I was a recluse this weekend, a much needed break from my usual hustle and bustle. I was incredibly productive on Saturday and a useless slug on Sunday. Elvis has been extra sleppy all weekend. He went to the Kitty Jail & Torture Center on Friday, where his diabetes was deemed stable and he's not to return for three months. There was much rejoicing!
This morning Elvis thought I needed to be awake at 4:45. I tried to go back to dreamland but thought about everything I'm behind on at work. So I popped out of bed, all enthused about being productive. Elvis has followed me from room to room to room, sometimes demanding lap time, mostly waiting for me to settle into one space.
Now, about three hours later, I can look back and think - how did you get NOTHING DONE???
That's not entirely true, but I'm not as far ahead as I'd like to be.
Without further ado, here's my kick in the pants for the week.
1. Write note of appreciation to vet and staff (on some kickin' cool cat stationery)
2. Leadership institute application (why do I keep putting this off????)
3. Schedule appointment for air conditioner tune-up before the heat of summer kicks in
4. Finish two magazines from stack soon to take over the entire living room
5. Most of the rest of my list is work stuff.
I really really really need to get my rear in gear at work so that's all I'll put up for my personal list. I also need to knuckle down on #2 so I don't want more stuff to distract me from getting that done.
That said, I need to head off to a meeting downtown. I hear traffic is clogged up on the freeway so I'll need some strategery to get down there.
Have a great day, peeps!
As I was getting ready for church this morning, my mind also went into planning what to make for dinner. I like to cook for Sunday dinner as it's the one night all week I usually have time to try out recipes. I have a lemon chicken recipe I like and I was hoping there would be a bounty of lemons sitting outside church as usual this time of year. As I mentioned earlier, this is when everyone with fruit trees is giving away citrus faster than they can use it.
There it was, a big box of lemons. Because I usually chat too much during coffee hour and they are gone by the time I start my walk home, I thought I had better get them while the getting was good. I fill a grocery bag with six nice, fresh from the tree lemons and enter the sanctuary.
A friend of mine nabs me and asks if I would be the photographer for her baby's baptism. Of course! So I took the camera from her husband and plop down in the front row, putting the bag of lemons under my seat.
Well, right before the baptism was Children's Time. As part of Children's Time, the little darlings take up baskets and gather food donations from the congregation to help the hungry in our community.
A little girl, not quite three, makes a quick grab for my lemons.
Before she has time to take them, I make a grab as well and we are both holding my lemons. It was a stare-down of monumentally embarrassing proportions.
"No, honey, this is mine." That's right. Mine. Not for sharing.
She didn't quite understand that the grocery bag in contest was not for the poor. I didn't see a good way out of this, but her mom intervened. She laughed at me and told me I knew better than to bring anything to church in a grocery bag.
Yeah, it felt great to know everyone was watching me wrestle my bag away from a small confused child.
Afterward, I was given the appropriate amount of good-natured grief. "You should have said, 'Poor people don't need lemons. I need those for my drinks!'" Someone suggested that I could have given the lemons to the girl and then pawed through the donations afterward to get them back. We agreed that would have looked just as bad.
To atone for my sin of greed, I signed up to bring a tub of ice cream next Saturday when our church gives a group of homeless men and women a place to sleep for the night.
Or maybe I'll make something from the lemons.
After much delay, here are some pics of BrownAmazon's recent visit to our humble abode, Casa Amy y Elvisito.
On Thursday night, we went to one of my favorite restaurants, Barrio Cafe. The fresh guacamole prepared at the table did not disappoint! Nor did the always tasty and head-spinny margaritas.
Friday morning, it was time for an early morning horsey ride throught the desert landscape. BrownA thought I should wear one of my hard-earned rodeo buckles to the ride, but my modesty won out. That didn't stop her from helping me win points with Mr. Cute Cowboy by telling him about my roping prowess. Giddy-UP!
We followed our ride with a luxurious day at the Camelback Spa-ah and poolside margaritas.
