p.s.

did i mention i'm in st. kitts right now? yeah, it pretty much rocks. i'm just sayin'.

aiko is 4!

today aiko turned four years old. and she is wicked happy about it:

the funniest thing is that this milestone reminds me that i have now been with my husband for 4 1/2 years, which makes this the longest relationship i have ever had. and that thought, coupled of course with my undying love for the aikodog, just puts a huge smile on my face. amazing what happens when you're with your best friend in the world. man or dog. or both.

can't post...brain just exploded

zuma nesta rock?? are you fucking kidding me, people?

champagne thursday: toast #17

so, the husband and i leave for st. kitts sunday night, where it will be 90 degrees with about 60% humidity. every. damn. day. here's hoping we re-learn how to deal with wet air. it gets to be about 3% humidity here and we start kvetching. we are old and unable to adjust to change.

also, our thanks to our young pal who will be house/monster-sitting for us. i can't even believe we duped you into thinking that would be a good idea. hopefully you'll still be in one piece when we get back. if not, ya can't say we didn't warn you.

things i love wednesday: bathing cats

cadence is now the second cat of my life to ever receive a bath. she is not a fan of her recent loss of bathing virginity. and i'm sure it is somewhat humiliating to be washed in a sink, but i think most humans have gone through it at some point in their lives, so why not inflict such embarrassment upon a cat?

in any case, my last cat received such baths every couple of months or as necessary for all of his 15 years, and honestly, he barely complained. sure, he'd whine when i massaged shampoo into his belly, but i really think that was more because he was shy about showing off his sizable paunch.

cadence? not so much. as soon as her feet hit the water, she tried to shoot straight up to the kitchen ceiling and to stay in that upward position during the entire excruciating three-minute process. to make things more interesting, she continually made this awful gurgling noise to the point that i thought she was slowly drowning herself somehow. turns out, she's just a drama queen. and explaining to her that it was all her fault because she was the one who had found a pen, chewed off the tip and ended up with blue ink-soaked paws.

here she is post-bath, purring her face off, yet looking indignant:

29x365: #62 mitch

for some reason, i think i was kind of afraid of you when i was little. i have no idea why, especially since you are such a lovely person.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #61 kerie

when i was growing up, i wanted to be just like you. even now, seeing how your daughters are turning out, i think you’re an incredible mother and person.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #60 bob

you’re a very odd little man, but nobody can help but love you. dirty mouth and a dirty mind, but you’ve always been good to me and my family.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #59 charis

you’ve done so much for me over the years, even when you really couldn’t afford it. you’re an amazing lady, and i’m sorry we don’t see each other more.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #58 lee

all of my grandparents have been gone for many years, and it’s been really enjoyable to have a new grandmother in my life, even if you are a shrimp.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #57 barbara

growing up with two brothers, i think i always harbored a secret wish to have a sister, and i really couldn’t have dreamed up a better one than you.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #56 bruce

you never cease to amaze me. i’ve never known a dad who talked the way you do. i wish you could have met my father. you’d be great friends.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #55 leslee

you immediately made me a part of your family, and i’m so grateful. we hit a little rough patch, but it’s sure to be smooth sailing from now on.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #54 barbie

you were an RA at a graphics design camp i attended in high school. you must have weighed about 400 pounds. you probably really should have gone by barbara.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #53 jason p.

trying to spend time with you was a lot like babysitting a real life version of beavis or butthead. that you didn’t set more things on fire is surely a miracle.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #52 micah

you were a frequent recipient of "the greeting," to the point that even years later, you still remember it. why you hung out with ADD boy is beyond me.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #51 emerson

you were a bizarre, almost gothic coffee shop guy, but somehow you made all the girls swoon just like they do in movies. i mostly just liked your name.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #50 truckster

you told a story about your parents conceiving you on acid during a dead show. you didn’t need to explain that. your behavior and manly face proved it well.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #49 julie m.

you got me in trouble for driving your drunk friends home, but you helped pay the fine. wish we’d stayed in touch and you’d hooked up with the marine.

make the list at x365.

champagne thursday: toast #16

i just have to love my gmail account for the little ads that run along the top my inbox. for one, when you go to your spam folder, the ads always end up being for spam recipes, which never fails to make me laugh. for two, i was shown an ad yesterday that said "hooter hiders," and i just had to click on it to see what the hell kind of porn gmail was trying to sell me. imagine my surprise when it was actually an ad for these. i'm thinking a man came up with this name for such an innocent product.

things i love wednesday: political signs

i saw these signs as i was leaving ikea in phoenix, and i think the picture speaks for itself. i just wish i lived there so i could vote for this guy.

it's nice to know that other countries are sick too

this story just disgusts me. nothing like telling little girls they aren't pretty enough for their government's tastes.

