8 Months Today

It has been eight months since we lost Nibby.

This willl be the first year we don't have to worry about him eating tinsel.

If it were up to me, I'd rather worry.

Don't Ask...

Alright, don't ask why I'm watching this, but I'm watching the Winter Dew Tour's snowboarding and it was pretty cool to see the runs a few of the guys on there (and it was the first time I've ever seen Shawn White on something not a TV ad). But seriously, the chicks suck. The guys are so much better. And then the chick that won squealed and said she wanted to cry. I mean, yay for her for winning, but why aren't the girls good snowboarders? Well, let me rephrase that because sure, they are good, but why are they as good as the guys? Or even closer to the guys? I mean, the guys were doing 1080s and even a 1260 and the winning girl only managed like a 540 or something and the announcers were all "Oh, awesome! She's going to break the top three with that!" And why oh why are the girls so darn girlie? It's kind of embarrassing.

/mini-rant

Anyway, I'm going to bed now.

Shoot Me A Waco!

I've been quite for a little bit... Leah (Dan's sister) was in town last week and I've spent this week getting back into the groove of working again. But now I've finally gotten in gear and resized a few pics to share from Leah's trip, in particular the day trip we took to Waco via Waxahachie.

In Waxahachie, we stopped for lunch at the Catfish Plantation, an old home that has been converted into a lovely restaurant that fries pretty much everything except the table decor and is reportedly haunted.

At the Catfish Plantation

While we saw no ghosts, we did partake of some delish fried yummies, including fried pickles, hushpuppies and sweet potato fries (covered in sugar and cinnamon). Oh yeah, and catfish.

Then it was off to Waco for the Dr. Pepper Museum.

Dr. Pepper Museum

It's a pretty neat little place. I mean, a bit kitschy, but that is part of the charm. Kind of like the Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin.

Apparently, Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco, so that's kinda cool.

Shoot Me A Waco

It's nice that, in theory, Waco can be known as something other than the home of whacked out cults that get into a standoff with the ATF.

Leah in front of the "Scary Guy", aka Doc Alderton, the inventor of Dr. Pepper.

And since it was a bit chilly the day we went, Leah decided to sample some of the seasonal specialty, hot Dr. Pepper.

Hot Dr. Pepper with Lemon

Leah let Dan and I have a sip and it was different, but surprisingly good. I mean, I don't think it will replace my regular hot tea or anything, but I liked it.

I chose something a little different, a fountain ginger ale.

Circle A Ginger Ale

Check out the syrup at the bottom. And it was gooooooood. Sadly, it isn't available in stores (though you can buy a bottle of the syrup to mix your own at home).

A Dr. Pepper Exclusive

So yeah, all in all, it was fun. Dan and I both really enjoyed Leah's trip (and we think she did, too) and the Dr. Pepper museum was fun too!

Leah, Me and Dan

Now if only we could find a mustard museum to visit for Leah's next trip...

Kitchen Cocoa

Well, it seems Cocoa thinks she is a kitchen item.

I've posted previously about Cocoa thinking she is a kitchen appliance and I am pretty sure I've mentioned that she likes to hide behind the breadbox as well. But this one is new. Now she thinks she's a plate.

Cocoa in the Cabinet

Yeah, we accidentally left the cabinet open (this is above the counter) after putting dishes away. A little bit later, we hear dishes clinking. We go into the kitchen and there she is - Cocoa in the cabinet.

To all those that eat at my house: don't worry, we washed all the dishes in there.

Did I Ever Post This?

I was feeling nostalgic and going through pictures of kitties we have lost when I stumbled upon this picture.

Sister Kitties

It is a picture of Princess (rear) and Ashes (front) when Princess was still with us. Sadly, it was at night so the lighting wasn't that great and kitties don't respond well to a flash (evil eyes!) so this isn't the best picture, but I just think it is so cute. Even though they were sisters they didn't have anything to do with each other (ah, just like human families! j/k) so this was a rare shot of the two of them, if not with each other, then at least near each other.

Here's another shot that came from that little picture taking session:

I still just adore the look on Ashes' face in this one. So sweet! And Princess in the background, looking like she is above it all, as any good Himalayan should.

Both pictures make me smile. Princess, while initially evil, ended up being such a sweet kitty (at least to me and Dan, though she'd still try to eat the vet techs that ended up in the same room with her) and she was a great addition to our family, even if it was for a short period of time. But these pictures I think really show the difference between the two sisters' personalities. Ashes - sweet, loving and inquisitive; Princess - aloof, skeptical and stereotypical cat. But both so fluffy and wonderful!

Excuse me, I must go cuddle kitties now.

Guess Who's Out and About?

Okay, so she isn't really out of the assisted living set-up she's currently got going on, but guess who's been making strategic strikes on the kitchen and other parts of the house not in the master bathroom? Ashes!

I really think she's checking the masses' food bowls to make sure they aren't getting choicer kibble, but still - she's feeling well enough to trot her little fuzzy behind out to the kitchen, so yay! I mean, this kitty is so much better than the one that I took a video of in July because I wanted to make sure I had something to remember her by. I seriously thought she was a goner. But now...!

And more amazing, she's also managed to feel up to some how getting on the bed to snuggle in the new duvet.

Duvet-lovin' Big Girl

I'm still not sure how she managed it since the kitty-assisting stairs were in the living room at the time (they've since been put next to the bed, just in case, but I'm not sure if she is using them since she apparently doesn't need them). This is the same kitty that a year ago when she was feeling chipper would have trouble getting up on the couch! And now she's somehow getting on the bed. Go Ashes!

Apparent chipperness aside, I don't think we'll be able to move the kitty food, water, litter, toys, collapsible cube and heating pad out of the master bathroom yet. If ever. But I'm okay with that. Shoot, it's been that way since summer. Why change it now? I just don't know what I'd do if I didn't have to dodge a napping kitty in the morning.

Scratch & Sniff Internet Anyone?

This post would be so much better if you could smell me right now. I'm so yummy.

An internet friend sent me lots of lovely perfume samples and I have totally fallen in love with one of them. It's Acqua Di Parma's Blu Mediterraneo - Arancia Di Capri.

Which, let me tell you, is a pain to remember because of the multiple words, all being non-English. But the scent more than makes up for it. It's citrus-y but doesn't make me smell like I just finished dusting the furniture with Pledge and it has just enough musk to make me want to start licking my wrists when I smell it. Mind you, I haven't actually licked my wrists after smelling it. But Happy has. She liked it.

I kinda want to bathe in this stuff. Sadly, my sample is gone. But I will be getting some more. Oh yes.

Though I do find this weird - they have it available in a lip balm. A lip balm? Really? Can anyone explain that to me?