Saturday morning we were on the way, with me playing tour guide and like a good tour guide, militant time keeper. After all, I wanted her to see all the best stuff in Sedona.
All that touring through the desert can make one famished. A stop for margaritas and that Arizona standard - chips and salsa, was in order.
The next day, Grand Canyon. In the words of Homer Simpson: "It's a GRAND Canyon."
Elvis and I enjoyed her company immensely. Although once in a while Elvis was not a very generous host. Here's BrownA trying to make her bed for the night - ala my sleeper sofa.
Note the rockin' sock monky pjs! w00t!
Other notable highlights of the tour included Target and Trader Joe's. Nobody can accuse me of not showing someone a good time!
BrownA - it was super fun having you here! I hope you soaked up enough sunshine to keep you warm for a little while! When you get cold, just whip up a margarita and pretend you are still here!
I dropped BrownAmazon off at the airport this morning so she could return back to the Land of Ice and Snow. It's going to be sunny and 89 here today...
We had a blast and were always on the go, as you can tell from the lack of posts and pictures from either of us. She said she enjoyed every minute of the trip, but I'll keep an eye on her blog to see if she tells you all anything different. Shh...
I told her this morning that it was time for her to go. Elvis slept with HER last night! O_O
Me, accusatorially: "Harumph. Elvis slept with you the entire night."
BA, defensively: "But he didn't sleep ON me!"
Me, to Elvis: "Harumph. Just because she's not the one taking care of you and giving you meds, you run to her. I see how this is."
Isn't that the way? You spend all your time, energy and effort on a guy and he runs off to be with the cute new girl. No use for the old lady anymore. >:-(
Hee!
It was super fun having her here and showing off my 'hood. I over-ate and under-slepped and had a fantastic time with one of my fave Voxers!
Bye, BrownA! See you in the interwebs!
And sometime this weekend I'll get around to posting pics. Stay tuned!
Remember that crazy race I did a few weeks ago? No? Here's the video documentation of our team's trials and tribulations. There's a contest for best team video and I think we have a great shot! Of course, I have no idea what the rest of the entries look like.
Note gratuitous beer shot of Yours Truly...
Hola! BrownAmazon and I are having a fantastic time touring my adopted state. We got in late last night from the Grand Canyon. The weather was great and the condors were having fun coasting along on the thermals. One flew so close you could almost reach out and touch him, if he weren't going so fast. FUN!!!
She's off shopping and poking around downtown Scottsdale and I'm back at work. :-(
But it's $10 Martinis & Manicures tonight for happy hour! w00t!
Oh, and her luggage showed up Thursday night. Whew!
BrownAmazon arrived safe and sound last night. Her luggage did not. It is lost somewhere in Dulles aiport. No one seems to know where it is.
She's a bit stressed, rightfully so. But we're making the best of it and she's across the street at Macy's at the moment.
Bummer. :-(
Margaritas are on the menu for tonight!
It's all your fault! :-P
1) Are you currently in a serious relationship? No, and I'm pretty damn happy about that.
2) What was your dream growing up? To work for the US State Department. Somewhere in college I forgot.
3) What talent do you wish you had? To sing well. I CAN sing, but it's not pretty. I would love to have a beautiful voice.
4) If I bought you a drink what would it be? Free for me! w00t!
5) Favorite vegetable? Carrot.
6) What was the last book you read? Hmmm. I just finished the most recent Smithsonian. Book? "Eat, Pray, Love" probably. The first chapter is my life. Right down to the drastic weight loss and putting it back on during happier times.
7) What zodiac sign are you? Capricorn!
8) Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where. Ears only.
9) Worst habit? Voxing at work. *shifty eyes* Or picking at my cuticles. It's a toss-up.
10) If I saw you walking down the street would I offer you a ride? Of course you would. But then I would take down your license plate and call the cops.
11) What is your favorite sport? Now - college basketball. In the fall - college football!
12) Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude? I'm such a happy person I can barely stand myself. *<8-D
13) What would I do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? You would ask which floor I needed and push the button for me. Then stare straight ahead because our stupid elevators are mirrored and it makes us all uncomfortable.
