Movie? When Harry Met Sally. (And my second favorite: Center Stage. Don’t mock me.)
19. Favorite Dessert? Depends on my mood – I can always go for a hot fudge sundae.
20. Favorite food? I really like most Asian-style food.
21. Favorite day of the week? Friday.
22. Favorite brand of body wash? GCDSpa’s Desert Air Shower Gel. My sister got a small bottle of their lotion and one of their shower gel for Fred for Christmas, and I tried out the gel in the shower one morning. For the rest of the day, I was like “What is that smell?” It was such a nice, light scent, and for the longest time I just thought it was the smell of my laundry detergent. Finally, I figured it out, ordered a big bottle of the gel and lotion, and have been using it ever since. Yes, it’s considered a “man’s” scent, but it’s not particularly masculine to me. I highly recommend it.
23. Favorite toothpaste? Crest.
24. Favorite smell? See up there where I was talking about the Desert Air gel and lotion? Well, you’d think I might answer with that – but in actuality, when my sister and I were talking about the lotion, she mentioned another scent, Spiced Orange. So I ordered a small bottle of the stuff when I ordered the Desert Air, and I finally got around to trying it, and holy crap. HOLY CRAP. I swear to god, when I put this lotion on my hands, I want to EAT MY HANDS. It smells amazing. If I sold my soul to the devil for the most incredible smell on earth, this is what he would have come up with. It’s orangey, and it’s spicy and it is FABULOUS. And yes, it’s another “man’s” scent, but I care not. It’s not particularly manly to me, and I love it. LOVE IT.
(I also like the smell of the ocean, if you must know.)
25. What do you do to relax? Lay in bed and read with a cat curled up next to me, or go out and hang with the dogs and the chickens.
26. How do you see yourself in 10 years? As looking good for my age?
27. How many siblings do you have? Three.
28. Furthest place you will send this message? Across the entire internet!
29. Who will respond to this the fastest? I’m not asking anyone to respond – but feel free to steal it for your own blog if you want!
30. Who is your favorite dog of all time? Taffy. She was a good little dog, even if she DID have to stop and sniff every single piece of grass she ever came across. Good ol’ Taffy.
For a couple of days I left the baby gates up across the upstairs hallway so that Samba and Rumba would have their room, the bathroom and a little piece of the hallway to explore. At some point on Saturday I heard a freaked-out kitten meow, and discovered that Rumba had climbed over the baby gates and gone exploring, and ended up downstairs. I have no idea how long she’d been out. So I moved the baby gates to the bottom of the stairs. We have three baby gates, so I put one at the bottom of the doorway, one on top of that, and then one blocking the small amount of space at the top of the doorway.
Every time I went upstairs, they were hanging out in my room, but they’d see me and go running for their own room.
Last night, we heard the distinctive sound of a kitten climbing the baby gates and when we investigated, Rumba was perched atop the bar across the top baby gate. We rescued her and put her back on the steps, and when Mister Boogers came over to see what was going on, Fred lifted him over the gate and set him on the stairs.
Turns out Samba rather likes Mister Boogers, and Mister Boogers is tolerant of her. Fred reported that he vigorously licked Samba on top of the head, and she really liked it.
I’m leaving the baby gates in place at the bottom of the stairs during the day today, but this evening when all our cats are inside and the back door (with the cat door in it) is closed, I’m going to take down the baby gates and see how that goes. I expect Samba and Rumba will be doing more hiding than anything, but we’ll see!
More kitten pics over at Love & Hisses.
All it’ll take is one good stretch, and Sugarbutt will plummet to the floor….
Previously
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: “How do they grow salt?”
2004: Stalkers, beware!
2003: Did you hear that Tubby was a hero over the weekend?
2002: No entry.
2001: No entry.
2000: Can I just say that I loathe the hell out of those gaunt, haggard-looking bitches, Joan and Melissa Rivers?
