I’m stoked. I’m excited. I’m happy!
Marion Cotillard whom I’ve loved since Love Me if You Dare won best actress. Juno won best original screen play. It almost makes the one second glimpse of Heath Ledger’s tribute forgivable…. no it doesn’t. I was shocked and upset over that. Seriously upset. BEYOND upset. Hurt? But why would I be hurt? I was sad. Dudes- seriously.

Today was a good day. I got to spend it with my family. Granted they had arrived last night, but I didn’t see them. I expected them on Sunday, and then at four in the afternoon I get a get a call from my mother saying that they’ll see me at Izzy’s at five. FIVE??? I had a stressful week in which I took a handful of fiber pills, I was doing five loads of laundry and I had been cleaning out litter boxes and vacuuming up cat hair (with my new under $40 Bissell that so far works awesomely for the price) I hear those cleaners- after I bought it- break after a few weeks, but you should have seen what it picked up after two weeks of not vacuuming.

Anyway, Jonathon still needed bathed and by the time I’d be able to get both of us ready- he would have needed his night meds and bed time. I love my family, but I love my son and his health comes first. We weren’t prepared! Sadly I knew they were just up the road playing games, Jonathon was in bed, and I couldn’t partake.

Today was much better. Since they had gone to bed apparently at almost four- they stirred out of sleep at ten. I got to spend time with them, they raved over Jonathons slipper socks in which I proudly boasted that my aunt Pam made them and they were his second pair (he wears them over his socks because shoes do not fit his feet- period) so they’ve become as staple in his wardrobe and we absolutely love them. My Aunt has what we call “mad skills” that woman has talent. I have my own pair that I wear at work because they’re comfy- stylish- and I don’t want to put my shoes back on when I want to run across the hall to grab some coffee. Plus mine were made for a special long stay in the hospital with Jonathon- multiply reasons as to why I love them and if anyone makes fun of me for walking around in them… yeah- you don’t wanna do that.

But on to the gifts- towels WITH tags a beautiful scarf my sister knitted that I’m wearing right now- in my pj’s, an awesome mist humidifier, lavendar oil (I love lavendar), and a very beautiful calendar my aunti Georgene Matsuyama (more like second great cousin) made in honor of the men in my family who fought in WW2. I feel honored that I’m going to create the site for her work.

I took pics in the hotel room: Jonathon was happy to speak to people other than me, my brother Ben tries to put a puzzle together and challenges his intellect, my nephew Devon, my newer nephew Curtis (they’re so adorable), my dad running around as usual- doing stuff- my near 60 year old mother who slowly ages, and of course my beautiful sis Jacqui who put the whole thing together (thanks JAC!) OH and my bro in law Scott- whom I took by surprise with my capture of their souls that now reside in my camera- MWA HA HA! I feel proud to have solved the mystery to my folks who noticed that in the bridal suite that they stayed in, the bathroom had a door leading to the hall. I pointed out the escape onto a terrace that leads to the hall from the window as well- and the escape plan posted on the door- I told her it was for the bride who changed her mind. I said typically there’s an annulment paper in the sleeve next to the escape plan and a little slot that says, ‘drop ring here’.

The conversations primarily had to do with film, games, and death- which is a long running joke because my parents are notorious for only talking about mainstream film. My dad heard this some how- and as he poked fun of me for talking about film I had to tell him, “I have no life- it IS film and games. You’ll know I have a life when I talk about something else.”

Ever since I decided to break Stan Lee from his Alcatraz escapes, he’s started to cop an attitude. After two months of living here, he decided to redirect his aggressions towards poor little Aloon, my betta fish.

For the past few nights I’ve lost sleep rescuing the little finned friend from the evil clutches of Mr. Lee. I’ve moved the tank, covered the tank. I’ve splashed Stan with the fish water to show him he does not want what’s in there. I’ve squirted him, shouted no and removed him from the room- including stating I’d remove his head from his body should he continue these attempts.

When I returned from work today I found the top of the tank trapping Aloon in the corner as it was dropped inside and my Buddha statue was on the floor along with multiple things I had placed in hopes of protecting the fish. FINALLY I just took the tank and placed it inside the bird cage. I have a fish in a bird cage and you know what? It works. Stan Lee gave up and now he’s back to the sweet little curious fur ball that I fell in love with. Aloon is behind bars for his own protection and I’m feeling a little guilty about that- but he’s SAFE. Now I wonder where Stan is will direct his aggressions now.