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you? Worst? Hmm. My best friend's wedding was the worst day of my life. I'll just count that. It's a whole post in itself. Gah.
15) Tell me one weird fact about you. Just one? I had a bump on the underside of my left eyelid removed and now some eyelashes grow pointing toward my eye. I have to pluck them every so often when they start poking my eyeball.
16) Do you have any pets? MR. ELVIS!!111!!.
17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly? You'd have to wait while I put on decent clothes.
18) What is people's usual first impression of you? I have good posture.
19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Eh. Depends on the clown, but I lean to 'dorky'.
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? Even when I was underweight, I still had a Buddha belly, so I know I can't change it. Other than that, I'm good, thanks for asking about any physical insecurities I have. Now, I'd love to get straight legs and even hips, but I can't change that either.
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? Conscience.
22) What color eyes do you have? Depends. Green or blue, depending on the light and what I'm wearing. Greenish blue. Or are they bluish green? I couldn't tell you. It really is hard to say.
23) Ever been arrested? Ha. I'm such a goody goody. Never.
24) Bottle or can soda? I don't drink POP. If I do, it's Vernor's in a can because that's how they sell it here way out West.
25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? $5k in savings, $5 toward my car payment
27) What's your favourite place to hang at? On the couch with Elvis. Or at one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall neighborhood bars.
28) Do you believe in ghosts? Sure do! Saw one even.
29) Favourite thing to do in your spare time? My what? I don't understand the question.
30) Do you swear a lot? More than I should. Just the 'f bomb' (FUCKERS!)
31) Biggest pet peeve? Renewal stickers all over a license plate because people can't read the simple directions for how to apply properly. And I'm also trying to figure out where people are from who say "Y" instead of "H". Like "yooman beings", "Yooston, Texas", etc. WTF? Drives me crazy.
32) In one word, how would you describe yourself? Secure
33) Do you believe/appreciate romance? What, that it exists? I'm skeptical.
35) Do you believe in God? I like to think there's a higher spiritual power out there floating around.
36) Do you believe that someone will repost this and fill this in with their own answers? I'm sure someone around here is willing to take the time to do so.
Savory mole
make chicken enchiladas
go above and beyond
A wonderful lunch
Cantaloupe agua fresca
and flan for dessert
Elvis is home and is eating and drinking. Yay! He was still super clingy when we came home from the vet, but if I sat real still and didn't move to a different location, he would eat whatever food was nearby.
The vet called about an hour ago with his blood test results (she's pulling night duty to look after bad-off kitty in the hospital). All clear on all counts! Hip hip, hooray! Kidneys good, liver good, glucose good. We may be taking him down on his doses even more in the near future. Operation Remission Watch is underway!
It's been a tough few days. In that time I have become ever more thankful that:
- I have distant friends and family who understand and truly care. Sometimes it's easy to feel alone all the way out here when loved ones are far away.
- I have wonderful local friends who will be here for me as soon as I call and ask for help. I need to remember I have a loving network close by and I'm not alone at all.
- I can take off a little time to look after my sick kitty and not worry about getting fired. What if I was a low-wage working single mother with an actual child? My heart goes out to all of those who are living on the edge of poverty and trying hard to make it by.
- I can afford to take care of Elvis without dipping into my savings. Yet. I keep telling him I'm spending his inheritance. Or his college tuition. Makes all the vet bills seem like a bargain now. :-)
- My vet and the staff are compassionate, highly capable people. They didn't charge me for kitty-sitting him today and they adore him. It's a comfort to know he is always in good hands.
- I can count all of my Vox peeps as those distant friends who understand and truly care. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Elvis and I are a bit worn out, so we're off to bed. After all, BrownAmazon is arriving tomorrow in all her swanky Canadian glory. We need to get our beauty sleep and prepare for a swirl of activity! I'm also thankful Elvis is recovering in time for her visit!
Thanks again to each and every one of you. Your sincere support and care mean a great deal to me.
((((hugs))))
