It's Not Too Late...

...to buy me a gift from my very special Conspicuous Consumption Christmas list!  No, really: New Year's gifts are perfectly acceptable.  I promise.

Unfortunately, over the break, my usual cat-sitter was unable to stop by by apartment, unbeknownst to me.  In a panic of my widdle kittehs, I rushed home, only to find both H & P well fed and watered.  But how did they do it?


I'll tell you how.  They opened the kitchen cabinets, removed their cat food container, tore the lid off, and ate straight out of the Tupperware.  Well, isn't that resourceful?


And very messy.  Which is why really, really, really, want a Kartell Componibili set for my place.  I could close the door on the kittehs and stash the cabinet somewhere out of the way.  And even if they did have to open it, they could just slide the door over, not tear one from its hinges.


I'll admit the silver is pretty sweet, and the red is ravishing, but I'd prefer one in black, both for simplicity and price sake.  They're not that expensive.  Relatively speaking, that is.  The three-door version comes in at $160 (free shipping!) and it goes down from there.


Designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri in 1969, I think they have the perfect mid-century modern look.  And they're compact enough for small spaces.  And - I think - ABS molded plastic should prove a bit more of a deterrent for the kittehs.  Maybe.

Duh! Why Haven't I Posted This Sooner?

In the very, very off chance that any of my dear readers are interested in investing a pittance in my forthcoming participation in the Marine Corps Marathon 10K on October 25th, I provide for your donating delight the following link:

http://www.active.com/donate/teamuso/emilyhaha

Feel free to spare any $5 you might have laying around. Or, if you wish to incur my undying gratitude and a reasonable tax deduction at the end of the fiscal year, for for the whole $250.

I - and the USO - thank you.

PSA: Sweet Kittehs

As many of you know, this blogger is passionate about mah kittehs, H & P (just look at them!). They're so precious and loving; I can't imagine my life without them. Many evenings and weekends find me pet sitting as a part-time job. It's probably the best PT job ever (okay, it's a close tie with fashion, but that's another story) in that I get to goof around with rabbits, cats, dogs, and sometimes other things (the occasional ferret and hamster), while being paid to keep an eye on someone's home. Like I said: nearly perfect.

Currently, my summer's filled with the on-again/off-again sitting for five (5!) kittens and an older female cat at a neighbor's house. Only the kittens are rescue kitties and all are looking for forever homes. Their feeding and care in their foster mother's house is supported by Alley Cat Allies, an amazing organization that realizes the value feral cats bring to an urban ecosystem, while simultaneously acknowledging that spayed and neutered animals are happier and healthier animals. Check out their PSA:



If you're looking to add a sweet kitten to your home, any of these five would be a great addition. They're about 12 weeks old, litter trained, playful, fluffy, and just about every other good thing one looks for in a kitten. Contact Alley Cat Allies directly or consult their website for adoption opportunities.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. Mee-yow.

What's New, Pussycat?

Diamonds are a girl's best friend? Dogs are man's best friend? Nah...it's all about mah kittehs. Yep, that's how I say it. So there.

Harry and Penny (named after President Truman and for her copper-colored eyes, respectively) are the everyday constant in my life. I try not to veer into crazy, cat-lady territory (yes, I know kitten sittin' a third kitteh DOES seem suspicious, but it was temporary, mmm'kay?) what with living in a basement and all. But if you were able to witness Harry sidling up to your leg or flopping on his bag in order to maximize the amount of tummy rubs he could acquire... Or if you were to experience Penny's endless face rubs and kneading of the paws as she purrs ever louder... You would be smitten, too.

This is not to say that all is sugar and roses.

It is not.

Cats are animals. They fight and chew and claw things. They sometimes see fit to liberate themselves from the confines of their litter box. They'll paw your face at 4 in the morning and lay their entire body across your head until you can simply no longer ignore their burning desire to eat cat food, even though you know full well you fed them with said food not even 6 hours ago.

But like I said, they're animals.

And that's the good part, really. Sure, you get emotionally attached. I was away on business for one night this week and my hotel room was a black hole of non-cat sounds and activity; I did not know how to comprehend a pair of black pants carelessly tossed on the floor, yet fully fur-free the next morning. How would I sleep without random meows and goofy cat-wrestling? But I did. And I know that they're fine and I'm fine either way.

To be able to give an animal a good home, for whatever time period - be it kitten sittin' or not - is a gift. And I'm grateful for every moment. Thanks Harry. Thanks Penny. Even you two are little rascals sometimes...

Weight Worries

Nope, it's not what you're thinking. It's the worried feeling I get every time I know I need to hit the free weights and machines at the gym. Is it because there are a bunch of meatheads hanging out, pumping up, Ah-nold style? Nope. Ninety-five percent of the men at the gym I attend are gay, so I'm definitely not worried about being hit on or called out because of my sex.

It's just the darn machines themselves. Last year I did a smart thing and sprang for six sessions with a personal trainer. And he was incredibly helpful in getting me to be comfortable with and around the equipment. Even if I did have to move the bar to the lightest weight setting, at least I could sit down on the equipment and have some clue as to what I should be doing.

So now that I'm back at it, gym-wise (kinda/sorta), those weights are calling my name again. And I've decided that the best way to deal with them is just to suck it up, walk over there, and get my lift on. Oh, and have this picture in my head: