Every morning when I go around the house to open the blinds, Sugarbutt goes to each and every window and door and scratches wildly – though briefly – at the glass, as if this is the best way to get outside. It hasn’t worked for him yet, but of course hope springs eternal.
* * *
I think I’ve mentioned that I’d “discovered” the first season of
Work Out on Bravo. I downloaded all of the first season and watched it, then went ahead and downloaded what’s been aired of season 2, and now I’m all caught up.
I knew before I started watching this season, that
Doug had passed away. During the most recent show – at the end of the show, Doug was in the hospital and expected to recover – I noticed that every time he talked to the camera, he sounded hoarse and didn’t look well. I looked online to see if I could find out what he’d died of (maybe it’s morbid, I was just curious!), and all I could find were statements saying that he’d been unexpectedly hospitalized and then passed away.
On the most recent episode, it was revealed that he’d had a bad flu, leading to very bad dehydration, leading to kidney failure, and they needed to put him in a drug-induced coma to help him heal.
It’s sad, because he seemed like a real sweetheart of a guy – and he was pretty easy on the eyes, too.
On another note, anyone out there who’s been watching the show – is it just me, or does something seem to be going on with
Erika this season? My knee-jerk reaction is that she’s doing drugs, because her eyes seem so flat and dead. Am I the only one?
* * *
And while we’re on the topic of TV shows, if you haven’t seen the most recent episode of 24, skip to the next section.
Wednesday night, we watched this week’s 24. And in the part where Jack was shot in the chest and fell back, I was highly amused to see that as he fell backward, his leg kicked way up in the air. We went back and watched it several times, hooting each time at how high his leg kicked.
Then, of course, we compared it to how every single time someone in a show or movie falls down a flight of stairs or from a tall height – say the top of a building – when the next shot shows them laying unconscious or injured, they always ALWAYS have one leg kicked up behind them. Next time you’re watching something and someone falls, keep an eye out for the shot that shows them laying there – I guarantee they’ll have one leg kicked up behind them.
* * *
The other night, Fred and I went out to dinner – something we’ve been doing too often lately; I’m looking forward to the time when we both live in the same house, and we’re back on a dinner-at-home schedule.
Anyway, we went to a family restaurant, and got the salad bar. For his entrée, Fred got a hamburger, and I got a half rack of ribs.
(Oh, wait, those of you who like to be asshats, let me say it for you – “OMG! She’s eating ribs! She’s going to gain all her wait back! It goes to show u can’t have a dr mess with ur intestines and then expect everything to be ok! Lol!!!!!!!!”. Feel free to cut and paste, assholes, though I fully understand if you prefer something with a few more misspellings.)
I eat my ribs with a knife and fork because I am just that classy. The first couple of ribs were okay, but when I bit into the third rib, I became quickly aware that it was off. It tasted spoiled, so I did what you’re supposed to do when you taste something nasty.
“God, this is awful,” I said to Fred, holding out a rib to him. “Taste this!”
He did, made a face, and spit it out. “Yeah, there’s something wrong, there.” I was going to content myself with a couple of fries and call it good enough (“OMG! She ate two fries! Totally going to gain her weight back! Lol!”), but Fred had only eaten half of his burger with the full intention of telling me to take it home to have for lunch the next day, so I went ahead and ate that.
When the waitress came over to see if we wanted dessert (“OMG! She said the word dessert! She probly can’t even fit into her pants anymore! Lol!”), Fred told her that the ribs were spoiled or something, and she offered to bring me something else, but since I had half a burger to eat, I was fine and told her so.
She said she’d send the manager over, and then Fred proceeded to fret (he’s a fretter) (“OMG! She said cheddar! She must be so fat by now! Lol!”) about… well, I’m not sure what he was fretting about, really. I think the fact that we’d ordered two entrees but would only end up paying for one kind of bothered him, because he is a man who is honest to a fault, and he worried that the manager would feel we were taking advantage of the restaurant or something.
The manager didn’t seem to feel like there was any advantage taken, and she immediately took the ribs off the bill with no questions asked (though she did offer to replace the ribs with something else) and none of the employees pointed and shouted “Thieves!”, so all was good.
I don’t necessarily ever want to eat ribs again anytime soon, though.
Bleh.
* * *
Every morning when I go around the house to open the blinds, Sugarbutt goes to each and every window and door and scratches wildly – though briefly – at the glass, as if this is the best way to get outside. It hasn’t worked for him yet, but of course hope springs eternal.
* * *
The dragonflies weren’t crazy about the cold weather we had earlier this week.
* * *
I’ve tried many different things – small corded vacuums, small cordless vacuums, handheld vacuums – but at this point, there is nothing on earth that does a better job or is easier or more convenient to use to get litter off the linoleum floor in the laundry room than a good old, plain old-fashioned broom and dustpan.
Imagine that.
(I’m sure the Dyson would kick butt, but it’s currently living in Madison with Fred and the spud, and the canister vacuum we have here is a pain to drag out of the closet, so for now I’ll be sticking to the broom and dustpan.)
* * *
For those who are curious, the Litter Locker didn’t work out for me. For one, six cats just have too much output, so even though I was cleaning out the litter box twice a day, there was so much of it that it was making it difficult to rotate the wheel each time I scooped, and it just got to be a big, bulky hassle, so back to the store it went.
If we had fewer cats, it might be worth it, but with the six, it’s just not. Your mileage may vary, of course.
* * *
“You may not touch the Suggie toes.”
* * *
Are you going to be able to get internet in the new house or are you just having to live without from now on?
I cannot imagine a world where my husband would even consider buying a house that couldn’t have internet. High-speed internet, at that. After we’d found the house, before we even looked at the inside, the number one question Fred asked was, “Is it possible to get high-speed internet there?” Had the answer been “no”, we wouldn’t have even looked at the house.
Priorities, you know.
The only reason I don’t have internet in Smallville right now is because it would be silly to pay for internet at both houses (and also, we’ll need the router from the Madison house when we get internet in Smallville). I’ll definitely be getting internet – I shudder at the thought of not having it!
* * *
Okay, does Sugs rhyme with Suds or is it ‘Shhhugs’ with a silent ‘h’?
“Sugs” rhymes with “Boogs”, thus leading to some excellent rhyming when I bellow out the Snackin’ Time song every evening.
* * *
You have a doctorate in feline psychology, obviously!
and
Feline psychology sounds right up your alley, but I kind of like “infectious diseases specialist.” You know, like Dr. House. 
“Epidemiologist” sounds more obscure, though.
and
Not sure about how cool the specialty is, or even if there will be enough room to input it, but my favorite word is otorhinolaryngology.
Dr. Robyn And3rson is a Feline Psychologist with a subspecialty in Otorhinolaryngological Epidemiology. It keeps her quite busy. (And leads to her referring to her very important self in the third person, obviously.)
* * *
I can’t remember if I read this on your blog, or if it was on Fred’s blog one of the days you linked to him for us to read something, but one of you mentioned re-reading either The Stand or The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, then mentioned another book that you would re-read when you got done, because you were in the mood for epic novels. Or maybe you said long-assed books. Either way, I love the Stephen King books, and I’d love to know what other book you were talking about so I could purchase it for my own reading pleasure. Books are my crack, so thanks in advance for helping me out!
Fred reread
The Stand fairly recently, so it must have been something he mentioned. I asked him what else he reread around the same time, and he told me
Swan Song, which has the same sort of general end-of-the-world-as-we-know it (and I feel fine) theme. I adore both The Stand and Swan Song, and typing this in is making me want to reread Swan Song again.
* * *
Miss Maxi hangin’ in the back forty.
* * *
Previously
2006: Must… resist… evil… urge…
2005: “Ah JEEZUS, here she goes again with the Gatlinburg! She goes for four days and talks about it for four weeks!”
2004: Oh. My. Eyes.
2003: No entry.
2002: No entry.
2001: Entries I liked.
2000: No entry.]]>
I have my doubts about the whole flu thing with Doug. Either way, very sad. He seemed like a very sweet guy.
Miss Maxi looks very beefy and badass.
I know I’m a couple of posts late but have you considered a Roomba? for your pet hair woes? A friend of mine has a couple of labs in the house and swears by it. It just goes about its merry way, cleaning the floors once a day. They just empty it and charge it each night and it’s good to go. Not to mention all the great fun you’ll have watching it torment the cats.
I like that Sugs also supports Gay Pride! Does he get picked on for his rainbow toes?
Robyn, where do you buy your soft paws? And how much do they cost? I really need to get some, my cat is destroying my house! Thanks!
6 cats + Roomba = not enough space on YouTube.
We can’t touch his toes and yet he taunts us with their pearly pink yummy goodness. It’s torture I tell ya!
Sugs has some damn cute kitty toes!
The pink toes! ::dies from the cuteness::
I love his “I’ma’ kick yo’ ass if you come any closer, woman!” expression coupled with his festively painted toes…hee!
Do people really ever do that?? I mean about saying that you are going to get fat because you eat a bit of ribs or fries? That has me flabbergasted.
I was wondering if you’ve started packing your books to move to the new house. We are moving in one month -I’ve already packed 10 boxes of books and still not done yet! Arrrghh!
I just love kitty toes!!!
I third the recommendation for Swan Song. I think about that book a lot more than most others I’ve read.
I think the lady wanted to know if Sugs was pronounced like “Sugar” from his name Sugarbutt, or Sugs, like Soogs, with no “sh” sound. It’s like Sugar, correct?