Tonight has been Reality TV night. I flipped between Wife Swap (two minutes and I was finished). America’s Next Top Model- Oh come on Tyra, what are you going for??? I saw two model potentials and the rest were obviously for possible shock value. I guess I was shocked that they were abled to be captured on film. American Idol was also airing (which I’m currently watching) and I have to say that’s the show has  been on for 1.5 hours and I truly can’t stand the female night because they truly lack the talent that the guys brought to the stage last night.

There were a few stand out guys who I actually felt embarrassed for because they were better than that show. Tonight I’ve seen one person who truly shows she has what it takes to make it- and OMG please leave the show on your own because you can make it with out them. Two people total actually (one guy and one girl) really can make it big without the Idol, and that show will prove to be an embarrassment on their resume later on.  (think Star Search) My apologies for not knowing their names, but I look at it this way: “They don’t know my name…” Granted I’m not on television, but I have a hard enough time remembering my work badge in the morning.

I’ve never watched American Idol prior to this season so I’m unfamiliar with their dynamics, rules and how it runs- I just see the bubble gum morons it churns out and I’m disgusted with how it further poisons the industry with the lack of originality and forgettable personalities. Then again, 95% of today’s music is like that.

Oh! There was also a commercial for The Moment of Truth… “Woman tells her husband that truthfully she’d get back with her ex boyfriend if he asked.” Wow, the woman looks like she’s in her early twenties, she looks like she’s been married shorter than the time time I’ve been celibate… bleach blond twit looking thing who looked like she got married because she was bored. In today’s marriages, especially new ones, it’s difficult to come across a couple who have high morals and values- so the statement of “Watch the year’s most shocking episode”- and considering this is what… the third or fourth episode… they had one pure little beauty queen, a gambler who had no qualms stating his toxicities- and it’s only February… can we please take the two or three shows that keep this station afloat and move them to other networks while we take the rest of the people and just line them up in front of a firing squad? I’d tune in to see that.

I created a way for Ashley NOT to break her cell phone *again*.

Stan Lee moves my pillows to complete his fortress and completes his efforts in taking over my room.

Mila still does not like to get her picture taken.

Jonathon finds amusement when I tell him there ARE people out there who don’t think that I’m a dork.

Boredom once more finds me moving around my furniture when the sun went down *again*.

If you are expecting anything pornographic, you may want to leave now. This new fantasy section will be writing down the ideal evening or holiday for me to live out here instead of wishing for it in my normal life because then the next thing I know I’m in a toxic relationship wishing I were single again!

Valentine’s Day:

[begin public fantasy]
Simple and sweet. I get home from work and after unwinding I prepare a romantic meal. My heart is racing slightly with anticipation of knowing he’s coming home to me and smiling because I know his heart is also racing knowing that he’s going to get home to find me there. While I’m chopping vegetables and stirring various sauces, I hear the door open, close, and then the sound of his foot steps approaching. I can hear him walk up behind me, my lips are grinning while I’m pretending to be preoccupied with preparation, and then I feel the warmth of his body embrace me. As he greets me with a kiss on my neck, his arm appears in front of me with a bouquet of flowers. I smile, turn around and give him a warm hello that seems to last longer than normal. I laugh as I break up the mini-make out session because there’s food cooking on the stove and we’ll have plenty of time for *that* later.

He helps me prepare dinner and then we eat it over conversation and laughter. Once finished we dress down for the evening and then cuddle up on the sofa for a relaxing night of going through our DVD collection on Neuros. I get up to find some popcorn and he surprises me by lighting the candles and breaking out a bottle of champagne and fruits with chocolate dipping sauce.

[end public fantasy viewing here]

Whenever it comes to a three day weekend, especially if I know the office is open, I can’t enjoy it. Saturday and Sunday merge and I can’t get that “weekend” feeling on Monday. I feel jipped.

For the first time in ages the weather is actually beautiful. Granted it sheds light on my horrible carpet (especially after the vacuum cleaner destruction), I’m running around dusting every thing I had missed and I’m additionally questioning why I had bought so much glass furnishings.

 Jonathon is playing Final Fantasy X, I finished sweeping my rug, and the cats are basking in the stretched sun spots on the carpet.

I actually went in to work today to set off a few jobs that could run today/tomorrow. I don’t think I was even quite half an hour, but the prep and motivation it took to drive into the office has today feeling like a work day.

I’ve also been pumping myself up to change my operating system once and for all. I have to. I must. I just worry that this won’t be a simple thing and if I mess it up- I can mess it up in a big way, especially since I don’t have the original disk to fall back on should I fail.

I do however have a crappy older desktop I can hook up in case of an emergency. Will I have that emergency? Will I need to set up the huge monitor that only sports a 14″ screen? If you never see me blog again I guess you’ll know what happened- Johnny Depp would have knocked on my door insisting that I move to France with him and he’d woo me with promises of more powerful machines, sleeker computers with large monitors and (swoon) I guess I shouldn’t drift off like that.