29x365: #48 wendy

you were one of the sweetest girls i’ve ever met. i loved horrifying people by yelling “there’s my canadian chink!” across campus. i’m sorry we didn’t keep in touch.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #47 crazy neighbor amy

you were bipolar and you slept with aging men for ritalin, which you snorted and then made out with girls. you cased my dorm room and stole my jacket.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #46 darrin

you worked at a convenience store in bloomington. i got myself invited to your party, where I met someone who did not work at a convenience store in bloomington.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #45 todd v.

you were a pretty but boring geologist, and you were 8 years older than me. you bought me a birthday gift before we even went out. that was nice.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #44 matty west

when mia and i met you, you were wearing clown shoes and no shirt. you lived on a commune at a college in ohio. glad i dodged that bullet.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #43 kevin r.

i might have started that job because you worked there. you were a great first boyfriend, and i’m sorry you couldn’t be normal when we ran into each other.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #42 ben f.

i met you on the umphrey’s bus. we dated, and when i broke up with you, you lost your shit and almost landed a DV on your front lawn.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #41 ben d.

you were a great guy and your wife was adorable. she killed herself after baby number two, and i honestly wouldn’t know how to talk to you about it.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #40 sully

if i’d guessed which show friend would get married and have kids, i wouldn’t have picked you. you were funnier before the growing up, but we still loved ya.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #39 don

you were the most amazing friend. you went to my graduation and offered to fly my best friend to my dad’s funeral. i miss our friendship and plump’s nights.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #38 jeremy the short guy

you always hung out with us in the front row at umphrey’s. you were always happy and fun, and i’m glad i convinced you to go to g. love.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #37 lisa

you were a constant dichotomy. sweetest smile ever when you were in a good mood, then bam - you could turn into one evil bitch. i loved that about you.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #36 jason from avg. joe's

you were one of the nicest people i’d ever met, and you were there for me even when i probably didn’t deserve it. working with you was a pleasure.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #35 chad from delta faucet

i don’t even remember your last name, but i called, and you sent flowers to my dad’s funeral without even knowing where it was, and that makes you fantastic.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #34 michael from the vid

i’m still not sure if you had that birthday card on hand or if you actually remembered. i called you when my dad died and then immediately felt stupid.

make the list at x365.

everyone poops

this post is a direct shout out to furm-doggerell (his choice of names, not mine), to whom this book was given upon his high school graduation. the guy had a bit of a fascination with poop, although mostly just using the word, i think hope. anyway, here is a link to the book on amazon. for shame, all ye 1-star givers. for shame.

(although, if you have some time, check out the hidden reply to the first 1-star reviewer. that reviewer said the book left her child "confused," thinking that everything pooped, including apples. the comment left by david demarco chooses an awesome word to describe poop in an interesting, albeit slightly misused, way.)

champagne thursday: toast #15

the husband and i aren't going to let a little thing like not having a dining room keep us down. on impulse, we bought a shiny new gazebo and dining set this past weekend, and we finished setting everything up last night during a monsoon because it was much more pleasant than trying to do it in 100 degree heat. i think it turned out lovely...and the dogs are happy to get to be outside without being in the rain, which is really the only important thing anyway.

things i love wednesday: text messages to husband while away

an excerpt from my text conversations with my husband while i was in tucson last week:

me: i love it here. i may never leave. this place is rife with option & opportunities!

husband: you're making the dogs sad. they want their mommy to come home.

me: hahaha! too bad! i found a job and a new husband who only wants tiny dogs that do no damage to my chest cavity or groin area! see ya, suckers!

husband: fine. goodbye.

me: baby no!

husband: aiko just tackled me and said 'please, no, daddy. make her come home.'

me: awww! i love you guys. i'll come home soon. i'll tell the new husband tonight.

29x365: #33 christian

19-year-old using a fake to get into the vid. you once wore a giant paperclip. you lost a ferret when i asked you to watch them. we stopped speaking.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #32 jeremy aka scott freeman

you made furniture and swept my mom’s floor. i told you to date my "friend" ellie. instead, you started sleeping with her behind my back. i got my tongue pierced.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #31 ellie

you almost had me convinced that punk rock had to mean smelling bad and scamming food from a soup kitchen while using student loans to buy cigarettes and drugs.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #30 matt t.

isn’t it weird how you can know someone for years, be great pals, and then you realize that person shaves their chest, and you can’t look at them anymore?

make the list at x365.

29x365: #29 mason

i didn’t think i’d need 29 words to say all i remember about you is mason is not your real name, and you’re something of a gerbil on acid.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #28 ryan c.

wish i’d have met you years later, so i would have known better than to waste time on a loser who can’t commit to a job, location or personality.

make the list at x365.

29x365: #27 matt s.

you introduced me to wakeboarding and the concept of being perceived as a peasant by the upper crust. laughing over $3000 of spilled imported sushi? just not my style.

make the list at x365.

favorite link of the week

so, i was reading my friend mcdowell's blog today, and i came across this link, which i have to say is quite possibly the best thing i've read in weeks...of course, i've been reading mostly MBE questions and pages and pages about easements and trusts and the establishment clause, so my enthusiasm may be slightly skewed in comparison to normal other people.