The restaurant story reminds me of the time DH and I went to Boston’s. Our food took FOREVER to arrive, close to an hour. And his ribs were still frozen inside. My salmon was great, but they comped us the entire meal and I didn’t feel guilty at all. We never went back and I just read they closed it because of slow business. I can’t imagine why!
Sugar toes are just too cute.
People who write to warn you about every little piece of food you eat are retards.
Were you poisoned at Applebee’s? I think every person I’ve ever known who has eaten there has been sickened in some way. I hate Crapplebee’s.
Unless you’re pregnant, I don’t see why using a broom and dustpan to clean up kitty litter would be a problem. (?)
OH! Robyn answered my question! Swan Song! YAY! Thanks! And also, *swoon*, because Robyn answered my question on her cool cool blog. It’s almost like being famous. Or eating TWO fries.
robyn, you made me laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh with all your asshat references and misspellings!!! do people really write stuff in your comments about you and your wls? and since i’m writing, i just wanted to take the time to say that i reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally enjoy reading your entries, actually look forward to them! =D
A little warning about Roomba.. I have one and love it, but I also have 6 cats… and the cat fur clogs up the innerds of the Queen Roomba who is very delicate and needs to be cleaned out often. It requires taking her (yes, my roomba is a girl) brushes out and also unscrewing this little twirling brush from the top. If she’s not properly cleaned out, she’ll protest madly, spin around in a few circles make a sad little sound and stop. She will not function again until I spend the 15 minutes cleaning her out… at which time I think to myself that I could have taken out the big vacuum and been done with it quicker!
-Nancy
Roomba rocks! I’ve had mine for over a year, and luvluvluv it. It runs every day between 12 and 1, and when it is done, it returns to its charger to get ready for tomorrow. When I get home, I check the mail, empty the roomba, and plop down on the couch.
I have to do the big clean-up that nancy is referring to about once a month. But, I only have one cat. Also, removing and cleaning the brushes requires no tools or technical expertise whatsoever.
Once, hubbie and I were taking a bath, and our cat decided to sit on top of the roomba (side-note – carpeted bathrooms suck). She was fine, till she adjusted her big kitty-butt, and accidentally stepped on the power button. Hilarity ensued!
Hmm I’ve seen on TWOP forums they think Erika is asexual lol. She always seems like she has a flat affect to me.
Poor Doug, I wonder how he’d like them zooming in for every cough and sniffle like that. Wasn’t it CREEPY how he was talking about his parents dying at 43?? He did seem rather fixated on dying young.
You know, I was a Snooddict many years ago. And I had made a full recovery. And now, thanks to you, I have made a full RELAPSE. I’m considering litigation.
Robyn, where did you download Workout? I’ve looked on iTunes and Bit Torrent and can’t find it. (Saw a few episodes when I was in the US at Christmas and found it addictive, but not as hard to stop watching as the trainwreck that is Real Housewives of the O.C., or Top Chef.) Help!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16530871/
This is what I read a couple of weeks ago.
Maybe he was already sick?
So damn sad.
Swan Song and The Stand… best books ever!
I just got the Joe Hill book from my parents as a belated Easter Basket gift. Anybody read it yet? Your thoughts?
“(I’m sure the Dyson would kick ass, but it’s currently living in Madison with Fred and the spud, and the canister vacuum we have in Smallville is a pain in the ass to drag out of the closet, so for now I’ll be sticking to the broom and dustpan.”
I just saw a commercial for the dyson slim ~ sounds like something you might like (although ouch on the price)
http://www.dyson.com/range/feature_frame.asp?model=DC18-ALLFLOORS
Wow,I’ve read your journal since the beginning and the thought that you might regain your weight never once entered my head. I know it’s not like I REALLY know you,but I have full confidence in your ability to stay slim.You are one COOL CHICK!
I too love WORKOUT ! I am sooo glad Mimi hit the curb. THAT was a sick relationship!
Erica’s looking underweight to me. Due to her pale looks,I’m wondering if she’s purging or something. Her lips weren’t that big before either were they?
Jackie dating her employee( I have blocked out her name cuz I didn’t like her BEFORE she started dating Jackie-the girl is ON all the time) is too weird. I wouldn’t like it either if I was one of her trainers.Um, the second girlfriend dropping by at dinner-so uncool! WHAT was she thinking??
Doug? Hell,I was in love with Doug! Man,I liked him the bestest.
Your e-mail asshat comments made me laugh like a hyena, but I REALLY hope you don’t get much e-mail like that! I’m appalled to think people could be that stupid, but I shouldn’t be so naive, I guess. Ugh.
Your dragonfly photo is beautiful.
You know what’s funny is half the people that do think or say those comments are bigger than us anyway, and have no room to talk! Thank goodness we can enjoy food now without having to gorge ourselves or worry, for the most part. Most of them are jealous and/or scared of WLS so their defenses go up. They are idiots! Sorry, just a little rant, I’ve been a fan of you and Fred’s blogs for years!