It is beautiful out there though and I chose to take the long drive around the city to get home. It’s also nice to sit here at my computer and look past the patio. Blue sky, green gass, warmth

Ashley was going to take Mila tomorrow, however, fate had different plans. Apparently as her and Ryan prepped for their romantic weekend at the coast, a pipe burst flooding the apartments. Thankfully the damage isn’t beyond repair as their dwelling received the lesser of the damage, but more than likely they’ll be moving into a different unit.

I think the only thing truly lost was Ryans sketch pad (ouch! I feel his pain), but it could have been worse.

For another few weeks Mila is still mine… unless someone happens to break through another pipe… not that I was the one who did that or anything… because I wouldn’t… and I didn’t… I have an alibi! (now I need to remember who I paid)

You know you’ve spent too much time with your cats when they’ve knocked over your chess pieces and instead of saying, “Bad kitty!” you say, “Oh my god that’s NOT how you play chess. Idiot.” =^_^=

I stepped on my porch about ten minutes ago to watch the sun set and a falling star fell possibly a ¼ of a mile in front of me. Granted it was probably waste from an airplane, but it looked so cool! I was about to make a wish, but then I thought, “Do I make a wish on falling feces?”

Now that the ordeal is over with, I can write about it. I’m putting on my drama queen crown and telling the story of my mini-adventure tonight.

 The evening was pretty good. I had spent an hour talking with my daughter over the phone and giving her advice that she required from me and ended the call feeling pretty damn good. I love that girl. Jonathon and I continued to play a game we had revisited and then I went to lay him down for bed. For the first time all night I noticed that our little Stan Lee wasn’t demanding attention or getting into trouble.

It was quiet, too quiet. He was GONE! HOW could be gone? Apparently he’s a sly little thing and I missed him sneaking by. No clue.

I ran outside and went up and down the parking lot and around the buildings calling for him. Nothing. My upstairs neighbor Steve came out with a flash light and assisted my search. It’s Stan LEE!!! He’s my baby!!!!

I felt so lost thinking he was gone forever. I’ve apparently grown REALLY attached to him in less than two months time, so much so my head was spinning with thoughts of him being hit by a car or catnapped, or ANYTHING! I wanted him BACK!

I called out his name and repeated, “Baby!!! KITTY!!! STAN LEE!!!!” Finally after I had felt I was just saying his name for the sake of saying his name, I heard him answer me behind a fence. It was a weak sounding meow, unlike the strong voice he uses on a regular basis to talk to me. He was there but he was stuck inbetween two fences that housed all sorts of junk and trees and who knows what.

I just started digging. I took my hands and placed them in the cold damp soil and dug a huge hole trying to get him out. He was hestitant, he was weary of the neighbor and nothing was working. At one point I had grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, but wound up hurting him when I tried to pull him under the fence towards me

An hour I spent digging at the Earth in variou spots. As he moved, I moved. I tried food, toys, my voice, meowing… nothing was working. I felt the metal of the fence rip into my arm as I desperately tried to get to my baby and my clothes were getting increasingly covered in the wet dirt.  I was wearing nothing but a t-shirt, jama bottoms and socks… lol every moment counted! It was dark and cold, but I heard and saw him, there was NO WAY I was going to give up. He’s Jonathon’s boy. I will not return without his kitty in my arms.

Finally at one point I looked up, and down the way I saw a little figure trying to come towards me, but he was still unsure of the neighbor. He managed to free himself and was trying to come to his mama!

I finally nabbed him and sounds of the city night caused him to claw himself into me and then force his legs to try to break from my grasp.  Again I felt the sting of his claws sink into my skin which caused me to hold him tighter. I WILL NOT LOSE HIM!

To be honest, seeing him that first time, I wasn’t sure if it was him. He was missing his collar and he looked so much more tiny out in the big world than in the safety of my home. But sure enough, once inside I saw the bundle in my arms was our little Stan Lee.

He shook for a little bit and spent a couple of minutes adjusting, acting distant and traumatized, but not even thirty minutes later and a VERY happy Jonathon in the other room who grabbed me by the neck and said, “THANK YOU! I LOVE YOU! YOU SAVED MY BOY!!” Stan is curled up on my lap purring. I never want to know what it’s like not to have that AGAIN.

It’s funny, when I was married, I had three cats, a dog, a bunny and a gerbil and I swore- NO MORE ANIMALS! I had been content without for the past 6 years and now I can’t imagine not having this cat with me… and it’s only been two months! He’s super smart, super awesome, and a super pain, but he’s my super pain.

Current Mood: chipper